Within you lies the ability to do whatever it takes to make great things happen for yourself. You have to push yourself beyond your perceived limits. You will never know just how far you can go or how much you can accomplish if you don’t push yourself through the pain and discomfort. You have to want ‘it’ (whatever your ‘it’ is) and you have to want it bad enough to deprive yourself of any number of things in order to get ‘there’ (wherever your ‘there’ is). If you truly want it bad enough you will find a way and you will make it happen!

Things are moving along for us at 360 Wraps and with our other ventures. The permits for the build-out at our Dallas HQ may be right around the corner. When that comes through, we will be able to get the two suites combined so we can enlarge the reception area and get the additional offices built. We are also enlarging the roll-up door and putting in a new ramp. Once that is complete, we will move my fitness equipment into the gym we are setting up in one of the extra offices we will then have available.

In February we signed the lease for our newest 360 Wraps location! The building is brand new and the final touches are being done right now. Within a few short weeks, we will be opening the doors! I will be posting pictures and more information soon.

I sent in the final revisions on my patent this week and as soon as I get it back from my patent agent, I will send it to the USPTO. Soon we will begin shopping it out for licensing. I decided some time ago that I have no interest in entering into manufacturing – especially since it would require us to do the manufacturing in China. Thanks, but no thanks!

We continue to work out the details on a business purchase in California. It takes time to make sure things are all in line prior to signing this kind of deal. Opening a business in another state is going to be a major life-changing event. It is going to take a lot of planning and then adjustment for everyone as we manage businesses in different states. We aren’t the only ones to have done this and that gives us confidence we can also do it!

I have missed a few workouts over the past few weeks. I HATE when that happens! I talked it over with Tommy and I’m going to change my schedule around a little bit so that I can get the time in for exercise. It is in everyone’s best interest if I get my fitness time! I am so much happier and easier to get along with after a hard workout. I suppose that is why Tommy is genuinely interested in helping me fit it into my schedule. You think? Being Sunday, I have to get busy doing my food prep for the week. I’ll be getting my brown rice, black beans, hard boiled eggs, broccoli and chicken breasts ready for my snacks and lunches next week.

Going to get busy now… I have my to-do list ready and I’m going to get at it!
I hope you have a fabulous week! I would love to hear what you are up to in your world. I would love to connect with you on Twitter (AngieStrader) too! I find I’m on Twitter more than any other social media site these days. Follow me and I promise to follow back!

Triplets? Can it be? Yep, Could Be! Here’s the deal, lately I feel like a pregnant woman getting ready to go into labor… this baby is a business or two and maybe even three. Who births three businesses at once? Much like couples who find themselves pregnant with multiples – all they (and we) can say is “we really didn’t plan it – it just happened.”

Backing up a little – For those that don’t know me or my background, the short of it is that I quit a great six-figure job in 2008 after I maxed out my personal pain tolerance level and then took a little time off. After about a year Tommy, my husband, wore me down and got me to come “help” him with his growing new business, 360 Wraps, in Dallas, TX. After kicking and screaming daily, I quickly started liking it. Shortly after being at 360 Wraps full-time I took the role of CEO and started focusing on creating a solid foundation and growth plan. Here we are a little over two years later and business is booming, we just moved into a beautiful new building almost three times the size of our last shop and now we are looking to open more locations.

We have a lot on our plates! We are working on 360 Wraps’ corporate growth, expanding our training division, putting the final touches on my utility patent and looking at buying another business out of state. It’s a crazy busy world for us right now and as soon as we can release more info, I will be all over it – I’m so excited about sharing all of the great news! As for now, I’m trying to remain focused and balanced. It’s not easy, but what in this world really is easy? I don’t think I’d like easy anyway.

Back to pregnancy… I feel the anticipation and excitement building as the plans begin to come together and I know soon there will come a time when I’m going to be sweating and pushing – and pushing HARD! I expect a few swear words thrown in, but everything WILL come together for everyone involved. I expect pain and I also expect lots of support during this time!

Stay tuned and I will do my best to keep you updated as the plans unfold!

“It was character that got us out of bed, commitment that moved us into action, and discipline that enabled us to follow through.” – Zig Ziglar

Great quote, right?  But, let’s be honest, sometimes we don’t want to get out of bed, we don’t want to take action and there may be times when you could care less if your follow through with anything.  Am I right?  Here’s the deal though… no matter how bad it is (an ohhhh it can be BAD!),  we cannot give up!  We may need to rest.  We may need a break.  We may even need to hide out and lick our wounds for a little bit.  But we CANNOT GIVE UP!  When the time comes that you need a break from the world of happy people, take the break and then dig deep, find that “character” Zig referrers to in his quote and get going again.  I know this is tough sometimes - trust me, I know as I am speaking from experience.  The past few months have been extremely challenging for me and my family, but we keep going.  One thing we know for sure is that things will eventually get better, easier, rosier, happier… Where there are lows – there are also highs!  Hooray for the highs!  So let’s suck it up, put on a happy face and KNOW that with ACTION, COMMITMENT and DISCIPLINE we will FOLLOW THROUGH!

~ Angie

“You have to learn the rules of the game. And then you have to play better than anyone else.” – Albert Einstein

So, what’s going on with me right now?  Craziness – that’s what.  My husband and I are in the middle of a big business deal with our company at 360 Wraps and as VP for the corporation, I have taken on a full time role at the business so that we can all work together to make things happen better and faster.   We are spending many long hours putting things in place and we have found our fair share of roadblocks along the way.   With any big things in business, things often don’t go as smoothly as we’d like and it often feels like an intense mental game.  When I play games, I like to win.  I am competitive and I will spend a lot of time strategizing and formulating plans.  (BTW – I have only played chess once and it was with a guy that was considered to be “pretty good” at the game.  I beat him.  I haven’t played again as I don’t want to ruin my record! haha )  Anyway… so, I just had one of those moments of clarity about an aspect of the deal we are working on and with just a little research I found a critical piece of the puzzle.  I’m proud of myself for not giving up!  As I work through these things at 360 Wraps I will be continuing my radio show, but my TV show is on hold.  I am also continuing with my Beachbody business as it is the best paying and most consistent direct selling business I’ve ever been in and I completely believe in the products, so I wouldn’t give that up.

So, tune in to my radio show, “What’s Your Bottom Line?” Tuesday’s at 2:00pm CST.  If you want to lose weight, feel great, or make a little extra money while getting fit and healthy, let me know and I’ll get you some info on Beachbody.  AND – if you are interested in increasing your own financial bottom line by improving your marketing strategy, consider wrapping your vehicle, updating your website and business cards, adding a professional video to your website, improving your social media presence and skills our team at 360 Wraps is here to help.  We are currently looking for people in the Dallas/Fort Worth market who are ready to take their business to the next level with a clear and concise business marketing plan.

Let’s play and let’s play to WIN!  ~  Angie

Why the heck are you trying to do everything yourself? Didn’t you learn in kindergarten that we are supposed to share?  In fact the book All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten refreshes our memory very clearly by reminding us we must learn how to share and we are even told that when we go out into the world, we must watch out for traffic, hold hands, and stick together.  So, what happens?  Why are we now insistent on doing it all ourselves?  Was there a merit badge for ‘going it alone’ that I didn’t know about?

It’s time to get back to asking for help, hiring help, borrowing or bartering for help… whatever it takes, GET HELP!  There is absolutely no reason to go it alone. Together we can do more, achieve more, be more, and have more of  __(you fill in the blank)____.

Patooey on that whole competition thing.  That’s sooo 2009.  2010 and beyond is about collaboration.  Be creative and inclusive.  Align yourself with those that compliment you and your mission.   Reach out to those you admire most and who you want to work with.  If you don’t, someone else will.   This isn’t a passing fad, people are starting to ‘get it’ and realizing there really is strength in numbers.  Don’t be left behind.  Get outside yourself and start bringing people together to create something bigger.

Use the buddy system AND while you are at it, share the credit!

“If you want to be incrementally better: Be competitive. If you want to be exponentially better: Be cooperative.”  –Unknown

~Angie

There will be times when times are tough.  Even though we don’t sign up for the tough times, they do happen.   When things go wrong or someone pisses us off, we have a choice on how we are going to react.  We can run, hide, sulk, pout, get mad, get even, or just give up.  We could also stand tall, face facts, smile, be happy, be positive, and take action.  It’s completely up to you on what you will chose to do.  I suggest you hang in there and take the positive route.  Even if things don’t get better quickly, the more focused you are on the good and right in any situation, the better it feels while going through it.  ~Angie

Within You Is The Strength
To Meet Life’s Challenges!

You are stronger than you think,
remember to stand tall.

Every challenge in your life
helps you to grow.

Every problem you encounter
strengthens your mind and your soul.

Every trouble you overcome
increases your understanding of life.

When all your troubles weigh
heavily on your shoulders,

remember that beneath the burden
you can stand tall,
because you are never given
more than you can handle…
and you are stronger than you think.

~ Lisa Wroble ~

Is that a leaky faucet I hear?  Aren’t those weeds in the flowerbed getting just a tad bit out of control?  Is there any end to that stack of dirty clothes in the laundry room?  Is there any hope to paying off that credit card if you keeping making only minimum payments?  Are you ever going to get in to see the dentist about that bad tooth?  How long has that petrified french fry been on your car floorboard?  The dust on the ceiling fan blades is hanging on for dear life!

These are just a few of the things we ignore, but never go away.  They loom over our heads whether we are consciously aware of it or not.  Those little things add up and start to drag us down.  We begin to lose our energy, our focus and our joy and we may not even know why.  Now you know!

Over the weekend I want you to write down a list with all of the little things that need your attention.  Dig down and write down every thing you can think of.  Ask your significant other or your children for help with this.  Get it all down on paper.

Now prioritize your list. What is the most important thing you should get done first?  If it is something that is costing you money, then do that first.  Something as simple as a leaky faucet is costing you money.  If it’s paying bills late or only paying minimums, set a calendar alert to remind yourself when to pay and find a way to pay a little extra on those bills with the highest interest rates.

Get some early wins. Take on a few things on the list that are easy, but you just keep putting off and get them done right away.   Feel how good it feels to get things done and then move on to the next items on your list.

Make the list a competition with a prize. Whether it is a solo competition with yourself or if you divide the list with someone else, set some challenges to addressing everything on the list and set some rewards for finishing the list within a specific time period.  We all like to be rewarded for our accomplishments – and it’s okay if you are the only one who knows what you accomplished.

Delegate or hire help. Don’t try to do it all yourself, even if you are physically capable.  Just because you can doesn’t necessarily mean you should.  Pay for that which will take you more time than money to do.  Then use your time to do things you cannot pay for or delegate.  Now you are doubling your efforts and before you know it – you are done!

So, if you are feeling gloomy, get off your butt and get things done! If it to be, it is up to YOU!

Enjoy today’s quote and be happy! It’s a choice!

Today’s Quote

“Enjoy your life and be happy. Being happy is of the utmost importance.  Success in anything is through happiness. More support of nature comes from being happy.

Under all circumstances be happy, even if you have to force it a bit to change some long standing habits. Just think of any negativity that comes to you as a raindrop falling into the ocean of your bliss. You may not always have an ocean of bliss, but think that way anyway and it will help it come.

Doubting is not blissful and does not create happiness. Be happy, healthy and let all that love flow through your heart.”

~ Maharishi Mahesh Yogi

*** Maharishi Mahesh Yogi developed the Transcendental Meditation technique. In the late 1960s and early 1970s he achieved fame as the guru to the Beatles and other celebrities.

Changing the world… One person at a time, one dollar at a time.

Tommy and I went out Saturday night with the intent of giving away money to complete strangers.  See why here: