Acres of Diamonds

One of the most interesting Americans who lived in the 19th century was a man by the name of Russell Herman Conwell. He was born in 1843 and lived until 1925. He was a lawyer for about
fifteen years until he became a clergyman.

One day, a young man went to him and told him he wanted a college education but couldn't swing it financially. Dr. Conwell decided, at that moment, what his aim in life was, besides
being a man of the cloth - that is. He decided to build a university
for unfortunate, but deserving, students. He did have a challenge
however. He would need a few million dollars to build the university.
For Dr. Conwell, and anyone with real purpose in life, nothing could
stand in the way of his goal.

Several years before this incident, Dr. Conwell was tremendously intrigued by a true story - with its ageless moral. The story was about a farmer who lived in Africa and through a visitor became tremendously excited about looking for diamonds. Diamonds were already discovered in abundance on the African continent and this
farmer got so excited about the idea of millions of dollars worth of
diamonds that he sold his farm to head out to the diamond line. He wandered all over the continent, as the years slipped by, constantly searching for diamonds, wealth, which he never found. Eventually he went completely broke and threw himself into a river and drowned.

Meanwhile, the new owner of his farm picked up an unusual looking rock about the size of a country egg and put it on his mantle as a sort of curiosity. A visitor stopped by and in viewing the rock practically went into terminal convulsions. He told the new owner of the farm that the funny looking rock on his mantle was about the biggest diamond that had ever been found. The new owner of the farm
said, "Heck, the whole farm is covered with them" - and sure enough it was.

The farm turned out to be the Kimberly Diamond Mine...the richest the world has ever known. The original farmer was literally standing on "Acres of Diamonds" until he sold his farm.

Dr. Conwell learned from the story of the farmer and continued to teach it's moral. Each of us is right in the middle of our own "Acre of Diamonds", if only we would realize it and develop theground we are standing on before charging off in search of greener pastures. Dr. Conwell told this story many times and attracted enormous
audiences. He told the story long enough to have raised the money to
start the college for underprivileged deserving students. In fact, he
raised nearly six million dollars and the university he founded, Temple
University in Philadelphia, has at least ten degree-granting colleges
and six other schools.

When Doctor Russell H. Conwell talked about each of us being right on our own "Acre of Diamonds", he meant it. This story does not get old...it will be true forever.

Opportunity does not just come along - it is there all the time - we just have to see it.

Earl Nightingale
1921-1989, From Our Changing World Radio Transcript
Author of The Strangest Secret

This is such a great story. We all have opportunities in our lives and we all will find our acres of Diamonds, whatever that may be.

I hope this has given you hope in some way.

Good Luck with all of your opportunities.

Lori

Lori McDowell
Internet Ceo Moms
Helping Families Work From Home Since 1999

Today I Will Make A Difference

Read the following and just imagine if everyone did the following activities! It would make such a huge difference for so many people. Just something to think about!


Today I will make a difference. I will begin by controlling my thoughts. A person is the product of his thoughts. I want to be happy and hopeful. Therefore, I will have thoughts that are
happy and hopeful. I refuse to be victimized by my circumstances. I
will not let petty inconveniences such as stoplights, long lines, and
traffic jams be my masters. I will avoid negativism and gossip.
Optimism will be my companion, and victory will be my hallmark. Today I
will make a difference.

I will be grateful for the twenty-four hours that are before me. Time is a precious commodity. I refuse to allow what little time I have to be contaminated by self-pity, anxiety, or boredom. I
will face this day with the joy of a child and the courage of a giant.
I will drink each minute as though it is my last. When tomorrow comes,
today will be gone forever. While it is here, I will use it for loving
and giving. Today I will make a difference.

I will not let past failures haunt me. Even though my life is scarred with mistakes, I refuse to rummage through my trash heap of failures. I will admit them. I will correct them. I will press
on. Victoriously. No failure is fatal. It's OK to stumble...I will get
up. It's OK to fail...I will rise again. Today I will make a difference.

I will spend time with those I love. My spouse, my children, my family. A man can own the world but be poor for the lack of love. A man can own nothing and yet be wealthy in relationships.
Today I will spend at least five minutes with the significant people in
my world. Five quality minutes of talking or hugging or thanking or
listening. Five undiluted minutes with my mate, children, and friends.

Today I will make a difference.

Max Lucado
From "On The Anvil"
Copyright (Tyndale Publishing, 1985) Max Lucado, Used by Permission

With more than 28 million books in print, Max Lucado has touched millions with his signature storytelling writing style. Awards and accolades follow Max with each book he writes. You can visit
his web site at: www.maxlucado.com

I know this is going to be my new motto and I hope it is yours too!

To your Success!

Lori

Lori McDowell
Internet Ceo Moms
Helping Moms Work From Home since 1999!
www.MomsForGreen.com!

A Motivational Poem By Author Unknown

My Comfort Zone

I used to have a comfort zone
where I knew I wouldn't fail.
The same four walls and busywork
were really more like jail.

I longed so much to do the things I'd never done before,
But stayed inside my comfort zone and paced the same old floor.

I said it didn't matter that I wasn't doing much.
I said I didn't care for things like commission checks and such.
I claimed to be so busy with the things inside the zone,
But deep inside I longed for something special of my own.

I couldn't let my life go by just watching others win.
I held my breath; I stepped outside and let the change begin.
I took a step and with new strength I'd never felt before,
I kissed my comfort zone goodbye and closed and locked the door.

If you're in a comfort zone,
afraid to venture out,
Remember that all winners were at one time filled with doubt.
A step or two and words of praise can make your dreams come true.

Reach for your future with a smile;
success is there for you!

The Power of a Day

How can you create a world-class career or a gorgeous life? The answer's a strikingly simple one: Live Great Days.

Your days are your life in miniature. Just focus on making the day ahead of you your best yet. Then get up and do the same thing tomorrow and the day after that and the day after that. These days will quickly become weeks. And the weeks will slip into months. Soon, you'll have just polished off your best year yet.

The question then becomes how do we install the habit of living great days - days where we work at congruence with our values and days where we are positive/excellent and passionate?

I've had tremendous success with a concept I call "30 Day Challenges". Say you want to grow the habits of daily exercise and high performance visualization in your life. Start by committing to these 2 new habits for the next 30 days, as it will take about 4 weeks before a new ritual becomes your New Normal. Then, start recording the fact that you followed through on these 2 daily commitments in your journal before you go to bed. After a few days, you will not want to break your track record. And seeing the victories of the past days fuels forward momentum. Giving yourself 30 Day Challenges to install new behaviors is such a powerful tactic for leadership and personal success.

Please remember, mastery and greatness doesn't come from one bold act that then defines your life. Instead, they come from those small, seemingly invisible daily wins that over time amount to a Best in World career and a World-Class Life. So start today!

Robin Sharma
Author of "The Leader Who Had No Title"

Handling Change

Change: We can actually choose to embrace it; or completely resist it!

We are at a time in our lives when there is much change occurring; and we are more frequently being faced with choices! We often don't see them
as choices; but that's what they are!

We are being given a multitude of opportunities to actually embrace change; or to resist it! This applies equally in our business and personal lives.

Sometimes the necessity for change just happens, and sometimes it is forced upon us quite unexpectedly!

Either way, we are often faced with tough decisions to make and our attitude towards our circumstance s are critical to whether we just survive, or come out thriving!

At other times we need to investigate the change ourselves: and its times
like these that we often have to admit to ourselves that something, or
someone, just isn't working in our lives any more. You might be feeling
like you're in one of those ruts which creep into our lives from time
to time? If you are, remember that a rut is really a grave with the
ends kicked out of it, and it is time to do something, perhaps!

Sure, we have very challenging choices to make when this sort of stuff occurs
in our lives; but we need to make those choices; act upon them; and
move on as wiser people.

Whether you are faced with change that creeps up and bites you on the butt; or whether you have to create a change for your own sake; the ability to accept things as they are, and move forward, is critical. One door closes; another one opens!

Do your best to remember this paradox of life: We can often stare for so long at the door which has closed; that we can miss a new one which has opened!

It is actually very easy to resist change; but keep in mind that resisting
change is actually hard work! Quite often, we don't even know that we
are resisting it; so like most other things in life, it's about being
aware!

Right now, change is being forced upon us in many ways; and for some of us, that could possibly be overwhelming. My suggestion for anyone who is feeling the pinch, is to remember that, necessity is the mother of invention so if you can get yourself into embracing the change which is forcing itself upon you, and get creative, then you may come out of your own situation absolutely shining!

Yes folks, our attitude towards change, does make all the difference!

We can choose to Embrace it ... or Resist it!

Remember: None of us have to do it tough on our own ... ever!
Because: doing it tough on our own ... is also a choice!

Phil Evans
Phil Evans is a Motivator, Business Coach and Inspirational Writer based in Australia.

I Do It Right! - Remember these 10 Keys to Success

• Integrity: Means always be honest. Know your principles and stand by them.
• Determination: Make up your mind to be successful. Resolve to let nothing stand in your way.
• Openness: To people, ideas and situations broadens our options and widens our perspective.
• Initiative: Means to act independently when necessary. Make a plan, and then begin to work on it. No plan is perfect, so do not wait until yours is before you begin to act.
• Resilience: Picks you up when a setback knocks you down. Recommit to your vision of success. Reaffirm your confidence in yourself. Then move on toward your goal.
• Imagination: Allows us to see the future. Develop and maintain the perspective of a child. Wonder why not and what if. Many successes come from seeing an old idea in a new way.
• Gratitude: Is an active way to thank others. Pass on to others the same help and prosperity you have received.
• Humility: Recognizes that success is usually the result of the effort and cooperation of many people. It is seldom the product of solitary actions.
• Think of others first: All of us serve others in some capacity. Use your abilities fully to help others benefit from their contact with you.

Read these 10 keys until you have them memorized and you can recall them simply by remembering “I do it right.” If you review these keys a few times a day they will help you remember what you have done so far that day. This should keep you focus regarding the path to follow that leads to your success.

Life is Like a Cup of Coffee - Inspirational