Born To Win

Born To Win
By Tommy Franks, Ph.D.

Copyright @ 2007 Tommy Franks, Ph.D.
All rights reserved.Printed in the United States of America.
Contents may not be reproduced in whole or in part in any form without the express written consent of the Author.
Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the King James Version of the Bible.
Due to the Author's prerogative, some words are in small letters and some are capitalized for clarity and emphasis and not necessarily in accordance with standard grammatical practice.
Unless otherwise stated, whenever the masculine gender is used, it applies to both men and women.
Second Revised Edition 2007.


INTRODUCTION:

YOU and I were born to WIN! Nowhere in the Bible does it say that God's children are losers. The Word says that we are “The Apple of His Eye”. God made us to ride upon the high places of the earth. YOU deserve the very BEST that our Father God has to offer. He wants you to be a “Winner” and to have an abundant life filled with joy! He wants YOU to be happy, healthy, and wise! After all, YOU are the BEST product that the Father has ever produced! You were created in His image and in His class! Winners expect to win!

Galileo said, “You cannot teach a man anything. You can only help him discover it within himself.”

Each human being is born as a brand new creation…someone who never existed before…with the capacity to win in life…each person having a unique way of seeing, hearing, touching, tasting, thinking, and doing things. Each has his/her own unique potentials, capabilities, and limitations. Each is a significant and creative being…creation of God…a real winner! Most people are NOT 100% winners or 100% losers. We all have “bad hair” days. Look at my hair. I have seen a few bad hair days in times past! However, once a person is on the road to winning, his/her chances of continuing to win in the game of life are pretty good. Winners have different potentials. Winners do their own thinking! They think for themselves. Winners never play the “helpless” game…nor do they play the “blame” game. They assume responsibility for their own lives. Winners are able to love and be loved. Winners have a zest for life! They have energy! They have passion for the things in which they believe. Winners care about the world. They are not isolated from the general concerns of society, but they are concerned and compassionate to improving the quality of life. Winners want to make the world a better place! Enjoy life to its fullest!


CHAPTER 1:

Success is yours in accordance with the Holy Scriptures. God wants you to be a winner in this life…not a failure. "God has given us (you and me) the power to get WEALTH that HE may establish His covenant" (Deut.8:18). God owns all the gold and silver there is. Our Father owns ALL the cattle. He owns all the oil and mineral resources. This earth belongs to God and HIS children. We are HIS children! God wants to share His resources with us.

As winners, we need to see ourselves as God sees us...successful, whole, full of faith, bold, givers, and “more than conquerors”. We do not serve a “small” God! Sometimes as Christians, we tend to think too small! Jesus wants us to be successful in what we do. YOU have the POWER within you! That Power is God Himself, His Son, and the Holy Spirit. However, God leaves the choice up to you. He will not force you to be a winner. He will not force His “winning attitude” upon you!
The Gospel is GOOD NEWS. It says a lot about winning. The Gospel EXCITES me because it
talks about life on Planet Earth and life to come hereafter. Our destiny is to win. We were created to win. God loves us so much that He allowed His Son to die so that we could live and be successful, HEALTHY, and full of great joy! I do not think that anyone intentionally wants to be a loser!

As Christians, we are on Divine Assignment by Divine Appointment…everyday while on Planet Earth. The Commander‑in‑Chief of the Universe (Jesus) has given us a mission (operational order). Our mission...if we choose to accept it, is to establish His covenant on Earth…to make disciples of others and ourselves. We are filled with His Spirit and His dynamic ability. Our purpose is to make a difference for Christ in our communities, churches, schools, cities, and nations.

We are the BEST product that heaven has ever produced. We are “The APPLE of God's Eye”. Success will come to us as we accept our responsibility in the Kingdom of God. Think about this: You are the only person in this world that can stop you from God's best and God’s success! GOD is for YOU! HE has given you abundant life...now in this life. God made you a winner! (Mt.17, Ps.17, 56, 59, 62, 118, Deut.32, Jn.10, Mk.10). WINNERS have plans. LOSERS have excuses. WINNERS find the answer. LOSERS seek out the problem. WINNERS are part of the answer. LOSERS are normally the problem. WINNERS say that it is highly possible. LOSERS say that it is definitely impossible.

Two Christians LOOKED OUT FROM the Church windows. ONE saw debt, lack, needs... The other saw the super abundance of God's provision! Jesus came to set us free and to make us TRUE WINNERS. Jesus has set you free from:

FAILURE (Phil.4:13), POVERTY (Phil.4:19), FEAR (2 Tim.1:7), DOUBT (Rom.12:3),
WEAKNESS (Ps.27:1, Dan.11:32), DEFEAT (2 Cor.2:14), IGNORANCE (1 Cor.1:30), SIN (1 Jn.1:7), WORRY (1 Pet.5:7), BONDAGE (2 Cor.3:17), and CONDEMNATION (Rom.8:1).

We all instinctively categorize everyone we meet (including ourselves) as Winners or Losers. We may not necessarily share our opinions with others, but we still judge people…good, bad, indifferent, we all do it from time to time. We also judge things. Good judgment is not a bad thing; however, judging people without knowing them is not a good thing!

As God blesses you as a Godly Winner, you will have an APPRECIATION for others and a POSITIVE ATTITUDE. You will make commitments and have good communication with other Christians. You will have a greater LOVE, SENSITIVITY, and COMPASSION for others. Your SENSE OF HUMOR, PATIENCE, and TOLERANCE for the weaknesses in fellow Christians will expand. Regardless of where are in your Christian walk with God, being a winner will make you feel good about yourself. You will begin to expand your goals and your horizons. You will invest in your mind and spirit by studying the WORD more! Attending Church will be even more important to you. You will spend quality time with quality people. You will use your TIME wisely and you will be TEACHABLE!

YOU were created to be a “Winner”. YOU were made for GREATNESS! You were made to soar like an eagle…not like a chicken in the barnyard eating chicken feed! YOU were made for excellence. SUCCESS is yours. YOU were made to:

1. DOMINATE your circumstances...not to be dominated.
2. Have dominion (right and power to govern and control) (Gen.1:26).
3. Be the VICTOR...not the victim (1 Cor.15:57).
4. Be a GIVER...not a taker.
5. LOVE...and to be loved.
6. Be happy...and filled with JOY.
7. Fellowship with God...and HIS children.

"And YOU shall eat in PLENTY, and be SATISFIED, and praise the Name of the Lord..." (Joel 2:26). You have become a winner because you belong to the family of God. Abundance is YOURS. You will not lack. The Lord is your Shepherd. God has been GOOD to you. He will never let you down. You will not be put to shame (Rom.10:11). God loves you so much!


CHAPTER 2:

I am so excited! God has made us Winners! We do not follow the crowd! The crowd is beginning to ask us questions about our success in life, our experience with Jesus Christ, and the resources of God. We refuse mediocrity! We refuse to be losers! We refuse to be bound by circumstances. The Lord is ever teaching us to have faith in Him and His Word. Our mission (since we have chosen to accept it) is to be successful in life…to win. God has given us the Kingdom! As we put our trust in Him, we cannot lose. SUCCESS is ours! We are the victors! The kingdom of light will prevail in the wonderful name of Jesus!

You and I are in God's class. He made us in His image. You and I are members of the highest social order and class on this earth and in heaven. We are in God's Class. You were made in His direct image. Please do not misunderstand me. You are not God, but you are in the same CLASS as God. You are made in His image! God will live forever…and so will you! As a child of God, you will live forever in heaven. We have status with God. We are bone of His Bone...flesh of His Flesh...body of His Body, and the Blood of Jesus Christ His Son flows through our veins, if you will. When God looks at YOU, He looks on the inside, not on the surface. God sees the REAL BEAUTY in YOU! He sees a true WINNER!

The Word says, "...Be strong in the Lord and in the POWER of His might" (Eph.6:10). "For the Kingdom of God is not in word, but in POWER" (1 Cor.4:20). "God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of POWER, and of LOVE, and of a sound MIND" (2 Tim.1:7). YOU and I are winners who bring SUCCESS to our communities. Think about this…Jesus was…is…and will always be a Winner indeed because He brought to us abundant living and revival by destroying disease, infirmities, pains, sickness, poverty, and death. He literally brought heaven to earth.

The choice to be a winner is ours. Jesus has given us a positive mental, spiritual, and physical attitude…if we choose to accept it. No longer do we have to be average. No longer do we have to be in debt over our heads. Jesus said that we could be "free indeed"! HOWEVER, THE CHOICE IS OURS. Jesus brought us abundant resources. He has given us back our dignity, self‑esteem, and righteousness (right standing with God). He has given us the Holy Spirit to comfort and ASSIST us at all times. He has done all of this…just for you and me and the entire world! Oh, the mercy of the Lord is so great and everlasting! He has set us FREE indeed! We can see the salvation of the Lord. We do NOT have to fear. God is with us! The battle is not ours, but His! We cast ALL our cares, debts, anxieties, and reservations upon Him. He will smite and destroy the enemy before our face. If we are obedient, we shall eat the fat of the land. No good thing will He withhold from us because we are His children!

We were born for such a time as this. We were born to be successful. We are destined for GREATNESS. We are a WINNERS. If God be for us, who can be against us? Life is SWEET! We have more POWER locked up in us right now than we will ever need. The Greater One lives within. He is all powerful and will put us over. We go forth in courage. The fearless Lion of Judah will never fail us.

You determine your own Success. You were made for success, but your destiny is in your hands and God’s. You can choose to be a winner or not. Success is yours! You were born to be a Winner! You now go forth CHARGED in the POWER and AUTHORITY of God. His ability is yours. Your very words are filled with faith, SUCCESS, love, mercy, compassion, and energy. People now come to you for answers. You speak forth the oracles of God. You give and it is given back to you in abundance. Blessings are yours because of your obedience in giving. You have given and now the harvest is coming back to you because God's Word says, "While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease" (Gen.8:22). Being successful is becoming a lifestyle to YOU. It is not a chore, job, or sacrifice, but a lifestyle.

You are a POWERFUL winning force in Jesus. You have become a channel of God's blessings to others.

What we did in out past is gone. Does our past have to repeat itself? Are you kidding me? NO! Look at the life of Abraham Lincoln. He was a miserable failure for the first fifty years of his life. He failed at almost everything he did up until the time he was elected President of the USA. What happened to him? Well, for one thing he got tired of losing! Did Honest Abe have a winning behavior? Incredibly so! Did he recognize what it would take to experience a winning performance? Yes! Was he successful? Does the sun shine in Florida? Does it snow in Canada? Absolutely! President Lincoln went on to become…perhaps our greatest President ever!

Someone once said, “Show me a GOOD loser…and I will show you a loser!” I believe that when the student is ready, the teacher will appear. I do not believe that we necessarily learn more from failure than we do from success or winning. However, I do believe that there is a healthy balance between the two. To know victory is ecstatic. To know victory is impressive. It is thrilling, tingling, rapturous, delightful, pleasurable, and truly exciting! To know defeat is normally a sad thing to experience. Why? Because we are NOT built to lose. We are NOT meant to be losers. As I stated earlier, we were born to win. Therefore today, let us go forth with the following thoughts: The “Winner” has a winning behavior plus winning performance. This creates success! Our past does not dictate our future. We live in the present, but we also plan for the future.


CHAPTER 3:

Some people are looking for success everywhere…except in the right place. Success is within you! That’s right. The beautiful TREASURE of SUCCESS is on the inside of you. Believe it! It only needs to be uncovered and discovered...released and set free. Marvelous! Look inside. See what you were meant to see...faith in God, wisdom, purpose, faith, goodness, goals, your destiny, your finest hour that is about to begin...The start of a brand new you.

How you view yourself is “where it’s happening”. That’s real. How others see you may not be true or factual. The good treasure is down inside you. It wants to surface. It wants to be free to blossom and bring forth a rich aroma of fragrance and savory bouquet. It has been there since conception. Some people take it to the grave with them without ever releasing it. This...my friend...is tragic. You were born to WIN and keep on Winning by using the treasure that was given to you by God…as talents, ability, skills, warmth, and personality.

Winning is rooted in our inner man…self…inner being. The outer trappings may be wonderful; however, our happiness and joy are created from within...not the other way around. Many rich men or women would love to have inner peace without inner conflict. Are they successful? Sometimes, they are. But that is not the type of success in which I am referring. I believe we can have both. It is not either ...or. I believe we can certainly have "things"..."outward manifestations of wealth"...and also have the inner peace that comes with "high morals, Christian values, consideration and caring for others, benevolence, and old fashioned integrity". Call me old fashioned. That’s okay! I believe that we can be successful internally and externally!
You as a winner...were born with an infinite value system. As you matured, you also developed your own values. You began to see yourself as valuable with great worth. You began to see yourself as you were created to be. You began to see yourself with almost "limitless" potential. As a person of priceless value, significance, and importance, you soon realized that you did not have to do anything that encroached upon your conscience and sense of ethics. You began to choose your own goals, lifestyle, occupation, and relationships. Society no longer dictated your destiny. You did! You became responsible for your own actions. You became a tremendous winner! Everyday is a new challenge. Everyday is a new opportunity. Everyday is a new juncture of excitement. Everyday is a new adventure. I can hardly wait until tomorrow! I believe that if we treat others with dignity and respect, we will be treated in kind. Life is good! If we sow good things, good words, and good seeds into the lives of others, a great harvest will also come to us!Will we ever experience failure? Yes, but only on a temporary basis. Failure does not have to be permanent. Will failure stop us? No. We will get up and "keep on trucking". We will treat failure as a type of fertilizer for natural growth. Failure can benefit us only if we allow ourselves to learn something from it and perhaps…change…if necessary.BOTTOMLINE: You are a winner. You have experienced victory after victory. Remind yourself of those victories often. You are the best "you" that will ever be. No one can ever produce a better “you” than you…no one! You have identified the talent that lies within "you" and your treasured, diamond potential. You are now using it as fully as possible toward a purpose and plan. This makes you feel good about yourself and worthwhile because...at the same time, you are also benefiting others. This, my friend, is truly "winning"!

You were created for a purpose. You were designed for greatness. Every atom in your human body cries out for success. You think like a Winner! No one is ever born to lose. Yes, I know about the song “Born To Lose” by Ray Charles. I remember being stationed at Laon AFB, France in 1966…and listening to that song almost daily. It had a “catchy” tune, but the gist of the song is just NOT true. We are NOT born to lose! We are made to have style, class, flair, expression, and success. No person on earth is created to lose.
We were made to be productive and fruitful. We have goals and aspirations to excel.
We are not afraid to venture out into the deep. Sometimes, it may be a little risky, but we persevere. We continue even when others have given up. We are not afraid of failure. We do not think defeat. It is not part of our vocabulary. We plunge into the task at hand...and know that eventually...if we stick with it, we will be successful.

As a Winner, you create an atmosphere for success. You focus on the important items at hand...not mundane idiosyncrasies or quirks that will mean nothing a hundred years from now. You believe in God, others, mankind, and yourself. You believe in the strengths, abilities, and talents that lie within you. You believe that you and God control your destiny and not those around you or negative circumstances. Within you lies the power to be a major influence on the world and those around you. As a Winner, you do not believe in happenstance or flukes. You believe that things happen in order and with a purpose. You know where you have been and more importantly, where you are going. And that excites you on life!
You were not made “second class”. You were created to ride the high places. You were made for incredible greatness! Continue to think big! No one can make you feel inferior or intimidate you without your permission. You have become a caring person. You have become a loving person. "Hate" or "prejudice" has no place in your heart because goodness and warmth are there. Winners love all people because they know that we are all one human race.


CHAPTER 4:

We do not compare ourselves with others or what others have accomplished. We do not try to be like the "Jones'" or the "Smiths'". Even though we have heroes in whom we have learned much, we march to the beat of His drum. We have distinguished ourselves as a people of action and productivity. We have sown seeds. The seeds have come up...First the blade, then the ear, and then the corn. A tremendous and bountiful harvest is all around us.Sometimes, an unlearned person who does not know you very well…may say, “You will not make it. You do not have what it takes to be successful.” But you don’t listen to him or her. You continue to persevere. You continue to hurdle every type of obstacle...even when some of your friends offer nothing but discouragement. Be tenacious. Have a made up mind.

Your heart is not “in quitting” because you would never leave a sinking ship. You will bail the water out. You will repair the damage and continue on course. You will make it to Treasure Island. Treasure Island is a fun place to drink suds in the sun and sand. The weather there is mild and gentle with the warm breeze like honey blowing through your silky, fine hair. You will make it to the island and find the treasure!

Your positive attitude, team spirit, and friendly hospitality have made you a Winner! Where are those who opposed you? People now attempt to emulate and imitate you. You smile and hold out your hand to assist them...because as a Winner, you never hold a grudge. You forgive and move forward. Your standards are high. Your goals are high. You have high class. You have finesse, refinement, and confidence. Your self-esteem is high. Why? Because you know that your future is in God’s Hands and that your future is brighter than your past!Many times in life, it is NOT so much what happens to us as much as it is "how we handle it". Many times, it is the way we look at something or view it. How do we respond to it? Do we get over anxious or go "crazy" about the small things? Life is not always a bowl of cherries. Even though life is fun, exciting, filled with continuous opportunities and wonderful events to enjoy...life still has its peculiarities, ambiguities, and challenges.Some of us grew up watching Jiminy the Cricket (Walt Disney cartoon character) on TV. He was the type of animated character that was always positive and urging individuals to follow their conscience and dreams. He was committed to "seeking the truth" and "never giving up" on goals. He wanted others to succeed! Not once did I ever hear him talk about what he wanted. He was always talking to others about their good qualities, rich talents, various abilities, and "giving them encouragement and motivation". He knew about Winning! Today, in our society, basically there are two types of individuals...Givers and takers. Givers will always win. Period! Takers seem to think: "If I will just be smart enough, tough enough, ambitious enough, lucky enough, and take enough…life will be good to me. I will make it. I will excel. I will be admired." I will...Blah, Blah, Blah. Takers are losers!True winners know better. They “make it happen for others". They know that if they plant enough seeds into other people's lives, that a harvest will come up and they will share in the harvest at some point in time.We all desire to be winners. We believe in living life to its fullest. We are destined to be successful. However, success is not just the destination; it's also the journey along the way. Some believe that we can quantify success by the amount of money we make...not necessarily so. Mother Teresa would argue with us on that point. She did great exploits with almost nothing except the "love and compassion" in her heart and the work of her small frail hands. If money was the only measuring stick, why do we have so many unhappy and discontented millionaires and wealthy people? Success is not measured by what we purchase or produce. Success is what we feel inside about ourselves. How do we feel about ourselves? We will project on the outside what we feel on the inside!

CHAPTER 5:

Once upon a time, success (being a winner) was measured by good old fashioned, traditional values and Christian principles…like truth, morality, integrity, a kind heart, rightness, and good solid virtues. I have a little secret that I want to share with you. Success is still measured by the traditional values of yesterday. The opposite is called "self-gratification" which is for losers pretending to be temporary winners!Every human being is a winner...no exceptions. We may not always feel like winners or look like winners, but the we are. We may not always look like we are winning, but we are. Many losers are potential “winners” in disguise! Oh yes! I was one of them until I found out who I was!
In today's society, winners ask questions. If we do not ask questions, we do not receive. Sometimes, we need clarification on things. Sometimes, we need to ask for a raise or a new position that is becoming available. If we purchase an item at a department store and it turns out to be a lemon or an inferior product, winners go to the store manager or owner and request a full refund or exchange. However, the non-winner complains and whines, but does not even bother to challenge or ask the proprietor for his money back...even when the guarantee is in writing! This type of non-challenging episode is a lose/lose situation. The business loses because of the adverse publicity and the customer loses because he has accepted an inferior product.Winners want action. They educate themselves! They become educated consumers. They are not afraid to take something back to the store. Receipts are kept in a safe place...just for this purpose. Winners have no time to agonize over a problem. They get up...get going...get action. They do not “sweat the small stuff”. Obstacles do not become millstones or a deterrent to the winner. Solving problems or removing an obstacle is a winner's way of life! Winners work at accomplishments. They meet challenges "head-on". They do not take "no" for an answer. The word "no" only spurs them on to success. Winners believe. They believe that "all things are possible". They believe in God, themselves, their families, in others, and this wonderful nation of ours.

Obstacles become "stepping stones" to the winner! Winners look for the rainbow and the pot of gold. A couple of years ago, I saw a double rainbow near Tucson, Arizona. I thought I had died and gone to heaven. It was one of the most beautiful scenes that I have ever experienced in my life! Almost the entire sky was dark blue. The sun was peeking between two huge clouds. Brilliant rainbow colors sparkled across the horizon. I felt exhilarated and ecstatic. I felt like a kid in a brand new candy store! That was the first and only double rainbow that I had ever seen…But I’m sure there will be others!

Contrariwise, losers complain about the rain...even though yesterday, they were complaining about the drought. Winners are persistent souls. They will not "give up". Defeat is not in their vocabularies. For the winner, "failure" is only another way NOT to do something. They learn from failures. They do not embrace failure, but they embrace the learning process and experience from the failure.Sometimes, even when they are told that they "don't have what it takes", winners take it withstride...like water rolling off a duck's back. Winners do NOT go backwards. That is indeed non-productive. Napoleon Bonaparte, after crossing the English Channel...burned all of the ships behind him. He and his men had to go forward. They could not go back. They had to win the war! They did.Another good trait of winners is: They know there is plenty of room at the top. They focus on improving their own abilities and attributes rather than putting someone else down or hurting another's forward progress! When a winner enters a room, she doesn't have to say a word. Winners know who they are. They come with a "presence". They come with dignity. They respect themselves and they respect others. They truly believe: Do it for others and they will do it for you. Winners are not afraid to ask for help when necessary. This does not lessen their character, worth, qualities, or self-esteem. They are humble men/women; therefore, seeking help or counsel from others who know more is not a "drawback" for them, rather an excellent quality. Go forth…today…as a winner. You have the power to influence the world!

Winners and successful people outlast tough times. They never see themselves losing. If you think you will fail, you will. If you think a situation is hopeless, it probably is. There is an infallible statement that the Master Teacher (Jesus) once made, "Nothing shall be impossible unto you". Who was He talking about? He was talking about those that had faith and truly believed in themselves and God. You see, even the Carpenter had great faith in Himself and the Creator of the Universe. He knew His purpose, His mission, His abilities, and His eternal destiny. Difficult times are only temporary. You are NOT!
Winners keep on going in good times, bad times, sad times, hard times, and stormy times. Adversity becomes a challenge. The only thing that can stop a winner is himself or herself. Winners are not born. They are made. They come in all kinds of packages...small, large,short, tall, black, white, brown, red, yellow. Experience, education, intelligence, money, and talent are not prerequisites. Winning is a deliberate decision. It comes from the inside out. As human beings, we are born to win; however, a decision must be made to be a winner. That decision can come early in life or late in life. The Kentucky Colonel of Kentucky Fried Chicken made that decision in his mid sixties. He was already on Social Security. He decided that he would become a winner with what he had in his hands...a receipt for delicious, golden fried chicken. The world has never been the same since.

CHAPTER 6:

The difference between a loser and a winner is "a will to win" and "a determination to win" regardless of how long it takes. Victory and defeat are sometimes only seconds, minutes, or a few days apart. The turtle continued in the race. No one really expected him to win against the swiftrabbit, but he did. He persevered. He continued against all odds. He had a winner's attitude and...a big heart. He kept on going and won.
As I reminisce over the years of my life, the one factor that I believe hinders us the most in our success as winners (mentally, physically, materially, spiritually) is the one word “guilt”.
Sometimes, we condemn ourselves for the least little thing. Consequently and eventually, we build up a lot of guilt feelings. The burden of guilt has no “good place” in our lives. Yes, sometimes…the initial feeling of guilt is warranted and merited. However, we do not have to continue to carry it around with us. When we mess up (muff things up), we need to apologize, be penitent (sorry), and ask for forgiveness…and then move on.

Someone recently said, “At least 50% of all mental patients could leave today if they knew they were forgiven!” Most of them cannot bring themselves to “forgive themselves” of their past.
If we continue to condemn ourselves for something in our past…when, in fact…we have long since changed, we are condemning a person who is no longer guilty or even exists. Forgiveness eradicates the error and wrongdoing! Sometimes, we say, “If only I could live my life over again, I would do better. I would NOT commit the same mistakes again!” This type of “thinking” is admirable and noble; however, it’s NOT going to happen. It sounds good…feels good to say…but we have been allocated a certain number of days on this Planet…and I assure you, there will be no “re-runs” in our lives as we know them now.

Therefore, we can and should forgive ourselves and if we have wronged someone, we can and should make that wrong “right” by asking for forgiveness…if possible. The questions we need to ask ourselves are these: “What did I learn through this episode? How has this helped me to become a winner and a better person?”
The problem with living with “guilt” is that guilt and un-forgiveness cause us to relive our past over and over again…criticizing and passing judgment upon ourselves continually for past mistakes. Thus, this inevitably causes us to be unhappy and perhaps discontented with ourselves. We cannot change our past. We can and do learn from it. We live in the present! We will never be able to go back in time and redo our mistakes or wrongs that we have committed. Period!


CHAPTER 7:

Positive Winning Attitudes From The Heart #1: Forgive yourself and move forward! HOW: By actually feeling regret (being sorry) and remorse (regret) for something that we did or perhaps should have done (omission). Since we are human beings, this has happened to all of us at one time or another. We believe in the Golden Rule, “Do unto others as we would like for others to do unto us.” Do we always practice the Golden Rule? No! The other side of the coin can be simply stated like this, “In accordance with the law of cause and effect, everything we “think” or say or do…will come back to us in like form!”

The Bible says, “And forgive us our sins…just as we forgive those who have sinned against us” (Mt.6:12, The Living Bible).

Hence, this could be called the law of reaping and sowing. It now becomes clear to us that we can change our own course of events and destiny by forgiving and accepting forgiveness from others who might have hurt us in the past. Today is a great day to show forgiveness, mercy, compassion, and kindness to others! Do it!
· Sometimes, we may “think” that the world does not have a clue as to how we feel, think, or live. Sometimes, we may think that society does not understand us or is perhaps so unsympathetic. Sometimes, we may wonder if our dreams will ever materialize. This is when we must reflect and think about how we feel about ourselves. Our community and our world will normally replicate in kind…the way we feel or think about our own selves. If we see ourselves strong and confident, the people around us will catch that attitude and also view us that way…even if on the inside, we do not possess the maximum self-assurance. William James once said, “The greatest discovery of my life…is that a man can change the circumstances of his life by changing his thoughts and attitudes.”

Positive Winning Attitudes From The Heart #2: EVERYTHING we do is the result of our “thoughts” and “words”. If we continually think positive, positive things will normally happen to us. If we continually talk positive, positive things will normally happen to us.
Once there was a man named “Jack Lack”. Mr. Lack would say the most negative things like: “Good things never seem to happen to me. I always seem to be a day late and a dollar short! I just can’t win! I just wish for once, I could get ahead.”

Have you heard Jack or someone like Jack Lack? Yes, we have all heard similar phrases. What is wrong with this picture? For one thing, this type of negative rhetoric is “self-fulfilling” prophecy. If Jack changes his “thinking”, he will also change his verbal expressions.

The Bible says, “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” “For whatever is in your heart determines what you say” (Lk.6:45). This Scripture works. I cannot tell you exactly why it works…But it does! It has worked for me and thousands of others. Our subconscious minds are invaluable computers. They compute the data in which we give them from our conscious minds.
For example, I cannot tell you how the air conditioning on a jet airliner works, but I can tell you this, it works…and I enjoy the comforts of it while in the air traveling at 500 to 600 MPH. Do I have to know the dynamics and theory behind the laws of air conditioning in order to enjoy the quality of air? No! But I do respect it!

Positive Winning Attitudes From The Heart #3: As we change our attitudes, our “thinking” changes. As our “thinking” changes, we change! In accordance with the Law of Attraction, whatever we give…send forth…or convey to others, comes back to us in “like form”. In Australia, they call this the “boomerang effect”. This societal and natural law is NOT necessarily a command. However, if we ignore it, we will miss out on the greatest asset of all…Helping others as we help ourselves!

The Bible says, “A good person produces good deeds from a good heart” (Lk.6:45).

If I disrespect the Law of Gravity, I will get into deep trouble fast. If I respect the Law of Gravity, my life will be much easier. For example, a few of years ago, I lived on the 4th floor of an apartment complex near Washington DC. Occasionally, I would go out on the balcony and enjoy a delicious cup coffee and just experience the fresh air and calmness. However, if I had ignored the Law of Gravity, and jumped over the guard rail, my life would have ended with a sudden jolt when I landed. It would have been a fast ride though the air with inevitable results. Therefore, I will continue to respect natural laws.

Earlier, we talked about Mr. Jack Lack. He also seems to have another trait that alienates him from others. Jack is a constant complainer. He complains that life has little to offer him, yet he never “gives” anything back to society or to his community. The other day, Jack said, “Life just doesn’t seem to have any meaning to me anymore!” What a sad commentary! Mr. Lack has never learned to respect the Law of Giving. What we give, we receive. If I sow happiness into others, I will reap/receive happiness myself. What I “put into” life or society, I will get back in like manner. We must never be afraid to give…For you see, whatever we give will always be replaced with much, much more.
· As we change our attitudes, we change. Our thinking changes. Our words change. Our lives change. Our whole outlook on life changes!
· Our words are powerful vehicles. They can create or destroy!

Positive Winning Attitudes From The Heart #4: Be ready for change. Be ready for new paradigms As children, we were told what to expect as we got older…and older…and older. We were told to enjoy our youth because there would come a time when we would have to SLOW down to a snail’s pace. We watched our grandparents or other relatives say things like, “My legs hurt. My arms ache. I just don’t seem to have any energy anymore. I hate old age. I wish I was 20 years younger.” And the beat goes on…
· In past generations, people literally talked themselves (with negative thinking) into physical deterioration, old age, and death. Why? Because they had been programmed during their whole lifetime to “believe” certain things about getting older. Life or age gives back to us what we “expect”. It is really a horrendous tragedy to observe people whose false beliefs about “aging” have prevented them from enjoying the quality of life that they so richly deserve. I must re-emphasize: Our MIND controls every function of our body! The SUBCONSCIOUS accepts whatever suggestions are given to it…good, bad, or indifferent. The suggestions do not have to be valid or scientific. Our belief makes them true or not true!

The Bible says, “Above all else, guard your heart, for it affects everything you do” (Pr.4:23).

If I accept in my conscious mind that I will automatically slow down at 65 or 75 or 85…or whatever, my subconscious mind will accept that data…and make it so. My body will conform to my beliefs. That is why it is so important for me to say positive things about myself in reference to old age…or getting older! I must NOT talk disease and infirmity. I need to talk strength, vitality, enthusiasm, and gusto. Do you get my drift?
· As we change our thoughts and words, our attitudes change. We change. Words are important to our well-being and health. Words that we speak give power to our thoughts…which make an indelible impression upon our subconscious minds. Perhaps, the words that we have heard in our past about old age have been mostly negative. Do we accept those words or do we govern our own minds and establish a new paradigm so that we can live out our lives in dignity and longevity?
· Medical doctors and gerontologists normally agree that the mental and physical capabilities of older people are far “under-rated”. Over the years, they have learned that “senility” is NOT the result of physical decline, but is the result of pure boredom and sometimes, a feeling of uselessness!
· We so often hear about “stress” in various people at various ages. What about the stress upon the older set? Many have been taught the following:
· As you get older, you will suffer from the loss of status.
· Your body will deteriorate rapidly.
· You will see many of your friends get sick and die!
· You will experience purposelessness…
· Then you die!

Something is wrong with this picture! If an older person believes the above fallacies and erroneous beliefs, he will lose all hope and will be proven correct in his thinking. Then he dies! The sad thing about this sort of thing is…It is completely unnecessary! It can be prevented. As we overcome false beliefs about aging and the aging process, we will live longer…be fully active longer…be healthy longer…and live a good wholesome and quality life until our longevity expires. Now, don’t get me wrong. We will all die, but we do not have to die prematurely before our time! And we can all die with dignity and a sense of worth!
· Think about this: Historically, significant creative inventions (64%) have come from people over 40. George Bernard Shaw won the Nobel Peace Prize at 69. Adenauer became chancellor of Germany at 73 and continued in that position until age 87. President Ronald Reagan was our President well into his 70s. Winston Churchill did not become Prime Minister of Britain until he was in his 60s. The Kentucky Colonel (Sanders) of Kentucky of Fried Chicken was over 62 years young when he came on the global scene with his secret chicken recipe. And do I need to say anything about our Southern Gentleman friend from the great state of South Carolina…Senator Strum Thurmond?

Positive Winning Attitudes From The Heart #5: I believe that we can be as happy as we choose to be! Happiness is a choice! I also believe that we can be active and truly alive for many years to come! Of course, this will depend upon our positive “thinking” and our positive “attitude”!
Each human being has character. Some individuals have great character and others not so great…some in high places…some not. Our character, nature, moral fiber, and personality are formed by the “way we think”. Most often, our thinking habits are influenced by our associates, friends, parents, and mentors. As we grow older (mature), we start thinking more independently for ourselves. As free citizens, we no longer allow others to “think for us”!

As our personality develops through the maturation process, we become aware of potential power that has perhaps…been lying dormant in our minds. We begin to realize that we can achieve certain things…we can succeed in life…we can have a “good wholesome life”. With a positive attitude, belief in ourselves, a good value system, and a thirst for knowledge, we can achieve “desired” results. In my past, there have been times that I let the intellectual and reasoning part of my mind (conscious) “talk me out of” success. After all, I had always been taught to “reason” things through…to rationalize…to verbosely explain things away!
Sometimes, we cannot always explain the way we feel or think, especially in our subconscious. In our hearts, it feels right. We just know it’s the right thing to do…the right thing to say. Initially, we do not know how to explain it. It may NOT even be rational or “make good sense”. But we have this vision, premonition, intuition, or hunch about something. We don’t have the “words” for it yet, but we see it in our minds. Eventually, the vision, dream, or mental picture develops into a rough foundation…and later into a more structured idea and image.



CHAPTER 8:

WHO AM I? “My father died when I was five. I quit school when I was 16. By the time I was 17, I had lost 4 jobs already. I was married at 18…and a father at 19. When I was 20, my wife left me and took our baby daughter with her. Between the ages of 18 and 22, I had worked for the railroad…and failed…joined the Army and was booted out…failed at farming…applied for law school, but was rejected…Became an insurance salesman…and failed at that too. I couldn’t do anything right. So, I became a cook and a dishwasher in a small café. I was grief stricken because I wanted my daughter back. I attempted to kidnap her, but even failed at committing this crime. Eventually, I talked my wife into coming back home. We both worked in the little café until I retired at 65. My 1st check from Social Security was for $105.00. I felt rejected, defeated, demoralized, and discouraged. I decided to commit suicide! My life was not worth living. I went out behind our house and sat down to write my last will and testament. I began to write down what I had dreamed for my life. At that moment, I decided to take inventory of my talents. What could I do? I could cook! I got up and went to the bank and borrowed $87.00…bought some boxes and chicken…fried the chicken…and went door to door selling my special recipe chicken. Who am I?”

WHO AM I? My father was a wood chopper. I was a wood chopper. At the age of 21, I decided to read everything that I could find. I worked foe awhile on a Mississippi ferry boat. I also worked in a general store, post office, on a farm, and even as a surveyor. I served in the state’s militia. At 23, I ran for state congress and lost. However, at age 25, I was elected to the state congress. I passed the bar exam and became a lawyer at the age of 27. After going into practice for awhile, I went bankrupt. I fell in love with a beautiful young lady, but she died. I eventually married at age 33. We had four sons, but three of them died before reaching adulthood. At 35, I ran for office again…and lost. At 38, I was elected to Congress for one term. At 47, I ran for Vice President of the United States and lost. At 49, I ran for the US Senate…and lost. I was nominated for President at the age of 51…and I won the election. Who am I?”

Why do some people win and others lose? Why are some successful and others are not?
Some people expect to fail and they do. It’s called anticipation of failure! Be careful what you expect because you will probably get it.
Some people always blame others. They will say things like: “It seems as if I get all the bad breaks. The reason I have not been successful this years is…because the government has put too many regulations on me and my business. The bank won’t give me the credit I need. This is why I cannot succeed.”
Ø Some will even blame their business and say, “My business failed.” Businesses do not fail. People do!
Ø Some will blame their peers, boss, spouse, or even a physical handicap.
Others walk in fear instead of faith. Fear is the most destructive force in the universe. It will sap the life out of you. Fear cripples motivation. Fear destroys enthusiasm and creativity. Fear is a mental picture of what we do not want to happen. There are 350 Scriptures in the Bible that tell us NOT to fear. Job said, “The thing which I feared has come upon me. That which I was afraid of has happened” (Job 3:25).
Others have no goals! Goals are very important. Know where you are going. Set some short term goals and long term goals. Your goals need to be written, specific, achievable, and believable. If you aim at nothing, you will hit your target…nothing! Goals bring purpose and order to our lives…if we pursue them. Anticipate success and it will come!

How do we build our Self-Image? Our self-image is our source of personal happiness. It establishes the boundaries of our accomplishments. It more or less defines our limits. The following steps will assist you and me in improving our self-image:

1. See yourself as a winner. You must believe that you have a right to be successful. You were born to win and conditioned (by your environment) to lose. Your self-image will affect your performance.
2. Develop a positive attitude. Love yourself as God loves you.
3. Know who you are…and what you want out of life. Your self-image has nothing to do with “potential”. Everyone has potential. But it has everything to do with your performance. Your self-image has nothing to do with what other people think of you, but everything to do with what you think of yourself.
4. Eliminate self-pity. Some people go around feeling sorry for themselves all the time. They will tell you all their problems. Forget the past. It’s gone forever. Think now. Think about where you are and where you want to be.
5. Associate with positive people. Negative people will sap the life out of you.
6. Read good books…inspirational and motivational. You will be the same person ten years from now that you are right now except two things…The books you read and the people you meet.
7. Say positive things to yourself and about yourself (self-talk).
8. Develop goals.


CHAPTER 9:

WINNING IN THE WORKPLACE SHOULD BE FUN!
People who work for me normally love to come to work each day. "Why", you may ask? It is pretty simple. We treat one another with "respect, dignity, importance, and as professional adults". We treat each other the way that we would like to be treated. Our work environment is warm, friendly, family oriented, and professional. We treat all people as customers and with tremendous respect! Consequently, this wonderful environment produces very little stress and difficulties. We make "learning" fun!

Our workplace has not always been so cordial and friendly. Our oasis did not happen overnight! Everyone of us has had to work at it. We now feel very good about ourselves because we have made it a supportive work environment.

Winning means that we do not leave anything to chance. We have worked together to build a professional structure which includes "motivational management through participation". We have implemented our corporate values.

As winners, we are proactive. We do not wait for our supervisors to initiate discussions about our job performance and job expectations. We check in regularly with our Team Leaders and supervisors…and more importantly, with our fellow team players. They will tell us how we are doing. They will give us positive or constructive feedback…never negative feedback!

In today's society, our greatest challenge is learning how to work with others. We were NOT born with "people skills". They must be developed in all of us. Period! This takes time and patience, especially to build teams with extraordinary accomplishments. This means teamwork, cooperation, and collaboration. This means leaving our big egos at the door. This means solving problems not only for the present, but also for the future. We must simultaneously develop solid professional relationships with others. Our greatest challenge in the "marketplace" is not the latest and greatest software package, but it is "working with people". As new employees continue to be acclimated into our workplace, we must learn NOT to judge individuals upon our first meeting. Remember: "Don't judge a book by its cover." We might be surprised at what we find inside. Accept people as you find them…NOT what you have heard about them. Give each person the benefit of the doubt.

For the past 35 years, I have worked with some great individuals, teams, and organizations. I have found that the "truly great ones" knew how to work with people exceptionally well! However, some did not. Some worked with certain people well. Some did OK in certain situations. Nonetheless, almost inclusively, they all shared a common goal. They wanted to be more effective. They wanted good results. They desired to work well with others.

Today, to be truly successful as the "winners" we are, we must work effectively with others, regardless of our abilities. We must develop effective interpersonal relationships. This is what truly makes winners unique and separates them from non-winners! None of us is as smart or productive as all of us. We each have different strengths and talents. This is the beauty of working together. Positive Team Work will always have a positive impact on our performance, especially during a period of change. We all must adjust to change. Change is a part of every life on Planet Earth. Period!

The better we get along with our coworkers, the easier our jobs will be. We will all win and perform better. It is always easier to work with people in whom we get along. Sometimes, this means putting aside our personal differences, idiosyncrasies, and peculiarities for the sake of the whole (the Team). Our attitude should be: "I win only if you win. We all win together.” On the other hand, there may be a few people in our lives that "we just don't like" or perhaps they do not like us. We do not necessarily have to like them; however, we do have to be professional…and treat one another with dignity and professional courtesy.

Finding wisdom in others is important. We should pair up with someone who has the skills and insight that we need. This is NOT necessarily a perfect person, but someone who can help us learn and get ahead. Some may call this person a "mentor".

Winning in the workplace is NOT eating and breathing our jobs. This is a sure-fire path to failure. If we live and breathe our jobs all the time, we will burn out quickly. We must maintain a healthy balance between our professional work and personal lives. We need to have fun, socialize, work, play, and have a good quality life. Sometimes, after-hours activities for us and our coworkers give us a chance to interact on a non-working level which can actually strengthen our working relationships. This is where a good social committee gets involved; ie., jazz concerts, plays, dinners, picnics, or special sports.

Damage Control is important at times. Most employees have failed at some point in their careers. I know I have. Don't panic. Don’t get bent out of shape. Be honest. If you were at fault, share the blame and take a few notes…lessons learned. We are human beings, not machines!

If we love what we do, we will do it well. If we have passion and enthusiasm about something, we will take the time to do it right.

As leaders, what's the thing we do more than anything else? Make decisions! Big ones, little ones, urgent ones, and not so urgent…Each requires much thought and time. This is when we need to delegate where possible. Some supervisors still say, "I'm in charge here. That means I'm supposed to make all the decisions." We know this is simply NOT true. However, it does mean that we are supposed to be sure that someone makes the decisions and that they are reasonable ones.

The mark of a good leader is not only hiring good people, but also training terrific people to make some of important decisions…big or small. This is good for the supervisor/Team Leader because it frees up his/her time to do even greater things. This is also good for the employee because it gives him/her control over some of the decisions and teaches each one more responsibility, develops greater trust, and enhances the overall morale.

LAST WORDS:
Show me your friends and I will show you your future.
Follow the trail to your dreams…not the path that others expect you to take.
God has blessed you with the freedom to SOAR. You must have the courage to risk the faith to believe and the will to succeed.
Someone said, “Worry is the crabgrass of the soul.”
Someone else said, “He is not a failure. He is not dead yet!”
“For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned” (Mt.12:37).
Words either bring a blessing or a curse.
An idle or negative word may fall into the soil of someone’s heart and poison his life.
You are judged by your tongue and speech.
Talk like a winner!