Kelvin Broadus

About a month ago, I had the pleasure of going to the Grand Canyon for the first time. We were in Utah for a family reunion, and one of the activities was to go hiking there. Normally, when I go on trips with my wife, we go to places in the Caribbean – always looking for a beach – and rarely explore the continental U.S. In fact, I’ve traveled much more outside of the U.S. than actually within it. Nevertheless, it was a very interesting trip and it showed me some of the vast beauty that exists within my own country, encouraging me to see more of the major tourist spots that are available.

Unfortunately, the pictures from the trip don’t even begin to give justice to the amazing scenery as it appears in person. But, they do provide some insight into the magnificence of the Grand Canyon, and why it is so deserving of the title, grand.

As I looked over the rails, and from the top of the rock I was standing on, I simply thought to myself, “how is this thing so gigantic and astonishing?” As I reflect on it, two words come to mind: time and consistency. This canyon, the mountains, the lakes, and so forth did not become so impressive overnight. It also was not time alone. Actually, it was the consistency of erosion over extended time that made the difference. In such, we all can learn a lot by applying those principles to our own lives.

Far too often, we desire to have these amazing accomplishments occurring in our lives. We want to start this billion-dollar company, be the best athlete or performer, excel in our studies, or improve our health. We have all of these dreams of grandeur and desire for our own situations to be as awe inspiring as these natural attractions. Yet, we don’t want to put in the work consistently enough to make a difference. No matter what you want to accomplish, however, you must put in the work. You must apply the productive steps needed, consistently and over time, in order to achieve it. There is no way around it.

Success is not something that occurs overnight, and for the rare times that it does, it normally doesn’t last because people don’t know how to maintain what they didn’t have to learn how to build. But don’t be discouraged! You truly can accomplish anything you desire. It takes work, it takes time, and it takes consistency. If you don’t give up, your dreams will come true!

I was looking for something over the weekend, and just like I always advise, if what you're looking for isn't where you think it should be, start looking in places that it shouldn't be. This is what I did; I started looking everywhere else.

Don't miss the message in that statement though…

• If you don’t generate the success you desire in the business you’ve been trying to build it in, start looking at business ideas that you had never considered.

• If you don’t obtain the job opportunity that you want in the place that you’ve been looking, start looking for that opportunity somewhere else.

• If you don’t find the love of your life where you’ve been looking, start looking somewhere else in a different scene with types you never before considered.

• Ultimately, if you don’t find fulfillment in whatever path you’ve chosen, consider trying a different approach and path.

Life is too short and too limited (only one attempt) to remain stuck in limbo trying to make something work that will never work, and trying to get opportunity where there is none. Learn to look elsewhere, when what you seek is not where you are currently looking!

Take a chance sometimes, it may prove worthwhile.

As we humans become more and more health conscious, the idea of filtration and pure ingredients is increasingly important. We desire for our water to be filtered or purified so that no contaminates will be consumed. We desire for our food to be organic whereas no additional toxins, pesticides, or hormones have been added. We even desire for our beer to be filtered for a cleaner, lighter taste.

The process of filtering does exactly that. It filters; it cleans the substance of extra or excess material that doesn’t belong to it in its pure form. The purest and most natural form is normally the healthiest state of whatever substance we are using. It also allows that substance to function (work) better, such as purified water being absorbed more easily into the body.

Just the same as we look for filtration in our foods, we also need to apply the concept of filtration in our work/business. As individuals, we should take time periodically to review our own work habits and see how additional contaminations (bad habits, procrastination, distractions, etc.) are now affecting our work ethic. Likewise, if we do find such contaminations, then we know it is time to start filtering these negative aspects from ourselves so that we may become more focused and productive.

In business, you should take some time periodically to examine your employees and processes. Over time, bad habits develop and inefficient process are created. We have to regularly examine our businesses to see who or what is causing a negative effect on our output and, at times, remove them. The cleaner your processes, and the more focused your employees, the more productive and profitable that your business becomes. Coincidentally, the less that you filter these things from your business, the more likely that your business is to become filtered out (negatively) from the competition because of customers finding others that are more efficient and effective.

Don’t allow yourself or your business to become filtered from the competition. Filter, or prune, your own performance. Evaluate and improve your own business’ processes. Take time to clean up your own work effort so that you will become more valuable and focused wherever you are. Overall, take the measures necessary so that you don’t become filtered out.

Your entering, inner perspective or approach for a situation will determine your the results, or the result of the results. ;-)

Take time to understand what this means. If you approach a situation with the idea of it being negative, you are already sabotaging yourself in how it will turn out. If you believe you will be defeated, you pretty much will be defeated. It is more about your inner perspective than the outside situation.

Then, even if it doesn't turn out the way you'd like it to turn out (the result), you have a choice based on your way of thinking on how those results will affect you (result of the results). People give far too much power and credit to their circumstances, and not nearly enough to their perspective of the circumstances.

Whereas, you can have a bad situation, and still focus on the good that came before, during or will come after it due to the lessons learned. You can also have a great situation, but because of your negative mind, still only focus on and expect something bad from it. The choice is just that, yours... your choice! Choose wisely!

~Kelvin

"They make me sick!"
"He/She made me so mad."

These are the types of statements the average person makes, the type of statements that all of us have said at one time or another.

Yet... why? Why give other people the power to MAKE YOU do anything that you don't want to do? Why let anyone or anything MAKE YOU be anything you don't want to be?

Those statements alone are evidence of allowing oneself to be passively controlled. Instead of allowing anyone to MAKE YOU do anything you don't want to do, start CHOOSING to BE or DO what you want!!!

If you don't want to be mad, stop letting others MAKE YOU mad! You have no control over other people but you do have control over your own reaction to things!

Approach your day with the attitude that you will have a victorious day where you are happy and things work out in your favor. Meditate on and affirm this idea daily, and choose to challenge anything that challenges that truth for you instead of just accepting it. Believe it or not, you DO have a say in all of it! You can choose to be happy, or you can ALLOW others to MAKE YOU unhappy, but either way, the choice is yours!!!

Stop allowing others to MAKE YOU anything, and choose today to MAKE YOURSELF all that you want to be!!!

Imagine this…

A lion is born in a zoo and raised its entire life there, where everything is fed to it and it is nursed by humans throughout its youth.  Take that a little further and consider for safety purposes that the zookeeperss often it by raising it alongside many of the very same animals that it would normally eat in the wild.  This naturally wild animal is now acting as a friendwith its natural prey.

So now you have – for all aesthetic purposes – a lion withall of the external qualities of the “King of the Jungle” but none of the inner qualities.  It has the potential to command the wilderness as well as the full appearance, but if placed in the wild would be easily conquered.  The only solution to ever integrate it to the jungle is to slowly expose it, through a mentoring type of manner, into its rightful position of authority.

Just the same, the business world is often like a jungle.  It is filled with employees who have the look, style, and talk, but without the “real world” understanding or experience to be able to “walk the walk.”  As employees, although we often know that we have greatness, we must be willing to learn from the leadership that will help mold us into the levels of excellence of which we are capable.  As leaders, we must realize the strengths of all of our reports in order to properly develop them into the powerhouses they are meant to be.  In all cases, we must value the importance of the training, guidance, and mentorship required to take us from looking the part to living the part.  So, let us embrace these important principles so that just as the domesticated lion can gain its true colors and rule the wild, we may also grow into our potential and master our strengths.

~Kelvin N. Broadus

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Kelvin N. Broadus is a Life Enjoyment Expert, Inspirational Speaker, and Prophetic Life Empowerment Coach, who helps people to maximize their potential through speaking and coaching services. For more information, go to www.kelvinbroadus.com.

Very often people say that the “great things,” such as money, that you receive in life are the fruit of your labor. Reconsider this idea though. Our effect on the world is the fruit of our internal realization. What we get in life (money, friends, etc.) are the consumers of our fruit.

Think about this… for our money, success, friends, etc, to be the fruit, we would have no pleasure from them just as a tree doesn’t eat/consume its own fruit. Fruit is what the TREE produces, NOT what the tree receives. The tree receives water, fertilizer, etc. The owner of the tree receives money for the fruit it sells that the tree produced.

Just the same, your “fruit” that you bear is what you produce (what you give to others), NOT what you receive. Sure, people may pay you for your fruit, but that comes from the consumer.

Remember also that YOU are NOT the tree. You are the farmer. You can have MANY trees. Each talent or skill that you develop is another tree and you have to take care of, invest in, and maintain each of them in order for them to produce the proper effect (fruit) that is GOOD ENOUGH to be sold in the market. If one skill is your social development, then that “tree” should produce such good social skills (fruit) that you gain many new friends (consumers) from it. If it is a job skill, say management, then the fruit is the management ability, and the consumers are the employers who pay you for that fruit.

So, bearing fruit is not exactly making money or getting any specific benefit; bearing fruit is PRODUCING something valuable to others outside of you. The value of your fruit, however, is determined on how its effect on others being great enough for them to seek after what you have produced. Therefore, start bearing more fruit today as you continue creating this “life worth fighting for!”

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Kelvin N. Broadus is a Life Enjoyment Expert, Inspirational Speaker, and Prophetic Life Empowerment Coach, who helps people to maximize their potential through speaking and coaching services. For more information, go to www.kelvinbroadus.com.

I’ve often heard people refer to issues, negative issues, as, “it’s no big deal.”

Teenagers, for instance, will often say about the things that adults have learned through experience, that it’s no big deal. Some examples are:

- Watching constant violence on TV or video games.
- Immersing themselves in the overly sexual media.
- Allowing people to disrespect them as long as it is followed by laughter.
- Casual use of cigarettes and alcohol, underage.
- Other dangerous behaviors and mentalities…

But, it is that mentality, that IS a BIG DEAL.

It is that “not a big deal” type of mentality that causes people NOT to take the important things in their life serious enough, like: unfulfilled careers, poverty, mediocrity, living fearful, a lack of confidence, etc…

At some point, if you EVER want to be successful in anything, or EVER want to achieve any dreams. You will have to look at all of the factors in your life as significant.

You must get rid of the things that don’t add to your pursuit of those goals!!!

So, when it comes to those negative habits, even starting as early as childhood, teenage years, or early adulthood, those little things that are considered “no big deal” are the very things that will hinder you from demanding the respect, confidence, and character that is required to make your dreams come true!

If you want to make it the right way, self-respect, honor, dedication, and discipline are VERY BIG DEALS, and you must remove things that are counter to that!

Is changing your life for the better a big deal to you??? If it is, it is also time to re-prioritize what is a big deal, and what is not, in your life, and using those priorities to guide you.

No big deal??? Hardly!!!

Living the life you deserve is a very big deal, but it starts with the mentality that you accept! Once you have the right mentality, you will truly then discover what is a big deal or not!

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Kelvin N. Broadus is a Life Enjoyment Expert, Inspirational Speaker, and Prophetic Life Empowerment Coach, who helps people to maximize their potential through speaking and coaching services. For more information, go to www.kelvinbroadus.com.

Today was one of those days that just make you… sigh. Hahaha

First, it started out with car issues of a bad battery. The wife’s car would not crank at the gas station, so before work I had to go push the car from the pump, carry around this 60lb battery (which costed about $170), and then head in to work an hour late.

On the way in, I did have a ray of sunshine when I was in the city and gave a homeless guy a bottle of water, and he said it was “right on time” while doing a little dance of joy.

I’ve had an injured shoulder for the past week, which is still injured (though I still keep working out and training in my boxing and TKD), but it has been sore all day.

And so forth and so on…

Now, here is the positive side: I remain positive through it all!

Despite the issues, I have something to be thankful for in every situation. I had enough money to by that overpriced battery. I still made it to work. I was able to do a good deed or two. And despite the injury, I can still keep functioning as normal (in fact, if I had to defend myself, I guarantee that the injury would NOT stop me… either that, or the pistol would come into play.).

So, on that note, consider what you do in the midst of your stressful times. Even more consider what you have in place to help provide you with security.

First and foremost, keep a positive attitude!!!

Beyond that though, what do you have in place to keep you taken care of in the event of unexpected expenses? If the answer is nothing, it’s time to build something now!

• If you had unexpected car issues, are you prepared?
• If you had unexpected injury, are you able to go to the doctor?
• If a new bill pops up, are you prepared?

If not, consider starting a new business to increase your streams of income. For one, you can contact my business for entrepreneurial consulting by going to www.kelvinbroadus.com.

If you already have a business and need assistance with getting it out there, strengthening the brand, while also being able to earn an income from the same efforts you are using to build your existing business, click here.

Regardless though, remember that issues will come. There will be plenty of days where you feel like, “WHAT A DAY!” The key is being in the right frame of mind to be able to look at even the most stressful sitautions with a peaceful mind, and positioning yourself otherwise to get through them.

Make sure to take the time to invest in yourself that you too may be prepared for whatever could come your way. Develop your peace, and remain prepared…

…as you live a “life worth fighting for!”

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Kelvin N. Broadus is a Life Enjoyment Expert, Inspirational Speaker, and Prophetic Life Empowerment Coach, who helps people to maximize their potential through speaking and coaching services. For more information, go to www.kelvinbroadus.com.