~ Carlos Says ~

The Fire of DESIRE Will Take You Higher!!

If you're willing to pay the price, anything you want to achieve in this life can be yours. 'Cause if you want something bad enough, you'll be sure to get it. The key to success here is DESIRE. Obstacles won't matter much if your DESIRE remains focused on the goal. But it's not going to be easy, folks. You're going to come across some tremendous adversity as you strive to reach your musical dreams. And using my situation as a primary example, some of the most negative influences you'll come across will be from those who are closest to you. You see, my closest friends and former band mates tried to talk me out of recording my original music by saying things like, "People want to hear music they're familiar with, so we're not comfortable doing your songs"; "We're doing great as a cover-band, so why change that?"; and my personal favorite, "We really don't think your music would sell anyway"!

Many of these close friends were so caught up in their own egos that they couldn't see beyond the small world they lived in -- A world for which they dared not venture beyond. So how did I get beyond this negative influence in order to achieve the musical success I've come to enjoy so far? I simply quit hanging around with those small-minded people. That's right, I made a steadfast decision to dismiss them from my circle of influence and went out to find new friends and band mates who shared similar dreams and passions for success as I had. And you know what? They were easy to find! All I had to do was look beyond the small-minded group of people I was hanging around with, and what a difference it has made in my life! Did I piss people off in the process? YOU BET. (People don't like to be dismissed by their own friends like that). But I had a dream, and I wasn't going to let ANYONE stand in the way of me achieving it, even if it meant turning my back on certain "friends". Friends who I later realized were only holding me back because they weren't comfortable with the thought of moving outside their comfort zones. But who's dream was this anyway, mine or their's?!? So, after some reflective soul searching, I made up my mind to go out and record my music on my own, regardless of what others were saying about it.

But now let's fast-forward to what's happening today. Because of my commitment to follow the fire of musical DESIRE within my heart, my music is now being sold and heard by people all over the world. The success of my CD has gone beyond my wildest expectations, and I receive emails regularly from people all over the world telling me how much they enjoy the positive energy I project in my music. So what ever happened to those former band mates of mine? Those guys are stuck in the same pathetic lifestyles that I left them in: With no direction; no game plan; and no future. And now they're scratching their heads wondering how the hell I got so lucky! You see, those who fail to rise above the negative circumstances of their surroundings will only be forced to suffer the consequences of their decision. I had no intention of allowing that to happen to me, so I simply decided to change my circumstances. And in doing so, I opened the door to some wonderful opportunities that have brought me that much closer to achieving my musical dreams!

So in order to achieve success in life, you must recognize the importance of remaining steadfast and committed on a goal. Instead of giving up on your dreams because "it's too hard" to achieve them,... you must remain focused and committed on achieving those dreams, regardless of the cost. Will there be roadblocks, potholes and even painful events to challenge your commitment? ABSOLUTELY, so be ready for them. Will you be stonewalled, ignored and dismissed by those who don't recognize the creativity of your work? YOU BET YOUR ASS, so get ready for some considerable rejection before someone actually takes notice. But ultimately, if you want something bad enough, you'll find a way to get beyond those obstacles so you can reach your musical dreams. Your commitment to succeed will slowly begin to develop into a realm of reality around you. Why? Because a positive and focused mindset will begin to pull positive results in like a magnet. Look at me, for example,… even though I'm very happy with the result of my current efforts, I realize that I'm only scratching the surface of what can be achieved tomorrow. So every day when I get up from bed I attack my day as a new opportunity to continue following my elusive musical dreams. The fight for me isn't over until I say it's over. Remain steadfast in your decision to achieve success regardless of the consequences, and you're sure to reach your dreams of success. And DESIRE is the fire that creates the energy needed to get you there.

Stay true to your Faith,... Stay true to your Dreams,... and always Stay Positive!! -- Carlos J. Saldaña

Recently, one of my friends was told about this CD of mine, and his immediate response was to say, "Carlos recorded a CD? That's impossible!" When I heard about that comment, I simply had to laugh, because nothing is impossible if you just put your mind to it. A famous person once said, "Impossible is just a big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in the world they've been given, rather than to explore the power they have to change it. Impossible is not a fact – It's an opinion. Impossible is not a declaration – It's a dare." So for me, the word “impossible” basically means nothing. And I feel I’ve been able to prove that by my constant pursuit of new goals and opportunities in life. And this CD recording just goes to prove my point. Trust me, if I can beat the "impossible", so can you!

The following words of wisdom are not my own to claim. Instead, they are quotes and quips that I've picked up over the years through my expansive reading of books and periodicals. They're not intended to suggest how I expect other people to live their lives,... instead, they're simply offered as a little insight into my own personal philosophies on life, love and the world in general. Stay true to your Dreams,... stay true to Yourself,... and always Stay Positive! -- Carlos J. Saldaña

"Here's a video file of an amazingly beautiful song performed by the Contemporary Country group, "Diamond Rio". The words of this song are POWERFUL and reflect my most true and devoted sentiments EXACTLY on what the phrase "God Bless America" really means. The words are provided together with the video, so please take the time to read along while the song is playing. What a POWERFUL message of Patriotism and Faith to share with the world!" -- Carlos J. Saldaña

Click on the photo below to see & hear the video file:

The following words of wisdom are from my close, personal friend,... best-selling Author, award-winning Musician, & world-class Motivational Speaker, Mr. Willie Jolley. Upon reading these words and conversing with Willie one-on-one,... I finally realized what I needed to do to achieve my elusive musical dreams. (And the first step was to get off my Butt!) Excellent words of wisdom to live by. Thank you Willie Jolley!" -- Carlos J. Saldaña

"Take action!! You can have lights,... you can have cameras,... but nothing happens until you take ACTION!! A vision without action is an illusion. And action without a vision is confusion. But action and vision, desire and decision, can change your life and change the world." -- Mr. Willie Jolley

"Obtain the power of a P.H.D. Not a doctorate of philosophy, but a doctorate of Persistence, Hunger and Determination! In order to overcome the challenging times that life throws at you, it is essential that you make a predetermined decision to never give up. Those people who have turned their setbacks around always had a commitment to keep going. They decided that giving up was simply not an option. They went into the fight with confidence, determination and persistence. Confidence came as a result of their belief in themselves. It was tied into their faith. They realized that faith is an essential part of every success story." -- Mr. Willie Jolley

"The old saying is true, that "winners never quit, and quitters never win". And the real fact is that many times the only difference between a Winner and a Loser is that the Winner just kept on trying. They may not have had any more talent or any more ability, but they just kept on going. When the going got tough, they didn't give up and they didn't stop. I truly believe that the key to success in any venture is to make a commitment to keep going. When you get your vision, you will also find opposition, and that is when you must persist and never give up!" -- Mr. Willie Jolley

All exceprts above taken from the book "A Setback Is A Setup For A Comeback" by Mr. Willie Jolley

www.williejolley.com

"The following slide presentation is a POWERFUL message on the topic of Leadership and what it means to be a truly effective Leader in today's work place. It was originally presented by then General Colin Powell, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, (and later, U.S. Secretary of State), but it still stands as one of the BEST descriptive examples of "Leadership" I've ever come across.

I'm sure many of us would all love to find such a Leader, as described by Gen. Colin Powell here, but unfortunately, many of the examples we tend to come across in our lives wind up falling short in meeting these simple ground rules. And though that fact may be a little disappointing, there's nothing stoppin the rest of us from implementing these concepts within our own "circle of influence"! Click on the link below to view this great Leadership message!" -- Carlos J. Saldaña

General Colin Powell's Rules of Leadership

You know,... life can be GREAT when you simply go with it. Instead of worrying about what can or can't happen,... or analyzing a situation to death,... just make your choice and GO FOR IT! Your first instinct is often your best one, because it comes directly from your inner self. That part of you which senses the best way to approach a new experience. But when you start taking a lot of other conflicting opinions and perspectives into account, your options quickly shrink. Sure, it pays to think things through and to consider the advice of others,... but don't let that input dilute the passion that can energize your life. Trying to make the "perfect decision" can often lead to no decision at all. Trying to avoid every mistake can be the biggest mistake, because you also avoid getting anything done. Though you can plan for the future, you cannot precisely predict it. So go ahead with the best that you have and you'll be completely able to deal with whatever may happen. Even though life has no guarantees, this day is an incredible opportunity. So step confidently and enthusiastically forward with a smile on your face and GO FOR IT! -- Author Unknown

Here's a great song written from the perspective of our American men & women serving in our Nation's military. It's hauntingly beautiful, with some wonderfully conceived lyrical content. These kids are out there facing insurmountable odds on a daily basis, fighting to protect the freedoms that make our nation great, while securing our American way of life. God Bless the members of our American Military!!

Click on the photo below to see & hear the video file:

(Go To Top Of Page)

All "portrait-style" photos on this page are by Master Photographer, Mr. Lloyd Wainscott (shootwme@yahoo.com)