Darn Glad 2013 Is Done!

I'm not a superstitious person, but 20(13) was a bit_ _ of a year. With family and friend's health issues and deaths, business challenges and my attempts to understand the motivations of my two sons (ages 20 and 23). 2013 was a year of many doors closing and several new opportunities.

I really am one who maintains a positive outlook on life and what's possible, no matter how challenging a situation or person might appear. It began with the blog "The Boomer Grind - No One Ever Told Me!" This blog is a simple life review of all the life challenges I and other boomers have had to navigate, endure and prevail.

Several of my 2013 blogs reveal my beliefs, attitudes and passions for life, family and business. Doing this review is good for the soul and reminder of who I will continue to strive to be in 2014 and beyond. 

Thanks for taking a little time with these blogs and I trust they provide you insight and inspiration. They do so for me.

• Entrepreneurial Leaders Do What Matters (I'm a longtime, serial entrepreneur).
• Purpose Driven Leadership - Servant Leadership (I launched a Google+ community on Servant Leadership, which has grown to some 260 followers).
• The World According To Our Children - Future Servant Leaders (This poem sums up my experience of my sons and expectations of why they will make the world a better place).
• Your Blog Can Predict Your Success Or Failure (I am one who believes in continuous learning - personal and professional development).
• America - Greatness In The Making (I have deep faith, hope and belief in the American people who I refer to as "The Faithful Majority" in one of my books - published in Kindle version and soon to be released in a print version.
• It Is Confirmed - Boomers Will Be Rolled Into Their Graves (I'm a boomer and love it and plan on living life to the fullest and leave a legacy of love and meaning that inspires future generations).
• Jimmy V - A Coaching Legacy Seeking Cancer Cures (I'm inspired by the lives and legacies of others).
• Authentic Legacy - Zig Zigler (One of the greats who has inspired me throughout my business career).
• I Will Greet This Day With Love In My Heart (Thank God I was reminded of this by one of my sons while he was struggling with understanding himself, his life purpose and what's next for him).
• Brain Research: Positive Attitude Improves Performance (Great to see that research is proving what the positive attitude community has always believed and their belief comes from Biblical teachings).
• A Lifetime of Servant Leadership and One Servant Leader's Legacy (Both of these blogs are my thoughts on the loss of my Mother-In-Law and a mentor).

Thanks for sharing some of your time with these blogs. May you have a tremendous and blessed 2014.

~ Alan Goldsberry, Author and CEO of ZFactor Group Publishing

ZFactor blog explores and discusses a variety of techniques, tools and discoveries by successful people that will assist others to achieve greater personal and professional success. ZFactor is a proprietary coaching methodology based upon the premise that successful people think and act differently. The ZFactor methodology is proven to accelerate a person's ability to think and act differently.

A Quick Rant About Cancer

CANCER SUCKS! Literally, it sucks the life out of good people who do good for others. The many thoughts and emotions make it difficult to put into a single blog all that encompasses the extent of the uncertainty, the waiting, hurt, pain, anger, heartache, hope, faith, compassion, grace, mercy and love constantly in motion around a cancer victim, family, friends, healthcare providers and community.

Over the past few years, the list of those, in my personal life, with cancer gets longer. I'm sure you have a similar list and most likely even longer.

• Wife is a 4+ year survivor;
• Mother-in-Law just passed away from an aggressive cancer;
• 2 cousin-in-laws are survivors;
• Several cousins are survivors and a few deaths (big family);
• 2 uncle-in-laws passed away due to cancer;
• A few close friends are survivors and others have died;
• Numerous friends, business associates, extended family and friends of friends have similar experiences; and,
• The list gets longer by the day with the emails and calls to ask for prayers.

That's Life

It is easy to say, "That's life," and go on about one's day. We all know the death card has already been dealt. It's just a matter of time before it gets played. It's easy to remain above the fray and differentiate one's self from the process. There is the thought and hope this too shall pass. Sure, the game ends for one, but another game begins for someone else.

That's life and death, but who will you be in the midst of the game? Are you a fan, the announcer, facility staff, team, support staff, coach or star player? I've been all but the star player - thank you, God. 

Made Me A Better Man

Early in life, I stayed above the fray. With age and being active in meeting lots of people, illness and death on a chart begins to look like a hockey stick based upon number of people to years.

As this insidious cancer crept ever closer into the lives of close friends, family, then my wife and now Mother-in-Law; I chose to hurl myself into the game in ways I never imagined. 

The hurt, pain, tears and love are like waves approaching the shore. The waves never stop - some are ripples and others are tsunamis. I call these emowaves. Some wash over you from a brief memory and others roll you over and over like a tsunami. Bottom line - like the hockey stick - the people I know with cancer and have died because of cancer have made me a better man.

Not because of the cancer, but truly experiencing the light they are in the world and to those they care for and love. May I continually strive to put into words the greatness of those I have had the opportunity to know. This Mandela quote provides a bit of insight into the life lived by my Mother-in-law.

"As we let our own light shine, we unconsciously

give other people permission to do the same." 

                                          ~Nelson Mandela

Dedicated to JoJo, who lived life big and love for all, 

~ Alan Goldsberry, Author and CEO of ZFactor Group Publishing

Jimmy V - A Coaching Legacy Seeking Cancer Cures

What challenges, issues, concerns and problems did you wake up with today? Most of us woke up with normal stuff. The important question, no matter your issues, what sort of attitude did you have and do you have? 

In July 1992, Jimmy Valvano woke up knowing he was dying of cancer. In spite of this challenge, Jimmy V believed and modeled "be enthusiastic everyday and don't every give up." And, he lived that way long before he knew he had cancer.

This is one of the fundamental truths I write about on a regular basis. Who you are everyday determines who you will become. When Jimmy V woke up that fateful morning, he was able to treat it like another day because he had rock solid habits and disciplines of the way he had lived every other day of his life. 

I was once again reminded of Jimmy V, as I watched the University of Texas and Georgetown play in the 2012 Jimmy V Classic in the Madison Square Gardens. As the game progressed and highlights of Jimmy V were shown, I knew Jimmy V would be the subject of my next blog on legacy.

Throughout his coaching career, Jimmy V encouraged others to do three things everyday:

1. Laugh
2. Think - spend time in thought.
3. Have your emotions move you to tears.

At ZFactor Group, we definitely laugh. Listen to a Blogtalk Radio Show "Two Old Sales Guys and Sales Diva." The premise of our books is "successful people think and act differently." And, when you get to know us, we are passionate about caring about one another, everyone we know and every one of our clients. 

You can listen to Jimmy's 1993 ESPY Speech, where he exclaims while reviewing the three things to do everyday, "that's a heck of a day! Do it seven days a week and you'll have something special." Jimmy V's something special has become an enduring legacy through the Jimmy V Cancer Research Foundation. Wikipedia Jimmy V. 

"You have to know where you started, 

where you are and where you want to be." 

This quote from Jimmy's speech, sums up much of what we believe and seek to deliver in ZFactor Books and Coaching. This quote is the foundation of the ZFactor methodology. ZFactor books help you know who you are, where you are and how to get you to where you want to be. 

As Jimmy V says, "you have to have an enthusiasm for life, a dream, goal and be willing to work for it."

If you are ready to accelerate getting to where you want to be, please take a moment to check out the ZFactor series of books on Amazon and get more info at the ZFactor Group website.

Don't every give up,

~ Alan Goldsberry, Author and CEO of ZFactor Group Publishing