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With celebrations throughout the United States, Independence Day presents a great opportunity for you to take an assessment about where you are in life and in business. Often this is an exercise we do only at the start of the year. But, July is a great time to take a mid-year breather and determine whether the activities you’re involved in are getting you closer to your goals.

We’re all pressed for time and although it might sound cliched, today’s Internet and social networking tools such as, Facebook and Twitter, can really enrich your professional and personal life.

While there are users in our netsphere, who definitely invest serious time using these online tools, it doesn’t have to be that way. If you have a wireless device that allows applications, you can easily download mobile versions of these tools, thereby staying connected to people you’re interested in or really care about. For myself, I use it to follow mentors and leadership motivators.

I talk a lot about how everyone has a story. One of my favorite leaders was America’s 16th president, Abraham Lincoln. And what a story he had to tell. He said, “Always bear in mind, that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any one thing.” What truth there is to that statement, especially on a day like today! Be committed to be proud of who your are, brave about what you seek to undertake, and independent in your quest for success. Be YOU!!