Undiluted.

I took my youngest to breakfast as part of her Daddy-Daughter Day Birthday Celebration. It just so happens that the Busy Bee Cafe is near some railroad tracks and proud of it, apparently. There was quite a bit of railroad decor around the place. Taylor: "Daddy, what is derail?" Me: "Huh?" Taylor: "That sign on the wall says "derail" and I don't know what that means!" Me: "That's just when a train goes off-track. You know. Like they were...

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It's Time to Reveal What's Inside You.

This is my rally cry for this week! I'm so happy for faithful teachers, mentors and preachers. The Lord seems to be working overtime lately to encourage and empower me. I'm humbled. I could cry. It's like He won't be satisfied with me living a life that's anything less than my potential. I've been taught, stretched, challenged, pressed, encouraged and pushed to my very limits these past few weeks to the point where I want to scream sometimes. But...

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Use This Little-Used Method to Increase Your Business Dramatically!

Want to increase your business for little to no out-of-pocket cost to you?Drum roll, please...Talk to people.  People still do business with people, and your business is still based mostly on trust. When I get on the phone and when I take meetings, I make money.  When I try to run my business from my laptop, I don't make as much money.  This means that I need to answer my phone, make meetings and return correspondence quickly....

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Jim Rohn: "How to Have Your Best Year Ever"

I always did like this video and this particular teacher! He's a model for how I'm building my own business. He spoke, he wrote and he always incorporated Biblical wisdom in ways that everyone could receive. Great role model in many ways. I hope you enjoy this. Then, if you liked it, check out my blog series entitled "8 Keys to Achieving Higher Performance in Your Purpose" and let me know what you think! I would also be honored if you would...

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5 Things I've Never Done (But Want to This Year)!

I'm planning on skydiving for my birthday this year and I want you to come with me!! If you're in the Houston area, get in touch with me!!! mark@livebigdieempty.com is the best way! 1. Skydive. How can I resist? This has to happen!! They don't let you do your first jump alone. They strap you in with an Instructor. I'll be looking for the one with the biggest smile and best mood! 2. Perform a Stand-Up Comedy Routine. Just because. No time...

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Did God Get it Wrong? Or Is He Just Old-Fashioned?

Here's something I struggle with. I hope I can explain it well.1. Is our world/society better off or worst off than it was 20, 30 or 40 years ago in terms of morals, strength of the society, economy and even the church? Most people would say many things have gone downhill. So why would we continue to rely upon modern "wisdom" that seems to be taking downward instead of older ways of looking at life, faith and the world that served us better?2. I...

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Isn't it time to change your mind?

We're told that we have to change the way we think to change our lives. Well, if true, what should we think about and how do we change our thoughts? I've created this special study called "Change Your Mind" to help you think in ways that are more productive and purposeful using various scriptures from God's word as your guide. Have you ever stopped to think that everything around you – even everything in your own life – first began with a thought?...

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"Six Ways to Defeat Worry"

If you missed my lastest motivational call, you missed a great time!!! I talked about "Six Ways to Defeat Worry" in your life. Worry is one of the biggest reasons most people aren't living their best life. Here are some things to remember! 1. CHANGE YOUR PERSPECTIVE. Free yourself to think strategically instead of concerning yourself with today or tomorrow like so many people do. They are already taken care of for you. (Luke 12:22) 2....

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Learn How to Hear Silence

Most of the clients who put up an abnormally high amount of resistance to giving you information, providing financial records, paying for third party reports, signing your fee agreement, or otherwise putting money into their business deal should be passed over.They probably know something about their situation – to their detriment – that they are not communicating. Whatever is causing them pause will probably kill their deal or make it extremely...

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All Money Isn't Good Money...Not All Clients Are Good Clients.

All of us, no matter the field of business, have experienced the regret of taking on business that doesn't seem worth it. It's frustrating, maddening, infuriating and head-scratching all rolled together. Here's what I've learned: never do business with anyone who makes your head hurt or your stomach hurt. If you have qualms, steer clear. It will be worth it because all money isn't good money and not every Client is a good Client.There are a number...

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Double Hump It!

I've talked before about the importance of deciding who belongs in your life and who doesn't. I'm not the first. Solomon said "He who walks with wise men will be wise..." long before anyone every thought about Mark Anthony McCray. There's more to the story, however. Here's a visual tool to help you think about how you go about your relationships - personal and work relationships. It's called the Double Hump and I learned it years ago. The...

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Mastermind Meetings and One-on-One ResultsCoaching

I have a question for you: How much would you pay me to work for you or teach you? Seriously. If you could hire me to teach you, coach you and train you - how much would you be willing to pay for it? Would changing the direction of your life for the better be worth skipping a few cups of coffee a month? If you could learn new exercises, techniques and strategies for planning your life, building a business, increasing your income and understanding...

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Sex & The Saved Couple

Have you ever noticed how you can see sex on TV morning, Noon and night these days, but it's ALMOST NEVER BETWEEN MARRIED PEOPLE??? The saints need to stop being so scary to talk about stuff! This is hilarious to me because (1) I've never advocated sex outside of the marriage context on this page and (2) half of y'all are doing this stuff and more already anyway!Why have we let something God designed become totally taken over by the devil? Husbands...

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Anger Danger!

I used to be a very angry person. I may not have looked like it on the outside but my heart was filled with blames, resentments and a low, simmering anger for many years. Frankly, not all was directed at others. Some was directed at myself. I refused to let people off the hook for wrongs I perceived as being done to me. Anger had made me into its victim and forced me to see other people as villains. I learned to let it go once I realized...

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Eternal Singleness? - Part One in Our "Resurrecting Marriage" Series

(This is the first in a series of works - a mission - to promote courtship, marriage and re-marriage within the Body of Christ. We have to fight this "Epidemic of Singleness" before the casualties continue to mount!Therefore, please don't be offended with some of the next topics. I am going to take more chances by getting into sex, adultery, blending families, roles, finances, and more. Why? Because too many people are avoiding getting married for...

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You Can't Handle the Truth!!!

A friend of mine asked whether men and women can accept the truth from a partner without becoming upset, offended or lashing out. For me, it's more about Proverbs 15:1 and Proverbs 25:11. Sometimes it's all about finesse: the skillful handling of a situation (Webster's Dictionary). There is an art to communication and when it's done well, it's a beautiful thing.There's always a way to say anything. Sometimes people aren't rejecting...

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THINKING ABOUT SELF-PUBLISHING?

Information from book publisher, Ken Whitman of SideKickPrinting.com, for those interested in some rough numbers on the self-publishing business. I get these questions quite often regarding what people should expect.From Ken Whitman:"I produce a lot of books for self-publishers. There seem to be three types. Type 1: I print 100 books for them and they never come back. Type 2: I print 100 books from them and they come back 2 to 4 times over six months....

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"DIY is for Weekends and Hobbies"

You can probably tell by the title that I'm not a huge fan of trying to do everything alone. Not anymore. Business and life are challenging enough already. I've learned to seek out every advantage I can find. There are some who do not agree. They consider themselves proud do-it-yourselfers. I guess?As to the matter of whether and what people can do for themselves, that's an interesting topic for me. It gets into many issues that touch on what...

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