Rhino Revolution

I have heard many times from people that are familiar with my Rhino books that I was not what they were expecting when they first meet me. Yeah, I don’t really weigh 6,000 pounds. If you saw me at the grocery store, you wouldn’t know that I am a Rhino. I speak English, although I do let out a rhino grunt at the end of my talk.

Being a Rhino is all in the mind. There are no physical requirements. You can be 98 pounds and still charge down your dreams! There are no personality requirements. You can be all sweetness and light and still raise hell charging through the jungle! There are no educational requirements. In fact, sometimes too much education can kill your ambition faster than hanging around the cow pasture. Doing is more important than analyzing, studying or reflecting. Rhinos are famous for charging! Take action now – you can think about it later.

Being a rhino is simply a choice.  Are you going to do something or not? There’s a gland in your brain, the hyporhinothalamus, that is either in the On position (Rhino) or Off position (Cow).  If it is in the Cow position, decide to go rhino and it will immediately switch positions.  All you have to do is decide.

That’s the way it is with everything.  You decide.  Well, there are exceptions like ObamaCare, seat belt and helmet laws, sales taxes, federal taxes and just about any policy that is propagated by Democrats.

But the scoundrels cannot regulate your happiness level.  You still get to determine that.   At this moment, you still get to decide  whether to believe in God.  They would sure like to eliminate that choice, because liberal politicians believe that they are gods and they want you worshiping them.  You still have the option to do amazing things with your life.  Do you want to?  Come on!!  It will be fun.  Just decide to.  What else were you doing that can’t wait?    Switch to Rhino and keep charging!!!   Scott Alexander

Deciding to go riding with no helmet in Arizona and happy about it.

You know how to be happy, successful and in control of your own life?  By doing the opposite of what most everyone else is doing.  Hey!  This can be great fun, if you do it consistently.  Of course, it takes guts and thick skin because you will definitely stand out.  You will be exposed to lots of criticism as the cows try to pull you down with them.  Just remember that when the cows disapprove, you are on the right track.

First, let’s charge down success.  Success can mean a lot of different things to different people, so let’s start with “financial success”.  This means that you have to make money!

Now, don’t let the cows fool you.   They may say that they have no interest in making money, but that is a rationalization  to excuse their lack.  Money will not get you into heaven, but down here it is hard to go anywhere without it.

Cows will say that they do not want to make money their god.  The irony is that it is usually those with the least money who worship it the most.  They complain that if only they had enough money, they could rid themselves of all their problems.

If you think that money will solve your problems, you are going to be a frustrated millionaire.  Money will not wipe away all your problems.  You will just have different problems.  If you are overcome with your problems, you need to work on the spiritual side of your life.  See my post on getting a good Safari Guide.

The first step toward financial success is to take a look at what most people are doing, and then do the opposite.  Most people work at jobs their whole lives and never really get anywhere.  How many people do you know who became rich working at a job?  There is only one practical way, besides investments, to become wealthy and that is to have your own business.

Your chances of becoming rich at your job are extremely poor, I think you would agree.  I don’t suggest that you quit your job tomorrow, but I do recommend that you plan on quitting as soon as possible.  The longer that you work for someone else, the longer you put off your chances for financial success.

The work ethic has been replaced by the achievement ethic. Going to college to get a good job is quickly becoming obsolete.  Success today is not having spent forty years of your life with some big corporation and then retiring with a gold watch.  Success, today, is creating your own corporation, and then giving out the gold watches.

Plan on being in business for yourself as soon as you can.  It doesn’t matter what you do – JUST DO SOMETHING!!  Don’t wait until you get your MBA degree.  That will only slow you down.  If the professor knew anything about business, he wouldn’t be teaching it… he would be doing it.  Don’t wait until you have more time, more money, or more energy.  If you wait for any of that, you will be waiting forever!   Do it now or you are just fooling yourself that you will ever do it.

The Obama Regime continues to pockmark our great country with its socialist cancer.  It is up to us Rhinos to save free enterprise!  If Capitalism disappears, all us rhinos go with it.  Be prepared to fight for what you believe in, or else start learning how to chew cud.  Keep charging!!!    Scott Alexander

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Some motivational music for you as you charge through the jungle!!

1.  Provide lots of strong, direct sunlight. Like roses, we need sunlight too.  We need bright, cheery friends and acquaintances.  We need business associates that are expecting the best from us and are encouraging.  Roses don’t grow in dark, dank conditions and we don’t do as well either.  Don’t hang around anyone who doesn’t lift your spirits.  Surround yourself with positive, uplifting people.  They are the sunshine of your life.

2.  Water regularly. Keep yourself well watered with inspirational, motivational books.  Don’t let yourself dry out.  Keep the TV off.  There is nothing inspiring there.  If you are going to watch a movie, watch one that feeds your soul.  Here are 2 that I find motivating: “The World’s Fastest Indian” and “300″.

3.  Prune. Roses occasionally get sucker roots that grow off the root ball.  These stems grow quickly, produce no roses, and rob the rose bush of a lot of its food supply.  They have to be twisted off at the root as soon as they are discovered.  Sucker stems for us are those activities that not only add nothing of value to our lives, but are detrimental because they sap energy and time that could be used to help us reach our dreams.  Again, watching TV.  Sitting around a bar drinking.  Gossiping.  Fretting about what has happened in the past.  Prune that stuff!

4.  Stop and smell the roses. “The world is a rose; smell it and pass it to your friends”.  Don’t get so tied up in the mechanics of making a living that you miss life.  Stop every once in a while and look at the beauty around you.   Appreciate what you have.  Love your family, your friends, your neighbors.  Observe.  Think.  Thank God.

The rose and the thorn, and sorrow and gladness are linked together. -Saadi

Copyright 2010 by Scott Alexander

You always hear the same stuff about success – you need desire, goals, a positive attitude and persistence.  What about love?  Could love be part of the motivational mix for success?

I believe it is a huge part.  Love is a mysterious, powerful passion that drives people on despite great obstacles.  A case could be made that love is the force that drives the economy.  What is the use of anything if there is no love?

If you are feeling unmotivated, could it be that your love level is low?  If there is no love, there is no reason.  When love is gone, the magic is gone.  Why climb a mountain if there is no one to share the experience with?

So what do you do, other than get on some dating web site and start looking around?  Bars?  Grocery store?  Join the gym?  Buy a Corvette?

How about tapping into the author of love, the creator of love, the finisher of love.  Start at the original source of love – God.   There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.  That is what Jesus did for us.  Nothing to buy.  No two year contract to sign.  If you are not absolutely satisfied, just quit believing.  Jesus said, “I have come that you may have life and have it more abundantly.”

Remember what the Beatles sang; all you need is love.  You wanna change the world?  You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you.  Get really motivated – get love!!  Keep charging!!   Scott Alexander

Successful people are the ones who have persisted a little longer than most people will put up with.  Some people thrive on the demands that success requires and are able to mentally deal with the tests and trials that are constantly appearing. I have little tricks that help me deal with the torpedoes.  Being a rhino having two-inch-thick skin and charging through the jungle chasing down my dreams is, of course, a major mental tool.    Here is another one I employ -  Live your life like a major movie production company is going to produce a documentary about you.  That changes things.  You don’t want the film about you to bomb.  You don’t want the movie to go immediately to DVD and then have it end up in one of those $5 bins at Wal-Mart.

They are going to make a movie about your life!  Get going!!!  Give them something to work with!

Going about your day with this attitude does a couple of things.  First, it makes life more exciting.  You choose to do more with your life.  Nobody is going to want to pay $10 to watch a movie with you watching Seinfeld reruns and taking afternoon naps.   You have got to get out there and change the world… or at least, attempt to.

Not all great movies have happy endings.  But the best ones leave you feeling inspired.  You know the saying, “stuff happens”.   This is the best part of living your life like it is going to be a movie.  When the bad stuff happens, it adds to the drama.  How are you going to react?  Are you going to quit or fight on?   Are you going to let circumstances determine your fate?  Hell, no!!!  OK, now we’ve got a blockbuster.

In the movie, “300″, the small army of Spartans is eventually defeated by the massive Persian army.  But what an inspiring, motivating movie.  The battle has become a symbol of courage against overwhelming odds.

You may not have the Persian Army after you, but you may find yourself in dire straits that other people can relate to.  Are you going to take on your challenge or just give up.  Keep your movie in mind.  At this point, you are the writer, actor, director and producer.  Make it good!  Make it inspiring!   Make it the kind of movie that people walk out of feeling like they could accomplish great things too.  Have fun on your adventure.  You are a movie!  Keep charging!!  Scott Alexander

On the set of my movie.

Copyright 2010 by Scott Alexander

It is getting tough being a motivational speaker these days having to compete with our doofus President Obama.  Normally, we motivational speakers like to encourage and inspire people to greatness.  We cheer people going all out for their dreams.  We urge everyone to set goals and make a difference in the world.  And if someone wants to make lots of money, we heartily support them.

Anyone with an ounce of understanding realizes that making money is a result of providing needed goods and services (unless you work for the government).  The more you give, the more you are going to get.  That is the basic law of free enterprise.  Don’t give and the government will take from others to give to you.  That is the basic law of liberalism.

A Facebook friend recently posted that she wants to be a billionaire.

Doesn’t she know that our President believes “that at a certain point, you’ve made enough money”?

The dream of soaring to great heights is threatened by the hope and change of Obama’s beloved redistribution of wealth.  My friend can chase her dreams and if she succeeds, Obama and his henchmen will be there to spread her wealth to the ones who don’t believe in trying.

We have a president who would fail miserably in the field of motivation.  He is reducing our country to a manure- filled pasture of lazy cows standing around waiting to be fed and have their health needs taken care of while the people who are out producing wealth are portrayed as greedy and evil.

I say to my Facebook friend, you go girl!!  Make incredible amounts of money.  Achieve great things.  Just make sure that you vote in the future for people who believe in freedom.  Spread the word on what liberals think about you having a dream.  Be vocal.  Fight for what you believe in.  Keep charging!!!     Scott Alexander

Copyright 2010 by Scott Alexander

Wow!  It was 30 years ago this month that I came out with “Rhinoceros Success”.  I was recently asked if I would change anything in the book.

Why?  What changed?  Circumstances have certainly changed, but the principles of success have stayed the same and always will.  You still have to have the desire to succeed.  Without the will, it ain’t gonna happen.

You still have to take action.  You gotta charge.  Nothing will happen until you do.  It is probably the biggest obstacle to succeeding at anything.  It is easier to do nothing.  That will never change.  In fact, the government is making it easier to do nothing and is actually encouraging mediocrity.

Persistence is still essential.  You still need to have two-inch-thick skin to put up with the setbacks, the obstacles, the disappointments, the roadblocks – the torpedoes.   The attitude of never giving up can overcome a lot of handicaps like lack of education, no money, or 100 other reasons people come up with to justify their failure.

No, I would not change a single word, but I might add one to reflect the times:  harder. Charge harder than ever!  Dream bigger than ever!  Persist longer than ever!  Fight for your freedom harder than you ever have before.  God bless.   Scott Alexander

Keep charging harder than ever!!

Copyright 2010 by Scott Alexander

The boys and I took a 1,000 mile ride through Arizona this past week in the VW Westfalia camper van.  Our target was a place called “Nothing” with a population of 4.  We found that the entire town had up and left.  Did the Arizona boycott do them in?  No, I think it was the fact that it was 110 degrees and there was no electricity.  We hit 116 degrees in Lake Havasu.  Despite the heat, it was one of our most fun and adventurous camping trips.

The town of Nothing turned out to be a surprise, because we found the most beautiful desert landscape I have ever seen.  It had everything I love – boulders, cactus, agaves, yuccas, lots of lizards, snakes and miles of dirt paths to explore.

At one point in our exploration, we came to a sandy river wash in the VW van.  Hmmm…. that sand looks kinda deep, I thought, as I came to the edge of the wash.  Slowly and cautiously, I started to drive across.  “Slowly and cautiously” was my mistake.  The back wheels started spinning and the van sunk into the sand.

Yikes!  No phone cell reception to call AAA.   We tried digging it out, but that only made it deeper.  As we started to gather sticks to put under the wheels, I found a board out in the sandy river.  This is why I believe in God.  Miracles happen!  We broke the board into four strips and set them under the wheels as we made our way to the other side.

On the way back, instead of approaching with caution, I got into 2nd gear and sped across the sand, making it with no problem.

Sometimes, proceeding with caution is not the right way to approach something – like a goal, a dream or life.  Rhinos charge full speed ahead and things move out of the way.   I must admit that I am embarrassed about my initial hesitation on crossing the sand.  I was acting like a cow.  But I learned my lesson and I got a blog post out of it.

If you are trying to get somewhere, if you want to accomplish something, if you want to make a change, go full speed ahead!  Be a charging, snorting rhinoceros!   Well, the snorting is optional, but I recommend it.  Yes, there will be sand you might get stuck in.  God will help you through it.  It might be 100 degrees and you might feel like you can’t make it.  Have the attitude that you are going to make it or die trying.  I bet you make it!

Do not let up off the gas!  Keep the momentum going.  Don’t worry about what could happen.  Keep your mind focused on what you are going to make happen.  Damn the torpedoes!  Damn the fear of failing!  Damn all the negative cows that are discouraging you!  Damn Obama and his plans to transform the United Jungles of America into the Cow Pastures of America.

You have a destiny, but you won’t discover it until you take action.  Keep charging!!!    Scott Alexander

He who hesitates, gets stuck in the sand. Charge ahead!

Copyright 2010 by Scott Alexander

Inch by inch… it’s still a bitch! You were expecting “it’s a cinch”, weren’t you? Surely you know me better than that! Come on! If it was a cinch, why would you take it inch by inch? Just get it done in one fell swoop, if it is so bloody easy. Don’t cheapen your achievements!

As it turns out, success in any endeavor is usually not so simple. Getting ahead takes time, energy and commitment. Doing nothing is much easier. That’s why cows far outnumber rhinos. Cows like easy.

Yes, success is a tough business. Dreams evaporate quickly unless intense desire and concentration keep them alive. Plans, goals and intentions are easily thwarted by life’s torpedoes. Excitement can spiral into depression when things don’t work out. As a charging rhino, you might find yourself in the “Blue Funk Jungle”.

Maybe you’ve hit a roadblock or lost your direction. The 6,000 pounds of charging rhino is now starting to falter. You no longer want to charge out of bed in the morning. You’re doing good if you even get out of bed.

This is when quitting sounds inviting. Motivational quotes showing up on your Facebook page irritate you. All this talk about dreams and goals leaves you feeling duped.

Take heart! You are going to make it. Be encouraged in the fact that all the rhinos who have really made a difference in the world have gone through similar situations and have made it to the other side… sometimes inch by inch.

A little attitude adjustment is helpful when you find yourself in the Blue Funk Jungle. First of all, forget charging in the usual rhino sense. Try this: Just keep plodding! Don’t worry about breaking any records or looking like a weary rhino.  Rhinos do get weary at times.

Normally, rhinos do charge full speed ahead – damn the torpedoes!  But when circumstances demand otherwise, they charge carefully.   When the brush is so thick that their legs become tangled and bloodied, they trudge.   And when the sun beats so unmercifully that their horns droop and their heavy skin starts to sag, they plod.

Plodding is the ultimate test of being a rhinoceros.  Lesser animals are found dead, scattered throughout the Blue Funk Jungle.  As a rhino, you will be victorious.  Monotonous perseverance can save the day.  Let that be your battle cry.  Keep the rhino spirit!  We are all rooting for you.    Scott Alexander

Copyright 2010 by Scott Alexander