I spent some time developing a training for my sales team, based on some lessons I have learned through watching the television show “The Biggest Loser.”  You can apply these lesson to weight loss, as they do on the show, or to your financial business.  Enjoy!
Biggest Loser – Lessons

1- You MUST have a strong DESIRE – Desire is the foundation for life change.

2- Create a VISION – Begin with the end in mind.

3- GET STARTED! – It takes action to reach your goals.  You must take action.

4- Measure your progress – Know where you stand.

5- You should not go it ALONE – Doing everything by yourself can be lonely and discouraging.  Others will push you beyond what you can do alone.

6- Attitude matters, stay positive – Negative energy leads to struggle.  Surround yourself with positive people!

7- Establish a sense of urgency – Life is happening.  Whatever you choose to do in life, get at it.

8- Create short term wins – It helps to get the ball rolling in the right direction.

9- You won’t always see results – Trust that your efforts will eventually show.
 
10- You must (train)reprogram your brain – When you are way behind where you want to be, it’s easy to beat yourself up.  Small steps build confidence.  Develop an “I can do it” attitude.  An “Abundance” mentality.

11- You have to change your lifestyle – You must transform your habits, not just change your behavior in the short term.

12- You must work hard – It will not always be easy.  You will not be successful with a half-hearted effort or by looking for shortcuts.

13- You can have fun! – Boredom will kill your enthusiasm and activity.  Make it a game.

14- You have to be CONSISTENT! – The most successful people are consistent.  They make winning a habit, part of their daily lives.  The habits you learn along the way have to continue if you’re to be successful in the long term.
Neuroplasticity- The brain has the incredible power to change.  Simply put, there is nothing set in stone when it comes to our limitations or shortcomings.  We have the capacity to reinvent ourselves, to form new patterns of perception and action, thereby creating radically new circumstances in our lives.  Whatever is limiting you right now – no matter how deeply entrenched or painful it may be – is temporary and can be overcome.

My wife and I both nearly fell off the couch!  We don’t watch much news in the first place, but then to see something actually TRUE and meaningful on the news, well, we were impressed.

Here is the proof that television philosophy like this affects children: 54% of teenagers today agree with the statement, “Having a baby without being married is a worthwhile lifestyle or not affecting anyone else,” compared to only 37% in 1976.  Former President Bill Clinton made the following statement: “The real source of the welfare problem is the inordinate number of out-of-wedlock births in this country.”

The truth is that Marital Status is the strongest predictor of father presence/father absence.  Compared to children born within marriage, children born to cohabitating parents are three times more likely to experience father absence, and children born to unmarried, non-cohabitating parents are four times as likely to have an absent father.

So, we had better get back to teaching our children the value’s of commitment, marriage and family if we want to solve our out-of-control welfare problem, poverty, drug abuse, violent crime, lack of education, suicides, behavioral problems, etc.  ALL of these have close ties to father absence.

In an analysis of data from both waves of the National Survey of Families and Households, a national  sample of over 13,000 households was conducted, it was found that the most important determinant of whether a father lived with his children was marital status at the time of the child’s birth. Fully 80% of men who were married to the child’s mother at the child’s birth were living with all of their biological children, compared to only 22.6% of men who were not.

According to a Gallup Poll, 85% of Americans say that “the number of children being born to single parents” is either a “serious” or “critical” social problem.

Former Vice President, Al Gore had this to say, “Promoting responsible fatherhood is the critical next phase of welfare reform and one of the most important things we can do to reduce child poverty.”

Robert Sampson had this to say in Race Specific consequences of Family structure and Crime, “Family structure is one of the strongest, if not the strongest, predictor of variations of urban violence across the United States… all else equal, in cities where family disruption is high, the rate of violence is also high.”

I could go on and on, but I encourage you to read the statistics section of our www.dadsworld.com website.  Dads matter.  Dadsworld.com is committed to strengthening families by promoting involved Dads.

I invite you to go to our forum to comment on these topics and many others!

Have a great day!

There is no doubt as to the importance of Dads.  Why in the world does Hollywood and other pop-culture outlets continue to promote having children without a Dad???  Are these people really trying to run our great country into the ground, or are they all just really that ignorant?  Overwhelmingly, Children- healthy, self-confident, well-adjusted, and intelligent children… have involved Dads.  THAT is what we should be promoting, celebrating and teaching.  Involved parents, Mom AND Dad.

It infuriates me to continually see young girls wanting to get pregnant.  Some don’t even WANT the man to be involved, so they get a sperm donation, which I am strongly opposed to… except for very specific cases.  It’s not fair to the child to raise him or her without their Dad.  Do the research, it’s very clear.

Isn’t it obvious to everyone else that the majority (not ALL, but the large majority) of children who don’t have strong, loving and involved Dads end up in trouble?  Why do you think this is?  It’s partly because the child lacks a role model.  If the child grows up without seeing how a man is supposed to act, that child will rely on television, movies and popular culture for the information.  Have you seen how men (especially Dads) are portrayed in these outlets?  They are not portrayed well.  More often than not, they are portrayed as uninvolved, selfish, detached, dumb, lazy and immature.  That is NOT the message we need to be sending our children.  And that is NOT the reality for the majority of today’s Dads.  Dads today are more involved than ever!  Let’s not only give the children that great role model (Dad), let’s show the world just how involved we are.  Let’s get the corporations, advertisers and marketers to wake up and start promoting the right things. 

A child needs to see the Dad treating the Mom with love, affection and kindness.  That child needs to see the Dad working hard, solving problems, struggling and succeeding – all while being a gentleman and a capable leader.  Setting a good example of how a MAN is supposed to act, that’s what Dads need to do.  And it’s what the media should focus on.  Dads today are better than ever at being involved, loving and spending time with their children.  Yet we still see the same worn-out, tired cliche’s of bumbling moronic Dads.

Help Dadsworld.com change that.  Tell others about our site, and encourage them to be involved as a parent.  Encourage them to spread the word and make it the “in” thing to do.  Wear your Dadsworld.com shirt with pride.  Help us create a movement.  Dads matter.  Read the statistics section of our website, you will be shocked.

Be involved.  Encourage others to do the same.  And don’t tolerate anything less.  Our children really do depend on us.

The majority of today’s Dads, the so-called Modern Day Dad is much different from the pop-culture stereotypes.  The Modern Day Dad is involved, loving and a key member of the family.  He is someone you can count on, responsible, steadfast and a pillar of strength that supports his family.  His support may be financial, but it’s always emotional and physical.  Pop culture has the wrong image of Dads.  The common Dad stereotype is not only inaccurate, but damaging to children and families.

That is what Dadsworld.com is trying to help change.  Get the word out that today’s Dads are REAL parents.  Not only do we want to point out the great Dads out there, but we want to encourage the rest of the Dads, and soon-to-be Dads, to buck the system and don’t become the typical dult that pop-culture portrays for a Dad.  Dadsworld.com is issuing a challenge to all men out there who are thinking of becoming fathers.  Let’s fight against the low expectations that society has for Dads, it’s unacceptable. 

Be involved, be the leader.  Your role in the family is far to important to shrug off.  You’re the DAD! 

Our website is full of engaging articles and ideas on how to be a great Dad.  Our forum is a great place to share ideas and read what others are doing.  Our blog is a place for me to rally the troops and lay out our philosophy plainly.  We are going to make a difference in the world.  The fight against low expectations, fragmented families and children growing up with low self-esteem is our fight.  Together we can make changes.

Take self-inventory and assess your situation as a father.  Follow your conscience.  Be part of the solution.  Be BOLD in life and live everyday with energy and vitality.  Take a stand against low expectations and demand better for your family.  Spread the word about Dadsworld.com and get others involved. 

 Thanks for your time.

Raising kids is like getting a dog for some people.  At first they are incredibly involved and attentive to the babies (dogs) needs.  But as time goes on, and the novelty and newness wears off, the parent becomes less attentive, and starts to see the baby (dog) as a burden, rather than a blessing.  Raising a child is a lifelong commitment, and it’s also hard work.  Your patience will be tested, your temper will be explored and you will be exhausted (physically and mentally) much of the time.  It will destroy many of your casual friendships, free time will be a distant memory and you can forget about spur of the moment adventures or late nights out with your friends goofing off.  That’s not necessarily bad, it’s just the way it is.  New things will replace the old.  In my opinion, those new things are better.

But just as some people are not cut out to be dog owners, some are not cut out to be parents either.  It’s a hard thing for people to come to terms with, as having children is just something that people do.  There is not a test, no requirements of intelligence, income, skills, etc.  Many people end up parents without much thought going into it at all.  And when the hard work becomes more than these people are willing to deal with, they check-out.  Video games, television and movies raise many kids today.  And if you have followed this website at all, you know the statistics on how those kids turn out.  NOT WELL. 

Yet this has become mainstream.  Can you believe that?  Letting someone else raise our children is mainstream now.  So why do some parents refuse to parent?  Why do they give up on their responsibility to raise their kids?  Is it because they never wanted it in the first place?  In which case I would have recommended sterilization.  Or is it that they didn’t REALLY know what they were getting into?  In which case I recommend “growing up.”  Or could it be that some people just are not equipped to be parents?

If you are going to do something, do it right.  Having children brings with it the awesome responsibility of raising, guiding and being there for this new person.  This is a human life we are talking about, your child!  If you are not prepared to have kids, DON’T HAVE THEM.  If you already do, you owe it to them to be the best parent you can.  Take responsibility for what you have created and be there for them.  Take responsibility for what YOU CHOSE to create.  Or give them up for adoption where someone who will be there for them can have the chance.

I am so tired of hearing about what a hassle kids are and watching people try to organize their lives so that someone else raises their kids for them (while they work on their career or socialize or play or hang out with friends or do whatever it is that people who avoid raising their kids do.)  It’s the kids that suffer in the short term, and we all suffer in the long run from this type of lifestyle.  Raise your own kids!  Be the kind of person you would want your child to become.  You have the power.  We are all counting on you.

If it requires that you live a more modest lifestyle, so one of the parents can stay at home, then live a more modest lifestyle.  Your kids don’t care what your watch is made of.  They don’t care what year your car was made, or how much your jeans cost.  They care about being with and learning from YOU.  They need your time.  They don’t need expensive video games or the latest fashions.  They need you.  Be sure that their needs are met.  Eventually, when we as parents grow older and really start wanting meaningful relationships with our kids and their families, we won’t be able to if we didn’t do a good job when they were growing up.  Money can’t buy love, and it can’t buy a strong family.  Time and energy, caring and nurturing are the only things that matter to kids. 

Who is raising your kids?

It seems many people today have lost touch with reality.  It goes back to the “anything goes” mentality that our society is fostering.  If it tastes good, eat it.  If it feels good, do it.  NO regard for future consequences or other people.  Self-centered and childish behavior.  We desperately need to get back to traditional values, family and faith.  Those are the only things that can save America from itself.  Look at history of the great empires of the world.  They all crumbled from within, by excessive greed, permissiveness and an “anything goes” attitude.  Most of the great civilizations lasted for many hundreds and even thousands of years, America is only 232 years old!  We are on an accelerated path to self-destruction.  In my opinion, the only way to stop this trend and get the country back on the right path is to get down to basics – values, family and faith.

If we do not, if it’s every man for himself, then we are finished.  I personally have a small child, with another on the way.  I want them to live in a great country, and a great world.  A world where good deeds mean something and people treat each other with respect, dignity and honor.  I want them to experience a world where hard work pays off and success is within reach of everyone. 

It gets back to our leadership, which includes the parents of today.  We have an awesome responsibility to raise responsible citizens, not trash.  It’s up to us to do something about where this country is heading.  Does it suprise you that these kids planned this attack and fully intended to post it on youtube?  It shouldn’t.  Look up the lyrics to the top 10-20 most popular songs in America right now.  Go to www.lyrics.com and read what they are talking about.  Irresponsible sex, random and indiscriminate violence, apathy, etc…the lowest and worst possible actions of human beings is glorified.  Most adults and parents today are so out of touch with what’s going through the younger generations minds that it’s scary.  Many younger adults today don’t understand values or work ethics or honor.  They really don’t.  Why should they?  Look at what they are exposed to over and over and over again in the box office, on television, in songs, in fashion and pop culture.  Pathetic underachievers making it big is what our popular culture has come to.  That is what many young people strive for.  Get on some reality show and make it big for being a complete fool.  “What’s your real plan for your life?”  “Uh, I don’t know and I don’t care.”

Something must be done, and we have to do it now.  DEMAND better in your family, and in everyone you spend time with.  If it starts in the home, maybe we can raise children who become compassionate and honorable adults.  Then we might have a chance to turn this crumbling nation around.