03/24 REAL TALK: Small Opportunities!!!

Big opportunities come to those who make the most of the small opportunities. Small opportunities are present in each moment and in every situation.

Today is filled with small opportunities. In little bits of time that might otherwise be wasted, there is treasure waiting to be created.

Having a clear sense of purpose brings those small opportunities to light. Living with a strong commitment to move forward compels you to seize those opportunities and make the most of them.

Small steps, taken consistently, put you in position to take big steps. Save a few dollars a day, day after day, for example, and soon you have hundreds or thousands of dollars available to invest.

Honing your skills on the small things, by learning what works and what doesn't, will prepare you to successfully handle the big challenges and opportunities.

Time is your friend when you make continuous use of it to grow stronger and more capable.

Everywhere you look, there are small ways for you to make a positive difference. String enough of them together, and absolutely anything is within your reach.


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03/19 REAL TALK UPDATE: New Real Talk ReVerb!

Have you heard the latest Real Talk ReVerb?

We have a special guest: Wardrobe Fashion Stylist, Stacy Armand.

Stacy is one of the key people who helped to start Real Talk over 20 months ago in June of 2006, and now today is building a successful career as a fashion stylist. Her portfolio ranges from television commercials to magazine covers in the high and commercial levels of the fashion industry -- and she credits her success to the support and knowledge that she gained at Real Talk, from being a Real Talker, and living the Real Talk lifestyle.

Listen in as she speaks about her relationship with her parents and how it almost became a burdening factor in her choice of career. (Also Part 2 will be continued in the next ReVerb.)

Are you living for you, or for your loved ones? Whose dream are you really following? Whose life is it?... In the latest Real Talk ReVerb.

Please drop a comment after you listen... we value your feedback.

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Learn more about Stacy Armand by visiting her Myspace page, or click here to send her a message via Talking4Real.com.

03/18 REAL TALK: It still works... no matter when you choose to listen

How many times have you known the solution to your problem, and just still haven't taken action?

What are you paying in exchange for your right to be lazy? What is it costing you?

Ten years ago I was sitting my science classroom complaining to the supporting teacher in that class of how my knee and other joints were hurting me after being active for a portion of the day with the rest of the students. He was about 60 or so years old, so he could relate, and then in an effort to contribute to me, he told me what he was taking. "Glucosamine and Chondroitin" He said it helped sooth the pain in his joints and that it might do the same for me.

Not thinking much of it, I said to myself "he's a lot older than I am, I probably don't need to be taking stuff like that, I'm not old." All the while, all throughout the past ten years, I've continued to suffer joint pain and discomfort.

Then my mother calls me the other day, and says "Hey, I saw this thing on the TV, it's from a company called Iceland Health, and it has this stuff called Glucosamine and Chondroitin in it." Now she couldn't really pronounce the words, and as she was saying them I started pronouncing them for her with a sudden sense of frustration, because I KNEW THIS ALREADY!!!

Obviously, knowing didn't matter. I'm hard headed stubborn and don't listen... Sound like somebody you know? Maybe even you?

I share this with you to say that it cost me ten years of time, and a lot of pain and agony not to listen, and not to pay attention. To have what we have, whether it's the right to be lazy or our dreams coming true, we have to exchange that energy for something.

The beauty of it is, in the loss of time, often you gain wisdom.

What I learned is that the promise is the same, the Glucosamine and Chondroitin is going to deliver the same results and fulfill the same promise it would have ten years ago... I just had to change, I had to open up my ears and listen. And that is the same with any universal principle. "Do the work and reap the reward." It doesn't change, the promise never changes, the results never change, and it never will. It's just a matter of when we choose to actually start listening.

Are you listening?

What's that one thing that you know you need to do, and you just haven't been doing it, but yet you've been frustrated as to why things aren't the way you want them?

Yea that... Now go do it.

My uncle says: We must do what we need to do, in order to do what we want to do.

What do you need to do?

Please comment, I'd love to support you in any way that I can.

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03/18 REAL TALK: Have you listened to "the willingness to change?"

Have you listened to Real Talk Volume 1 - Be, Do, Have - The Willingness to Change?

If not, take a click on the top right hand corner of this web site, and you'll see a flash player with a group of tracks listed in it.

The Willingness to Change was recorded in studio, radio style, by the co-creators of Real Talk, Allah Jesus (me) and Ryan Patterson.

We put our best foot forward in an effort to answer most of the questions people ask in regards to being a Real Talker, and the Real Talk lifestyle. Check it out if you haven't, it's about a 45 minute listen, so just start it at the top; minimize your screen, and let it play. You might hear something that inspires you. After all, it is Real Talk. Smiles! (You can also skip around by clicking on each individual track.)

Afterwards, drop a comment to let us know what you think, and what you gained from your listen. We encourage and love feedback, because the reality is, it's not just our slogan... this IS about you.

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03/16 REAL TALK SCHEDULE: Next Real Talk in NY #65 - March 19th, 2008

Next Real Talk in NY

See you all there with a friend!!! (smiles!)

Real Talk is held at the Marriott Marquis in Times Square.
That's on 45th & Broadway in Manhattan!

You can take any of the following trains to 42nd st. A,C,E,N,R,Q,W,1,2,3 and then walk toward 45th and Broadway. We'll be on the 8th Floor in the Atrium Lounge.

The location is provided courtesy of Marriott International

Please email myrealtalk@talking4real.com with any questions.

03/08 REAL TALK: Ooh! Me!

Have you ever taken responsibility for something? Said the words "I'm responsible for this?"

Doesn't it feel good? We'll of course sometimes not when it's something bad, but the beauty in being responsible is that you get to be in charge right?

If you're responsible for what happened, then in turn, you can change it, shift it, melt it, turn it, or what ever else "it" you want.

And most importantly the experience is better than being the oh so dreadful "Victim." You know, that person that says "it happened to me" or "I can't do it" or "It's my family's fault that my life is the way it is?" Don't be that person.

Instead when things go wrong, and of course when they go right, be the one to stand up and say... "ooooh, me, oooh me! I did it!"

There's three types of people in the world, the ones that make things happen, the ones that watch things happen, and the ones that say "hey, what happened?"

Which one are you? The person who takes responsibility I hope.

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03/06 REAL TALK in HEALTH: Maybe it’s not worth it?

Have you ever waken up to feeling like you have weights attached to your legs, arms and chest like something out of your own personal Gulliver’s travels.? You twist and turn trying to free yourself but the more you resist the more your thoughts of more sleep persist. Maybe you even dose of again because you missed your leeway. You finally stumble out but the first 15 minutes are so groggy and completely uneventful.

Now look at your counterpart person - the so called “morning birds.” Imagine getting up at 5:30 every day and feeling full of life. You decided the night before you would go jogging and do. You have time to eat breakfast, have a conversation with someone in your house, and get dressed without rushing. You've gotten so much accomplished already and its only 8am! Who are these superhuman that I speak of, you ask? Actually I have some shocking news to disclose- they are not different at all (although I’m sure it would make you feel better if they were).There are simply some people who do have a little more energy but they don't channel any special powers. They get up that way because they have a good reason to wake up! Now I am not saying that people who are not early riser are manic depressants. We all have great reasons to wake up early but don’t anyway. The difference is “morning people” don’t get up because they have to. They get up because they want to. They, unlike others, have CHOOSEN rather than made a decision about being early risers. They were perhaps just like you at one point. But the difference is they were able to motivate themselves by how the extra time would allow them feel about themselves and their lives. Have you ever considered that the reason you don't get up is because you haven't convinced yourself that it’s worth the trouble? Has your attitude been “Why wake up earlier- to feel groggy and resentful for 30 more minutes than I usual do?”

Now don’t get me wrong. There is nothing wrong with feeling tired in the morning. Especially if the day before you did everything short of retile your bathroom (or maybe you did that too). However your perspective on what tiredness means can shift. Instead of waking up and dwelling on the way you feel, focus on what needs to be accomplished first. By being goal oriented, more sleep becomes non negotiable. Have you ever over slept on the day of a big trip to Cancun? Or the first day at a new job you love? Probably not! Think of everyday as a possibility of it being the best day of your life. You wouldn’t want to miss a moment of that now would you!!

If being tired is still an issue at least stop beating yourself up about it! BE with being tired for a second. I mean it, right now. … OK. Are you done?

See doesn’t that feel better? Remember that old saying “whatever you resist, persists? Accept your feeling for what they are once and for all and that is the only way to move past it. Don’t pretend you need to be superman/ wonder woman to be productive. When you wake up in the morning try being nice to yourself rather than upset about having to leave bed. It will still be there. Beds are like loyal friends, they welcome you back every time with open arms. So instead jump out and say “ill see you later” (preferably in your head) and keep it moving.



Pick one thing that is worth waking up early for. For me it was having some “me” time. With more than 8o of my waking hours spent at work or the gym there is no time left for me to think!

Also don’t sabotage yourself. Obviously, for most of us the math is pretty simple: get to bed earlier plus determination to wake up = early riser.

Some of us lucky souls can survive on less sleep but most of us folks need at least 8 hours. Not to mention you are what you eat. Ever have a heavy meal and feel horrible the next morning. Surprise! Eat light an hour or two before bed and rising will be a much easier process. Take it from me!

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03/04 REAL TALK: When Effort Feels Effortless

It is your true nature to create and achieve. Today, allow that true nature to be fully expressed.If you think you must struggle to get things done, that is precisely how it will be.

If you see life's abundance as being apart from you, that abundance will be out of your reach.

Consider how completely right it feels when you are living in harmony with your most authentic purpose. Think of how effective you can be when doing something you love.

The objectives for which you strive and agonize will bring no real fulfillment, even if you're able to reach them.

When you're moving toward a goal and the effort feels effortless, that is a goal that will bring real lasting value.

Let go of the need to struggle for what you don't really desire in the first place. Instead, allow your life to unfold each moment in accordance with your true creative nature.

Connect to the purpose that is sincerely you. Express that purpose, and you'll fill your world with richness.

- Unknown

YOU ARE BEING HEARD HERE AT REAL TALK. To your empowered and inspired life.

- Ryan

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03/03 REAL TALK: The opposite of "RIGHT" is "LEFT"...not wrong!

Everyone likes to be right. Me, you... even your mom.

Not only does being right set you on a pedestal from which you must inevitably fall, but when someone is right someone else must take the low road.

I don't like to be wrong, you don't like to be wrong and I'm willing to bet; neither does mommy.

Whether we are defending the title of "right" or avoiding being wrong, both are tiring and heavy weights to bare. It is a freshly adapted belief of mine that we as people do not make wrong or right choices. Mostly we make our preferences right and the preferences of others wrong. I believe that there are only choices that liberate us and choices that shackle us. Said another way, there are some choices that allow us to have it all and choices that do not. Having it all is not being good or being right (as we in our human way would love to quickly lump it into a category with which we are fond of and accustomed), but it does provide access to a wealth of possible outcomes in comparison. Right and good are a quickly fading high lifting only one.

Today, I invite you to make choices based on what provides the most power, possibility and freedom rather than what feels right.

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