There’s Only ONE Thing that Matters

Helloo0O Ladies and Gentlemen!

Welcome back to Graceland Ontario, your one stop location for success advice from the greats. Today we’re going to talk about dieing for what you believe in… literally.

As many of you know, today is St. George’s Day, the feast in celebration of the man who’s patron saint of more countries and cities than I’m willing to list (England, Georgia and Malta are on there, though). And though he’s most famous for a debatable story about killing a dragon to save a princess, St. George was a real man.

Now, I’ve done a couple of these saint posts (check them out, if you haven’t already: St. Patrick, St. David) but this fella might be one of the harder ones to find information on. He was supposedly a Greek born in Palestine to nobility who ended up as a tribune (second-in-command of the basic Roman military unit, the legion) for Emperor Diocletion after George’s father, also a military officer, and mother passed away.

Everything was looking like lollipops and bubblebaths for George. But there was a problem − Diocletion issued an edict saying all Christian Roman soldiers were to be arrested.

And George was Christian.

Diocletion didn’t want to get George in trouble so he offered gifts to George in the hopes he’d convert.

He didn’t.

Left with no other options, Diocletion had George tortured and decapitated. But, in recognition of his faith and loyalty, fellow Christians made George a martyr.

Now, I’m not suggesting you go out there, contradict people and get yourself executed (yes, I know it’s not too likely anyways). But, what I am saying is bear in mind George’s strength. He couldn’t be tempted by anything, including the promise of life, to do something he didn’t want to do − leave his religion.

Everybody’s unique in some way. And, especially as we get older, most confident people believe their way’s right, even when they don’t really know enough to state an opinion. And, sometimes worse, they want you to change to their way of thinking.

Now, writing this on a self-development blog might seem a bit crazy but you need to realize you’re all that matters! There’s only one person you have to live with and that’s the guy in the mirror. Everyone else, however painful it may be, can be slap-shotted aside.

Though you should seek to learn and be reasonable with others, and while acknowledging there are things you’re ignorant of (keep cool… we all are of something), you need to know what’s important to you, deep down, and stick with it no matter what. George didn’t want to live life without Christianity and was willing to sacrifice himself for that. There are things just as important to you − maybe your family, your work, your business − and you’ve gotta be that loyal to them.

Just because others tell you it’s wrong doesn’t mean a thing.

It is your life you’re living.

Talk to you later!

Alex H.

If you liked this Graceland Ontario post, you might also like these other updates:

• Graceland, Ontario: The Time Trap
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• Mean What You Say
• Storm of the Century

If They Don't Agree, Laugh At Them

 

Helloo0O Ladies and Gentlemen!

Welcome back to Graceland Ontario, your one stop location to learn the success lessons of the greats. Today, we're going to talk about the importance of keeping a sense of humour.

As most of you know, it's April 1st today – April Fool's Day. And, despite my best intentions to the contrary, I'm going to be nice to you and not attempt to fool you (umm... seriously).

April Fool's Day (celebrated in some countries by people playin “April Fish” on others – sneaking up on them and putting a paper fish on their back) had interesting origins – when January 1st was becoming the new-fangled official day of the New Year (believe it or not, the beginning of April used to be the start of the new year), the adopters of the new tradition would laugh at those who hadn't caught on. There was little doubt that they would eventually – why else laugh at them?

To me, it shows a great lesson – when someone or some group doesn't agree with you, take a good laugh at them. Not the people – they may be as smart or smarter than you – but at what they stand for.

It gives you perspective.

You, see many times we feel like we're the ostrich in the life boat, the only person believing in our idea, scared others will rip us apart and not agree.

But when we take the opposite viewpoint – that we're right and everyone else's view points aren't more than a joke, it give us fortitude to keep pushing on, whatever the obstacle, whatever the opposition.

Laugh a lot and see you next week!

Alex H.

If you enjoyed this update, you might also appreciate these posts:

• Graceland, Ontario: Words of Wisdom: Vince King 
• Graceland, Ontario: Bruno Mars Learnt from Elvis... Why Wouldn't You?
• Graceland, Ontario: They Were There When You Were Born
• Elvis meets Cary Grant: It's all About Who You Associate With
• Graceland, Ontario: They Gave Then, Now It's Your Turn

Bruno Mars Learnt from Elvis... Why Wouldn't You?

Helloo0O Ladies and Gentlemen…

Welcome back to another week at Graceland Ontario where we show you the lessons that made Elvis successful and fit them into your life. This week we’re going to talk about Elvis’s influence and how it’s no sin to use it for your benefit.

Check out this link:

http://www.elvis.com/news/detail.aspx?id=5575

It’s about modern pop star Bruno Mars. Mars has topped the charts a few times in recent years and won a Grammy, yet when he was four years old he was known as the world’s youngest Elvis Impersonator.

When Mars was young, he used Elvis’s image to boost his own (though he probably didn’t realise it then). When he got older, he did his own original material but still used what he learnt from Elvis to improve his act.

Mars at a young age, consciously or not, learnt that mixing his talent with Elvis’s legend and style were explosive. Even now, he uses the same formila to capture this generation of youth’s attention as Elvis did back in the 50’s.

As Mars shows, there’s no shame in learning from your idols to improve your act, whether it be in show biz, politics or the corporate world. Sure, you need to be safe in your own skin to be successful but if using the legend of a dead guy helps you do it, then use it.

You see, a lot of people get worried when they start using the legends of great men (or women) like Elvis to fine-tone their skills. They’re scared they’ll lose their personal identity and turn into a copy-cat.

But, as in Bruno Mars’s case, learning from the best does not mean you turn into them… It took Mars years to cement his own musical reputation. And even then, it required his own unique style. Take a look at some of his stuff − you can see the 50’s/60’s influence, but you wouldn’t say he’s solely copying Elvis.

And besides, most modern musicians copy Elvis to a degree whether they like it or not, he’s so imbedded in our culture.

No, Mars has a unique style, but he used Elvis to help get him there. And YOU can, too.

Copying Elvis’s confidence, his charm, his energy − whatever you need − will give you a basis to build foundations of your own (as Mars did in his music career). It turns into a question of “What would Elvis do in this situation?” From that basis, you can let the dead singer’s spirit lead you to accomplishment in whatever field you want.

Mars did it to help him get to a modern crowd of pop-enthusiasts; you can do it to help get whatever you like, too.

Elvis’s Lessons:

Bruno Mars, a modern singer-songwriter, Grammy winner and teen sensation, got his career basis as the world’s youngest Elvis impersonator when he was four. Mars used Elvis’s legend to help his career, and so can you. By asking yourself, “what would Elvis do in this situation?” you can change your perspective and use what Elvis had (confidence, energy, humility, etc…) as basis to improve yourself in that area. It worked for Mars, and he’s rich and famous now. It can work for you, too.

P.S. Any comments or questions regarding this post? Write me a note in the comment box below or email me at alexghilson@gmail.com and I'll reply to you faster than Usain Bolt can run the 100m... well, maybe not that fast.

P.P.S. If you'd like to see Bruno Mars singing his number one hit single, "Just the Way You Are", here's a link to the music video on Youtube.