TGIF: A South Carolina treat

My friends and family begged me not to do this.
"Furriners won’t appreciate it," they said.
"Why give away all our secrets?"
This used to be a Charleston delicacy.
Even Yankees up in North Carolina eat it now.
I may be banished from the tribe for doing this.
But here’s Shrimp & Grits in all it’s glory.
Shrimp & Grits (for 4)
1 lb large raw peeled & deveined shrimp
1 cup half & half
2 cups water
1/2 cup chicken or vegetable stock
1/4 cup butter
Salt & pepper to taste
1 cup stone-ground yellow grits
3 tbsp fresh lemon juice
4 slices bacon, browned and crisp
1 tbsp minced garlic
2 tbsp finely chopped bell pepper
Combine cream, water & stock in a large saucepan & bring just to a boil. Add butter, salt & pepper. Slowly add grits, stirring to keep grits from scorching on bottom for 10 minutes. Lower heat to warm & cook for 20 more minutes, stirring occasionally until grits have absorbed all liquid & become soft as oatmeal, moist but not dry. Remove from heat.Sprinkle peeled shrimp with lemon juice, salt& pepper. Fry bacon until brown & crisp. Pat dry with paper towels. To bacon fat in frying pan add garlic & bell pepper. Sauté 2 minutes. Add shrimp & sauté until shrimp turn pink on both sides. Spoon hot grits onto individual serving plates & top with shrimp, crumbled bacon, garlic & peppers.
Shrimpers ate this for breakfast before going to sea.
This makes a great meal anytime. Enjoy.
Next week we’ll talk about your direction in life.
Meanwhile, for a new success strategy, click here.

Becoming more creative

Yesterday we discussed tapping your inner resources.
Today we’ll discuss steps to becoming more creative.
1. Develop a rhythm.
Set a schedule you can live with. One that works for you.
Awake at the same hour and you’ll do it automatically.
Develop good habits. Eat sensibly. Drink moderately.
Exercise your mind and your body.
When I was young and impulsive, I abhorred routine.
Now I find it stimulating. I know what comes next.
Writing this blog each morning gets my juices flowing.
Find whatever it is that gets you flowing each morning.
2. Become a reporter.
Keep a small notebook with you all the time.
It may be your journal or just notecards.
Record observations, ideas, feelings, epiphanies.
Draw pictures in your journal.
Note what you did, read, listened to, experienced.
Record what impact these had on you.
3. Constantly learn and understand.
Life is a feast for the mind, the body and the heart.
Listen closely. See the other person’s perspective.
Keep an open and curious mind about everything.
Talk with strangers. Listen to their stories.
It’s amazing what people will tell you if you listen.
Listening attentively is a great compliment.
People are hungry to be heard.
4. Practice. Practice. Practice.
Practice the exercises you learn in this blog.
Practice your music to become a musician.
Practice your art to become an artist.
Practice your craft to become a writer.
Practice your speaking to become a speaker.
Find stories and lessons in your life.
Learn from your setbacks and failures.
Share these lessons with others. Help them grow.
Tomorrow we’ll share a real South Carolina treat.
For more creative strategies, click here.

Unlock the portals to your creativity

Yesterday we discussed tapping your inner resources.
Today we’ll discuss four steps to increase creativity.
We want to unlock the portals to our highest creativity.
1. Dream your most impossible dreams.
Share your dreams, hopes and goals – and their benefits.
Tell those you love and who love you.
Avoid critics and naysayers. They will drag you down.
Share dreams with those who will help make them real.
I planned to sell 2 million books to conquer illiteracy.
Then I heard Jack Canfield planned to sell 1 billion.
I immediately raised my goal to 20 million books.
I'll probably raise it again. You can raise yours, too.
2. Make the most of the time you have.
Your primary mission each day is to pursue your dreams.
Set your goals the night before.
Let your subconscious mind work on them as you sleep.
Review your achievements at the end of the day.
Hold yourself accountable for moving forward.
3. Give yourself a Golden Hour.
Read that which strengthens & inspires you an hour a day.
Early in the morning or after everyone has gone to bed.
Either time is good. It’s your choice.
I like to read on the treadmill to exercise mind & body.
Luxuriate in thoughtful reading. Listen to great music.
4. Become a camera.
Open all of your senses to life.
Observe closely the world around you.
Enjoy seeing, hearing, tasting, smelling, feeling.
Learn from it. Rejoice in . Note this in your journal.
These notes are for you — and your grandchildren.
One day they will read about your life.
Tomorrow we’ll discuss balancing creativity in your life.
For more creative strategies, click here.

Tapping your inner resources

Yesterday we discussed finding your true inner self.
Today we’ll discuss four steps to tapping your resources.
"Whatever you can do — or dream you can — begin.
"Boldness has genius, power and magic."
That’s advice from a true renaissance man:
Author and scientist Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.
Here’s my advice to you today.
1. Assume nothing.
Open your mind and heart to all possibilities.
Life is filled with almost limitless opportunities.
Be bold. Go after them. Have no regrets.
2. Accept no excuses.
Take responsibility for your life.
Don’t be a victim. Don’t let others control your life.
When you fail — and you will — blame no one else.
Learn from your failures.
3. Take the most life has to offer.
Live each day as if you were to live it over and over again.
Would you be happy repeating today throughout eternity?
4. Keep your priorities straight.
Value your talent, your mission and your time.
Let no one rob you of these.
Keep your eyes on the horizon. Forge ahead.
Tomorrow we’ll discuss four more steps.
For more creative strategies, click here.

Finding your true inner self

Last week we discussed becoming more productive.
This week we’ll discuss heightening your creativity.
Who am I? Why am I here? What is my purpose?
These universal questions trouble us from time to time.
In "How to Think Like Leonardo da Vinci", Michael Gelb asks:
When do I feel most naturally myself?
Who allows me to feel most naturally myself?
What places and activities give me that feeling?
What one thing should I stop doing to improve my life?
What one thing should I start doing to improve my life?
What should I do differently to improve my life?
What do I feel most passionate about doing in my life?
How can I turn that into a career or successful business?
Answer these questions to discover your inner self.
Write your answers in your journal or on your laptop.
Be candid. The answers are for your eyes alone.
You can share them with your most ardent fans.
They will provide a powerful catalyst to growth.
For more creativity strategies, click here.
Tomorrow we’ll talk about tapping your inner resources.
See you then.