I think it has to do with my anticipation of the kids being out of school, the heat, and the ants migrating into my kitchen to cool off.

Over the years I learned to prepare for summer time by NOT starting any “heavy” projects and keeping my schedule as open as possible.

I also like to catch up on my reading…In fact, I’ve got an embarrassing confession to make.

You know how you go to events and someone always asks, “How many people have read ‘Think and Grow Rich’ by Napoleon Hill?”

Most people raise their hands…Of course, I raise my hand, too. I have the book and I started reading it…

…about 17 times!

Maybe it’s because English is not my first language, or I simply wasn’t ready for it, but until last week I never ACTUALLY read this classic!

It’s truly amazing! I keep turning back to the first page to check if it really was written in 1937 – it might as well have been written TODAY!

Here are my favorite quotes so far:

“The accumulation of great fortunes calls for power, and power is acquired through highly organized and intelligently directed specialized knowledge, but that knowledge does not necessarily have to be in the possession of the person who accumulates the fortune.”

Get it?

It’s about creating a team!

Another one:

“Riches, when they come in huge quantities, are never the result of hard work!”

YES! I guess that’s where “Work smart, not hard” came from…

On leadership:

“There are two types of people in the world, leaders and followers. Decide at the outset whether you intend to become a leader in your chosen calling or remain a follower.
The difference in compensation is vast.”

Isn’t this what Seth Godin writes about in “Tribes?” Everything truly stems from Napoleon Hill’s masterpiece!

I connect the next one to the major problem in the coaching industry:

“The world does not pay for what people ‘know’. It pays them for what they do, or induce others to do.”

In other words, coach on what you already succeed in, and “riches will follow.” Most coach on what they wish they had themselves, and this lack of authenticity hurts their business.

Is Napoleon Hill really the grandfather of all self-help?

I don’t know for certain…But it does seem like all the books written since then, and all the coaching programs created in the last 20 years, are based on his principles.

I am still chugging along – reading chapter 10 right now…

I even skipped watching my favorite “Friends” episode to read it…and in my world it says a lot

Milana

Adam Urbanski was shocked to see me in California at Melanie Benson Strick’s event, because he knew I don’t like to fly.

Here’s a glimpse into my life in April… Some very personal pictures I wouldn’t normally share, but what the heck!

The view from my Vegas hotel room was surreal - I couldn't believe the city was right smack in the middle of the mountains and the desert.

Brandon, my 14-year old with Jonathan Sprinkles, one of the best speakers I enjoyed at the James Malinchak's event in Vegas.

I was fortunate enough to hang out with Sharla Jacobs, Jesse Koran, and their amazingly smart baby, Jacob!

My mom went to Vegas with us - she hates flying as much as I do, but she thought together it might be easier to survive the trip...Unfortunately, I had no idea that when you fly Southwest seats are not assigned - uggh! - so we ended up sitting in different rows and didn't see each other for 5 hours.

Remember the "mastermind experiment" at the Coaching Super Summit 2008? This is the winning team who also sucked up to me by naming their team "Milana's Winners" - here they are together at The Bliss Factor in Baltimore!

I caught "Milana's Winners" mastermind team AGAIN - in Vegas at the James Malinchak's event - this is the most amazing mastermind team I've ever seen - Coaching Super Summit mastermind experiment worked! By the way, save the date! Coaching Super Summit 2009 is going to be held on October 23-25 in Dallas, TX.

Enjoying a stunning light show in Vegas at the Fremont Street, which they play every top of the hour on the overhead that goes for 4-5 blocks!

"Marty" is my favorite of the two puppies... He is stubborn, requires a LOT of work, but gives so much love! (Ok, for all of you out there who wondered, I confess: I had to no IDEA how much work puppies are going to be!)

Brandon after we went to see La Reve - absolutely incredible work of art and and entertainment...left us all speechless and in awe of their talent.

New members of the James Malinchak family - Milana, James, and Brandon

Brandon and George Campbell, the "Worst Motivational Speaker" entertained us at the James Malinchak's event in Vegas...After the show I shared with George that Brandon is "dying" to be a comedian, to which he replied, "Don't worry, it'll pass."

This "Elvis" charged me 5 bucks to take this picture...later I learned that my mother had a picture taken with another Elvis down the road, absolutely free.

Enjoying the sunset in Laguna Niegel, California.

Brandon really wanted to get his face sculpted...And so he did. Instead of the 15 minutes they promised, he had to sit still for about 45 minutes. The sculpture has very little resemblence, but it's a great memory of our trip

My two "munchkins" are going a little crazy in my office on the night we came back from Vegas.

The Bliss Factor was truly blissful...

Me and my "gang" at The Bliss Factor in Baltimore, MD.

Links mentioned in this post:

Coaching Super Summit

The Bliss Factor