MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER, AUTHOR & SUCCESS COACH

  January 2019 newsletter       Why Am I Awesome? Because I Said So!

                                       Why Am I Awesome? Because I Said So!

 

Are you awesome yet? All of us can become awesome if we want to. We each have the capacity to be whatever we desire IF we do whatever is necessary to get there.

 

God didn’t create any slackers. When you were born, he didn’t say, “You, my little child, will grow up to be less than average and your life will be no fun.” I believe he has high expectations for each of us. We were born to become kings and queens, presidents of companies, business owners, top sales people and service providers. We were made to be AWESOME… period!

 

I will always be grateful that I received abundant love and attention from my parents while I was growing up. I am also grateful that they allowed me to start working at a very young age mowing yards and shoveling driveways. I had my first real job at age 14, working as a dishwasher at Big Fred’s Pizza in Omaha, Nebraska.

 

As I became older it became evident that my family and friends didn’t expect a lot from me and I certainly gave them good reasons to feel that way. If Attention Deficit Disorder had been a thing back then, I could have been the poster child. That probably had something to do with the fact that I got poor grades in high school and in college. When I brought home a C, my parents were not disappointed. If I had ever brought home an A, they probably would have grounded me because they would have been sure I had cheated (a little humor).

 

It was not until I was in my early twenties that I made a monumental decision to bring out the best version of myself that I was capable of. I wanted to succeed, and I was determined to get there somehow. I took a job waiting tables while trying to build small businesses that were less than profitable.

 

At 23 I found my passion –  real estate sales. I became addicted and couldn’t wait to go to work every day. I wanted not only to make a good living but also to win every award available in the industry. (I didn’t but I wanted to.) I have been living my dream ever since. Yes, there have been many lessons learned along the road and plenty of challenges to overcome. When you’re on straight commission sales, you learn that you can’t climb a mountain without running into jagged edges, and I was climbing every day. I had no choice but to believe in myself.

 

I am not saying this to impress you but to impress upon you that the minute you decide that you want to be awesome, you will. Even if you haven’t found your passion yet, you can work hard at whatever you are currently doing until you find a path that’s right for you. Develop a diligent work ethic, a positive attitude, and a winning mindset now so that when you do find your passion you will be ready to rock it! If you need help with any of this, let’s talk about how I can become your success coach.

 

Here are just a few ways to start creating an “I AM AWESOME” mindset:

 

  • Make it a habit to look in the mirror every morning and say out loud what you expect from yourself that day. This message will stay with you all day, holding you accountable to accomplish what you set out to do. You should never want to let yourself down.

 

  • Never, ever make negative comments about yourself, like “I can’t” or “I could never do that” or “I’m not good enough” or I’m not that talented.” Replace that garbage with positive statements like “I need to work harder to be the person I want to become” or “I am supposed to be successful” or “I can do anything I set my mind to do.” Only make statements that show you in a positive light. Remember that you are the captain of your ship and your successful journey depends on your efforts to fulfill the GOD-given potential that you possess.

 

  • Be grateful! The more grateful you are and the more you show it, the more opportunities you will bring into your life. Gratitude is the key to happiness, and your gratitude will encourage others along the way. Expressing my gratitude out loud is part of my daily ritual either by myself or around others. Incorporate this habit into your life.

 

  • Surround yourself with like-minded people who also want to be the best version of themselves. I always gain motivation and inspiration when I am around people who are driven to succeed or who prefer to be a bright light in the world. Just like Proverbs 27:17 says, “Iron sharpens iron as one person sharpens another.” Avoid negative people and negative situations at all costs.

 

Make the decision now to bring out the best version of yourself and watch how your life will change. Think about how many other people in your life will benefit from your decision to be awesome: your spouse/significant other, your kids, your co-workers and more!

 

You don’t need anyone’s permission to make the choice to be the best you can be. Start now. The next time you walk by a mirror, take a look at your reflection and say to yourself, “Why am I awesome? BECAUSE I SAID SO!”

 

If not now, then when? And if not you, then who?

What People in the Audience are Saying…

With Van's passion, humor and experience you can be assured of one thing- your audience is going to get fired-up, built-up, and fully charged –up. As an entrepreneur at the top of his game Van is in the unique position of being able to "talk the talk" because he has "walked the walk". Over the years he has been a great inspiration to me and my staff. Van is a speaker with charisma, humility and impact and he's a difference maker in the lives of the people he touches…"

—George Akers // President, First Mortgage Corp.

I wanted to thank you for coming and speaking with our company today. I thought your presentation was awesome! I was really motivated and inspired by your thoughts and ideas. I will use this motivation to grow my business and my personal life.”

—Justin Pauls // Realtor, Tampa, Florida

We are delighted you will be accepting the award for Omaha’s Top 25 fastest growing companies. Congratulations on your outstanding growth and we wish you continued success.”

—Tracey Fortina // Omaha Chamber of Commerce

Thank you for running such a class act company. It is an honor and a pleasure to be associated with someone such as yourself. I know you are probably one of the most respected businessmen in the region.”

—Dustin Talacko // Realtor, Omaha, Nebraska

Congratulations on writing “Selling from the heart” and thank you for sharing a copy with me. Your class has been one of the most enjoyable classes I’ve ever taken. Your enthusiasm and passion for your work are awesome. But the most refreshing part of the class was your delightful sense of humor. Thank you again for being a fantastic teacher.”

—Linda Reismeiler // Student at Randall School of Real Estate, Omaha, Nebraska

Kudos to you, Van, for reaching a major goal. But more than that...For successfully building one of Omaha’s best companies from scratch and making it thrive even in less than ideal market conditions. You have realized the American Dream...And brought it home to many, many others. My best to you!”

—Todd Andrews, Anchor and Producer, KETV Omaha

Having you here again was such a blessing to so many! As I looked at the pictures, I could see just how interested each and every person was in what you had to say!

This has been such a gift to our agents when they need it the most. The fact that you come, you are so genuine and caring, you are so honest, you are not trying to sell anything and your passion to help each and every person believe in themselves and become the best they can be is HUGE! The timing is perfect for us all helping and caring about each other, so, thank YOU from the bottom of my heart for giving of yourself to help all of us!”

—Carolyn Summerton // First Mortgage Company of Idaho

I enjoyed your seminar and its focus. I was on the fence whether or not to attend and decided why not? I could have sat through an all day session if there was one, usually I end up at the seminars that start with a focus and quickly go astray. I found with yours time flew by too fast and it was already time to go but I wasn’t ready to go.”

—Scott Asbill, CDPE // Associate Broker, Realtor