Living It With Lisa

Have you ever watched the “Secret Millionaire” on ABC?

Either way this Sunday’s episode with our friend Jeff Usner is not to be missed.  Jeff is the guy you would want have as a friend.  He is unpretentious, never braggadocios and exudes silent strength.  What he shares with you today in MY DAILY INSIGHTS Friday Story is how he went from tradgedy to triumph.  What he shares on Sunday night is how he made a difference and you can too.

Watch our friend Jeff Usner as the “Secret Millionaire” on ABC Sunday night at 8pm Central.

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MY FRIDAY STORY

My “Secret Millionaire” Story

By Jeff Usner

Ever feel beat up and down and out? That was me not too long ago. It was only a few years ago, I was at the greatest point of despair in my life. I was drowning in close to $300,000 in debt, struggling in my business, working long, endless hours away from my family, I lost my son James. I even had a stroke and almost died. I was terrified and stressed out how I would put food on the table for my family.

Yet, here I am today, a multi millionaire, and set to give away $100,000’s on ABC’s Secret Millionaire, airing this Sunday, July 15 7/8 et.

How does this happen and why would I go on a national TV show?

An act of God is my first answer.

After that, I finally figured out a simple system to make money on the Internet. I used that to become debt free within 8 months, and within 18 months a millionaire.

When ABC first approached me about being on the show, I was very hesitant about the opportunity. In fact, at one point in the interviewing process, I turned them down, only to get a phone call a few weeks later telling me they really wanted my story on their network.

I didn’t want to go on the show because I like to live my life “under the radar”. I live a very simple life, and most of my family and friends don’t even know how well we do financially. So to open up and expose my entire family, not just to friends, but to millions of people on national TV… well, there’s an element of uncertainty that comes with putting your face and story out there.

But, I decided to do it anyway. Why?

I know many people are hurting right now in our country. I know there are many people who are where I was, or even worse. And, these people often wonder…

Can it get any better? How will I find a way out? Is there hope?

So I shared our story on TV to inspire people to keep going. To breakthrough. To keep pushing forward. To keep believing.

Even if you are on the mat, feeling like you are taking a beating, there are better times coming. Focus on the good things in front of you. Speak life over them. Life and death are in the power of the tongue, so use your words wisely.

Tune into the show. Let it inspire you. Learn from the amazing heroes on the show. I served three amazing organizations during that week. Each is making a huge difference. Each has been down and out. Each is helping people “get back up and fight.”

Be a part of it. Don’t only watch it. Share it with friends. Share this story. They will thank you and you will make a difference.

Jeff Usner

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

To learn more about Jeff and to learn how he did it. Go get his new book, “Internet Millionaire, Your Blueprint to Succeed”, for free. In this book Jeff outlines everything he did to from despair and struggles to earning millions and appearing on ABC’s Secret Millionaire: Get the Book free: www.JeffsFreeBook.com

The following story was published on MyDailyInsights Friday Story and got lots of responses.  It touched people where they were.  What they realized is that nothing changes unless you “plant your daffodil bulb” each day.  Here is some more food for thought:

“You will be the same person in five years as you are today except for the people you meet and the books you read.” – Charles “Tremendous” Jones

Albert Einstein once said “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results”.

Are you doing nothing and expecting different results?  Thinking about it doesn’t make it happen?  What are you going to DO today, tomorrow and the day after tomorrow to create a difference in your future?

Plant a daffodil everyday!

~~~~~~~~

THE DAFFODIL PRINCIPLE

Several times my daughter had telephoned to say, “Mother, you must come
to see the daffodils before they are over.”  I wanted to go, but it was a two-hour drive from Laguna to Lake Arrowhead “I will come next Tuesday”, I promised a little reluctantly on her third call.

Next Tuesday dawned cold and rainy. Still, I had promised, and reluctantly I drove there. When I finally walked into Carolyn’s house I was welcomed by the joyful sounds of happy children. I delightedly hugged and greeted my grandchildren.

“Forget the daffodils, Carolyn! The road is invisible in these clouds and fog, and there is nothing in the world except you and these children that I want to see badly enough to drive another inch!”

My daughter smiled calmly and said, “We drive in this all the time, Mother.”  ”Well, you won’t get me back on the road until it clears, and then I’m heading for home!” I assured her.

“But first we’re going to see the daffodils. It’s just a few blocks,” Carolyn said. “I’ll drive. I’m used to this.”

“Carolyn,” I said sternly, “please turn around.” “It’s all right, Mother, I promise. You will never forgive yourself if you miss this experience.”

After about twenty minutes, we turned onto a small gravel road and I saw a small church. On the far side of the church, I saw a hand lettered sign with an arrow that read, “Daffodil Garden.”  We got out of the car, each took a child’s hand, and I followed Carolyn down the path. Then, as we turned a corner, I looked up and gasped. Before me lay the most glorious sight.

It looked as though someone had taken a great vat of gold and poured it over the mountain peak and its surrounding slopes. The flowers were planted in majestic, swirling patterns, great ribbons and swaths of deep orange, creamy white, lemon yellow, salmon pink, and saffron and butter yellow. Each different-colored variety was planted in large groups so that it swirled and flowed like its own river with its own unique hue. There were five acres of flowers.

“Who did this?” I asked Carolyn.  ”Just one woman,” Carolyn answered. “She lives on the property. That’s her home.” Carolyn pointed to a well-kept A-frame house, small and modestly sitting in the midst of all that glory. We walked up to the house.

On the patio, we saw a poster. “Answers to the Questions I Know You Are Asking”, was the headline. The first answer was a simple one. “50,000 bulbs,” it read. The second answer was, “One at a time, by one woman. Two hands, two feet, and one brain.” The third answer was, “Began in 1958.”

For me, that moment was a life-changing experience. I thought of this woman whom I had never met, who, more than forty years before, had begun, one bulb at a time, to bring her vision of beauty and joy to an obscure mountaintop. Planting one bulb at a time, year after year, this unknown woman had forever changed the world in which she lived. One day at a time, she had created something of extraordinary magnificence, beauty, and inspiration. The principle her daffodil garden taught is one of the
greatest principles of celebration.

That is, learning to move toward our goals and desires one step at a time–often just one baby-step at time–and learning to love the doing, learning to use the accumulation of time. When we multiply tiny pieces of time with small increments of daily effort, we too will find we can accomplish magnificent things. We can change the world …

“It makes me sad in a way,” I admitted to Carolyn. “What might I have accomplished if I had thought of a wonderful goal thirty-five or forty years ago and had worked away at it ‘one bulb at a time’ through all those years? Just think what I might have been able to achieve!”

My daughter summed up the message of the day in her usual direct way. “Start tomorrow,” she said.

She was right. It’s so pointless to think of the lost hours of yesterdays. The way to make learning a lesson of celebration instead of a cause for regret is to only ask, “How can I put this to use today?”

Use the Daffodil Principle. Stop waiting…..

Until your car or home is paid off
Until you get a new car or home
Until your kids leave the house
Until you go back to school
Until you finish school
Until you clean the house
Until you organize the garage
Until you clean off your desk
Until you lose 10 lbs.
Until you gain 10 lbs.
Until you get married
Until you get a divorce
Until you have kids
Until the kids go to school
Until you retire
Until summer
Until spring
Until winter
Until fall
Until you die…

There is no better time than right now to be happy.

Happiness is a journey, not a destination.
So work like you don’t need money.
Love like you’ve never been hurt, and, Dance like no one’s watching.

If you want to brighten someone’s day, pass this on to someone special.

I just did!

Wishing you a beautiful, daffodil day!

Don’t be afraid that your life will end, be afraid that it will never begin.

[

This quote from Jim Rohn says it all.  It epitomizes the legacy he leaves behind.  I was blessed to have known him.

“Get around people who have something of value to share with you. Their impact will continue to have a significant effect on your life long after they have departed.” ~ Jim Rohn

MyDailyInsights will feature Jim Rohn quotes for the remainder of December.  We have never done that before.  It was amazing how I felt once I immursed myself in his quotes.  I hope our subscribers get the same feeling and get empowered to start the new year with momentum.

Here are a few of my favorite Jim Rohn quotes:

• The major value in life is not what you get.  The major value in life is what you become.
• How long should you try? Until.
• Either you run the day or the day runs you.
• If you don’t design your own life plan, chances are you’ll fall into someone else’s plan.  And guess what they have planned for you?  Not much.
• Don’t wish it were easier, wish you were better.
• Without a sense of urgency, desire loses its value.
• Commit yourself to something bigger than yourself.
• Success is doing ordinary things extraordinarily well.
• Affirmation without discipline is the beginning of delusion.
• Don’t blow your own horn, or you might just miss the music.
• Learn to say NO to the good, so you can say YES to the great.
• Failure is simply a few errors in judgment, repeated every day.
• Don’t just read the easy stuff.  You may be entertained by it, but you will never grow from it.
• Giving is better than receiving because giving starts the receiving process.
• Success is nothing more than a few simple disciplines, practiced every day.
• If you are not willing to risk the unusual, you will have to settle for the ordinary.
• You don’t get paid for the hour.  You get paid for the value you bring to the hour.
• Give so much to the improvement of yourself, that you don’t have time to criticize others.
• Effective communication is 20% what you know and 80% how you feel about what you know.
• You cannot change your destination overnight, but you can change your direction overnight.

This story was posted as the Friday Story on MyDailyInsights in honor of our mothers 80th birthday.

MY FRIDAY STORY

THE “M” FACTOR

By Lisa Johnson, Julie Dickison, Melea Fisher and Natalie Krause

Our Mother turns 80 tomorrow November 14^th and we four daughters have gathered to celebrate with her (but, shhh … it’s a surprise … she is still in transit and doesn’t know we’ve traveled from across the country)!

Meanwhile, we are lounging on our first day together, still in our PJs and naturally we started to reminisce … like most everyone, we think our Mother is pretty indescribable!  She has what we like to call, ‘the M Factor’…

Mother started life on a 14,000 acre ranch in Montana.  Her work ethic was formed and has been more than replicated in all of her girls!  The “M” factor:  Complete the job and don’t be a half done Polly!

Mother has an intense fear of water, developed as a young girl after her brother tragically drowned.  She has worked hard to conquer her fear, and wasn’t going to accept it in any of her daughters.  Our parents required each of us (there was no discussion) to complete lifeguard certification.  The “M” factor:  Don’t pass on to your children your own fears.

When Mother became a Christian as a teenager she found her real passion in life and we are forever thankful for the love of Christ she has shared with us.  Inscribed in our parents’ wedding bands is their personal motto “Each for the other, both for Christ”.  The “M” factor:  Our marriages must be caught up in a purpose larger than itself.

As we grew into adults, we discovered that our Mother had been a ‘cougar’ and ‘feminist’ without even realizing it!  She married in 1955 at the age of 26 (considered old at the time) to a 21 year old!  Mother, a nurse, was the primary provider for the family of three once Lisa arrived on the scene, working nights while Daddy finished college.  The “M” Factor: There is no such thing as ‘woman’s work’ or ‘man’s work’.

When our Daddy started his own business, Mother happily became a stay at home Mom.  As each of us grew up, she determined to teach us what she considered were three essential life skills:  how to make a quilt, how to cut up a whole chicken, and how to can fresh produce.  The “M” Factor:  While we may laugh at these skills now, we have since discovered that what we really gained was the ability to be creative, frugal, and self-sufficient.

Mother was often at the forefront of what would much later be an accepted trend.  Before it was popular, we ate unprocessed foods, made our own bread, used environmentally friendly laundry detergents, and took whole food supplements!  The “M” Factor:  Don’t be afraid to question the ‘norm’, to lead even if no one is following.

Our greatest joy has been to be present while our parents have achieved some of their dreams.  Mother always wanted to live in Australia, and the opportunity presented itself when she was 55 years old!  They didn’t hesitate to take the risk.  The “M” Factor:  Dreams come true only as you work towards them.

Retirement for Mother has yet to happen.  She still runs a business with our Daddy, providing endless nutritional advice.  At the age of 70, she took a class to conquer the Internet and Power Point.  At age 79 she was introduced to Facebook and keeps in touch with her grandchildren and is considering whether she should start a blog!  The “M” Factor:  Learning never stops.

We admire our Mother for everything she has taught us.  For all that makes her who she is … the “M” factor: our model, our mentor, and best of all, our Mother.

Happy 80^th Birthday Mother, we love you,

Your Darling Daughters,

Lisa, Julie, Melea and Natalie

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Lisa Johnson is the wife of Vic Johnson, mother to Joseph, chosen mom to Tyler & wife Savanah, Victoria & husband Drew, and Carter.  MamaLisa to Dylan, Tommy, Hannah, Mason, Austin and soon to arrive Nathan.   Julie Dickison is the wife of Ron Dickison, mother to Natalie and husband Shaun, Jessica, Philip, Michael and Hope.   Melea Fisher is the wife of Andrew Fisher, mother to Laura, Emma and James.  Natalie Krause is Auntie Extraordinaire to all nine of her nieces and nephews.

“You can never cross the ocean unless you have the courage to lose sight of the shore.” Christopher Columbus

I watched this video today and you may want to watch it more than once and let it really sink in .   Ariane at First 30 Days was right.  It says it all.

What is the one thing that holds you back ….. nothing but FEAR!   In love, in life, in finding your passion, in discovery, in growth, in your job search, in everything.  Fear.  We should embrace fear as it can be our green light to go!

Watch this video and ask yourself what is stopping you from reaching out and grabbing what you want in life?  You are not alone.  You believe in you.  So face it and grab it!

I came across this poem recently.  Many of us can relate to the experience of waking up and searching for our own voice and belief in ourselves when the going is tough.

THE JOURNEY

One day you finally knew
what you had to do, and began,
though the voices around you
kept shouting their bad advice—
though the whole house
began to tremble
and you felt the
old tug at your ankles.
“Mend my life!”
each voice cried.
But you didn’t stop.
You knew what you had to do,
though the wind pried
with its stiff fingers
at the very foundations—
though their melancholy
was terrible.
It was already late
enough, and a wild night,
and the road full of fallen
branches and stones.
But little by little,
as you left their voices behind,
the stars began to burn
through the sheets of clouds,
and there was a new voice
which you slowly
recognized as your own,
that kept you company
as you strode deeper and deeper
into the world,
determined to do
the only thing you could do–
determined to save
the only life that you could save.

– Mary Oliver

“Opportunity dances with those who are ready on the dance floor.” H. Jackson Brown Jr.

Most of you know that I am a Dancing With The Stars fan. Seriously! Many of the stars really get outside their comfort zones and it is great exercise.  It shows us that determination and perseverance do produce results even when you are not in your element.

It is interesting that many times the star doesn’t have a dancing bone in their body.  Yes, it does make for good television, but for me it is watching what goes on behind the scenes and how they overcome what is obviously a road block to pull it out by show time.   We have seen that in each season, where someone is kept by audience vote purely because they want the underdog to have just one more shot. Yes, Cloris Leachman was a dancer but she ultimately was more of a performer, which we all embraced. It was as if we couldn’t believe what we were seeing. The oldest performer to date on DWTS, yet she could do leg lifts, spins and splits with the best of them.

As you watch this video embrace your inner “Cloris Leachman” and never underestimate someone with the power of passion.  It is not about what others think you should do, because of who you are or how old you are.  It is about how you feel inside. You can do anything you set your mind to do.

How passionate you are about life?

Take a moment and while you are watching think about what YOU would really enjoy doing now and in your twilight years and put it on your vision board.  Don’t stare at it.  Do something about it … everyday. The ole gal in the video didn’t become a salsa dancer overnight.

So ..do you want to be barely moving from chair to bed or dancing in the moonlight?

I am gonna be dancin’!

Have you ever had a day where the “rain” just wouldn’t go away?  Are  you still be full of gratitude?  Are you dancing in the rain?   Understanding the power of gratitude can change your life forever.

Sarah Breathnach said it best …”When we choose not to focus on what’s missing from our lives but are grateful for the abundance that’s present … we experience heaven on earth.”

Take a moment to reflect, to focus, to be aware and to be grateful.

“Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass…
it’s about learning how to dance in the rain!”

Click here:  Dancing in the Rain Movie

Attitude and persistence.  What an incredible life story.  If you are thinking your life is less than perfect, then you will find this story inspirational.  Try doing everything with no arms.  Crack eggs, put on makeup, change diapers and drive a car.