Eight Life Lessons by Ed Foreman

ED FOREMAN...from a farm boy to a self-made millionaire by the age of 26 and a former United States Congressman from two different states, Texas and New Mexico. Ed Foreman travels 200,000 miles a year sharing his renowned message of "Successful Daily Living" with corporate executives around the world.


1. THINK about what you THINK ABOUT… and if you catch yourself thinking about unhappiness, ill health and adversity, “change the channel” and think about what you want to happen!

2. When something happens by chance, follow up. Lucky people tend to notice and act on good things that occur by happenstance.

3. Believe that good things will happen. Expectations have a way of coming true.

4. When bad things happen, look for the bright side; i.e., “what did I learn from that?” or, “how do I keep it from happening again?” Don't dwell on it, move on!

5. If the horse dies, dismount. Don't continue to pour money and effort into a lost cause.

6. Don’t look for love in the wrong places… not just romantic love but the love of “stuff.” Stuff is O.K., but understand the delusion of “I'll be happy when I have this or that,” or “when I live over there,” or “when this happens.” Happiness is a state of mind in which our thinking is pleasant most of the time.

7. Failure is a CHOICE made by the undisciplined. Failing to meet your objectives, regardless of what they are, is a choice, because something else has been given higher priority. If you fail, it is because you choose to fail.

8. You don't “catch” depression and you don't “catch” happiness… you “create” them by the thoughts you put into your mind. Carefully choose what you read, listen to and the people with whom you associate.

Take care of him now.

Once upon a time, there was this girl who had four boyfriends. She loved the 4th boyfriend the most and adored him with rich robes and treated him to the finest of delicacies. She gave him nothing but the best.

She also loved the 3rd boyfriend very much and was always showing him off to neighboring kingdoms... However, she feared that one day he would leave her for another.

She also loved her 2nd boyfriend. He was her confidant and was always kind, considerate and patient with her... Whenever this girl faced a problem, she could confide in him, and he would help her get through the difficult times.

The girl's 1st boyfriend was a very loyal partner and had made great contributions in maintaining her wealth and kingdom. However, she did not love the first boyfriend. Although he loved her deeply, she hardly took notice of him.

One day, the girl fell ill and she knew her time was short. She thought of her luxurious life and wondered, I now have four boyfriends with me, but when I die, I'll be all alone.'Thus, she asked the 4th boyfriend, I loved you the most, endowed you with the finest clothing and showered great care over you. Now that I'm dying, will you follow me and keep me company?'

'No way!' replied the 4th boyfriend, and he walked away without another word..His answer cut like a sharp knife right into her heart.

The sad girl then asked the 3rd boyfriend, 'I loved you all my life. Now that I'm dying, will you follow me and keep me company?''No!' replied the 3rd boyfriend. 'Life is too good! When you die, I'm going to marry someone else!'Her heart sank and turned cold.

She then asked the 2nd boyfriend, 'I have always turned to you for help and you've always been there for me.When I die, will you follow me and keep me company?''I'm sorry, I can't help you out this time!' replied the 2nd boyfriend. 'At the very most, I can only walk with you to your grave.'His answer struck her like a bolt of lightning, and the girl was devastated.

Then a voice called out: 'I'll go with you. I'll follow you no matter where you go.'The girl looked up, and there was her 1st boyfriend. He was very skinny as he suffered from malnutrition and neglect. Greatly grieved, the girl said, 'I should have taken much better care of you when I had the chance!

In truth, we all have 4 boyfriends in our lives:

Our 4th boyfriend is our body. No matter how much time and effort you lavish in making it look good; it will leave you when you die. Our 3rd boyfriend is our possessions, status and wealth. When we die, it will all go to others.

Our 2nd boyfriend is our family and friends. No matter how much they have been there for us, the furthest they can stay by us is up to the grave. And our 1st boyfriend is our Soul. Often neglected in pursuit of wealth, power and pleasures of the world.

However, our Soul is the only thing that will follow us where ever you go. Cultivate, strengthen and cherish it now, for it is the only part of us that will follow us to the throne of God
and continue with us throughout Eternity.

Thought for the day: Remember, when the world pushes you to your knees, you're in the perfect position to pray.

Being happy doesn't mean everything's perfect. It means you've decided to see beyond the imperfections. I hope this touched you! Life is change. Growth is optional. Choose wisely.'

No one is permitted to run you down.

To those that are familiar with me and this blog, you will know am with a Consulting firm that specializes in Human resources, Business Development e.t.c. Our Major strength is in taking trainings and speaking at Seminars.In one of such Seminars, i went out with my Managing Partner and i want to share the experience with you.

Adeolu Akinyemi a well known speaker started off his seminar by holding up a $100.00 bill. In the room of 350, he asked:"Who would like this $100 bill…?"Hands started going up. He said,"I am going to give this $100 to one of you but first,let me do this.

He proceeded to crumple up the $100 dollar bill.He then asked, "Who still wants it?" still the hands were up in the air.Well, he replied, "What if I do this?" And he dropped it on the ground and started to grind it into the floor with his shoe.He picked it up, now crumpled and dirty."Now, who still wants it? "Still the hands went into the air.

My friends, we have all learned a very valuable lesson. No matter what I did to the money, you still wanted it because it did not decrease in Value. It was still worth $100. Many times in our lives, we are dropped, crumpled, and ground into the
dirt by the decisions we make and the circumstances that come our way.

We feel as though we are worthless. But no matter what has happened or what will happen, you will never lose your value. Dirty or clean, crumpled or finely creased, you are still priceless to those who LOVE you.

The worth of our lives comes not in what we do or who we know, but by WHO WE ARE. You are special, Don't EVER forget it."Count your blessings, not your problems.

If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.

Ask him

Recently i was wondering why people don't take time to hear from God.I ask myself if what you need to do to hear from him is just to spend more time with him.Why is it that people don't hear from God.I mean to get direction and instruction,as simple as where to go,what to wear and even what to eat,that will set the day right for them.

A young man had been to Wednesday Night Bible Study.The Pastor had shared about listening to God and obeying the Lord's voice.The young man couldn't help but wonder,'Does God still speak to people? After service,he went out with some friends for coffee and pie and they discussed the message.Several different ones talked about how God had led them in different ways.It was about ten o'clock when the young man started driving home.Sitting in his car,he just began to pray,'God...If you still speak to people,speak to me.I will listen.I will do my best to obey.'

As he drove down the main street of his town,he had the strangest thought to stop and buy a gallon of milk.He shook his head and said out loud,'God is that you?'He didn't get a reply and started on toward home.But again,the thought,buy a gallon of milk.The young man thought about Samuel and how he didn't recognize the voice of God,and how little Samuel ran to Eli.'Okay, God,in case that is you,I will buy the milk.'It didn't seem like too hard a test of obedience.He could always use the milk...He stopped and purchased the gallon of milk and started off toward home.

As he passed Seventh Street,he again felt the urge,'Turn Down that street.This is crazy he thought,and drove on past the intersection.Again,he felt that he should turn down Seventh Street.At the next intersection,he turned back and headed down Seventh.Half jokingly,he said out loud,Okay God,I will.He drove several blocks,when suddenly,he felt like he should stop.He pulled over to the curb and looked around.He was in a semi- commercial area of town.It wasn't the best but it wasn't the worst of neighborhoods either.The businesses were closed and most of the houses looked dark like the people were already in bed.

Again,he sensed something,'Go and give the milk to the people in the house across the street.The young man looked at the house.It was dark and it looked like the people were either gone or they were already asleep.He started to open the door and then sat back in the car seat.Lord,this is insane.Those people are asleep and if I wake them up,they are going to be mad and I will look stupid.Again,he felt like he should go and give the milk.

Finally,he opened the door,Okay God,if this is you,I will go to the door and I will give them the milk.If you want me to look like a crazy person,okay.I want to be obedient.I guess that will count for something,but if they don't answer right away,I am out of here.He walked across the street and rang the bell.He could hear some noise inside.A man's voice yelled out,'Who is it? What do you want? Then the door opened before the young man could get away.

The man was standing there in his jeans and T-shirt.He looked like he just got out of bed.He had a strange look on his face and he didn't seem too happy to have some stranger standing on his doorstep.What is it?The young man thrust out the gallon of milk,Here,I brought this to you.The man took the milk and rushed down a hallway.Then from down the hall came a woman carrying the milk toward the kitchen.The man was following her holding a baby.The baby was crying.The man had tears streaming down his face.

The man began speaking and half crying,We were just praying.We had some big bills this month and we ran out of money.We didn't have any milk for our baby.I was just praying and asking God to show me how to get some milk...His wife in the kitchen yelled out,I ask him to send an Angel with some.Are you an Angel?'The young man reached into his wallet and pulled out all the money he had on him and put in the man's hand.He turned and walked back toward his car and the tears were streaming down his face.He knew that God still answers prayers.

To me,God's voice has always been real.Few years ago,i needed to see a friend,school was on Holiday,there was no mobile phone.So i prayed about it,that God should make it happen.The next morning the holy spirit woke me up and said 'rise up and go to school'.I have not taken my bath,he said "if you really want to see her,go now".On getting to school i headed to my hostel,he said no 'go to compound E'.I went there but nothing happened,i was dissapointed,but something happened as i turned to leave,there she stood just at the entrance of the hall way on her way out of town having breezed in a day earlier without my knowledge.

I broke down and wept,because i was amazed at how God can lead me,in such a little thing.Since then,i don't joke with asking him for direction,even if it is just a Small thing.We all need more of him,in our daily life.There are times that we will just feel something is prompting us,we will call it "something" because we are not used to the working of the spirit.

We need to trace our way back to our maker,if he is the maker,he is the only one that has the blue print. ASK HIM