The Best Years of Your Life… Now!

This week we celebrate the Thanksgiving Holiday…

A holiday we trace back to the pilgrims who managed to survive their first year in the New World… 

In those days,  long ago,  the New World was a scary place.  Nobody knew how big it was because the eastern part of  what is now the United States,  was largely a gigantic forest…  So you first had to clear the land before you could plant seed and raise crops…

Those early pilgrim families had to band together and face the unknown -  with the help of the native peoples - they were able to survive and eventually prosper.

We are facing a “New World” once again.

The rules of the economic “game” are changing everyday.  But let’s put that aside this week.

It’s much more  important for each one of us to reach out and reconnect with our family and friends…

Make this holiday week a time where you mend fences and unite with your loved ones.

The pilgrims were able to survive because they trusted each other and reached out for and accepted help from their neighbors.

Be thankful for what you have and remember that whatever may come in the weeks and months ahead — the only thing of real value — the only thing that gives real meaning to life — is the quality of the relationships you have with the people in your life…

That’s something you still have control over.

Make a point of letting the people in your life that matter to you know how you feel about them.

 It’s time to make “I love you” a much more familiar phrase in your day-to-day world.

-Bob Baran

The “Intentional Self-Reliance” introductory video can now be seen at:  intentionalprosperity.com

The video introduces you to the “Intentional Self-Reliance Workshop” which will be going live — online — in a few days.

If you’ve been reading my blog postings over the last few weeks, you know I am very concerned about the current changes going on with our economic system.  I’m convinced we are only witnessing the beginning stages of what may be a very severe world-wide economic transformation that is going to affect everybody.

This is why I believe you must do whatever you can to protect yourself and your loved ones. The best way to do this is to become fully prepared to be able to take back control over those things in your day-to-day life you can still have control over.  

IT’S TIME TO LEARN AND PRACTICE SELF-RELIANCE! 

-Bob Baran

Remember the “Twilight Zone”?

There was always an ironic twist to every story… A surreal — almost too real — quality about the characters and the situations they found themselves involved in.

Lately, more and more people I talk to feel that a same kind of surreal quality about the “real world” out there.  

I heard a story recently that really fits the surreal “Twilight Zone” flavor of the times we find ourselves in.  I heard it on a late night radio program just a couple of days ago.

One of the talk show hosts was talking about his father — who’s job was to go into factories that were scheduled to close and purchase equipment so it could be used elsewhere…

Every time he would go into a factory and buy the equipment he would always run into factory workers who he would urge to contact the outfit who just purchased the equipment because they needed employees.

And to his surprise he would always hear the same response:

“No thanks, I’m going to stick it out here”

This astonishing answer coming from workers who could not believe that the plant they had been working in for years was going to close for good —  in a matter of days.

It’s called denial.

They couldn’t accept the fact that their day-to-day reality was just days away from changing permanently.  The writing was on the wall, the equipment was sold off the factory floor yet they still couldn’t accept it… They were going to hang around and see how things were going to work out — instead of going down the street and getting a new job.

Of course this true story was one of those you can only shake your head in disbelief when you hear it… How could anyone be that deluded about what was going on?

I think the answer is simple:

Most people will not change anything in their day-to-day reality unless they are forced to by situations beyond their control.  The real irony is that the situation usually gets beyond their control because they refuse to do anything about it until its too late!

Life is a dichotomy.

-Bob Baran

In my last blog I spoke to the reality that there’s no money for all the changes people are hoping for… 

We did however elect a President who absolutely inspires.

So let’s take a deep breath and look at what our new President elect’s own advisors are now saying about what he can realistically accomplish:

From the front page of  New York Times (online) November 5, 2008:

–The caution reflected the inevitable perils of taking control of the White House at such a difficult time, particularly after a campaign that stirred so much hope among voters. The economic crisis will certainly complicate Mr. Obama’s more ambitious domestic efforts like broadening health care coverage and cutting taxes for most Americans. His call for a change in the tone in Washington would require a sharp shift in history. Even with substantial Democratic majorities in the Senate and the House, passing major legislation could still be time-consuming for Mr. Obama and require compromise.–

Do you get the message?

DON’T WAIT FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO HELP YOU.

I’ll make another prediction:  You’re going to hear a growing theme of “self reliance” coming from our newly elected administration (It’s good and about time!) … Because the problems are so overwhelming that it’s going to take an enormous effort to reverse.  You’re going to have to become responsible for your own welfare in the coming weeks and months.

As you know I’ve been working on a video with the working title: “Radical Prosperity Mindset”. I’m happy to announce that Gwen and I have decided on an upgraded title more befitting and frankly kind of obvious when you think about it:

“Intentional Self-Reliance” 

So we’re moving ahead with this exciting new video.  In fact our new report – “Intentional Self-Reliance — 5 Radical Tips You Can Use Now”  will be on the web site within the next 24 hours so make sure you download your copy.

“Intentional Self-Reliance Workshop” is our new video that’s going to give you a step by step process for transforming your current mindset and your lifestyle into one you can face any challenge or change in the coming weeks and months…

As I’ve written before now that the election is over you are going to start being told the real immensity of the financial crisis we are facing.  I think the New York Times article is just the beginning of the “reality check” we are now all in for…

For those of you who know you have to take control of your day-to-day reality — the coming days are going to be a chapter in your life full of possibilities and opportunities.  

But it’s an attitude thing:  If you are prepared to amplify your personal self-reliance you’re going to successfully ride the wave of change…

If you choose to bury your head in denial or worse, wait for the government to help you out — just remember what happened in New Orleans, during hurricane Katrina.  

Don’t wait around…

Bob Baran

To the new President elect,

You are about to inherit a world in as much chaos as one embroiled in a world war.

So I don’t expect too much from you — as far as the government making drastic changes and starting new programs, etc., —  no matter what campaign promises you made.   It’s not going to happen for one simple reason:  

NO MONEY!

As soon as the election is over the “other shoe” is going to drop!

 Kind of like when you take your car in for collision repair — they always tell you that the “cost estimate” doesn’t include “hidden damage”.  I think there’s a lot of “hidden damage” that’s going to now be “discovered” as far as the global financial crisis and the expanding world economic recession is concerned.

Let’s not forget that there are forces beyond the control of any government now in play globally which will determine the “new rules” and the “new playing field” in the weeks and months to come.

Mr. President elect, your only real power may be to inspire us and the rest of the world to put our attention on “a better future”  and once and for all, break the hold of “dread” that seems to have cast a pall on all of us since “9/11″.

Please don’t promise us anything  — except that you will use your power to help us feel better about ourselves and our future.

We can do the rest.

Maybe that’s what a President really should be — the ultimate cheerleader! Someone who makes you proud to be who you are — focuses on what’s possible and points us in a direction that enables us to be confident in the future and willing to believe in our dreams.

We need you to inspires us with hope — not distract us with fear, uncertainty and doubt. 

Inspiration from you can change the world.

Mr. President elect,  good luck!

-Bob Baran