AYD - Jan 8 2013 - How Will You Remember?

"It has to be this hard so you never, ever forget!"
- Bob Harper, Reality TV Show, The Biggest Loser, Trainer

The moral of the story.
A life lesson.
Nothing worth having comes easy.
Nothing is free.

However you have heard it said.
However the reality presented itself.
Whatever messenger it was dressed up as when it greeted you.

The gift is still the same.
The truth has to be accepted.

The first step of a life change is difficult in many ways.  Taking the next step, is a test of your desire.
Whatever it is that drives you to the land of opportunity to change, may abandon you when you realize how hard your task may be.

"Don't let the start stop you."  I heard this once.  Twice...maybe three times.  And it always makes sense.
The start of a goal, dream, task or must face difficult time, is where most wave the white flag.  The start of a dream that will require hard work and dedication... "it has to be this hard so you never, ever forget."

It is hard at the start to challenge your heart.  It gets easier, and more appreciated with every step you take thereafter...as you gaze over your shoulder and see how far you have come, and what it took to get you one step further than the last.

Difficulty is not permission to stop.  Passion does not mean you get a free pass.
How easy can you expect it to be when you start to chase a dream from a complete stand still?

What have you done that at one point in time you thought you could not do?  Anything.  Remember it. Acknowledge it.

Take a breath.  Recognize your achievements.  Press on.
Good morning.

Pierre Couturier
Husband, Daddy, Author...Training in Perseverance.

AYD - Jan 7, 2013 - Opportunity Monday Strikes Again

"Do not anticipate trouble, or worry about what may never happen. Keep in the sunlight. "
- Benjamin Franklin


Here it is straight to the point.  We speculate.  We anticipate bad words, or moments and then we waste valuable living time, valuable action time... worrying about something, and imagining how we will respond should it happen...when it happens... "Oh, it's probably going to be like this... !"

The word "Probably" is an enemy.  Chant that three times and see how you annoy yourself.  Put music to it and you win if you annoy two other people.  With any luck, it will annoy you so that you are very aware the next time you say, "He is probably going to say..."

It might be a meeting, or a phone call, or someone you don't wish to face - but instead of spending your time anticipating the worst or even just a negative encounter - use what you know for the benefit of designing the feared moment.  If you know someone is going to be difficult, you have the power to change the future.  Use what you know and diffuse.  There is power in lessons learned.

It is Opportunity Monday.  I challenge you to identify a moment and catch yourself pretending you are a psychic and can predict the negative future.  I challenge you to banish "Probably" from your vocabulary.  I challenge you to change the outcome of one moment you Think is about to be uncomfortable. 

You know what you Don't want to happen... so use it to shape what would make the moment a better one.

I challenge you to get value... from Opportunity Monday.

Good morning.
Pierre Couturier
Husband, Daddy anticipating trouble at mealtimes, Author, and now Suntanner.

AYD - Jan 4, 2013 - Light Every Corner

"The Power you discover from believing in yourself and your dream, is strong enough to bring light to every corner of your life."
- Pierre Couturier

I knew I wanted to write a book, but without truly believing in myself, I was having a hard time embracing my dream.  So, I was deeply thrilled that special morning I found my inspiration, and so much more.  When I sat down and had written the first passage for "All She Is...", I knew immediately that not only had I found the heart of my book, but I had also found the message in my heart for everything I had ever believed in.  That message needed to be shared.  I believed in it.

My Dream was alive! And with it, every part of me came to life.  The freshly discovered power of my desire rushed through me and lit up all of the hidden spaces in my thoughts and feelings; bringing them all together.  I could see them all so clearly now.  I could see how all of the pieces of me were finally aligned and moving forward as one. I had discovered my life path.

I encourage you to dream.
You must Believe....in your dream, and in yourself.
And then, Take Action toward your dream,
with determined focus and strong desire.
You have the Power.


This whole piece today was my submission to a little book called The Collective Soul, Vol 2.  Compiled by Kathleen Mailer.

My point... your personal belief in whatever it is that drives you passionately, your belief powers your energy.  And your energy, gives light to your belief.  You are self sufficient in your success.  So should you feel tired and weary, or hope is slipping, or your heart is heavy from the chase ... pause for a moment, reflect on moments of gain and success.... remember your feelings at moments of success, remember the small achievements and how they fuelled the engine to keep driving forward. 

Remember... and then Light Every Corner.  You will find your path again. 
Gather your successes - they will show you the way.  I suspect I will meet you on the Path.
Welcome, and good morning.

Pierre Couturier
Husband, Daddy, Author of my Day, and Checker of the List.

AYD - Jan 3, 2013 - A New Year, A Good Gameplan

"Always... Unconditionally... Follow your heart. Understand that persistence, hard work, and determination are the keys to success."
- Barbara Cage, Poet

Know it.  Feel it.  Value it.  And most of all, Repeat It.  Daily.
At lunch.  During a coffee break and on rainy days.  Think it when times are low, and continue to chase the awareness when times are great.

I have goals this year.  Goals that will reach out and touch each of you.  Persistance, Hard Work, and Determination are not only the keys to me being successful with these goals, they are my past Inconsistant Efforts.  My missing ingredients.

Do not make a "resolution".  Make yourself a simple, easy to stick to, easy to manage, I think I can, I think I can, I think I can consistant plan.

We can do whatever we set our mind to.  But we have to set our heart and mind on it.
Many of us do, and then stop... do again, and then stop.  Why?  When we know the riches are there with effort...how can we choose to take detours of our own design, away from what works?

I want 2013 to be my signature piece. It will not be my most successful year, because I will make it my foundation year.  The one the bigger ones are built on.  The one that defines the path to where I am going. 

I will follow my heart.  Care to join me in achieving success?

Pierre Couturier
Husband, Daddy, Author and Self Leadership Adventurer