Six years ago I looked out into the Atlantic Ocean on New Years Day with fear in my heart and uncertainty in my life. I had been fired from a "dot.com" company two weeks earlier with only two weeks of severance, no insurance for my two young children and only two months of savings in the bank. My wife and I had just invested every dollar we had and even took out a second mortgage on our home and $20,000 on a credit card to open what would be the first Moe's Southwest Grill in Florida. The restaurant was set to open January 13th and we had no earthly idea how we would pay our home mortgage and other bills since I planned on keeping my salary and job while my managers built the restaurant business. Now, it was New Years Day and I had no job, no salary and a restaurant opening that at worst would fail miserably or at best take months to be profitable.

I thought of all this as I prepared to jump into the icy cold water-to take a symbolic plunge that this would be the year of NO FEAR. Regardless of the circumstances I was facing, this would be the year where I would trust and go for it. This would be the year I would be bold in actions and faith and humble in spirit. No longer could I do it alone. Now I needed a miracle and I would, as the saying goes, take actions as if my future depended on me and pray like it depended on God.

By jumping into the ocean I was declaring to God, myself, the world and my family that no longer will I allow fear to cut off the flow of abundant and positive energy in my life. No longer will I allow fear to paralyze me. No longer will I allow my past negative programming to broadcast over my airwaves. I would choose to believe that everything happens for a reason and have faith that somehow it would all work out. Instead of fear I would trust.

Years later, today, January 1, 2007 I jumped into the ocean again. It has become my ritual- to remind myself to follow my passion, live life to the fullest and to stay one step ahead of the fear that hovers around me. And as I walked out of the water, refreshed, energized, and grateful, I thought about all the people who read this newsletter and wished you could jump in with me and feel what I feel.

So this year I invite you to jump into 2007 with me- perhaps not in the ocean but in the depths of your mind. This jump doesn't necessarily require water but rather a leap of faith in your belief system and a shift in your mindset. The antidote to fear is trust and it is only a thought away. No one is going to push you over the chasm of struggle to the life that you want. God will nudge you but you must take the leap. You must make this jump in your mind and then with your actions. You must make this jump with trust, determination and faith. After all, they don't call it a leap of fear. They call it a "leap of faith" for a reason.

You will always feel fear. Everyone will. But the simple rule to remember is that your trust must be bigger than your fear. The bigger your trust the smaller your fear becomes. And the more you trust the more you become a conduit for miracles. A consulting job presents itself out the blue and you can now pay the mortgage, a check comes in the mail, the right person shows up, opportunities present themselves, some how, some way you are carried and given the chance to do the work you were born to do.

We truly only have one life to live. We only have one chance. We only have one moment at a time to create the life we were born to live. All you have to do is jump in with all that you are and all that you wish to become. Jump into 2007 with me and let's create an amazing life together.

Sending Positive Energy Your Way,
- Jon

Book Launch Party - You're invited to join Jon as he celebrates the publication of his third book. Thursday, February 1, 2007 at "The Grape" in Jacksonville, FL from 6pm until 8:30pm. Click the blue link above for details and to RSVP.

The One Page Energy Diet - Use this free downloadable one page plan to make the right choices and choose the right habits this New Year.

20 Tips for a Powerful New Year - Read last weeks newsletter.

We're hosting our first annual Power of Positive Energy Conference, Friday, April 27 and Saturday, April 28, 2007 in Jacksonville/Ponte Vedra Beach Florida and want to invite people from all over the world to join us.

As part of this conference you'll get to take part in exciting lectures, activities, parties, stretching and walks on the beach (you can even jump into the ocean with Jon if you want to). Stay tuned for details...

Have you ever thought about how much negativity, a lack of focus and low morale are costing your company? Gallup estimates the national cost to be a trillion dollars in lost productivity each year. Clearly there is a huge gap between the results employees are expected to deliver and the energy they posses to make it happen. Our goal is to close this gap and help your people fuel their life, work and teams with the energy to enhance personal and team success and performance.

In Jon's revolutionary seminar program you and your staff will learn powerful, practical strategies based on the newest research in energy, positive psychology, emotional intelligence and peak performance to enhance your productivity, profits and people.

Click Here to read more or email Daniel@JonGordon.com to request a speaker kit.

Question:
"Hi Jon, I enjoyed your website so much I bought your book ! All your tips seem so simple & make good sense. I am just having trouble with one concept, the energy vampires. My family was brought up in a fairly negative critical environment. Although I would say, we all love each other, we were taught many negative thought patterns & negative coping stategies. I have a sister who has serious mental health issues & serious, multiple addictions. I guess you might call her an energy vampire, but I love her and want to help her. Am I just supposed to avoid her because she is an "energy vampire"? I really enjoy all your motivation, I hope your answer will clear this part up for me. "

Click Here for Jon's Answer

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