The Continued Fight with Ben Newman

Last Thursday morning, my wife and I were sitting in the living room enjoying our morning coffee together.  My son was watching Transformer movies on the iPad, and my daughter was still asleep.  It was a calm morning, both inside and outside.  For whatever reason, something caused me to glance outside toward our swimming pool.  As I turned my head, I saw a very small animal step off the concrete into our pool!  It was a baby bunny, helpless, swimming frantically and trying to hold its head above the water.   

I yelled to my wife, “Honey!  There’s a baby bunny that’s going to drown in the pool!”  We ran outside as fast as we could.  I grabbed the closest pool net, which happened to be the short one.  But at this point, the baby bunny had been pulled into the skimmer.  The net wouldn’t fit through the opening.  Our hearts were beating quickly as we tried to brainstorm the next step!  Ami told me to turn the net around and use the pole to push the bunny out of the skimmer into the pool area.  Success!  I reached with the net, but the bunny was panicking and jumped out of the net into the center of the pool.  I couldn’t reach it!  I yelled to Ami, “Get the longer net!  Get the longer net!”

Ami ran to the storage room and quickly handed me the longer net.  I was FINALLY able to scoop the bunny out of the water and laid it down gently in the grass.  It wasn’t moving – just breathing very heavily.  I had no idea whether the bunny was going to live or die.  We could tell it was so scared.  It sat in the grass for 10-15 minutes just breathing.  We decided to give it some food.  But what do baby bunnies eat?  I grabbed some lettuce and carrots and set the food in front of the bunny.  It remained motionless, but breathing.  I had to leave for work.  Ami and Isaac kept an eye on the situation and promised to keep me posted. 

I got into the car thinking about this bunny and the fact that so many of us in life need help.  As human nature goes, we don’t always feel comfortable asking for it.  Obviously, the bunny didn’t call for help, but something caused me to look outside at the exact moment it needed me.  Without us, the bunny would not have lived.  This is just a simple story of outstanding teamwork.  And just like the bunny, we have to be open to receiving help, even when we might not think we need it.  In some cases, the results can be life-altering. 

As I was driving to work, I got a text message from Ami that read, “The bunny hopped away.  Way to go!”   Another happy ending.  I smiled and breathed a big sigh of relief. 
Go Do Great Things,

Ben

www.BenNewman.net

Join us FACEBOOK http://www.facebook.com/benjaminanewman?ref=profile

Follow us TWITTER http://twitter.com/#!/continuedfight

Connect LINKEDin http://www.linkedin.com/pub/benjamin-newman/0/693/b0b

Subscribe YouTUBE http://www.youtube.com/user/bennewmancompanies

Monthly Newsletter, March 2011 

“The Price of Greatness is Sacrifice”

 I recently came across a story about sacrifice that I wanted to share for this month’s newsletter…

 I heard a story once about two wealthy Christians, a lawyer and a merchant, who traveled with a group that was going around the world. As they were visiting in Korea, they saw by the side of the road, a field in which a boy was pulling a crude plow and an old man held the plow handles and guided it. The lawyer was amused and took a snapshot of the scene.

He turned to the missionary, who served as their interpreter and guide, and he said, “That’s a curious picture. I suppose they are very poor.”

The guide replied, “Yes, that is the family of Chi Noue. When the place of worship was being built, they were eager to give something to it, but they had no money, so they sold their only ox and gave the money to the church. This spring, they are pulling the plow themselves.”

The men were silent for several moments. Then the businessman replied, “That must have been a real sacrifice.”

The guide said, “They do not call it that. They thought it was fortunate that they had an ox to sell.”

 What are you willing to sacrifice in order to achieve greatness in your life? A commitment to greatness, is a lifelong commitment to serving others.

Go Do Great Things,
Ben
To learn more about The Ben Newman Companies visit www.BenNewman.net.
The Ben Newman Companies is pleased to announce The Uncommon Sales Boot Camp in Las Vegas (www.UncommonSalesBootCamp.com), June 23rd-25th, 2011 at the Palazzo by Venetian. An incredible event with TOP 60 Web Influencer, David Siteman Garland, from The Rise to the Top & World Renowned Sport Psychologist, Dr. Jason Selk. More details at www.UncommonSalesBootCamp.com.
Ben’s new book written with Dr. Justin B. Short, “Pocket Truths for Success” is NOW available at Amazon.com.

January 2011 Newsletter

Be Inspired!

For the past two years, I’ve held two-day business seminars called Boot Camp which are designed to help people grow personally and professionally.  After eight successful events, it never ceases to amaze me how incredibly inspired I am by the individuals that attend Boot Camp. 

On January 24th and 25th I had the humbling opportunity to be with presidents and CEOs of businesses all over the St. Louis area.  They came to Boot Camp to learn and to be inspired by me, but what is so incredible is that I ended up being so inspired by them.   At this event, there were great speakers — Aeneas Williams and John O’Leary — but it was my opportunity to look into the hearts of the attendees that made the two days so special. 

I think what this speaks to is your opportunity to be inspired in your relationships. It’s your willingness to learn every single day.  Even if you are in the position of teacher, you also have a great opportunity to be taught. 

Begin to focus daily on giving everything you’ve got to your relationships, and in return you’re sure to learn and be inspired by the people around you.  I hope everyone is off to a great start with the goals you’ve set for 2011!  Stay focused, determined, disciplined, and make the sacrifice everyday to be the best that you can be.  You’re building your legacy and leaving your footprints in the sand. 

Go Do Great Things,

Ben

To learn more about The Ben Newman Companies visit www.BenNewman.net.

The Ben Newman Companies is pleased to announce The Continued Rise Boot Camp Vegas (www.ContinuedRise.com), June 23^rd-25^th, 2011 at the Palazzo by Venetian.  An incredible event with TOP 60 Web Influencer David Siteman Garland from The Rise to the Top & World Renowned Sport Psychologist Dr. Jason Selk.  More details at www.ContinuedRise.com.

Ben’s new book written with Dr. Justin B. Short, “Pocket Truths for Success” is NOW available at Amazon.com.

 
“Fight the Good Fight; A Mother’s Legacy Lives On” is available at www.barnesandnoble.com, www.amazon.com and www.continuedfight.com.

Tower.com Top 100 Bestseller “Pocket Principles for the Insurance Business” is also available at the retailers listed above

NOVEMBER MONTHLY NEWSLETTER

Love is Spelled T-I-M-E

“We are throwing away the time we’ve been given to live our life. Time is precious. There are people who say that time is money, but time is much more than money. Time is life. You are given 24 hours each day to live, not just to make money. That’s why we have to organize a resistance to the momentum of running.”

Thich Nhat Hanh

The quote above is from Thich Nhat Hanh in his book Power. I would add to it that love is spelled T-I-M-E. As cliché as it sounds, the amount of time that we have in our lives is so precious. We don’t know if it will end in the next hour or the next 50 years. We must slow down and savor the time we’re given.

The holidays are upon us with lots of hustling and bustling about to wrap up the work year, reach our 2010 goals, shop for the perfect holiday gift, etc. Most of us will be taking some much needed time away from work to spend with our loved ones. Let’s make it our common goal to be present and mindful during that time.

There is a big difference between spending time in a present, mindful way and spending time in an unconscious or thoughtless way. Studies show that children know when a parent is not “present” during their time together. Children either feel your love or sense an empty mind. What would you rather have them feel? The same is true for your spouse. How many times has your spouse had to repeat him/herself because your mind was wondering or you were thinking about work? Unfortunately, we’ve probably all been in this situation more times than we’d like to admit.

This holiday season, slow down and enjoy the opportunity to relax, to be mindful, to be present and to show love to those around you. Be focused and present and give everything you have during that precious time.

Have a very happy and truly blessed Thanksgiving and have a wonderful holiday season.

Go Do Great Things,

Ben

To learn more about The Ben Newman Companies visit www.continuedfight.com.

The Ben Newman Companies is pleased to announce their next Corporate Boot Camp January 24th-25th, 2011 in St. Louis, Missouri. Boot Camp will help you “Uncover Your Why?” and help you “Learn to Win the Game of Your Mind.” The event will include 8-Time NFL Pro-Bowler and Future Hall of Famer Aneas Williams, Internationally recognized speaker John O’Leary and Corporate Sales Leadership Guru Suzie Andrews. The event has limited space remaining so visit the site today for details and to get registered!

Ben’s new book written with Dr. Justin B. Short, “Pocket Truths for Success” is available for pre-ordering at www.continuedfight.com. “Pocket Truths for Success” will be released December 2010.

“Fight the Good Fight; A Mother’s Legacy Lives On” is available at www.barnesandnoble.com, www.amazon.com and www.continuedfight.com.

Tower.com Top 100 Bestseller “Pocket Principles for the Insurance Business” is also available at the retailers listed above.

I have found that the greatest individuals, the greatest performers, the most successful people are at their best while being tested – physically, mentally, or intellectually – proof that greatness can happen through all adversities and tests, big or small.  Granted, we don’t choose adversity for the sake of growth – growth just happens to be a nice consequence of adversity! 

 Let’s take the economy as an example.  Many, if not most, people would look at the down (although improving) economy we are in and find every excuse to sit on the sidelines and wait…wait to see what the future holds…wait for the ball to drop…wait for a miracle…just wait.  Waiting is much easier than taking action and finding solutions.  I am certainly not immune to the economy nor am I immune to facing life’s challenges, but I have always chosen to focus on LEGACY when life’s path to greatness seems blurry.  

 Always remember that good gets recognition, but GREAT gets LEGACY.  What do you want for yourself, your future and your legacy?  The next time you’re tested, think about your LEGACY and you will likely find the internal fortitude to persevere.  We don’t control when we will be tested, but we do control how we respond to the tests that we face. 

 I learned this powerful lesson from my mother while she was passing from Amyloidosis — that the biggest obstacles mask our greatest opportunities.  Even though she was extremely ill, my mother looked at every single day as an opportunity to be a leader and role model for my brother and I, and to be a leader in the pursuit of growing her legacy no matter how long she lived.  She chose legacy over complacency as she battled this dreadful disease.  And this certainly isn’t the type of adversity one would choose to experience, but the positive impact it has had on my life is a newsletter topic in itself! 

 I recently read an incredible book called The Janitor by Todd Hopkins and Ray Hilbert.  It is a book about a CEO and his unexpected relationship with a janitor.  The book speaks a great deal of legacy. It made me think about being challenged and tested relative to my mother’s legacy.  I learned from my mother that “It is not how long you live but how you choose to live your life”.  In The Janitor, the same point was framed differently but equally as powerful.  Hopkins and Hilbert reinforce that it’s not the year that you are born and the year that you pass that matter; what matters is what you do with the space in between the two numbers.

 What are you doing today to make an impact and build your legacy?  Are you allowing obstacles to be a source of strength for growth to support your legacy or are you allowing them to hold you back from fulfilling your dreams?   Reframe the negative and search for the positive.  Continue to understand that when you are tested, it’s your opportunity to grow.  And always remember, that your biggest obstacles mask your greatest opportunities.

Go Do Great Things,

 Ben

To learn more about Ben Newman and The Continued Fight visit www.continuedfight.com.

Ben’s new book written with Dr. Justin B. Short, “Pocket Truths for Success” is available for pre-ordering at www.continuedfight.com.    “Pocket Truths for Success” will be released late October 2010.

“Fight the Good Fight; A Mother’s Legacy Lives On” is available at www.barnesandnoble.com, www.amazon.com and www.continuedfight.com.  

Tower.com Top 100 Bestseller “Pocket Principles for the Insurance Business” is also available at the retailers listed above.

“When you are inspired by some great purpose, some extraordinary project, all your thoughts break their bonds: Your mind transcends limitations, your consciousness expands in every direction, and you find yourself in a new, great, and wonderful world. Dormant forces, faculties and talents become alive, and your discover yourself to be a greater person by far than you ever dreamed yourself to be.”

Patanjali