From the battlefield overseas,
To the aftermath at home,
Your bravery and honor are unmatched,
and many times unknown.
You gave sweat, tears, and blood,
and you would have given more.
You would risk the unmarked grave,
on a nameless foreign shore.
The debt that we owe you,
is impossible to pay.
But let us say thank you,
if even just for today.
So here's to our veterans,
who keep this nation free.
Let freedom ring forever,
blessed lady Liberty.

Recently I was able to ask Debbie Johnson, best-selling **author of *Think Yourself Thin*, about her program for losing weight.1.Have you ever been overweight yourself? 
Yes! I gained 40 lbs. dieting, lost it all thinking thin and I've kept it off for over 25 years!
2. How did you Think Yourself Thin?
I thought myself thing using a technique I developed for business.  I call it Focused Imagination because it goes beyond visualization, using all the senses plus positive feelings.

 3. Why do people retain or keep re-gaining weight?
People retain or regain weight due to psychological fears, worries, burdens or the like. The subconscious will protect us at any cost and extra weight may be the only way it knows how.  For example, a person who's been abused in any way may protect themselves with weight.

.4. What's your best advice for someone to start now? The most effective thing you can do is to stop weighing yourself and start talking kindly to your body.  Love it and say, "I feel a little bit thinner today" every single day for one month minimum.
 
5. What does the scientific world think about mind over body matter?
 Proof that mind over body matter works is evident in studies done all over the world. One example is  a Swedish study, published by the Eating and Weight Disorders Journal, proved positive for cognitive therapy (changing thinking) for weight loss. 43 overweight people lost an average of 17 pounds by the end of ten weeks. The control group (not doing anything differently) gained weight!

6. How does thinking thin really work?Thinking thin works with the subconscious language: images. We don't think in words, we think in images. The subconscious hears; "I won't gain weight" as the image of gaining weight. If you diet, you are thinking about what you can't have. "I will not eat that piece of chocolate cake!" translates into, "Yum!! Chocolate Cake, I smell it, taste it, want it now!"

7. Is it like self-hypnosis?
 Thinking thin is kind of like self-hypnosis in that you are re-conditioning your subconscious. The good news is, it lasts if you do it continually and don't give up or revert back to negative thinking. 
8. Do you have to keep doing the mental exercises for life?
 You have to just do the "key image" exercises I share in my book for just thirty days, then it becomes a habit, like anything you do for thirty days. But you must continue to be positive about your body and your self, to some degree at least.

9. How long does it take to see results?
 Everyone is so different. Some clients see results within two weeks. For me it was about two months, then two years to complete. For others it's instant because they see and carry themselves differently. People even comment that they look thinner!

10. Do you have to watch what you eat when you're thinking thin?
While thinking thin, you can eat whatever you darn well please! I certainly did. What happens is that you automatically eat what your subconscious image furnishes. You are thinking slim, so you eat foods that make your body slim. Remember that it will be different for each of us, as we are unique. Each of us has different bio-chemistry.You can check out more about her plan at her site which is djsuccesstraining.com

Recently I was able to talk with Paula Rizzo about the power of lists. Paula is known as the master of lists and the following are her insights in how we can use lists to be more productive.
I've always been a list maker. I make lists about just about anything because it helps me to stay focused, be more productive and efficient. From grocery shopping to looking for an apartment or planning a wedding or
vacation...I rely on lists to help me get things accomplished and
organized. I even make tough decisions using pros and cons lists. I've
started a blog about my compulsive list making -- http://www.listproducer.com

I use them at work as well. I'm an Emmy Award winning TV producer and I
attribute much of my success to my compulsive list making. Once something
is written down it becomes a goal and serves as a map to get you to your
desired outcome. Each night before I leave work -- I run through the
following day in my head and write down everything that I need to do. Any
appointments, scripts I need to write, phone calls I need to make -- it all
gets put down on my list. Then when I come in the next morning -- I hit
the ground running...I have my road map for the day and I don't have to
think about what needs to get done -- I just start working.

How lists help to maximize your time:

A list is like a shortcut or a cheat sheet to help you work towards your
goal. If you write down the questions you should ask your doctor before
you get to your appointment -- you won't forget what you wanted to find
out. You won't waste time contacting the office again to ask the questions
you forgot about. Making a list of the things that are important to you
when searching for an apartment or home will allow you to focus on what's
important to you. That way you won't waste time going back to the location
to check how many closets are in each room. If it was on your
well-constructed checklist, you'll get your information the first time.

At work -- using lists help to maximize your time because you can refer to
it throughout the day and add to it if you need to. For instance -- how
many times have you been pulled way from a project and forget what you're
doing? If I get interrupted by a phone call or visitor -- I write on my
list exactly what I was in the middle of doing so I can pick it up later.

Why lists are good tools for time management:

Lists are good tools for time management because they force you to direct
your attention at your tasks. As long as you organize your list in a way
that works for you -- you are set up for success. You can organize them by
date, time or project. Having everything you need to do on a list will
help to keep your eye on the prize.


You can check out more of her advice about lists on her site.

Tomorrow is Halloween, the one day a year when adults can wear a bed sheet in public and still be considered relatively normal.  On this festive day, people dress up like favorite characters, superheroes, villains, or the rich and famous.  Many times, people are willing to take more risks and do things outside their comfort zone when dressed like someone else.   People will act differently because of the mask or costume.  In our personal or business pursuits, we might draw an interesting lesson from this spooky day.
When we set goals for ourselves, it's assumed that our goal is something we have not achieved before.  If I've run in a marathon, I don't set that as my goal.  I might set a time limit, but the act of running in a marathon is no longer a goal for me.  It's an achievement.  When making goals, we are told we need to dream big.  I agree, but it can be difficult to change our behavior in a way to conform with our goals.  So much of our identity is wrapped up in who we are now, and not who we aspire to be.  In order to succeed, it can help us to emulate a person who has achieved our goals.  For instance, if my dream is to become a great quarterback, I would want to act like Peyton Manning or Tom Brady.  I would look to what they do, and try to do those same things.  Many people call this the "fake it 'til you make it" method.  If we assume the "identity" of someone who has already achieved our dreams, it helps us act in a way that is consistent with our goals.Changing our habits can be difficult, and sometimes we need help to reach our goals.  By learning from those who have gone before us, we can make the path to success a little shorter and little easier.  So tomorrow, try to take something away from Halloween, other than too much candy.  Remember, make believe can be fun, but it can also help us make our dreams become a reality.

I just finished reading "Tuesday Morning Coaching" by David Cottrell.  The book is an easy read, but has some great points. The writer conveys that there are Eight Simple Truths that can help your life and career.
The Eight Simple Truths are:
1. No matter what attitude - This attitude means that no matter what is going on in a person's life, that person should take responsibility for the situation.
2. And then some - This truth is that in order to be successful, a person needs to look for a way to go the extra mile.
3. Consider it done - This truth alludes to integrity, and that when we say we will do something, we follow through with actions.
4. Above all else - This truth deals with our integrity and establishing boundaries that we will not cross.
5. From now on - This chapter teaches that we must learn from our failures, and that we can be successful by doing so.
6. See it, feel it, trust it, do it - This lesson teaches the importance and power of goal setting.
7. Focus inside your boat - This chapter teaches that a person must look at what they can control.
8. Knowledge is power - A person is able to be successful by gaining knowledge constantly.  Large houses typically have large book collections. 

Welcome to my blog at Ally21. 

My name is Joshua Epperson - people close to me call me Coach Epp or Joshua.  I am passionate about coaching and teaching, and I am fortunate enough to have made my career doing what I love.  On my days off, you can catch me exercising, at church, or watching a good ball game. 
       
The aim of this blog is to provide insights that will guide you to personal and organizational growth. To help you to no longer be a slave to old habits and old ways of thinking, but instead to master a new and better way of living.  My mission is to help you become something you never thought you could become.

Please feel free to comment on any current and future blogs.  Your thoughts are welcome!