When I first decided to take on the challenge of bringing the 26 people interviewed in the hit movie “The Secret” further into the light so that readers could get a glimpse of who they are in person…little did I realize the number of its participants who had been in Dire Straights or had made the kind of life choices that should have resulted in prison sentences or worse yet –death! Rev. Dr. Michael Beckwith D.D. was no exception. During his recent appearance on Oprah Winfrey’s show he spoke very openly about how finding ‘The Secret” for himself in his faith and belief in God saved him and took him away from the crooked path he had embarked upon. Before he came to that realization however, he sold Marijuana and before he stopped dealing the substance he had expanded his illegal empire into several States which included New York, Atlanta, Nashville, and Los Angeles! He claimed on Oprah that it was a dream that turned everything in his life around. That dream woke him up and changed the way he saw the world.
Since his great awakening in mind and spirit he has gone from Drug Dealer to Spiritual Healer. He is seen in the movie on a constant basis –through out its entire run in fact and the more research I put into examining his life the more I understood who he is and from what he came. Some of the remarkable guests on “The Secret” appear only a handful of times. I now see the reason he and his concepts commanded so much attention and air time in that documentary. He speaks from the heart the soul and the mind. His soft-spoken manner only lends more to his captivating presence and he knows first hand what it takes to not only turn your life around –he knows as well the ultimate reward in doing so.
I think there is also a very subtle message that many people miss because it’s not openly or out right discussed in the movie. I think the missing piece in life embracing that which is longed for in the heart is conscience. Regardless of our beliefs –or lack there of –we have an obligation as human beings to reach the heights of our goals and dreams without ever harming another living creature in order to do so! Consciousness mandates we honor a certain type of code in how we not only treat ourselves –but how we treat others as well!

It is always vital that we give more than what we take. Using “The Secret” as an example of what I mean: The book The Science of Getting Rich is said to have been the inspiration behind the movie. That very same book states –and I quote “You cannot give everyone more in cash value than you take from them but you can give them more in USE value than the cash value of the thing you take from them!” I believe it is Consciousness that lead Rev. Dr. Michael Beckwith D.D. to turn his life. It lead the creator to the movie he is a part of to “Uncover the great secret” and further still it was Consciousness that lead her to ask “Why doesn’t anyone know this?” as well.
Letting his conscience be his guide, Rev. Beckwith turned the odds that had once been stacked against him in his favor. “The end result?” you might ask, well I’m quite happy to inform you he is the Founder and Spiritual Leader of his own church –The Agape International Spiritual Center located in Culver City, California. He met and married his wife Dr. Rickie Byars-Beckwith when initially –sight unseen he first fell in love with her amazing vocal talent. A mutual friend of the two shared a tape with Michael that moved him to ask for her number. Although it took a bit of persuading, he eventually convinced her to sing as a “Performer” –not a church affiliate.
For the church’s annual Christmas Presentation she again agreed to participate and that event moved her to become an official member of what is normally comprised of 160 talented vocal powerhouses singing songs of praise and love. Often, Rev. Beckwith and his beloved wife Rickey write the material sung by the very same choir that she still remains a part of to this very day that initially brought the two together in the first place! So if you have your own song to sing, maybe this will serve as a motivational piece you can reference to whenever in doubt. I would consider that a great honor!


The Magic of Knowing Success
Everyone wants to succeed, but very few people know how to do it. Never mind how simple it sounds, the actual difference between what you know and what someone else knows can be even be a matter of life and death. This knowledge has caused kingdoms to fall, caused millionaires to go broke, and paupers to become wealthy
We live in a knowledge economy and the trading, creation, and assimilation of information is becoming the tool of the trade for everyone, from large corporations to the individual on the street. When it comes to earning a living, we all do that a little differently. The difference in knowledge between people in the same industry cause some to excel beyond their wildest dreams, and still others have struggled for years, because of what they do not know.
Think about it for a while. What separates the 50K a month affiliate marketer from the 200K a month marketer? It is not just what you know that makes the difference, but how important, how valuable is the information you have in your head, compared to your competition? Is it something that other people want to know about? Is there a market for your information?
One of the first task of the thinking man therefore, is the need to refine what you do know, perhaps acquiring new knowledge to complement what you already know, making you more competitive. Huge corporations spend billions of dollars on research and development. What they are doing is acquiring knowledge and then converting that knowledge into a new competitive product. You can do the same.
Let’s say you want to learn about PPC search engine marketing or article marketing, you owe it to yourself, not just to learn this, but to become an expert at this, so that you can become the best expert in this field.. Once this information is cemented in your brain, it is time to improve on your ppc knowledge, create new ways to use ppc, or even create your own search engine. Finding new ways of doing something is one way to release the magic of knowing.
From my own experience, the acquisition of knowledge is best done in segments, where you thoroughly immerse yourself in your subject until you really know all about it. It is disastrous to get a little knowledge, pretend you know everything and move on to the next challenge. It is much better to spend the weeks, months or years it requires to gain knowledge to an expert level before taking on another challenge.
That is not to say that you can only learn one thing over an expanded period, but it does mean that you will have much more difficulty trying to cram everything into your brain in too short a time.
General knowledge about life, society, psychology, geography, or any other subject is good, and will always create their own opportunities for use. Specific knowledge about any subject however, should be approached more carefully. One of the most critical factors is to ensure that the knowledge you are acquiring is either a passion of yours or something that will be useful to advance your cause. It could be the means to increasing your disposable income, hastening your retirement date, paying for your children’s education, or simply improving your lifestyle.
Whatever you do, the fact that you know something that can be an economic vehicle to a better life is certainly a blessing. Cherish it.


Lisa Nicholes Found The Secret and Then She Found Herself
Lisa Nicholes Found The Secret and Then She Found Herself

When I first was given The Secret on DVD by a very dear friend, we were visiting together at her home, speaking positively about the many joys and blessings in our lives, when she suddenly rose up from her chair and said, “I have a movie you’ve just got to see –It is you and how you think!” That at the time, seemed like a vague and somewhat incomplete sentence to me, and I eagerly awaited her return. When she re-entered the room she stated “This is why you have over-come your abusive childhood...It’s also why you are manifesting so many good things for yourself right now.” I was truly enjoying our time together, but I couldn’t wait to get home to see it, so I quickly excused myself and made a mad dash for the door. No sooner than I arrived home, I popped the movie into the DVD Player and immediately it had my full attention –that was the first time I saw Lisa Nicloes –and she was radiant!
There was something so clear and evidently dazzling about her presence, and when she spoke with that bright open smile tracing every word, I was completely captivated by her poised and polished manner. She had softness in her voice that only betrayed itself by the words she expressed to describe her strength and tenacity through. Her face immediately impressed upon me the completeness and warmth of a truly contented being. She spoke of how she had to find herself as a young black woman whose only role models where strong, beautiful, white women –now keep in mind that Lisa didn’t see these women for their color, but she did see herself for her own –and didn’t know how to embrace that honor and distinction.
Early in her formative years, when she was in 5th Grade she was given the chance to be bused from her home in one of the most dangerous areas of all of California – South Central to a school located in “The Valley”. Lisa was so excited and happy when she first got news of that great opportunity she could hardly wait. She had envisioned in her mind a great welcoming from her new fellow classmates and an openness and regard for herself and those with whom she’d ride in with to their new school. Unfortunately, that was not the case; she was called horrible names like “Blackie” The “N” word (I dislike the word so much I can’t even write it let alone speak it!), and she was told that she had been “Left in the toaster too long!” These experiences took a great toll on her self-esteem and she started losing track of her true value and worth.
One of the ways her confusion became evident was in the promiscuous behavior she began to participate in. As she explained it on the Oprah Winfrey show she “Had a lot of sex…looking for a little love.” When she found that not working for herself, she then turned to food. In that stage of her life –the sex was out and the food was in. That addiction proved detrimental to Lisa as well as she went on to gain a hundred pounds. Some where in the emotional battery that had been stirring deep inside of her the riotous floodgates opened and Lisa literally dropped to her knees and she began to speak to God saying “If you bring me through this –I promise I will spend every moment –every breath supporting and encouraging others to do the same!” In that very moment on that very day an awakening took place, and Lisa began to understand her own vital role in the outcome of her own life.
As she describes it she knew then and there that “I am the example of how the world is supposed to love me –I have to be the BEST example EVER!” When I saw her on Oprah, and I heard her speak those words, I understood fully why I had seen in her what I had when I watched her in The Secret for the first time. She does carry fully a developed sense of self! She does radiate a persona of an unbroken, accomplished, thorough vessel! She has truly come full circle.
She does keep her promises too…remember the one she made to God? Well, she now devotes her life to the company she is the Founder and CEO of called –Motivating the Teen Spirit LLC. To date as of January 2007 –as stated in her website “…her company has impacted the lives of over 60,486 teens, prevented over 1,812 suicides, reunited thousands of teens with their parents, and influenced more than 987 teen drop outs to return to school.” I’d go as far as to say, “Lisa keeps her promises BIG TIME!” So, have you made any profound promised to God or the Universe lately? Maybe, truly that is all that is currently missing in your own life…so do yourself a favor and make a life changing promise for yourself TODAY!