This Lit a Fire Under Me Like Never Before!

Every now and again I get an email from someone who has read my book or who has heard me speak either for AMI or EET and it touches my heart. And sometimes I get emails at the right time when I needed to hear them the most to make me realize why I do what I do. Why all of the sacrifice, hard work, and lack of sleep is all worth it.

Yesterday, I was blessed enough to get an unexpected email that truly re-ignited my burning desire to make 2010 the most Awesome Year ever. (Remember, you never know who's life you can impact at any time)

I'd like to share it with you because I believe we as a society we get really happy to share negative things (like all of the Tiger Woods jokes that are going around) and not so much to highlight the positive things that happen every day.

Lets stay positive and stay hungry and stay focused on what really matters the most in life. For me, I want to focus on leaving a positive legacy in this world. With every presentation, every book, every moment I want to spread an uncontrollable message of hope and belief in Self to make a better world.

Thank you to everyone that feels the same.

Here is the email in its entirety:


Hi Arel,

You probably won't remember me, as you met me very briefly in Sacramento at the Extreme Entrepreneurship Tour event near Fry's (I was the last one that you signed the book for at the end of the day). Nevertheless, I wanted to take the time to thank you for writing your book as it was exactly what I needed at the time.

More specifically, your chapter on building "unstoppable self-confidence" really hit home for me. I am currently in the process of building my own book of business (I am an Investment Advisor), and was going through a pretty severe self-doubting and gloomy period. After reading that chapter in your book, I realized I was attaching my self-worth to bringing in money for my family. Right now my wife is the breadwinner supporting my entrepreneurial endeavors, and since I'm not bringing in money, I felt like a failure. You helped me realized that was a completely false way of perceiving the situation. You said, "the secret to self-confidence is attaching your worth to something that never changes."

That hit me like a rock between the eyes. So simple, yet so profound. I haven't thought about spirituality for a LONG time, but that reminded me of the grander expanse of things. We are merely a grain of sand on an endless beach of a tiny rock in a pinpoint galaxy floating in an infinite cosmos. Strange how thinking of the vast calms the present. I now attach my self-worth to a "changeless change, " that is at the root of spirituality for me. So, thank you for that reminder. I really appreciate it. I have regained my confidence, and have a sense that everything will work out - one way or another.

I wish you the best in all that you do and strive towards. May you always find serenity, laughter, and happiness all the days of your life.

Thank you, once again,
Kipp

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If you'd like to get the First 2 out of 5 pillars of my book for Free, just go to http://www.startingpointbook.com. It includes the chapter on How to Build Unstoppable Self-Confidence

what will you get better in?

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I have been doing a lot of introspection of what it really means to "grow" or "get better".

Those phrases by themselves seem very general and vague. After a lot of conversations with my Team about how to feel fulfilled and grow, I realize the importance of getting as specific as you can to know if you are attaining that goal.

Here's the areas specifically I'd like to grow in

Physically
1) Doing Yoga for at least 20 mins in the morning as part of my daily routine. I will use my Rodney Yee Flexibility DVD as my daily guide.

Spiritually
1) I will start praying more and I will start with doing Mincha every afternoon and I will use my Siddur

Professionally
1) I will learn Internet Marketing to promote http://www.journeypage.com

Personally
1)I will be wake up at 6:45am every weekday, whether I want to or not.


These are my S.M.A.R.T Goals. What are yours?

Are you entertained or fufilled?...

Are you entertained or fulfilled?

Think about it, in your life are you entertained or fulfilled? I believe fulfillment is the feeling of truly contributing to the greater good and knowing that your life has a purpose and that you are giving.

A lot of people are just entertained with life (if they are even that lucky). Where they are getting as much as they can out of it (so they think) but in the end, when all is said and done their is a shallow feeling of emptiness.

Recently, a good friend of mine Emily Resnick, reached out to me for support on a HUGE goal she has (her deadline is January, *note the importance of deadlines to make goals real). And it showed me a perfect example of fulfillment. She is doing something that most people talk about doing but don't actually ever do in their lives. Run a marathon (how awesome is that!).

And she is not only doing it to personally feel good, she is doing it help out a much, much needed cause. She is running to help fund raise for Leukemia and Lymphoma, blood cancers that are the #1 disease killer of children and the leading fatal malignant disease of men and women under the age of 35.

But here's what struck me about what she is doing. She messaged me and said this "I'm excited about being a part of something bigger than myself." Wow, that really is the secret to fulfillment. It's about contribution in life. It's so easy for us to make excuse after excuse about why we can't give and why we can't contribute, and I find that if you act that way when you have little, you will act that way when you have a lot. Contribution of (time or money) is crucial to living a life of purpose and fufillment.

I really believe in this. I even dedicated a major portion of my best selling book, Your Starting Point For Student Success to this idea as a major tenant of the 4th Pillar to Success.


I recently have been feeling a little less than fufilled in my life (yes we all get there) so I donated my time and services to speak and teach hiphop to a local community center. And I can tell you that even though the students said they got so much out of it, I was the one that really benefited from the experience.

So when when Emily reached out to me for her goal, I knew this was a great opportunity to donate some of my funds as well. (and I've donated in the past to this great cause, my friend Annie is running for this too).

I know that Emily is looking forward to the road she has ahead of her, both literally and figuratively. And I applaud her efforts and the efforts of all who want to make the world better.

So what have you done to feel truly fulfilled lately? Or better yet what EXCUSE have you rationalized to yourself for why you can't donate your time or money for something bigger than you? **By the way when you break down the word "rationalize" it's root words are "ration-lies", think about it.**

I'd like to challenge you to give back in some form or another this week. Whether it be through your time or financial resources. I'd highly recommend supporting Emily with her journey. You can go to
http://pages.teamintraining.org/li/wdw10/eresnick to support. If you don't have the time because of your schedule, in less than 3 mins you can donate what ever you can to help Emily get to the starting line and finish off Leukemia and Lymphoma!

So you have two choices, if you've read this far, you can sit on your butt and do nothing which if this is how you feel about life, then you should go play in traffic. I know that might sound harsh but it's true. If you aren't committed to doing something, anything, doesn't matter what it is, to take action to better this world, you are just sucking up resources and wasting valuable space on this earth.

Or you can make the decision to take action and do something. Donate to give back at a local soup kitchen, play with your little cousin, niece or nephew let them feel loved. Support someone like Emily with a small donation to help end a seriously problem we are facing. It doesn't matter what it is. Just do something. Contribution is the secret to fulfillment in life.

The Difference Between Self-Esteem and Vanity

I Came across this great way of looking at self-esteem versus vanity and thought it was well said. I wish I could have put this in my book. Let me know your thoughts on the matter

"Self-esteem is based on the realization of one's capacities, of what can do. Vanity is the feeling that admiration and exaltation should be expressed for what one has done"
-Abraham Twerski

Featured on Inspired Life Radio

I did a great radio show today for Inspired Life Radio.
We talked about some great content for Teens and how parents
can better help them succeed!

Listen to the playback of the radio show here

My Book Featured on Essence.com

My new bestselling book, Your Starting Point For Student Success, was recently written about by Essence Magazine's website essence.com.

I am very proud to have my book covered by this magazine because I believe so much in the brand and the message behind Essence.

Please take a look at the Essence Article and let me know your thoughts!


Thank you again for all of your support on this endeavor to positively impact the lives of students.

How to Guarantee Your Child Will Be Successful Even After They Leave The House!

Understanding the most critical factor to your child’s success: The Average of 5

It’s a very exciting time for many parents right now. Your child has finished another year of school. For many of you it means that your child has graduated from High School and is ready to embark onto the next phase of life on their own. You are filled with a lot of pride for this major milestone but then at some point a thought hits you like a blitzing NFL linebacker:
You realize that your little girl or little boy isn’t so little anymore and they are going to have to start making a lot of decisions that you will have no control or influence over. Will they be okay? Are they going to make the right decisions? And how can you know if they will make it or not?!?!

There is one pillar to a successful foundation that will allow you to easily gauge the chances of your child’s continued success. It’s the most important key to guarantee continued proper decision-making and staying out of trouble. In my new book, Your Starting Point For Student Success, we call this pillar of success “The Average of 5”

The Average of 5 states that... read the rest of the article here

I am a Best Selling Author! and the Secret Formula I used to accomplish this goal

It has been a crazy journey, latent with failure after failure. Mess up after mess up, stress after stress. Anyone in my inner circle knows how crazy a process this has been. This dream has been something I fantasized about for so long and after making so many mistakes, I am proud to say that the hard work has paid off and I am officially the Best-Selling Author of Your Starting Point For Student Success. I reached the best seller list in 4 different categories on Amazon.com including #2 in the Self-Help Category! (Just under Wayne Dyer, not bad company I'd say)

It by no means was easy in any way but more fulfilling than I could have ever imagined. I have been running around, screaming, jumping off the walls, getting in touch with my family and friends to share in this moment. (I needed to slow down and drink some water because I nearly passed out from the excitement lol)

I am truly thankful to G-d for letting this dream become a reality, and I am thank for all of you that supported me on this mission.

Anything truly is possible. I went from being just a loser kid in the projects of Brooklyn to a Best Selling Author! I am certain the message of the book will positively impact the lives of all who read it, I am 100% certain of this.

I can say that this goal happened because I followed a very simple formula, a formula that applies to anything you want to achieve, anything.

I believe anything is possible when you follow this 5 step system for success
1) Choose Something you want
2) Find out the best approach in achieving your goal
3) Actually apply what you learned (this is an important part most people miss)
4) Go after it with pure passion and RECKLESS ABANDONMENT, make success the only option possible (surround yourself with this goal, dream about, make it part of your cells, breathe it, feel it)
5) Keep Going, no matter what, through all of the failures, mistakes, stress, negativity, nay-sayers and heartache, Keep going no matter what. As long as you keep going, failure can not win.

So, what is possible for you when you follow this system? What goal can you too achieve when you follow this simple yet extremely powerful formula. It works, every time.

I am so ecstatic right now to be living in this moment, to have reached this life-long dream. I truly am at a loss for words now, all I can say to everyone, to my creator, to everything is...Thank You...

How to Not Get Screwed in College

I recently did an interview with detentionslip.org the #1 Educational Blog as Voted by Time Magazine (And one of the top 25 blogs that exist!)

We talked about some really important points for getting the most out of your college experience. Here is a little bit of it.

From Detentionslip.org:

In the effort to bring you all things juicy in the education world we thought it might be interesting to offer you something with a slightly different flavor. How to not get screwed in your college experience. We caught up with Arel Moodie, author of Your Starting Point For Student Success who offered a few really interesting tips on how to make sure you don’t end up getting screwed out of what could have been a great college experience. High School grads (and teachers who want to help your grads succeed) listen up!

Read our exclusive interview HERE!

The Fastest Way To Create Success in Your Life Now

Failure Does Not Exist

“Every so often I meet an extraordinary individual whose unique perspective re-energizes and re-ignites our passion for success in all things. If you're feeling stuck or frustrated, Arel’s book is a great ‘starting point’ to get you going!”
- Victor Antonio, author of The L.O.G.I.C of Success,
College Diversity Speaker of the Year

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Failure Does Not Exist


Most people hate the idea of failing so much they don’t do anything worth doing so they won’t have to deal with failing. That’s crazy! It is perfectly okay to make mistakes—in fact, it is encouraged. As Nobel Prize-winning physicist Frank Wilczek once said, “If you don’t make mistakes, then that means you’re not working on hard enough problems. And that’s a big mistake.”

Failure allows you to learn how to become better at a much faster rate. My good friend and successful entrepreneur, Jason Duff, likes to call failure “accelerated learning.” It really is true: if you look at failure differently, it will open your mind to different and better possibilities. Whenever you think you failed at something, change your perspective!

Instead of beating yourself up, just think of it as a learning experience. This isn’t feel-good psychobabble. It’s the truth. Failure is the best teacher out there if you look at it from the proper perspective. So in truth, every time you fail, consider yourself lucky because you now have the opportunity to learn and grow from that experience.

To properly grow from a failure, just ask yourself the following “What can I learn from this experience?”

Why didn’t you succeed? Were you not prepared enough? Did you not take your test seriously? Were you late because you underestimated the traffic? Did you not study enough? Should you not say what you said again? The list goes on and on.

And trust me, this “learning from failure” technique will accelerate your learning curve, and you will eventually begin to fail a lot less!

In the next email you will learn exactly how to get what you want out of life!


Bridging the Gap Between You and Success

Right now, a gap exists in your life. A gap exists between where you currently are and where you want to be, between your dreams and your reality. This book, Your Starting Point For Student Success will help you close the gap between you and success.

When you finish this book, you will be rejuvenated and totally pumped... ready to take life head-on. But this book is not your life’s story; it’s just the first chapter—the prologue really. It’s a starting, or a turning, point for you.

Look, I don’t want to lie to you like a lot of other people out there often do. Many people make absurd comments such as, “This is the only book you will ever need to read,” or “This one book has everything you need to succeed.” That is a whole bunch of BS. No one book has all of the answers. The bottom line is if you just want to read one book and expect everything to be better, you are crazy.

Think of it like this: if you eat a salad once, will you become healthy? If you just go to the gym once, will you get six-pack abs? Absolutely not! It takes consistent actions over time of choosing healthy foods and working out to get in good shape. Your life is no different, and your success is no different.

BUT... if you get just one new idea from this book, then your time was well spent. If you put this book down with at least one concept that shifts your mindset and helps you grow, then you are on the right path. Just one idea could lead to complete success by influencing the decisions you will make from this point on.
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If you read this entire note then I hoped you enjoyed it! Why don't you go ahead and pre-order your very own autographed copy at http://www.startingpointbook.com and as my gift to you receive over $1,000 in Free bonuses. Thanks for the support, it's greatly appreciated :)

Find out what it's all about...

I have had a few people ask for some more information on what my new book
Your Starting Point For Student Success is all about.

So if you could benefit from learning any of the following things than I recommend
pre-ordering a copy at http://www.startingpointbook.com today so you can get a
huge discount on the book and receive over $1,000 in FREE Bonuses.

The 5 Pillars covered in the book are the following

The First Pillar:
The Key to Creating Success in Your Life, Fast

In this chapter you will uncover the secrets of:


* What separates truly extraordinary people from everyone else

* The one principle to obtaining your goals in life and school

* The “BIG Lie” that holds so many people back right now that can easily be overcame once you identify it

* The “street-smart” secrets to to set yourself up to get better grades

* How to capture the moment everyday and prevent the “I-can't-believe-the-day-is-over-and-I-haven’t-accomplished-anything" feeling


The Second Pillar:
The Secret to Building Unstoppable Self-Confidence

In this chapter you will discover:


* How to build a rock-solid foundation of self-esteem

* Why self-confidence is so important and its many benefits to get more out of life and school effortlessly

* How to avoid the # 1 self-confidence killer and become immune to its effects

* What to attach your self-worth to that which is unshakeable

* How to learn how to be more of who you already are instead of trying to change yourself to be something you are not

* The most effective and easiest way to defeat negative thoughts


The Third Pillar:
The Missing Ingredient and How to Get MUCH More Done in Less Time

In this chapter you will learn:


* The one thing most people just don’t do and how it is costing them big time & how you can avoid it

* The simple principle that will instantly allow you to get more done in less time

* The two major personality types that exist and how one in prone to getting things done and the other isn’t

* The secret of the “Slight Edge” philosophy and how it will allow you to improve your results by 200% in one year and 1,600% in 5 years!

* The “3 to Succeed” formula for setting and achieving goals (And it’s not what you think it is)

* The four words that will ALWAYS motivate you even when you are feeling down

* How to get higher grades and achieve more in this upcoming semester than any other semester before it

* The “Secret 8” tricks to getting more done in less time


The Fourth Pillar:
The Mystery Behind What Drives All of Our Actions

In this chapter you will learn:


* How an extremely common way of thinking is sabotaging your success (You are probably thinking this way right now and you don’t even know it’s a problem!)

* What our true ultimate goal in life is

* What the greatest source of happiness is and how you can tap into it right now!

* How to get out of any funk or unhappy mood simply and easily

* The biggest mistake people will make with the secret revealed in this chapter and how to avoid it so you can create a default state of joy


The Fifth Pillar:
The Single Most Important Determining Factor to Your Continued Success

In this chapter you will discover:


* The “Average of 5” rule which dictates if your success will be consistent or just a sporadic one-time event

* The simple question you can ask yourself to instantly make the right decisions in virtually every scenario and avoid negative peer-pressure

* What the "Rule of 3" is and how it will make you popular in school (in a good way of course)

* How to liberate yourself from destructive personality types that will do more to hold you down then lift you up

* How to find the right people to associate with


So if you or someone you love can benefit from this, please secure your pre-order today before time runs out this Thursday the 25th. http://www.startingpointbook.com to get the book :)

A Surprising Goal I Want You In On...

I have been doing a lot of thinking over the last 3 weeks since I found out about the passing of my grandmother and thinking about the things that are and have been really important to me and the dreams I've had since childhood.

One of my dreams will be coming true very soon. I will be publishing my first book very soon called Your Starting Point For Student Success which my mission of the book is to give entering college freshman a guide to the introduction of personal development which unfortunately is something not taught at most colleges and universities.

However coming out with the book is only one part of the that dream, the other part is getting it into the hands of the people who need it most. I want this to be a book that parents give their children who are graduating from High School this year to set them on the right course in college, I want mentors who have proteges in college to give this book to them to truly help them succeed in school and in life.

This book is short and easy to read because I understand most students don't like reading GARGANTUAN size books but don't let the size of the book take away from the impact it will have. Iit delivers the first 5 most important principles to living a truly successful life inside and outside of the classroom.

In this book, students will discover:


1. The most important key to creating success in your life now

2. The real secret to creating unstoppable self-confidence

3. The simple yet effective technique to help students get more done in less time

4. The one thing that drives all of our actions and how to properly understand it

5. The crucial environment factor you must control to guarantee your continued success



#1 NY Times Bestselling Author of Secrets of the Millionaire Mind, T. Harv Eker, said
"Arel’s principles are simple yet extremely effective. His book will show you how to create success in your life where and when it really counts.”


So the reason I wrote this note is to share a dream with you that I have because I know that is the only way a dream comes true, sharing it with as many people that you care about as possible. I want to get this book into the hands of as many students as possible this summer.

To do this I am going to start releasing excerpts of the book until it's release date on amazon.com in hopes that individuals like yourself will see this and realize the life changing power a book of this nature could have a on young student's mind.

I hope you will join me on this journey, only if you think the principles of this book will be beneficial to someone you care about. I remember when I was a student trying to find my way and I was trying to figure out what was the very first book I should read, what was that very first book to start my journey with and there really wasn't one, until now.

So keep a look out and please join me on this mission to make the lives of students better one page at a time!

Before It's Too Late...

Last week I had the wind knocked out of my lungs while I was boarding an airplane in LAX on May 5th, 2009.

As I was boarding the plane I received a phone call from my mother letting me know that my grandmother had passed away...

I immediately fell to one knee and felt an intense surge of emotion course through my veins.

I cried...it's been a long time since I cried in public.

As I was sitting on the plane ride I had all of these thoughts racing through my head, was I a good grandson? did she know how much I Loved her? Could I have done more? Did I make her proud…did I make her proud?

And then I had one realization that really caused me to feel pain. I have a burning desire to make my family proud of me. I, like many others, want to be someone that gives their grandparents many reasons to brag to their friends because of the accomplishments of their grandchildren.

As some of you may already know, I have a book coming out soon. It has always been a dream of mine to one day be a best-selling author. I will be the first author in my entire family. Since this is something really special to me and I knew my family (especially my grandmother) would be so shocked and surprised when they found out, I chose not to tell them.

You see, right now, no one in my family even knows I am writing a book. I wanted to keep it a secret. I had it all planned out in my head. I would send each one of my family members a copy of the finished book with a hand written letter expressing to them how much I Love them and how I would not be the man I am today without all of their Love and support. I envisioned them all calling me to congratulate me.

I envisioned the party that I was going to throw once my book officially mad the best-seller list and I could picture my grandmother there wearing one of her big hats, beaming and smiling with pride and Love. She would make my favorite meal; curry goat and oxtail with rice and beans and sweet plantains. She would come up to me and give me one of her tender loving warm hugs and whisper to me “well done, I’m so proud of you, you have made me feel 10 feet tall today”

Now, when my day comes, it will be different. I realize now that I could have had my book finished months ago if I just concentrated more and work harder toward it. I thought to myself that if I didn’t let all of the small insignificant tasks eat away at my time I would have had the book done, published, and printed in her hands before she passed. And the truth is, I know I am right, I could have worked more diligently on this project. It is one of my most important short-term goals right now because I know how much my book is going to positively impact the lives of the students who read it.

I believe the longest journey on earth is from our heads to our hearts. I’ve always intellectually understood the importance of taking fast action on ideas, having clear goals and executing on them. However, now I really emotionally get it and feel it like never before. Even though I will find solace knowing that she is looking down on me, watching over me, and supporting me, I would rather be able to share my experience with her in person.

So now this brings me to you. What goal have you been thinking about doing for a long time that you’ve been wanting to do so much, that you know once you complete will make your family and friends proud. What have you been wanting to do but have been putting off because you are letting the little things get in the way of the big things that really matter? What is that goal that is most important to you but you have not been spending enough time on?

Today is a gift and that is why it is called the present. Move forward with great tenacity and spirit, not just today but everyday. Make sure you recognize what that goal is for you and start doing whatever you need to do right now to move closer toward making it a reality. Make sure you live a life of no regrets and make sure you let the people who you love know how much you love them by saying it and showing it.

Before it’s too late, start living the life you know you deserve.

The one question to find out if you are pursuing your true passion?

It's something people struggle with all the time, "How do I know if this is my passion?" "How do I know if what I am doing is what I should be doing with the rest of my life?"

There is one simple yet extremely profound question that will answer this big life question. And here it is

"Could I see myself not doing what I am doing?"

I love motivating audiences through my leadership programs, When I hear students say things like at this following link, it makes me know what I am doing is my calling. I love helping students find their passion with my program entitled "How to Turn Your Passion Into Your Profession" , I could never EVER see myself not being a professional speaker. If I lose my legs, I will want to get wheeled on stage. If I lose my voice, I will type my messages on a screen, I truly love this with so much passion that I'm willing to pay the price to make it work.
Are you willing to pay the price for your dream? When things are going tough, will you break down or break through?

You know you have hit your true passion when you could not not see yourself doing it.
That's it

Offering False Hope To a Nation?

“We’ve been asked to pause for a reality check, we’ve been warned against offering the people of this nation false hope, but in the unlikely story that is America there has never been anything false about hope.” - 44

There is nothing more powerful than finding the words that give us meaning, that give us purpose. There is nothing more powerful than the moment where things actually click in your mind and you finally get it. You finally get what you’ve been striving for, for so many years. You finally feel your inner pitch fork resonating on a frequency that reigns true in your heart. There is little that compares to understanding a message so powerful that you are moved to tears and you feel more “one” than you ever have before.

There are many messages out there of personal development and no one idea is any better than any other. The true importance is to hear a message in a way that will resonate within you, the messenger is only a conduit to bring electricity into your heart and into your actions. You may hear something a million times, and you may do something hundreds of times over, but when you finally “get it”, when you finally just get it, the power in that moment is unforgettable.

My individual mission in life is probably not very different than yours. Like you I strive to make this world a better place in the little way that I can, to touch lives and bring an inner strength to people that makes this life worth living not just for others but for ourselves as well.

After speaking at a conference in Long Beach California empowering the minds of educators, directors and youth to be proactive about this upcoming time in our lives, to not only want change but to actively pursue it and face the challenges with bravery and hope, countless people came up to me and told me that they needed that message, they told me how much meaning to their lives they received in just one hour, they told me how much more they believe that it’s possible. It was hearing people tell wholeheartedly that I was able to give them the needed inspiration, the proverbial “shot in the arm” to start being proactive instead of reactive that sparked inside of me. Something powerful that if it had a name I would share it with you, but it doesn’t or I haven’t found the words yet.

My message can be seen as common sense with uncommon wisdom. I believe where too many others go wrong is that they miss the “2 Phase Approach”. Phase 1 is The Why and Phase 2 is the How. I strive to not only provide my audiences with the Why to get them motivated and fired up but also with the How so they can take that energy and actually do something with it. Too many times we get fired up and lose momentum because we just don’t know what to do next, your mission and mine is to help lead people through the 2 phases, though both are independently and equally important in their own right.

As I sat on the Jet Blue ride back home, I listened to the “Yes We Can” song over and over again, and literally found tears rolling down my face like an avalanche of unstoppable emotion because I realized that those 3 little words, though simple and heard many times truly sums it up for me. Because I know that you and all the people I’m fortunate enough to encounter can. Can be what they want and who they want. Yes we can to opportunity and prosperity, Yes we can and Yes you can heal this nation but most importantly yes you can heal yourself. Never give up fighting for what you believe in, never.

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It is my passion and purpose to add value to people's lives. If you want an amazing Black History Month Presentation for your students? Check our Arel's newest addition Will You Be Remembered?

Could Obama’s Speech Be the Worst Ever?

As I was sitting in the airport getting ready to fly to California to speak to a group of educators and youth I was scrambling to get in front of a TV screen to watch the inauguration. Everything seemed to be not going the way I wanted. My flight was at 1pm which means I had to be in the airport for the big speech, the security line was long, and when I got to my gate the cnn.com live stream was so busy that I could not even log on. And when it finally did connect the live feed kept skipping. So far not the most ideal situation. Strike one.

Luckily in the terminal they had TVs playing the speech live but they had two TVs going in the same place with one having about a 5 second delay from the other so it was very distracting to focus in on what was saying. Strike two.

Finally I grabbed a rocking chair and placed myself right in front of the TV set to hear Obama speak. Here comes the third pitch and it was definitely NOT strike three. More like a home run. Was I disappointed? Absolutely NOT! I would be the biggest liar if I said this was one of the worst speeches ever, in fact this is probably going to go down in history as one of the most pivot and powerful public speeches of all time. Anyone who watched this speech knew that Obama kept true to his powerful and colorful language which helps paint a picture that all can see and believe.

I sat there focusing on what he was saying and as many of my fellow Americans probably felt Obama’s words were being spoken directly to me. His message was that of personal responsibility and forward movement to create the world and the life that we want. The underlying message seemed to be that we are a special people, a special nation that will allow its citizen’s to rise to the level of our individual ambition. We can build bonds amongst our brother abroad and fight those that want to destroy rather than build.

To imagine where we have come in just 60 years, from a place where someone like me could not be served in the same restaurant as my mother to becoming the president of this great nation is amazing. Think about how much can happen in such a short period of time, in as little as a year or just in one day.

What will you do to make the next phase of your life different then the last? No matter what your political post we all have one president and have witnessed history. What history will you make for yourself? What new level will you reach when you are feeling tired, upset, frustrated, feeling like hope is lost and you just don’t have what it takes to succeed. What will you choose to do? What action will you take to realize all is possible with the proper belief and the proper consistent action? What will you do to leave behind a legacy that is worth talking about. What proactive choices will you make to make your life what you feel it should be? Will you choose to look at the world with a clenched fist or an open hand?

If today proves nothing else, it is proof that anything is possible if you believe. Change will not come over night, but have resolve that it will come. Will you be a builder or a destroyer?

Do you want an amazing Black History Month Presentation for your students? Check our Arel's newest addition Will You Be Remembered?

Dreams Come True

I felt with the historical inauguration that is happening tomorrow, it would fitting to pay tribute to our past leaders of change. As I mention in my presentation on Leadership called "Will You Be Remembered?" You Can Either Excel At Making Things Happen or Making Excuses...Which One Will You Choose Today?

Watch The Video and Read Along, I think you owe it to yourself to be moved by this



I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation.

Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand signed the Emancipation Proclamation. This momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of Negro slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice. It came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of captivity.

But one hundred years later, we must face the tragic fact that the Negro is still not free. One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination. One hundred years later, the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity. One hundred years later, the Negro is still languishing in the corners of American society and finds himself an exile in his own land. So we have come here today to dramatize an appalling condition.

In a sense we have come to our nation's capital to cash a check. When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men would be guaranteed the inalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check which has come back marked "insufficient funds." But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation. So we have come to cash this check -- a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and the security of justice. We have also come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of now. This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism. Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice. Now is the time to open the doors of opportunity to all of God's children. Now is the time to lift our nation from the quicksands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood.

It would be fatal for the nation to overlook the urgency of the moment and to underestimate the determination of the Negro. This sweltering summer of the Negro's legitimate discontent will not pass until there is an invigorating autumn of freedom and equality. Nineteen sixty-three is not an end, but a beginning. Those who hope that the Negro needed to blow off steam and will now be content will have a rude awakening if the nation returns to business as usual. There will be neither rest nor tranquility in America until the Negro is granted his citizenship rights. The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges.

But there is something that I must say to my people who stand on the warm threshold which leads into the palace of justice. In the process of gaining our rightful place we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred.

We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force. The marvelous new militancy which has engulfed the Negro community must not lead us to distrust of all white people, for many of our white brothers, as evidenced by their presence here today, have come to realize that their destiny is tied up with our destiny and their freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom. We cannot walk alone.

And as we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall march ahead. We cannot turn back. There are those who are asking the devotees of civil rights, "When will you be satisfied?" We can never be satisfied as long as our bodies, heavy with the fatigue of travel, cannot gain lodging in the motels of the highways and the hotels of the cities. We cannot be satisfied as long as the Negro's basic mobility is from a smaller ghetto to a larger one. We can never be satisfied as long as a Negro in Mississippi cannot vote and a Negro in New York believes he has nothing for which to vote. No, no, we are not satisfied, and we will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream.

I am not unmindful that some of you have come here out of great trials and tribulations. Some of you have come fresh from narrow cells. Some of you have come from areas where your quest for freedom left you battered by the storms of persecution and staggered by the winds of police brutality. You have been the veterans of creative suffering. Continue to work with the faith that unearned suffering is redemptive.

Go back to Mississippi, go back to Alabama, go back to Georgia, go back to Louisiana, go back to the slums and ghettos of our northern cities, knowing that somehow this situation can and will be changed. Let us not wallow in the valley of despair.

I say to you today, my friends, that in spite of the difficulties and frustrations of the moment, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal."

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at a table of brotherhood.

I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a desert state, sweltering with the heat of injustice and oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.

I have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

I have a dream today.

I have a dream that one day the state of Alabama, whose governor's lips are presently dripping with the words of interposition and nullification, will be transformed into a situation where little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls and walk together as sisters and brothers.

I have a dream today.

I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.

This is our hope. This is the faith with which I return to the South. With this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.

This will be the day when all of God's children will be able to sing with a new meaning, "My country, 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land where my fathers died, land of the pilgrim's pride, from every mountainside, let freedom ring."

And if America is to be a great nation this must become true. So let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire. Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York. Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania!

Let freedom ring from the snowcapped Rockies of Colorado!

Let freedom ring from the curvaceous peaks of California!

But not only that; let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia!

Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee!

Let freedom ring from every hill and every molehill of Mississippi. From every mountainside, let freedom ring.

When we let freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, "Free at last! free at last! thank God Almighty, we are free at last!"

Martin Luther King's I Have A Dream Speech

Countdown to Jan 20th

Do you want an amazing Black History Month Presentation for your students? Check our Arel's newest addition Will You Be Remembered?