What’s Love Got To Do With It?

What a tremendous show we had with Phillip Baker, minster, speaker, and author of the wonderful book, Creating The Life of Love.  He raised our expectations as he expounded on what is , in my estimation, the most important topic we could ever discuss, love.  What are it’s true characteristics? What does it look like? Is it attainable? And where do we to get it? He shared some valuable keys from his book and gave his perspective on life as a minister, father, and husband.  The first foundational truth that Phillip established was that God is love.   I was fascinated by his passionate and powerful assertion that love is not simply what God does, it’s what He is. He made it clear that if we wanted to find out what love looks like, we can just look at the nature of God.  He exclaimed that the nature of God is giving…Love gives instead of takes.  He compared the love of God to the love of a father. All true fathers want the best for their children. He shared with us that love is not selfish, and doesn’t seek it’s own way.  How refreshing it was in a day and age of selfishness, what about me-ism, and erroneous error to finally hear the truth about the God-kind of love.  Phillip’s message was crisp, clear, powerful, and unapologetic.  The part of the interview I most enjoyed was what he said about our identity.  He proclaimed with vigor and enthusiasm that we were created in the image and likeness of God almighty.  That we were not merely God’s subjects, but sons and daughters of God with authority on this earth.  I was most impressed with what Phillip shared about self-talk.  As I broached the subject of negative self-talk, he said something fascinating but true.  He said: “You are not even entitled to your own opinion of yourself, unless it lines up with what God said about you.â€?  Wow! I had never heard it phrased quite that way, but how true!  You see we didn’t make ourselves, God did.  So the person that ought to know best about how the product functions ought to be the manufacturer: God.  I was so blessed and honored to have Phillip come and share relevant, foundational, and well-needed truths about this most-important topic called love.  I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.

As I took in the many truths that Phillip expounded on, I took some notes that I would like to share with our audiences.  As I consider love to be the most important topic we could discuss,  I suggest you write them down as well, and use them as a guide for successful living.  I’ve entitled them 7 Keys to Walking In Love.  They are as follows:

1.      You must realize that God is the only true source for totally walking in love.  Contrary to public opinion, you don’t have the human capacity to do it alone.  You must have dependence on the Holy Spirit to help you.

2.      To walk in love, you must have a servant’s spirit. Don’t put second-class citizen rating on being a servant.  Jesus himself said that the greatest occupation one could have in the Kingdom of God is that of a servant.  In a day and age where people jockeying for both position and status, what a refreshing thought.   Corinthians the 13^th chapter says something about love that many of us have forgotten.  It says, love seeks not it’s own.  Remember, it’s not “What about me?, but,â€? What about we?â€?

3.      You must first be willing to first love yourself, before you can fully love someone else properly. In a marriage, if you don’t fully love yourself, and are not complete in your singleness, you will place unrealistic expectations on the other person that they can’t possibly meet.

4.      You must use God’s love as the standard of measurement, not Hollywood’s or the media’s.  The bible says it well when it says: “For the love of Christ constrains us.â€? Any other love other than the love of God will fail you.

5.      And finally as Philip Baker so eloquently stated: “You are not even entitled to your own opinion of yourself, unless it lines up with what God says about you.â€? Therefore, it is our responsibility to encourage ourselves by speaking what we honestly want to be true.  Our words have tremendous power. The bible says in Hebrews the 11th chapter: “For by the word of God the worlds were framed.â€? Since we were created in God’s image, we must be very careful of what

6.      In order to walk in love you must be willing to invest time. Whether spending time with a spouse or loved one ,or making time develop in some area of expressing love such as listening or patience, be willing to make a personal sacrifice.

7.      You must be willing to forgive others. Don’t allow offence and bitterness to hold you in the past, or suspend you in the present. Remember, love keeps no record of wrongs done. 

Well, there you have it folks, 7 Keys to Walking In Love. Valuable tips to help you live this powerful life of love.

 Once again, it’s been  another incredible time as we explored the inexhaustible topic of love. I trust that you were increased and inspired by something that was shared on the program today.  I hope as result of your visiting with us today, that you will stand a little taller, hold your head a little higher, try a little harder, and speak a little louder.

Quote of the Week

Love and kindness are never wasted. They always make a difference. They bless the one who receives them, and they bless you the giver.

-Barbara De Angelis

 

Join us next week for another great show. We’ve got a special treat for you as our guest next week will be none other than Keenan Nix, Principle and Managing Partner for the law firm of Morgan and Morgan, the largest personal injury law firm in the nation.  Keenan is a successful entrepreneur, motivational speaker, and author of the wonderful book, The Grace of Giving.  He’ll share some powerful insights on justice, marketplace ministry, and excellence. He’ll also share some valuable tips on success as a husband and father.  Whatever you do, don’t miss this show.

We’d like to give a shout out to our sponsors A National Limousine Service for all of your transportation needs, make A National your choice for convenient ground transportation. A National Limousine, a moving experience in style.  Go to www.anationallimo.com or call 404-766-9677 or toll free at 1-800-533-4859.

We’d also like to give a shout out to our friends Lee Kantor and Adam Shafran from the Dr. Fitness and the Fat Guy Show. Tune in Thursdays  for all of the most up to date tips for staying fit and living healthy. Just go to www.drfitnessandthefatguy.com.  Also go to Amazon and get their tremendous book You Can’t Lose Weight Alone, the Partner Power Weight Loss Program.

We’ also like to give a shout out to our good friend Andy Greider from the Uniqueness is Power Radio show. Tune in Thursdays for all of your latest business growth solutions. Go to www.uniquenessispower.com

 Thanks, once again for joining us. We’ll see you next week! Until then keep your head up to the sky, God on your mind, and remember, this day is a bout as great as you expect it will be! Make it a great one! 

 Inspiring Our Youth

Well another great show it was as we broached the topic:â€? Inspiring Our Youthâ€?. We asked some very important questions: Is there any help for today’s youth, or do the statistics tell the entire story. Is it even possible to inspire them? Can they be reached?  Our hosts were two individuals who answered a resounding yes as they are daily making a powerful impact in the future of young people. Our first guest was John Payton, founder and CEO of Ellenwood Academy.  John shared how Ellenwood Academy their academy enables people to get their high school diploma and the dignity and self esteem that come with it. He shared about the different types of courses offered and the large number of people that have been inspired and helped by their program. I was inspired myself as John gave his personal testimony about one of the role models that inspired him as a boy.  He spoke with vivid clarity, as if it happened yesterday about how those words catapulted him into his destiny and marked him for life.  John left us with some of the best advice any adult can give a child: Never underestimate the effect that your words have on a young person. The incident was an attorney and former basketball player that he met on the basketball court.  The attorney shared a little about his life and told him that he could be whatever he wanted to be with hard work and diligence. John, as a result, got involved with basketball in high school and eventually played received a college scholarship to play basketball and later played in the Canadian basketball league.  That incident set him on a firm foundation.  The foundation was so firm that his two daughters are both tremendous student athletes.  One of his daughters is well on her way to becoming the Valedictorian in her high school this year. One of the great things I enjoyed about what the interview was what John had to say about the importance of being a father and husband.  He said that it was very important that of all of the hats that we wear, the most important ones are that of being a husband and father.  That, no matter what type of day he has had, it is important that he set the tempo for what goes on in the household. He also shared the importance of being selfless and being careful to take time to both talk and to listen talk to in his marriage in his marriage to his wife and as a father to his children.  Boy, don’t we need more of that in our society, and our relationships.  John also shared about the pivotal decision me made to accept Christ into his life and how life changing his choice of his church was to the true quality of his life. John is making a difference.

Our next guest was Tracy Reed, Chairman of the Board of Another Way Out, an incredible youth mentoring organization that is making an incredible impact on the lives of young people in Atlanta, Georgia.  Talk about enthusiasm, Mr. Reed is walking adrenalin!  He expounded with passion and excitement about the wonderful programs that they offer to youth through Another Way Out. One of the programs I was most impressed with was their After School Program where they tutor students after school and offer them a hot meal.  This program has resulted in a thirty percent average increase in academic performance. Tracy shared some of the many events that they have put on this year including the Annual Southwest Community Family which was attended thousands last month. Their guest performer was singer Howard Hewitt, and hundreds of vendors participated in making it a great success.  Tracy also mentioned other boards that he sits on among them Sisters by Choice, a wonderful organization that provides breast cancer awareness, screening, and treatment for women that can’t afford it. He spoke about the fulfillment he gets from serving others and was equally excited about his work as Vice Chairman of the rapper TI’s youth organization which also has provided tremendous mentoring, as well as health awareness for youth as well. When asked who his inspirations were Tracy said that He didn’t have to look far because he received inspiration right there in his household growing up. He named his relationship with Jesus Christ as his primary inspiration, which was a result of his upbringing in his home. Tracy talked about the importance of the foundation he received from having a rock-solid father and an inspirational mother who loved him was key. He also mentioned how important and helpful it was to have brothers that loved him and set a good example.  But I was most blessed and impressed by what he shared about his wife Crystal, whom he called his biggest cheerleader.  He cited her as his inspiration, and spoke of his marriage to her of fourteen years being his most important occupation.  When asked what we can do to inspire youth, Tracy said that it was so important to be present, encouraging, and supportive, rather that pessimistic. He said that it is always so easy to be a critic and cite the headlines, but we need to be a part on the solution.  When our youth see this kind of support, we can indeed make an indelible impression on their lives for good. What a time! Gandhi, I think said it well when he said: “We must be the solution we seek in the world.â€? Tracy and Another Way Our are being a solution.

Well yet another wonderful time we had. Join us for our next show as we host Phillip Baker. Phillip is a minister, speaker, and author of the tremendous book Creating the Life of Love. He will share some great insight on his book and the subject of love, as well as his perspective on being a minster, husband, and father. You won’t want to miss it. Thanks, once again for joining us. We’ll see you next week! Until then keep your head up to the sky, God on your mind, and remember, this day is a bout as great as you expect it will be! Make it a great one! 

 Expectations Realized and Dreams Fulfilled

Well folks just when you thought it couldn’t get any better, we had yet another wonderful show on October 1^st.. Our wonderful guest were none other than the fabulous couple Antonio and Raquel Lett- Anderson authors of the exciting book Take It To The Market, The Invention Process Made Easy and inventors of the sensational Gabriel Feeding Pad Breakaway.  The Andersons were twice guests on the Oprah Winfrey Show, as well as Good Day Atlanta and were also written up in People Magazine and Inventor’s Digest. They covered so many great areas of interest.  Antonio and Raquel shared some great tips about how to make the invention process easy.  They also raised our expectations by talking about some of the real challenges that they overcame, not only in business, but also in marriage. I was so blessed as I sat and listened to their courageous decisions to do what was right and operate by faith in the midst of their struggles.  They shared about how they almost lost their son Gabriel (Christian) during pregnancy and how just, when they were about to give up on their invention, God stepped in and opened doors for them that would change their lives forever.  It would be so easy to look at Antonio and Raquel and think that they didn’t have to go through tests and trials.  They are a very attractive and professional looking couple, and they carry themselves very well.  They are also experiencing a great deal of success which is plain for people to see.  What isn’t so plain however is all of the blood, sweat, tears, and pain that they put into their dreams and faith in the process.  Someone once wrote “Circumstances are not things that happen to us, but revealers of our selves.â€?  Living your dreams can be very costly indeed. But for those that are willing to obey God and pay the price, they shall indeed eat the good of the land.  As we I reflected upon the wealth of information the Anderson’s shared with us, I jotted down some tips that I believe will be helpful to our listeners.  You may want to write them down as wisdom keys for your own life.  I take no credit for these; they came directly from our guests. I have entitled them 5 Keys for Living Your Dreams. They are as follows: 

5 Keys For Living Your Dreams

1.      You must realize that God is the source of all success.  Jesus said “With man it is impossible, but not with God, with God all things are possible.â€?

2.      You must be willing to prepare. To quote Earl Nightingale, “Luck is what happens when preparedness meets opportunity.â€?

3.      You must be willing to be obedient in the midst of your trials.

4.      You must look for the opportunity in the midst of your crisis. Albert Einstein said it well when he said, “In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.â€?

5.      In marriage, you must walk in love, regardless of how inconvenient it is. Remember love never fails.

Well there you have it folks real-life stories about real life people.  Join us next week as we bring you another powerful show as we will feature the topic. “Inspiring Our Youth.  Our guests next week will be Dr. John Payton, CEO of Ellenwood Academy.  John will share some great insight on the vision for Ellenwood Academy and what they are doing to inspire you. We will also have as our guest Tracy Reed, Chairman of the Board of the wonderful mentoring organization Another Way Out. Tracy will share his perspective on our youth and what they are doing to inspire them. You won’t want to miss this show.  As I close let me leave you with our quote of the week.  It comes from Oscar Wilde.  It says “We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.â€?  Thanks for tuning in and for reading.  We hope we’ve inspired you, increased you, and in some way raised your expectations.  Join us next week for the broadcast, but until then, keep your head to the sky, your mind on God, and remember this day is about as great as you expect it will be.  Make it a great one!  God bless!

“If a man hasn’t discovered something that he will die for, he isn’t fit to live.�

-Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

September 15, 2007

Our theme for today’s show is WORDS!  How do words impact us? The writer of proverbs, I believe said it best when he said : Life and death are in the power of the tongue. How have words affected your life positively or negatively? Today we will focus on the positive use of words.

We’ve got another power-packed show featuring two great authors and speakers. Joining us will be Tim Steed, Christian comedian, speaker and author of the wonderfully funny book “Three Minutes of Silence “.  Tim will give us some great insight on how humor can help us to stay positive and bounce back.  He also shares some great insight from his life. You are in for a great treat. Also joining us will be none other than Sharmaine Allen, the wonderful motivational speaker, minister, and author of the books Turning Mourning into Dancing and her most recent book “Make Us One.â€? Sharmaine will share her valuable insight on her writing, her life, and about what God has to say about reconciliation. 

These two great authors gave us, I believe some tremendous insight about life and strength for this wonderful journey called life. Sharmaine gave us her valuable perspective on the importance finding God and strength in the midst of our trials and tragedies.  She shared how our struggles and trials can indeed make us stronger.  That we’re not in this thing alone, but that  we can give our cares to God and operate in His strength.

Next we had Tim Steed, Christian comedian, speaker, and author shared import insight on the importance of taking time to laugh in life and at life.  He also stressed the importance of finding joy and God in the imperfections of life .  He also talked about the joys and challenges of being both a dad and husband.  

I hope you have been as blessed as I’ve been by our wonderful guests.  I trust that they’ve shared some things that have inspired and encouraged you.

As I review the synopsis of the wealth of information our guests shared, I jotted down some key points to remember.  I recommend that you write them down and use them in apply them in your life.  I know I intend to use them in my own.  So here they are folks:

5 Keys for Maintaining Strength For The Journey

1.      Recognize that God is the source of your strength.  God’s shoulders are a lot bigger and broader than yours.  Don’t try to do it in your own strength.

2.      Joy- learn to laugh early and often.  Not only at others, but at yourself.  Humor is like a shock absorber, it makes things bounce off of you.

3.      Realize that life is not perfect. And that’s OK.  Learn that you can find joy and beauty in life’s imperfections.

4.      Be Resilient- You are tougher than you think.  Don’t curse your struggles, they only make you stronger.  Everything in your life has prepared you for this moment.  This is your finest hour.

5.      Use words of inspiration to other people and consider them when you are going through challenges.  Get out of your own world and into theirs.  You will find strength you never knew you had.

Well there you have it folks: 5 Keys for Maintaining Strength for the Journey.

We Look Forward To Seeing You On The September 22nd Broadcast!

Join us next week for a power packed show.  Our guests will be none other than Howard and Bernadetta Dickens founders of the wonderful company P Enterprises a company whose purpose is to restore confidence in leadership.  They will share some valuable insight on the uniqueness of their business as well as their marriage.

You won’t want to miss it! That’s all for now, join us again next Monday for the Great Expectations Show where Your best is yet to come. Have a great week and remember, this day is about as great as you expect it will be! God bless!

The Great Expectations Radio Show-9/22/07

Hello and welcome to the Great Expectations Radio Show, your weekly source of inspiration, I’m Carlton Reed host and motivational speaker, and I’ve got great news for you today: Your BEST is yet to come!  Do you ever find yourself dreading Mondays.  Or maybe, you’ve actually named your Monday BLUE MONDAY.  Have you lowered your expectations and simply settled in life thinking this is as good as it gets.  Have you buried your head in the sand and resigned from this wonderful thing called life?  If this sounds like you’ve come to the right place.  Were here to turn your Mondays into “Fun-daysâ€? and knock the hump out of your “Hump-daysâ€?.  Here you can trade your sorrows for bright tomorrows.   According to Brian Tracy, the “Law of Expectationâ€? states; whatever we expect with confidence becomes our reality.  Some people are of the belief that we get what we deserve in life.  Although that sounds good, I believe a truer statement is: We get what we expect in life.  And that’s our aim on this show: To raise your expectations for a better life.  I believe you’re a winner, not a loser.  I believe your life is getting better, not worse.  I believe that this day is about as great as you expect it will be! You were created for one purpose-Greatness!  I’d like to tell you a little something about your self that you made not know.  You are awesome! Because is awesome and you were made in His image and likeness.  Take a look at your hands, your feet, your nose, the handiwork and craftsmanship of Almighty God. Imagine this, the same DNA that’s in Him lives in you! What is Great Expectations? It’s a show about inspiration, faith, self-esteem, and confidence. It’s a show that you tune into anytime and get things life quotes, poems, stories, and valuable information to keep you inspired for the journey.  We also showcase the lives of people that are making a positive impact in the lives of others. I’ve got three words for you today: YES YOU CAN! You can start that business, you can have that great marriage, and You can make your dreams reality.

We’ve got a power-packed show for you today folks! On today’s show, we will continue our series on leadership.  I believe one of the greatest needs in this world and indeed in this nation is the need for leadership. We will look at leadership from a different and exciting perspective.  Our focus today will be Married couples in business.  Can you actually have a vibrant thriving marriage as well as a thriving business?  A resounding yes! Joining us in our studios today will be none other than my good friends Howard and Bernadetta Dickens the founders of P Enterprises a company whose mission is to promote the highest levels of trust and confidence in the lost art of leadership.  They share valuable insight on their company, their vision, and their thoughts on what it takes to have a successful marriage. You won’t want to miss this show.

 

Welcome Howard and Bernadetta, I’m so glad to have you on the show today! You’ve got a unique concept for your company.  You’re both successful in your own right. Could you tell me about how P Enterprises came about and could you tell our listeners a little more about what you do?

I believe as a husband and wife team you offer tremendous advantages in perspective. One of the things I believe that is needed is diversity.  Tell me a little about how the two perspectives of being a man and a woman give you an advantage and assist you in providing effective services for your clients.

What a tremendous show we had today with Howard and Bernadetta Dickens of P Enterprises.  We covered a lot of ground as we explored some very interesting topics and perspectives about leadership, business, and marriage.  They answered; I believe the very important question I asked earlier which was: Can you have a successful thriving marriage, as well as business?  A resounding YES!  One of the things we want to always do on this show is to be real.  Not to offer story-book or phony ideas, concepts, or people, but real people with real successes, challenges, and ultimately victories. The great Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. put it is so well when he said:  “I have a dream!â€? I’m so glad he didn’t say:â€? I had a dream.â€? Never ever stop dreaming!  The great Napoleon Hill was right when he said: “Whatever the mind of man can conceive it can achieve.â€? Dream big dreams and watch them come true.  See yourself possessing what it is that you desire, whatever it is, and have the commitment, strength of character, and fortitude to see it through.  Don’t let negative, small minded people cause you to live out of their experiences, their failures, their fears, and their negativity.  Quit being an extra in someone else’s movie.  Be the star, producer, and director of your own.  Hold on to your dreams and work diligently and tirelessly to make them come to pass.  Don’t worry about how silly anyone else thinks it is, go for it!  I like what the great Peter J. Daniels said about dreaming.  He said this: “Dreaming is not at waste of time, when you dream you’re on the periphery of God-likeness, because you’re creating something out of nothing.â€?  What’s your dream?

Our guests today, Howard and Bernadetta Dickens are living out their dream.  They have put in the prayers, vision, and hard work both into their marriage, their, business, and their ministry. They are making a positive impact in the lives of others.  As I listened to their great commentary, I wrote down some valuable tips for our listeners.  I recommend that you jot these down and let them be useful tips for you to use.  Don’t just take my word for it, try it out for yourself, and see if works.  I believe if you are willing to work for it, it will work for you.  The great thing about these tips is that they can be applied both to marriage and business.  So here they are folks:

7 Keys for Leadership in Marriage and Business

1.      Recognize that God is your source of strength.  Remember, with man it is impossible, but not with God.  With God, all things are possible.  Remember, if you’re attempting the impossible in your in your own strength, you will soon run out . Take the limits off by operating in God’s power.

2.      The Right Perspective - maintain the right perspective and attitude.  Henry Ford said it well: “If you think you can, you’re right, and if you think you can’t you’re right.â€? Realize that the glass is half full, not half empty.

3.      Modeling Leadership - Mahatmas Gandhi said : “We must be the solution we seek in the world.â€?  Are you expecting something you’re not willing to be yourself? Bernadetta Dickens today made a major point about her husband Howard.  She said he is a reflection of her because she chose him. 

4.      Love- Decide to walk in love, no matter what.  Love is the strongest power on earth. Not just the feeling type of love, remember love requires action to validate it.

5.       Respect- Aretha Franklin said it best when she sang the words: RESPECT. Find out what it means to me.  You will be amazed how much cooperation you will receive from people when you simply respect them.  Remember, you don’t have to agree with someone, but you should respect them.

6.      Servant Leadership- Leadership is not based on a title, but what you do.  Focus on being rather than positioning.  If you have to remind people you are in charge you’re not in charge.  If you’re really in charge, everyone will know it. “Remember, What you are thunders so loudly, I can hardly hear what you’re saying.â€?

7.      Persevere - You must hang in there when things get tough.  Resilience and patience are the areas where most people fail. You are tougher than you think!

There you have it folks, 7 keys to Leadership in Marriage and Business.

I’d like to close today’s program with one of my favorite poems by Teddy Roosevelt.  I love it because it speaks to the champion and warrior in all of us.  It encourages us to take our focus off of the fickle, wishy- washy opinions of people and, urges us to focus on passionately striving for our best.  It’s entitled “The Man in the Arena.â€? And by the way ladies this applies to you too. And it goes:

 It is not the critic who counts, not the man, who points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done better.  The credit belongs to the man belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes up short again and again; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly; so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who have never known neither victory nor defeat.â€?

-Teddy Roosevelt

 

(Paris, Sorbonne, 1910)

Well that’s it folks, it’s been a wonderful show. I hope you’ve enjoyed it as much as I have. I hope that your life is somehow better or increased because of something that was said today. I hope your expectations to be raised in some area of your for the better. Please tune in next week to trade your sorrows for bright tomorrows. We’ve got a power-packed show for you next week as we continue with Part II of our Leadership series as we focus on couples in business. Our guests next week will be none other than Antonio and Raquel Anderson authors of the wonderful book “Take It to the Marketâ€?. Antonio and Raquel have been twice guests on The Oprah Winfrey Show, and have also been guests on such shows as Good Morning Atlanta, The Million Dollar Idea Challenge and Quirky Ways How People Have Gotten Rich with their million dollar idea the Gabriel Feeding Pad Break-Away. They will share some valuable insight on their book, their business, and useful tips on protecting your inventions.  They will also share some valuable insight on success in marriage.  Be sure to tune in. You won’t want to miss it!

I’d like to give a shout out to our sponsors A National Limousine Service.  For all of your transportation needs make A national Limousine your choice for convenient ground transportation. A National Limousine…A moving experience in style. Go to www.anationalimmo.com. Or call 404-766-9677.

I’d also so like to give a shout out to my good friends Adam Shafran and Lee Kantor from the Dr. Fitness and The Fat Guy Show.  Tune in for the most up to date tips on health and fitness. You can also go to Amazon and get their powerful book. “You Can’t Lose Weight Aloneâ€? The Partner Power Weight Loss Program .  Just go to www.drfitnessandthefatguy.com .

I’d also like to give a shout out to my friend Andy Greider from the Uniqueness Is Power Show .  Tune in Thursdays for the most up to date business growth solutions.  Just go to www.uniqueness is power.com.

Until next time keep your head up to the sky, and God in your view and remember this day is about as great as you expect it will be, make it a great one.  God bless!

September 8, 2007

Have you ever found yourself living in the past and blaming yourself or others because of failures or disappointments?   Or maybe you’ve caught yourself saying things like: “This always happens to meâ€?, only to find that it has become your own self-fulfilling prophecy? Have you buried your head in the sand and resigned from this wonderful thing called life? If this sounds like you, you’ve come to the right place. Welcome to the Great Expectations Radio Show, where your BEST is yet to come!

I have had the pleasure of traveling around the world speaking and training. I have met many wonderful people, and viewed some of the most picturesque scenery known to man. But the one thing I noticed, no matter where I traveled was so many people are uninspired. They have lowered their expectations and standards, have even become cynical, and have settled for status quo living. The smiles that were once there have faded. They don’t value themselves, and subsequently others don’t value them either, even though everything they need is already within them. I’m reminded of the classic The Wizard of Oz. The film begins in Kansas with Dorothy, the star of the movie. The movie starts out in black and white, representing her ordinary life. When a tornado comes and sweeps Dorothy’s home away, she ends up in the Land of Oz . As she looks around, Dorothy notices something very different and wonderful. She notices that everything is in color.  The color represents a change in her paradigm. From this point on, her life will be anything but boring. She will now have to look at things from a different perspective and make adjustments. She then meets some very interesting friends. She meets the Scarecrow who needs a brain, the Lion, who needs courage, and The Tin Man who needs a heart. Dorothy and her new friends then all travel to see the Wizard to get all of these qualities and to get back home. All of these qualities were qualities she didn’t see in herself. But when she gets back to Kansas, she finds out they were there all of the time. How many times do we go looking to other people to find things that we already have. We were created for much more than this. We were created for greatness. God didn’t intend for us to live out mundane lives in black and white. He intended for us take an inventory of ourselves  and to walk boldly through our lives in brilliant technicolor.  Not just to survive and stay alive, but to thrive! Some people are of the opinion that we get what we deserve in life. But I think that a truer statement is that we get what we expect in life.  Earl Nightingale said it best when he said: “We get what we expect, and our outlook on life is a kind of paintbrush, and with it we paint our world.  It can be bright and filled with hope and satisfaction, or dark and filled with gloom.â€?  During this broadcast we will inspire you to paint a world that is filled with hope, satisfaction, faith, confidence, and power. Join us as we emphasize the importance of staying positive in a negative world and give you valuable tips for maintaining high self esteem and a great self image.

Who has inspired you?

Who has inspired you? Invariably, there is always someone in our life who inspires us… who causes us to smile and feel good about ourselves… to even perform at levels that we ourselves didn’t think we could perform . For me one of those individuals was my seventh grade teacher Mr. Strudler. I had a terrible stuttering problem and no self confidence. I was an awkward looking kid, skinny with big hands and feet. I didn’t like the way I looked, and as a result, other kids make fun of me. Mr. Strudler would take me out to the basketball court and show me the value being tall and how to use my physique to my benefit in sports. As a result, I excelled both in athletics as well as socially and even became of all things, a public speaker.  Not bad for a former stuttering kid. Mr. Strudler made a difference.  On this broadcast we will showcase  people that are making a difference in the lives of others in a positive way. Our expectations are usually affected by those whom we admire. Therefore, who, what, when or where do our expectations come from?  We are here to help you answer that very question. Great Expectations is a wonderful radio show that you can tune into anytime or any day of the week. What can you expect . . ? Change! In your goals, dreams and aspirations ;  The best of the rest of your life.

Featured Guests

Join us for our broadcast on September 9th.  We have an exciting lineup planned for you as we feature three very special guests. Joining us will be Michael O’Neal, Executive Director and Founder of The Parent University in Savannah, Ga., an organization that connects parents and kids with resources. This organization has received local, statewide, national, and international recognition for it’s success in Savannah, Georgia. Michael received the Outstanding Citizen Award earlier this year from Secretary of State Cathy Cox. He will share some valuable tips for parents and those working in both education and for non-profit organizations. He will also give some helpful tips for parenting and will share how Parent University was founded.  

 Also joining us will be  State Senator Kasim Reed . Mr. Reed is a two term state senator, who was also the campaign manager and advisor for two term Mayor Shirley Franklin, who is the only African American woman mayor in the history of Atlanta politics. Mr. Reed has sponsored very influential bills and legislation, among them being the Hate Crimes Bill. He is a partner at the law firm of Holland and Knight and has been written  up in such major publications as:  The New York Times, Ebony and Jet magazine, Georgia Trend magazine, and The Atlanta Journal Constitution to name a few. As a student and Undergraduate Trustee at Howard University, Kasim created a program called the Independence initiative, which was since become one the largest fundraisers in the history of the university. Mr. Reed will share some valuable insights about his career, his thoughts, and what we can do as responsible citizens in our political system.

And last, but certainly not least we will host Jimmie Lucas, speaker and author of the wonderful book “Custom Built By God�-Originals are better than the copies. Mr. Lucas is also a minister and the CEO of Voices of Light Ministries. Jimmie will share some valuable insight from his book and his life about the uniqueness and value that we have as people of God. He will also share some about his background, and about some of the challenges that he had to overcome as a former athlete, a husband, and father. You won’t want to miss this power packed evening.

 

7 Tips for Staying Positive

1.       Stop the Negative Self-talk-Studies show that when you talk yourself in negative self-talk, you talk twice as fast as positive.

2.       Skip TV and Newspaper Upon Waking-What you put in your mind in the first 30 minutes of the day tends to set the tempo for the day.

3.       Affirmations- Our words have power. Discipline yourself to make positive statements about yourself. You’ll be amazed at how positively it affects your performance.

4.        Don’t Take Yourself So Seriously-Learn to laugh at yourself and in general. You will find that things will tend to bounce off of you!

5.       Take a Walk- It is amazing how a change of scenery broadens your horizons and changes your perspective. You’ll see things you’ve never seen before!

6.       Hang Around Positive People-Find someone with a positive attitude and hang around them. Positivity is contagious, but the converse is also true. Avoid negative people. Remember, eagles don’t flock with chickens or buzzards.

7.       Gratitude-Find at least three things a day that you are grateful for and meditate on those things. Gratitude is a law of multiplication. Whatever you are grateful for tends to multiply.

Join us next Monday for the next Great Expectations Radio Show. We’ve got another power-packed show featuring two great authors and speakers. Joining us will be Tim Steed, Christian comedian, speaker and author of the wonderfully funny book “Three Minutes of Silence “.  Tim will give us some great insight on how humor can help us to stay positive and bounce back.  He also shares some great insight from his life. You are in for a great treat. Also joining us will be none other than Sharmaine Allen, the wonderful motivational speaker, minister, and author of the books Turning Mourning into Dancing and her most recent book “Make Us One.â€? Sharmaine will share her valuable insight on her writing, her life, and about what God has to say about reconciliation.  You won’t want to miss it! That’s all for now, join us again next Monday for the Great Expectations Show where Your best is yet to come. Have a great week and remember, this day is about as great as you expect it will be! God bless!

"8 Characteristics of Leadership"

 1. They acknowledge that God is their source and inspiration.
 2. They Are Proactive-they eliminate excuses and take action and authority.
 3. They are willing to serve-they realize that they must be under authority to be    in authority
 4. They Are Present In the Battle-they are in the trenches with their people.
 5. Willingness to Change their ways-This also means admitting when they are wrong.
 6. Willingness to Be a Role Model they don’t mind having their life examined.
 7. Willingness to work Through Conflict- they see the opportunity in the difficulty.
 8. They Inspire Hope-They inspire others that they can be better.  

Well folks, there you have it; eight great truths from three great leaders.  I hope you are a leader that you will use these tips to bless your life. They certainly have blessed mine!

And remember, this day is about as great as you expect it will be! Make it a great one! www.carltonreedgreatexpectations.org or call 404-346-2539. We are looking forward to hearing from you. You can also contact us at our e-mail address:cbreed@carltonreedgreatexpectations.org 
“Your BEST is yet to come"!

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