When it comes to Christmas, what do you think about? 

Do you think about Santa –

His elves, his reindeer, holiday lights, shopping, shopping, shopping or Black Friday? 

Black Friday is the day after Thanksgiving in the United States, where it is the beginning of the traditional Christmas shopping season. Since Thanksgiving falls on the fourth Thursday in November in the United States, Black Friday may be as early as the 23rd and as late as the 29th of November.

Black Friday is not an official holiday, but many employers give the day off, allowing consumers to get a head start on their Christmas shopping. Analysts and investors will watch for signs of consumer strength or weakness. 

For some its tradition. For others its religious folklore. No one would argue that the real meaning of Christmas is easily lost in the distractions of the season. This Christmas, take a closer look at the real meaning of Christmas and true identity of the Child in the Manger.

But why should you take a look at this topic closer?  During Strobel’s academic years, LL became convinced that God was outmoded, a belief that colored his ensuing career as an award winning journalist at the Chicago Tribune.  Science had made the idea of a Creator irrelevant …. or so Strobel thought. 

But today science is pointing in a different direction.  In recent years, a diverse and impressive body of research has increasingly supported the conclusion that the universe WAS intelligently designed.  At the same time, Darwinism has faltered in the face of concrete facts and hard reason.

Has science discovered God?

Join NY Times Bestselling Author of The Case for Christ, Lee Strobel, along with Mark Mittelberg, on Sunday, December 6 at Southeast Christian Church in Parker at 5:00 pm. Free tickets are available at Elements Bookstore, located inside Southeast. More information is available at www.sechristian.org.

Here are the top 20, listed in order of increase/decrease since January 09.

1. Dallas +7.20%
2. San Francisco +6.06%
3. Denver +5.94%
4. Cleveland +4.22%
5. Washington DC +3.84%
6. Boston +3.35%
7. San Diego +3.32%
8. Minneapolis +1.88%
9. Atlanta +1.57%
10. Los Angeles -0.01%
11. Charlotte -0.16%
12. Chicago -0.19%
13. TOP 20 Composite -0.24%
14. Portland -2.22%
15. Seattle -3.23%
16. New York -3.46%
17. Tampa -4.03%
18. Miami -6.80%
19. Phoenix -8.03%
20. Detroit -8.34%
21. Las Vegas -18.77%

Since January 09, the top 10 regions on the list above have either stabilized or have started to actually increase according to Case-Schiller. While this isn’t the only data to analyze when determining if a market is worthy of investment, it’s a good place to start. These top markets are starting to claw their way out of the 2008 hole and trend upwards.

Since it’s impossible to correctly pinpoint the exact bottom of any market without hindsight or a good set of tarot cards, a good time to buy is when the market starts it’s upswing. I’d say these top 10 markets are worthy of further consideration.

As a HUGE fan of Kansas growing up in Nebraska (i know that there probably wasn’t much of a support system ; ) ), I have been a die hard fan of Kansas Jayhawk basketball since in elementary school.  Back in the day when Danny Manning lead Danny and “the Miracles” all the way in 1988 at Kemper Arena to two years ago when Mario Chalmers nailed a 3 pt shoot to push Kansas into an eventual win over Memphis. 

I even have interest in naming my next dog Phog… After the great coach and Fieldhouse , Phog Allen Fieldhouse.  As a great sport college basketball gets underway again this year, I always am interested if the worthy Jayhawks can pull out another championship.

Before North Carolina cut down the nets at the Final Four in Detroit, the press was already selecting Kansas as the next team to beat. The prediction was conditionally based on the return of senior point guard Sherron Collins and junior center Cole Aldrich. When those two announced they were having too much fun in Lawrence and wouldn’t enter the 2009 NBA draft, the deal was complete. The addition of freshman Xavier Henry was gravy — very significant gravy.

Collins and Aldrich are determined to win back the national trophy they carted away from San Antonio in 2008 and, in the process, become the first Jayhawks ever to wear two championship rings.

Aldrich and Collins are first-team preseason All-America choices. In the Big 12, they share preseason player of year honors. If that doesn’t impress you, consider this statement from Kansas coach Bill Self.

“Cole has a chance, in my opinion, to be the best true big man Kansas has had since Wilt (Chamberlain),” Self said at Big 12 media day. “Danny (Manning) wasn’t a center. Raef (LaFrentz) wasn’t a center. That’s a pretty big statement for 50-plus years.”

Self also has supreme confidence in Collins, who shouldered a huge load last season as the Jayhawks regrouped after losing all the starters from that championship team. “Last year I pretty much had to be on top of my game or we would lose,” Collins said. But he knows it won’t as demanding this time around. Tyshawn Taylor is better. So are the Morris twins: Marcus and Markieff.

Kansas has so much depth that Self is considering redshirt seasons for Mario Little and Travis Releford. Little fought off injuries and averaged 4.7 points and 3.2 rebounds in 23 games last season. Releford, a two-time high school All-American, played in 32 games as a freshman. Reserve Conner Teahan might also sit out the season, but Self would still have enough for an extremely talented nine-man rotation.

Of the newcomers, Henry has received the most publicity, and he might be the first one-and-done player in Kansas history. His outside shooting and rebounding will be a big boost. But remember the name Thomas Robinson. The 6-foot-9 freshman has made a big impression in the practice.

From www.kuathletics.com “His motor is different than what we’ve had,” Self said. “Thomas has changed practice more than anybody else.”

Unlike last season, when the Jayhawks did better than anyone expected, Aldrich and Collins have a strong supporting cast this season. Are they good enough to live up to the ultra-high expectations? Only time will tell.

That’s myfirst storyline of the season on things I am passionate about.  Yep, KU Basketball.  Rock Chalk Jayhawk, Go KU.

I will post my weight on Monday as i weigh in every Sunday evening.

Also, i don’t know if any of you rather much get into Friday the 13th but here is a little trivia for you:

Why is Friday the 13th considered unlucky?

One of the most commonly held superstitions in our so-called civilized, educated society is that Friday the 13th is an unlucky day, and since, in this equation, each is held to be unlucky, added together, their sum can only equal double trouble.

Superstitions swirling around Friday as being lucky or unlucky have existed since ancient times, beginning with the northern nations. Ancient Romans dedicated the sixth day of the week to their beautiful, but vain, goddess Venus, so, when the Norsemen adopted the Roman method of naming days, they naturally adopted Venus as their name for the sixth day of the week. Their closest translation for Venus, Frigg, or Freya, eventually evolved into Friday, a day they considered to be the luckiest day of the week.

From a religious standpoint, Muslims tout Friday as the day Allah created Adam, legend has it that Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit, the apple, on a Friday, and later died on a Friday, and Christians consider Friday as the day on which Christ was crucified by the Romans.

The Scandinavian belief that the number 13 signified bad luck sprang from their mythological 12 demigods, who were joined by a 13th demigod, Loki, an evil cruel one, who brought upon humans great misfortune. The number 13, in the Christian faith, is the number of parties at the Last Supper, with the 13th guest at the table being the traitor, Judas. When Christians combine this day and number, the combination can only hold special significance.

Whether or not a person considers Friday the 13th as unlucky, he or she must understand that this superstition, as well as others, merely stem from beliefs or practices man used, and continues to use, to explain, and to protect himself, from events beyond his control in his complicated world. He worked, and works only with the bag of knowledge he has on hand.

Only when factual, scientific bases for these beliefs are unearthed, and people do not dispel the beliefs, but instead cling to them, the beliefs become superstitions. Today’s beliefs may very well be tomorrows superstitions. Until then, however, don’t step on a crack!

Instead of having my Rest day on Sunday i had to switch since i didn’t get to workout on Saturday.  I felt kind of like the guy to the right!….

See the rest of the story in my video!

A little update:  started Day 1 at 212 pounds.

On Day 6, I was at 210. 

I have a goal to get to around 195 lbs.

Remember, it isn’t that you can’t do it now, it is that you currently struggle with…  (doing a pullup, pushup or even excelling in other areas of your life).

To order P90x, go their main page or find a Beach Body Coach online:  http://www.beachbody.com/product/fitness_programs/p90x.do?code=P90XDOTCOM

I got to say that the lactic acid is building!  Motivational it may be for me to post these each and every day but when are you going to get the results you want?  Even if it is not in the Physical aspect or pillar of your life, my recommendation : START NOW.  ACT TODAY. 

A very well known self help / self improvement author said this, ”Most people never get their year going until mid-March. All the heavy hitters that I know start off with a BIG January and build on it.”

Bob Proctor

Again if you want different results you have to do… something different. 

A little about Shoulders and Arms and Ab Ripper: 

)3 – Shoulders and Arms – Nothing rounds out the perfect physique like a pair of well-defined arms and shoulders, and with its potent combination of pressing, curling, and fly movements, this routine will leave you feeling stronger and looking sexier. Whether you want to build muscle mass or just slim and tighten what you’ve already got, these targeted shoulder and arm exercises will get you the results you want.

Ab Ripper X -

The combination and sequence of movements in this unique workout taps into not only abdominal strength, but true core strength as well. Master these 11 highly effective exercises and you will achieve vital abdominal muscle strength to benefit your overall health and physical performance. You’ll also develop that highly coveted 6-pack as you take Ab Ripper X to full throttle. It’s extreme work that’s better than any machine in any club.

On Mondays I have a Mens accountability group so i had to do yesterday’s workout in the mid day.  Today, I woke up around 5:30 am to get started on Day 2, which was Plyometrics.

A little bit about Plyometrics:

Get ready to go airborne. With over 30 explosive jumping moves, you won’t be spending much time on the ground during this highly intense cardio routine. Plyometrics, also known as jump training, has been proven to dramatically improve athletic performance. If your sport involves a ring, rink, field, court, or track, then this training will give you the edge. Just be prepared to “Bring It” for a full hour when you leap into this workout, because there is no letting up.

TO order P90x go to their homepage, http://www.beachbody.com/product/fitness_programs/p90x.do?code=ERROR_P90X or you also find a Beach Body Coach online.

So i have to admit that i “dabble” in physical fitness since it honestly (and this isn’t being arrogant) comes natural to me.  I grew up pretty good at sports in high school and always stayed active through the college years and thereafter… but then, i turned 25.  Yeah that is right, the dreaded timeline for most adults when their metabolism slows down and the donuts from Krispy Kreme are still in process when it comes to dinner on that same night. 

I was one of those who could eat ANYTHING.  I mean ANYTHING and still remain skinny and fit.  But, things have changed.  My habits have changed and activities have changed. 

I am whole heartedly committed to doing P90x every single day through the 90 day period.  It all starts today, November 2, 2009.

See both my review on p90x and Harmonic Wealth by James Arthur Ray.

So what is P 90x exactly?

P90X® is a revolutionary system of 12 sweat-inducing, muscle-pumping workouts, designed to transform your body from regular to ripped in just 90 days. You’ll also receive a comprehensive 3-phase nutrition plan, specially designed supplement options, a detailed fitness guide, a calendar to track your progress, online peer support, and much more. Your personal trainer, Tony Horton, will keep you engaged every step of the way, and you won’t believe your results!

Why is P90X so effective?

The secret behind the P90X system is an advanced training technique called Muscle Confusion^™, which accelerates the results process by constantly introducing new moves and routines so your body never plateaus, and you never get bored! Whether you want to get lean, bulk up, or just plain get ripped, there’s an endless variety of ways to mix and match the routines to keep you motivated the full 90 days and beyond!

The key to living an Abundant life is live in Harmony.  Unfortunately the self help / self improvement industry is all about Balance.

Harmonic Wealth, authored by James Arthur Ray is a practical guide to achieving anything and everything you want out of life, and the revolutionary new Harmonic Wealth provides easy to implement, proven action steps to send you soaring to new levels of success and fulfillment.

The result of more than twenty years of his own study and application, Harmonic Wealth is your secret weapon to not only designing the life you’ve always wanted, but living it. This practical, results-based book will help you blast beyond your self imposed limitations to enjoy a life of harmony in the five key areas of your life:

1.  Financial

2. Relational

3. Mental

4. Physical 

5. Spiritual

Here’s just the start of what you’ll master with Harmonic Wealth:

• Develop loving personal relationships with people who support your goals
• Blast past obstacles that put a low ceiling on your income levels
• Finally figure out your life purpose (and translate your purpose into meaningful action) 

• Break through the unconscious chains that keep you frozen like a deer in headlights…
• Literally vanquish stress and fears that have held you hostage and stuck…
• Learn the nasty little trick your mind plays on you that keeps wealth and fulfillment out of reach and how to neutralize it once and for all…
• Stop making excuses and start creating outrageous results…
• Learn and master three little-known secrets to immediately increase your level of personal energy…
• Learn to how to create true Harmonic Wealth in all areas of your life: Financially, Relationally, Intellectually, Physically and Spiritually…

And that’s just the tip of the iceberg…

To learn more about James Arthur Ray and what he provides, go to:

http://jamesray.com/products/harmonic-wealth-book.php

The authors Bob Burg and John David Mann have take a whole different approach to getting their message across, no dry boring list of 20 neat things to do with your Rolodex. The Go-Giver is written in the style of a novel, the novel consists essentially of a number of parables and how the main character Joe implements these ideas.

Joe is a ‘go getter’, but, as the authors explain, Joe is hardworking and conscientious, but spends more time ‘going’ than ‘getting’. He is coming up on the third quarter of not making his sales quota, and is becoming more and more desperate to find those elusive clients that can change his fortunes. In frustration he turns to a senior but ignored figure in his department and asks for some advice. Gus suggests that Joe attend an upcoming talk by a speaker known as ‘The Chairman’, alas Joe needs answers now, not next month, and asks Gus for ‘The Chairmans’ telephone number.

The die is cast. And the story unfolds.

I won’t share Joe’s story with you, I will share my own instead. Although I have just finished reading Go-Giver for a third time now (and have had the ability to build a relationship with Bob Burg), by a huge amount of improbability the ideas that Bob Burg and John David Mann are suggesting, pretty much mirror my own story.

About 18 months ago I decided that I had had enough ‘fun’ in corporate America and working in the healthcare industry, after 4 plus years I was burned out.  Burned out from catching a plane week after week to build someone else’s empire.  I wanted to create something i could be passionate about. Of course no one wants to look at a new business or think about investing in others so I decided lets work on things that i have experience on such as cost savings and cost reduction and blend that together with my real estate investing background and be able to serve more businesses and corporations than i did before.  My solution was to ‘give greater value’, I started by giving free advice, consultations and workshops  for free! Free is always a great price!

Guess what? It wasn’t long before I started to speak and educate for money. The authorsof the Go Giver are right, become a giver, if you give great value the rewards will come. And love what you do, the more you love it, the better it gets.

Networking? What a boring and overused word, but when approached the right way it can lead to great things. By being a giver good things happen, by being a giver I have talked with famous authors, publishers, world class musicians, and famous actors and athletes.  My network is amazing and growing! As Bob and John explain, ‘everyone in your network is a walking talking ambassador for you’.

Help your friends, and your competitors. That might sound less than sensible, but in fact it makes perfect sense. If you can not help someone, tell them who can, even if it is a competitor. You will be amazed what good things happen as a result.

I won’t share the rest of the authors ideas, but I will say this, they all make perfect sense, and even if you are not trying to become a captain of industry, there is something that can help you in your business or personal life.

I have given up my day job and I thank God for putting this book into my life in realization of all the people you can help change not only their aptitudes but their attitudes as well.

Read Go-Giver, I know that you will learn something. I wish I had read it years ago.

You can get your own copy from our resource center, http://maximpactsolutions.com/resources.asp, and even if you are not looking to change your luck in the business world, you might learn something that will help you in your personal world.

For those reasons and for the Five Laws of Stratospheric Success, I will always be a walking Personal Walking Ambassador for The Go Giver.  Check out my full video review here: 

The author compares his poor dad to those people who are perpetually scampering in the Rat Race, helplessly trapped in a vicious cycle of needing more but never able to satisfy their dreams for wealth because of one glaring lack: financial literacy. They spend so much time in school learning about the problems of the world, but have not acquired any valuable lessons about money, simply because it is never taught in school. His rich dad, by contrast, represents the independently wealthy core of society who deliberately takes advantage of the power of corporations and their personal knowledge of tax and accounting (or that of their financial advisers) which they manipulate to their advantage.

The book’s theme reduces to two fundamental concepts: a can-do attitude and fearless entrepreneurship. The author highlights these two concepts by providing multiple examples for each and focusing on the need for financial literacy, how the power of corporations contribute to making the wealthy even wealthier, minding your own business, overcoming obstacles by not fostering laziness, fear, cynicism and other negative attitudes, and recognizing the characteristics of humans and how their preconceived notions and upbringing hamper their financial freedom goals.

The author presents six major lessons which he discusses throughout the book:

• The rich don’t work for money
• The importance of financial literacy
• Minding Your own business
• Taxes and corporations
• The rich invent money
• The need to work to learn and not to work for money

Dad differences

One of Robert’s dads was a multimillionaire. The other was a poor man. Why? Very simply, it comes down to their respective attitudes toward money and life. Take a look at the differences and think about where you fit…

Poor Dad vs. Rich Dad

	My Poor Dad Said		My Rich Dad Said
	“My house is an asset.”		“My house is a liability.”
	Rich dad says, “If you stop working today, an asset puts money in your pocket and a liability takes money from your pocket. Too often people call liabilities assets. It’s important to know the difference between the two.
	“I can’t afford it.”		“How can I afford it?”
	The statement “I can’t afford it” shuts down your thinking. By asking the right question, you mind opens up and looks for answers.
	“The reason I’m not rich is because I have you kids.”		“The reason I must be rich is because I have you kids.”
	“I’m not interested in money.”		“Money is power.”
	“When it comes to money, play it safe – don’t take risks.”		“Learn how to manage risk.”
	“Pay myself last.”		“Pay myself first.”
	Rich Dad always took a percentage off the top of any income he earned. He put that money into an investment account that went toward purchasing his assets. Poor Dad spent all his money first and never had any remaining for investments.
	Believed that the company you worked for or the government should take care of your financial needs.		Believed in financial self-reliance and financial responsibility.
	Focused only on academic literacy.		Focused on financial literacy as well as academic literacy.
	Learned only the vocabulary of academia.		Learned the vocabulary of finance – “Your words are the most valuable tools you have.”
	“I work for my money.”		“My money works for me.”
	Thought that making more money would solve his financial problem.		Knew that financial education was the answer to his financial problems: “It’s not how much money you make that’s important – it’s how much money you keep and how long you keep it.”

See my summary in the video below : )