I just recently returned from a Business/Mission trip to the Middle East. Each time I go to another country, I come back home with a greater appreciation for all that we have in our country. We are truly blessed to have the form of government, the freedoms, the choices, and the lifestyles that America provides us. When I meet with people in other countries, even those that are considered successful people, they all tell me that they want to come to America and have the freedoms and opportunities that we have. I think they are surprised at the number of people in our country who are on welfare, unemployed, and who complain about their situations all the time. I’m asked, “why do you in America not see how good you have it? Why do you always complain and want an easier life than one that you have not earned?” Talk about slapping you in the face! Read that last part of that statement again… you want an easier life than one you have not earned.

Our country is full of opportunity! We can create our opportunities each day we live in this country. No matter what your background, education, race or religion is, you can create opportunity in America. It amazes me to talk with these people from other countries and have them tell me how lucky we are to be so free and to have the ability to make so many choices.

We keep making excuses here in America. We turn our heads towards anything that can make our lives easier. You and I both know that to be successful in America, it takes hard work! Pure and simple…hard work. By the way, what is wrong with hard work? God worked 6 days and then rested on the 7^th. HE probably did it without a pension plan, promises of being socially correct or rather politically correct. My dad once told me, “son, you need to work 12 hours a day to get ahead. It don’t matter if it’s the first half or the second half, but working hard will get you ahead.” I probably took him literally, because it seems that I work at least 12 hours a day and most often six-days a week! But I love what I do. So it doesn’t seem like work to me.

Are you really ready to achieve success in your life? Are you willing to “pay-the-price” to have a better life for yourself and your family? Did you know that the more you succeed the stronger our country becomes? The stronger your family becomes? The stronger you will become? There have been times in my life where I could have filed for unemployment, even received food stamps and maybe some other welfare subsidies. But I made a promise to myself long, long ago, that I would never do those things but that I would do whatever it takes to achieve financial success in my life so that I could provide the best I can for my family.

If you want change in your life, if you want to have your future to be worth more than your past, then you have to invest in the present! If you don’t you’ll just keep on the same old path you are on now. You can lie to a lot of people in this world, but ultimately you can’t lie to yourself.

First comes the “desire.” Something inside you will start burning a hole in your gut. Actually it will be your conscience bothering you. That desire will have to get so strong that it will not let you sleep at night. That desire will force you to have to start making some “decisions.”

It won’t be one or two decisions either and they won’t be easy! The decisions you will have to make will force you to make some major changes in your lifestyle, in your attitudes, and in your priorities in life. When all the “right” decisions have been made, they will lead you to “action.”

I’m not talking about just getting out of bed at a different hour type of action, I’m talking about massive action! The kind that puts your butt into gear and keeps it in gear even when you think you can’t go anymore! It’s the kind of action that will require you to correct and/or get rid of old habits. It’s the kind of action that will keep you clearly focused on what it is you are trying to accomplish.

Desire, decisions and massive action…. Three necessary steps and stages that you have to go through to achieve anything worthwhile in your life.

Opportunity is all around us! We don’t have to go far to find it. In fact, most opportunity is located in the six-inches between your ears! One of the blessings of America is that we can create opportunity out of nothing but a good idea or dream. America, even with all our current financial problems, unemployment, and political unrest and mistrust, provides us with more opportunities than any other country on earth. I’ve been to many countries and none provide what America provides.

You want opportunity? Then open up your eyes, your heart and put that good ole American sweat equity to work for yourself.

Start the process now to improve your life. Otherwise one of these days one of these highly motivated individuals from another country will come to America and they just may take your opportunity away from you! Remember, opportunity doesn’t come knocking. Opportunity is all around you. Your job is to recognize it and take action.

MAN ON A MISSION!
Larry G. Ledford