The Tragic Death of Duty

We were a better nation, a better people, when duty mattered. But duty is dying.

Duty has been replaced by a subtle kind of hedonism that doesn't look debauched but has about the same impact on our world - hordes of people caring little about their tomorrows or anyone else's. The quote about is a prime example of this modern moral. "If if makes you happy, do it. If it doesn't, then don't" Unfortunately, a lot of people believe this garbage and the evidence of it's ethical emptiness are all around us.

"I'm not going to stay with my wife.  She doesn't make me happy!"

"I'm not going to save money for college for my children.  Shopping makes me happy!"

"I'm not going to attend that church.  They don't make me happy!"

I still can't figure out when "happiness" became the most important human ethic worth pursuing.  But, apparently, it is for many people.  Instead, duty says "I'll do it because they need me to do it" or "They will be better off if I stay.  It's about them right now."  Duty is about treating others as if they are more important than yourself.  Duty is acting out of a sense of obligation over pursuing your own pleasure.  Duty is a good thing.

Duty makes men great and men operating out of a sense of duty make the world great.  We can't let duty die.

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Positive Images Create Progress.

Positive images create progress.

I'm a witness!

A great life doesn't being until you being to create images in your mind of what you WANT. Just like an architect can't build from what he doesn't want. He has to create an image - a picture - of his intended goal before anything can happen. The more specific, the better.

You are the same way. Knowing what you DON'T want doesn't create any momentum in your life. Knowing what you want and then putting those images in your mind is what has true power.

On this day, begin to picture what you WANT. Speak it. Tell others. Imagine it in your life. Post pictures around you. Make a vision board. Those images will draw you towards them almost like magic. Positive images create progress!

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Social Media & Marketing Success (for Leaders, Coaches & Experts)

How can you as a professional speaker, coach, expert and business leader use social media and traditional marketing approaches to effectively and profitably monetize your online presence and market position? Why should you as a professional want to learn the strategy and tools of social media? It’s very simple: LEVERAGE!

Social media isn't going away and more and more, if you aren't taking advantage of the best tools, techniques and approaches, YOU ARE BEING LEFT BEHIND.

You already know what I'm saying. You know you need to

• Get new clients
• Maintain and grow your current client relationships
• Find ways to monetize your commitment to social media. 

That is why I created this training webinar for you complete with the video, full MP3 audio and e-book for you to download today!

In today’s business world, there is a shift in the way we are all communicating. You must keep up in order to stay relevant and to connect with clients in today’s marketplace. I have specifically designed this presentation exclusively for professionals just like you including tangible ready-to-use approaches!

You will learn

1. Where to find your current and prospective clients on the internet.
2. How to brand yourself, your products and your services.
3. How to build and maintain a relationship online.
4. How to optimize your visibility on the internet.
5. How to convey your expertise in order to build client confidence in you.
6. How to manage your social media effort in a consistent way.
7. And much, much more!!  There is too much information in this training to summarize here!

Order now using PayPal!

Available for a limited time for only $277 $37.77!

You will learn strategies to project your status and positioning as an expert so you can PROFIT from helping more PEOPLE! Get this valuable resource with the video, audio MP3 and e-book now! You can't afford to miss these insights, strategies and tactics!

To your success!

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/

For more information on Mark as a speaker or presenter check out http://livebigdieempty.blogspot.com/p/about-mark_29.html

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The Achieve ANYTHING Formula © - Part 3 of 7: Hope

In the previous video in this series, I talked about reawakening vision in your life.  Today, we're discussing hope.  As you watch the video, I want you to make some notes and follow along with my thinking.  In case you miss them (or just prefer to read!) here are my main points.  But I still hope you will watch the video so I can explain them to you further!

#1 - Hoping is not wishing.  

#2 - To Achieve you must believe.

#3 - You will live in the house you dream about.

#4 - Your words shape your life. 

#5 - You must spend time with hopeful people.

Now here's the next video.  Enjoy!



Here's an action item for you. Make a vision board to help keep vibrant images of your future self and life in front of you! These really help remind you of some of the rewards for which you're working. Keeping your eyes focused on the greater things ahead of you truly works and helps you endure challenges!


Finally, I am giving you permission to go for your desires!! I am giving you permission to go for your big dreams; they were given to you by a big God! Download a copy of your permission slip here!  Then print it out, fill it out and post it somewhere you will see it everyday!


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.  Comments?  Please share them below!

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Would You Pay This Woman to Hold You?

Don't feel badly for her if you say no. Apparently, she's not lacking in customers.

Paying people to snuggle with you? If you ask me, it's both funny and sad at the same time. The entrepreneur in me knows it is a good business opportunity, too!

I totally believe in the "science" of touch and often hug, ask people to hug and/or hold hands when we pray at church. All of that! I even remarked this morning as I taught Bible Study that I do it because that brief touch will be the only time some people are touched by another human all week.

Bottom line: We go through a lot of effort and spend a lot of money to try to replicate some of these benefits of marriage and relationships without any risk. I know I could use a hug right now.  Maybe I should do something about that, huh?  I've got some cash around here somewhere, I think.  The Snuggery will let me choose another snuggle buddy if I want.  Even both at the same time!

One day, God is going to create someone to help me with this problem.  Oh wait...

Finally... I always appreciate your support! Consider purchasing "10 Things to Consider About a Man" to learn more about what a good man really looks like! ---> Purchase here <---

One more thing... please share this blog with your friends if it has been a blessing to you and use the box to the right of this page to subscribe.  I want to stay in touch with you!  Thank you and God bless!

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Do We Want Too Much?

If I were more brave, this is the blog I would write so I will just imagine that I'm as brave as that and keep typing...

 Here's the thing. I feel like it is absolutely 100% inevitable that I will either sooner or later disappoint either my girlfriend or (if so blessed one day) my wife. A part of me feels like we're dealing with a generation of people who can't be happy. I think many men agree with me whether they will admit it or not.  It seems like the shine of new relationships wear off so fast and then everyone if off looking for the next new thing.

That is quite sobering.  You see, I realize that the #1 reason for divorce (women do the filing anywhere from 66% to 90% of the time depending on who you believe) is plain old dissatisfaction.  It becomes terrifying.  Things like infidelity and physical violence are never listed as top reasons among scientific studies.  The most common reasons given by women usually come down to either dissatisfaction or the feeling that she simply outgrew him.

So this is a post to pose a question: Do we want too much?  Can we be satisfied by partners who are real humans and, therefore, far less than perfect?  Even if you're faithful and peaceful, it seems like only a matter of time before you will come up very short.

What do we do?  Can we increase satisfaction somehow or do we just have to do better and wish for the best?  Talk to me!

Finally... I always appreciate your support! Consider purchasing "10 Things to Consider About a Man" to learn more about what a good man really looks like! ---> Purchase here <---

One more thing... please share this blog with your friends if it has been a blessing to you and use the box to the right of this page to subscribe.  I want to stay in touch with you!  Thank you and God bless!

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"Paul was NOT Sexist" AKA "The Romans 16 Woman"

Everyone talks about the Proverbs 31 woman, but what about the Romans 16 woman? It's time for her to get her due, too! (The Proverbs 31 Man is rarely mentioned, but that's another story for another blog!) 

Romans 16 is Paul's final farewell and instruction to Believers. Romans is his great work, as it were. It is Paul's magnum opus. Nearing the end of his life and ministry, he uses this letter to give final words to watch out for false doctrine and teachings. His aim was to give a master outline of the faith once and for all.

With his mission accomplished, how does he end his work? He closes by expressing his overflowing gratitude and affection for those who have labored tirelessly in the work of ministry. Names among those who have Paul's heart are a large number of women: Phoebe, Priscilla, Mary, Junia, Tryphena and Tryphosa, Persis, Rufus’ mother and Paul’s mother, Julia and the sister of a man named Nereus.

Read this chapter for yourself and be encouraged. The Romans 16 woman is the woman ever abounding in the work of God's kingdom. Paul promises them that they will be ultimately victorious in Christ. The Romans 16 woman is a great role model for women working in ministry everywhere - both in their homes and in the world. Amen!

Finally... I always appreciate your support! Consider purchasing "10 Things to Consider About a Man" to learn more about what a good man really looks like! ---> Purchase here <---

One more thing... please share this blog with your friends if it has been a blessing to you and use the box to the right of this page to subscribe.  I want to stay in touch with you!  Thank you and God bless!

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Stories Sell!

All good stories have the same elements: (1) a hero (2) the hero's driving desire (3) a big obstacle or opponent and (4) resolution (either happy or tragic). That's it. That's all. If the resolution is happy, it's considered a comedy. If the resolution is sad, it's considered a drama.

You will be more effective as you get better an better at telling stories and incorporating them into your work and speech.

"Facts are forgotten, but stories are remembered and retold." ~Jeffrey Gitomer 

Stories also "sell" better than facts. So consider how strong you are (or aren't) at telling stories, check the list above for whether you do a good job of outlining your story in your mind before you share it, and practice, practice, practice. It will pay off for you!

Here are more tips on how to getting better at story-telling.  At the end of the day, it's mostly about practice, practice, practice.

To your success!

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The Achieve ANYTHING Formula © - Part 2 of 7: Vision

If you have a big dream, it's been placed on your heart by a big God! Our first task lesson in The Achieve ANYTHING Formula © is to get you to resurrect your vision!

Let me show you something that has really inspired me to make a global impact. This is a guy, just called Matt, who was basically a deadbeat (his words) and his friend decided to record him dancing in front of different places of interest as they traveled. The dancing was bad. Very bad. (Again, his words!) Yet people began to notice and want more. I think it was because he was following his passion and having so much fun doing it.

"Catch on fire with enthusiasm and people will come for miles to watch you burn." ~John Wesley

So, Matt, took his vision of traveling the globe and pursued it with so much enthusiasm that EVERYONE noticed - especially Visa and Hotels.com. Hotels.com and life was never the same for him again. His job for the next several years would be to travel, dance and meet people from all over the world!



So here's your first assignment. Take out a sheet of paper, your journal, a napkin and write down what you want out of life. I call this making your Life List. Some people call it a Bucket List or other names. It's important that you write them down and it's just as important that they are big, driving and emotional for you. You need to write until you can see them and feel what having it would mean to your life.

A few hints: (1) They will NOT be mostly monetary, (2) They should be about much more than yourself or it probably isn't real and (3) If you can't get emotional about it, it isn't your dream. There should be something that makes you angry or joyful as you look around the world. I think those are huge clues as to why you're here!

So get to work dreaming again, WRITE THEM DOWN and in the next couple of videos we'll get down to more specifics about what to do next.

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.  Comments?  Please share them below!

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Wanted: Men Who Walk Their Talk

From my point of view, I see a lot of women (and men) satisfied when a man says he is "spiritual" when asked about his faith. To me, that's just code for "Stop asking me questions!!"  Unfortunately, a lot of women become mislead spiritually, relationally and otherwise.  I think there are 10 evidences that a man is walking his talk:

1 - "Spirituality" isn't good enough for him. He studies and knows doctrines, scriptures and some church history.

2 - He is consistent in his walk not always needing to "get back into it" every few weeks or months.

3 - He attends fellowships, churches and/or bible studies regularly. There is no magic number, place or format, but there should be somewhere he isn't a complete stranger!

4. He gives. Money, not just platitudes. Time, not just intentions. His talents, not just his opinions.

5. He reads the Bible. How do you know? Scripture enters his conversations at least time to time.

6. He prays. How can you tell? He doesn't complain about everything that bothers him because he's already laid some of them at the altar.

7. He praises. He doesn't take credit for everything good in his life. He's thankful and grateful knowing he is a recipient of amazing grace.

8. He sows into others' lives. There is someone whose life is better because he's in it regardless of what he can get from them. In fact, better if he can't receive anything from them at all.

9. He repents. He might not say he's sorry. That's not real repentance anyway. Real repentance is evidenced by changed behaviors. Not all. Not overnight. But SOMETHING for goodness sake!

10. He is willing to take responsibility for your spiritual maturity. Does he help lead you into the things of God or away from them?

Consider these. Also, consider purchasing "10 Things to Consider About a Man" to learn more about what a good man really looks like! ---> Purchase here <---

One more thing... please share this blog with your friends if it has been a blessing to you and use the box to the right of this page to subscribe.  I want to stay in touch with you!  Thank you and God bless!

To your success!

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/

For more information on Mark as a speaker or presenter check out http://livebigdieempty.blogspot.com/p/about-mark_29.html

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