Get a Growth Plan - John Maxwell on Entreleadership

Hey beloved,

      I recently listened to the Entreleadership podcast that featured John Maxwell. The Entreleadership podcast is a treasure trove on growth, leadership, and business uplift that is featured on Dave Ramsey's website. I've been listening to the podcast for over a year now and look forward to that electronic note that a new episode is live. I also listen to Raheem Devaughan's podcast 'dedicatedly' (I made the word up) as well. Back to Maxwell..........

     This podcast dealt with the concept of a 'Growth Plan'. Many of us confuse natural maturity with growth. The natural instinctual maturity progression moves one physically through the stages of development from birth, to infant, to toddler, to child, to young adult, to adulthood, to elder-ship, to death. Growth, however, is intentional. In the same way that a properly followed 'budget' tells your money how to move one out of debt and into wealth an intentionally followed and developed 'Growth Plan' can lead one towards the wealth that growth provides.

     Leadership guru John Maxwell asks two questions when moving towards growth. These questions are (1) What are you doing to grow you, and (2) what are you doing to grow others ? Growth is intentional according to Maxwell. After listening to the podcast I wrote in my notebook "One will have to battle and fight and struggle when growing. Battle, fight, and struggle". Maxwell says "No growing begins until you begin to grow.

     This episode of the Entreleadership podcast is a winner. The post describes the episode in this manner:

Personal Growth with John C. Maxwell

On this episode, Chris LoCurto interviews leadership expert John C. Maxwell about his new book The 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth. Dave Ramsey explains the “Wheel of Life” and how it applies to personal and professional goal setting.

     Click Here (or the full link below) to learn about getting your personal Growth Plan:
http://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/a1611.g.akamai.net/f/1611/26342/9h/dramsey.download.akamai.com/23572/audio/mp3/entreleadership/podcast/entreleadership-20121009.mp3?r=1 

     I further suggest that everyone serious about intentional growth become a fan of the EntreLeadership podcast. The link to the webpage is here: http://www.daveramsey.com/entreleadership/podcast The podcast page describes itself with this quote: "Leaders never stop learning. They never stop growing. Leaders recognize the importance of staying ahead. The EntreLeadership Podcast is a great way to do just that. The topics are timely and relevant, and the speakers are the best in business. We’ll feature new podcasts here every two weeks. Listen to our latest podcast and keep moving ahead." I highly reccomend listening to the episodes. I do. Be prosperous !

Seko

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Seko Varner is from Positive Vibes Financial, a World Financial Group team of financial services agents. They specialize in debt reduction, investments, and insurances. Seko is in high demand as a special events DJ and owns an event marketing service. Seko has diverse background in business, counseling and education. He has been real estate agent, a school counselor, a teacher, and an Intensive In-Home Counselor. Seko is active with numerous Youth Mentorship programs and has a background in radio and television. Visit www.HappilyEverAfter.Be or call 757-248-3820 for more details.

Sunday Schooled - When I get married...

When I get married...

      Lately the Lil' Diva has had to deal with a lot of loss. In July 2009 her beloved maternal grandmother became an ancestor. In September 2009 her beloved paternal grandfather became an ancestor and her paternal grandmother was placed into the intensive care unit almost becoming an ancestor. She, the Lil' Diva, dealt with celebrating both of their birthdays without them yet full of tears by our family. She smiled and laughed through a difficult 2009 Thanksgiving-Christmas-Kwanzaa-New Years Holy-day/holiday season hiding her loss with comedy and artistic engagement.
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 'Sunday Schooled' is a collection of blog posts from Seko Varner's former blogs. This post was dated 01/26/2010. The original post is:
http://daddyvarner.blogspot.com/2010/01/when-i-get-married.html 
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     Then in January 2010 I, her Dad, was placed in the hospital for an emergency life-saving surgery on the same night that her paternal grandmother was placed into the hospital again. During all of this time she has become more apt to shed tears or crack a joke than previously. Yesterday while folding clothes she huffed up the stairs opened the door to my bedroom and stated to my wife and I "Mens underwear are gross ! When I get married my husband is going to have to do his own laundry !" Then she looked directly at me still recovering from my surgery and added "Unless he's sick of course." and semi-slammed the door as she returned to her unfortunate chore (she knew better than to really slam the door).......................................... Children say the darnedest things.

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Seko Varner is from Positive Vibes Financial, a World Financial Group team of financial services agents. They specialize in debt reduction, investments, and insurances. Seko is in high demand as a special events DJ and owns an event marketing service. Seko has diverse background in business, counseling and education. Seko is active with numerous Youth Mentorship programs and has a background in radio and television. Visit www.HappilyEverAfter.Be or call 757-248-3820.

Sunday Schooled - Thanksgiving...Giving Thanks

Thanksgiving.....Giving Thanks....

     Thanksgiving was frequently spent at a relatives or parents-friends home (according to memory). The fondest of which were always with my pops side of the family. Today I'm thankful that Pops is alive. A while ago Dad was in the hospital and most recently Mom was in the hospital. The idea of being without a parent hit me like a Tyson blow (pre-carnivorous Tyson) . I've never been without either of my parents, the thought of the loss is a bit for me to fathom.

     I've long left the myth of the so-called Indian and so-called Pilgrims alone (I'm actually struggling with keeping quiet while these teachers are teaching my children that myth.......However, I realize I live in America. Attacking that myth will seem like selling USA-Haterade, almost Al-Quida'ish.) Thanksgiving has become a little more to me that the bull-chips presented in the commercial media which has become American culture.
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 'Sunday Schooled' is a collection of blog posts from Seko Varner's former blogs. This post was dated 11/22/2007 while Seko's father, Rev. Dr. Samuel Varner was alive. 

Original post:http://drivingmrdaddy.blogspot.com/2007/11/thanksgiving.html

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      I'm thankful for the lessons and life of Mom and Dad (note the photo of my parents to the left). I'm thankful to be a Dad. I look forward to tomorrow as my parents are currently doing well, but I know that the time is forthcoming for me to be parent-less. That frightens me more than I can express. 

 

      It's weird to be scared for my parents, I used to be scared of them. That fear kept me from doing a lot of things my peers became involved in. As a teen Pops would stay up at night and inspect my eyes and breath as I returned from DJing a party or hanging out. As a teen I was constantly worried that Dad would do a pop visit at my school catching me being a teenager. He did a few of those and the fear of them kept me on my toes. Currently I'm afraid that I will disappoint pops more that worrying about his blows. Interestingly enough that fear of disappointing my parents has geared me towards what people always seem to attribute to being in a church. I'm constantly asked "What church do you belong to ?" Folks seem surprised that I attend a church weekly but am not a member of any church. My behavior is truly more of a function of not wanting to disappoint my parents, my ancestors, and God rather than simply having a church inspired life. I remember the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan saying that a child first understands God through his parents. I'm thankful that I was raised by Yeshua (Jesus) by way of my parents. My father, the Minister, frequently told his flock "People would rather see a sermon that hear one." I grew up in a sermon and I'm thankful. I could have done without the "Spare the rod and spoil the child" sermon however. OUCH !

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Post script: 11/22/2012 - Today both my father and Mother-In-law are both ancestors of three years (May their memory continue to be a blessing). My Father-In-Law has remarried (Ashee), and my Mother is beginning to be embrace a life without her husband (Ashee-Amen). Today I am giving thanks for my ancestors. I walk in the glory of their struggle. Their blood, sweat, and tears..... and their laughter, joy, and prayers, has become the golden streets of our existence. Today I give thanks for my family. Today I give thanks for my family who are marching and remembering by mourning the lives of those who were decimated as a result of the actions of the man we call Christopher Columbus. Today I give thanks for what America has become, those who defend our country, and those who struggled to make it what it is.
Seko
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Seko Varner is from Positive Vibes Financial, a World Financial Group team of financial services agents. They specialize in debt reduction, investments, and insurances. Seko is in high demand as a special events DJ and owns an event marketing service. Seko has diverse background in business, counseling and education and has a background in radio and television. www.HappilyEverAfter.Be or 757-248-3820 for details.

Dealing with the DEBT MYTH - Dave Ramsey

Blessings beloved,

     I'm a big fan of Dave Ramsey. One of the most difficult aspects of the Financial Peace strategy that his company teaches is that Debt is unnecessary. I have been a short time listener of Dave Ramsey's various shows and Youtube videos. I think I got into his materials about five years ago as I transitioned from being a Real Estate agent into becoming a Financial Services provider.....As a side note I'm frequently asked why did I leave the Real Estate field when I was having a growing level of success. The shortest answer is I dislike shopping and working with buyers is similar to shopping. We're in a buyers market (in Hampton Roads Virginia) and I admitted to myself that I didn't want to work with the rising tide of foreclosures as a main source of sellers...... Back to Dave Ramsey......

     While taking Financial Peace University with the "Wifey'-Fo'-Lifey" I watched our classes members struggle with the concept that Debt is unnecessary. As I meet with client's now and share the same view on Debt I get a lot of confusion and nonacceptance when I share that's it's better to show your children how to stay out of debt and guide them away from debt rather than to help them "Build their Credit Score". Here's what Dave Ramsey says about DEBT:

Dave Ramsey (Podcast  10/23/2012) times from 01:56:01  to  01:56:36.

Debt is dumb – Dave Ramsey tells you why: “Building your credit is the biggest myth, the biggest lie that has been sold to the last two generations.  And so many people bought it that they are deeply in debt; it’s affected their marriage, it’s affected their future, it’s affected their ability to feed themselves – to take care of themselves at retirement, it’s affected their ability to change their family tree. It’s affected everything.  Because we believe that you have to go into debt, so we have the opportunity later to go further into debt. That’s the build your credit myth."

     The dirty little secret is that one can get a job and get an apartment, car loan, or a mortgage with a zero (0) credit score and with a good credit score. It's only when one has a bad credit score that things become extremely difficult. If one has a zero credit score that indicates that they do not use credit...... and banks will jump to give them a loan. Apartments that require a credit check may ask for a bigger deposit or one may need to work with a private owner if one has a zero credit score. Believe it or not people do buy houses and vehicles with zero credit scores and/or by purchasing the car or home with cash.

      Although this approach sounds crazy it works. To be practical I advise this: Create an emergency fund of a minimum of three months of your expenses. Don't use your credit cards for emergencies or fake emergencies (Christmas gifts and Birthday parties are not emergencies). If you have bills and debts pay them on-time or early. If you can't afford to buy something outright then you truly can't afford it. If you can't afford to buy a vehicle with a three year loan you can't afford the vehicle (you can afford the monthly payments...but you truly can't afford the vehicle). Create a "Gonna' Happen' savings account to be financial prepared for car repairs, Christmas gifts, and other things that are gonna' happen. Follow this path and the funny thing is your credit score will rise......but you won't need their stinking credit score or credit card !

    As an interesting side note I shared this path with a lady who described herself as a Christian first and anything else second. I shared with her that the 'canonized' Holy Bible says (Proverbs 22:7) "The borrower is slave to the lender." and  (Psalm 37:21, Ecclesiastes 5:4) "We are required to pay back what we borrowed." and (Deuteronomy 28:12) “The Lord will open for you His good storehouse, the heavens, to give rain to your land in its season and to bless all the work of your hand; and you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow.” Her interpretation of these passages, after she researched them, led her to believe that her habit and reliance on the use of credit was against the will of God. I'm hoping that she remains of out debt. Time will tell......

     If you or anyone you know is struggling with Debt - Contact me and I'll do my best to assist them. Teach you children to save and invest 15 cent out of every dollar they receive and later on they will not need credit. Easy advice, hard to follow. I know personally, as I'm walking my way out of debt as well. I invite you to walk with me.

      Dave Ramsey has a great website and the website is http://www.daveramsey.com . His company was giving away an audio MP3 file for free for a limited time period (that time may have passed by the time of this posting). Access that file by clicking here while the promotional lasts. I also advise anyone to attend his company's Financial Peace University.... It's worth every second. Uhuru !
Seko
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Seko Varner is from Positive Vibes Financial, a World Financial Group team of financial services agents. They specialize in debt reduction, investments, and insurances. Seko is in high demand as a special events DJ and owns an event marketing service. Seko has diverse background in business, counseling and education. He has been real estate agent, a school counselor, a teacher, and an Intensive In-Home Counselor. Seko is active with numerous Youth Mentorship programs and has a background in radio and television. Visit www.HappilyEverAfter.Be or call 757-248-3820 for more details.

Sunday Schooled - Daddy doesn't take points.

Daddy doesn't take points. 

The wifey' has developed a point system to address the sun-son's third grade transition. Whenever he makes a 'bad choice' he looses points. At the beginning of the week he begins with 100 points. I've smiled and been very supportive of the process and have reminded him to make sure his behavior doesn't result in a loss of points from his mother.

I didn't realize that he had noticed that I hadn't used the point system in my guiding interactions with lil' man. He shared with my wifey' "Daddy doesn't take points. Maybe you should teach him how..." One morning I reminded him of his morning duties prior to taking my shower. As I finished getting dressed I checked-in on the lil' ones to ensure progress. I didn't hear the lil' ones upstairs so I traveled downstairs meeting my son at the bottom of the stairs with a surprised look on his face. "Did you clean your floor and make your bed son ?" He said "Uh....No Dad." I asked "Didn't I ask you to do your morning duties ?". He took one step up the stairs and turned around looking at me and returned "You really need to learn how to take away points Dad." I looked up responding "I don't take points, I give spankings." He ran up the stairs, did his duties, did his sister's duties, and turned off the lights in my room........Amen......Ashee.....

Seko Varner
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'Sunday Schooled' is a collection of blog posts from Seko Varner's former blogs. This post was dated 10/26/2008 while Seko's father, Rev. Dr. Samuel Varner was alive. 

Original post:http://daddyvarner.blogspot.com/2008/10/daddy-doesnt-take-points.html

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Seko Varner is from Positive Vibes Financial, a World Financial Group team of financial services agents. They specialize in debt reduction, investments, and insurances. Seko is also in high demand as a special events DJ and owns an event marketing service. Seko has diverse background in business, counseling and education. He has been real estate agent, a school counselor, a teacher, and an Intensive In-Home Counselor. Seko is active with numerous Youth Mentorship programs and has a background in radio and television. Visit www.HappilyEverAfter.Be or call 757-248-3820 for more details.

Considerations - Head of the class...

Here's something to consider:







John Maxwell has stated "When you're in the head of the class, you're in the wrong class." The actionable growth implication is 'Move to a harder/higher/different class'. Be moved.

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Seko Varner is from Positive Vibes Financial, a World Financial Group team of financial services agents. They specialize in debt reduction, investments, and insurances. Seko is in high demand as a special events DJ and owns an event marketing service. Seko has diverse background in business, counseling and education. He has a background in real estate,  school counseling, teaching, and youth/family counseling. Seko is active with numerous Youth Mentorship programs and has a background in radio and television. Visit www.HappilyEverAfter.Be or call 757-248-3820 for more details.

Sunday Schooled - This one's for you

11/2/2012.....Here we are four years later. Mum looked at me today and said "I'm strong enough to go to the election polls myself now. I'll be casting my vote this time. You won't have to vote for me. You can vote for Mitt Romney if you want this year. I don't see why you would want to." Earlier this week I was barraged by folks wanting to know what my political plans were. When someone asked me "Are you better off now than you were four years ago ?" I had to admit that I was better. My improved existence isn't due to any political action..........Thankfully..........Time does indeed heal wounds...... Ashee, Amen.

This one's for you

Photos from David Schwartz

11/4/2008 - Mama's catching it right about now. Pops is having health difficulties, Mama-Granny is having health problems, my cousin has acted in a manner that's disrespectful and will need to keep a distance from me , & now she's in the hospital.

A week ago she shared in a story how surreal it is to be born in the 1940's in the United States and to face against racial and gender discrimination and to quietly yet deeply fear raising two Black boys. She had seen America spit out and chew Black boys even in the best of circumstances. She wasn't allowed to enter certain restaurants, establishments, and walks of life due to her race and gender as she was growing up. She saw men and women scarred by America while saying the Pledge of Allegiance. As she pledged allegiance to a country who violated and abused her fellow Americans of African and Indian descent she placed her faith on the cross of Christ. She stood up for and held onto love towards men who walked away from responsibility and fought the devils in alcohol. drugs, crime, and perversion.
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'Sunday Schooled' is a collection of blog posts from Seko Varner's former blogs. This post was dated 11/04/2008 while Seko's father, Rev. Dr. Samuel Varner was alive. 

Original post:http://ablogformama.blogspot.com/2008/11/this-ones-for-you.html

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Mom marched with Dr. King, listened to Malcolm, and later lit seven cultural candles after celebrating the birthday celebration of her savior. Mom worked and received lower paychecks and was shut-out of some businesses due to her womanhood. And now she had a chance to vote for a Barak Obama.

This is something that she spoke into me and my brother as we were lil'. "You could even be the President of the United States of America." While she was attempting to bolster her children with a wealth of the hope that embraces the "American dream "she truly didn't believe that it could happen for one of America's African children. My parents kept me in love with our African and Indian roots as much as they immersed us into almost all-white environments. She put up with polite smiles and back-stabbing church and professional peers who spoke of love and equality and practiced distance......And now she had a chance to vote for a Barak Obama.

Mom spoke of feeling like she was dreaming when she graduated from school and "they" made "them" all get into a bus to vote. She fearfully yet fearlessly got in the line expecting the usual police batons, citizen threats, or the whispered about bombs and was able to cast her vote for John F. Kennedy. She couldn't believe that she was able to do what so many had died trying to do. She couldn't believe that she was safe in participating in American society after being an American negro......And now she had a chance to vote for a Barak Obama.

We sat and she marveled while watching videos on the Internet involving people of all backgrounds demonstrate their support of Barack Obama in song, poetry, and speech. She marveled as one video showed bridges across the world with people holding signs endorsing Obama. Here I sat; her privileged Afro-revolutionary-thinking, Black-Republican-acting, Broke yet blessed elitist behaving, Suburban-raised yet hood-loving, Conservative-radio addicted son. She and others bled and suffered for me to be able to believe what I believe. As she marveled I marveled. She has seen America become closer to what America claimed it was. As southern rapper Young Jeezy says to Barack Obama in one his songs "Win, loose, or draw......You have changed the world for us." This is surreal to her.

Yesterday Barak Obama's grandmother died (11/03/2008 Roman Calendar) . Two days ago Mum was placed into the hospital fighting against pneumonia. She won't get a chance to vote and she's worried that her conservative son's vote may be one of the votes that defeats her realized dream in Obama's candidacy.

I awoke at 3:00 AM. I arrived at the polling place at 4:35 AM. The polls opened up at 6:00 AM. I cast my vote at 6:05 AM. My wifey arrived at 5:30 AM and cast her vote at 7:30 AM. I'll pick-up my Daddy around 10:00 AM to take him to the polls. This is surreal for him as well. Looking at the line behind me this morning was surreal. I shed a tear for Mum as I approached the voting booth. This is something she wasn't able to do today after praying, working, and bleeding for the opportunity. Mum, this one's for you.

Seko VArner
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Post-script - 11/02/2012
        Whatever the outcome of the Presidental election - God Bless America. God bless Africa. God bless everybody.
Seko
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Seko Varner is from Positive Vibes Financial, a World Financial Group team of financial services agents. They specialize in debt reduction, investments, and insurances.
Seko is in high demand as a special events DJ and owns an event marketing service. Seko has diverse background in business, counseling and education. He has experience in real estate agent, school counseling, school teaching, and youth/family counseling.
Seko is active with numerous Youth Mentorship programs and has a background in radio and television. Visit www.HappilyEverAfter.Be or call 757-248-3820 for more details.