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    “I merely took the energy it takes to pout and wrote some blues.” ~ Duke Ellington

      “…We may encounter many defeats, but we must not be defeated. That sounds goody two-shoes, I know, but I believe that a diamond is the result of extreme pressure and time. Less time is crystal. Less than that is coal. Less than that is fossilized leaves. Less than that it’s just plain dirt. In all my work, in the movies I write, the lyrics the poetry, the prose, the essays, I am saying that we may encounter many defeats – maybe it’s imperative that we encounter the defeats – but we are much stronger than we appear to be and maybe much better than we allow ourselves to be.” ~ Maya Angelou

        “The chains of habit are too weak to be felt until they are too strong to be broken.” ~ Samuel Johnson

          “I see far too many people in America chasing after a college diploma simply because it is expected of them. In this country, it is viewed as a minimum requirement everyone should have. In my mind, it is wrong to think that is all you need to succeed. There are too many lost souls out there with college degrees, not knowing where to go next.  Many young people today are getting a promise in the beginning that you need to have a college degree, and then no one is sure what to do with it. This degree may serve as a valuable foundation of knowledge, but it is much more important to understand your talents and interests.” ~ Arnold Schwarzenegger

            “While others were out partying, I was training. While they were out dancing at the clubs, I was training… and training… and training.” ~ Arnold Schwarzenegger

              “With strength and determination you can do anything you want in life, as long as you believe in yourself, because if you don’t, no one else will.” ~ Arnold Schwarzenegger

                “It is going to be tough if you look for the easy way out because very rarely is there an easy way out. There is nothing that replaces hard work.” ~ Arnold Schwarzenegger

                  “I discovered at a very early age that life is a classroom. You get the best education in everyday experiences when you take the time to absorb what is happening around you. Life is the best teacher, and if you’re lucky, your education doesn’t end after college – it’s just the beginning.” ~ Cristina Carlino

                    “Your waking adult life is going to be spent in what you do professionally, so you’d better like the journey and not just aim for the destination.” ~ Darren Hardy

                      “Today, financial capital is no longer the key asset. It is human capital. Success is no longer about economic competence as the main leverage. It is about emotional intelligence. It is no longer about controls. It is about collaboration. It is no longer about hierarchies. It is about leading through networks. It is no longer about aligning people through structures and spreadsheets.  It is about aligning them through meaning and purpose. It is no longer about developing followers. It is about developing leaders.” ~ Darren Hardy

                        “You are in the wrong room if you are the smartest person in the room.” ~ Jared Eng

                          “A bad day for your ego is a good day for your soul.” ~ Jillian Michaels

                            “Taking chances on opportunities, even if they aren’t right for you, gives you a clearer picture of where you want to go with your life and career.” ~ Lauren Bush Lauren

                              “My best life lessons and education didn’t come from a classroom – they’ve come from the wild. How you act in the big moments, the ones that challenge you, scare you, tempt you, and force you to make the right decisions, is what defines you. ~ Bear Grylls

                                “All worthwhile journeys have big obstacles. It’s the way of the world. The rewards go to those who can push through those trying moments and still manage to keep a smile on their face.” ~ Bear Grylls

                                  “What I’ve learned over the years is that the path less traveled always makes for a more interesting journey. If you simply do what everyone else is doing, how can you ever expect to excel and create something wonderful and unique in your life?” ~ Bear Grylls

                                    “Life doesn’t reward the naturally clever or strong but those who can learn to fight and work hard and never quit. ~ Bear Grylls

                                      “I no longer have patience for certain things, not because I’ve become arrogant, but simply because I reached a point in my life where I do not want to waste more time with what displeases me or hurts me. I have no patience for cynicism, excessive criticism and demands of any nature. I lost the will to please those who do not like me, to love those who do not love me and to smile at those who do not want to smile at me.  I no longer spend a single minute on those who lie or want to manipulate. I decided not to coexist anymore with pretense, hypocrisy, dishonesty and cheap praise. I do not tolerate selective erudition nor academic arrogance. I do not adjust either to popular gossiping. I hate conflict and comparisons.  I believe in a world of opposites and that’s why I avoid people with rigid and inflexible personalities. In friendship I dislike the lack of loyalty and betrayal. I do not get along with those who do not know how to give a compliment or a word of encouragement. Exaggerations bore me and I have difficulty accepting those who do not like animals. And on top of everything I have no patience for anyone who does not deserve my patience.” ~ Meryl Streep

                                        “Life is meant to be enjoyed. Sure, I agree with this statement (as many of us would) but the problem is this is used to justify all kinds of crappy behavior. Might as well scarf down those Doritos and Twinkies, because hey, life is meant to be enjoyed, right? No. You can do without junk food and still enjoy life. You can exercise and enjoy it. You can give up pretty much anything and still enjoy life, if you learn to see almost any activity as enjoyable.” ~ Leo Babauta, Blog

                                          “The only thing you really control in life is your preparation. You may be up against more devious, more intelligent, or more excitable people, but you can’t control their conduct, steal their skills, or tranquilize their emotions. You can’t control external events. But if you prepare yourself and your team fully, you know that you will have done all you can do to achieve an optimal result.” ~ Ronald Shapiro, Dare to Prepare