All men can see these tactics whereby I conquer, but what none can see is the strategy out of which victory is evolved. ~Sun Tzu~

To put these two concepts in simple terms, strategy is the overall plan to reach a goal or a plateau and tactics are the day-to-day actions to get you there.

More accurately, most businesses are reactive and just trying to stay afloat. They are tactical, at best. Usually they are random and incongruous.

They may have a high-sounding strategy written down somewhere, but they readily abandon it when the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune arrive at their business doorstep.

They and their staff often become rats in a maze just fighting to survive rather thrive. They take their eye off the ball and haven’t a sliver of a chance for long-term success.

Nobody on this planet teaches the difference better than the god of finding the gold in each business, Jay Abraham

Please watch him in action...

Everyone has an inkling that their must be a key to the abundant-time-and-money kingdom, yet we don’t seem to sense it can’t be found in NeverNeverLand.

There are so many smooth talkers, aka gurus, who will have you gawking and orgasming at their newest widget or training program, yet if you have been struggling for years to rub two nickels together then you should know instinctively that that bait is fool’ gold.

What’s missing is you. You put the money first, and the interest or passion on the back burner. Not too smart, Bunky.

In the video that follows, noted motivational speaker, businessman, philanthropist and life coach, Bob Proctor, says that when the bill collector called when he was poor and asked where the money was, his humorous response came down to this: “If I knew where the money was, you wouldn’t be calling me.”

The gut-feeling truth is that most people either have time or have money, but few have ample of both. Is this a sign of the rich get richer and the poor get poorer? I think not. A samurai warrior does not go to battle with a dull sword or inadequate training. You don’t fight battles you can’t win. Most people are fighting their challenges on an empty tank and that can only lead to disaster.

It all comes down to learning how to be fully present. It’s a process which may require retooling, rethinking and a break from chasing money just because it seems to be there. It’s always been there and people like Mr. Proctor put in his spiritual mileage to discover it.

Where that is for each one of us is only available when we are patient enough to prepare for battle. Preparing means knowing yourself rather than running away from yourself in an effort to make a killing or to please others.

This life game is all about you – and that ain’t all bad nor selfish.

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Once again, I found a video recording of Les – who rose from ghetto poverty to optimum success – about sticking around when surrender would be easy. He also addressed the unequivocal advice to get rid of toxic people in your life.

Les – Like Tony Robbins -was also an avid fan of the late Jim Rohn (see previous entry). Les Brown has a photographic memory, capable of remembering thousands’ of quotes and stories in an instant. Moreover, his laugh and his humor are infectious. Enjoy…

On cassette I heard him tell the story of the sower and just today I discovered the same recording in video form.  I highly recommend you listen to one of the wisest men I have ever come across in the video below.  Enjoy and benefit:

“Hell is yourself and the only redemption is when a person puts himself aside to feel deeply for another person.” ~Tennessee Williams~

There is no telling what other people have in store for you, especially when you haven’t anything in store for yourself. You may get the Fillet Mignon of life or a can of vermin instead. Whichever one is handed to you, you own it because you chose to be led rather than choosing to lead.

Many people live as victims’ of circumstance. Reactive rather than proactive, they cling to the notion of inevitability, fate, and the evilness or unfairness of the world out there.

Most of us – at some time in our life or throughout it – have thrown up our hands in surrender and screamed bloody murder at a forsaking God,

“Why me? I’m good. I’m kind. I mean well. I work myself to the bone to move up the ladder. Why, Lord, am I in limbo, despite my valiant efforts and an ocean of good intentions?”

There are people in this world who do seem to learn from their mistakes and grow. Instead of taking the “poor me” attitude which can lead to drowning in a flood of bitter tears, they wipe their eyes and redouble their efforts. They resolve to be the the leader rather than the victim, from this moment forward.

Such an individual is billionaire entrepreneur, Bill Bartmann. Like many very successful people, he hit rock bottom and thought the end of the world was at hand. But then he shook off his wounded ego and miserable financial struggles and proceeded to the top of the economic and spiritual mountain – a summit where he has perched from for over 20 years.

The time for bitching and moaning has passed. It is time to grab back the reigns of your life and soar or soar once again. No excuses allowed at this altitude, OK? Get intrigued with possibility thinking (again). But don’t just pray for divine intervention, start rowing for shore.

Your Holy Grail does exist, as surely as you do.