Was talking to my delivery woman not long ago and she shared the most interesting story of her life with me. She met her husband at the tender, young age of 14. He was five years older, but the age thing didn’t really seem to be that big of a deal back then. They were in love and married young and didn’t waste any time at producing 8 kids over the span of 16 years. “I always wanted to have a BIG family.” She said with an even bigger smile on her face.

“My husband was a San Francisco Police Officer and he always managed to bring his job home with him. I put up, with the abuse for years because I was deathly afraid of what he would do to me and the kids. He would always tell me that he could kill me and get away with it because he knew how to cover his tracks. I believed him, so I stayed.”

“Over the years, he managed to squeeze every bit of my vibrant, energetic, outgoing traits out like a dirty dishrag. I felt that I was just ‘doing time.’ My kids became my hope and my reason for living, so I poured myself into raising them and being as active as possible with them. I had been cut-off from all my friends, and my only sister and I had grown apart also. I developed a ‘fake smile’ for the general public, but if they only knew what I was going through behind closed doors.”

After 34 years of enduring the hardships and severe abuse, an incident happened that would forever change the course of her life.  I’d love to share the details of her juicy story with you here, but I just don’t have enough room, so you’ll just have to get the book.  Her amazing story and many others will shake you to your core and make you shout out loud. 

You’d be amazed at the stories you’d hear if you just say “Hi” and lend an ear.   This 400 page book will change your life.  I can’t wait for you to see and hear what I’ve seen and heard.  Let’s Make it GREAT!

Pre-Order TODAY and lock-in your copy which includes a FREE Bonus CD for your daily inspiration and motivation.

www.CedricCrawford.com/The-Book/

WARNING! I’ve recently discovered that the phrase, “Before & After” is missing a very important word. The omission of this one word has undoubtedly been the main reason why so many people fall short of their goals.  Yes, many have been ambushed, accosted and victimized by this short, eight-letter, two-syllable word that rhymes with “trouble”. What is this word you ask?  “STRUGGLE“.  

I was talking to my buddy Wayne today about the achilles heel of those who seek to succeed in any endeavor and we both agree that it’s the lack of a healthy appreciation and respect for the “struggle” in between the goal and the dream.  To know Wayne is to love his spirit and passion for helping others succeed in accomplishing their respective goals too.  Many may see his “After” results today, but it carries little or no weight unless you are fortunate enough to see his “Before” results yesterday.  And even more so, to hear his story of the “Struggle” in between gives you even more of an appreciation for his accomplishment.

I caution you today and every day here forward to beware for the “Struggle” always comes before the “After“.  The “Struggle” is what brings about the change that is necessary to achieve the “After”.  The struggle is what adds the intrinsic value to the goal that’s realized after the dust of the struggle has settled. 

So my good word to you today is to be sure to welcome the struggle and embrace the process, and on the other side of the struggle will stand a better man or woman, guaranteed or your money back.  Let’s continue to lean forward on our journey through this thing called life as we attempt to Make it GREAT.

You’re going to LOVE the BOOK, so Pre-Order TODAY:

www.CedricCrawford.com/The-BOOK/

I didn’t want the day to end without a good word for my internet family and friends.  So here goes….

A short conversation today with a friend of mine reminded me that one of the most lucrative lessons I’ve learned over the years is that you should make every effort to squeeze the juice out of your talents and gifts to get the maximum “You” out of You before your time is up on this side of the universe. 

So many have undoubtedly been found guilty of leaving so much of the best of themselves on the table of life then checking out of this life with the best parts of themselves still lodged dormant and untouched inside.  We should all make a point to apply the proper disciplines today like most don’t so that we can live tomorrow at our full potential like most won’t. 

So I invite you today and everyday here-forward to press on and push forward and work to live, love, listen, learn and earn at your full potential in this life and when the clock strikes twelve, let it find us climbing yet another new mountain and not sliding down an old one.

As I’ve always said, we only get one time through this life thing, so let’s invest our time attempting to make it GREAT! 

SQUEEZE THE JUICE OUT OF THOSE GIFTS !!!