Do You Belong to NATO (No Action; Talk Only)?

Two of your greatest enemies are THOUGHTLESS ACTION and THOUGHTFUL INACTION. Both work to rob you of God's best and both must be eliminated from your life! To Live Big Die Empty, you must operate from a place of THOUGHTFUL ACTION everyday.

"Thoughtless action" means just living life moment to moment, reacting emotionally to things that happen around you and allowing other peoples' whims and desires to set your agenda. Most people live lives of thoughtless action from sunrise to sunset, day by day, for years. Some dwell in thoughtless action their entire lives.

"Thoughtful inaction" hinders a large portion of the rest of you. You think and think and think about great plans to change your life, your family's life and even the world. But you remain stuck in your thoughts - feeling good for having the heart to think of the good you'll do, but never taking a step towards doing it.

"Thoughtful action" is where you must live. You dream, plan and think, YES! But then you get up and take a step. You measure what went right, what you would improve upon and then you take another step. Then you think, measure and take another step. You take thoughtful action until it becomes a habit. Always assessing and always acting.

Thoughtless actions ruin lives. Thoughtful inaction kills dreams. It is thoughtful action that changes your world. But, remember... both are required! Thought without action is a waste of energy. It only frustrates you and those around you. Action without thought will cause more harm than it creates good.

Resolve today to be a thinker who doesn't get stuck in thought!

Mark Anthony McCray helps people live on PURPOSE, achieve higher PERFORMANCE and experience true PROSPERITY. Be sure to subscribe to this blog so you don't miss a thing and forward this to a friend if you found it helpful. All material © Copyright, Mark Anthony McCray unless otherwise noted!

He can be reached in the following ways:

Mark@LiveBIGDieEmpty.com
Phone: 281-846-5720
Twitter: @LiveBIGDieEmpty
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/LiveBIGDieEmpty
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/markanthonymccray/
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Click HERE for information on Mark as a speaker or presenter and HERE to learn about coaching programs to help you realize your potential and live more prosperously!

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How Your Disadvantage is Really Your Best Advantage

Three chapters into the book "David and Goliath" and author Malcolm Gladwell has quoted more scripture than most preachers!

Gladwell has declared himself an Atheist and all but I've shared with a few friends in my private circle that the "book" isn't closed on this guy yet. If you are a friend, I've told you that I think God is working on him. I believe this even more now.  If he continues to say he is an Atheist, I just won't believe him.

I hate to tell you preachers, but this man will help you preach your "five smooth stones" sermon much, much better! The whole book is about how what you thought was a DISADVANTAGE may be your biggest asset. Very intriguing so far. Oh... there is more "preaching" from another Bible story in it, too, but I will leave that for you to discover.

Predictably, some of his usual fans are criticizing him for this book. One even said that Gladwell has disabled a part of his brain with this book. Apparently, using an example from the Word to tie to modern encouragements is just too much for his normal crew. I get that.

Still. An outstanding read so far that I recommend to you.  You know from previous blogs that I dig this guy.  The point you should take away from this book is that you have tremendous tools already in your hand.  God has already equipped you well.  Use what you have.  Just start there and see what happens!

Mark Anthony McCray helps people live on PURPOSE, achieve higher PERFORMANCE and experience true PROSPERITY. Be sure to subscribe to this blog so you don't miss a thing and forward this to a friend if you found it helpful. All material © Copyright, Mark Anthony McCray unless otherwise noted!

He can be reached in the following ways:

Mark@LiveBIGDieEmpty.com
Phone: 281-846-5720
Twitter: @LiveBIGDieEmpty
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/LiveBIGDieEmpty
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/markanthonymccray/
Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/103149858138414160703/posts
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/markanthonymccray
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/markmccray/

Click HERE for information on Mark as a speaker or presenter and HERE to learn about coaching programs to help you realize your potential and live more prosperously!

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Going the Extra Mile In Your Relationships

Overcompensate.

"Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two." - Matthew 5:41

Krystle S. Talley of The Christian Chameleon would say this means to go the extra mile to compromise, love, and give grace to your significant other. I think that is a great take on it.  The Bible might also call this bearing one another's burdens.

When it comes to dating as divorced people, one thing we have to be aware of is that the other person (especially if divorced, as well) has suffered unique harms and I believe we must be ready to overcompensate for them.

Let me give an example so you can personalize this. If he is dealing with abandonment issues, bear with him. Warning: This takes work!!!  Relationships are NOT for the selfish!   Do little things to show that you are loyal - even where you might think they are unnecessary gestures. Normally, these gestures would be overkill, but you're dealing with a man who may still need some healing in that area.  Likewise, if a woman has been the victim of years of verbal abuse or criticism, should not a man of God be intentional about building her up with his words? Of course!

(Side note: Nobody will be 100% healed when you enter into relationship with them. Neither will you be.  I don't believe it's possible this side of Heaven. We can let that fantasy die right here!)

If you are drawn to someone, consider that you may actually have been given a burden in the spirit for that person. And if you have a burden for somebody, bear with them and help them bear their burdens. You will need to do a little extra. Jesus might call this going the extra mile and I think it very much comes into play when dealing with people who've been bruised.

Consider this, too.  Must not everything we do or say minister grace in Christ?

If you need help changing the way you see some things and yourself, join my Relationship Readiness Group. You'll love it as study together with a particular focus on how to prepare yourself for love and healthy relationships!

In our time together we work through various facets of preparing for meaningful relationships and marriage beginning with setting Godly relationship goals and much more.  Additionally, we will use a private Facebook group to share materials, engage in candid discussion and post announcements for each of the personal coaching calls.

If YOU need this kind of help, join this group by clicking the image below! Only $5 per month!! 

Our next group coaching call is coming up Sunday! Claim your spot today!

In the mean time, as you work this out, learn to be humble and strong enough to change. As we've talked about before, there's nothing wrong with giving a little ground to get along better.  It doesn't make you any less of a person nor any weaker of a person.  God bless!


Mark Anthony McCray helps people live on PURPOSE, achieve higher PERFORMANCE and experience true PROSPERITY. Be sure to subscribe to this blog so you don't miss a thing and forward this to a friend if you found it helpful. All material © Copyright, Mark Anthony McCray unless otherwise noted! He can be reached in the following ways: Mark@LiveBIGDieEmpty.comPhone: 281-846-5720 Twitter: @LiveBIGDieEmptyFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/LiveBIGDieEmptyLinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/markanthonymccray/Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/103149858138414160703/postsYouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/markanthonymccrayPinterest: http://pinterest.com/markmccray/ Click HERE for information on Mark as a speaker or presenter and HERE to learn about coaching programs to help you realize your potential and live more prosperously!

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Dreaming of diligence and waking to walk it out...

I love sharing my dreams with you all.  I try to do it while they're fresh so I don't forget the details.  Here's from last night...

I was digging around in my front yard near the sidewalk under some of the decorative bricks that lining the concrete walk. (Why? Who knows? It was a dream.)

Digging. Getting my fingers dirty, I discovered a coin. A penny most likely. And then, finding that penny, I decided to keep digging. I found a dime, a nickel, a quarter, a few more pennies. Another nickel or two. Basically, my digging was guaranteed to be profitable. Every time I stuck my hands into the ground and searched I was going to find something. Pretty cool. Pretty soon my pockets were jingling and beginning to fill. "Why not sit here all day digging up coins?" I thought. There would be no harm in it. I could keep picking up loose change until I had to go inside, right?  After a while, I resolved in my mind that things were pretty good. Dig. Find. Dig.  Find. No worries.

After a while, something curious happened.  I uncovered a coin I didn't recognize. It was large, muddy of course, and covered with strange writing. Odd. Brass most likely. It was a little dull to be gold. Not very heavy for its size either. But certainly large. Yeah. Pretty sure it was brass.  Pretty sure it wasn't from the US.  I couldn't even figure out the language the writing was in let alone translate it.  Interesting.

I washed the mud off and took it to a guy I knew who was an appraiser. I had no expectations. I left it with him and went home. I had a pocket full of coins. My day had gone well, I'd say.

A few days later the man called me back.

"Do you know what this is?"

"No" I replied. Because I didn't.

"Where did you find it?"

"Don't recall.  Somewhere." Lying because I didn't want to tell anybody.

He hung up the phone without any further words.

His reaction made me nervous that he was going to try and steal my new treasure, so I went down to his shop right away and asked for it back. He obliged and handed me the coin which I placed in my jeans pocket - in the left pocket apart from my usual loose change - and left.

The man never told me what the coin was or what it was worth. I never found out. All I know is that as I walked down the street heading home a couple of dealers called me offering to buy it. Even they never made an offer. They simply said they needed it and asked me what I wanted. Clearly my friend had let it slip that I had found something special. To be honest, I was more amused and intrigued than anything. My mind started wondering just how much my find was worth. $10,000? $50,000? $100,000? More? Who knows?! I had no idea, but I didn't begin to allow myself to dream exciting dreams of travel... luxury... debt-free living! Oooooo.... I wonder what this thing is??!!!

Nearly home, I passed by the park. A group of mimes (do mimes perform in groups??) stopped when they saw me walking by and gave me an ovation.  They had heard about my discovery, as well.

That is about when I awoke. I still don't know what I found. All I know is that it was my diligence in mining the small coins that made it possible to find the treasure. That's all I know. 

When I was alert enough to separate dreams from real life, I prayed and thanked God for the renewed encouragement towards diligence. I also prayed that He would help me walk out this lesson in my waking life - that I would not forget the power of diligence. To remind myself, I shared a few notes from my blog with you on my Facebook page this morning. In all transparency, I posted to remind myself as much as to help you, dear reader.  I need us all to remember that...

Diligence uncovers great treasures!  My prayer is for greater diligence. For me and for you.

If you ask me nicely, one day I will share the second lesson I learned from this dream...

Mark Anthony McCray helps people live on PURPOSE, achieve higher PERFORMANCE and experience true PROSPERITY. Be sure to subscribe to this blog so you don't miss a thing and forward this to a friend if you found it helpful. All material © Copyright, Mark Anthony McCray unless otherwise noted!

He can be reached in the following ways:

Mark@LiveBIGDieEmpty.com
Phone: 281-846-5720
Twitter: @LiveBIGDieEmpty
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/LiveBIGDieEmpty
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/markanthonymccray/
Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/103149858138414160703/posts
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/markanthonymccray
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/markmccray/

Click HERE for information on Mark as a speaker or presenter and HERE to learn about coaching programs to help you realize your potential and live more prosperously!

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A Nation of Haters?

When did we become such a nation of haters? I am disappointed in this. That's an understatement! It's sad to me that we used to be a nation of people who aspired to greater. Now we just want to get by, antagonize those who want more for themselves and then try and take what they earn. Jealousy, envy and rivalry have filled the hearts of so many that it's unusual to hear sincere congratulatory statements anymore.

Think about how rare it is to find someone who will celebrate with you. It's more common that people will celebrate when you cry.

Even compliments are too often backhanded - only offered wrapped inside a criticism towards the target or someone else... "You look nice today... unlike that ugly person over there..." or "You look a lot better today than you normally look..." or, as I heard someone say the other day, "Scandal is good.  At least it doesn't suck like... "   I am screaming inside "WHY CAN'T YOU JUST SAY YOU LIKE SCANDAL AND LEAVE IT AT THAT!?!?"

To me the cause is clear. Too much time spent minding other peoples' business and not enough on your own... because you have no business of your own to excite you! You see, it's easy to criticize when you take no chances of your own. And you hurl accusations at others because it hurts your heart to be honest - those criticisms are for you! You're angry with and disappointed in yourself!

Here are the guidelines for my life and my personal circle: I don't spend time with people who can't appreciate others, who can't compliment, who can't care. I won't entertain your comments. You don't have access to my emotions. There are enough of your kind around. I'm sure you can find some company. In the mean time, the rest of us will be making progress towards our visions. I aim on giving people more to envy.

I've noticed how difficult it is for some of us to give sincere compliments consistently. Complaints seem to roll off the tongue a lot easier. "Feedback" will be offered whether requested or not. I'm issuing myself a Live Big Die Empty Challenge today: No complaints, no deprecation; only praise and appreciation. Everyone I encounter today will receive "exuberant edification" instead of constructive criticism. How about you?

It takes nine compliments to undo the damage of one criticism.  How much damage have you been doing to yourself?  To others?  It's time to start healing and building up!

Mark Anthony McCray helps people live on PURPOSE, achieve higher PERFORMANCE and experience true PROSPERITY. Be sure to subscribe to this blog so you don't miss a thing and forward this to a friend if you found it helpful. All material © Copyright, Mark Anthony McCray unless otherwise noted!

He can be reached in the following ways:

Mark@LiveBIGDieEmpty.com
Phone: 281-846-5720
Twitter: @LiveBIGDieEmpty
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/LiveBIGDieEmpty
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/markanthonymccray/
Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/103149858138414160703/posts
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/markanthonymccray
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/markmccray/

Click HERE for information on Mark as a speaker or presenter and HERE to learn about coaching programs to help you realize your potential and live more prosperously!

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7 Ways to Form A "Pack" So You Can Hunt Bigger Game

We've talked before about what each of us can learn from the lion, the king of the jungle. I've got a particular fondness to lions because of a couple of things the scriptures teach us about the nature of these big cats and how we're to emulate them.  We also know that too many of us spend too much time and too much effort for too little result because we try to fight alone. .Here are some things you can do to start forming your own pack and going after bigger game.

#1 - Make a list of all the people who care about the issue. Really care about it.

#2 - Identify two of them to talk to. Set up a breakfast or lunch meeting. Lay out my aspirations to see if they are interested. My goal is to get another meeting with them.

#3 - Brainstorm with the first supporter about a list of (mostly unempowered) targets who might like to get involved. Put together a tight schedule for contacting 5-10 people from that list.

#4 - Start a master file listing all the people that I want involved in the project.

#5 - Never let a chance to brief a co-conspirator or potential co-conspirator pass.  In other words, never pass up a chance to tell your story!

#6 - Find an enthusiast to use the product/service.

#7 - Put this first enthusiast in charge of finding others.

It's as simple as that.  We have to stop trying to do so much alone.  And, for my friends reading this... Yes. I am looking in the mirror right now!

Mark Anthony McCray helps people live on PURPOSE, achieve higher PERFORMANCE and experience true PROSPERITY. Be sure to subscribe to this blog so you don't miss a thing and forward this to a friend if you found it helpful. All material © Copyright, Mark Anthony McCray unless otherwise noted!

He can be reached in the following ways:

Mark@LiveBIGDieEmpty.com
Phone: 281-846-5720
Twitter: @LiveBIGDieEmpty
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/LiveBIGDieEmpty
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/markanthonymccray/
Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/103149858138414160703/posts
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/markanthonymccray
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/markmccray/

Click HERE for information on Mark as a speaker or presenter and HERE to learn about coaching programs to help you realize your potential and live more prosperously!

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Becoming Your Best Self

This has been EVERYTHING to me. If you're on my personal page, you saw me talk about this the other day. Even so, take this a reminder. Now you've heard it twice and you're accountable.  This is something I had to learn and practice for myself and I can tell you honestly.... this way lies happiness and fulfillment! 

You have an image of your best self in mind. Everyone does. Whether you see yourself as a speaker, an author, a teacher, a student, a wife and mother, a happy husband greeting his family at the door, everyone has a picture in their mind of their best self.

My encouragement to you today is that it is important that you take steps towards that picture every day. I can't stress enough how important that is. For some of you, it is a matter of life and death. Too long operating outside of your ideal image damages EVERYthing in your life. It can lead to health problems, challenges in your spiritual walk, relationship problems and parenting issues. Believe me. I know! It can even lead to depressive states.

Some call it "cognitive dissonance" when you have something YOU KNOW YOU SHOULD BE DOING but you continue to allow yourself not to do it. For example, you KNOW you should launch that business, but you hesitate. You KNOW you should ask that woman out on a date, but you don't. The longer you continue to deny your best self, the more you begin to lose that self.  You begin to slip backwards.  You become frustrated and often don't know why.

Keep taking steps towards who you know you're meant to be. A wonderful added benefit is how great you will begin to feel about yourself and your life once you know you're fighting for progress even in small ways! Go forward! #BabyStepsCountToo #KeepMoving

Mark Anthony McCray helps people live on PURPOSE, achieve higher PERFORMANCE and experience true PROSPERITY. Be sure to subscribe to this blog so you don't miss a thing and forward this to a friend if you found it helpful. All material © Copyright, Mark Anthony McCray unless otherwise noted!

He can be reached in the following ways:

Mark@LiveBIGDieEmpty.com
Phone: 281-846-5720
Twitter: @LiveBIGDieEmpty
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/LiveBIGDieEmpty
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/markanthonymccray/
Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/103149858138414160703/posts
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/markanthonymccray
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/markmccray/

Click HERE for information on Mark as a speaker or presenter and HERE to learn about coaching programs to help you realize your potential and live more prosperously!

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