Age shouldn’t even be considered an obstacle on the road to success anymore. Whether you’re young or old, you can achieve great things. Elizabeth Torres is a testament to this. Elizabeth is twenty years old, a motivational speaker, poet, and painter. She has accomplished so much in a short time because she started at an even younger age. Elizabeth was born in Bogota, Colombia. She had a talent in the arts at a very young age. By six years old she was already publishing poetry and showing the world her artistic skills. Her poetry and art helped her gain recognition. At age ten she published a book entitled, Questions without Answer. This book became a best seller in Colombia. Questions without Answer brought even more recognition and awards to Elizabeth. She was invited to various universities and communities in the US to share her story and to motivate others towards their dreams.

Today, Elizabeth resides in New Jersey. She now shares her story with high school and college students around the United States. Elizabeth also recently published another book of poetry called Because the Flame is Alive.

Lyved received the opportunity to ask Ms. Torres a few questions about success and life.

You have accomplished a lot at a very young age, do you believe age is just a number?

In my opinion, we should count not by years, days, hours and minutes… But by heartbeats. Whenever you are doing whatever it is that makes you happy, anxious, adventurous or satisfied…like discovering a new place, meeting with an old friend, traveling or starting a new project, your heart beats of excitement. That’s when you are most alive.

If we sat down and did nothing for a whole year, we would still grow older. What matters is what you make of those years.

As a child, I realized that my life was the result of my actions. If I considered myself too young, I was stuck in the waiting room of life for a few years, and I didn’t want that. So I started to open doors for myself, which takes a lot of discipline and effort, but the results are amazing. I would wake up early in the morning to write poetry, attend to classes, and afterwards, give conferences. Now that I am 20, the age when most motivational speakers are just getting started…I already have at least 12 years of experience.

What is your favorite quote?

I don’t truly recall where I first heard this quote, it’s a latin phrase that I’ve kept close to me ever since: Gutta cavat Lapidem. (The drop hollows the stone). It is an excellent reminder of how our daily lives reflect nature’s perfection. It isn’t strength but perserverance that will allow us to arrive to our destination, no matter what awaits for us along the road.

A second quote I’ve grown very attached to is one that appears in one of the poems in my latest book “Because the Flame is Alive”…. it says, the world endures, “because the flame is still alive”. And as you can see I titled my book the same way. It became my motto. Because it’s been proven that men can survive without food, even without water, but not without oxygen and fire. To me, life is combustion, it is hope, it is love, it is energy…and even though we cannot see it, we belong to it and depend on it. When we breath, we are connected to the world and the world takes from us too, and in this process, our flame breaths. It’s a reminder that we are not alone… Knowing that there is a greater presence, that we belong, and that we are loved, ignites our flame, and keeps us going.

What is the greatest obstacle you ever faced? And how did you overcome it?

Whenever you pursue a dream, or decide to simply step out of bed and do something productive, you’re bound to find obstacles. I see them as challenges that make you earn your results. I’ve had hundreds of doors closed on my face since I was a child, because publishing companies didn’t believe in the words of a child… I always struggled to get my work out there, to share my message, to make time for everything that a dream requires. Then, when I traveled to this country, I had to learn a new language, and that to me was pretty difficult, but now that I understand it and have the capability of enjoying its beauty, I know it was all worth it. Obstacles are meant to awaken our creativity, they are opportunities to prove our skills, our strength, and our perseverance.

What has been the most crucial factor to your success?

I would say it’s been to never underestimate the opportunities in front of me. While promoting my books I was often invited to college campuses, corporate companies and theaters, but also to little community centers, local radio stations, and family reunions. I enjoyed them all equally, because I learned that from every reunion, big or small, a new door opens. I listened to the advice those people around me had to say, and more connections arrived, more interviews, more conferences. It was an unstoppable chain of reaction. We could sum it up by saying: Keep moving, keep the world interested.

When you set out on achieving a goal, what are your first steps?

Every object around us, from a building, to a car, to a cup of coffee, was first an idea in the mind of someone who dared to try it and make it a reality. You see, success principles are not what you find in expensive books and pay thousands to learn. They are the experiences that life teaches you when you follow the right path, and the clues that it shares with you to guide you and protect your dream. In this case, the principle would be: imagine, believe, act. Or to develop it even further: Develop an idea into a project, create a business plan, do some research, set short term goals to keep track of your progress, and get to work.

You are very positive and happy but is there one thing that really puts a smile on your face?

Of course! The company of my family, my brother’s perfect memory when discussing movies and comedy shows…. walks in new york city, the shakespeare and co. bookstore in Paris…. La Casa de Poesia Silva in La Candelaria, Colombia (a colonial house dedicated to poetry in my country of origin)… I not only smile but sometimes even cry just by listening to a good poem or by being caught by surprise by a good song.

Another reason why I smile every day is because I know that more and more young people are discovering their talents and using them to their advantage, taking control of their lives and making a difference in the world. This makes me smile because it’s always been my dream. To quit hearing about wars and terrorism and dissappointments, and hear once again the song of balance in the universe, and on earth, among men and women.

Have you found your purpose in life?

Ever since I was a little girl I always had this idea in my mind that I would become a renowned writer, a famous artist, and a famous motivational speaker. I would visualize myself traveling all over, presenting my books, giving interviews and speaking to huge audiences. To me, this was the only way I could share a little bit of my flame with the world around me, and give back for all the blessings I have received. I look at myself now and I smile because I know I’ve followed the right path. I’ve listened to thousands of anecdotes of people who have changed because they were motivated by my message. This life I’ve chosen is a great responsibility because it isn’t something I do for myself, I do it for all those who don’t have a voice, so that their voice can be heard too. And if the satisfaction and complete happiness I get after every conference and interview means that I’ve found my purpose in life, then I have. Since there are so many goals yet to be accomplished, I cannot sit to wait and find an answer… When my hands are wrinkled and my feet cannot keep going, I’ll know for sure.

What is the one thing that frustrates you about the young people of the world? Or even people of all ages?

Interesting question… sometimes I get frustrated because of the attitudes of people towards themselves. You know? When they wake up in the morning already accepting failure, because they are petrified of it and so they do not dare to even try and change it. It’s like if they had been programmed to think that failure means the end of the world, when it’s simply a new lesson. Another thing that truly frustrates me and saddens me is that ambitious hunger for power and for material properties, that sometimes even leads to people taking away from their own brothers. It’s something we teach our children, because it’s adults that do it. Children like to share because they are still innocent, they like to enjoy everything around them, amazed as if it were an adventure. I wish I could tell these people: Don’t waste your time damaging and hurting those around you just for material treasures… when you close your eyes, they’re not there anymore.

Do you believe that where you are today does not determine where you can go tomorrow?

Where we are today is without doubt the result of what we worked for yesterday. But it does not determine where we’ll be tomorrow. Tomorrow is different. Tomorrow is hope, it is our new chance to prove ourselves, and change our destiny.

What is next for you?

For this year, I plan to continue promoting my book “Because the Flame is Alive” in the U.S and abroad… I am already working on another book, and several other projects to expand my audience and share my message. I believe that I can set a positive example for future generations, and that I can help young people become leaders, so that’s my greatest goal. I’ll soon be traveling to Ireland and London, and in the following 6 months, to Mexico, Colombia and Canada… Wherever there is someone doing something positive, I want to be there to help them… Keep the flame alive in me, and ignite it in others, until we’ve all become keepers of the flame of love, liberty and hope.

For more on Elizabeth Torres please visit her website here.

This is a guest post by Allan Cox

Recently, I published my eighth book, Your Inner CEO, far and away my best. The book’s core lesson is finding and expressing your singularity—how you can be like no other person who has walked the planet. You can learn this life-enriching lesson by applying the psychology of Alfred Adler, the brilliant Vienna physician, who, along with Freud and Jung, make up the holy trinity of modern psychology.

Style-Of-Life: Dimly Aware

The centerpiece of Adler’s thought was Style-of-Life. We all have one, and by it he meant, “an organized set of convictions about life of which the individual, at best, is only dimly aware. This means, for example, that without knowing it you could be living daily with deeply held views of yourself or life, such as “I’m an analytical whiz,” or “Life only works when I’m tenacious.” Are such outlooks good? Without more information, you can’t know, but for now, just imagine you live by these convictions without knowing their hold on you.

So let’s assume you want to know more about yourself. That’s a good thing; after all, it was Socrates who pointed out that the unexamined life is not worth living. So start with this bottom line: If your S-O-L is healthy, think of it as your guardian presence. If it’s not, know that it’s a looming threat and that you’re, well, S-O-L! That is, until you change it in keeping with your true authenticity, in other words, your singularity. You are like a snowflake, you know.

Here’s how you discover your Style-of-Life. You complete three short sentences, using non-business language. The hard part is to boil these thoughts down by adding no more that 10 words between the three. Brevity is key. Less is more. Keep it simple.

Start Today

Get started today, but realize the kind of soul-searching and reflection you’ll need to get this right is going to take you several re-visits, hard-nosed rejection of early and convenient wording, and several weeks or even months to arrive at truthful completions. All the while you’re defining yourself, you’re actually peeling away layers of stuff and identifying your core self—your singularity.

Here are the three starters . . .

I am: (this is how you see yourself)
Life is: (this is how you see life)
My central goal: (this is the goal you’re not aware of that’s pulling you into the future, for better or worse)

Not until you excavate inside and craft the completions to these simple sentences will you have a grasp of your life’s actual trajectory; whether you’re heading true north or off on side paths to nowhere; whether your Style-of-Life is a looming threat or guardian presence.

Your Value Proposition to The World

Aeschylus, a 5th-Century BCE Greek playwright, composed this stunningly simple trilogy: I am like all other men, I am like some other men, I am like no other man. This is what really counts. Why? Because until you unearth your uniqueness, your authenticity, your essence—what I call your singularity—you’re not able to offer your value proposition to the world!

I’ve been terribly brief here, but if this idea resonates for you, get hold of my book, Your Inner CEO: Unleash the Executive Within. It will take you through the drill to discover your singularity and fire it up. If your Style-of-Life is a looming threat, you’ll learn how to change it out for your singularity the world is waiting for. Don’t wait. You gotta know this and do this.
For more support, come visit our new Your Inner CEO Wiki-Ning Community.

All the best,

Allan Cox

We all have our own opinions on George W. Bush and his presidency. Whether you like him or can’t stand him, you have to give the man some credit because there are plenty of lessons he has indirectly taught the world. All of these life lessons are positive and can help you succeed in life. If you’re open-minded you may have already picked up on some of these.

1. Choose the right people

Many in Washington have criticized President Bush for the people he has recommended for positions such as Secretary of State and who he chose to be his running mate in his campaign. Mostly because of the people he chose have brought more problems than they’ve fixed.

Make sure you do the opposite of President Bush. Whether you’re in the business world or any other part of the world, choose and surround yourself with people that will only bring you positivity. You’ll become like the people you hang around with, so choose wisely.

2. Get the facts first

President Bush jumped the gun with Iraq. He and his administration thought that there was WMD’s hidden somewhere in Iraq. They should have got all the facts and information that they possibly could before declaring war.

Before you plunge into a new business, career, or goal, gather information to help you better plan your actions and plan for the future.

3. Stand your ground

Even when people are totally against him and his ideas, President Bush rarely backs down. Whether he’s stubborn and whether it’s been a good thing is another story.

When your dreams and goals are criticized by naysayers don’t let that stop you. You will always get naysayers so matter what. Stand your ground, trust your gut, and believe in your dreams.

4. Don’t always be serious

Maybe it’s not always appropriate but during press conferences President Bush sometimes cracks jokes to lighten the mood.

There’s time for seriousness but there’s even more time to be lighthearted.

5. Deliver

This is a lesson that many politicians have indirectly taught. Politicians are a lot of talk but very few “walk the walk”.

When you promise something to someone you must follow through. If you don’t, that person won’t trust you in the future.

6. Fake it till you make it

President Bush isn’t the greatest at giving speeches or at grammar. But he tries to make it seem like he can articulate his ideas and opinions effectively.

You may not be the best in your business or field right now but present yourself as if you are.

7. You can’t please everyone

President Bush has a lot of supporters but he also has a lot of people who don’t support him or any of his ideas.

You will get the same. You’ll have a lot of people who will support your ideas, dreams, actions, and goals. But you’ll get a lot of people who won’t support you. As long as you believe in your dreams, that’s all that matters.

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People say that TV destroys brain cells and makes you stupid. Well I can’t think of what programs they were watching. Just like the rest of your life, you’re in control, you can watch what can entertain you and change your life. Here are TV shows that can change your life. They’re in no particular order. Some are current programs while others are in syndication.

1. The Big Idea – For entrepreneurs and business people this show, hosted by Donny Deutsch, has brought a fresh perspective to business TV programs. Every time you watch you’ll be inspired and motivated to do what you want in life.

2. Extreme Makeover: Home Edition – The idea for this show is very simple: provide homes for needy families. The life stories on this program show that there are struggles and triumphs everywhere, everyday.

3. CBS Sunday Morning Show – The Sunday Morning Show can open you up to a variety of topics, from art and history to sports and celebrities. You can learn at least one new thing each time you tune in. They host the show at a calming pace which is great for a Sunday morning.

4. The Amazing Race – Though the show is fast paced you can see a little bit of the world and the various cultures and people. And you see all this first hand. The Amazing Race also displays human courage, struggles, and those you overcome or “fail”.

5. Oprah – This is an easy choice. Oprah has covered countless subjects and can appeal to almost everyone. Even if you don’t watch the show, Oprah Winfrey’s success story is truly amazing.

6. E! True Hollywood Story – The various life stories on THS will make you aspire to have success like some people or stay far away from negative temptations that can destroy lives. THS shows that money and fame are not the answers to all your problems.

7. Intervention – Intervention shows how addiction affects your life and the lives of those around you. You can also witness how people can’t change someone without their cooperation.

8. The Simpsons – This is the only cartoon show on the list. But it’s not just a cartoon, there’s plenty of underlying themes about life and the world. There’s much that can be learned from The Simpsons, click here to read a previous article.

9. The Cosby Show – The Cosby Show broke barriers and showed that stereotypes are just that, they don’t truly reflect everyone.

10. Roseanne – This may be a strange choice but Roseanne showed that everyone’s family is dysfunctional and you should not hide that fact. Roseanne’s family has also gone through their fair share of struggles, but they almost always laughed their way through it, which only makes things better.

11. Freaks and Geeks – This show was only on for one season but has been regarded as one of the best shows ever produced in television history. Freaks and Geeks displayed the strange and tough times that come with growing up and going to high school. Which is something everyone has gone through.

12. 60 Minutes – 60 Minutes has been on air since 1968 and hasn’t changed it’s format all that much. They bring you investigations, news, and stories about many well known figures.

13. Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous – Some may think that Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous just displayed unnecessary extravagance, but it can also give you inspiration and motivation to reach for similar dreams. Many of the people profiled on that show started “no where” and made it to the top.

14. The Jeffersons – This is another show that broke barriers and stereotypes. Probably the best known and most motivational part is the song. For some it’s a goofy song but for others it’s hope.

15. Jeopardy – I don’t think there is another game show where you can learn so much in one sitting and keep your mind sharp.

16. Rob & Big – Most of what MTV puts out these days is not something to be desired but this show is different. Rob & Big chronicles the lives of Rob Dyrdek and Christopher Boykin, two guys living in LA who make the most of life, no matter where they are.

17. Dirty Jobs – Dirty Jobs is both fun and disgusting to watch but it should also make you appreciate the work that others do to keep you safe and living life.

18. M*A*S*H - MASH had plenty of political undertones. It was a sitcom that tried to bring tough topics to television audiences in a lighter way.

19. The Crocodile Hunter – You may have your own opinions on the tactics of the late Steve Irwin but you have to give it to him, he left a lasting affect on a whole generation. The Crocodile Hunter brought animals and the world to viewers in a much more exciting format than those of the past.

20. Man vs. Wild – Though this show has been claimed to be faked many times, it certainly can change and save lives. In one instance, Man vs. Wild helped save a young man who fell into freezing water. (Read story here)

For the last five spots I have decided to let you and other readers decide what TV shows have changed or can change your life. The most requested will be added to the list. And no, I’m not lazy, in previous lists readers were very vocal about the choices so I want your input. Leave your choice in the comment section below.

21. Scrubs – Chosen by Hunter Nuttall, “Scrubs! It’s right up there with The Simpsons in being a hilarious show with serious life lessons.”

22. Lost - Chosen by Becky Pierson, “It has lessons regarding faith, and fate, and doing what’s right even though it doesn’t bode well for you. It’s also laced with all sorts of complicated moral crisis’ like, sacrificing one person for the greater good, and working collectively as opposed to by yourself. It has some great life lessons!”

23. The Biggest Loser – Chosen by Tammy Hart, “The Biggest Loser has definitely had a positive effect. Obesity is a big problem, and to see these people change their lives, encourages so many people to.”

24. Modern Marvels – Chosen by Dana, but given no reason. Certainly a great choice though.

25. ?

Beneath the surface there are many differences between being ambitious and being a workaholic. But on the surface one may be mistaking for the other. One is a very positive trait to have, while the other one is almost always negative.

Being a workaholic

Being a workaholic means you are not in control, you’re letting your work control you. Most likely if you’re a workaholic, you’re not an entrepreneur, at least not an effective entrepreneur. You’re probably working for “the man”. You’re working way too much to satisfy him and not yourself. You feel that you need to work as quickly as possible and as efficiently as possible or it’ll be the end of the world.

You can’t really rest when you’re a workaholic. There’s always something that needs to be done, you’re never satisfied. If you’re like this, you’re missing out on life and putting an unbelievable amount of stress on your body. You get burnt out too quickly and when you’re faced with another challenge you probably procrastinate as much as possible.

Being ambitious

Being ambitious means you want to control every aspect of your life as much as you possibly can. You want the biggest impact on your destiny. You’re working for yourself and for life. It’s not always about working quickly and getting things done fast. It’s more about the journey and what you learn from it. When you’re ambitious, you know when to take a break or even when to quit. And when you take a break, you can truly rest. You know that you’ve done the best that you can and that you’ve accomplished something.

When you’re ambitious and are faced with more challenges, you jump right in and do it all over again.

If you’re a workaholic try to harness that never ending power, reshape it and turn it into ambition. You’ll get twice as much done and you’ll be twice as happy. When you’re a workaholic work is work, but when you’re ambitious, work is a fun challenge.