Ken Brown International Blog

“The bamboo that bends is stronger than the oak that resists”- Japanese Proverb
Life holds but a few guarantees and one of them is change.The world we live in is a constant state of transition.Our ability to transition with it and be resilient to its many setbacks and diffculites is what will determine how happy,fulfilled and successful our lives will be.Resilence is defined as the ability to return to the orginal form,position after being bent,compressed,or stretched.Now in terms of people it could also be defined as “the process of,capacity for,or the outcome of a successful adaptation despite challenging or threatening circumstances.”In the above quote the bamboo is stronger because it can yet bounce back,the oak on the other hand will only bend so far before it reaches a breaking point.For successful living we must live our lives like the bamboo,with the ability to recover and bounce back.Incredibly,your life will be what you make of it.No path in life is straight and trouble free.Life is ever changing and we all encounter many bumps in the road.Too often we under achieve because we lack the ability to “hang tough” or bounce back when things become difficult.When we allow life’s disappointments to break us and fear take over;we lose our ability to move forward and live out the journey that God intended for us to take.We then settle for less,adapt to the sub par conditions and become stuck in a “comfort zone” if you will.Now you should ask yourself,how comfortable is that zone when you are not achieving the happiness,joy and prosperity you so desire? Life doesn’t always give you what you want;but it often gives you what you need to succeed.

Winston Churchill once said,”If we are together nothing is impossible,If we are divided all will fall.Wow..Now that’s good stuff.Strong relationships are some of the greatest resources for future success.Growing and strengthening an existing personal or professional relationship can help you build a powerful partnership with that person to meet mutual needs and goals.But you also want to be building powerful partnerships from the ground up.Remember,No one person can meet all your needs or visa vera.A band needs different musicians to play a variety of instruments.When you look to form relationships,you need to look for people who will add depth and richness to your life.When nuturing or building a successful relationship look for these key elements.
1.Deliberate Destination:A direction is general;a deliberate destination is something you both agree on.
2.Direction:Even though you are diffferent from the other person,make sure you share the same vision,mission and purpose.If one cares only about accumulating wealth while the other values more emotional concerns,the relationship might become stagnant.
3.Diversity:A good investment portfolio is diversified.The group of people with whom you surround yourself should be diverse too.Be open minded about people who are different from you.You will lose out by surrounding yourself with people who are just like you.
I love what George Ross said regarding relationships.”To be successful,you have to be able to relate to people.They have to be satisfied with your personality to be able to do business with you and build a relationship with mutual trust”. Oh my goodness.Go out and build a dream team and remember”If we are together nothing is impossible.I will see you on the other side of success.

“Do not turn from it to the right hand or the left,that you may prosper wherever you go.”- Joshua 1:7
To be focused means having a keen sense of direction.Every thought,every action and association has a purpose.Outstanding leaders are focused.They know what they are doing and why they are doing it.To become more focused a leader should:
1.Live on Purpose.We should understand that our life is a gift from God and the use of our life is a gift to God.Don’t confuse your profession with your purpose.
2.”Know Thy Self”.A leader must know their strengths and opportunites.Stay in your lane.Do what you do best and delegate and outsource the rest.
3.Keep the main thing the main thing.When you know the why for your life,the what and when becomes a natural occurance.I believe”When you know the why the how does not matter”.Oh My Goodness,Now that’s good stuff.
4.Set clear boundaries.If you try to do everything that comes your way,you won’t excel at anything.Remember,a specialist earns much more that a generalist.
5.Be committed to life long learning. Steven Covey calls it “Sharpening the saw”.We must invest into ourselves.The marketplace pays according to the value that you deliver.Once you increase your skillset the market will pay you accordingly.
Leaders are ordinary people who accept or are placed under extraordinary circumstances that bring forth their potential,producing charcater that inspires the confidence and trust in others.Our world is in desperate need of such individuals.I have discovered that great leaders not only know where they are going.but they can inspire others to go with them. Lead or get out of the way,If you do,I will see you on the other side of success!!

“The gem cannot be polished without friction nor the child of God cleansed without adversity”
Wow.. life is a adventure,a roller coaster ride of ups and downs,twist and turns.it has moments of pure elation and times of dispair.Sometimes the despair we suffer is due to the decisions that we’ve made and at times situations are out of our control.A failing economy,loss of employment,problems in a marriage.It’s all part of life.No one promised it would be easy,but without a doubt this is a journey worth taking.The quailty of our lives is directly related to and determined by how we master art of “Rolling with the Punches” or dealing with adverse situations.Adversity is inevitable and you may not like this;but it is absolutely necessary.Why,Because adversity is the catalyst for great achievement,spritual and mental growth,building up of character and gaining faith and determination that keeps us pushing forward towards achieving the desires of our hearts.
The diamonds is one of our precious gems.Its name,derived from ancient Greek;means unbreakable.It is formed form the tremendous pressure and heat of the earth that transforms carbon into something new.Wow… If you want to become greater,unbreakable and something new,then you too must be capable of enduring pressure of life.To be all that you need and desire to be,you must first go through some things.With each disappointment,resistance that we overcome,we are rewarded.Our reward comes in the form of greater strength.When you workout at Bally’s or LA Fitness you do it to strengthen and tone your muscles,be healthier.The more reisistance ,the harder you work,the stonger or more toned the muscles become.Adversity in some ways is our fitness spa for the inner self.That intangible you;mind and spirit.The more resistance that is applied,the harder the worker,the stronger your inner self becomes.
Adversity can also serve as a detour to greater path.Right out of collage,I was hired as an Assistant Food service Director.I was absolutely thrilled.loved my job,worked hard and strived for excellence.I envisioned myself working my way up the ranks of that company and spending my entire career there.Within months of being hired I was fired and suffice it to say I was devestated.However,that event changed my career path and set me on an incredible journey to becoming the owner of two Mcdonald restaurants at the age of 35.Today I travel the world as a success/life coach.I repeat,adversity is absolutely necessary!
From this day forward you must change the way you view the difficultiest and adversites in your life.They are there to teach you,strengthen you and prepare you for the greater good that is in store.Recognize the opportunity to roll up your sleeves,face your challenges and overcome.