This week’s motivational phrase is:

Faith removes limitation – Napoleon Hill.

Some may say that faith is believing when there is no proof to believe. I beg to differ. I believe faith is believing because you know that it can be done. If you know it can be done or that it can be true, you have no limitation on that belief. As an entrepreneur, sometimes we do things because we “feel” it is the right course of action to take. That faith in self is not unfounded. Believe it or not, that “feeling” or “belief” is rooted in your confidence that you can accomplish things based on past successes. So, break the barriers, remove the limitations and believe in yourself. Have faith.

Typically I write about specific entrepreneurial insights, lessons and other knowledge that I have gained and find valuable enough to share. However, on occasion I take the time to write about a topic or effort that I believe in and can affect us both at home and in the professional world. I would like to take this opportunity to spotlight the efforts of Dan Vega and Jeff Frahm in creating The Slim Down Challenge.

The Slim Down Challenge was created by Dan Vega, entrepreneur and nationally known speaker, and Jeff Frahm, entrepreneur and development agent of Subway, to raise awareness of healthier choices and combat obesity in the family and the workforce.

The Slim Down Challenge is a contest where everyone who loses, wins! With the collaboration of nationally recognized celebrities and health experts, such as Jared Fogle and his Club 245 Charity, The Slim Down Challenge rewards Americans who lose 25 pounds with various prizes worth thousands, as well as encouraging America to do their part in creating a better and healthier future for our children.

With obesity at an all time high, people eating unhealthy and health issues going through the roof…when is enough going to be enough? Many people do not start their path to a healthier life because they do not have proper incentive, adequate support or the needed knowledge and information to initiate the change. Dan Vega and Jeff Frahm recognized this and they developed The Slim Down Challenge. They will be producing nationwide events with all day education about the proper motivation and making healthy choices. The proper tools, knowledge and support can be found at these events and continued support via membership will be offered as well. The real incentive should be living a healthier lifestyle, trimming the fat and being able to enjoy life more. But, Dan and Jeff realize that some people need added incentive and they are offering individual prizes worth thousands of dollars each to every person that loses the required 25 pounds and keeps it off!

To keep up to date and know when The Slim Down Challenge is coming to a city near you, become a fan on their Facebook Fan Page. You can also subscribe to their Twitter feed.

Once again, I would like to commend Dan Vega, Jeff Frahm and The Slim Down Challenge for all of their efforts. I wish every person who takes the challenge success. And to the rest of you, regardless of whether you are in the US or another country, quit eating all of that processed food, get proper sleep and adequate exercise. The longer and healthier you live the more you can contribute and make a difference in the world. And all entrepreneurs have some level of desire to make a difference or you wouldn’t be an entrepreneur. Here is to better choices and a healthier lifestyle.

This week’s motivational phrase is:

Being realistic is the most commonly traveled road to mediocrity – Will Smith.

This is the second time in a row I have used a quote by Will Smith. Some may dismiss his words. But know this before you do, he hit super stardom that rocketed him into the millions at an early age. To match his meteoric rise was his plummeting fall early in his career. But Smith did not give up and he fought to reach his pinnacle again. He is the only actor in history to have eight consecutive films gross over $100 million in the domestic box office as well as the only actor to have eight consecutive movies, in which he has starred, to open at the number one position. I say all of this to point out that his words were come by through experience rather than a re-quote.

Most of society lives in the “realistic” world. Being an entrepreneur, your station is to strive for the unrealistic while keeping a firm grasp on reality. If the entrepreneurs before us had stuck to what was realistic at the time, we would never have enjoyed personal computers and all the wonderment that they have brought and other markets they have spawned. We would not have televisions, the automobile and so much more. Do not let your dreams and aspirations be trounced by what is realistic. Find a way to make your vision, however unrealistic, into a reality. That’s part of what entrepreneurs do. Don’t settle for mediocrity. Blaze your own trail and make a new road. Create a new sense of what is possible and set the new benchmark for realistic.

Most people think about stress as a tensing up of the muscles and mounting of frustration. Such as the picture in your mind that you visualize when someone says, “I’m stressed out” or “You are stressing me out.” Did you know that you could be in a fine mood and still be stressed out? I didn’t until recently and apparently many other entrepreneurs may be suffering from stress without knowing it.

You see, whether your mind or your body is under stress your adrenal glands kick in to help you handle the negative effects of stress. They are responsible for fighting off the negative effects of every kind of emotional, physical and mental stress. Some of the symptoms that your adrenal glands are functioning insufficiently are:

• Fatigue
• Allergic Hypersensitivities
• Muscular Weakness
• Hypotension
• Low Blood Sugar
• Food Cravings (salt and sweets)

According to some recent data, millions of people suffer from one or a combination of adrenal exhaustion due to some mixture of severe stress and unbalanced dietary habits. You can actually eat quite well and still suffer ill side effects from stress. If you are eating the daily recommended doses of your fruits, vegetables, vitamins, minerals, etc., you may still be under nourished. Those doses are based on normal circumstances. Your severe stress is not a normal circumstance, hence your adrenal glands require more tools to help them repair your body back to a homeostasis.

I am a rather positive person who does not let the day to day grind of business get me down. I am an entrepreneur. I love the business aspect of things. It makes me happy when I am involved in sales, marketing, networking and deal making. Setting goals, achieving various milestones and enacting plans are part of my everyday routine. It keeps me competitive and motivated to always try to out do myself. To strive and constantly try to achieve more. I suspect that many of you entrepreneurs are the same way. It is this type of behavior that can cause you mental and physical stress. If you constantly push and push and never take time to relax at all, you are stressing your body and your mind past the point where they are supposed to operate on a continual basis. It is similar to running a car at full throttle all of the time. It can be done. And on a well built car, you may be able to do it for a while. But, you are prematurely wearing out your engine, transmission and other parts of your car.

Did you know that getting insufficient sleep is worse for your body than smoking cigarettes? So, going all of the time at full speed without a proper diet and inadequate sleep means that you are killing yourself. Slow down, eat right and get appropriate amounts of rest and relaxation. I am not the poster child to be the example for this. But, I am trying and I implore you that you do the same. Live a healthier life and live a longer life.

This week’s motivational phrase is:

There is no reason to have a plan B because it distracts from plan A – Will Smith.

I used to believe that you always needed a plan B or a backup plan. About a week or so ago my wife came to me with the above quote. I forgot who said it but pondered the words. Then an associate of mine sent me a link to a 10 minute video of different words of wisdom from Will Smith. And the one quote that stood out was the one printed above. I believe Mr. Smith to speak the truth. If you have a well thought out plan B, you have neglected effort and attention towards your plan A. Put all of your effort in your plan A as a plan B will only distract you. Make course corrections when you arrive at challenges but continue with your plan A.