by Ron Kurtus (revised 31 May 2003)
To achieve your purpose and get the most out of your life, perform the following steps as a daily ritual:
1. Count your blessings and be thankful for what you have
2. Live your life as a Champion
3. Enjoy the adventure of life and help others enjoy theirs
No matter what problems you have or how bad things may seem, there is always something to be thankful about. Don't dwell on the negative. Think of the good things you have, and the problems and challenges will soon diminish or even disappear.
People who have lost all their belongings in a natural disaster often will say, "At least we have our lives and none of us was seriously hurt." That is something for them to be thankful of, despite their material losses.
Then there is the story about the man who was unhappy because he didn't have any shoes. Then he saw a handicapped person with no feet. He realized how lucky he was.
Be thankful. And you know whom to thank every day, according to your beliefs.
This doesn't mean you must be the world champion. Instead, you are a person who acts and feels like one who can achieve anything. You may also champion a worthy cause to help other people.
In order to be a champion in anything you do, you must fulfill the five basic areas in life. We call them the 5 Powers of a Champion.
Take care of yourself. Strive to be physically, mentally and spiritually healthy. You feel good when you're healthy.
Always seek to learn, so that you'll be skilled in what you want to do. You feel sure when you're knowledgeable.
Strive to achieve your goals, do a good job and have confidence and self-esteem. You walk tall, when you know you are worthy.
Seek to be important and valuable to others. This is the crux of good relationships, as well as business. Value in relationships includes listening and caring about the other person. A good friend is a valuable commodity.
People reciprocate your actions by providing something valuable to you.
Try to always be honest, courageous, reliable and a person of good character. Others will respect you for your integrity.
Seek to enjoy the adventure of life. Celebrate your achievements. Use your set-backs as challenges to overcome. If you are in a competition, congratulate the winner.
A major part of enjoying your life is to help others enjoy their lives. Help people succeed. That is what it is all about. That is your purpose.
Help to improve society and improve the world.
Follow this way of thinking every day to make yourself a Champion, as well as others.
by Ron Kurtus (12 August 2001)
The School for Champions philosophy divides Life into five major areas: Character, Knowledge, Excellence, Value and Health. To have a fulfilled life, you must succeed in all of these areas. By asking yourself 5 simple questions each day, you will be move toward a happy, fulfilled and successful life.
Questions you may have are:
· What are these five questions?
· How can answering them help me?
· Does this really work?
Ask yourself the following questions every day:
1. What am I thankful for today?
2. What did I learn today?
3. Where did I do a good job?
4. Who was I valuable to today?
5. How did I take care of myself today?
Character includes being honest, honorable, and appreciative. It is giving fair return for what you receive and not taking what isn't yours. I've moved thanks to a different area, just as I've moved helping people.
Appreciating what you have and receive enlightens your spirit and shows your character. A person who is thankful is often a person who is good.
You can be thankful for such little things as:
· I'm thankful that had a good breakfast this morning
· I'm thankful that my leg doesn't hurt any more
· I'm thankful that I have some good friends
Ask yourself: "What am I thankful for today?"
You should be able to learn something every day, no matter how old you are. Observe and be curious. There is so much to learn in life.
There are many things you learn:
· I learned a better way to use the Internet browser
· I learned where I can buy clothes on sale
· I learned a new skill at work
Ask yourself: "What did I learn today?"
Doing high quality work in what you do is important to you and to others. This includes improving the way you do things.
Look at good areas and where you can improve:
· I did a good job on my homework
· I did my best in painting the fence, but I could improve
· I was very thorough in cleaning out the garage
Ask yourself: "Where did I do a good job today?"
Helping others get what they want makes you valuable. This includes taking an interest in what someone has to say, being friendly, and being considerate.
There are many situations in which you have been valuable to others:
· I was valuable at work by helping the company make a profit
· I was valuable to my little daughter by playing with her
· I was valuable to the checkout clerk by being friendly to her
Ask yourself: "Who was I valuable to today?"
Taking care of yourself means that you made an effort to be healthy. You may have eaten healthy foods, exercised, or avoided abusing your body with bad substances.
Check on how well you have taken care of yourself:
· I took care of myself by avoiding eating those greasy--but tempting--bacon strips
· I took care of myself by doing some moderate exercise today
· I took care of myself by washing my hands before eating
Ask yourself: "How did I take care of myself today?"
You don't really have to formally answer these questions to feel good. Just asking them sets your subconscious mind in motion. You can't help it, but you will give yourself an answer to each question.
Writing down the answers is probably more effective in the short run, but human nature dictates that most people would soon stop writing things down after a while. The most important thing is to ask the five questions. Try to do it every day, perhaps at the end of the day.
They are reminders to keep you on the right path.
These five questions summarize what life is about. By asking yourself the questions and subconsciously answering them or being reminded of the way to be, you will improve your life.
They are reminders. They're a form of affirmation. They let you realize that you doing well and feeling better about yourself.
Ask yourself the five champion questions and answer them if you can. Try to do this every day, if you can. Your perspective on life will change, s you move toward more fulfillment.
by Ron Kurtus (revised 17 February 2002)
There are basic facts concerning your life, such as the fact that you are on this Earth for a limited time, you have been given a certain body and mind, and you have been placed in certain circumstances. From these facts, we can establish principles or a formula for a good life, which is always seek things to appreciate, meet your challenges, and enjoy the adventure.
Questions you may have are:
· What the the basic facts of life?
· What principles can be derived from those facts?
· What are the benefits of following this formula?
The basic facts about life determine your starting point. That starting point can be right now.
You have been placed on this Earth for a limited time.
Won't live forever
Young people feel that they will live forever. The fact that we all are on this Earth for only a limited time usually doesn't sink in until a person reaches middle or even old age.
Realize and take advantage
Realizing that your time is limited should point you toward taking advantage of this opportunity of life.
You have been given a certain body and mind.
Not a perfect body
You are given a body that is less than perfect. Some people are even handicapped or may have ailments that may shorten their lives.
Not a perfect mind
You also have a mind with certain capabilities. Part of this includes your personality and the various characteristics that you may have.
Accept and overcome
Accepting what you are given and trying to overcome the obstacles, handicaps and challenges your body and mind provides you gives you meaning in life.
You are placed in certain circumstances.
Affects opportunities
The circumstances you are born in can affect your health, ideas and opportunity to grow. Some are born into a wealthy, loving family. Some are born in a poverty, war-torn country.
Struggle to improve
Rising above your circumstances is an important, but difficult, task. It is part of the struggle to survive and a motivating factor in life.
By considering the basic facts that apply to every person on this planet, a belief system to get the most out of your life can be established. The principles promoted by the School for Champions for getting the most out of the opportunity of life are that you should:
1. Appreciate what you have
2. Meet your challenges
3. Enjoy the adventure of life
No matter how long your life on Earth is, no matter what type of body and mind your have, and no matter what your environment or situation, you should appreciate what you have.
You should not expect more, although you can hope for more. Look at what you have and be grateful. Count your blessings.
It is like the saying: "I was unhappy, because I had no shoes... until I saw a person with no feet." Appreciate what you have.
Who should you be grateful to? Follow your spiritual or religious beliefs.
Life is full of challenges. Having a goal to overcome a challenge is what makes life worthwhile. Look at your problems as challenges to overcome.
Physical challenges
A person may be physically handicapped. You can overcome the challenge if you try or at least make the best of the situation.
In the 1920s, two college-educated men in New York were crippled by polio, unable to walk and doomed to life in a wheelchair.
In 1932, one of those men sat in his wheelchair on a New York City street corner, begging for dimes.
In 1932, the other man was elected President of the United States. He was Franklin Delano Roosevelt.
Circumstantial challenges
You can be living in poverty or in a dysfunctional family. These are challenges to overcome. Many a successful person started in poverty, only to rise to a position of provenance.
Try to improve your circumstances.
Life is a journey. It is a series of experiences. It can be an adventure. Accept the good with the bad and enjoy the whole adventure.
· Take care of yourself and enjoy good health.
· Be fascinated and enjoy learning as much as you can about this world and life. Be knowledgeable about things.
· Have fun doing things, do them well and be proud of it.
· Help others get what they want, and you will get what you want. Be valuable to them.
· Be known as an honest, forthright person and reap the rewards.
Always celebrate your achievements and congratulate the winner. Be a Champion!
When you appreciate things, your eyes open up to possibilities and opportunities. You also can enjoy what you have and make the most of it.
Then as you see problems and negative situations that may harm you or hold you back, you can look at them as challenges to meet and overcome. Having the right attitude will help bring success.
Celebrate and enjoy every success and achievement you have. Enjoy the people around you. Savor life and the adventures you experience.
We are here for a limited time, so we should take advantage of the experience. The way to a good life is to seek things to appreciate, meet your challenges, and enjoy the adventure. Following this formula will give you more joy and meaning in life.
by Ron Kurtus (revised 16 June 2001)
If you want to be a champion in what you do—a winner, a leader, a success—you really should have a good perspective on life and what it is all about. Nothing is sadder than the successful person who has no meaning in his or her life.
Questions you may have about this are:
· Where do I get an idea of what life is about?
· What type of rules or principles are there to follow?
· Will this give me a new perspective?
The book "If Life is a Game, These are the Rules" by Cherie Carter-Scott provides a truly interesting philosophy toward life that is worth examining. This lesson will summarize the concepts and principles from that book.
The concept of the book is that there are 10 basic principles in life. Within these principles are rules that define a philosophy toward living a full life, achieving goals and overcoming obstacles—all essential in becoming a champion.
These principles for life are:
1. You will receive a body
2. You will be presented with lessons
3. There are no mistakes, only lessons
4. A lesson is repeated until learned
5. Learning does not end
6. "There" is no better than "here"
7. Others are only mirrors of you
8. What you make of your life is up to you
