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The theme was world poverty. We did a show about how two sets of farmers worked together. One group was in Ohio and the other was in Kenya. Together they had raised the standard of living for over 5,000 people.

This year’s theme is climate change. Now we’re aware that some of you may be groaning right now. You don’t think that temperatures are getting warmer or more extreme. Even if they are, you think it’s something beyond our actions as humans.

Now others may be groaning because of the first group groaning. It doesn’t matter either way.

We think we can all agree that we should be good stewards of the resources we’re fortunate enough to have.

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My dad was definitely a conservative and a conservationist. He treasured our natural resources. He hated waste … of any kind. He was a contractor who made use of every scrap of every building material.

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That’s our point today – you don’t have to try to save the world to save the world. You can take just one small step that leads to a giant leap for mankind.

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One small step on the moon

We recently celebrated the 40th anniversary of the Apollo moonwalk. Of course, we all remember the famous words uttered by Neil Armstrong as he became the first person to step on the moon: “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”

Embedded in those amazing words is a nugget of incredible wisdom. It’s how you change the world … one small step can lead to a giant leap.

The world. Your corner of it. You change one small step at a time.

One small step leads to 34% more

Imagine a trash can. It’s sitting all by itself. People come up to it and throw things away. Only some of those things are recyclable.

So next to the first trash can, imagine an identical can with a lid – a lid with a six-inch hole cut in it.

You see, according to Sean Duffy, an assistant professor of psychology at Rutgers University – Camden, we’ve come to think that a trash can with a hole in the lid means it’s for recyclables.

This simple step – setting a recyclable can right next to a regular trash can – increased recycling of bottles and cans by 34% [PDF] in a month long study he conducted on his campus.

To help you understand how huge that number is, researchers consider a behavioral change of 4 to 5 percent significant. So 34 percent is a giant leap!

If we all just make one small step like the one we described here, it can lead to a giant leap in conservation. Getting the most out of what we’ve been given … sounds like bigg success!

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Thanks so much for reading our post today. You really changed the climate for us!

Please join us next time when we’ll discuss how to keep ripples in your schedule from creating tidal waves in your life. Until then, here’s to your bigg success!

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Direct link to The Bigg Success Show audio file:
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It’s an amazing discussion of the power of failure and imagination. It’s definitely worth your time to read the full text, or watch the video. She said,

“We do not need magic to change the world, we carry all the power we
need inside ourselves already: we have the power to imagine better.”

Each of us has the power within us to change the world. Do you doubt it?

Steve Jobs didn’t doubt it.
He imagined a world where every person could have the same computing power that only large organizations had at that point. He dreamed of a world where computers were so user-friendly everybody could use them.

John F. Kennedy didn’t doubt it.
He had the vision that man could walk on the moon. He set forth his vision with the power of words to direct an entire country’s resources toward that mission. A short time later, Neil Armstrong uttered his famous words, “One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”

Martin Luther King didn’t doubt it.
He had a dream that people would be judged solely by the contributions they made to society, not by the color of their skin. His dream led to a movement to bring equal opportunity to all.

You may say that you don’t have …

… the imagination of JK Rowling. To create a world that can inspire millions of young people to read again at a time when everyone thought that only video games could attract them.

 … the creativity of Steve Jobs. To see the possibilities for individuals to have access to technology at their fingertips.

… the vision of John F. Kennedy. To see the impossible as possible and to inspire an entire nation to get behind the effort.

… the oratory skills of Martin Luther King. To put the need for change front and center on the agenda of his country and to move people to effect that change.

The unique power within you.
You do have the power to imagine a better world and make a difference in your own life and the life of others. Your imagination flows from your unique genetic make-up and your personal experiences.

No one else – who has ever walked on this earth, is here now, or ever will be – can duplicate what you have and who you are. You are one of a kind!

It’s up to you to live up to the potential that is within you … just imagine! How will you leave the world a better place? What are you doing now to make a difference in the lives of others?

Subscribe to The Bigg Success Show in iTunes. 

Subscribe to the Bigg Success feed.  

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Reject This Fear And Succeed 

(Image by svilen001)

Stephen is the founder of Adversity University. He knows a lot about overcoming adversity. He’s been deaf since birth, but as he says, we all face our own adversity in life.

A dream is born
As a young boy, Stephen said he had very low self-esteem. He had a hearing aid box that was strapped to his chest with cords running up to his ear. He was also very thin. But he was a boy with a dream … to be a pilot.

When he was just four- or five-years old, he saw a plane in the sky and knew he wanted to fly with the big boys. After much prodding, he convinced his mom to take him to the airport. It became a weekly event.

Upon arriving at the airport, Stephen would jump out of the car and run up to the fence. He would put his fingers on the fence and wait for a plane to come out. The minute he saw a plane, he would run back to the car and put his head on the hood, with his face looking out so he could see the plane take off.

When the plane took off, the little car would vibrate like a washing machine. That’s how Stephen heard the sound of a plane.

Living the dream
He didn’t pursue his dream until many years later. He completed college and went off to Wall Street. After fifteen years, he quit his career to pursue his dream of becoming a motivational speaker.

One day, he learned about other deaf pilots on his computer. He didn’t realize that deaf pilots had been flying since 1948. At that point, his childhood dream came roaring back to life!

He began looking for a flight instructor. Many of them weren’t aware that deaf pilots could fly. So they didn’t want to train him. Finally, Stephen found a willing instructor. 

He could only fly on good weather days. Deaf pilots navigate by referencing landmarks – like cities, lakes, and highways. But when weather turned bad, deaf pilots were not allowed to fly.

Until 2006.

That’s when Stephen became the first deaf pilot to fly in bad weather. He says that flying in bad weather is like flying in a milk bottle because you can’t see where you’re going. So, as Stephen says, he became the first deaf and blind pilot! He thought about starting Helen Keller Airways!

Now other deaf pilots are following his footsteps. He says it’s very difficult to fly in bad weather because you have to communicate with your co-pilot, whose job is to translate what the controllers are telling them over the radio. The co-pilot writes it down on a dry erase board and then gives it to Stephen, which is very challenging.

What an amazing accomplishment! Look at the doors Stephen has opened for others.

Stephen’s H.E.A.R. Principle for overcoming adversity
   
Have a passion for what you do. Otherwise obstacles will seem difficult to overcome.

Entertain the possibilities that are available to you.

Authenticity. Be authentic; be who you are.

Remember who helped you.

We thank Stephen for sharing his inspirational story and his incredible insight with us today! 

To learn more about Stephen Hopson: Check out his blog, Adversity University Schedule him to speak at your next event

Our bigg quote today is by none other than Stephen Hopson himself.

So don’t let adversity keep you grounded … overcome it and soar to new heights.

How have you overcome adversity? Share your tips with us by leaving a Comment.

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Today’s blog is inspired from a quote we heard on a rerun of M*A*S*H. Colonel Sherman Potter, played by the great Harry Morgan, said,

Isn’t that a profound statement? We loved it so much that we mashed up 6 tips on how to live in the moment.

#1 – Get past the past.
You can’t change it, but you can change the here and now. You’ve learned from the past – now get over it.

This applies to the good as well as the bad. You can’t rest on past successes, either. As the old saying goes, “Failure waits for all who stay with some success made yesterday.” It’s yesterday’s news – move on.

#2 – Stop fretting about the future.
“Tomorrow will take care of tomorrow,” we’re told. You should plan for your future, because that sets your direction. But once you have your plan, you have to focus entirely on the present.

Treat what’s going on now as a stepping stone. You’re working on your future by taking care of business today.

#3 – Stop wishing your life away.
A number of people spend their whole lives wishing it away.

Wishing they were smarter. Or prettier.

Wishing they had more money. Or a bigger house.

They’re so concerned about what they DON’T have that they completely fail to appreciate what they DO have.

#4 – Count your blessings.
Closely related to the last tip, learn to appreciate what you have and who you are. You’re a pretty special person. In fact, you’re the greatest miracle in the world!

So count your blessings. You’ll see that you have a lot for which to be thankful.

#5 – Pay attention to the little things in your everyday life.
Use all your senses. Look around … really LOOK. See all the color, the textures.

Breathe the air. Breathe deep … unless you’re stuck in traffic in Los Angeles! Even then, you can feel the warmth of the sun.

The point – enjoy the beauty that is all around you.

#6 – Get in touch with your child-like nature.
Kids are, without a doubt, our best teacher when it comes to living in the moment. They don’t think about yesterday; they don’t worry about tomorrow.

They only worry about what the other kid is playing with … just like us adults! Some things never change!

To a kid, each day is a new day full of wonder. So give yourself some time to play. Be inquisitive again – ask questions.

Our bigg quote today is by author Louise L. Hay.

Yesterday is gone forever. Tomorrow never comes. So put all your energy into here … now.

Next time, we’ll discuss how to find your fortune through promiscuity. Until then, here’s to your bigg success!

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Regrets…Had A Few?

Happy Valentine’s Day everybody! Cupid sent an arrow through the window of The Bigg Success Show studio today. Here’s what he said in the note he attached to it.

Dear George and Mary-Lynn, I love The Bigg Success Show! I wanted to write and ask you to share a message with your audience. It’s great that people today are getting more and more education. But I’m distressed because so much emphasis is placed on thinking logically. I’m afraid that we’re losing our ability to listen to our hearts. So I’m hoping you’ll share my 4 steps to heading in the heart direction. Love and kisses, Cupid

Cupid’s 4 steps to heading in the heart direction

#1 – Figure out what your heart desires.
You know deep in your heart what you really want. If you were living your heart’s desire, what would you do every day?

Would you be in a different career? Spend less time at work? Own your own business? Spend more time with your family and friends? Volunteer for your favorite cause?

Only you know your heart’s desire … what is it?

#2 – Use your head to plan how to get your heart’s desires. 
You know where you’re at and you know your heart’s desires. How do you connect the dots?

Do some research. Test some ideas. Try to find ways to get where you want to be. Not all your ideas will work. No worry. Keep coming up with solutions to get what your heart desires.

#3 – Believe with all your heart that you can do it.
Believe until it becomes a burning desire. You just can’t be happy until you achieve what you set out to do. Your heart will never be full.

You have to believe SO much that you just KNOW you can do it. Even more that that – you WILL do it because you remember the old quote, “If you believe it, you can achieve it!”

#4 – Put your whole heart into pursuing your heart’s desires.
The first three points have prepared you for this one. Now you’re ready to play the game. Go for it! Give it everything you have!

Along the way you will face adversity. Never give up. Your head will tell you to quit – listen to your heart and keep going!

Cupid’s advice for the heart-broken
You may have tried following your heart and fallen flat on your face. No worry – that will happen.

It’s better “to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.” It’s better to pursue your passion than just let life pass you buy. The biggest regrets most people have are for things they did NOT do. Don’t look back on your life and wonder what might have been.

Thanks for sharing these heart-felt tips with us, Cupid!

Our bigg quote today is by Jacque Benigne Bossuel.

Sometimes thinking outside the box is a matter of getting inside your heart.
   
Next time, we’ll ask you to solve a riddle – Where are you are if you ain’t where you are?

Until then, here’s to your bigg success!

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