The First Step

The First Step

“Throughout the centuries, there were men who took the

first step, down new roads, armed with nothing but

their own vision.”

Ayn Rand 1905 - 1982, American Novelist, Philosopher,

Playwright, Screen Writer and Best Selling Author

As I see it . . . . . . .

The first step

There are many times in our life that we have to . . . . take the first step.

As a baby through trial and error and a lot of falling down and getting up . . . . we took our first step and learned how to walk.

We learned to walk by getting up one more time then we fell down.

We took the first step to walk out of our home  . . . . the first day of school.

We took the first step to leave the nest . . . . and start our life as an adult.

We took the first step to get a job . . . . and we took the first step to charge our career.

When it comes right down to it . . . . you have taken a lot of first steps in your life. And if everything in your life is about the norm . . . . there will be a lot more first step waiting for you in the future.

Sometime the first step will be clear and easy to take. At other times you know it’s time to take the first step but the path has a fog hanging over it and the next step is not clear.

In those times you have the confidence in your choices . . . . To take the first step onto the path with the determination that your choice is right and that you will achieve your objectives.

©2014 Lou Ludwig Motivational Power Quote, Sales and Management Consultant, Success Coach, Speaker, Trainer and Author

The Two People That Will Tell You the Truth

The Two People That Will Tell You the Truth

“There are only two people who can tell you the truth about

yourself – an enemy who has lost there temper and a

friend who loves you dearly.”

Antisthenes 445 BC – 365 BC, Greek Philosopher

and  pupil of Socrates

As I see it . . . . . . .

The two people that will tell you the truth about

They will both tell you the truth . . . . but they come from a very prospective.

You enemy will speak the truth and try to use it to harm you. They may try to stretch the truth to make you look bad or for their personal gain.

A friend will use the truth to booster you . . . . or to get you to refocus  on your strengths. The truth may be hard to take but your friend shares it out of love and with your best interest in their heart.

The two people that will tell you the truth . . . . The question become do you hear what they’re saying and how do you respond to what has been said. The truth may hurt . . . . but what is being said can become the stepping stone to a more productive future.

The two people that will tell you the truth . . . . They are your enemies and your friends . . . . Just remember that there coming from a difference prospective, sort the information with an open mind and use the experiences for your personal growth.

©2014 Lou Ludwig Motivational Power Quote, Sales and Management Consultant, Success Coach, Speaker, Trainer and Author

The Choice is Yours

The Choice is Yours

“One can choose to go back toward safety or forward toward

growth. Growth must be chosen again and again; fear

must be overcome again and again.”

Abraham Maslow 1908 – 1970, America Psychologist

and Author

As I see it . . . . . . .

The choice is yours

Your can choose the path of forward momentum and personal growth. Or you can choose stay in your comfort zone.

The path going forward will have its shares of its ups and downs . . . .  With determination to successfully reach your objective your determination will keep you focused on your objectives. It will also give you the strength to keep pushing yourself forward to stay on purpose.

What appears to be the safely of your comfort zone is a false elusion and your comfort zone becomes a world of self-limiting beliefs and limited accomplishments.

Choose the path of forward momentum and personal growth . . . . On that path you will find new opportunities . . . . and expand your possibilities to reach for the stars and to grasp them.

Let your imagination loose . . . . open your mind to the possibilities . . . . and step forward with the belief that you will achieve your goals and  live hour dreams.

The choice is yours . . . . and the path you choose to follow is your choice. Choose the path of forward momentum and personal growth and follow that path with confidence.

©2014 Lou Ludwig Motivational Power Quote, Sales and Management Consultant, Success Coach, Speaker, Trainer and Author

We Are Given One Life

We Are Given One Life

“This is as true in everyday life as it is in battle! We are given

 one life, and the decision is ours whether to wait for

circumstances to make up our mind or whether to

act and , in acting to live.”

Omar Bradley 1893 - 1981, General US Army, Field

Commander in North Africa and Europe

As I see it . . . . . . .

We are given one life

The days are yours . . . . to use in any manner you choose.

In your days you can find the time to invest in your personal development . . . . to provide you with the skill sets to create a successful future.

You can make the decision on who you are . . . .  and in what you want to accomplish with your life.

You can wait for success to find you . . . . or you can be proactive in your activities to create your success.

You can wait for the circumstances to be just right . . . . or you can take the circumstances as they are and make the most out of them.

We are given one life . . . . you are also given the opportunity to make choices. You life will become a life of your choices . . . . Choose wisely.

©2014 Lou Ludwig Motivational Power Quote, Sales and Management Consultant, Success Coach, Speaker, Trainer and Author

Opportunities Are Worked For

Opportunities Are Worked For

“Opportunities are not offered. They must be wrested and worked

for. And this calls for perseverance . . .  and courage.”

Indira Gandhi, India Prime Minister

As I see it . . . . . . .

Opportunities are worked for

Opportunities . . . . will not be handled to you.

Opportunities . . . . are worked for.

Opportunities . . . . do not come to those that wait.

Opportunities . . . . are created those who  work hard.

Opportunities  . . . . are created by perseverance.

Opportunities . . . . are found by those are determined to create them.

Opportunities . . . . are created by those who believe in themselves and in their ability.

Opportunities . . . . don’t just happen . . . . their created as a  result of persistent and focus effort.

Opportunities . . . . are created by forward thinking,

Opportunities . . . . are lost by focusing in looking into the rearview mirror.

Opportunities are worked for . . . . and those who willing to go the extra mile in efforts will create the opportunities to successfully achieve their goals. 

©2014 Lou Ludwig Motivational Power Quote, Sales and Management Consultant, Success Coach, Speaker, Trainer and Author

Becoming Comfortable in Business

Becoming Comfortable in Business

“Comfort, that stealthy thing that enters the house a guest, and

then becomes a host, then a master and then it becomes a

tamer, and with a hook and whip it makes puppets

of your lager desires.”

Kahlil Gibran, Poet, Visual Artist

As I see it . . . . . . .

Becoming comfortable in business

Becoming comfortable in business . . . . creates a strategic business disadvantage.  It takes the businesses competitive advantage away from the business as it slides in the comfort zone of coming uncompetitive.  

A business either retains its competitive advantage . . . . or it slips away and erodes. Once a business loses its competitive advantage it become very difficult for that business to recapture it.

A business that operates in their comfort zone . . . . is on track to lose their competitive advantage in the market place and to be left behind by their competitors.

The business that steps out of their comfort zone to service their customers’ needs is a forward thinking business. A business that continually strives to meet and exceed their customers’ expectations becomes a leader in their field.

Becoming comfortable in business . . . . leads to a downhill slide. A business that steps out of their comfort zone to service their customers’ needs become a market leader. 

©2014 Lou Ludwig Motivational Power Quote, Sales and Management Consultant, Success Coach, Speaker, Trainer and Author

Always Continue to Climb

“Always continue the climb. It is possible for you to do whatever

you choose, if you first get to know who you are and are

willing to work and willing to work with power that

is greater than ourselves to do it.”

Ella Wheeler Wilcox 1850 – 1919, America Author and Poet

As I see it . . . . . . .

Always continue to climb

Your success journey is one that moves you in the direction of achieving and reaching your full potential. While your success journey leaves you the room to make the adjustments that will be needed to get you to your destination.

The journey will stretch your limits to new heights . . . . and expand your horizon for you to become the best you . . . . that you can be.

There will be tolls that you will have to be paid along the way in order to get you to your destination.

That toll comes in the form of time . . . . commitment . . . .  and the hard work that will be required to achieve your goals.

One of the big factors between achieving your goals . . . . and almost achieving your goals. Is to always continue the climb . . . .  and the willingness paid the tolls of hard work to successfully reach your destination and to achieve your goals.

©2014 Lou Ludwig Motivational Power Quote, Sales and Management Consultant, Success Coach, Speaker, Trainer and Author

Your Personal Uniqueness

Your Personal Uniqueness

“When we are conscious of our personal uniqueness and our

universal nature we express ourselves creatively. In this

way we fulfill our dreams and our life’s purpose.”

Andrew Schneider, American Writer and Television Producer

As I see it . . . . . . .

Your personal uniqueness

Each of us has a personal uniqueness within us . . . It can materialize in many ways, at difference times in your life . . . . and in difference aspects of our life.

One person can become a noted scientist . . . . Another can be auto mechanic. Both can be successful and can create value in another person’s life.

It’s not the station in life that you’re in today or the station in life that your personal uniqueness creates. It’s what you do with your personal uniqueness that changes things in your life.

Within you is the gene of personal uniqueness. Sometimes it comes to the surface without much effort. For others it takes a lot of nurturing to bring that uniqueness into the light of day.

Your personal uniqueness is in you. To get the most out of it . . .  you have discover it . . . . Bring it to the surface  . . . . and nurture it into a personal resource.

©2014 Lou Ludwig Motivational Power Quote, Sales and Management Consultant, Success Coach, Speaker, Trainer and Author

Take a Moment to Pause

Take a Moment to Pause

“We are all dreaming of some magical rose garden . . . over the

horizon – instead of . . . enjoying the rose blooming

outside our window today.”

Dale Carnegie 1888 – 1955, American Writer, Lecturer and

Developer of Self-Help Courses

As I see it . . . . . . .

Take a moment to pause

Our life is moving at what seems to be at the speed of light . . . . the hours go by so fast that we never seem to have a moment for ourselves.

You become focused on your next task or objective without giving much reflection on what you have just accomplished.

We all need to take a moment to pause . . . .

Without that moment we will fail to recognize the importance of the people in our lives and the value that they being into our life.

You will miss celebrating your successes and the value that they create in working towards you long term goals and objectives.

Life is a journey . . . . Appreciate what you have . . . . and strive to achieve what you want. 

Take a moment to pause . . . . and enjoy the people in your life . . . . and be thankful for what you have. In that moment you will refresh your awareness and be appreciative for the people in your life and your accomplishments.   

©2014 Lou Ludwig Motivational Power Quote, Sales and Management Consultant, Success Coach, Speaker, Trainer and Author

Stretch Yourself to Be the Best

Stretch Yourself to Be the Best

“Good, better, best, never let it rest till your good is better

and your better is best.”

Unknown author

As I see it . . . . . . .

Stretch yourself to be the best

The place to improve your world is first in your thinking and than through your actions to turn your thoughts into your reality. 

You choose the path in life that you will travel and you’ll make a choice on who you want to be.

You also make the choice in life on how good you want to become.

Choose not to be good . . . .  choose to be better . . . . and then stretch yourself to be the best that you can be.

Improving your world begins in your thinking. You make those thoughts come true in your activities. Choose to be the best that you can be  . . . . and your actions will become a reflection how good you are at what you do.

What you think impacts your attitude and your attitude effects what actions you take. Your attitude becomes a foundational building block on how good you become.

Turn your good into being better . . . . turn your better into becoming the best. Being at your best you will create a new world of opportunities and unparallel success.

Only you can choose the path for your life . . . . choose to grow as a person and in your career. Go from good  . . . . to better . . . . and stretch yourself to be the best and you will have choosen the pathway to create your destiny.

©2014 Lou Ludwig Motivational Power Quote, Sales and Management Consultant, Success Coach, Trainer, Speaker and Author

Kind Words Are a Beautiful Thing

“Kind words do not cost much. They never blister the tongue

or lips. They make other people good-natured. They

also produce their own image men’s souls, and

a beautiful image is.”

Blaise Pascal, Write

As I see it . . . . . . .

Kind words are a beautiful thing

Kind words . . . . will warm a person’s heart.

Kind words . . . . will make a person feel good to be in your company.

Kind words . . . . will make a person’s day.

Kind words . . . . will strengthen a relationship.

Kind words . . . . will have more value than in being confrontational.

Kind words . . . . last forever.

Kind words . . . . won’t have to be recalled.

Let your words speak volumes for who you are.

Kind words are a beautiful thing . . . . let your words paint the portrait of your life.

©2014 Lou Ludwig Motivational Power Quote, Sales and Management Consultant, Success Coach, Speaker, Trainer and Author

Learning to Listen

Learning to Listen

“There is power in well chosen words, and often there is equal power

in silence. Learning when to talk and when to listen are

among the most powerful skill you can develop.”

Sharon Anthony Bower, Author

As I see it . . . . . . .

Learning to listen

There is a big misconception in communications. It’s that you have to be a good talker to be an effective communicator.

It fact the most effective communicators are the best listeners.

Poor communicators have conditioned themselves that talking is the path to effective communications . . . . That’s a false premise in talking poor communicator doesn’t hear what’s being said.

If you don’t hear what’s being said . . . . How can you expect to be an effective communicator? You can’t

What I’ve found that in many conversations  both parties are jockeying themselves to take control of the conversation. They make the false assumption that they can dominate the conversation if they do the most talking. Wrong.

The most effective communicators . . . . are the listeners.

A listener draws the other person into the communications . . . . Hears what’s being said and as a result builds rapport with the other person . . . . They also understand what is being said . . . . and understands the person and their motivations.

In listening you will gather a great deal of useful information.

Once you learn to master the skill of listening you will be in the position to control the communications.

Learning to listen . . . . is an acquired skill  that takes a commitment of  time . . . . patients  . . . . and practice to develop the skill.

©2014 Lou Ludwig Motivational Power Quote, Sales and Management Consultant, Success Coach, Speaker, Trainer and Author

If You Want Happiness

If You Want Happiness

“If you want happiness for a hour – take a nap.

If you want happiness for a day – go fishing.

If you want happiness for a month – get married.

If you want happiness for a year – inherit a fortune.

If you want happiness for a lifetime – help someone else.”

Chinese proverb

As I see it . . . . . . .

If you want happiness

You have to define what happiness means to you.

Happiness can be fleeting . . . . and leave very little in its wake.

Happiness can last a life time . . . . when your mind set is right and it’s combined with a positive attitude and reinforced with positive thinking.

You can be happy without a lot of money . . . . and a lot of money won’t make you happy . . . . all you’ll have stuff.

When you work at being happy . . . .  things start to fall into place in your life.

When you enjoy your career . . . . you’ll find happiness in your career.

If you want happiness . . . . you have to define what happiness means to you in order to bring that happiness into your life.  

©2014 Lou Ludwig Motivational Power Quote, Sales and Management Consultant, Success Coach, Speaker, Trainer and Author

When the Going Gets Rough

When the Going Gets Rough

“A leader, once convinced a particular course of action is the

right one, must have the determination to stick with

it and be undaunted when the going gets rough.”

Ronald Reagan 1911 - 2004, 40^th President of the United States

As I see it . . . . . . .

When the going gets rough

When you have the faith in yourself . . . . and in your course of action. You will have the strength of mind to withstand the storms in your life and to keep going through the rough times.

When the going gets rough . . . . it becomes easy to get thrown off course by the conditions that your encountering. When your convinced that your choose course is the right one for you to achieve your objectives. You will have the confidence to make the adjustments that are required and to get back on course and moving in the right direction.

Success is not a straight line . . . . nor is it a journey that’s make in the calmness of the harbor.

You’ll experience changing conditions . . . . and storms in your life and on your success journey. When the going gets rough . . . . you will fall back on your faith in yourself and in your course of action to right your success journey and to get back on course.

©2014 Lou Ludwig Motivational Power Quote, Sales and Management Consultant, Success Coach, Speaker, Trainer and Author

Be Steadfast in the Pursuit of Your Goals

Be Steadfast in the Pursuit of Your Goals

“The person who makes a success of living is the one who sees

his goal steadily and arms for it unswerving.

That is dedication.”

Cecil B. DeMille 1881 – 1959, Film Producer

As I see it . . . . . . .

Be steadfast in the pursuit of your goals

As with anything worthwhile to achieve your goals will take consistent and focused effort to achieve them.

When you become committed to achieving your goals they take on a top of the mind awareness in your thinking . . . . and becomes an absolute in your life.

The stronger your convictions are in achieving you’re goals the higher probability becomes for you to achieve them.

Be steadfast in the pursuit of your goals . . . . and you will find yourself steadily moving in the direction of your goals.

©2014 Lou Ludwig Motivational Power Quote, Sales and Management Consultant, Success Coach, Speaker, Trainer and Author

Your Dreams are a Creative Vision

Your Dreams are a Creative Vision

“A dream is your creative vision for your life in the future. You

must break out of your current comfort zone-zone and

become comfortable with the unfamiliar

and the unknown.”

Denis Waitley, American Motivational Speaker and

Best Selling Author

As I see it . . . . . . .

Your dreams are a creative vision

Your dreams are a creative vision . . . . for your future as you want it to be.

There is no dream that’s too big or too far out of the reach . . . . of a doer.

Your dreams are a creative vision . . . . for what you want your future to be.

Your dreams remain a dream until . . . . you take the actions to turn your dreams into a reality.

Make your dreams a mission in your life  . . . . and pursue your dreams with the purpose and the determination that you will live your dreams.

Your dreams are a creative vision . . . . for your future. With determined effort your dreams will become within your reach to live them.

©2014 Lou Ludwig Motivational Power Quote, Sales and Management Consultant, Success Coach, Speaker, Trainer and Author

Turn the Page

Turn the Page

“It’s always been my philosophy: Turn the page. If something

falls through, turn the page. It’s over with, get used to it,

get on with it. Very simple. It’s always worked for me.”

Merv Griffin 1925 – 2007, American TV Host,

Musician, Actor, Media Mogal

As I see it . . . . . . .

Turn the page

Something’s just don’t work out . . . .

Even with the best of intentions . . . . things can still come up short.

Your have given it a 100% effort . . . . but things just don’t work out as you planned.

There solace in knowing that you have done your best . . . .   and in reality things don’t work out a 100%.

When your effort is strong and you give it your best you put yourself into the positive to succeed . . . 

Here’s the point . . . . it what you do when you encounter a setback that will make all the difference.

When things don’t work out . . . . you can deny it . . . . blame someone else . . . . make excuse . . . .

Or you can use the condition as a learning experience . . . . put it  behind you . . . . learn from it . . . . and turn the page . . . . and move on.

©2014 Lou Ludwig Motivational Power Quote, Sales and Management Consultant, Success Coach, Speaker, Trainer and Author

It Takes Strength to Walk Away

It Takes Strength to Walk Away

“Sometimes walking away has nothing do with weakness,

and everything to do with strength. We walk away not

because we want others to realize our worth and

value, but because we finally realize our own.”

Robert Tew, Author

As I see it . . . . . . .

It takes strength to walk away

There are times in both business and in our personal relationships that it comes a time to call it a day . . . . and to end the relationship.

Things are just not working out . . . . There’s a total lack of cooperation . . . . and many times that the relationship is just flat out is breaking down in the communications and things are falling apart.

You have given your best to make the relationship work . . . . but the effort is one sided . . . . with the other party showing a lack in interest in pulling things together or in have things work out.

It takes real strength to recognize a destructive relationship . . . . and the time has come to end the relationship. When you reach that point the best thing to do is step away from the relationship and to bring it to a non-confrontational ending. 

It takes strength to walk away . . . . and as you do . . . .  you will redirect your energy into building positive and productive relationship in your personal life and business.

©2014 Lou Ludwig Motivational Power Quote, Sales and Management Consultant, Success Coach, Speaker, Trainer and Author

One True Friend

One True Friend

“False friends are like our shadow, close to us while we

walk in the sunshine, but  leaving us the instant we

cross into the shade.”

Christian Nestee Bovee 1820 – 1904, New York Writer

As I see it . . . . . . .

One true friend

A true friend will walk with you . . . . on a sunny day.

A true friend will walk with you . . . . on the cloudy days in your life.

A true friend will offer you there hand . . . . when you slip.

A true friend will be there . . . . catch you when you fall.

A true friend will . . . . not get in your way.

A true friend will be there . . . . when you get off track.

Thousands of people come in and out of your life . . .  but it’s the one true friend that makes the difference.

©2014 Lou Ludwig Motivational Power Quote, Sales and Management Consultant, Success Coach, Speaker, Trainer and Author

Each Choice Moves You in a Direction

Each Choice Moves You in a Direction

“Every choice moves us closer to or farther away from

something. Where are your choices taking your life?

 What do your behaviors demonstrate that you

are saying yes or no to in life.”

Eric Allenbaugh, Author

As I see it . . . . . . .

Each choice moves you in a direction

Your choices accumulate to create momentum in the direction that your life is moving in.

The accumulations of good choices will move you in the direction of achieving your goals and creating success in your life.

Poor or bad choices have the opposite effect on you and the direction of your success journey in moving.  The poor or bad choices accelerate you momentum into a downward spiral putting your goals farther and farther beyond your reach.

With each choice you make, you create accumulative momentum . . . . it becomes a question of what direction is that momentum moving you in?

Make the choices that will create the forward momentum to move you in the direction to achieve your goals and move you to a greater level of success.  

Each choice moves you in a direction . . . . make the choices to keep you self moving in the right direction.

©2014 Lou Ludwig Motivational Power Quote, Sales and Management Consultant, Success Coach, Speaker, Trainer and Author

You Enjoy What You Do Well

You Enjoy What You Do Well

“The secret of joy in work is contained in one word excellence.

To know how to do something well is to enjoy it.”

Pearl S. Buck 1892 – 1973, American Writer and Novelist

As I see it . . . . . . .

You enjoy what you do well

You enjoy what you do well . . . . and resist doing the things that you don’t do well.

If you enjoy doing the things that are moving you forward in the direction of achieving your goal. You are moving in the direction to achieve your goals that will become the leading edge to greater success in your life.

If you don’t enjoy the things that have to be done in order to achieve your goals . . . . your at risk of missing your goals and cause your success journey to get off tract.

Here’s the key . . . .

Many of the things that you don’t enjoy doing may be the result of not being able to do the things well.

You may need to do additional personal development in those area’s to bring your skill set up to a level of proficiency to where your doing the things with excellence.

You enjoy what you do well . . . . If your off track look at moving your skill set to a level to where your doing them with excellence. As a result you will discover three things . . . . you become much better at what your doing . . . .  you will enjoy what your doing . . . . and you will become more successful at what your doing.

©2014 Lou Ludwig Motivational Power Quote, Sales and Management Consultant, Success Coach, Speaker, Trainer and Author