Health, Wealth and Happiness

I wanted to be the first to say it.  The Sugar Bowl will be June’s last game.  But no one wants to hear that here.  Joni Mitchell said “You don’t know what you got ’til it’s gone.”

After the game, give it a week, he’ll announce that he’s sooooo grateful  for all the time he’s spent here on the Rock.  He wouldn’t trade it for anything.  Then he will ride out into the sunset on his white horse….for the last time.

It’s time.  If they win the game, (oh yeah the game) HE WILL HAVE ACHEIVED ALL HE CAN HERE.  I hit caps lock by mistake, but I think I’ll leave it.

BTW, Dave Reardon in the Star Bulletin ’scooped’ me on this.  He said what I was thinking, beating me in print by about 10 hours.  No worries.

Imagine you are flipping burgers at the golden arches for 10 bucks and hour.  You have seven good months of big mac building and the CEO comes walking in with Ronald at his/her side and says  “How would you like to teach hamburger stacking at Hamburger U for 100 bucks an hour?”

Are ya gonna say “no,   “ah   ah  it snows in Elk Grove Village,” or    “ah    ah  I really like it here in Hawaii where I get that 10 bucks an hour.”  NO, you’re gonna shake their hands and slink out the side door after signing the contract. 

Let’s say, just for fun, that Arthur Blank who’s had a bad year, everyone would agree, comes calling.  And he says “June, great job on the team, the Sugar Bowl (thanks for not beating our Dogs,)”    perhaps.

How’d you like to come in and coach the Falcons, and we’ll even give you a LOT of  leeway with picking some players for your offense.  We’ll even try to get the Colt kid on the squad.  No, not the one in Texas.  We”ll pay you 4 million per for 5 years.  That job is a gravy spot in the NFL, and a heckuva PR move for Mr. Blank.  And it doesn’t snow that much there.

What’s he gonna say,    NO?

And you wouldn’t?

June Jones hasn’t said anything about his plans for next year yet.

He got a raise which he took and gave to his assistants.  Ya might think that’s cuz he doesn’t care so much for the money.

Here’s my take.  He DOES care about the money, so he’s gonna get his when the season is over.  His sorely underpaid assistants need it now, and also since they may be out of a job this spring if he jumps ship.

This could be the start of his last rodeo, and he’ll be one of the top free agent cowboys after the first of the year.  If not Atlanta, the line will form to the left of places that will pay him more through commercials than what he makes for a whole year here.

As long as Hawaii has the budget of a mid-major conference team, and can’t pony up to keep him, it will be hard to keep a truly top name coach,  ever.

I hope I’m wrong.

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There’s no getting around it.  Not that I would want to get around it, but God came into my life at a time when my life, as it was, was kinda iffy.  As Leon Russell once said “one side’s ice and one is fire” in Tightrope.  That song-how cool was THAT song when it came out?  Glad I was alive for that, cuz the newer version is kinda watered down. 

But anyway, I was about to fall off the tightrope of life.

God MAY have caught me,     or not.  I was living my life in self-destruct mode.  Drinking, staying up all night, then going to work in the factory.  And more.  Go ahead and read between the lines.

This was not the first OR last time I was in danger, but it was a turning point.  I was headed down the slippery slope.  Psalms 107: 10 says “Some sat in darknness and the deepest gloom, prisoners suffering in iron chains”  Those chains of bondage involved drinking and other pursuits, and a pretty low self-esteem.

That was my time up to about 16 years ago.  I looked good, most of the time, but I really had some bad moments.  I always thought after the fact that if someone had had a video cam and followed me around that college town I lived in, we might have hastened the process of making wholesale changes.

I will never forget walking down the middle of a street in Whitewater, WI and actually crying out to God.  I was at the end of my rope, and He heard me.  It was soon after that I got some help from a minister in town, and I chased down an old friend that opened up the Good Book to/with me.

Within a week, I had gotten a job an hour away, that put me smack dab (that’s right, I’m bringing “smack dab” back too)  smack dab in a work environment where I was surrounded by Disciples of Christ.  They loved up on me, and I was invited to their church.  Even better,  I went.

It’s been a “Long Strange Trip” to make another 60s/70s/80s/90s reference, and I am so blessed each and every day.  It’s a new day.  I’m getting tired of crediting the rockers for their phrases/song titles, so I will let that one slide.

Anyhoo, I studied the Bible, heard the word, believed it, repented, became a Disciple, proclaimed Jesus as Lord and got baptized.  There was much rejoicing in heaven.

I didn’t write this to preach.  I have someone that really brings it, and I think he’ll do a blog-in Jesus for me.  That WILL be preaching. 

God gave me hope, and has blessed me beyond my wildest dreams since then.  (That’s at least a couple more blogs.) 

I wanted to get it out on the table, though.  I enjoy being a little on the edge as a writer, but my life is not the Hunter S. Thompson version.  Although as I stated, I was going in that direction at one time.

And, as we all know, if you don’t like what I am writing at one time or other, don’t read it.  Move on down the buffet to the next item….or not.  Skip the poi though, it’s over-rated.

Leads, what are they?  How do I utilize them to build my network marketing business?

I am going to prove that I don’t have to be an expert to write a blog on a subject.  If you’ve read previous blogs, you may be already nodding your head.

The best leads are those that have network marketing experience, and are looking for something right now.

There are leads for the cost of 3 million for 100 bucks, and they range all the way up to 20 bucks each, even more.  Watch out Einstein, here comes!  The fresh leads and the ones that cost the most MAY be better than the other ones I mentioned.  And they may not.  How do you get them?  Usually you purchase and hope.

Some have answered surveys and questionnaires, and are ready to be approached.  But you never know.  If you believe every thing you read, there are leads so good, they can’t wait for you to call them, or hit them with an autoresponder.

There are some that are really not quality.  These are so-called opportunity seeking sites that draw one in with the promise of a free laptop, or free whatever.  These sites never let you out until you purchase something, or subscribe to some magazine or something.  The other way is to disconnect your laptop and throw it out of the 11th floor window.  I know, not everyone lives high enough up…..Anyway, some of these people as if they weren’t tortured enough, end up as so-called network marketer leads.  Good luck.

The best leads I get are free, from my mentor.  He gets them in various ways, but I must say he is very creative.  Most of the time, the people are not surprised to be called, and I can almost always carry on a complete (short) conversation without a hitch.  Of course, if you are NOT in business with us, that is not an option.

No matter what, if you are power recruiting it takes a lot of dials to really see results.  Plan on making a thousand, then stepping back to take a look.  In my routine, I usually get 1/4 to 1/2 of those I contact to listen and allow me to send them more information.  There are days where the numbers are lower, sure.

Note, I did NOT say SELL them something, or pitch them.  I am simply calling to get permission to send more info, after which I follow up.  I make very short calls, and then get right back on the phone for the next ones.

If it’s internet marketing you are doing, you will need to deal with much higher numbers of leads.

If you want to find out how I do my calls, planning, follow-ups, strategy, etc, go to the Ultimate Success Coaching link in blue.  Go ahead, get the free stuff anyway.

If you are looking for a network marketing that has all of the 5 pillars in place click the blue link for Zrii Amalaki.

No matter what, happy 2008 and I expect we will cross paths on the trail……rick

It’s a dream season when YOUR team goes undefeated.  As we all know the Hawaii Warriors have yet to get any respect.  They looked ahead at the end of last year having beaten a pretty good bowl team then.  They planned, envisioned it, had summer practice picturing the undefeated season.

And they handled it.  Not just because of Heisman candidate, Colt Brennan.  Colt had a year that would be heroic for any other QB, but many of us sighed and said “it was OK.”

He rebounded from “The Hit” which put him out of that game and yet another the following week.  It just plain knocked him into next week.  I was there.  We were about half-way up the lower stands and it happened right in front of us.

I saw another big one like that, almost exactly 20 years ago.  Tim Lewis of the Packers had his career ended by a textbook (legal) head-on block by, of all people, Willie Gault.  Now Willie wasn’t exactly Hulk Hogan then, and I assume now.  He just caught him right….or wrong.  Kida wierd that I had almost the exact same view.  The sound of plastic on plastic shoulder pads rang throughout that corner of Lambeau Field.  But I digress.

Anyway Hawaii beat everyone that stepped into the ring with them.  Only a few were KOs, most were not the blowouts that we came to expect from last year.  Some happened long after those that vote on the polls in the East and Midwest were in their jammies and tucked in bed.

It ain’t the Warriors’ fault that big powerhouses chose to weasel out of their contract to play here (Michigan State) or ignore a possible made-for-ESPN opener (Michigan).  How DID that home opener with App State work for ya, you old wolverines?

Herm Frazier, who’s middle name is not ‘job-security’ struggled mightily getting capable opposition to come here.  Of course you have the jet lag babies, and those that are afraid of the lost time in the next week after they return home.  Waaaaah.  Hawaii had to tough it out and travel evey other week on average.

He did get-r-done for the following years, though.  Check out this scenario.  Assuming the 12-0 Wariors take it to the Georgia Yard Dogs, I mean Bulldogs, and end up 13-0, they will earn respect going into next year.

THEN, Week one, 08 with them heading into the Swamp in Tally, FL to take on those pesky Gators, a win there would surely force the early season voters to put the Warriors up there in the polls.

(In case you were wondering, Hawaii is NOT used to swamps, and  gators and snakes, but they do have a mean system in place.)

I know we have a LOT of games to play now, and next year, but this is how dynasties start.  I gotta hurry, I am waking up here.

No disrespect meant to the oft-dissed Bulldogs, but you can’t stop destiny.

Remember Manifest Destiny back in fifth grade?  It was the United States’ excuse for plowing across the middle and western parts of the land to claim it for us.  Of course, they got in boats and plowed right over to our rock in the middle of the Pacific, but I don’t want to discuss that with a bunch of readers here in Hawaii.

It’s Hawaii’s destiny to make believers on New Year’s Day.  Some of the same pajama wearers that missed the Colt Brennan express throughout the year can order pizza and eat at the big person table on the first.  Just watch.

I can think of at least 3 NFL teams that sorely need him the first round in April.

Anyway, to back it up:    Hawaii Warriors 41; Georgia Bulldogs 31.  You can put it on the board….  

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The class has started with the typical go-round of names and businesses.  If I hadn’t appreciated the worldwide aspect of this, I do now.  Fellow tribe-members from the UK, Canada, Australia, and many states, including us in Hawaii are checking in.  Wow, I am NOT alone.  Not everyone has the technical background, or a real focus (yet).  We are comrades working toward our internet future.

Perhaps a year from now we will gather to discuss our domination of internet business worldwide, but now we are laying the foundation.  I’m excited.  It’s new to me, but I am in this for the long haul.  The legendary story.  I grew up where we played with rocks and sticks, not video games and personal computers.  Now, look at me!

It’s the New Media (that I have attempted to explain to others already).  Now I am learning for real.  I am in the trenches.

I WANT A TRIBE.  I have a blog.  No one reads it yet…….even my mom, who I tried to trick into reading it, has passed on it.  Soon, it will be read, and become a profit generator for me.  I LOVE to write.  I expect that there are at least some out there that will enjoy reading at least half as much as I love writing it.

Network Marketing is an interesting animal.  It’s a tiger.  Are you a tiger or a bunny?  Eagle or a duck?  OK, I digress.  I expect to adapt this opportunity to be profiting as a result of the blog, the Google Rankings, just the possiblility of having a huge, global sphere of influence, due to my internet involvement.

Using the Power Triad, and the Charm Formula will allow me to be aware of the tools avaliable to me.  I am really fired up now.  The New Media Matrix brings the big picture into focus.  There is SO much at my fingertips.  WOW.  Stay tuned. 

It’s always the prettiest, most smiling young lady in the Pharmacy.  She cranks up the friendly smile to an 11 and asks THE question:  “Would you like your flu shot today?”  She maintains the level 11 even as I say no with a look of horror on my face.  It moves to a level 10 as I comment  “Please don’t poison me.”  She keeps smilin’ and simply looks for her next victim.

It’s really hard to find fault with the new Safeway.  They have raised the bar for groceries in Honolulu.  Heck, this would raise the bar in Laguna Beach.  It’s full of class, and cool departments….probably 200 kinds of cheese.  But then there’s the flu-shot lady.

See, we were brought up to TRUST the MD, the Family Doc.  We did what we were told.  Now many of us in the baby boomer department are finding that our parents are in nursing homes totally dependent on multiple prescriptions.  Some of those pills are there simply to ward off the bad effects of the other pills.  I mean the big Pharmaceutical Companies have larger budgets than some European Countries.

People that push these pills to the Drs get paid an awful lot.  I know a lady that got fed up and walked away from her (high) salary with a Pharmaceutical giant cuz they insisted she ‘push’ one day ritalin pills for kids. 

Anyway, where was I.  Yeah, when the ‘experts’ tell us that we shold have a flu shot, some of us say “OK, which arm” or is it the shoulder?

Blindly we allow them to put Thimerosal carrying along with it a host of heavy metals into our system.  And btw, the flu virus itself.

My 85 year old friend.  Stop right there.  Anyone that has made it to 85, living healthy, with genes of the men that hit a hundred before him.  Who still drives, works, manages people and makes a lot of money.  I’m gonna pull up a chair and listen to what THAT guy has to say about health.

He, who btw has raised at least 6 children that are Drs, was ‘tricked’ into taking a flu shot this fall.  The Dr was not honest with him, and before my friend knew it, the Dr was about to stick him.  He sighed and said, OK, but really did not like the whole scenario.

Well, guess what.  As he had the previous 2 times when he got a shot, HE GOT THE FLU.

Anyway, we need to be more healthy.  There are so many alternative health options today.  I went to my Acupuncturist today and left feeling great.  My Integrative Medicine Dr almost refuses to offer a prescription.  There are so many other ways.

My wife, (Dr. Malia) a Holisitic Chiropractor has opened my eyes to so much more where the body heals itself.  She has made it (Real) clear how my past diet had led to my past health issues.

I don’t use caffeine anymore, watch the sugar, salt, red meat and anything with preservatives.  (Want to know where THEY come from?)  For years I have used vitamins, now I use the BEST, along with other recommended supplements.  Each day I drink Zrii, a tonic based on 5000 years of Ayurvedic Medicine.  It is endorsed by the Chopra Center for Well-Being.

Dr. Deepak Chopra says in his new book  “The scientific community has shifted from outright rejection and ridicule of alternative healing approaches to serious investigation.  If you access the National Library of Medicine’s database, you will find over forty thousand articles on alternative and complementary medicine with over sixteen hundred on herbal medicines alone.  Meditation, yoga, massage, and nutritional approaches are increasingly embraced as maionstream tools for healing……Almost every pharmacy in America (is) carrying its own line of natural medicines.”  Read the book Perfect Health, now.  You will see why it is a best seller.

Anyway, I gotta go to the Safeway and get some natural apple juice for my wife.  Her gall bladder is acting up.  (No flu-shot lady at THIS time of night.)

she hasn’t, I know it….I think it’s cuz I didn’t read my neice’s story she wrote for HS Lit class.  I admit it, I did not read it.  It sat, neatly typed on my mom’s desk for me all 4 days that I was there back in Oct.  I guess the Bears game, and some late night Google searches on her lap top were all more important.  I just kept putting it off.

C’mon, it wasn’t flagrant.  I spaced it.  Honest uncle mistake.  Chelsea doesn’t know, (I don’t think.)  Heck, we’re both on Facebook, talk about uncle Rick being progressive, or is it regressing.  I don’t know. 

Since I enjoy writing.  So I know I gotta read others’ stuff.  I’ll just sweet talk her, and we’ll be cool again. 

Not sure, though, she HAS over 600 friends, I think.  What if she told them all how cruel her uncle is.  I am going back to thinking she doesn’t know I didn’t read it.

And how does uncle Rick act cool with the neices and nephew anyhoo?  I mean, Chelsea swore on her Facebook entry today, I guess she’s ‘in trouble’ Monday.  That’s the edited version.  I mean, should I say something?  HELLO, she’s got like 600 friends.

That’s crazy.  I haven’t met 600 people in my 51 years, and she’s got that many to say that she’s their friend.  WOW.  What if I said something to her about her swearing, she could tell 600 people how square her uncle is!  Heck they probably say that word too.  (I know, I know, I used to say that word, but I gave it up about 14 years ago, btw, I never typed it for 600+ people to see.)

I know, by the time I wake up tomorrow, she’ll have edited it, and moved on to another crisis.

Oh yeah, back to mom.  You know I married the coolest lady in the world and she gives great gifts.  Mom just got her Harry and David fruit basket from us, and I know we BOTH signed the card.  It’s time to get back on her good side.

BTW, I DID read one of my mom’s books, actually two.  She is a rather well-known children’s author, and her book, The Legend of Lady Ilena, by Patricia Malone is great.  Order it from your local book store, and give it to a girl from the age of 10 to 16.  I bet she’ll love it.  See mom, I got your back.

Note to any of mom’s writing buddies that may read this.  Come on, help me out here.  Tell her to back off.  I am good most of the time.  Heck, my dark years are all in the rear-view year.

And besides, I gotta be on all of your good sides, I am part of a book that will come out next year.  (Thank God I Have A Home Based Business)  I’ll get to THAT later, but suffice to say that I will preview my chapter in the book here, so stay tuned….and Chelsea, just email me that thing to read.       Uncle Rick

I’m probably gonna hear about this, but Speak English already!

I get it, the land of opportunity, the melting pot, bring us your tired, your down-trodden.  I would be fighting to get across the Rio Grande if I were in that situation too.

You know, I can order food when in Mexico, sorta.  I can find the bathroom.  Heck, if I lived THERE, I would speak the language.

The deal is, I was at the unemployment office the other day.  First of all, the group that came in didn’t seem to speak our language.  We Americans are giving them money for not working.  No problem, that’s how it works.  If you’re eligible, get some money.  But is it too much to ask to have you speak our language when you are in the office where they cut the checks?  c’mon.

Then, about 5 minutes later, they had to call an interpreter to conduct another interview.  I mean the fact that they HAD a person that happened to speak Yabba Dabba do is amazing.  OK, I know.  It was some important language,  blah, blah, blah.  No disrespect meant, but it sounded like yabba dabba do.

Then, I happened to stop into a McDonalds.  This was before my wife and I watched  Super-Size Me.  So what’s more American than McDonalds, or Chevy or good old apple Pie?  They have Haupia pie here in Hawaii, which is another name for coconut, I think.

Anyhoo, the small person that took my order did not speak (much) English.  These kids, from other lands are taught just enough to take an order.  You go off the script, forget it.  I love to joke with the help, and hopefully make them laugh or at least chuckle.

Nope, no more of that.  No jokes, no playful banter, and certainly no questions about trans fats.

Not that long ago, I was working in a place that thankfully, I will never have to work in again.  Enough said about that.  Anyway, all of a sudden one day, a group of people showed up to picket.  They were trying hard to do things to dissuade people from doing business with me.  Trying to hurt my income.

Turns out, they don’t have a beef with my company, or the company that we are directly associated with.  These people have a gripe with a company that our two companies assciated or partnered with. THAT company took over management of a hotel, and put a bunch of these people out of work.  Sorry folks, but new managers and owners do that.  They get to.

So I went to confront a couple of the picketers, they were almost in my lap anyway.  They just stared back at me and would not talk.  Why?  They don’t speak English.  Hello, or is it Ola or something else.  Anyway, can’t you learn the language before you go picketing, trying to hurt the performance of other workers?

I guess they could go and work at McDonalds anyway….

I intend to solve my issue with this situation by avoiding BOTH of these establishments, and that employer…I hope I don’t run out of material to talk about….in English.

I do what I love and I love what I do.              by Dr. John Demartini

I wanted to share some of my favorite sayings, or affirmations,  so…

If I had a choice of being rewarded on 100% of my efforts or 1% of what 100 others do-I will take the 1%, that’s the power of network marketing.     someone, para-phrased

I am worthy, for I am part of the divine perfection.   Dr John Demartini

Whatever I think about and thank about, I bring about.   John again.

We all die.  The goal is not to live forever; the goal is to create something that will.  unknown

If God be with us, who can be against us?    Bible, paraphrase

Garbage in, Garbage out.     someone

Take out the trash.     Nick Nolte’s character, The Way Of The Peaceful Warrior

Take out the garbage!  Dr. Malia Emmerich

There is suffering in life, and there are defeats.  No one can avoid them.  But it’s better to lose some of the battles in the struggles for your dreams than to be defeated without ever knowing what you’re fighting for.      Paulo Coelho

I want, I allow, therefore IT IS.      The Law of Attraction

If you are not the lead dog, the view is always the same.       someone

Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it.  Boldness has genius power and magic in it.                    some famous dude

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart as working for the Lord, not for man.   God’s Word, from the Apostle Paul

No matter what I’ve done or not done, I’m worthy of love.    Dr. John Demartini

Speak what you want, NOT what you don’t want.  Bill Britt

Time flies like the wind, fruit flies like bananas.     some silly boy    Good Nite,   rick