Ask yourself, what true baggage am I carrying on a daily basis that is now a barrier for my growth in my entire life? Everyone has something keeping them back. Get rid of the baggage. Do not allow another day to go by, without seeking out a way to crush the barriers.

Fact: It was a Wednesday afternoon in 1993, a real nice fall day in New England. I noticed an older gentleman walking the lot at the dealership, so I went out and greeted this gentleman. I was in my third year of selling automobiles; I asked the gentleman if he had any questions or concerns. He said no I am getting my beautiful two year old mercury cougars’ oil changed. My reply, so you really enjoy your cougar? He told me it was the best vehicle, he has ever owned. I have a question for you, how do you enjoy selling cars? My answer, I truly enjoy it. Through the next couple of minutes, we exchange people we know, nice talk; I get paged, say good-bye, and go back to work. The very next mourning, 9am, the gentleman stops by, says Tony, I would like to have coffee with you after work, tomorrow. I said to myself, he is emphatic about tomorrow after work. I say sure. We meet; he tells me that he has done a lot of work over the years, with some of my former high school teachers. Then says to me, Tony if you had to tell me 5 facts about yourself, that would explain who you are today, what would they be? My answers. 1. Hard worker. 2. Put 100% into my work. 3. Care about my family very much. 4. Very driven. 5. Loyal.

Next question, Jim asks me, how old were you when you started to work? I have always worked. He said to me, you have had to think like a man since you were a boy, do not let this be a burden. Remember, your parents try to give you a better life than they had. Do you feel that you have a better situation, then your parents, had. My answer was yes. We were a lower middleclass family. My dad grew up very very poor. My Mom grew up in a middleclass setting.  His next statement was, you are an adult, think like an adult. Go after your goals, give your children a much better life then you had, stay the course.

Jim was a family counselor that gave me the best advice, at the right time; I was 28 at the time, married with a 9 year old daughter.  I said to Jim, thank you so much for talking with me over the past two hours, this was great advice.

That was the turning point, for my life. I now had the total understanding, to be goal orientated, make a much better life for my family, never feel bad for what I didn’t have growing up, my responsibility, is to let my family have more opportunity, than I had. Never be bitter about what you didn’t have, be thankful for what you are able to give. This changed my life forever.