• Tweet
• Email

Well 2010 finally bites the dust.

So as we look back over the last 12 months I guess my overriding thoughts about 2010 are that this has been the year when peoples true colours have appeared and, sadly, financial stress has brought out the worst in people all over the country and around the world.

I would never have believed that something as relatively unimportant and temporal as money would cause families to break up, friends to take each other to court, businesses to indulge in deliberate fraud and create such a negative shift in the social fabric of so many nations.

I don’t wish to sound maudlin as I am not saying 2010 was all bad by any means, but as an observer of human behavior I certainly have never seen so much grief and dishonesty emerge in our society at one time.  It is interesting reading about the great depression that the best in people came out then.  It shows how far we have degraded as a society that this time round it is the opposite.

So I see this as a challenge to us all to be better people.  The only things that shifts a culture is when enough people decide they won’t follow the crowd and start to take enough other people with them.

Whilst I have been a bit negative about the state of our economy I refuse to get negative about life. I have sought this year to encourage and inspire people to keep looking to the stars, keep setting goals, keep finding answers and most importantly keep loving the things that are really important.

And it must have an impact on many of you because I am now being inundated with emails complaining that I am not blogging or on Facebook so frequently .

(For the record I will be back to regular blogging on the 7^th Jan, right now I have to drive for 10 minutes to get coverage to post this blog!)

We all need encouragement and inspiration.  That is how we were designed.

So you my friend have to decide what you put into your mind as that will dictate what comes out.

Can I suggest that over the next week you take stock of:

1. Email newsletters you receive regularly.  Unsubscribe form any that insult your intelligence and/or try to get you to focus on what is wrong in the world.
2. Reading.  Whether it is newspapers/magazines or online choose to stop exposing your eyes to anything that insults your soul
3. Television.  Number one destroyer of positivity and energy.  Throw it away or at least set yourself a limit of 1 hour per day.  If you can last a week you will be amazed at how much more energy you, how much more positive you feel and you will have started developing some good new habits like talking to your kids, enjoying music or spending time with God.

This has been the weirdest year I have lived through with so many challenges and so many of my friends and clients struggling.  Let’s turn 2011 around together and start executing our lives with more passion, focus and self belief.

In closing I must thank a few people who kept me sane this year.

First and foremost my amazing wife Raewyn, she is not only gorgeous and loving but the mainstay of our businesses and an ongoing model of incredible integrity.

Secondly to my kids, I have just spent a week with them and am so thankful for the joy they bring me and the wonderful human beings they are!

To Zharna, my favourite eldest daughter and PA.  I am sure it is weird to work for your father, even one as wonderful as I am J.  I love having you around and appreciate the fact that you so often do the jobs you hate when I ask you to.  We’ll sort out your deliverance form your tattoos once I get back from Asia .

To Ben Magrill, my friend and IT guru.  My business wouldn’t exist online without your ongoing help and uncomplaining attention to my late nite “HELP” pleas over the year.

To Matthew Gilligan, as a friend and associate your wisdom and friendship have often helped me make the decision to keep going and continue to make a difference in the lives of others.

To Matt Archer, my best friend and a wonderful source of laughter/counsel and genuine friendship.  I don’t care what everybody else says about you Matt, I reckon you’re OK

To Paul Hewitt, my good friend and favourite success story.  You inspire me to never, ever, ever give up.  I love watching you succeed and grow and always keep “turning stones”.

To so many of my clients and students who are now friends and peers.  I truly enjoy getting your emails and questions and phone calls just to say hi or ask for advice.  You remind me what is good about staying in these shark infested wealth creation waters.

And lastly to my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.  I entered the wealth creation world as a means to serve Him more effectively in Fiji and His empowering is the only reason I am still here today.  It has been an incredible honour to see so many people find hope and faith through connecting with me and to be able to stand on stages all over the world and share His love while I talk about property is a gift I still cannot take in.  I get many things wrong in my life and make lots of mistakes.  Securing my place in heaven for all eternity is the one thing I am so glad I did correctly!!

I pray that you find what you looking for in 2011 and can say of yourself that your heart is truly at rest.

Thank you once again for your kindness, love and challenges this year, looking forward to racking up more successes in 2011.

Stay inspired and Stay Safe ~ Dean Letfus