Direct Selling Offers Flexibility and Financial Freedom - SUCCESS magazine

SUCCESS magazine is one of my favorite magazines.  If you are one interested is topics such as business, wealth, relationships amongst many other topics, this is a great magazine to be subscribed to.  Below is an article that discusses the opportunity of direct selling or network marketing.  Check it out.

Direct Selling Offers Flexibility and Financial Freedom - SUCCESS magazine

Just for fun...

10. Places You Have Visited
1. Madrid, Spain
2. Munich, Germany
3. Chios, Greece
4. Daytona Beach, FL
5. Asheville, NC
6. Washington DC
7. San Diego, CA
8. Las Vegas, NV
9. Fredericksburg, TX
10. Toronto, Canada

9. Items On Your Bucket List
1. Sky diving
2. Write a book
3. Travel the world
4. Become fluent in at least 3 languages
5. Act in a movie
6. Cruise around Europe
7. Buy my own airplane
8. Fly a fighter (F-16, Mig, etc.) "I have a need for speed!"
9. Become an amateur race car driver

8. Things You Love to Eat
1. Ribeye
2. Spinach pie
3. Tzatziki sauce
4. Souvlaki
5. Good pizza
6. Cream cheese (Philadelphia brand)
7. Sweet potato
8. Chocolate

7. Items Currently On Your Desk
1. iMac
2. Calculator
3. Camera
4. One bill
5. Cell phone
6. ipod
7. Blank cd-r's

6. People (Not Living With You) That You Talk To/Text/Tweet At Least Once A Week
1. Parents
2. Sister
3. Bob
4. Karun
5. Debbie
6. Russ

5. Favorite Songs
1. I want to grow old with you - Adam Sandler (I proposed to my wife with that song)
2. No Easy Way Out - Robert Tepper
3. Bring Me To Life - Evanescence
4. Wanted Dead Or Alive - Bon Jovi
5. Danger Zone - Kenny Loggins

4. Things You Cannot Get Through The Day Without
1. God
2. At least one shower
3. Cell phone (I'd like to think I can go without this but I would be kidding myself)
4. Sleep

3. Models of Vehicles You Have Owned
1. 2011 Honda Accord
2. 2006 Honda Civic Si (loved that car)
3. 1995 Nissan Maxima

2. Physical Traits That Attract You to Someone
1. Smile
2. Eyes

1. Word to Describe Yourself
1. Teachable

BOEING 787 Dreamliner

Beautiful and elegant aircraft.  Enjoy the video!

What is your perspective? Are you quick to judge?

Ever have a negative impression of someone simply because you have heard or were told what others' opinions were of that person?  I have heard a lot of negative things of a manager in the company I work for.  When I was transferred to his department, I was excited about the move with one exception.  That manager.  I had a skewed impression of him simply because of things I have heard of him.  I actually got along with him but was still plagued with the impression that was ingrained in my mind.

One day, my perspective has taken a complete 180.  I was being interviewed by this manager and other members of management to be part of a special projects team.  During the interview, I handed out a small presentation I had created entitled, "Why Me?".  It is a small presentation that lists fun facts and achievements about me from high school, college and other places I used to work for. After the interview was done and as I was leaving, I heard this manager tell the other members of management to stay behind.  I had no idea what that was all about.  The next day, he approached me at my desk and asked me to meet him in the conference room.  I walked into the conference room not knowing what he wanted to talk to me about.  His first words were, "I asked everyone why you are still at the paygrade that you are still at?"  He then proceeded to tell me of how impressed he was with my background and that he was going to do everything he could to put me on the fast track for promotion labeling me as management material.  I was blown away.  All I could think of was that I judged him too quickly.  My perspective has drastically changed.

Everyone can have a different perspective of someone based on their experience with that person but I wonder how many of us have a negative perspective of someone simply because of what we have heard?  I have made up my mind to initially have a positive outlook of people and avoid being tangled up with negative perceptions.  

Flying Adventures

March 11, 1995  -  This was the day my flying adventure began.  My very first flying lesson took me from Farmingdale's Long Island Republic Airport and back.  My flight instructor and I flew around NYC.  It was nice seeing the sights such as the Statue of Liberty, World Trade Center (NEVER FORGET 9/11), Empire State Building and other great landmarks from the air.  My very first lesson was in a Piper Tomahawk such as the one in the photo below.

Piper Tomahawk N2322D

Tomahawk Cockpit

After a harsh winter in NY delayed my flight training for the private pilot certificate, I decided to head to Daytona Beach, Florida to complete my training.  At the time, I had only 32 hours total time and have not flown for six months.  After three weeks in Daytona Beach, I earned my private pilot certificate.  That awesome day was September 29, 1996.

It would be four years before I earned my next rating.  In the meantime, I flew mostly leisurely renting planes and taking friends up.  One such occasion, I took a friend up and flew around NYC (pre 9/11). Below are some photos.

Approaching NYC

Flying by Coney Island at 500'

Statue of Liberty

The World Trade Center - NYC
NEVER FORGET!

I earned the instrument rating on April 25, 2000.  It is such an awesome experience to fly above the clouds and feel the warmth of the sun when on the ground it is rainy and cool.  For anyone learning how to fly and just want to obtain the private pilot license, I definitely recommend pursuing the instrument rating as well.  I have two main reasons for this.  One, the weather can change quick. When that happens, you will be glad you are instrument rated.  Two, instrument training makes you a more disciplined pilot by flying more accurately.

My commercial certificate was probably the easiest to earn. I became a commercial pilot on October 3, 2000. Since becoming a commercial pilot, I decided it was time to put that to use.  I became a ferry pilot delivering aircraft to different owners around the country.  The experience was incredible.  I flew over all types of terrain and almost always encountered unfavorable weather.  Flying different types of aircraft was also fun.

Ferry flight from El Paso, TX to Orlando, FL.

Ferry flight from Portland, OR to Dallas, TX. 

After doing several ferry flights, I decided I wanted to teach others how to fly.  So, on June 13, 2001 after a 5.5 hour oral exam and a 2.9 hour flight test, I became a certified flight instructor.  I started flight instructing at a flight school out of Grand Prairie, TX.  I enjoyed teaching immensely and I flight instructed for several months up until I had to relocate from TX back to NY because of my other job at American Airlines.  At the time, I was a fleet service clerk or otherwise known as a baggage handler or ramp rat.  I wasn't in NY long and I was able to come back to TX but I never went back to flight instructing.  I exercised my flight instructor certificate mostly doing flight reviews and aircraft checkouts.

Today, I am not doing much flying.  I initially started flight training with the intent of becoming an airline pilot.  I have what I feel are very valid reasons as to why I decided not to pursue that career. Flying at this point in my life has become more of a hobby than a career pursuit.  It is a very expensive hobby thus a reason for not flying much.  I have a love/hate relationship for the airlines and I would have to explain in a separate post.  We'll see.

As for now, it is past my bedtime.

Good night!

Self-Confidence Formula

I am currently reading the book, "THINK & GROW RICH" by Napoleon Hill (a must read btw!) and thought I should share this formula for self-confidence.

First: I know that I have the ability to achieve the object of my Definite Purpose in life, therefore, I DEMAND of myself persistent, continuous action toward its attainment, and I here and now promise to render such action.

Second: I realize the dominating thoughts of my mind will eventually reproduce themselves in outward, physical action, and gradually transform themselves into physical reality, therefore, I will concentrate my thoughts for thirty minutes daily, upon the task of thinking of the person I intend to become, thereby creating in my mind a clear mental picture of that person.

Third: I know through the principle of auto-suggestion, any desire that I persistently hold in my mind will eventually seek expression through some practical means of attaining the object back of it, therefore, I will devote ten minutes daily to demanding of myself the development of SELF-CONFIDENCE.

Fourth: I have clearly written down a description of my DEFINITE CHIEF AIM in life, and I will never stop trying, until I shall have developed sufficient self-confidence for its attainment.

Fifth: I fully realize that no wealth or position can long endure, unless built upon truth and justice, therefore, I will engage in no transaction which does not benefit all whom it affects. I will succeed by attracting to myself the forces I wish to use, and the cooperation of other people. I will induce others to serve me, because of my willingness to serve others. I will eliminate hatred, envy, jealousy, selfishness, and cynicism, by developing love for all humanity, because I know that a negative attitude toward others can never bring me success. I will cause others to believe in me, because I will believe in them, and in myself.

I will sign my name to this formula, commit it to memory, and repeat it aloud once a day, with full FAITH that it will gradually influence my THOUGHTS and ACTIONS so that I will become a self-reliant, and successful person.