3 Painless Ways To Motivate Yourself (Read Time 0:51)

If you are like me, you are extremely motivated when you start a project or some other undertaking, but that motivation begins to wane about 3 weeks after its inception. It is easy to be excited about something new, it is the thrill of the unknown that gets many people's blood pumping. But I'm sure we all know that the true rewards only come when we finish what we start. So how can you stay motivated to keep going until you the finish the job? Here are a couple of methods that I use:

1) Usually when I start a new project I write down all of the benefits associated with completing it. I review this list whenever I feel that my motivation is beginning to dry up.
2) I remind myself of the aspects of my current situation that I am not happy about that completing this project/undertaking will change for the better.
3) I spend some time talking or hanging out with friends that are very motivated. Usually their energy will rub off on me and/or hearing them talk will spark some fresh ideas.

How else can you motivate yourself and what methods do you use? Leave a comment.

8 Ways To Maintain Your Inspiration (Read Time: 1 minute, 58 seconds)

The drudgery and difficulties of life can sometimes cause us to lose our inspiration. Negative feedback and doubters can cause even the strongest of optimist to give up. But one has to maintain a certain level of inspiration to keep going after what God has placed in their heart. There will never be a shortage of discouragement, but I have found that these actions help me stay motivated and inspired in spite of the challenges that life presents. This is by no means an exhaustive lists, you may think of some things that you can do or that you have seen others practice in order to stay motivated:
1) Prayer And Communication With God- my daily routine of connecting with God is the source of my strength and true inspiration that keeps me going.
2) Inspiration Boards- I have compiled a list of pictures/images that I keep in front of me daily that remind me of what I'm working toward.
3) Making Creative Outlets- I find myself most inspired sometimes when I am creating or after I have created something. Most people lose inspiration when they don't have an outlet or platform to express themselves from. Find somewhere or something that you can use as a creative outlet (i.e. blogging, camera, music, etc.)
4) Read A Lot- not everybody is a reader, but they should be. Reading opens your mind to great thinkers and possibilities that are far beyond what you may think is feasible.
5) Remember Your Successes Of The Past- recount your blessings and accomplishments that you have achieved thus far regularly. Don't dwell there and get stuck in former glory, but review these in order to remind yourself that you are heading in the right direction.
6) Surround Yourself With People Who Are Positive- this goes without saying, but you only go as far as your inner circle. If they place limits on themselves, they will place limits on you. If the sky is the limit for them, they will encourage you to have that view as well.
7) Do One Thing A Day That Gets You Closer To Your Goals- this habit will keep the vision fresh on your mind, give you a sense of progress, and help you to inch toward the finish line (consistency is key in any great endeavor).
8) Remember The Key People Who Depend On You- Look into the eyes of the people who are depending on you for inspiration. Carrying that weight will enable you to see past your own personal dilemmas and see the bigger picture.

Official Video- Tha Mic- All In

Tha Mic just released his newest video for the blazing single, All In, off his forthcoming mixtape "Overcoming Anything" available for free download July 28th, 2012. Overcoming anything features collaborations from artists such as Sharp Skills and Dre Marshall. Check out the hot new visual for "All In" below. Follow Tha Mic on Twitter at @ThaMicCheck.

The Art Of Learning How To Trust In God (Read Time 58 Seconds)

Trusting others is difficult, well, probably for most people. It's probably safe to say, that trusting people (who we can see) is hard enough. But trusting someone we cannot see? That can prove quite challenging. God has given me an epiphany of sorts in these past couple of days. He showed me that many people believe that He exists, but do not trust that He is who He says He is. There is a very drastic difference between believing in God and trusting in Him. You cannot trust in Him, without first believing in Him, but you can believe in Him, but not trust Him. God often allows us to go through circumstances and situations that are beyond our control. In these He shows us that we can depend on Him no matter what. He wants to bring you and I to a place where we put absolute trust in His Love for us, no matter what kind of situation (even the outcome) we face. We have to be conscience in our determination to trust in Him until it becomes a natural part of our lives. It won't happen overnight, but it will happen if we make it our resolve everyday.

Laziness: The Fire Breathing Dream Killer! (Read time: 59 seconds)

"One who is slack in his work is brother to one who destroys". Proverbs 18:9


It is amazing to see how lazy that I can be sometimes. A strong and dedicated work ethic is just not a natural inclination for a lot of people, especially those who live a life of relative comfort without having to earn it. When I read the proverb above, I was caught off guard a little. It turns out that laziness has a destructive element to it. Devastation and laziness are immediate relatives. This verse is enough to get me up off of my butt so that I am not a contributor to the destruction of my surroundings and circles of influence. I have found that laziness, if not monitored, has a sneaky way of creeping itself into a prominent place in my life especially after I have worked hard on something beforehand. The goal should not be to become a workaholic, but to have a healthy work ethic in both our individual efforts and the organizations/causes that we are associated with. When tempted to be lazy, remind yourself that giving way to lethargy takes you one step closer to wreckage (in one way or another).

3 Reasons Why You May Be Afraid To Pursue Your Vision (Read Time: 81 seconds)

Many of us have an innate desire within us to do something significant with our lives. Within that many, there are several of us who have an expectation for what that significance should look like. I will venture to say that this is a vision placed within us. Yet, I have found that the vast majority of people never pursue their vision, or at least never put a decent amount of effort into it. Three reasons come to mind on why you and I may be tempted to not go after the God-given vision within us:

1) Fear of Failure- there is the human tendency to play it safe. A lot of people believe that failure means the end, but the truth is that you only fail when you quit. Mistakes, setbacks, and disappointments are actually very useful teachers depending on our outlook.
2) Criticism- Most people don't like critics or the feeling of their efforts being judged. So to spare ourselves the pain of hearing how great we are not, we stay in the background. The messed up part is that we also begin to criticize others who are bold enough to step out on their vision. Some criticism is very useful depending on the source, and the motives of the ones who give it.
3) No Example to Follow- Chances are that the vision that you have is very unique. True, there is nothing new under the sun, but you may envision a totally different version of what once was. It's scary to try to create something and there is no existing template. But if you act on your vision despite having no clear model, you will be a pioneer and an example to many others who are to follow in your footsteps.

Anno Rebelio and Sharp Skills Come to the Pacific Northwest (Tour Dates Included)

The R.E.B.E.L. Firm is excited to announce that Sharp Skills will be hitting the road with his new album Anno Rebelio, with the first stop being the beautiful Pacific Northwest. The PNW has a very special place in Sharp's heart because he spent 7 years there as a resident and started his professional music career there as well, releasing his debut album "The Responsibility" in 2004 and "The Campaign" in 2008. Now he is gearing up to let his fellow R.E.B.E.L.'s there hear his new sound, maturity, and growth as an artist. The tour dates/appearances are as follows (click on the links for more information):

June 24th
C.89 Radio Interview with Eddie Jones-Seattle, WA-8:30am interview time
F.A.M.E. (First African Methodist Episcopal Church)-Seattle, WA-11am service (tentative)

June 27-28th
Generation Now Conference- Vancouver, WA-6pm (27th)-10am (28th)

June 29th
Inside the Music Concert- Seattle, WA-7pm

June 30th
New Creation Christian Center-Seattle, WA-7pm

July 1st
Restoration Bible Church- Seattle, WA-10:30am