"We've become a nation of whiners when dealing with this economy."  Phil Gramm former U.S. Senator.

The economy isn't so bad we're just emotionally unfit. For many of us, it's the first time we've faced adversity.

Luxury items are still being bought just not by as many people and that is probably a good thing because people are planning and managing their money better. There is peace and power in living below our means.  Is that an emotion that we need to make stronger? What about delayed gratification? Isn’t this a muscle that sometimes becomes weak during good times?

People have to educate themselves about what's really happening now. We are going through a transition. It's change and every generation has faced some pretty tough changes at some stage. Let’s look at the Greatest Generation. A person born in 1910 was witnessing the Great Depression by the time they were 19. When they were 32, they would have witnessed one world war and the start of another.  That's adversity.

So, the Boomer generation has had it fairly easy. We've all experienced some personal pain and I'm sure you've experienced it in your family. I have in mine. But, we haven't had an experience on a cultural level to the extreme that we are starting to experience now. Even 9/11 didn’t seem to phase us for that long; we acted quickly and moved on. From the Baby Boomer generation on down, we haven't been adversly tested.  We've lived through a period where mortgages seemed to good to be true so we bought houses we couldn't afford. Times were so good few asked why or how long it would last?

The question is, when challenges happen, what do you focus on? Do you focus on asking, “Why is this happening to me?”  Or, do you ask, "Is this a chance for an opportunity or personal growth?

Look at people like Lance Armstrong or Michael J. Fox or Bill Bartmann and their reaction to adversity.

We've also had an opportunity to be honest and open with our kids and talk to them openly about what our family is facing and others are facing so they realize money does not grow on trees?

Our economy isn't so bad in comparison to two thirds of this planet which lives on $3-4 a day. We're stronger than we think and we can train ourselves to take advantage of these changing times. To adapt, to overcome, to thrive!

This is neither the first time we’ll be tested nor the last, so here are 3 strategies to help you get Emotional Fit starting today:

1. Train your mind. When I was broke and starting my career trying to figure out what to do, there was no Internet. It’s funny but I’m old enough to remember those days when I would go to the library and read biographies about survivors of concentration camps or athletes like Og Mandino and learned how they got through their setbacks? I learned about their emotional fitness. 

2. Take control of your body. Our body, emotions, and our minds are linked. Realize fear and depression is physical and if you can get yourself working out intensely, your blood circulating, whether it’s power-walking in the mall, lifting weights, running, you're making a positive change and lifting your mood. Hormones are being released that will give you strength and creativity. If you don’t face your fear, it’s the end; you go into hiding and begin to die.

3. Find a few role models  The world has great role models that have overcome great obstacles. And sometimes that role model is in the mirror; it’s you because you’ve faced crisis before and survived, maybe even thrived.
 

Until next week -  You Were Created to Succeed!

This is how you get involved with Success Television and get your voice heard! Sign up for Twitter or Facebook, find Bert, and let him know what you think about the issues of the day. What’s making you mad? What’s got you concerned? Where are we missing the boat? How can we help your business?

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By being resourceful, we can accomplish great things. We just need to take inventory of the resources we have and use them in creative ways. Here's an example: I used frequent flyers miles to pay for tuition. That's right! But, you're not reading this to hear about my tuition bills.

As I had mentioned in my last blog, I wanted Arnold Schwarzenegger to help me take over Carolco Pictures. Only one problem; I didn't personally know Arnold and even worst, he had no clue I existed.

So I started asking everyone I knew or came into contact with if they knew Arnold. Everyone was saying, "no" or, "yeah right" or "good luck." Anyway, I continued to press on even though I was short on cash, time and contacts. I need to mention that at this time in my life I was living in Salt Lake City, Utah a wonderful place to live but NOT a power player when it comes to big business or Hollywood.

I was driving to the premier of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, staring Robert De Niro. In the car is Mark, a print broker, and his wife, Susan, who is a stay at home mom. So, without fail, I ask Mark if he knew Arnold or how to contact him. He said no. Suddenly Susan exclaimed, "I don't know him but I know when he'll be in town next." My head jerked to attention. Simultaneously, Mark and I asked,  "How do you know?"

The manager at the supplement store told me Arnold was coming into town to present an award to Senator Orin Hatch. "Wow, can I call the store manager and speak with him?" I asked. She gave me his name and number.

I then called the store manager and he explained that Arnold was coming into town to present Senator Hatch an award from the Weider company. I asked if I could attend the program and he said I would need to check with the Wieder company because they were putting on the event. I asked for and he gave me the contact information I needed. Weider Publications, LLC owns and publishes health and fitness magazines.

I contacted Don at Weider company and asked if I could attend. He said, no, unless I was involved with the media.  I responded , "Do you need more media coverage?" After further discussion, he agreed to let me attend if I could bring some media. I promised I would and I did along with video cameras and everything, kinda. I knew a buddy who was a cameraman for one of the news stations and he showed up with another friend who wanted to break into the news business so we were all set. Don was happy because we looked official enough which made him look good.

Arnold gave a great talk, very funny and the audience ate it up. After the talk, Don introduced me to Senator Hatch, Joe Weider and, finally, Arnold.  We chit-chatted for a few seconds and took a photo.  After a few more minutes, I moved in for the kill. This was my only chance. I'm thinking, "If Arnold says yes, it will change my world."  I explained the overall concept for taking over Carolco and Arnold listened intently.

"What kind of interest do you have?" I asked Arnold. He paused and said, "I don't think I would be interested at all." He explained about prior commitments and gave me some history about Carolco's management. We discussed the project for a few minutes longer, out of courtesy for me, I suspect. Ok so I didn't do business with Arnold but I believed the strategies were worth the headline. Now let me ask you - if you're going to be turn down by a possible investor who would you like to be turn by a small shot or a big shot?

The Rest of the Story:

Twentieth Century Fox bought Carolco's assets. Arnold went on to make a few more movies and then become Governor of California. Me? Well, I learned a great strategy that has allowed me access to very successful and influential people including: Wayne Huizenga, Gerry Robert, Brent Spiner, Patrick Snow, and Bill Bartmann, just to name a few. If you would like to build your contacts and accelerate your success follow these actions.

Actions

1) Make a list of your current resources

2) Make a list of the different ways you can use your resources - be creative

3) Identify people that could help you and start asking everyone for an introduction

You Were Created to Succeed!

This is how you get involved with Bert Martinez and Success Television and get your voice heard! Sign up for Twitter or Facebook, find Bert, and let him know what you think about the issues of the day. What’s making you mad? What’s got you concerned? Where are we missing the boat? How can we help your business?

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Do you remember learning how to ride your bide? Sure, you faltered a few times, fell off, and scraped your knees. But, it wasn’t long before you were soaring on two wheels! Riding a bike for most of us was achieving a big goal. Maybe our first taste of success. Success is as simple as riding a bike.

You Can Do It With What You Have

            Sam, a kid from my neighborhood, received a brand new bike. My brother and I, on the other hand, put my bike together from used parts.

Sam was very proud of his new bike, and he wanted to challenge someone to a race around the block. I accepted the challenge and won. That left an indelible impression on me about resources. I discovered that it’s all about what you do with what you have. And it taught me this: Whatever you have NOW is all you need to get you to the Next step.

You don't ALWAYS need money or contacts or whatever you need to be more resourceful.

Let me give you another personal example. We needed to buy a house, but we were limited financially at the time. I retained the services of a real estate agent and began the process of looking for a new home. I didn’t tell the agent that we had less than $800 in our savings account at the time. Within a short time, we found a home and made an a ridiculous offer. We wanted the seller to pay our down payment and all our costs. The agent requested $1,000 earnest money to complete the required paperwork. It was $1,000 we simply didn’t have, so I turned him down. I never explained our financial situation but quietly wrote a $100 check. The agent thought I was kidding. He explained that in his 15 years of selling real estate, he had never seen a deal go through with $100 earnest money. I insisted that he try, and the agent wrote the contract. A few days later our offer was accepted.

Need one more example? I wanted to take over Carolco Pictures, Inc., Carolco had produced some of the highest revenue grossing movies ever made, including Terminator 2, Basic Instinct, Cliffhanger, Total Recall and the Rambo. But now, they were broke and had been delisted from the New York Stock Exchange. I had met with their CFO and quickly realized I need lots of money and some big names to help pull this off. Arnold Schwarzenegger quickly came to mind; only one problem I don't personally know Arnold and even worst he has no clue I exist. Want to know how I met and pitched my deal to Arnold? The simple strategy I used will blow you away and the results will surprise you.

Come back next week and find out for yourself. Yeah that's right. I want you to come back next week and discover how a simple strategy has allowed me to meet and connect with some of the most powerful people in the world.  From doing business to being invited to prestigious events and award shows I use this simple strategy. Learning this very simple strategy will be worth your time.

Until next week -  You Were Created to Succeed!

This is how you get involved with Success Television and get your voice heard! Sign up for Twitter or Facebook, find Bert, and let him know what you think about the issues of the day. What’s making you mad? What’s got you concerned? Where are we missing the boat? How can we help your business?

Follow Bert on Twitter

Connect with Bert on Facebook