Let me first begin this discourse by stating who I am writing to and who I am not. I am not writing this to the rich and famous, but to the poor and unknown. This is not for those living high on the hog but those that are in the muddy grub, eating tad poles and Polly wads. I am not writing to those that have nice fine cars with a GPS system living in 5 bedroom house with a white picket fence. I am writing to those who really don’t have a car and must trust the bus and don’t need a GPS system because the bus run the same schedule to their 2 bedroom apartment. I am not writing to those that have so much money that if they wrote a check the bank would bounce. I am writing to those that are so broke that their bills have bills.

Soap operas have been on television since 1952. Each and every weekday, millions of people from all over the world tune in to their favorite soap to follow the trials and tribulations of their favorite characters. Lives are portrayed with passion, courage, love; stories are told with a flair for the outrageous, or even a hint of danger. The term “soap opera” is deceiving, for it is not about soap, nor is it an opera! It is called this because soap companies were big sponsors of the radio shows back in the 1930s. The opera part comes from the fact that operas tell a story, just as the soaps do. What makes a soap opera unique is that the story never ends. That’s how I felt about my life that wasn’t going anywhere.

In the Days of Our Lives when I was Young and Restless following the wrong Guiding Light in Search for Tomorrow, I realize I was living in Another World. Due to my wrongful Passions I started living on the Edge of Night trying to be like the Bold and Beautiful. And surely As the World Turns I ran out of money, and started having trouble from my wife and All My Children. I eventually compromise my health trying to gain wealth, ending up in General Hospital, finding out I only had One Life To Live, and Ryan didn't have any Hope for me.

That may be a little far fetch but that’s how I felt. A nobody, just a nobody.

Your life’s diary start with your childhood. Mine of course wasn’t the best coming from a family that didn‘t have much. Born in the city and raise in the country I had an understanding of both worlds. I understood that in the city people walk on sidewalks, yet I step in mud. I understood that in the city there was running water from a faucet, yet in the country I was pulling it up from a well. I understood that in the city there were cable, yet in the country we only had able- any channel you were able to get.

I have shaken the hands of despair, hug the neck of misfortune, look fear in the eyes, and heard doubt whisper into my ears. I even climb the ladder of success only to get to the top and discover it was leaning against the wrong wall. A nobody, just a nobody.

There are many people who would have by now giving up on life. Not I, no sir, no way. Just because my past may have been rough does not mean my future will be tough.

Though there were times when my… knees got weak, hands got tired, eyes got dim, priorities got confused, love got cold, and goals got lost yet I knew I had to keep going. It’s call stickablity. Life move so fast that sometimes you feel like you are standing still even though you are running top speed. When others are throwing the towel in and calling it quits, yet not I. Somehow, someway I knew I could turn this nobody into a somebody. Though the hill got steep and the path became rough, load became heavy, and the night got dark, I kept P.U.S.H.I.N.G (praying until something happens).

Life seems to always have setbacks. You know the feeling, soon you pay the last car payment the first maintenance payment starts. Setbacks, we all have them. I on the other hand didn’t just have them , I felt as though I was a setback. Instead of being a blessing I became a burden, a hindrance instead of a help, a despair instead of a delight, a liability instead of an asset, disappointment instead of being dependable, and all out greedy instead of generous.

As a Man Thinketh In His Heart So Is He; As He Continues To Think So He Remaineth.

The aphorism, "As a man thinketh in his heart so is he," not only embraces the whole of a man's being, but is so comprehensive as to reach out to every condition and circumstance of his life. A man is literally what he thinks, his character being the complete sum of all his thoughts. As the plant springs from, and could not be without, the seed, so every act of a man springs from the hidden seeds of thought, and could not have appeared without them. This applies equally to those acts called "spontaneous" and "unpremeditated" as to those which are deliberately executed.

I realize that in order for me to be somebody I had to change my thoughts. I had to embrace the thought that I am somebody , others just didn’t know it. It is very difficult to picture what success will look like in your mind in any endeavor before you actually achieve it.

Everybody wants success. Some people aim for it; others just talk about it. We all know what it looks like... when someone else has it. Often times it just seems like something too far out of reach. For many, the benefits of success are illusive. These people struggle, search and try year after year to create a life filled with financial security, nurturing relationships and a sense of purpose and meaning. Others appear to effortlessly achieve greatness, independence and happiness as they travel through the days of their lives.
Some say that those who are successful because they have luck on their side. But luck is :

L-laboring, U-under, C-correct, K-knowledge. I had to start thinking like a successful person.

While sitting on the hill looking in the valley, in the power of a moment; the voice of success spoke.

The brain that gave thought to the idea of me being here said, ”You are my son , you are somebody. Remember your name and live it with success.”

My giver of life said, “ You are the first born, you have no choice but to be successful.

Then the voice of Les Brown utter the words, “Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss it you will land among the stars.” I kept hearing the words of Zig Ziglar say,” You can get everything in life you want if you will just help enough other people get what they want. “. Then there was Brian Tracy saying, “It doesn't matter where you are coming from. All that matters is where you are going. “ And most surely I can't forget my life coach, Joe Schroeder, who planted this seed in my heart, "What you give away, you get to keep".

I must say that the loudest and clearest voice that I heard was from my creator .”For I am mindful of the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. You call upon me and come and pray to me, and I heed you. You seek Me and find Me: Now you seek Me with all your heart and I am at hand for you, says the Lord…”Jeremiah 29:11-14a; Matthew 7:7.

Success is closer than you think. It's just on the other side... you have to want it enough, and be willing enough to get it. Once you have tasted the sweet flavor of success it’s hard to settle anything less. I have been burn by the flames of success and their marks constantly reminds me of who I really am. I will not for a New York second let my mind entertain a negative thought. I am the gatekeeper of my mind and I am very careful what comes and goes. Garbage in - Garbage out. Though the world has it’s ways of conveying bad thoughts, yet I will deny each one. Tv, radio, books, and/or magazines and I must not leave out people are all possible tools that try to put out the fire and leave you smokeless. If you let them enter your mind, they will take over. That’s bubble gum to the brain. That’s being S.O.S. - Stuck On Stupid. Not me, I am an over achiever, a pioneer doer. When others are walking, I’m running. When others are sitting on their seats of do nothing and leaning back on their elbows of do less, I’m fine tuning what I’ve already done, pondering on what can I do next. People will walk a mile to see a man run with the fire of desire. If God can

…formed the earth

…cupped out the oceans…

…mold the mountains…

…position the stars…

…ignite the sun…

…establish the moon…

then surely a boy from Memphis, Tn. the home of the famous barbeque, a military veteran and believer of the afore mention God can impact his generation to a point that when he’s gone his children’s children will probably drive on streets name after him. If not me, then who? If not now, then when? If not here, then where?

Hey friend, I’m from the school that believes if you are going to think, you might as well think BIG. My brain is XXL, I have super sized my train of thought.

I know where I’m going. I am on focus. I know what I want, I’m on target. I know when I’m going to get it, I’m on decision. I know how I’m going to get it, I am on FIRE.

Now the die is cast; I’ve stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I am a disciple of success. I won’t look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still. My past is redeemed, my present make sense and my future secure. I am finish with low living, sight walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tame vision, mundane talking, chincy giving and dwarfed goals.

I no longer need preeminent prosperity, position, promotion, plaudits, or popularity. I don’t have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded, or rewarded. I now have a bull dog grip on this thing call success. Others cannot pull or hold me back. I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turn back, diluted or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of adversity, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity, I won’t give up , shut up, let up, or burn up till I’ve push, prayed, paid, stored, and stayed up till I been bless by success.

I am no longer in the valley, I’m just changing mountain tops. I’ve gone from cotton sacks to Cadillac’s. I’ve move from the hood to the hill. I’ve gone from the outhouse to the penthouse. I’ve realize being broke is a state of the wallet, being poor is a state of the mind. Everything I know at the top, I learn at the bottom.

I am a child of the King and his royal blood flows in my vain.

Somewhere in that great book it says to ask. In case you didn’t know it’s all in the A.S.K.ing

How fast you get it out of your mouth determines how fast you will get it in your hands.

You have to see it before you can see it

The knock of desire will always proceed the knock of determination.

Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us….thou art the God that do wonders!

Your lifetime friend

Hardin

I am the Hardin of Monie….

Give Me Your Prescription For Success And I Will Fill It In 15 Minutes