Notes from James O’Connor: Go on a Date with Life

On March 30, 2010, In Uncategorized, By jtoconnor
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Good People,

Here we are once again working through putting together bits of information we are hoping will satisfy our desire to find solutions to our financial needs. Because of this I thought you might appreciate a fresh way of looking at how to approach life since the way we approach life does determine, in part, our success. I thank you for reading these blogs and for your encouraging comments on the success of the action you have taken because of something you discovered in one of the blogs I have posted. One of the main purposes for these blogs is to provide you useful tools that you find easy to use. Please enjoy the following excerpts from a recent article I found written by Dustin Wax.

September 16th, 2009 in Featured, Lifestyle

Go on a Date with Life

A lot has been written about dating. Some people rally enjoy dating, but for many, dating seems like a horrific trauma. Consider how many people stay in unsatisfying or even outright bad relationships because they’re even more terrified by the prospect of being “out there” again.

Dating can be a chore because it seems so far removed from real life. But I wonder if there aren’t some everyday lessons we can learn from dating. Maybe it’s not that dating is different from the rest of our lives but that it’s an intensified version of our day-to-day lives. We work hard on a date to put our best self forward – but wouldn’t it be nice to put our best self forward throughout the course of our lives? Maybe instead of rejecting that persona, we should embrace it? And maybe, just maybe, if we were used to being our best selves all the time, dating wouldn’t be such a chore, either – we’d just show up and be awesome.

So what can we learn from dating about being our most awesome selves day in and day out? Here are a few things that come to mind:

1. Dress counts.

We all want to be appreciated for who we are, not what we wear, but unfortunately, what we wear often determines whether or not anyone will take time to know who we are. You wouldn’t dream of showing up for a date in torn sweats and a dirty shirt – but I’ve seen people show up for job interviews in similar outfits! Unless you need specialized clothing – a uniform for work, grungy clothes for helping a friend paint a house, etc. – dressing like you’re on your way to a first date means you’ll always put your best face forward.

2. Listen more, talk less.

On a date, being fascinated with what your partner is saying is the best way to make them feel good about themselves – and about you. Asking questions and really paying attention is a great way to demonstrate that you value the person you’re dating. It’s also a great way to show people you aren’t dating that you value them – and to make sure you’re as well-informed as you need to be.

3. Don’t be too needy.

“Desperation,” says a character in the movie Singles, “is the worst perfume.” Spend a date leering or pawing at your date, or explaining how very, very, very, very lonely you are is a sure way to get the brush-off. Nobody likes a loser, and that’s exactly how you come off – winners date people they’re totally into, not whoever will have them. This is true throughout our lives as well – lots of people have noticed how much easier it is to get a job when you already have one (and it’s said that the best job interview is the one you come to straight from work) than when you’re down to plucking couch-cushion change for macaroni money. Of course, you have needs – everyone does – but you can get a lot farther in life making it clear to everyone that you’re driven by your passions and talents, not your needs.

4. Be decisive.

Partners of both sexes like to see their dates make decisions quickly and effectively – it lifts the burden from them, and it shows a confidence that most find attractive. Unfortunately, we often think it’s nice to offer our date a bunch of choices to pick from, thinking that it shows we respect their wishes, when what it really does is throw them into decision paralysis – and increase their anxiety because they’re suddenly fumbling and looking bad in front of you. In life, as in dating, making decisions quickly and firmly, while respecting other’s input, is a sure sign of leadership. Even bad decisions made boldly often turn out to be better than good decisions made hesitantly.

5. Smile a lot.

People like people who smile. More than that, there’s a lot of evidence that the physical act of smiling actually triggers changes in our brain chemistry that make us happier. On a date, that means less stressed, more confident, and more attractive to our partner. In life, that means the same thing – even when we’re not perfectly comfortable, a big smile conveys to others that we are, and often gives us the boost we need to actually become more comfortable.

6. Have an exit strategy.

Not from life – that’s a little morbid. What I mean is this: when you go on a date, you have an idea of how, at various stages, to end it. There’s the perfect “kiss at the door” evening (or “breakfast in bed” night), there’s the pre-planned “emergency” phone call from a friend at 8pm to give you an excuse to bail on a bad date, there’s the $20 spare cash tucked away in case things turn scary and you need a cab, etc. In life’s undertakings, too, it pays to have a couple of escape plans ready, as well as a clear image of what success will look like. Grinding away at a project that no longer has any purpose isn’t very smart, but we often feel compelled to “finish the job” even when it no longer matters to us. Likewise, turning up for a dead-end job day after day is a ticket to depression, at best. As the cliché goes, “plan for the best but prepare for the worst” – go into big projects with a clear idea of how much you’re willing to sacrifice and how little you’re willing to gain to consider it worthwhile.

Dustin Wax

Dustin M. Wax is a freelance writer and project manager at Stepcase Lifehack. He can be reached though his freelancing site at DustinWax.com

ARTICLES BY THIS WRITER »

If you care to make more of this article then you may want to visit Operation Promised Land often at www.operationpromisedland.org

You can also join us for Home Meetings…such as the one in Mount Dora, Florida every Monday night starting at 7:30….The address is 4300 Mount Dora, FL 32757 Unit A-205. For more information call 352-455-6700. Find out what all the buzz is about with this inspired concept of taking people out of lack by simply helping each other. So come and of course bring a friend with you. 

James O’Connor

Leadership Team

352-455-6700

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Notes from James O’Connor: 10 Secrets of Successful Entrepreneurs

On March 26, 2010, In Uncategorized, By jtoconnor
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Good People, 

Here we are once again working through putting together bits of information we are hoping will satisfy our desire to find solutions to our financial needs. I thank you for reading these blogs and for your encouraging comments on the success of the action you have taken because of something you discovered in one of the blogs I have posted. One of the main purposes for these blogs is to provide you useful tools that you find easy to use. Please enjoy the following excerpts from a recent article I found.

10 Secrets of Successful Entrepreneurs

How do you know whether you can be a successful entrepreneur, or if you are better off as a salaried employee? While there is no surefire formula for success, studies have shown that successful entrepreneurs share these ten characteristics. Check if you possess any one of them. 

by Isabel M. Isidro
Managing Editor

Running a one-person business is a creative, flexible and challenging way to become your own boss and chart your own future. It takes courage, determination and foresight to decide to become an entrepreneur. From the relatively safe cocoon of the corporate world, where paychecks arrive regularly, you will be venturing into the unchartered territories of business

Is there a way to determine whether you can be a successful entrepreneur, or you are better off to work for somebody else? Alas, there is no formula for success. However, most successful entrepreneurs share these ten characteristics. Check if you possess any one of them:

1. Think success. To attain the kind of success that you want, you need to dream big. Every success story starts with big dreams. You need to have big dreams for yourself – which you want to be somebody rich, famous or fulfilled. You need to have a clear vision of what you want to achieve. But it doesn’t stop in dreaming alone. You should actively visualize success in your mind that you can almost feel it, touch it or it is within your reach. Play this image back at every opportunity. What does it feel to triple your current income? How will your life change? What will your business look like if you achieved the million-dollar mark?

Successful entrepreneurs possess an attitude of openness and faith that you can have what you want if you can simply envision it as the first step on the path of action to acquiring it. A personal development coach shared me her secret to help her continuously visualize her goals for the moment: when climbing stairs, recite your goal with every step you take. So if you want more money, say “I will have money” in every step of the stairs.

2. Be passionate with what you do. You start a business to change any part or all of your life. To attain this change, you need to develop or uncover an intense, personal passion to change the way things are and to live life to the fullest. Success comes easily if you love what you do. Why? Because we are more relentless in our pursuit of goals about things that we love. If you hate your job right now, do you think you will ever be successful at it? Not in a million years! Entrepreneurs who succeed do not mind the fact that they are putting in 15 or 18 hours a day to their business because they absolutely love what they do. Success in business is all about patience and hard work, which can only be attained if you are passionate and crazy with your tasks and activities.

3. Focus on your strengths. Let’s face it; you cannot be everything to everybody. Each of us has our own strengths and weaknesses. To be effective, you need to identify your strengths and concentrate on it. You will become more successful if you are able to channel your efforts to areas that you do best. In business, for example, if you know you have good marketing instincts, then harness this strength and make full use of it. Seek help or assistance in areas that you may be poor at, such as accounting or bookkeeping. To transform your weakness to strength, consider taking hands-on learning or formal training.

4. Never consider the possibility of failure. Ayn Rand, in her novel The Fountainhead, wrote, “It is not in the nature of man – nor of any living entity, to start out by giving up.” As an entrepreneur, you need to fully believe in your goals, and that you can do it. You must believe beyond a shadow of a doubt that you have the ability to recognize and fulfill them. The more you can develop faith in your ability to achieve your goals, the more rapidly you can attain it. However, your confidence should be balanced with calculated risks that you need to take to achieve greater rewards. Successful entrepreneurs are those who analyze and minimize risk in the pursuit of profit. As they always say, “no guts, no glory.”

5. Plan accordingly. You have a vision, and you have enough faith in yourself to believe that you can achieve your vision. But do you know how to get to your vision? To achieve your vision, you need to have concrete goals that will provide the stepping-stone towards your ultimate vision. Put your goals in writing; not doing so just makes them as intangible fantasies. You need to plan each day in such a way that your every action contributes to the attainment of your vision. Do you foresee yourself as the next Martha Stewart of hand-made home furnishings? Perhaps today, you need to see an artist to help you conceptualize the new line of hand-made linens that you hope to launch. Intense goal orientation is the characteristic of every successful entrepreneur. They have a vision, and they know how to get there. Your ability to set goals and make plans for your accomplishment is the skill required to succeed. Plan, plan and plan – because without which failure is guaranteed.

6. Work hard! Every successful entrepreneur works hard, hard and hard. No one achieves success just by sitting and staring at the wall every single day. Brian Tracy puts it out this way, “You work eight hours per day for survival; everything over eight hours per day is for success.” Ask any successful businessperson and they will tell you immediately that they had to work more than 60 hours per week at the start of their businesses. Be prepared to say goodbye to after-office drinks every day, or a regular weekend get-away trip. If you are in a start-up phase, you will have to breathe, eat and drink your business until it can stand on its own. Working hard will be easy if you have a vision, clear goals, and are passionate with what you do.

7. Constantly Look for Ways to Network. In business, you are judged by the company you keep – from your management team, board of directors, and strategic partners. Businesses always need assistance, more so small businesses. Maybe the lady you met in a trade association meeting can help you secure funding, or the gentleman at a conference can provide you with management advise. It is important to form alliances with people who can help you, and whom you can help in return. To succeed in business, you need to possess good networking skills and always be alert to opportunities to expand your contacts.

8. Willingness to Learn. You do not need to be a MBA degree holder or PhD graduate to succeed in your own business. In fact, there are a lot of entrepreneurs who did not even finish secondary education. Studies show that most self-made millionaires have average intelligence. Nonetheless, these people reached their full potentials achieved their financial and personal goals in business because they are willing to learn. To succeed, you must be willing to ask questions, remain curious, interested and open to new knowledge. This willingness to learn becomes more crucial given the rapid changes in technologies and ways of doing business.

9. Persevere and have faith. No one said that the road to success is easy. Despite your good intentions and hard work, sometimes you will fail. Some successful entrepreneurs suffered setbacks and resounding defeats, even bankruptcy, yet managed to quickly stand up to make it big in their fields. Your courage to persist in the face of adversity and ability to bounce back after a temporary disappointment will assure your success. You must learn to pick yourself up and start all over again. Your persistence is the measure of the belief in yourself. Remember, if you persevere, nothing can stop you.

10. Discipline yourself. Thomas Huxley once said, “Do what you should do, when you should do it, whether you like it or not.” Self-discipline is the key to success. The strength of will to force yourself to pay the price of success – doing what others don’t like to do, going the extra mile, fighting and winning the lonely battle with yourself.

If you care to make more of this article then you may want to visit Operation Promised Land often at www.operationpromisedland.org

You can also join us for Home Meetings…such as the one in Mount Dora, Florida every Monday night starting at 7:30….The address is 4300 Mount Dora, FL 32757 Unit A-205. For more information call 352-455-6700. Find out what all the buzz is about with this inspired concept of taking people out of lack by simply helping each other. So come and of course bring a friend with you.

James O’Connor

Leadership Team

352-455-6700

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99 Ways to Skin a Cat

On March 23, 2010, In Training, By www.bring2help2.org
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by Michael White

It seems like everybody has their own theory on how to survive the recession. Just some of the kind of stuff you’ll see across the internet and blogosphere is advice like:

1. Protect your job
2. Move while others are distracted
3. Earn extra money
4. Evaluate your mortgage
5. Refinance high interest credit cards
6. Reduce spending
7. Haggle your way to savings
8. Conserve and reduce your energy bills
9. Avoid taking on any unnecessary debts

I really could go on to reach 99 just to represent the saying, “99 ways to skin a cat”. But I won’t waste your time. I know you can Google it for yourself and find hundreds more advice from every Tom, Dick and Harry out there.

So let me get straight to the point.

With so many ways and advice, how come not everyone gets rich? How come not everyone who reduces their spending get rich? How come not everyone who has an education get rich? How come not everyone who starts a business get rich?

Because it’s not about what you do, it’s about how you do it. Cause while there are 99 ways to skin a cat, if you don’t do it RIGHT — whichever method you have chosen — it won’t bring RESULTS.

So what is the ONE right thing that you need to do to get rich?

Bob Proctor knows. And he wants to tell you that there is a science — a formula — to get rich. It’s about doing certain things in a certain way. And this blueprint has been proven to make anyone get rich across centuries.

So before you waste your time trying out 99 ways blindly, get this one formula that will transform your financial future.

To learn more about the Science of Getting Rich –go to www.bobproctor.secretsofthetopproducers.com

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“Rain Maker” Paul Bonnallie: Easter – Reflect, Remember, and Rejoice

On March 23, 2010, In Uncategorized, By pbonnallie
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Easter and Spring from http://www.theholidayspot.com/easter/history/easter_history.htm

Come March. And the world around you gets geared up to go ga ga on a festive spree. Some skeptics might shrug off the March madness fray, but can’t beat the freak it rolls out of its season of rejuvenation, rejoice and renewal that ushers in with a basketful of new promises and gifts in galore. The nature discards its weary look to don a brand new outfit. The shining sun showers its blissful warmth, as if, to thwart the frosted blanket which the winter wraps around us. The brook turns bubbly. The blooming tulips, the crocuses and the daffodils – all swayed by the cool southie breeze, bring back the vibe on earth.

What else can be a better day for fun and fiesta? To have your family reunited? Friendship and love renewed? And feelings shared? Perhaps all these traits have made spring and celebrations almost synonymous. That too from the dawn of human history.

Even in the Greek mythology, Demeter and Persephone, convey the idea of a goddess returning seasonally from the nether regions to the light of the day. This is in conjunction with the vernal equinox, March 21, when nature is in resurrection after the winter.

Even Easter – the grand occasion that reminds you of the golden and crimson eggs and chocolate bunnies, the ho’cross buns, is also a spring time festival. As if the Almighty had chosen this glorious season for the death-resurrection and exaltation of Jesus Christ, the son of God.

History Of Easter

Easter, the principal festival of the Christian church year, celebrates the Resurrection of Jesus Christ on the third day after his Crucifixion. The origins of Easter date to the beginnings of Christianity, and it is probably the oldest Christian observance after the Sabbath (observed on Saturday). Later, the Sabbath subsequently came to be regarded as the weekly celebration of the Resurrection.

Meanwhile, many of the cultural historians find, in the celebration of Easter, a convergence of the three traditions – Pagan, Hebrew and Christian.   According to St. Bede, an English historian of the early 8th century, Easter owes its origin to the old Teutonic mythology. It was derived from the name Eostre, the Anglo-Saxon goddess of spring, to whom the month of April was dedicated. The festival of Eostre was celebrated at the vernal equinox, when the day and night gets an equal share of the day.

The English name “Easter” is much newer. When the early English Christians wanted others to accept Christianity, they decided to use the name Easter for this holiday so that it would match the name of the old spring celebration. This made it more comfortable for other people to accept Christianity.

But it is pointed out by some that the Easter festival, as celebrated today, is related with the Hebrew tradition, the Jewish Passover. This is being celebrated during Nisan, the first month of the Hebrew lunar year. The Jewish Passover under Moses commemorates Israel’s deliverance from about 300 years of bondage in Egypt.

It was in during this Passover in 30 AD Christ was crucified under the order of the Roman governor Pontius Pilate as the then Jewish high priests accused Jesus of “blasphemy”. The resurrection came three days later, on the Easter Sunday. The early Christians, many of them being brought up in Jewish tradition regarded Easter as a new feature of the Pascha (Passover). It was observed in memory of the advent of the Messiah, as foretold by the prophets. And it is equanimous with the proclamation of the resurrection. Thus the early Christian Passover turned out to be a unitive celebration in memory of the passion-death-resurrection of Jesus. However, by the 4th century, Good Friday came to be observed as a separate occasion. And the Pascha Sunday had been devoted exclusively to the honor of the glorious resurrection.

Throughout the Christendom the Sunday of Pascha had become a holiday to honor Christ. At the same time many of the pagan spring rites came to be a part of its celebration. May be it was the increasing number of new converts who could not totally break free of the influence of pagan culture of their forefathers.

But despite all the influence there was an important shift in the spirit. No more glorification of the physical return of the Sun God. Instead the emphasis was shifted to the Sun of Righteousness who had won banishing the horrors of death for ever.

The Feast of Easter was well established by the second century. But there had been dispute over the exact date of the Easter observance between the Eastern and Western Churches. The East wanted to have it on a weekday because early Christians observed Passover every year on the 14th of Nisan, the month based on the lunar calendar. But, the West wanted that Easter should always be a Sunday regardless of the date.

To solve this problem the emperor Constantine called the Council of Nicaea in 325. The question of the date of Easter was one of its main concerns. The council decided that Easter should fall on Sunday following the first full moon after the vernal equinox. But fixing up the date of the Equinox was still a problem. The Alexandrians, noted for their rich knowledge in astronomical calculations were given the task. And March 21 was made out to be the perfect date for spring equinox.

The dating of Easter today follows the same. Accordingly, churches in the West observe it on the first day of the full moon that occurs on or following the Spring equinox on March 21., it became a movable feast between March 21 and April 25.

Still some churches in the East observe Easter according to the date of the Passover festival.

The preparation takes off as early as on the Ash Wednesday from which the period of penitence in the Lent begins. The Lent and the Holy week end on the Easter Sunday, the day of resurrection.

According to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Easter_Bunny

Origins

The Easter Bunny (or Easter Hare) is a character depicted as rabbit  bringing Easter eggs, who sometimes is depicted in an anthropomorphic way (eg. with clothes). In legend, the creature brings baskets filled with colored eggs, candy and sometimes also toys to the homes of children on the night before Easter. The Easter Bunny will either put the baskets in a designated place or hide them somewhere in the house or garden for the children to find when they wake up in the morning.

The Easter Bunny is very similar in trait to its Christmas holiday counterpart, Santa Claus, as they both bring gifts to good children on the night before their respective holiday. It was first mentioned in Georg Franck von Frankenau’s De ovis paschalibus (About the Easter Egg) referring to an Alsace tradition of an Easter Hare bringing Easter Eggs (and the negative impact of too much egg consumption).

The Easter Bunny as an Easter symbol bringing Easter eggs seems to have its origins in Alsace and the Upper Rhineland, both then in the Holy Roman Empire of German Nation, and southwestern Germany, where it was first recorded in a German publication in the early 1600s. The first edible Easter Bunnies were made in Germany during the early 1800s and were made of pastry and sugar.

The Easter Bunny was introduced to America by the German settlers who arrived in the Pennsylvania Dutch country during the 1700s.[1] The arrival of the “O_ster Haws_e” (a phonetic transcription of a dialectal pronunciation of the German Osterhase) was considered one of “childhood’s greatest pleasures,” similar to the arrival of Kriist Kindle (from the German Christkindl) on Christmas Eve.

According to the tradition, children would build brightly colored nests, often out of caps and bonnets, in secluded areas of their homes. The “O_ster Haws_e” would, if the children had been good, lay brightly colored eggs in the nest. As the tradition spread, the nest has become the manufactured, modern Easter basket, and the placing of the nest in a secluded area has become the tradition of hiding baskets.[2]

Eggs, like rabbits and hares, are fertility symbols of extreme antiquity. Since birds lay eggs and rabbits and hares give birth to large litters in the early spring, these became symbols of the rising fertility of the earth at the Vernal Equinox.

The saying “mad as a March hare” refers to the wild caperings of hares as the males fight over the females in the early spring, then attempt to mate with them. Since the females often rebuff the males’ advances before finally submitting, the mating behavior often looks like a crazy dance; these fights led early observers to believe that the advent of spring made the hares “mad.”[3] This bold behavior makes the hares, normally timid and retiring animals, much more conspicuous to human observation in the spring.

Rabbits and hares are both prolific breeders. The females can conceive a second litter of offspring while still pregnant with the first. This phenomenon is known as superfetation. Lagomorphs mature sexually at an early age and can give birth to several litters a year (hence the sayings, “to breed like bunnies” or “multiply like rabbits”). It is therefore not surprising that rabbits and hares should become fertility symbols, or that their springtime mating antics should enter into Easter folklore.

Easter is a perfect time to Reflect, Remember and Rejoice

Regards,   Paul

———— A Success Architects $189 website is a “business start-up” resource site system created by Internet Guru Paul Bonnallie to help individuals earn money online with their own lucrative website. Whether you’re just thinking about the opportunity, ready to get started or trying to grow your existing business, Paul’s teaching resources and business expertise will show you how you can easily gain exposure on the Internet. Success Architects services, software, and personal training programs follow a proven system that has helped thousands start and build online business exposure that consistently earn significant income. Personal website start at low as just $189-Paul Bonnallie, Success Architects League, paul@corp-success.com,  http://www.corp-success.com/helpdesk —–

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Notes from James O’Connor: Life Coaching ‘Coaching Yourself’

On March 23, 2010, In Uncategorized, By jtoconnor
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Good People…

Once again I want to thank you for reading my blogs and for picking up on a few of the ideas that are posted, trying them out and then taking the time to post your positive comments. Makes it all worthwhile when I know someone else is benefiting from my work. I also want to thank you for your diligence in reaching for something better.
The following is another article from David Wood.

How to Coach Yourself

Some people are not in a position to work with a coach right now. Some are stretched financially, while some are still using the “lone ranger” method. Other people might be uncertain about trying something new.

So here is a brief, simple process I often use with clients that you can apply to you own situation i.e. coach yourself! And at the end of the article I will mention how you can go even further than this using a professional coach.

STEP 1) Clarify your goal

Some of us are not moving forward simply because we have not set a goal that inspires us! Make it specific e.g. 20% increase in income by January 1. And you can stretch yourself, but keep it realistic. If you’re blocked, schedule creative time to play with ideas. Dream, cry, challenge. Ask someone. Create it! Don’t get hung up on the ‘right’ goal, just pick something exciting that takes your fancy – then trust yourself, and move to Step 2).

STEP 2) Plan

What overall strategy(s) will you use? For example, to lose weight, will your strategy be dietary, exercise based, or a combination? To increase income will you increase your knowledge, switch employers, network, or improve performance. For this stage you will also set your milestones to achieve along the way, with deadlines attached (say every 3-6 months). Also list the tasks to achieve along the way in between milestones.

STEP 3) Action

Once you have the overall plan in place, it’s time to get down to specific action. You might like to list the action steps you will take in the next 7 days, or the next 30. When you have completed these actions, it’s time to evaluate, celebrate, and write the next list of action steps.

STEP 4) Structure

Having an idea, or desire is one thing. But many of these do not get achieved. This is probably one reason you are reading this article – because there is something in your life you would like to achieve or change, but it hasn’t happened yet. Change rarely occurs without a “structure” in place to support you. For example, if you want to be a public speaker, surround yourself with speakers. Talk a friend into doing your goal with you. Ask someone to check in on you once a fortnight to ask how you’re going. Set constant diary reminders for the next month, and/or encouraging visual displays on the wall. Announcing your commitment to the world (all your friends) is also a great structure.

And if you’re really serious about your goal, it’s hard to find a more powerful structure than hiring a coach. Does speaking to someone once a week, and taking time out each week to focus on what’s important to you, sound like it might make a difference? You bet!

David Wood is a Professional Life Coach, and author of the powerful Free Download: ‘50 Life Coaching Questions to Take Control of Your Life and Help Your Clients‘. He helps coaches, consultants, speakers and trainers to build their businesses via his popular ebook: “10 Super Coaches Share Their Secrets” and his audio ebook: “Getting Your First 50 Clients“.

“David Wood is a personal and business coach, and an original founder of the International Coach Academy – a global coach training school”

If you care to make more of this article then you may want to visit Operation Promised Land often at www.operationpromisedland.org

You can also join us for Home Meetings…such as the one in Mount Dora, Florida every Monday night starting at 7:30….The address is 4300 Mount Dora, FL 32757 Unit A-205. For more information call 352-455-6700. Find out what all the buzz is about with this inspired concept of taking people out of lack by simply helping each other. So come and of course bring a friend with you.

James O’Connor

Leadership Team

352-455-6700

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Notes from James O’Connor: Life Coaching ‘Invalidation Vs. Respect’

On March 21, 2010, In Uncategorized, By jtoconnor
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Good People…

Once again I want to thank you for reading my blogs and for picking up on a few of the ideas that are posted, trying them out and then taking the time to post your positive comments. Makes it all worthwhile when I know someone else is benefiting from my work. I also want to thank you for your diligence in reaching for something better.
The following is another article from David Wood.

 Invalidation Vs. Respect

(My thanks to International Coach Academy who have given permission for me to publish this extract from the CoachCert training program.)

The Merriam Webster Dictionary defines the verb RESPECT as: “to consider deserving of high regard” or “to refrain from interfering with”. It defines the verb INVALIDATE as “to weaken or make valueless”.

We have the choice to respect or invalidate the people, objects and events in our life, including ourselves. Consider your experience when others respect you, i.e. they “consider you deserving of high regard” or they “refrain from interfering with you.”

Now consider your experience when others invalidate you, i.e. they “weaken you” or “make you valueless”.

To respect someone or something is a real gift and a powerful way of relating to the world around us. It’s also a very natural way for human beings to relate when they are free.

What gets in the way of that freedom are our Judgments.

Coach Trainer Bernard Wheatley says: “When we discern our Judgments we can then choose, or have a say in whether we respect or invalidate.

One of my Judgments is “showing off and being cheeky is bad” (and of course I do both!) So whenever someone appears to be “showing off” or being “cheeky”, my Judgment kicks in and I automatically invalidate them. By discerning this Judgment I can let that go and find respect or regard for the person instead.”

You may know of people who respect their bodies, by exercising, eating well, stretching, getting the rest and sleep they need, and minimizing alcohol, nicotine and other poisonous substances. I occasionally eat WAY too much chocolate. My underlying belief or Judgment is that I’m not important enough to treat my body very well. Again once I discern this Judgment, I’m able to choose to continue to weaken (Invalidate) my body, or to Respect it. The more practice I get in noticing and letting go of my Judgments, the more effective I become at it.

Questions to Consider

1. What are examples of ways in which people show respect for themselves? For others? How are these different?

2. What are examples of ways in which people invalidate themselves? How do they invalidate others? How are these different, if at all?

Action Challenges

1. In the past week, what are three ways in which you have demonstrated respect for yourself?

2. In the past week, what are three ways in which you have demonstrated respect for others?

3. In the past week, describe three ways in which you have invalidated or disrespected yourself. (notice your underlying judgments in each of these)

4. In the next three days, recognize three ways in which you are invalidating others and turn it into respect.

5. In the following four days, recognize three ways you are invalidating or disrespecting yourself, and turn it into respect. (e.g. eating junk food to eating healthy food)

6. Describe how you did it and how it made you feel at the time.

David Wood is a Professional Life Coach, and author of the powerful Free Download: ‘50 Life Coaching Questions to Take Control of Your Life and Help Your Clients‘. He helps coaches, consultants, speakers and trainers to build their businesses via his popular ebook: “10 Super Coaches Share Their Secrets” and his audio ebook: “Getting Your First 50 Clients“.

“David Wood is a personal and business coach, and an original founder of the International Coach Academy – a global coach training school”

If you care to make more of this article then you may want to visit Operation Promised Land often at www.operationpromisedland.org

You can also join us for Home Meetings…such as the one in Mount Dora, Florida every Monday night starting at 7:30….The address is 4300 Mount Dora, FL 32757 Unit A-205. For more information call 352-455-6700. Find out what all the buzz is about with this inspired concept of taking people out of lack by simply helping each other. So come and of course bring a friend with you.

James O’Connor

Leadership Team

352-455-6700

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Notes from James O’Connor: Life Coaching ‘Train People to Give You What You Want’ Part 2

On March 19, 2010, In Uncategorized, By jtoconnor
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Good People…

First off I do want to thank you for reading my blogs and for picking up on a few of the ideas that are posted, trying them out and then taking the time to put in those positive comments. Makes it all worthwhile when I know someone else is benefiting from my work. I also want to thank you for your diligence in reaching for something better. You are on your way. Next step is to take action
The following is another article from David Wood.

ARTICLE PART II: “The Training Cycle”

The More Institute has developed a simple but nifty technique. It might sound overly simple, but if for a few days you observe yourself and others when you want something, you’ll be surprised how rarely we do this.

Firstly, pick a person to try this with. Think of something you would like them to do for you (or for themself) – something easy for them. Maybe something you’ve always wanted more of, but not been sure how to ask. In this example we’ll use Mary wanting a massage from Bill:

1) Find them right – this means find something about them or something they’ve recently done that you like, or think is a good thing (it’s amazing how often we find people wrong!). And say it. For example: “Thanks for coming home early tonight Bill; it’s great to see you”.

2) Ask them to do something that’s easy for them to do; nothing too hard or taxing (this we’ll work up to!). For example: “Bill, would you mind rubbing my shoulders for two minutes?”

3) Thank or acknowledge them. Yes – it’s obvious, right? But so often this is missing from our communication. “Wow – that feels great Bill – you have an instinct for this”.

Now if you really want to put this to good effect, once you’ve acknowledged them at the end of the cycle, you can jump straight back to Step 2: “Could you press a little harder there?”

And Step 3): “Ah – perfect”. And Step 2): “Would you run your fingernails lightly over my neck?”…..Step 3) “That feels great.” If there’s a silence of more than a few seconds, go back to Step 1).

A client of mine, Jan, was so fed up with what she called her husband’s “ineptitude”, she was ready to resign from the small business they’d built together. Armed with The Training Cycle, she decided to give it one more shot. That week, she found two errors in the pamphlets he’d been in charge of. She was instantly angry, feeling this confirmed her belief that he couldn’t be relied upon. Standard practice from the last ten years would involve yelling at him, and handling the corrections herself. However, remembering The Training Cycle, she calmed down and called him.

“Jack, thank you for organising these pamphlets so quickly” (Step 1 – find him right). “Now I’ve spotted a couple of errors, what do you think we should do about it?” (Step 2 – Give him something easy to do).

Jack called back in 30 minutes, “as excited” – in her words – “as a little boy”. He’d negotiated with the printer to have the pamphlets reprinted, within 24 hours, and for FREE.

“Great job Jack!” (Step 3). So Jan not only got what she wanted, without having to take time out to handle it herself, but had her man win as well! (Note – for people who feel this technique might be manipulation – feel free to tell your partner what you’re trying. In the above example, Jan told Jack she was going to try it this week. Clearly he didn’t object!)

Practice this week with small things. Pick one person, or try it whenever you would like something, or are about to complain.

1) Find them right

2) Ask for something easy that they can do

3) Acknowledge or thank them

4) Repeat until you die happily surrounded by your grand children.

David Wood is a Professional Life Coach, and author of the powerful Free Download: ‘50 Life Coaching Questions to Take Control of Your Life and Help Your Clients‘. He helps coaches, consultants, speakers and trainers to build their businesses via his popular ebook: “10 Super Coaches Share Their Secrets” and his audio ebook: “Getting Your First 50 Clients“.

“David Wood is a personal and business coach, and an original founder of the International Coach Academy – a global coach training school”

If you care to make more of this article then you may want to visit Operation Promised Land often at www.operationpromisedland.org

You can also join us for Home Meetings…such as the one in Mount Dora, Florida every Monday night starting at 7:30….The address is 4300 Mount Dora, FL 32757 Unit A-205. For more information call 352-455-6700. Find out what all the buzz is about with this inspired concept of taking people out of lack by simply helping each other. So come and of course bring a friend with you.

James O’Connor

Leadership Team

352-455-6700

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God Honors The Faithful To Multiply And Grow Abundantly! Posted by Michael White

On March 17, 2010, In Uncategorized, By www.bring2help2.org
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God guarantees obstacles will not keep our vision from being fulfilled. Though they were enslaved, Israel received the strength to overcome Egypt’s efforts to break them. “The more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew” (Exodus 1:12 NKJV).

Paul’s dream of evangelizing the world met roadblocks at every turn. Tightening his grip he declared. “We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;” (2 Corinthians 4:8-9 KJV).

Joseph’s journey to the throne led him through betrayal, persecution and loneliness. His dream, still alive and would not quit. He was blameless and his dream was realized, he said, ‘God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction’” (Genesis 41:52). He refused to surrender his dream and it kept him alive. God made him fruitful, not by exempting him from affliction but by giving him abundance right there, “in the land of my affliction.” Obstacles can’t stop God; don’t let them stop you!

2010 is the year of truth, full of answers and the fulfillment of dreams for those who take action walk in faith and commit to never quit!


 
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Notes from James O’Connor: Life Coaching ‘Train People to Give You What You Want’ Part 1

On March 16, 2010, In Uncategorized, By jtoconnor
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Good People…

First off I do want to thank you for reading my blogs and for picking up on a few of the ideas that are posted, trying them out and then taking the time to put in those positive comments. Makes it all worthwhile when I know someone else is benefiting from my work. I also want to thank you for your diligence in reaching for something better. You are on your way. Next step is to take action
The following is another article from David Wood.

Train People to Give You What You Want

ARTICLE PART I: “Why Bother Training People?”

People love to make a contribution to us. If given a chance to do the right thing for us, or to please us, they usually will. Unfortunately, they don’t always know what we want, or their attention is elsewhere. OR, in the past when they’ve done something for us, they haven’t “won” from the experience, or been acknowledged.

If we were willing to show people what we want, in a way that was easy for them to hear, and fun for them to provide – what would life be like? In short, we could “train” people to give us what we want. If they enjoy the experience, then both parties win!

However, often we’re not ~willing~ to train. Instead, we complain that we’re not getting what we want. We resent the person for not being how they should be, or not giving us what we want. Often we’ll think: “they ~should~ know better”. Particularly in the case of women training their man in relationship: “He should know I’d rather have him take me to bed now than watch the football”.

If we’re willing to give up the notion that anyone ~should~ do anything, or know how to please us, AND accept that training is good for all, then we can have a lot of fun!

I recall the weekend my girlfriend met my parents. With zero foresight, I got a beer for myself and walked out to where everyone was sitting. Seeing my girlfriend without a drink, I instantly wished I had been more thoughtful and gotten her a drink. She could have said something sarcastic like: “Thanks darling”, or “Don’t worry I’ll get it myself”.

However, I was surprised to hear her say: “Oh, what a great idea. Could I have a wine please?”

You see, she could have been upset that her man wasn’t thinking of her. Maybe she ~was~! But she didn’t act from that. Instead, she

1) Found me right for having a good idea,
2) Gave me something easy to do, and
3) Thanked me at the end. We both got to win.

Welcome to The Training Cycle.

The Training Cycle can be used with anyone – colleagues, your manager, your secretary, parents, your kids, your spouse.

I know a female teacher in New York who taught 15 year old boys. In the beginning, they were aggressive and rude – deliberately disobeying instructions. However, after 6-12 months of the training cycle, they were competing to see who would be chosen to do what she asked!

David Wood is a Professional Life Coach, and author of the powerful Free Download: ‘50 Life Coaching Questions to Take Control of Your Life and Help Your Clients‘. He helps coaches, consultants, speakers and trainers to build their businesses via his popular ebook: “10 Super Coaches Share Their Secrets” and his audio ebook: “Getting Your First 50 Clients“.

“David Wood is a personal and business coach, and an original founder of the International Coach Academy – a global coach training school”

If you care to make more of this article then you may want to visit Operation Promised Land often at www.operationpromisedland.org

You can also join us for Home Meetings…such as the one in Mount Dora, Florida every Monday night starting at 7:30….The address is 4300 Mount Dora, FL 32757 Unit A-205. For more information call 352-455-6700. Find out what all the buzz is about with this inspired concept of taking people out of lack by simply helping each other. So come and of course bring a friend with you.

James O’Connor

Leadership Team

352-455-6700

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Educator Paul Bonnallie: St. Patricks Day Facts and History

On March 15, 2010, In Training, Uncategorized, By pbonnallie
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St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated on March 17, his religious feast day and the anniversary of his death in the fifth century. The Irish have observed this day as a religious holiday for over a thousand years. On St. Patrick’s Day, which falls during the Christian season of Lent, Irish families would traditionally attend church in the morning and celebrate in the afternoon. Lenten prohibitions against the consumption of meat were waived and people would dance, drink and feast—on the traditional meal of Irish bacon and cabbage

According to http://www.history.com/topics/st-patricks-day

The First Parade

The first St. Patrick’s Day parade took place not in Ireland but in the United States. Irish soldiers serving in the English military marched through New York City on March 17, 1762. Along with their music, the parade helped the soldiers reconnect with their Irish roots, as well as fellow Irishmen serving in the English army.

Over the next 35 years, Irish patriotism among American immigrants flourished, prompting the rise of so-called “Irish Aid” societies like the Friendly Sons of Saint Patrick and the Hibernian Society. Each group would hold annual parades featuring bagpipes (which actually first became popular in the Scottish and British armies) and drums.

In 1848, several New York Irish Aid societies decided to unite their parades to form one New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Today, that parade is the world ’s oldest civilian parade and the largest in the United States, with over 150,000 participants.

Each year, nearly three million people line the 1.5-mile parade route to watch the procession, which takes more than five hours. Boston, Chicago, Philadelphia and Savannah also celebrate the day with parades involving between 10,000 and 20,000 participants.

No Irish Need Apply

Up until the mid-19th century, most Irish immigrants in America were members of the Protestant middle class. When the Great Potato Famine hit Ireland in 1845, close to a million poor and uneducated Irish Catholics began pouring into America to escape starvation. Despised for their religious beliefs and funny accents by the American Protestant majority, the immigrants had trouble finding even menial jobs. When Irish Americans in the country’s cities took to the streets on St. Patrick’s Day to celebrate their heritage, newspapers portrayed them in cartoons as drunk, violent monkeys.

However, the Irish soon began to realize that their great numbers endowed them with a political power that had yet to be exploited. They started to organize, and their voting block, known as the “green machine,” became an important swing vote for political hopefuls. Suddenly, annual St. Patrick’s Day parades became a show of strength for Irish Americans, as well as a must-attend event for a slew of political candidates. In 1948, President Truman attended New York City ’s St. Patrick’s Day parade, a proud moment for the many Irish whose ancestors had to fight stereotypes and racial prejudice to find acceptance in America.

Wearing of the Green Goes Global

Today, St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated by people of all backgrounds in the United States, Canada and Australia. Although North America is home to the largest productions, St. Patrick’s Day has been celebrated in other locations far from Ireland, including Japan, Singapore and Russia.

In modern-day Ireland, St. Patrick’s Day has traditionally been a religious occasion. In fact, up until the 1970s, Irish laws mandated that pubs be closed on March 17. Beginning in 1995, however, the Irish government began a national campaign to use St. Patrick’s Day as an opportunity to drive tourism and showcase Ireland to the rest of the world. Last year, close to one million people took part in Ireland ’s St. Patrick’s Festival in Dublin, a multi-day celebration featuring parades, concerts, outdoor theater productions and fireworks shows.

The Chicago River

Chicago is famous for a somewhat peculiar annual event: dyeing the Chicago River green. The tradition started in 1962, when city pollution-control workers used dyes to trace illegal sewage discharges and realized that the green dye might provide a unique way to celebrate the holiday. That year, they released 100 pounds of green vegetable dye into the river—enough to keep it green for a week!

Today, in order to minimize environmental damage, only 40 pounds of dye are used, making the river green for only several hours. Although Chicago historians claim their city’s idea for a river of green was original, some Savannah natives believe the idea originated in their town. They point out that, in 1961, Savannah mayor Tom Woolley had plans for a green river. Due to rough waters on March 17, the experiment failed, and Savannah never attempted to dye its river again.

http://holidays.kaboose.com/patrick-history.html reports, Saint Patrick’s Day is celebrated each year on March 17th.

Note for 2008: For 2008, the Catholic Church has officially moved St. Patrick’s Day to Saturday, March 15th to avoid a conflict with the Holy Week leading up to Easter Sunday. Most secular establishments in the US and Canada, such as restaurants and bars, will continue to celebrate the holiday on March 17th, and the 17th will remain a national day off from work in Ireland.

Who Was Saint Patrick?

Even though Saint Patrick the patron saint of Ireland and one of the most celebrated religious figures around the world, the factual information about his life and times is quite vague. Most information about St. Patrick has been twisted, embellished, or simply made up over centuries by storytellers, causing much ambiguity about the real life of St. Patrick. However, there are a some elements of his story about which most scholars accept to be true.

According to Coilin Owens, Irish literature expert and Professor Emeritus of English at George Mason University, Saint Patrick is traditionally thought to have lived “between 432-461 A.D., but more recent scholarship moves the dates up a bit.” At the age of sixteen he was kidnapped from his native land of the Roman British Isles by a band pirates, and sold into slavery in Ireland. Saint Patrick worked as a shepherd and turned to religion for solace. After six years of slavery he escaped to the Irish coast and fled home to Britain.

While back in his homeland, Patrick decided to become a priest and then decided to return to Ireland after dreaming that the voices of the Irish people were calling him to convert them to Christianity.

After studying and preparing for several years, Patrick traveled back to Ireland as a Christian missionary. Although there were already some Christians living in Ireland, St. Patrick was able to bring upon a massive religious shift to Christianity by converting people of power. Says Prof. Owens, “[St. Patrick] is credited with converting the nobles; who set an example which the people followed.”

But Patrick’s desire to spread of Christianity was not met without mighty opposition. Prof. Owens explains, “Patrick ran into trouble with the local pagan priesthood, the druids: and there are many stories about his arguments with them as well as his survival of plots against them.” He laid the groundwork for the establishment of hundreds of monasteries and churches that eventually popped up across the Irish country to promote Christianity.

Saint Patrick is also credited with bringing written word to Ireland through the promotion of the study of legal texts and the Bible, says Prof. Owens. Previous to Patrick, storytelling and history were reliant on memory and orally passing down stories.

Patrick’s mission in Ireland is said to have lasted for thirty years. It is believe he died in the 5th century on March 17, which is the day St. Patrick’s Day is commemorated each year.

The first year St. Patrick’s Day was celebrated in America in 1737 in Boston, Massachusetts. The first official St. Patrick’s Day parade was held in New York City in 1766. As the saying goes, on this day “everybody is Irish!” Over 100 U.S. cities now hold Saint Patrick’s Day parades.

Below you will find a list of fun facts we’ve assembled about the Irish holiday St. Patrick’s Day. Test your knowledge with our St. Patrick’s Day IQ quiz or create your own “True or False” quiz using the information below.

Want even more info on St. Pat’s Day? Go to our main St. Patrick’s Day holiday page for more Paddy’s Day fun. You’ll find festive recipes, crafts, books, games, clip art, printables and more!

Facts about St. Patrick’s Day Holiday

* St. Patrick’s Day is observed on March 17 because that is the feast day of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. It is believed that he died on March 17 in the year 461 AD. It is also a worldwide celebration of Irish culture and history. St. Patrick’s Day is a national holiday in Ireland, and a provincial holiday in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador.

* In Ireland on St. Patrick’s Day, people traditionally wear a small bunch of shamrocks on their jackets or caps. Children wear orange, white and green badges, and women and girls wear green ribbons in their hair.

* Many cities have a St. Patrick’s Day parade. Dublin, the capital of Ireland, has a huge St. Patrick’s Day festival from March 15-19, that features a parade, family carnivals, treasure hunt, dance, theatre and more. In North American, parades are often held on the Sunday before March 17. Some paint the yellow street lines green for the day! In Chicago, the Chicago River is dyed green with a special dye that only lasts a few hours. There has been a St. Patrick’s Day parade in Boston, Massachusetts since 1737. Montreal is home to Canada’s longest running St. Patrick’s Day parade, which began in 1824.

Facts about Saint Patrick

* St. Patrick was born in 385 AD somewhere along the west coast of Britain, possibly in the Welsh town of Banwen. At age 16, he was captured and sold into slavery to a sheep farmer. He escaped when he was 22 and spent the next 12 years in a monastery. In his 30s he returned to Ireland as a Christian missionary. He died at Saul in 461 AD and is buried at Downpatrick.

Facts about the Irish

* 34 million Americans have Irish ancestry, according to the 2003 US Census. That’s almost nine times the population of Ireland, which has 4.1 million people.

* Some American towns have “Irish” names. You could visit: Mount Gay-Shamrock, West Virginia; Shamrock Lakes, Indiana; Shamrock, Oklahoma; Shamrock, Texas; Dublin, California and Dublin, Ohio.

* The harp is the symbol of Ireland. The color green is also commonly associated with Ireland, also known as “the Emerald Isle.”

* The Irish flag is green, white and orange. The green symbolizes the people of the south, and orange, the people of the north. White represents the peace that brings them together as a nation.

* The name “lephrechaun” has several origins. It could be from the Irish Gaelic word “leipreachan,” which means “a kind of aqueous sprite.” Or, it could be from “leath bhrogan,” which means “shoemaker.”

Facts about Clovers

* According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the highest number of leaves found on a clover is 14!

* One estimate suggests that there are about 10 000 regular three-leaf clovers for every lucky four-leaf clover.

* Legend says that each leaf of the clover means something: the first is for hope, the second for faith, the third for love and the fourth for luck.

http://www.theholidayspot.com/patrick/shamrock.htm provides the following tidbits

History of Shamrock, Leprechaun, and the Blarney’s Stone

Welcome to the tidbits page of Patty’s day. Here you will find interesting notes on Shamrock, Blarney’s Stone, and of course, the Leprechaun. There are options too, to send a free greetings for patty’s day.

Please refer our site to your friends. Happy Patty’s Day!

In written English, the first reference to the Shamrock dates from 1571, andin written Irish, as seamrog, from 1707. As a badge to be worn on the lapel on the Saint’s feast day, it is referred to for the first time as late as 1681. The

Shamrock was used as an emblem by the Irish Volunteers in the era of Grattan’s Parliament in the 1770’s, before ‘98 and The Act of Union. So rebellious did the wearing of the Shamrock eventually appear, that in Queen

Victoria’s time Irish regiments were forbidden to display it. At that time it became the custom for civilians to wear a little paper cross colored red and green.

As a symbol of Ireland it has long been integrated into the symbol of the United Kingdom, along with the Rose, the Thistle and the Leek of England, Scotland and Wales. So today, on St. Patrick’s Day, a member of the British Royal Family presents Shamrock to the Irish Guards regiment of the British Army.

THE MAGIC SHAMROCK

Three is Ireland’s magic number. Hence the Shamrock. Crone, Mother and Virgin. Love, Valour and Wit.. Faith, Hope and Charity. Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Numbers played an important role in Celtic symbolism. Three was the most sacred and magical number. It multiplies to nine, which is sacred to Brigit. Three may have signified totality: past, present and future OR behind, before and here OR sky, earth and underworld. Everything good in Ireland comes in threes. The rhythm of story telling in the Irish tradition is based on threefold repetition. This achieves both intensification and exaggeration. Even today in quality pub talk, a raconteur can rarely resist a third adjective, especially if it means stretching a point. “Three accomplishments well regarded in Ireland: a clever verse, music on the harp, the art of shaving faces.”

THE LEPRECHAUN

The Leprechaun is an Irish fairy. He looks like a small, old man (about 2 feet tall), often dressed like a shoemaker, with a cocked hat and a leather apron. According to legend, leprechauns are aloof and unfriendly, live alone, and pass the time making shoes. They also possess a hidden pot of gold

. Treasure hunters can often track down a leprechaun by the sound of his shoemaker’s hammer. If caught, he can be forced (with the threat of bodily violence) to reveal the whereabouts of his treasure, but the captor must keep their eyes on him every second. If the captor’s eyes leave the leprechaun (and he often tricks them into looking away), he vanishes and all hopes of finding the treasure are lost.

Near a misty stream in Ireland in the hollow of a tree

Live mystical, magical leprechauns

who are clever as can be

With their pointed ears, and turned up toes and little coats of green

The leprechauns busily make their shoes and try hard not to be seen.

Only those who really believe have seen these little elves

And if we are all believers

We can surely see for ourselves.

THE BLARNEY STONE

The Blarney Stone is a stone set in the wall of the Blarney Castle tower in the Irish village of Blarney. Kissing the stone is supposed to bring the kisser the gift of persuasive eloquence (blarney). The castle was built in 1446 by Cormac Laidhiv McCarthy (Lord of Muskerry) — its walls are 18 feet thick (necessary to thwart attacks by Cromwellians and William III’s troops). Thousands of tourists a year still visit the castle. The origins of the Blarney Stone’s magical properties aren’t clear, but one legend says that an old woman cast a spell on the stone to reward a king who had saved her from drowning. Kissing the stone while under the spell gave the king the ability to speak sweetly and convincingly. It’s tough to reach the stone — it’s between the main castle wall and the parapet. Kissers have to stretch to their back and bend backward (and downward), holding iron bars for support

———— A Success Architects $189 website is a “business start-up” resource site system created by Internet Guru Paul Bonnallie to help individuals earn money online with their own lucrative website. Whether you’re just thinking about the opportunity, ready to get started or trying to grow your existing business, Paul’s teaching resources and business expertise will show you how you can easily gain exposure on the Internet. Success Architects services, software, and personal training programs follow a proven system that has helped thousands start and build online business exposure that consistently earn significant income. Personal website start at low as just $189-Paul Bonnallie, Success Architects League, paul@corp-success.com, http://corp-success.com/helpdesk

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