My definition of “Pure Frustration”:   When a great thought or idea visits me and then leaves before I have a chance to write it down.  Ughhhh!!! 

This drives me absolutely CRAZY because those missed opportunities rarely ever come back.  But fortunately I’m not frustrated today because I wrote this one down and I’d like to share it with you today if I may?

Question:   Are you your biggest fan?  Are you a long-standing charter member of your own fan club?  Are you your biggest advocate and cheerleader?  Can you be found chanting your own fight song when the chips are down and the game of life is on the line?  Hmmmm…

The honest answer to all of the above questions should be an emphatic “YES”! 

Years of observation and experience has taught me that if you don’t believe in “you” then you might as well cash in your chips, cut your losses and head for the hills of comfort early.  You are without a doubt the most important factor in the equation of your level of achievement and success in this life.

A surprising, little-known truth I’ve discovered is those who are ignorant of their limitations and naive enough to actually believe that anything’s possible can set themselves up to accomplish great things in this world.  So ignorance and naivety as it relates to belief and limitations can actually be a good thing.  Imagine that.

As a result, I’d like to say to you today that I’m your fan and I believe in you, but my belief in you is not enough.  So, I encourage you today and everyday hereafter to make sure you remain your own biggest fan.  Stay ignorant of your limitations and naive in your notion that anything’s possible.  If you can Conceive it and truly Believe it’s possible for you and take proper action to Achieve it, then so it shall be.

Let’s all take this life and choke it until it screams “UNCLE!” and gives us what we want.  Let’s make it GREAT!

My Book:    Make it GREAT
www.MakeItGreatNOW.com

My PSA – FYI
(Public Service Announcement – For Your Information):

I was hanging out with some buddies yesterday doing the “lunch” thing at one of my favorite spots called RJ’s in Bakersfield, CA.  I had an awesome time talking about future goals and ideas and ways to create value and help others on this journey called “life”.  While driving home after our lunch my body began to digest the patty-melt and fries and my mind began to digest the conversation we had and I stumbled upon another one of my “Hallelujah moments of clarity” that prompted the following PSA–FYI:

I thoroughly enjoyed our conversation and realize that the experience couldn’t have happened in cyberspace.  This affirms the point that we must beware of what I call the “technology conundrum” as it relates to our communication and social skills today. What is this you may ask?  Well, it’s the action of accepting words on a page and a text or electronic message as a default that’s used to communicate to friends and family.  Technology is meant to help us do things better and more effectively and efficiently, but I believe that overuse and abuse of it can hurt us in the long run.  I’m even finding that attempting to actually call someone on their cell phone now-a-days rather than text or message them is becoming almost offensive to some people.  Hmmmm…  I think we can all agree that technology overall is a “good” thing, but even too much of a “good” thing can yield “not-so-good” results. 

May I be so bold as to offer a bit of unsolicited advice to you today?  While this “technology” thing may be convenient and more efficient at times, let’s be careful not to make the huge mistake of depriving our loved ones of what they like most about us, which is our pretty face and lovely voice.  We must make a point to go see that relative or take that friend to lunch or call that brother or sister that you haven’t made time to speak to lately.

Engaging in the actual “physical” act of socializing and communicating and being in community with others is an absolute must to preserve all those precious characteristics and traits that make us who we are as human beings in this world.  Let’s be careful not to let technology damage and retard the social skills of our generation and the generations to come. 

Simply put, you can’t eat a patty-melt and fries over the internet, at least not yet.   🙂   So, get off the internet more often and get on over to your “inner-network” of family and friends and be more intentional about staying physically connected.

Just a little PSA-FYI for you today reminding you to make it GREAT!   

My Book:     Make it GREAT 
www.MakeItGreatNOW.com

Living in a world where “sex” sells, “drama” dominates, “chaos” is a cash-cow, “profanity” is profitable and “raunchy” and “risqué” rules the airwaves and cyberspace, one of my biggest struggles and challenges has been trying to attract and maintain the attention of the masses. 

I must admit that it’s becoming extremely harder and harder to compete with video games and internet-cyberspace.  The mind-numbing TV shows, radios, picture shows and video’s are managing to seduce most of the general public into accepting a mediocre mindset.  Yet I fight-on.

I fight on because I know my cause is noble and just.  I fight-on because my mission is worthy of my best efforts.  I fight-on because I was created for a task such as this.  I fight-on because evil can only prosper and grow if good men/women stand by and do nothing.  I fight-on because my boys want to be like me and they’re watching my every step.   I fight-on because someone, somewhere is unknowingly waiting to be Inspired, Motivated or Educated by my message and content.

In spite of the existing challenge, my #1 goal hasn’t changed a bit.  I still aspire to remain relevant and produce positive, life altering content in a very competitive market.  “I think I can, I think I can, I think I can.” was the famous words spoken by the Little Engine that Could, but my emphatic word-phrase is, “I know I can, I Know I Can, I ABSOLUTELY KNOW I CAN !!!”

Today I have no shame in admitting that I need all the help I can possibly get from my friends both on and off-line.  So I say to you today, if you’ve ever been blessed by any of my work, writings or content, feel free to refer others to my Facebook page and my website and blog regularly @:  www.CedricCrawford.com. 

There’s sooooo much more positive content to come in the days ahead in the form of Books, CD’s, DVD’s, MP-3’s, Podcast, Live Events, etc, etc, etc…  So keep tuning in and be sure to tell a friend or two or TEN!

I’m on a mission to help others to Make it GREAT !!! 
It just gets better from here.  So Spread the Word !!!

www.CedricCrawford.com
www.MakeItGreatNOW.com
www.YouTube.com/CedricCrawford

Dear Mr. Adversity,

I’d like to take this time to thank you for being one of the few constants in my life.  I’ve always been able to count on you to show up when I least expect it.  The lessons you’ve taught me over the years have been both pricey and priceless.  Honestly, I used to be intimidated by your size and demeanor and disposition but once I realized your true intentions, I started to actually appreciate your purpose.

It’s for this reason I write this letter to you to say that it’s because of you that I stand here today a better man.  It’s because of you that my convictions are deeply-rooted.  It’s because of you that I have a healthy revenge against the mistakes and failures that beat me up and kicked my butt in the past.  And, it’s because of you that I’ve adopted “Overcomer” as my new middle name. 

I’d also like to thank you for being one of the most reliable and dependable beings I’ve ever known.  Even in the times when you walk out on me, I can always trust that you will eventually return even tougher and more intense.  Thank you for continuing to challenge me and require me to raise the bar in order to pass your many unexpected test to become a better me.

Finally, our relationship started out rough and rocky and at times I’ve been guilty of calling you “Enemy” and “Foe”, but over the years I must admit that I’ve grown quite fond of you and now I sincerely call you “Friend”.  Thanks for being there for me I couldn’t have done it without you.  You definitely complete me and I’m forever grateful.

Sincerely Yours,
Cedric “Overcomer” Crawford  🙂

PS.

Tell your nephew “Negativity” and your sister “Set-Back” that I said “WHAZZZUPPPP !!!” 

See ya soon……
————————————-
My Book:      Make it GREAT
www.MakeItGreatNOW.com

Ever heard the phrase, “If you want to make God laugh just tell him your plans.”  Well, this phrase has been echoed by many down through the generations and ages, and while it may be a bit comical, we must not confuse the message of this phrase with suggesting that planning ahead is unnecessary.

As I look back over my life I realize that all of my biggest accomplishments and success’s never happened quite like I planned them, however, they did happen because I planned for them.  Simply put, sometimes the best part of a plan wasn’t actually a part of the original plan at all, it was unexpected.

So I say to you today, go ahead and make your plans and follow your plans but fully expect for things NOT to always go exactly as planned.   Life is fraught with twist and turns and hairpin curves so buckle-up because you never really know what’s coming around the corner up ahead.

I invite you today to consider replacing the old aforementioned phrase with my new one.  “God smiles upon the wise man who expects the ‘unexpected’ part of a plan.” 

Make your plans and let’s continue to lean forward as we attempt to make it GREAT!