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To Live Your Dreams You Must Cross the Rubicon
Pompey the Great was ruler of the Roman Empire half a century before the birth of Christ. His most
important general was Julius Caesar. Caesar did not always see eye-to-eye with Pompey and was
considering marching on Rome to assert his authority.
In 49 B.C. Caesar approached the Rubicon, a river in Northern Italy. It served as the territorial border.
The Rubicon was called ‘the sacred and inviolable’. It was the line that no general was allowed to pass
without being granted special permission from the Senate.
If Caesar crossed the Rubicon, it would be to take control of the entire Roman Empire. To cross the
Rubicon would be to declare civil war. The nation would be divided between Pompey and Caesar.
Caesar understood what the consequences would be if he tried and failed. He knew that many of his
soldiers would die in a failed attempt. Once the decision had been made there could be no hesitation.
After all alternatives had been explored he made up his mind to march on Rome.
Caesar was a master tactician because of his ability to analyse a situation. He always finished what he
started. To cross the Rubicon was his Magnum Opus, the biggest undertaking of his life.
Caesar said, “The die is cast.” That expression marked the point where deliberation ended and action
began. There would be no turning back.
For two thousand years the phrase “Crossing the Rubicon” has been used to indicate some decisive
action of great importance. We would do well to follow the pattern of Caesar.
We need to determine the identity, strengths and weaknesses of the enemy. We should also evaluate
our own strengths and weaknesses. Only then are we in a position to fight the enemy.
Once you have made this decision you should be willing to stake everything upon your judgment.
Any negative thoughts, doubts or fears should be eliminated. Give no energy to any thing or person
that would prevent you from achieving your objective.
For each of us there is a Rubicon that we have to cross, a point that requires us to be decisive
regardless of the consequences. Having reached this point there is no turning back. The German
philosopher and writer, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, said:
“Until one is committed, there is hesitance, the chance to draw back. Always ineffectiveness.
Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elemental truth the ignorance of
which kills countless ideas and splendid plans; that the moment one commits oneself, then
providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have
occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one’s favour all manner
of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance which no man could have
dreamed would come his way. Whatever you can do or dream you can begin it. Boldness has
genius, power, and magic in it. Begin it now.”
The Perseverance Factor
Once you have crossed the Rubicon you have only just started. Now comes the hard work. The
perseverance factor is the key to accomplish any goal you set for yourself. When speaking of
perseverance Calvin Coolidge said:
“Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence.
Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent.
Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb.
Education alone will not; the world is full of educated derelicts.
Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.”
Think of the things you have started in your life or things others have started that have never been
finished. Think of the musical instruments that have been purchased but never played; the books
commenced but never finished; half written poetry; the fitness clubs joined but never attended; the
courses commenced but never completed.
Mainly this is due to the lack of persistence, the ability to see something through, the determination to
complete the task no matter what may attempt to prevent it, to fight on even though all hell is breaking
loose around you. Without commitment there is no energy to propel you forward. Albert Einstein
expressed it this way,
“It’s not that I’m so smart, it’s just that I stay with problems longer.”
Rabbi Akiva
One of the great stories about perseverance is told of a young man whose name was Akiva.
Up until the age of forty he was a poor shepherd. His life was to change when he fell in love with a
beautiful young lady. Her name was Rachel. She belonged to a wealthy family. She loved Akiva but
could not marry him unless he studied the great body of literature called ‘The Torah’. This would be a
mammoth task for a forty-year-old ignorant shepherd, one that probably seemed beyond his ability.
Rachel wanted a husband who would live his life by a value system, a code of ethics.
Akiva observed a stone that had been hollowed out by dripping water. This was a defining moment in
his life. He concluded if water that is so soft can hollow out a stone which is so hard, then his ability to
learn and understand the precepts of ‘The Torah’ was achievable.
Through his acquisition of knowledge he married his beloved Rachel and became one of the great
Rabbis of all time.
What was his motivation? He loved Rachel and knew to marry her he would have to learn ‘The Torah’.
Love is the greatest motivating force of humanity. It was not easy for him but his love for Rachel was
greater. He wanted to prove to his father-in-law that he was everything and more that he wanted for
his daughter.
One of the great lessons we can learn from this story is that with any new venture you may feel
inadequate to the task but, if you persist, eventually you will win.
Of course there are other factors involved which will play a role but, if it is what you should be doing at
the time, you should be doing it. Then you will have or be given the power to do it.
The above is an extract from the ebook "7 Ways to Live Life to the Max".
You can get a copy of this book, together with 4 other ebooks shown below - for $17 only.
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Immediate download
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$17 for all these 5 ebooks
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Here are the Contents for the eBook "7 Ways to Live Life to the Max"
1. Maxers Know The Big Picture While Not Ignoring The Small One
• Live To Fulfill The Measure Of Your Creation
• An American Psychologist
• Hierarchy Of Needs
• Characteristics Of Self-Actualizing People
• Competition In Life
• Nature And Environment
• The Eagle School
• We Are All One
• The Grand Design
• The Fifth Child
• To Reason Is Divine
• The Mysteries Of Life
• Know Thyself
• Knowing Our Progenitors
• His First Parents
• The Treasure House
• Another Window To Your World
• Spiritual Genetics
• Crossing Over
• Small Things Do Count
• It Was Only A Shoe box
• The Keys
• There Is A Process
• When The Student Is Ready The Teacher Arrives
• Our Great Teachers
• The Refiner's Fire
• What Was Happening To You In 1992?
• Gillian Barre Syndrome
• The Stolen Car
• The Recession We Had To Have
• Could Things Get Any Worse?
• Fire Is The Test Of Gold
• Adversity Overcomes Procrastination
• Freedom To Choose
• Why Decision - Making Is Difficult
• Operation Thunderbolt
• Time - Out Or Burn Out
• An Ancient Practice For A Modern Society
• The Sabbatical
• Why Not Design Your Own Sabbatical?
• Retaining The Newness
• Chapter Summary
2. MAXERS LIVE IN THE REAL WORLD
• The Seduction Of Life
• The Grass On The Other Side
• Money The Great Seducer
• Stuffed And Animated
• The Magical Tent
• That Car
• The Other Woman
• We Knew We Would Not Get It
• The Hitchhiker
• A Beautiful Mind
• The Other Voices
• The Ultimate Power
• The Temple Of Sais
• A Defining Moment
• Do Not Procrastinate Life
• The Cycle Of Life
• King Solomon
• The Seasons Of Our Life
• The Only Season Is Now
• Every Day Is A Great Day
• The Scapegoats
• The Buck Stops Here
• The Halcyon Days Of The Eighties
• The Crows And Canaries
• The Excuse Peddlers
• Chapter Summary
3. MAXERS LIVE BY A CODE OF ETHICS
• The Eternal Fitness Of Things
• The Sinking Village Of Yarraville
• What Will You Become?
• Why Live By A Code?
• Codes That Others Have Lived By
• Florence Nightingale
• Desiderata
• What Are You Prepared To Die For?
• The Fall Of Massada
• Walls And Fences
• The Freedom Fence
• The Wall Builders
• The Freemasons
• Rotarians
• Write Your Own Mission Statement
• The Secret Of Attracting Happiness
• The Result Of Ethical Living
• Honesty Is Still The Best Policy
• Trust, The Twin Brother Of Honesty
• The Wooden Bowl
• Ulterior Motives
• Chapter Summary
4. MAXERS LIVE THEIR DREAMS BY CONQUERING THEIR FEARS
• Actions Are Born Of Dreams
• The Language Waiting To Be Learned
• The Road Waiting To Be Traveled
• The Vicarious Experience
• The Book Waiting To Be Written
• Humanitarian Dream
• The Risk Takers
• Your Angle Of View
• The School Bully
• Preparation Eliminates Fear
• Sir Gawain And The Green Knight
• The Final Enemy
• To Live Your Dreams You Must Cross The Rubicon
• The Perseverance Factor
• Rabbi Akiva
• What Is This?
• Focus
• Landing Without Focus
• A Disciplined Mind
• You Were Created To Win
• Chapter Summary
5. MAXERS ARE LOVERS
• Love Is A Spiritual Fire
• In Jail
• Standing For The Teacher
• The Russian Immigrant
• The Hajj
• The Pilgrims
• Showing Appreciation
• Avoid Criticism Like The Plague
• If You Have To Criticize
• Accepting Criticism
• Become An Encourager
• Chapter Summary
6. MAXERS LET GO TO HANG ON
• Closure, The Elixir Of Life
• The Monks And The Maiden
• Steps To Closure
• Turning Back We Go Forward
• You Are Right Too
• Prevention Is Better Than Cure
• The Ambulance In The Valley
• Your Anger And The Sun
• The Anger Test
• Tips To Reduce Anger
• Flight
• Accommodations
• Force
• The Treaty Of Versailles
• Compromise - Let Us Meet In The Middle
• Collaboration - Doing It Together
• Civil War Surrender
• Chapter Summary
7. MAXERS GIVE AND KNOW THAT GIVING IS THE MEASURE OF GREATNESS
• To Get By Giving And To Lose By Keeping
• Our Greatest Gifts
• Chief Seattle
• Time To Give
• What Should We Give?
• A Gift Of Value
• We Are All Colonizers And Pioneers
• An Ordinary Life
• Teaching People How To Fish
• The Difficulty Of Giving
• Giving Of Yourself
• The Hands Of Albert Durer
• You Receive By Giving As Long As You Do Not Give To Receive
• I Cannot Give What I Do Not Have
• Levels Of Giving
• Giving Is Not Always Convenient
• We Are All Beggars
• Attracting Happiness
• Happiness And Joy
• Another Model
• Mother Theresa
• The Comfort Zone
• Change - The Only Constant
• Knowledge And Information
• Knowledge And Faith
• Faith, The Servant Of Knowledge
• Knowledge Is Power
• The Ultimate In Knowledge - Inspiration
• The School Door Is Always Open
• Chapter Summary
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8 weeks Money Back Guarantee!
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Your purchase through PayPal is secure.
You purchase is also fully guaranteed - if for any reason, you are not satisfied with your
purchase, you can ask for full refund of your purchase. You can even keep the books.
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$17 for all these 5 ebooks
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P.S. If you truly want to live life to the max, here is your chance to unlock the secrets. Grab
your copy of "7 Ways to Live Life to the Max" now! You will also get the other 4 ebooks that
will help you to live an even more fulfilling life. Grab this opportunity to get all these 5 life
transformation books for only $17.
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Brought to you by Jacob Gan, PhD (Mich)
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