Today’s guest is Donna Palm, who went from homeless to the author of “Dream Bigger, Live Better” and independent real estate broker who within two years of that purchased her first RE/MAX real estate franchise. The goal of today’s podcast is to detail ways in which to make the most out of life, and she’s here to tell you how. Most People Lack a Blueprint It’s critical to keep track of exactly what you have and where you are now in life and where you want to be.  Donna started out as a single mother union electrician who was totally unhappy with her life, living in the cold state of Illinois, to residing in Florida and becoming a successful author and real estate agent. Having a blueprint is vital because it puts a lot into perspective and gives you a starting point. Start with Where You Are Something everyone should do is create an accomplishment or gratitude list. In it, you should include everything you could be grateful for that has happened to you and what you have to fall back on. Creating and carefully going through a gratitude list will lift your spirits and because of the very nature of the list, will have you notice that your life isn’t as bad as you initially thought it was. School of Life List What the second type of list Donna advises to create is a “School of Life List.” This list is essentially a checklist of mistakes you have made and what you’ve learned from them. Reflection is the key to improving yourself, and you must realize that failing is a key to becoming successful. Most people are afraid of failure, but in reality, this is where you get most of your strength. It gets you to better think about what you can do better the next time. Taking Chances Is Important Being persistent, taking chances, and trying against all the odds makes a difference. Lisa mentions a time where she introduced herself to a TV station manager, and for six months after that she was persistent enough, and to her friends’ surprise she ended up doing a show called “Health Power” for two years just because of that tenacity, effectively launching her career in media. Donna mentions it was her persistence that determined that success. Quit Making Excuses Excuses are poison to your success. If you want to do something, just do it, and this shift from your comfort zone is the first step to reshaping your life. The point is, don't ever give up. You have no clue what’s ahead of you if you never take a chance.   You can learn more about Donna here: http://www.donnapalm.com/