tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16771999742749823192024-02-20T14:40:01.429-05:00Samurai NetworkerJoe Crawfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16328995603598814810noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1677199974274982319.post-44609769323712660492013-12-06T16:21:00.000-05:002013-12-06T16:34:11.082-05:00Decade of Change<a name='more'></a>It was just over 10 years ago that my wife and I, went to our first Personal Mastery. Life has changed!<br />
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I view much of life as “win/win” or it’s not about me, it’s about… it’s white/it’s blue….<br />
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So many things were stretched well out of my comfort zone and I’m still here, still moving and living.<br />
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As a promoter/controller, I’ve embraced much that I hadn’t seen and continue to see even more. Yes, I see the analyst and supporter in me, no matter how much I want to deny it!<br />
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I was in leadership to the level of board member or even Vice President in a number of organizations; however, I would never allow myself to take the lead. Not so today. I’ve now been the president of several organizations.<br />
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I view success through different glasses. It is not about the dollar figure in the bank for me, though, we’ve managed better than most.<br />
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I still live in a very political world. I begged God to let me out, but He had greater plans. <br />
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I understand better the wilderness experience that Moses had, oh so up close and personal. I’ve learned that “resistance is futile!” (BTW and destructive!)<br />
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I find myself in a spot that I never considered; re-firing instead of retiring! I talked about this idea years ago, and now I’m seeing it first-hand.<br />
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That day when at Heart of the Samurai, Thursday to be exact, that I was all excited to tell Nancy Dean that I had been quoted in a Washington Post article about homelessness. (If you’ve been to HOS this should be meaningful!) <br />
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Brian was such an amazing Samurai, “how can I serve you”? (Not sure I have the exact wording, but it still fits.) I have offered to help many people, on so many different levels, as a direct result of my brief time as his friend. <br />
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It was, and is, an honor to have called Brian my friend. I hope that through me and all of you, Brian continues to make a positive impact through “an army of compassionate Samurai,” who make a difference in this world.<br />
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Joe Crawfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16328995603598814810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1677199974274982319.post-12168552817406047632013-03-28T19:33:00.000-04:002013-03-28T19:33:03.436-04:00Honest DebateWe are engaging in debates today that are altogether off subject. Free thinking doesn't make one an "Uncle Tom," a bigot, a homophobe... Doesn't make you ________ (fill in the blank.) <br /><br />
Legalization of drugs... let's lower the drinking age again... <br /><br />
The question should be, "why are drugs illegal?" "Why did we raise the drinking age?"<br /><br />
There are many other topics today that the wrong questions are being asked, all for equality, personal liberty, to prove your own point...<br /><br />
I saw a video of Peirs Morgan, Suze Orman, and a young man from Heritage Foundation. Suze O. kicked out an argument about partners paying inheritance tax. The young man pointed out that the real problem was the "death tax" in the first place. (I agree with him on that point.) Suze ceded that it wasn't even an issue! Obviously making the debate on that point, nonsense!!<br /><br />
I remember that the "war on drugs" and making drugs illegal was all about stopping crime... public safety...<br /><br />
The drinking age was raised because we tried the 18 yr old drinking age experiment and drunk related death sky rocketed; it didn't work! We corrected the failure.<br /><br />
Let's leave the arena of emotional, knee-jerk reactions and engage in serious, kind, respectful and open debate. <br /><br />
Thank you, Joe Crawford <br />
(Permission to copy if kept intact)Joe Crawfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16328995603598814810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1677199974274982319.post-47174293262421989642010-01-27T00:46:00.000-05:002010-01-27T00:46:12.351-05:00Seeing Your PurposeA few years ago, I was walking through San Diego pondering my purpose, “to greatly glorify God.” I was trying to see in my mind's eye what that would look like.<br />
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In my world, a commonly heard phrase is, “there are no accidents.”<br />
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I encountered a man that lives in shelters and spends his days walking the streets talking to anyone that would listen as he told them of his Saviour.<br />
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I can’t adequately describe the pureness of the moment. I believe the Lord showed me the simple yet thorough service of a simple man, as he glorified our God.<br />
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<div style="color: black;"><b>BEAUTIFUL!!</b><br />
</div><input id="gwProxy" type="hidden" /><!--Session data--><input id="jsProxy" onclick="jsCall();" type="hidden" /><div id="refHTML"></div>Joe Crawfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16328995603598814810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1677199974274982319.post-73502673432187474062008-09-18T06:04:00.003-04:002008-09-23T11:23:29.020-04:00Have you chosen by choice or by default?<p style="font-family: times new roman;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">I’ve been a student of people for many years.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> One thing I’ve learned is that most people don’t make active decisions.<br /><br />It is easy to ponder an item until it no longer needs action.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> The sale ends so you don’t have to worry about buying the car.<br /><br />Someone else got the job, so I don’t have to write my resume.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> It started to rain, so I can’t cut the grass.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> “There is a lion without, I shall be slain…” (Prov. 22:13).<br /><br />More appropriately, it may be better stated by saying, I can’t apply for that job because:<br /><br />“I’m too old”<br />“I’m too fat”<br />“I’m too young”<br />“I don’t have a college degree.”<br />“I‘m not a man”<br />“I’m too…”<br /><br />You’ve heard them.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> For that matter, you’ve said them.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> Truth be told, these reasons really don’t cut it.</span></p><p style="font-family: times new roman;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:donotoptimizeforbrowser/> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"MS Mincho"; panose-1:2 2 6 9 4 2 5 8 3 4; mso-font-alt:"MS 明朝"; mso-font-charset:128; mso-generic-font-family:modern; mso-font-pitch:fixed; mso-font-signature:-1610612033 1757936891 16 0 131231 0;} @font-face {font-family:"Arial \(W1\)"; panose-1:2 11 6 4 2 2 2 2 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:swiss; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:536902279 -2147483648 8 0 511 0;} @font-face {font-family:"\@MS Mincho"; panose-1:2 2 6 9 4 2 5 8 3 4; mso-font-charset:128; mso-generic-font-family:modern; mso-font-pitch:fixed; mso-font-signature:-1610612033 1757936891 16 0 131231 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} p.MsoEnvelopeAddress, li.MsoEnvelopeAddress, div.MsoEnvelopeAddress {margin-top:0in; margin-right:0in; margin-bottom:0in; margin-left:2.0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; mso-element:frame; mso-element-frame-width:5.5in; mso-element-frame-height:99.0pt; mso-element-frame-hspace:9.0pt; mso-element-wrap:auto; mso-element-anchor-horizontal:page; mso-element-left:center; mso-element-top:bottom; mso-height-rule:exactly; font-size:14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Arial \(W1\)"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family:Arial; font-weight:bold; mso-bidi-font-weight:normal;} p.MsoPlainText, li.MsoPlainText, div.MsoPlainText {margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><span style=";font-size:100%;" >I had a cousin that was a quadriplegic for 41 years.<span style=""> </span></span><span style="font-size:100%;">The only reason he didn’t get a job was that he couldn’t see his way to let loose of his state provided benefits.<br /><br />Now, I’m not judging him, don’t jump to that conclusion.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> He may have made the best decision available, but that is not the point.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> The point is, even a quadriplegic can do a job.<br /><br />So will you make the choice?</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> Will you step up and do what you know needs to be done? </span><span style="font-size:100%;"> Can be done?</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> You want to do?<br /><br />“Someone ought to ___________”, you fill in the blank.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> How about you?<br /><br />A number of years ago, I noticed that a friend of mine had a resume that would choke a horse. </span><span style="font-size:100%;"> Later, I made another friend, which had a resume that would impress almost anyone. Yet another friend inspired me to step forward and do what I could.<br /><br />These 3 people, 2 women and 1 man, did one key thing.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> They choose to step forward and do what they saw could be done.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> I decided to join them.<br /><br />To make a long story short, the VP of the local Habitat for Humanity told me I was going to be the next President.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> I said, “Oh no, you’ll be the next President.”</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> That conversation took place 4 to 5 months after I had joined the group.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> Well, he was correct, and I was wrong.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> It just took 2 years to happen.<br /><br />The bottom line is, you can do far more than you thought, if you will choose to step forward and do what you can.<br /><br />By the way, the best way to get ahead is to do whatever it is that needs to be done.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> I have seen many people get offers or promotions because “they can be counted on.”<br /><br />Stand up, step up, and speak up.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> Watching it on TV will not get it done, action will.<br /><br />Blessings, Joe Crawford </span></p>Joe Crawfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16328995603598814810noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1677199974274982319.post-20455096239931794422008-09-07T18:11:00.000-04:002008-09-07T18:12:36.133-04:00Choice not Chance"choice, not chance determines human destiny" (from our church bulletin)<br /><br />not much else need to be said!Joe Crawfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16328995603598814810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1677199974274982319.post-66824368100446727282008-09-03T03:00:00.000-04:002008-09-03T03:22:55.155-04:00You DecideI met for coffee today with some of the other officers of our local Habitat for Humanity. We were meeting to see what we could do to get this current house we are building completed. But that is another story…<br /><br />During the course of the conversation ‘Rev’ made the statement: “Most of us will go to any length and put ourselves through any kind of pain in order to avoid making a decision.” <br /><br />I grabbed a pen and started writing. The statement rings true with me, but I decided to take a different perspective. I believe we make decisions, but not consciously or currently.<br /><br />Things that we accepted as fact in our life make the decisions for us. The things we believe guide us. So when someone asks us anything, our beliefs take over. “I can’t sell.” “I can’t remember names.” “I’m too busy to…”<br /><br />The truth is that none of the statements are correct. You can sell anything you believe in. You can remember names if the names mean something to you. And, you are not so busy to do what you really want to do.<br /><br />Now, I know that there is inevitably someone, somewhere, that has some condition that prevents them from remembering names. OK, this doesn’t work for everybody, all the time. But, it does for most everybody, most of the time.<br /><br />What I am talking about here is that we make decisions at some time in our life that dictates our actions for the rest of our life, unless… unless, we change those decisions. This would (probably) be an intentional decision on our part.<br /><br />You can do things you don’t believe you can do, if you are willing to pay the price or do what you need to do to make it happen.<br /><br />“I can’t loose weight.” Yes you can, but you have to do what it takes to loose it. The truth most often is that you won’t admit that you over eat, or that you even really need to loose the weight, at all.<br /><br />So what is the point? The point is, look at what you really want. Look at what it will take to bring it to pass. Weigh the costs. Make the decision that suits you best. In the words of Yoda, “Decide you will.”<br /><br />You will either make the decision or you decide to let those underlying beliefs, circumstances, or whatever, decide for you. It is still your choice.<br /><br />I propose that you will go a lot further by consciously deciding than you can ever go by letting things just happen. You will go where you see best, because it will in fact be where you want to go.<br /><br />My desire was always to help others. It wasn’t until I made some decisions that I became the head of several non-profit organizations. I believe I have had a positive impact on a broad base of people.<br /><br />I had some advice that told me to not go there… My conscience decision helped me to walk where I really want to walk.<br /><br />My son likes to quote from the movie “Meet the Robinsons”: “Hum, admit that I made a mistake or blame you? DING, DING, DING; I Blame You!!”<br /><br />Ok, what’s the point? You decide to go where you want to go, do what you want to do, and be what you want to be. Or, you decide to let others or things or conditions or… stop you or talk you out of it, but you still make the decision. It is just easy to not admit that you made the decision.<br /><br />Please enjoy the following 10 minute video to see what can be done when you make active decisions: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrSLb7hWSMc">On Top of The World</a> <br /> <br /><br />Blessings, Joe Crawford<br /><br />PS. Let me know of the decisions that changed or will change your life. (short version please!)Joe Crawfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16328995603598814810noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1677199974274982319.post-90912326647781380922008-08-23T02:06:00.000-04:002008-08-23T04:18:26.527-04:00PERFECT!<span style="font-size:130%;">Success-How Will You Do IT?<br /></span>A path to success:<br /><br /><strong>1) Purpose</strong><br /><br />Make the decision, and don't look back! Along with the decision comes singleness of purpose. A true decision will create focus.<br /><br />It was once said that no man could serve two masters. However subtle it is said, you can only focus in one direction.<br /><br /><br /><strong>2) Passion</strong><br /><br />A true decision to go all-in, will produce passion! You effort will be solid when you choose. All-in, implies that your training, reading, conversation, and fellowship will be around your decision.<br /><br />All these things bring your inner most being to the surface and guess what, you’re all-in! What flows will be from that very decision.<br /><br />Trash in / trash out <strong>OR</strong> Great stuff in / passion out!!!<br /><br /><br /><strong>3) Patience</strong><br /><br />Plant it and it will grow, not overnight, but in its season. The farmer will plant his seeds after the ground is prepared. Once the seed is planted, the ground must be attended, watered, cultivated… The sun must shine, the rain will come, and the seed will grow.<br /><br />The best wines come from a very wet season, and then something changes. The season becomes dry. It seems as if the crop will be lost, but with patience comes the harvest. They make the wine and you have the most amazing wine.<br /><br /><br /><strong>4) Presence</strong><br /><br />With the three points we’ve discussed, you have a presence about you that will attract other positive people.<br /><br />Others may be groupies, waiting to be lead, but you will do what needs to be done. You’ll be the one in the front. You’ll be the one listening to the tapes, reading the books, and plowing the ground. (Sorry, I drifted back a point.)<br /><br />Surrounding yourself with positive people you will be able to tackle some high obstacles. Everest shouldn't be climbed alone! It's not worth the risk.<br /><br /><br />Now that I’ve used a ton of clichés, make your choice and go for it!<br /><br /><strong>1)Purpose </strong><br /><strong>2)Passion </strong><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">3)Patience </span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">4)Presence</span> </strong><br /><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">5)Perfect!!<br /></span></strong><br />Blessings, <a href="http://www.new.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1046647612">Joe Crawford</a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">This post was inspired by: </span><a title="Permanent Link to Network Marketing Success-How Did They Do IT?" href="http://mlmattitudes.com/blog/network-marketing-success-how-did-they-do-it/"><span style="font-size:85%;">Network Marketing Success-How Did They Do IT?</span></a><span style="font-size:85%;"> Thank you Ann.</span>Joe Crawfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16328995603598814810noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1677199974274982319.post-16136565980996800062008-08-15T18:14:00.000-04:002008-08-15T18:57:46.927-04:00Self EsteemA new friend of mine asks: "<a title="Permanent Link to How Does One Lose Self Esteem Once Born?" href="http://selfbuildingforsuccessmarketing.info/?p=45">How Does One Lose Self Esteem Once Born?</a>" (Check out her blog.)<br /><br />There are a number of short answers, but I believe the keys are found in guilt and also not taking responsibility.<br /><br />Many times, even as a child, we make bad choices. The natural reaction is to feel guilty, and go into defense mode. Somewhere inside we feel we aren't all that we should be.<br /><br />The best way to deal with this low self esteem is to accept responsibly for our action. I don't mean advertising that we were wrong. I do, however, mean that we need to identify our part and acknowledge it. This can be internal or shared with anyone who may have been affected. Wisdom should be used here, don't just run around announcing that you blew it.<br /><br />5 years ago I became aware that I was affected, by an event that happened to my wife, in a much bigger way than I ever imagined! She was "abducted" some years ago on her way to work.<br /><br />How could I possibly be responsible for some "down on his luck", and hyped up on drugs idiot, abducting my wife? There are a number of things I could have done and didn't. I didn't drive her to work, for example.<br /><br />Once I faced the facts and became responsible, my life changed.<br /><br />(This is only a thought, and not necessarily the answer to all self esteem issues.)<br /><br />Blessings, Joe Crawford<br /><br />For further ideas read "If How-To's Were Enough We Would All be Skinny, Rich and Happy" by <a href="http://klemmer.com/">Brian Klemmer</a>Joe Crawfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16328995603598814810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1677199974274982319.post-84882593609135000702008-08-14T18:47:00.000-04:002008-08-14T18:54:38.041-04:00Great Blog to ShareNot ready to launch yet, but I found a great blog I'd thought I'd share:<br /><br />"Success is built on lots of small steps. Start taking them..."<br /><br /><a href="http://www.copyblogger.com/online-marketing-success/">http://www.copyblogger.com/online-marketing-success/</a><br /><br />Cheers, JoeJoe Crawfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16328995603598814810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1677199974274982319.post-68289550792289255922008-08-14T01:48:00.000-04:002008-08-14T01:56:38.717-04:00Starting soonPlease come back soon. I plan to use this site to connect with other Klemmer Grads and anyone that is looking to connect based on the idea of a win-win willingness to help others.Joe Crawfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16328995603598814810noreply@blogger.com0