"Be the Star of your Show' was the topic of our last newsletter. I hope since then you've been stepping into the spotlight and standing center stage in your life. Speaking of stars, I was recently on a flight to Tallahassee and while sitting at the gate preparing to depart, a black van drove quickly up to the side of the plane allowing additional passengers to board. It was obvious that this was someone important. Was it a politician, musician, star? It was a “dancing star” to be exact. Emmitt Smith, retired pro football player and Dancing with the Stars champion, boarded with his family. Once he got settled in his seat, several folks on the plane approached Emmitt for his autograph. After the crowd backed away I said to him, “I notice a lot of people asking you for something. I would like to give you something” and I handed him a copy of my book, I believe...what do you believe? He thanked me with a polite smile. I was sitting a few rows behind him and noticed that he did read the book and then passed it to his wife. Once we landed, he turned around and gave me a thumb’s up. I then proceeded to my hotel and guess who was checking in along side of me? You guessed it, Emmitt Smith and his family. He recognized me from the plane and spoke to me for a few moments. He commented on my book mentioning how much he enjoyed it. He said that there were parts that made him think while other sections made him laugh. We shook hands and went our separate ways wishing each other well. He is a star, but he is also just another human being like the rest of us. As the all-time leading rusher of the NFL, he is a human being who has achieved great success through the use of his talents and a dedication to excellence. I can tell by the family traveling with him that he has “cast his show wisely”. His words were nice to hear and certainly made for an exciting trip.

This trip happened to be to Florida State University where I have been presenting at New Student Orientation and we'll send you the "I Believe...it's time for a change" workbook FREE! New Student Orientation. There are a total of 19 appearances to approximately 6,000 students and over 9,000 parents culminating at the end of June. It is my 5th year at FSU and I’m always amazed at the quality and leadership found in the Orientation staff. This year I decided to bring my family along. Each of my three children spent one week with me and the entire family will drive down to Florida to spend the last two weeks together. Anyone that worries about students today needs to visit FSU. It is an amazing university with a lot of wonderful people. A huge thank you goes out to Florida State University for welcoming me and my family back again this year. They have become an important part of my “cast.”

		I Believe...what do you believe?" Before "casting your show", consider what you believe. Curtis shares 95 of his own belief statements encouraging you to examine, consider, and ultimately decide what you believe in, since our beliefs are what guide us to make every one of our decisions. Order now and we'll send you the "I Believe...it's time for a change" workbook FREE!

You each have a cast of characters. These are the people in your life that you interact with on a regular basis. To determine whether you have cast your show wisely, start by identifying the 6-8 people that you surround yourself with on a consistent basis. Do these people build you up, give your show substance, and make your life better? Do they support your work, your other relationships, your finances, your spirituality and your goals? Do they contribute to your success? If you can answer yes to all these questions, then you have done well.

Most of us have one or two "crazymakers" in our lives; someone who literally makes our life crazy. A "crazymaker" may be sabotaging you and pulling you into the wings of life and away from your success and fulfillment. I quote my friend, relationship expert, David Coleman when saying, “If someone is in a relationship and they receive everything they want and give nothing in return, why would they change? They’re getting everything that want and giving nothing.”

In order to produce the life you desire, you may need to give certain characters fewer lines or perhaps even write them out of your show all together. Keep in mind; if you write people out of your script, you’re also opening space for other helpful and healthy individuals to come in and make your show better.

Today: Take a personal inventory List the 6-8 people you surround yourself with on a consistent basis. On a scale of 1-10, 10 being the best, rate each one of these people on how helpful they are to you in producing a great show. Anyone who receives a 5 or lower, may need fewer lines in your life. If anyone receives a zero, you may need to completely recast that part. Side note: If you choose to write someone out of your script, they can always go away, work on their “routine” and audition to join you again at a later time and when you are ready.

This week: Cast your show Describe 3 new characters you would like to have audition to be in your show in the next year. Be as specific as possible. If you’re looking for a life partner, describe him/her: height, weight, physical attributes, and personality traits. If it’s a mentor: list the qualities you want this mentor to possess, achievements they’ve made or expertise they have. New friend or confidant: specifically think of what area you want someone to confide in and in what way.

This month: Attract the Cast Now, how do you attract the cast you want...the positive, professional and genuine people that you are looking for? First of all, get yourself in a position to recognize and appreciate these people when you see them. You identified them in the last exercise. Now try to identify where they are...are they at work? The health club? Place of worship? Perhaps, be a part of this group. Remember, that it is not always what you get but what you give. Don’t necessarily plan on this new friend, mentor or potential life partner finding you, when in reality you need to approach them. Be the star.

The average millionaire is a 54-year-old male, who has been married an average of 28 years.

Studies of more than 126,000 people have shown that those who regularly attend church are 29% more likely to live longer than non-churchgoers.

Having a spouse can decrease your risk for dying from cancer as much as knocking ten years off your life.

Teenage girls who are close to their fathers are far less likely to become sexually active.

Teens that frequently sit down with their family to eat dinner reduce their drug risk by 50%.