On this remarkable anniversary, please read or watch this reading of The Declaration of Independence.
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The Very Challenged Mercedes-Benz Ads
What is Mercedes-Benz thinking using lucifer to launch "Something powerful" that we're told is coming February 3?
I'm watching the AFC playoffs and just halfway through the first period we have three commercials using the Rolling Stones song, Sympathy for the Devil as the sound track to their ads. Who approves ads like this?
I don't get it. MB is a class upscale brand. Linking the brand and the devil is like linking a brand with Nazi Germany … er, ah, perhaps I've said too much.
Here's my challenge: MB give me 15% of what you invested to create and launch this campaign and I'll give you a better campaign that aligns with the brand and presents a more positive campaign.
Here are the lyrics:
Please allow me to introduce myself
I'm a man of wealth and taste
I've been around for a long, long year
Stole many a man's soul and faith
And I was round when jesus christ
Had his moment of doubt and pain
Made damn sure that pilate
Washed his hands and sealed his fate
Pleased to meet you
Hope you guess my name
But what's puzzling you
Is the nature of my game
I stuck around st. petersburg
When I saw it was a time for a change
Killed the czar and his ministers
Anastasia screamed in vain
I rode a tank
Held a generals rank
When the blitzkrieg raged
And the bodies stank
Pleased to meet you
Hope you guess my name, oh yeah
Ah, what's puzzling you
Is the nature of my game, oh yeah
I watched with glee
While your kings and queens
Fought for ten decades
For the gods they made
I shouted out,
Who killed the kennedys?
When after all
It was you and me
Let me please introduce myself
I'm a man of wealth and taste
And I laid traps for troubadours
Who get killed before they reached bombay
Pleased to meet you
Hope you guessed my name, oh yeah
But what's puzzling you
Is the nature of my game, oh yeah, get down, baby
Pleased to meet you
Hope you guessed my name, oh yeah
But what's confusing you
Is just the nature of my game
Just as every cop is a criminal
And all the sinners saints
As heads is tails
Just call me lucifer
Cause I'm in need of some restraint
So if you meet me
Have some courtesy
Have some sympathy, and some taste
Use all your well-learned politesse
Or I'll lay your soul to waste, um yeah
Pleased to meet you
Hope you guessed my name, um yeah
But what's puzzling you
Is the nature of my game, um mean it, get down
Woo, who
Oh yeah, get on down
Oh yeah
Oh yeah!
Tell me baby, what's my name
Tell me honey, can ya guess my name
Tell me baby, what's my name
I tell you one time, you're to blame
Ooo, who
Ooo, who
Ooo, who
Ooo, who, who
Ooo, who, who
Ooo, who, who
Ooo, who, who
Oh, yeah
What's my name
Tell me, baby, what's my name
Tell me, sweetie, what's my name
Ooo, who, who
Ooo, who, who
Ooo, who, who
Ooo, who, who
Ooo, who, who
Ooo, who, who
Ooo, who, who
Oh, yeah
Happy New Year
Clarity is the mid-point in the On-Purpose Process. Prior to clarity is chaos and confusion. While not an avoidable state of being, there's little benefit to residing in chaos and confusion any longer than necessary. 
Clarity, however, is a beginning point for building and being on-purpose. So the word for 2013 is clarity. Seek it and once you find clarity, leverage it into greater service and opportunity so you can be more on-purpose.
By the way, a great FREE tool to use for finding clarity is the DIscover Guide preview printable ebook. Click the cover to be taken to the download area.
May I Share Four Gifts With You?
What is Peace?
Please read the text below this On-Purpose Minute and Christmas Greeting.
Here are your 4 Gifts:
Gift 1: The Gift of Finding True Peace
Gift 2: The On-Purpose Person Kindle Edition* for free (link below)
Gift 3: The On-Purpose Business Person Kindle Edition* for free (link below)
Gift 4: The Gift of Sharing These Gifts—Pass along this message!
*BONUS: Link to download free Kindle Reader App for most any computer, tablet, or phone
Gift 1: The Gift of Finding True Peace
What is peace? And, who doesn't long for peace? But do we really understand what we're searching for? Peace is not an absence of conflict, work, distress, or stress. Peace is a state of being in spite of conflict, work, distress, and stress.
In Hebrew the word Shalom (שָׁלוֹם) means peace or oneness, wholeness, or completeness. This oneness 
isn't to be found just within us. In fact, core peace is only found in a oneness with God. When we're apart from God, we're divided, alone, discontented, and unsettled. Peace apart from God is impossible.
Your 2-word purpose statement is your unique, loving connection to God. When you know your 2-word purpose statement you have the essential connector to God that is distinct to you. This added identity gives a depth and strength so we're more apt to be at peace even as all Hell is breaking loose around us.
Being On-Purpose is that state of being one with God—truly the peace that passes all understanding. Inner peace begins with being right with God.
My Christmas wish to you is that you embrace the Prince of Peace—the person of Jesus. Keeping God as a concept is easy. Jesus, however, is difficult because He is about a personal relationship. He brings us to a place of decision to accept or reject and that causes conflict, work, distress, and stress. So how can one who causes so much turmoil to the soul be the way to peace? The seeming irrationality of it all is confounding on its face. Think for a minute, however, and you'll see that it is the only logical way for us to come freely to a place and person of peace. Of course Jesus was hated and loved. His presence calls for a response.
My Gifts Toward Peace For You:
May I help you get on the journey to peace? From December 25—27 only, use the links below to download free Kindle editions of The On-Purpose Person (Gift 2) and The On-Purpose Business Person (Gift 3).
Gift 4 is the gift of sharing this offer of peace with family, friends, and associates. Please copy and pass along this link: https://kevinwmccarthy.com/my_weblog/2012/12/what-is-peace/
BONUS GIFT: Don't have a Kindle device? No problem! There are Kindle Reader Apps for PCs, Macs, iPhones, Androids, iPads, and more. Use this link: Kindle Reader Apps For Most Any Device
What Will Be Your Best Business Decision for 2013?
Make 2013 your best business year yet! Purchase a $1000 Small Business Advisory Package with Kevin W. McCarthy and get 50% more one-on-one time by phone, email, or in person. (Use coupon code: 50%More) That's 6 hours instead of 4 hours of insights, ideas, and advice to grow you and your business. You set the agenda and time frame. Break up your package into hour long segments, one long stretch, or something in between. Get Kevin to review a business plan, presentation, or help you write your on-purpose statements of purpose, vision, mission, and values.
This is a double bonus value worth $1,130 in savings compared to Kevin's normal hourly rate of $350. It must be purchased before Christmas and used in full by March 2013. Your investment is guaranteed. If after the first hour you're not satisfied, we'll end it there and give you your money back. Limited to only 5 clients on a first come, first served basis. Act now!
——————-
Entrepreneurs start businesses, but they tend not to grow them. There's a variety of reasons but mostly it is their mindset and aloneness. Reach out for help!
You want to mature out of your start-up stage as soon as possible and move into a growth stage. There aren't but about 10,000 ways to get tripped up. You don't have sufficient knowledge and experience to go it so alone, yet chances are that you are too isolated for your or your business's benefit.
OK, so here we are in mid-December. The Christmas season is upon us, but if you're a small business owner the chances are you're reflecting on 2012 and thinking about 2013.
What will you do differently in 2013 from 2012 to improve your business performance? What will work and what won't work? Do you feel like your wheels are turning but you risk spinning versus gaining traction for the New Year? Are you feeling "tripped up" or stuck?
As a business advisor over the decades, my clients are primarily CEOs and Presidents of mid-sized companies, say businesses with $5 million in sales or larger. At one time, I used to do work with the CEOs and Founders of some Fortune 1000 companies. In time, however, I found that the mid-market and small businesses were more to my liking. Give me companies with revenues less than $100 million and I'm in my sweet spot.
That said, I have this deep love for the start-up person, the entrepreneur, the freelancer, the 100% commissioned sales person, the solo owner, or as some call them "The Little Guy." Perhaps the proper term in 2012 is "The Little Person."
Truth is, if you're one of them, there's nothing little about you. You are the people who are standing tall, being bold, starting and building a business, pursuing a dream, aiming to change the world, seeking to provide for the family, serving your community, and deciding to kick Corporate America aside and give it go. You are the dreamers and the doers.
Here at On-Purpose Partners, we've developed options for you solo owners to grow your business:
- ONPURPOSE@WORK is a six-week online program that rocks. Anyone in the world can participate if you have an internet connection and understand English.
- Are you a Christian small business owner living in the Orlando, FL area? (Or do you know someone who is?) Check out www.myceogroup.com. Groups are forming now north, south, and east of Orlando.
- Small Business Advisory Package (see above for Christmas special): 4 hours of one-on-one advisory services for the small business owner. You'll be blown away by what you learn and how you can improve your life and business.
- The On-Purpose Business Person: See insert below for the Kindle edition. A print version in paperback will be forthcoming soon.
Make your best business decision for 2013 in 2012. You'll be glad you went into with a plan, even a simple plan and some people to help you can make all the difference.
Be On-Purpose!
Kevin
“To Lead is to Serve” by Shar McBee
I just posted this review on Amazon.com about To Lead is to Serve by Shar McBee. I figured, Why not share Shar here? So here goes. It follows the link below to go to amazon. It is a free Kindle download today.
Over the decades, I've been the board chair or a board member for
numerous Not-For-Profit (NFP)organizations. To Lead is to Serve nails
the realities of servant leadership by heightening awareness for those
easy-to-miss courtesies every person, let alone leader, needs to live.
One
doesn't need to be a leader by title to gain from this book. We're
surrounded by "volunteers" at home, at work, and in NFPs. Civility,
graciousness, and authentic caring never go out of style, yet, for most
of us, they are learned manners. Who is your mentor?
Shar McBee, a
mentor and the author, begins chapters with a story from her extensive
background and experience. This format plus her writing style makes for
a swift and enjoyable read plus memorable impact. Key takeaways are
distilled for the reader along with practical "Gems" and "Exercises" to
meaningfully solidify the everyday application and adoption of this
serving orientation.
Another element that makes this message
remarkable is its do-ability factor today. She's asking us, the
reader/leader, to make a shift in perspective and posture from running
something to serving someone. Then again, that's what servant-leadership
is all about – the people. Rarely, however, have I seen the concept
and principles brought to life in such actionable terms for anyone for
any given moment starting where ever you are.
To Lead is to
Serve is a leadership book that invites a high touch approach to doing
life. Some "leaders" may be tempted to use this content as a means to
manipulate volunteers to do their bidding. If that's you, then please
read the book and discover a healthier and happier way for all of us to
interact with you. Serving is a lifestyle before it is a leadership
style but it begins with you deciding to lead is to serve (to borrow a
phrase).
Thank you Shar McBee for this powerful, easy to read, and precious message of leading by serving.
Kevin W. McCarthy
Author, The On-Purpose Person
PS: Here is Shar's website: http://www.JoyofLeadership.com
Great Quotes From Great Leaders
I’ve always been a fan of great quotes. They are a thing of beauty in both prose and provocation to reflect on the matter at hand. Enjoy this brief movie from my friends at Simple Truths:
Are You A Leader?
Yes, you are a leader! There is no question that you are a leader and that you are called to be improving as a leader. Over the years, however, truly talented people hold themselves back simply because of their attitude toward leaders and being a leader. Take a look at the headlines below in yellow. Ask yourself, “Which am I?” Then read the appropriate section for you.
“I am not a leader.”
If so, now is the time to change that misperception! That, by the way, is exactly what it is—a mistaken identity or view of yourself.
This classic On-Purpose Minute addresses the fallacy of “I’m not a leader.” It is just that: a lie and label which you neither need to carry nor wear any longer. Remarkably, you have leadership skills and qualities that are dormant and underdeveloped waiting to be brought forward. You two-word purpose statement begins the process of being on-purpose.
“I am a leader.”
Leaders are learners and readers. Not only do you step up to the responsibilities of being a leader, you welcome the chance to learn and improve. It may have taken you years to get to this place in your life, but you found you’re making progress.
The On-Purpose Leader Experience will accelerate your leadership development and growth unlike any leadership program or course you’ve ever attended. By starting at the heart of your heart—your purpose—you will have a solid core and confidence to know who you are.
Who is bringing out the leader in you?
May I? Today, we’re starting another 6-week cycle of The On-Purpose Leader Experience. There’s a money back guarantee so all you have to invest is your time. We’ve never had an unsatisfied participant in 20 years of offering this content in a classroom or online.
Please visit The On-Purpose Leader Experience website and learn more about becoming a stronger personal leader of your life. Do this and you will more readily develop and improve in every area of life.
The On-Purpose Leader Experience: $197 per person / $297 per couple
Be my guest to preview webcast 1 on Oct. 30 at 3:05 P.M. Eastern USA.