“The Road To Riches: 13 Keys To Success” with Napoleon Hill is a unique audio program that not only features original recordings of W. Clement Stone and Napoleon Hill, but includes moderation by Greg S. Reid and commentary by a wealth of current success “Gurus” which include Bob Proctor, Sharon Lechter, Mark Victor Hansen, Loral Langemeier, Les Brown, Kevin Harrington, John Assaraf, Brian Tracy and others.  If you are like me, you probably recognize some, if not all, of these people.  I enjoyed the original recordings of Hill’s success formula, but I also really enjoyed the additional commentary where these personal development experts expand and elaborate on the thirteen principles that Hill discusses in the program.  

The 13 “keys” are presented from number thirteen down to the number one key.  The thirteen principles are: 13. Cosmic Habit Force; 12. Accurate Thinking; 11. Creative Vision; 10. Learning from Adversity and Defeat; 9. Personal Initiative; 8. Enthusiasm; 7. Positive Mental Attitude; 6. Self-discipline; 5. A Pleasing Personality; 4. Applied Faith; 3. Going the Extra Mile; 2. The Power of the Mastermind; and the number one key to success: 1. Definiteness of Purpose.

As you can see from the list, these principles have been discussed and taught in many forms, because they are that powerful and they are keys to success.  Napolean Hill is considered the forefather of the modern personal development movement and the author of the motivational classic “Think and Grow Rich.”  Those that know him, which anyone who studies success does, know that he researched and interviewed the most successful people of his time and that is what he based his books and speeches on, so it is not just theory, but practical advice based on what successful people were doing.  It worked for them, and it can work for anyone today.

While the language Hill uses is a bit dated a times, the message he provides is as true today as it was when he recorded these words.  The current commentary helps bridge the gap in language and time and enforces the relevancy of the lessons today.  The program is on three discs and is about 3 hours 22 minutes long.  But there is also a bonus DVD that contains the unedited footage of W. Clement Stone (Introductions) and Napoleon Hill on video.  You can see these two present the 13 lessons, or keys, to success as originally recorded.  I thought this was very cool to see these two pioneers of personal development present these lessons.  

This CD/DVD program is destined to take a place among the classics in personal development.  Presented by two legends in the field, along with greats from today, this program provides a real wealth of information for anyone looking to journey the road to riches.

In the last block, before crossing the street at the light where the crossing guard gives out treats, I saw a woman parking her vehicle and getting out with her two kids.  One is my daughter’s age, second grade.  I also happen to know that they live on the same block as we do, just on the opposite side, and normally, she drives them right up to the school. But today, they crossed with the same light as we did, and the kids got a treat and the woman took a coffee.

The coffee and the pieces of candy are not the issue, but rather what the woman is teaching her children. And yes, I blame it all on the mother.  I would bet those two kids would have gladly walked the entire distance to school, just like my daughter.  They probably would have enjoyed it.  But no, instead, their mother taught them  the lesson that you can cheat, take the easy way, get over on the system, and still be rewarded.

What’s the big deal?  It’s just a coffee and piece of candy.  Wrong!  It’s integrity.  It’s teaching kids by example.  Right from wrong.  Honesty.  Integrity.  Honor. Keys to living with the Warrior’s Edge, these character traits are not sometimes things, when it’s convenient things, when I might get caught things: they are all the time things.  Everything counts!  In fact, it might be even more important with these little things, because personal integrity is doing when no one is looking what you would do if the entire world was looking at you.

Yes, I know walking to school with your kids can be inconvenient.  Besides walking to school, I have to walk back home too.  However, if we leave early, and I walk fast, I can be home at the same time as if I’d have driven her, and then off to anything I need to do.  So time really isn’t an issue.  But then, I’m in shape and walk fast too.  So if you can’t walk with them, drive. But don’t take the treats for those that walk!

Two weeks ago I gave a presentation titled Actions Speak Louder Than Words.  They teach better than words too.  Those kids are learning from their mom, just as my daughter is learning from me and my wife.  And kids learn more from what we do than what we say.  Developing unquestionable character and living with integrity are cornerstones to living a life of excellence.  And we teach these through our actions and the little things.

Every once in a while, when I need a shot of motivation to organize when I’ve let some things go, or to increase my productivity, or to get to writing more, I’ll pull one of Aslett’s books of the shelf for that extra boost. This is a book I will read again, I’m sure more than once, because like Zig Ziglar preaches, you need motivation daily, just like a bath, and this is one very motivating book: for business, for success, for family, for life.

“The Detachment” by Barry Eisler brings back assassin John Rain and the former Marine sniper, Dox, from Eisler’s first six popular novels and pairs them with the covert operator and hero of Eisler’s last two books, Ben Treven, and the deadly Larison from Eisler’s most recent “Inside Out.”  These four, all expert and experienced operators and killers, are thrust together to form a detachment to stop a coup that’s being launched on American soil.  Black Ops veteran Colonel Scott “Hort” Horton from previous novels brings the four together for the mission, but it’s up to the four to figure out just what the mission is, if they can, before being killed, or killing each other.  The premise makes for an exciting fast paced yarn that is fun to read and keeps you wondering what is what and who is who throughout.

I’m a friend of Eisler’s, and was looking forward to him writing about Rain and Dox again.  As a former Army sniper, I have a kindred spirit for the former Marine.  I really liked his part in this story, and it was great to see him back in action, as well as providing some of the comical relief when things get tough.  Who says a tough guy can’t have a sense of humor?  The way the four men interacted with each other moved the talk along well, and the trust, or lack of it, element of the story kept it interesting.  Sometimes these interactions were as full of “action” as the actual action scenes, just a different type.  The way the characters have developed over the series, and the camaraderie between them, and a look into their psyche, enables the reader to better understand these men, their lives, their pains, their insecurities, as well as their strengths.

As a writer, Eisler did another thing I found interesting.  When focused on Rain, the narration is in first person, but when writing about Dox, Treven, and Larison, it is in third person.  I found this interesting, and it really makes the story a John Rain thriller as the title suggests, rather than a Ben Treven book.  And Rain is the primary character, even though the others all play important roles.  Eisler, as always, is in top form when writing about covert ops and keeps his locations accurate and realistic.  His experience and research pays off.

“The Detachment” is a terrific thriller with John Rain and Dox back in action.  The addition of Treven and Larison added to the excitement and I’m looking forward to seeing where this detachment of special op professionals goes next.

Combatives For Street Survival: Hard-Core Countermeasures for High-Risk

After appearing on the cover of Black Belt magazine in 2008, he wrote this book that was published by Black Belt Books. It’s an attractive 8 1/2 x 11 inch book with full color pictures throughout. Some might not like the larger black borders, or the full page photos that introduce the chapters, but I found them to be different than many self-defense books and felt it made this book unique and didn’t mind them at all. I liked the different layout.

The real reason this book is valuable is McCann’s knowledge. It could be written on the back of a napkin and would still be worth reading. His no BS, straight to the point, style is as direct and powerful as the basic combative strikes and kicks he teaches.

Chapter one describes what combatives are and provides a little history as well as the
current state of combatives. I also really liked the short section regarding internet forums.

Chapter two touches on the realities of confrontations. There are short sections on avoidance, situational awareness, and attack-recognition skills. He also discusses physiological effects of imminent danger, mitigating duress dysfunctions, and combatives traits and characteristics. Mindset, winning, and confrontations in real life are also topics in this chapter.

Chapter three contains short descriptions and illustrating photographs of fourteen combatives principles. Principles such as go armed, apply power explosively, use the right weapon, and full body-weight striking. These principles are important for self-defense regardless of any style or techniques you may practice.

Chapter four covers combatives methodology and explains McCann’s hard-core training routines. Real altercations and confrontations are serious, and so is the training McCann advocates. He does include information on training aids and safety, but the real thing that stands out from this chapter is the intensity and hard-core training presented.

Chapter five instructs on combatives positions and movements. Stances, or starting positions, movement, and swaying and hollowing out are some of what’s covered in this short chapter.

Chapter six, defensive skills, covers just what the title states. Fending, checking, and blocking are covered here. This includes blocking weapon attacks. The things McCann teaches are illustrated with accompanying photographs.

Chapter seven teaches the combatives strikes. These include the finger jab, hammerfist, face smash, ax hand, and knees, elbows, and kicks among others. Again, accompanying photographs illustrate the various blows. McCann also is clear when describing the execution
of the techniques that you explode into them and use all your body weight to your advantage.

Chapter eight provides some unarmed situational self-offense situations. McCann provides a brief bit on use of force, and then provides a few scenarios with examples of how one could defend themselves in such a situation. The pictures are clear and the techniques simple and brutal. A couple of the scenarios involve handgun defense, which are the same techniques those familiar with McCann’s DVDs have seen him teach.

Finally there is an afterword that contains a few corollaries between combatives and the U.S.
Marine Corps Field Manual 1 (FM 1) Warfighting.

Combatives For Street Survival: Hard-Core Countermeasures for High-Risk Situations by Kelly McCann provides some excellent advice and instruction regarding self-defense and the person who learns the techniques and principles in this book, and who trains hard as McCann advises, will be much better prepared if ever faced with a violent and unexpected assault.

One of the things I particularly like about Clarence is his complete honesty and willingness to share not only his triumphs but his difficulties as well. I thought it was courageous to discuss his medical conditions with such blunt honesty and openness. Learning about how he underwent hip replacement, and reading about his tale of the catheter where enlightening in that while I hope I never have to undergo either, I recognize that as we age we all will face different health concerns and knowing that by keeping ourselves in good physical condition we can better cope and overcome these difficulties. Clarence’s telling of how he overcame his medical difficulties, including showing the scar from him hip replacement on the cover of the book, will undoubtedly encourage others to overcome and triumph over their own difficulties regardless of their age.

Another thing I really like about all of Clarence’s books, this one included, is that he not only shares resources, but the practical ways he incorporates his research into his training and lifestyle and then encourages the reader to make healthy training and eating their own. Not to copy exactly what he does, but to take the principles that he teaches and make the training and eating habits that will ensure your own success. I also enjoy the stores and examples he shared by others, especially Dan Sawyer’s advice in the last chapter.

It is also interesting to see how Clarence’s training has changed over the years. This is a natural progression. As all of us age and go through different periods regarding our physical goals, our training will change as well. I really like that Clarence writes about what he does, and why; what he has changed, and why.

Here is a little of what you will learn in this book:

Chapter 1: Great Expectations. Learn about attitude, expectations, and the competitive edge among other mental elements of training.

Chapter 2: Overcoming. This is the chapter where Clarence tells of his medical problems. He shares his stories and experiences so that you can learn that your fitness level will impact your outcome, you can learn that you are in charge, and that the ultimate responsibility to help yourself resides with you.

Chapter 3: Take It Off, Keep It Off. Learn about metabolism, exercise, fat loss and eating.

Chapter 4: Exercise for Life. Learn about exercise including strength training and aerobic exercise.

Chapter 5: About Training. This chapter covers concepts such as overload and rest, training frequency, slow lifting, balance and more.

Chapter 6: About Diet (Not Dieting). An excellent overview of healthy eating. I also like how Clarence tells you things that he eats and why. The section on every meal counting is also very important to know.

Chapter 7: Eating for the Peak. Throughout the years, photos of Clarence at his peaks have been extremely motivating. The photos of him at 70 still inspire. Many half or even a third his age would like to look that good. In this chapter he explains how he prepares for peaking.

Chapter 8: Training for the Peak. Bass continues with his advice on peaking by sharing how he trains for peaking as well.

Chapter 9: Motivation and Change. Clarence says you should plan for success and start with motivation. Good chapter with advice not only from Clarence but some great words from Dan Sawyer as well to help you get and stay motivated toward healthy living.

Great Expectations is an excellent addition to anyone’s health and fitness bookshelf. It is motivating and informative. In fact, if you only had room for a few health and fitness books, Clarence’s Lean For Life, Challenge Yourself, and Great Expectations should be on the short list. These three books together provide such a wealth of information and are extremely motivating to see how Clarence and his wife Carol have lived these principles and the success they have achieved because of their healthy lifestyle.

On pages 145-146, Clarence states that some people in their 20s didn’t relate to his writings in Muscle & Fitness back in the 80s, but now that he is older and they are in their 40s, they relate to his message more. Perhaps they can follow in his footsteps by benefiting from his methods and example. Personally, I always enjoyed his columns in M&F back then. But now in my 40s, I relate even more to the messages in his last three books – the ones I mentioned above. And yes, I will use some of his methods and use him as an example to live healthy for the next three decades. And then, when I’m in my 70s, I’ll read about how Clarence continued to train till 100 to motivate me to train another 30 years.

Owning a firearm and going to the range a couple times to shoot a few rounds will not prepare you to actually use your gun in a real gun fight. While most people will never be faced with such a reality, some will. If you want to be prepared for the realities of a gunfight, you must train for them. In Close-Range Gunfighting: Reality-Based Firearms Training for Realistic Situations, combat shooting instructor Gabriel Suarez teaches the skills needed to use your weapon for combat.

The running time for the two DVDs is 195 minutes, and during this time Suarez basically covers the skills he teaches in his live classes. The goal of his classes is to replicate real world situations through the training environment. This two volume set teaches you how to go about the same training.

Each lesson is well taught. Suarez speaks well and demonstrates everything he teaches. The segments are concluded with a review section that makes it easy to remember the main points he was instructing. The entire set is well filmed and edited and ranks with some of the best shooting instruction videos I have seen.

Volume 1

The first DVD starts out with a brief introduction and then a safety briefing. I was glad to see
this, because there is no excuse for not handling weapons safely. Suarez points out four rules that everyone should follow. 1. Treat all firearms as if they are loaded. 2. Don’t let your muzzle cover anything you’re not willing to destroy. 3. Keep your finger off the trigger until you’ve made a conscious decision to shoot. 4. Be sure of your target and what’s beyond it.

Next Suarez goes into marksmanship fundamentals. It’s a succinct overview of the seven fundamentals of marksmanship he teaches. A complete novice may need more instruction in this area, but then a complete novice should get some first hand live instruction on the basics before learning the combat skills taught in these DVDs. The basics Suarez covers include grip, stance, gun alignment, sight alignment, sight picture, trigger control, and follow-through. Once these basics are covered, Suarez moves into ready positions. I liked his practical approach with different ready positions for different needs. He covers imminent threat ready positions, movement ready positions, and covert ready positions.

Suarez teaches a four part drawstroke and goes into detail on how to best deploy your weapon for action. From there, he also covers how to reholster. This is something you will have to do many times to be as smooth as Suarez. Remember, speed will come with practice. Don’t try to rush learning to draw. Learn correctly, practice correctly, and speed will come.

After teaching the above fundamentals, the DVDs gets into actual shooting. Suarez does a good job of covering live-fire basics such as weapons check, loading and unloading, and shooting basics. He then goes into multiple shots, instructing on the double tap and three and four shot shots per target. First he has you shooting from a stationary position using both the compressed contact ready and the close contact ready positions. Then the shooting becomes a bit more realistic for combat with the shooting on the move drills. Suarez does a good job instructing how to shoot wile moving forward, back, left and right. Once you have fired and your target it down, you can’t just stop.

Suarez teaches his version of an after action assessment. He covers all the bases as he teaches to verify your target is out of the fight, look for other adversaries, make sure the area behind you is clear, make sure your weapon is still operational, and do a self-check for injury.

Again, I felt he did an excellent job of explaining what to do and why. Still shooting on the move, he also covers attacks for the flanks. Basically it is the same drills, but from different angles.

Volume one wraps up with instruction on the proactive reload and malfunction clearances. He covers failure to fire, failure to eject or stovepipe, and failure to extract. It is a good little primer on malfunction clearances, but many shooters will want to train more in this area and look to other drills and malfunctions as well.

Volume 2

Volume two starts out with weapon transition drills. Suarez teaches that in the middle of a fight if your weapon does not work you don’t have time to figure out why and must go to your secondary weapon. From here he covers the trigger reset drill and failure to stop. (Your target does not go down, so you switch to a head shot.)

After you can handle one target, Suarez teaches drills to handle multiple adversaries. He has a no nonsense proactive attitude that just may keep you alive if you ever face such dire circumstances. Another thing that may help keep you alive if you are ever in a gunfight is being able to shoot with your weak hand. Suarez teaches a couple drills to help you become proficient at this, including one hand draw, what to do when your pistol is dropped, and how to clear malfunctions with one hand.

The reality is most people carrying a firearm will do so with a concealed carry. If you have not practiced drawing from a concealed carry, you won’t have the necessary skills when needed. Suarez covers the closed-front cover draw (two-handed), closed-front cover draw (one-handed), and the open front cover draw. He also covers extreme close-quarters shooting. This is within two yards of your opponent and where you may have to create distance using your support hand before shooting.

The next drills taught can only be done with the proper training gear. Don’t even attempt the force-on-force drills without adhering to the proper safety precautions. Suarez does a good job of emphasizing this, so pay attention. He uses Airsoft training weapons and provides a very good safety briefing. The drills he teaches involve gun v. knife and gun v. gun at various ranges. It is an eye opener to see what distances can be traveled in such short amounts of time. If you are not as proficient at drawing and firing as Suarez, you may find yourself being “killed” quite often in these drills until you become more proficient.

The final lessons on volume two consist of using cover and shooting from inside a vehicle. The brief description of cover and when to move toward it and use it is very practical. One of the most important things to remember is to be sure what you’re using as cover will stop a bullet. Suarez points out that shooting from inside your vehicle is a last resort. He does teach how to draw and engage from inside your vehicle when no other option is available.

Overall, I was impressed with this two DVD set. Suarez covers a lot of information, and he covers it well. Obviously the best training is live first hand training on the range from a qualified instructor. Sometimes the ideal is not always possible. The information in this set is presented in such a way that you can learn from it, and if you practice the drills safely at the range you will be more proficient at combat shooting. That proficiency might just save your life some day.

Kane and Wilder took an interesting approach by introducing each chapter with and intro by an experienced black belt and then ending each chapter with a treatise from a senior student. The wisdom from these accomplished martial artists ads tremendously to the excellent advice Kane and Wilder present in each chapter. Additionally, the book provides many other resources that are included in the suggested reading and recommended web site portions of each chapter.

Chapters include such topics as not limiting yourself, finding a good instructor, knowing how you learn, understanding strength versus skill, practicing a little every day, understanding strategy to master tactics, knowing how to work through injuries and using technology. All of these chapters provide excellent advice for beginning martial artists through advanced. For
instructors, knowing how you learn, but also how your students learn is extremely valuable. Anyone who has ever practiced a martial art for any length of time has most likely experienced some form of injury. For those of us who have been practicing many years, we’ve lost count. Kane and Wilder’s chapter on injuries has important guidance in treating injuries and most important preventing them in the first place.

I was impressed when I read the first draft, and I am now extremely impressed with the finished book. This is a book that I highly recommend for any martial artist. For the beginner, it will help you achieve results much faster. For the experienced martial artist or instructor, it will help you along your journey and provide guidance to become a better teacher. If you are serious about your martial arts training, read this book.

I have also enjoyed all of Trump’s books, and Think Big and Kick Ass is one I thoroughly enjoyed. They are all motivating, and this one especially. It grabs you by the nose and kicks you in the pants with motivating stories and lessons. It is direct, easy to read, and contains many useful tidbits of advice. IF a person ACTS on the advice given by Trump and Zanker, they no doubt would benefit and achieve increased success.

I personally have followed similar strategies such as presented in this book, and they have helped me obtain a level of success. I plan on taking the advice from Think Big to jump start my year and make 2008 great. I believe each of us should strive to do better each and every passing year. So do Trump and Zanker, so read this book and start thinking bigger and achieving more in business and life than you have ever done before.

The chapters and lessons presented start with Trump illustrating the key points with examples
from his life and dealings, and then end with a segment by Zanker where he shares some of his story and how he took The Learning Annex to the multimillion dollar company it is today. While I enjoyed Trumps section a bit more, I thought Zanker was right on the money with many of the points he made as well, and his story is quite motivating in itself. I think the combination of both men’s examples made the book much better than if it only contained stories from one of them.

Chapters include:

1. Do You Have What It Takes?: where the reader can take a short quiz that is obvious and illustrates success principles. (I’ll give you a hint – if you are not answering d for every quiz answer, start thinking bigger and kick it up a notch).

2. Passion, Passion, Passion!: Trump is always talking about being passionate about what you are doing. This chapter will motivate you to find your passion and love what you do.

3. Basic Instincts: Great lesson on keeping your word, and learn to go with your gut.

4. Creating Luck: Trump believes in luck, but he also believes that the harder you work the luckier you will get.

5. Fear Factor: The world is brutal. Practical advice on not only surviving, but excelling.

6. Revenge: Trump is extremely loyal to those he is friends with, but you don’t want to cross him. Some of his advice is when somebody screws you, screw them back in spades. This message is a good combination of when to forgive and when to go for the jugular with those that deserve it.

7. Big Mo: how to build momentum and keep it up.

8. Never Take Your Eye Off The Ball: You must learn to focus and success won’t be easy. Take your work seriously and stay flexibly focused and you’ll succeed.

9. I Love You, Sign This: This is chapter on prenuptial agreements, which Trump endorses 100%. I was recently listening to Brian Tracy and he was discussing prenups in just the opposite vein. As an attorney, I have drafted prenups for clients, however, I don’t agree
with Trump that they should be drafted for every marriage. Situations dictate and I personally think this was the weakest chapter of the book.

10. Think Big And Kick Ass In Business And Life: A chapter on what else -Thinking
Big! Great ending chapter to motivate you to do even more than you are doing.

After those chapters is an Appendix that includes an interesting section of questions and answers by Donald Trump from Learning Annex Wealth Expos. There is also a suggested reading list. I’ve read many of the books on the list, but found a few that I want to read in the near future. There are also a bunch of testimonials that I could have done without, and some promotional things for The Learning Annex.

Overall I really enjoyed this quick read. It was motivational and just the thing to kick start anything you want to get started on to achive.

Qigong for Longevity

Grandmaster Kao was the first tai chi instructor to Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming, who I greatly respect and highly endorse his books, DVDs, and
teachings. Grandmaster Kao first taught Dr. Yang in Taiwan in 1962. Now, at 80 years old, he still starts each day with tai chi and qigong exercises.

These twelve simple seated qigong exercises are part of his personal daily regimen, and what have helped him stay vibrant, happy, and healthy.

The first part of the program is a demonstration of the twelve exercises. The first of the
twelve exercises is healing sound breathing where the classical six healing sounds are taught. These help cleanse your internal organs and nourish your body with fresh air and energy. The next five exercises focus on maintaining strong brain, ears, eyes, nose, and teeth. The involve self-massage techniques and slow gentle movements. From there, the program moves down the body to teach exercises for the neck and throat, arm and shoulder, chest, abdomen (I’ll warn you that one of the exercises in this section is one you may want to be sure you are
alone to perform, or you will get strange looks and questions from those that see you. It is not something to do in the public park), legs and toes. The simple program is designed to keep you healthy as you age, and can be done in a half hour.

This demonstration section has Grandmaster Kao demonstrating and a voice over explaining what he is doing and why. The program is filmed in a beautiful outdoor setting, and you can clearly see what Grandmaster Kao is demonstrating. The narration is also clear.

Next comes the instruction portion of the program where Grandmaster Kao actually teaches to the camera. I am very glad he did this, because I much prefer programs where the instructor
teaches and explains to the camera as if it were students rather than demonstration with voice overs. Grandmaster Kao’s English is good and he is easy to understand. I enjoyed seeing and listening to this man with so many years of experience share some of his wisdom. He goes through each of the twelve exercises and provides instruction. He also demonstrates again, so it would be very easy to just plug this DVD in and follow along, doing the exercises along
with the DVD enabling you to learn and practice at the same time.

I feel this is a good addition to a person’s Qigong resource library. It does not contain as much information as some of Dr. Yang’s programs, but it is nice to see one of Dr. Yang’s teachers performing and teaching the exercises he continues to do into his 80s. I’d recommend it to anyone wanting to learn some simple seated qigong exercises to include into their longevity and health regimen.