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Throughout the year, I will be listing quotes that I have found interesting or witty and will explain what they mean to me.  The quote may have reminded me of a funny story, elicited a certain emotion, or inspired me to do something.  Hopefully the quote and my explanation can connect with you on some level, too.

Here goes.

“Hide not your talents. They for use were made. What’s a sundial in the shade?” – Ben Franklin

This is a pretty simple quote but its simplicity resonates with me.

I have found that as a human race we are often afraid to use our talents to the best of our ability.  We get caught up in the mediocrity and daily rituals of the world and we forget that we were given certain talents and abilities in order to impact others.  Or, what happens more often than not, fear overtakes us.  Thoughts of failure, disappointment, and struggles fill our minds and block out any positive thinking that might have come over us.  At this point, we just don’t bother to use our talents because we rationalize that wasted talents are better than failed talents.  Wrong.

Failure is a fact of life and it is through failure that we experience growth and development.  Failure improves our talents and never destroys them.  Negative thinking and the fear of failure destroys talents.

It is my hope that I will begin to use my talents more often as the year progresses.  I am trying to avoid the fear of failure and fully utilize my abilities to change my world.  I am currently engaged in helping Folk Media, LLC with blogging and community outreach.  I am a people person and a writer so I feel that my talents are used well in my role.  I will also begin to use my passion for video and video editing more throughout the year as I volunteer at my church.  I am starting small but the possibilities are endless.

What are some talents that you have not been using?  What feelings of failure are you harboring that are weighing you down?  I challenge you to spend some time reflecting on those questions and, if you feel comfortable, share with us.

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It’s been quite some time since I blogged on this site.  In fact, I didn’t blog for the last third of 2009.  Since I am in school from September to December, it can be tough to sit down and knock out consistent blog posts…or so I thought.

I have been doing some heavy reading lately on productivity and organizing (David Allen’s Getting Things Done) and I realized that it wasn’t that I didn’t have the time to write, it was that I was wasting too much time.  The time that I was wasting could have been sufficient for blogging.

Since I have realized my blunder, I am committing to myself and my readers (you) that I will be posting at least once a week to this site.  I am starting small and that number may fluctuate from week to week, but I will commit to posting at least once a week in 2010.

However, a steady steam of blog posts is not my only resolution for this year.  You will find my other resolutions below.  I have a variety of them and will keep you updated on my progress with each one as the year progresses.

I suggest that you take some time to figure out what you could do in 2010 to improve and push yourself.  It doesn’t have to be anything big.  In fact, it could be a task you perform once a month or only once in the year.  The feeling of accomplishment is second to none.  When you accomplish one goal or task, I believe you have the potential to accomplish anything.

Eric’s Goals for 2010

Financial

• Save each $5 bill until July 1, 2010
  • Action Step:  Empty wallet each morning

Self Development

• Read at least 30 minutes a day
  • Action Step:  Create a schedule that allows for reading time
• Write at least 30 minutes a day
  • Action Step:  Create a schedule that allows for writing time
• Cook at least one meal a week
  • Action Step:  Locate simple recipes and steadily increase cooking skills
• Exercise at least 3 hours a week
  • Action Step:  Prepare to exercise for an hour on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday
• Focus on self promotion
  • Action Step:  Connect with at least one person each day I to work or anything dealing with Folk Media
• Read at least one chapter in my Bible each day
  • Action Step:  Read my Bible either first thing in the morning or right before bed

Other

• Update ericalpin.com at least once a week
  • Action Step:  Write one or more blog posts on my day off
• Calculate and finish card collection
  • Action Step:  Enter 50 to 75 cards daily
• Stay connected with others through social networking
  • Action Step:  Connect with at least three people a week
• Maintain an updated brand website
  • Action Step:  Update brand website with changes on the first rest day of each month

You’ll notice that after each goal, there is an action step listed.  This action step allows for me to know exactly what I need to do to achieve my goal.  My action steps will change throughout the year but they are essential.  Without action steps, the mind wanders and wonders how to complete the goal.  Action steps lead the way to success.

What are your goals or resolutions for 2010?  What action steps will you take to make sure your accomplish your goals?

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Most school systems and colleges either kicked off this past week or will start in just a few days.  This time of year can be quite difficult for college students, parents, and children in school.  It’s easy to either focus too much on school work and render everything else non-existent or do the exact opposite – not focus on school at all.  It’s a tricky situation to say the least but there are certainly methods to ensure an equal balance of school and everything else.

What tactics do you use to balance your life when school is in the mix?  Is it easier or more difficult to keep your family on schedule and moving?

If you’d like to share, jot a few ideas in the comments section below.  Keep checking the site for updates because there will be an article published relating to this question.

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I have been a college student for about five years now and I have seen a lot.  At the beginning of my college career, I got off onto the wrong foot.  I didn’t have anyone to give me any advice and I ended up underachieving.  When I shifted to being an online student, I became more observant and decided to change my luck.  Thus, my top 10 tips for college students (both face-to-face and online):

10.  Use periodical search engines.  You might think that periodicals (magazines, journals, etc.) are a joke but a lot of great information can be found through a periodical search engine.  Many colleges and universities have subscriptions to periodical search engines, such as LexisNexis, but they don’t publicize that they are available for use.  If you want to find out if your school has a subscription, swing by the library or book store and inquire.  It will help a lot with research.

9.  Google really is a treasure trove.  Everyone seems to always underestimate the power of Google.  The Google search is honed to give useful information to the searcher so it’s no surprise that (most of the time) it’s dead on.  Need help studying for your final?  Use Google to get studying tips and even answers to the questions on your review.  The possibilities are limitless.

Read more…

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As summer is coming to an end, I’d like to take some time to reflect on all of the summer fun that was had.  I know that I did a lot of activities that were quite enjoyable and cost next to nothing (tennis, kayaking, cookouts, etc.) but I’d like to hear about what you did.  This week’s question:

What low budget summer activities did you participate in?  How did the low budget activities compare to the activities that cost a bit more?

Be sure to share what you did and how it turned out in the comments below.  Look for a similar question as fall approaches…

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How healthy is your life?  In a world where you are constantly bombarded with commercials for fast food and where the television programming is getting more intriguing, it’s tough to stay ahead of the game and continue to live a healthier life.  Everything around you tells you not to worry about your health but it’s a well-known fact that if you take care of your body now, you will thank yourself in the future.  Whether you live a healthy life now or are interested in starting, these ten tips will help you to live for your future.

1. Exercise Regularly – This is probably one of the most important aspects of staying healthy.  You don’t need to workout three times a day to stay in shape.  Instead, try a variety of activities (running, biking, aerobics, etc.) in order to give your body a chance to get itself in shape.
2. Eat Moderately – I can tell you from experience, eating healthy is not easy and, believe it or not, you don’t need to in order to live a healthier life.  The key is moderation.  Instead of eating fast food four times a week, try to gradually cut back to once or twice.
3. Partner Up – Accountability is another important aspect of becoming healthier.  Find someone who shares your same goals and interests and hold each other accountable in your quest to be healthier.  It can go a long way.
4. Get Sleep – Your body should get six to eight hours of sleep each night in order to function properly the next day.  If not, you’ll be feeling tired, worn out, and irritable.  Getting plenty of sleep at night is a key part of staying healthy.
5. Eat Breakfast – Eating breakfast is essential to starting your day in a healthy manner.  You should eat a balanced breakfast but, in the end, anything is better than nothing.  Too busy in the morning to stop and eat?  Invest in some miniature cereal packets or cereal bars.
6. Brain Exercises – Not only should your muscles be exercised in order to stay healthy, but you should exercise your brain, too.  Problem solving, creative thinking, and logic games are a great way to check this off of your list.
7. Lifestyle Choices – Researchers estimate that 70% – 80% of your life expectancy is based upon your lifestyle choices – drinking, smoking, eating, sleeping, and exercising (just to name a few).  If you’d like to start living a healthier life, changing your lifestyle habits would be a huge step in the right direction.

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The term “bucket list” is pretty common these days.  In case you’ve never heard of it before, it means a list of events or activities you’d like to take part in before you “kick the bucket.”  There was a fairly good movie made of the same name a few years ago starring Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson and the idea of having a “bucket list” caught on.  At the time, I didn’t really think much of have such a list, mainly because you never know when you’re going to leave Earth.  Why rush to get tons of things done in a span of two or three years when you could have just spread it out?

But, then I got to thinking, “Why not just make a list of things you’d like to do sometime in your life?” So, I did it.  Well, kind of.  The best part about it is that I’m already able to check one thing off of my list.

If you’re expecting a firm list of items that I’d like to accomplish within my life, you’re going to be somewhat disappointed.  Right now, I only have a few “things to do” in my mind, not on paper and as I mentioned before, one of those items can be crossed off – giving blood.

My church recently hosted a blood drive and at first I was reluctant to give because of fear.  Not of needles, but of just the process overall.  I didn’t know how much they would take or if I would be the only one giving.  It turns out, all my questions were answered and I was in good company for the whole process.  It made me feel great looking down at the bandage on my arm and knowing that I will save a life one day.

The other items on my “Big Picture Things To Do” list will come over time – getting promoted to a management position, getting married and having a family, and meeting the President of the United States.  I’m in no rush to complete these activities because I know that they will come in their own time and if they are part of my life course.

I challenge you to create a “Big Picture Things To Do” list and work toward accomplishing all of the items on the list.  There is nothing like the feeling of accomplishment and a sense of completion.  Why not dream big?

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There has been a lot of talk lately about the renewing of bartering and trading circles, or as some call it, “You scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours.”  It’s a fundamental concept – the trade of services or goods that will be mutually beneficial to all parties involved.  That being said, here is this week’s questions:

Have you ever considered bartering or trading goods/services?  If so, what would you trade/need?

Look for some articles in the future about this topic.  It’s pretty amazing how people can just be satisfied with the goods and services of other people!

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I recently heard in a podcast (The Passion Podcast – highly recommended) about “Section 208″ and the concept really stuck with me.  Basically, “Section 208″ is an analogy for the tough spots in life.  If you have ever been to a sporting event or a concert and sat in the nosebleed section, you can relate easily to the concept of “Section 208.”  When you are in the nosebleed section at a concert or other event, you can sometimes feel as you aren’t as connected as the people near the stage or that you’re alone in the corner and you are simply listening to the music, not interacting with it.

The same thing can happen in life.  We go through life and we sometimes feel like we are trapped in section 208, away from the world, alone, and desolate.  The world seems to be passing us by while we are  standing still.

But, it doesn’t have to stay that way.  There are plenty of things that you can do to get back down to the front of the concert and back into the interaction of life.  Maybe you need to release some stress in your life (job or other obligation), renew a friendship that was lost, or connect with other people.  Join a club, team, or church group.  Living life in community is a great feeling.

Today’s Challenge: What do you need to do today to get out of section 208 or make sure that you don’t wind up there?  What steps are you going to take to ensure that you interact with life and not let the world pass you by?

If you have moved from the nosebleed section to the front row in life, how did you do it?  What advice do you have for others?  Share with us in the comments!

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All I can say is, “Wow.”  A lot of other people are saying that, too.  The Chick-Fil-A fundraiser for the Jarkiewicz family was an amazing success!  In fact, it had the largest turnout of any fundraiser in the history of the Nottingham Square Chick-Fil-A.  In fact, the lines stretched far beyond the doors to the restaurant.  Although the total from Chick-Fil-A has not been released, the goal of raising $500 was achieved just from the donation buckets placed around the restaurant and from the drive-thru!  This was a great fundraiser and there will be many more just like it in the future.  When I have the details and the total from Chick-Fil-A, I’ll be sure to post about it.  In the mean time, if you’d like to donate to the family, please send an email to Stacey here or you can view the original blog post about the event here.  Thanks to all who participated and prayed for an awesome turn out!

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