"There are no small parts, only small actors."

"There are no small parts, only small actors." - Konstantin Stanislavisky

In other words, make the most of every opportunity!  Everything you do counts.  Someone is ALWAYS watching!

I promised I would share a personal testimony/praise report and here it is. Hopefully this will encourage somebody as you begin a new week. It's not about me. It's about you. But I'll tell you about me because I know about me and don't know much about you.

I have been blessed with a huge book of business recently. Big. Big, big. Praising God big. But it came disguised as something small. Here's the deal...

Several months ago I agreed to present at a small, free workshop early on a Saturday morning on the other end of existence from me. If you know anything about Houston traffic, you know that many people will absolutely avoid any occasion to get in the car even on the weekends on I-45 or I-10. Well, I had to get up and traverse both in Texas heat early in the morning on the other side of town - for free. I'll be honest and say that I really didn't want to be there and probably complained to myself all the way as I sat bumper-to-bumper in the heat.

But I went. I said I would go, so I went. That's what I do. No calling and canceling. No excuses. Just show up because I said I'd show up.

Anyway, I made it to the venue and a whole four people showed up. Maybe five. And I gave them my best. I was there so no reason to waste the opportunity. I gave them what I had. Gladly. Enthusiastically. Proudly. Whether one or one hundred, I was there and present.

What I didn't know is who was in attendance.  (You never know who's watching you.)  One of the people there was extremely influential, let's say, and opened the door to some fantastic opportunities for me.  I'm grateful.  Truly.  My enthusiasm, professionalism and expertise impressed.  They never forgot my effort and once they were in a position to call on me for something bigger, my phone rang.  And, Lord, am I grateful.

And it all started with making the most of every opportunity, not despising the day because it was small and giving it everything I had.  I hope to encourage you as you read this.  "The way you do anything is the way you do everything" as T. Harv Eker says, so go for it!  There is profit in all hard work!  Your efforts are never wasted!

Give today your absolute best and good things will come from it!

Mark Anthony McCray helps people live on PURPOSE, achieve higher PERFORMANCE and experience true PROSPERITY. Be sure to subscribe to this blog so you don't miss a thing and forward this to a friend if you found it helpful. All material © Copyright, Mark Anthony McCray unless otherwise noted!

He can be reached in the following ways:

Mark@LiveBIGDieEmpty.com
Phone: 281-846-5720
Twitter: @LiveBIGDieEmpty
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/LiveBIGDieEmpty
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/markanthonymccray/
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Click HERE for information on Mark as a speaker or presenter and HERE to learn about coaching programs to help you realize your potential and live more prosperously!

Stop Wishing and Start Sowing!

I was sitting there the other night looking at my ever more impressive biceps and I thought "Hmmmm.... I wonder what would happen if I started sowing as much effort into other areas of my life?"

True story.

Clearly, focusing on getting in shape is a good thing and I'm enjoying the three pounds I've lost in the past month.  However, I have a lot of other areas that need attention, as well, and I realized I'd been doing more wishing for the future I want than sowing towards the future I want.

How much am I sowing into building the business I want?  Or have I fallen into a pattern of every day looking like the previous day?

How much am I sowing into developing a more intimate relationship with God?  Do I pray or think about praying?  Do I read the Word or think about reading the Word?

What am I doing to nurture better relationships with my children?  I say I want to marry again, but do I date to meet people?  Do I sow into other people?

As long as the Earth remains, the law of sowing and reaping is in effect.  I gotta remember to make it work for me.  You have to remember to make it work for you, too!  Then you can get arms like mine!

Mark Anthony McCray helps people live on PURPOSE, achieve higher PERFORMANCE and experience true PROSPERITY. Be sure to subscribe to this blog so you don't miss a thing and forward this to a friend if you found it helpful. All material © Copyright, Mark Anthony McCray unless otherwise noted!

He can be reached in the following ways:

Mark@LiveBIGDieEmpty.com
Phone: 281-846-5720
Twitter: @LiveBIGDieEmpty
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/LiveBIGDieEmpty
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/markanthonymccray/
Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/103149858138414160703/posts
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/markanthonymccray
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/markmccray/

Click HERE for information on Mark as a speaker or presenter and HERE to learn about coaching programs to help you realize your potential and live more prosperously!

Shirogane Naoto

Just watched all episodes of Persona 4 The Animation, 

and this girl just become my new favorite chara!

Kalau Saja

Kalau saja kita tidak sedang bertengkar, kurasa kini kita tengah berkirim pesan seperti biasa. Mengulang pertanyaan-pertanyaan yang sama setiap hari, yang entah mengapa tak pernah jadi membosankan untukku. Bagaimana denganmu? Bosankah kamu tiap kali kutanyakan pola makanmu, atau sudahkah kamu mandi hari ini? 

Kalau saja kita tidak sedang bertengkar, pastilah aku tengah mengoceh mengenai kaus kaki baruku. Warnanya merah muda, dan nyaman sekali ketika kupakai. Ng, tidak penting ya? Tapi bukankah aku dan kamu selalu begitu? Mengangkat hal-hal kecil (yang kadang kita besar-besarkan) sebagai topik pembicaraan. Tidak hanya kaus kaki baruku; tapi juga anggota keluarga baru, si mungil yang berbulu. 

Kalau saja kita tidak sedang bertengkar, mungkin saja kamu tengah menceramahiku tentang segala tetek-bengek tentang pentingnya mandi sebelum siang hari tiba. Menyebalkan, tentu saja. Namun setidaknya lebih menyenangkan daripada diam masing-masing seperti sekarang ini. Harus kukatakan, aku merindukanmu. Sangat merindukanmu. 

Kalau saja kita tidak sedang bertengkar... Eh, lho? Memangnya kita sedang bertengkar, ya? Yah, mungkin saja. Apa namanya kalau kamu atau aku tidak ada yang mau mengirim pesan satu sama lain? Apa namanya kalau kamu dan aku berhenti saling mengabari? Kata paling tepat yang bisa kutemukan, tentu saja: bertengkar. 

Kalau saja kamu tidak berbicara buruk tentangnya, tentang wanita itu; semua ini tidak akan terjadi. Emosiku tidak akan meluap dan kita tidak akan bertengkar. 

Kalau saja... 

Ah, apa gunanya berandai-andai seperti ini?

Semuanya telah terjadi.

Tak ada yang bisa kuperbuat untuk mengubahnya. 

Aku bukan robot kucing berwarna biru yang bisa dengan mudahnya 

menggunakan mesin waktu dan mengubah semuanya. 

Abaikan saja tulisan tak berarti ini. 

Anggap saja ini adalah tulisan yang belum sempat dibuang. 

No Title

Apa yang mungkin kamu rasakan ketika seseorang berbicara buruk mengenai wanita yang melahirkan dan membesarkanmu; padahal ia tak mengenalnya? 

Apa yang mungkin kamu rasakan ketika seseorang menyakiti hatimu; sementara ia mengungkapkan bahwa ia tak merasa bersalah sedikitpun padamu? 

Apa yang mungkin kamu rasakan ketika seseorang yang kamu cintai melukai hatimu begitu dalamnya; kemudian mengabaikanmu begitu saja? 

...

Aku terbiasa memanjakanmu; 

atau kamu yang terbiasa memanjakanku? 

...

Wanita itu bilang padaku:

"Sekali-kali, biarkan saja. Jangan kamu terus yang mengalah." 

...

Siapakah yang pantas menerima maaf; 

dan siapakah yang seharusnya merasa bersalah? 

Ada sepotong maaf yang ingin kusampaikan padamu 

atas kalimat-kalimat burukku padamu. 

Namun adakah terlintas di benakmu untuk menyampaikan permintaan maaf padaku

atas kalimat-kalimat burukmu padaku? 

...

Mungkin saja ini hanya persepsi pribadiku. 

Mungkin saja kamu menganggap ini semua cerita yang kubuat sendiri;

dan tak sesuai dengan kisah yang kautahu. 

Perbedaan pendapat memang rumit, bukan? 

...

Selama tak bersamamu, ada banyak hal yang ingin kusampaikan padamu;

yang ingin kudengarkan pendapatmu. 

Tentang kaus kaki baruku, 

tentang aku yang menantikanmu semalaman, 

juga tentang anggota keluarga baru yang mungkin kudapatkan tak lama lagi! 

...

Tapi kurasa wanita itu benar. 

Aku tak bisa terus-terusan memanjakanmu; 

memangnya aku tak punya kesempatan untuk menjadi egois?

Sudah terlalu banyak keegoisan yang kutekan untukmu. 

Aku yakin kamupun punya banyak keegoisan yang kautekan untukku; 

hubungan ini memang rumit, ya? 

Yang kutahu; 

segusar apapun aku kepadamu, 

tak pernah terpikirkan olehku untuk meninggalkanmu. 

Why Some People Get Ahead and Some Never Will

Not to be too over-dramatic with the title of this post... I do that sometimes.  I have also become more accustomed to driving straight to the point when I'm given an audience, so let's jump in.

I got a chance to visit with several inmates recently of the county jail variety.  Interesting group of people.  Thieves.  Robbers.  Drug dealers and addicts.  All kinds and types that society has deemed unworthy of walking among us.  (I'll talk about that another time.  There's a prison ministry out there for me somewhere, I think...)  Some of them are going to be a part of the United States Prison Industrial Complex forever.  Some of them are going to turn their lives around and become role models for their families and loved ones.  Some will go on to do great things for society.

I can tell you in about two minutes of conversation who belongs in which category.  Maybe less.  But maybe I'm being over-dramatic again?  I don't think so.  I think I've got this one pegged.  From what I can tell the difference in where you go in life after experiencing a setback comes down to one thing:  Do you accept responsibility or do you blame someone, anyone else?

I've seen a lot of anger and unforgiveness.  Rage.  Loneliness.  Burning desires for vengeance and violence.  Bad stuff.  Only from those who are blaming someone else for where they find themselves.  Nastiness.  And not just from people who are behind bars either.  I've seen a lot of this nastiness in people's homes, churches, schools.  You see the outcomes on the news nightly.

On the other hand, I've seen growth.  Renewal.  Grace.  Forgiveness.  Peace.  Only from those who have accepted that their lives are 99% the results of the choices that THEY'VE made.  These are the people who become people you're proud to know.  They've learned that the mirror is their friend.  No more blaming others for what only they can control.  It's a beautiful thing.

Your life is what you've made it.  That means you can make it different.  If you decide to.  It's truly up to you.  If you're busy blaming someone else, you're not making any progress at all.  I promise you.

Mark Anthony McCray helps people live on PURPOSE, achieve higher PERFORMANCE and experience true PROSPERITY. Be sure to subscribe to this blog so you don't miss a thing and forward this to a friend if you found it helpful. All material © Copyright, Mark Anthony McCray unless otherwise noted!

He can be reached in the following ways:

Mark@LiveBIGDieEmpty.com
Phone: 281-846-5720
Twitter: @LiveBIGDieEmpty
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/LiveBIGDieEmpty
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/markanthonymccray/
Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/103149858138414160703/posts
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/markanthonymccray
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/markmccray/

Click HERE for information on Mark as a speaker or presenter and HERE to learn about coaching programs to help you realize your potential and live more prosperously!

The Only Night

Aku tidak sabar ingin bertemu. 

Banyak sekali hal yang ingin kuceritakan padamu, 

sampai-sampai aku takut melupakan salah satunya.

Aku tidak sabar ingin bertemu. 

Tanpa pikir panjang, kuarahkan pandanganku ke deretan tempat duduk. 

Tak terhitung olehku ada berapa banyak yang telah tiba.

Aku tidak sabar ingin beremu.

Dimanakah kamu? 

Kucari namun tak kutemukan.

Aku tidak sabar ingin bertemu.

Ah, ternyata di sana. Kutemukan kamu.

Berpakaian rapi dengan kemeja putih.

 ...

Pandangan kami bertemu.

Cepat-cepat kualihkan pandanganku, pura-pura tak melihat.

Tapi kenapa?

Meski mengetahui keberadaanku, 

tak ia langkahkan kaki untuk menghampiriku

walau hanya untuk sekedar menyapa? 

Aku terus menunggu.

Kutahan tangis kecewaku.

Harusnya kamu tahu.

Aku terus menunggu.

Tangisku pecah. Banyak orang mengelilingiku ketika aku menangis.

Tapi dimanakah kamu? 

...

Selama kita tak bertemu, aku selalu merindukanmu.

Selalu.

Merindukan senyum dan tawamu,
suaramu, sentuhanmu.
Juga jemarimu yang hangat.

Tapi kenapa? 

Bahkan menghampiriku saja kamu tak sudi?

Apa sulit meninggalkan mereka untukku
meski hanya beberapa menit?

Apakah mereka merindukanmu kala tak bertemu denganmu?
Apa mereka mencintaimu sebesar aku mencintaimu?

Mereka tak pantas mendapatkannya.
Harusnya aku.
Harusnya aku yang terus di sisimu kala itu.

...
 

Terima kasih

untuk luka lama yang kaubangkitkan kembali.

Dango Daikazoku

I watched Clannad lately while spend my holiday. Well, Clannad is... A very-very-very sad anime ever exist. You can google it. And the ending song is very adorable! The title is Dango Daikazoku. I always sing the song while watching the ending. The dangos are kawaii! ♥

So... I'm proudly presents. Dango Daikazoku song in my voice.

Click the dango! >> (-'  '-)

Sorry for the noises... And I wish you enjoy my voice~

Here's the lyric if you want to sing along:

 
Dango, dango, dango, dango
Dango daikazoku
Yancha na Yaki dango
Yasashii an dango
 

Minna minna awasete
Hyakunin kazoku

Akachan dango wa itsumo
Shiawase no naka de
Toshiyori dango wa me o hosometeru

Nakayoshi dango te o tsunagi ooki
Na marui wa ni naru yo
Machi o tsukuri dango boshi no ue
Minna de waraiau yo 

Usagi mo sora de te o futte miteru
Dekkai otsuki-sama
Ureshii koto kanashii koto mo
Zenbu marumete 

 ♥