What will you put your life on hold for?

The other day I was going through some of my writing and and ran across some things that I had written back in 2020. One of the writings that stuck out to me was in the form of a question and it was this. What else will you put your life on hold for.

It seems that it is much easier to put our lives on hold for so many different things today. Some say well once I finish high school then I will start to live or once I get that job that I want then I will get back to living. In fact the excuses never stop. It could be once the kids grow up or once I get this or that that I can start living my life.

When I was diagnosed with kidney disease and had to start dialysis it gave me a easy excuse to say once I get a transplant and I am 100% then I will get back to living. But the easy way is not always the right way. Instead as they say say where I am from “I hocked up my britches and continued to live life.”

Not only did I live life but I enjoyed life. I took the time to smell the roses but also gave 110% at work. Even when I was not feeling good and was wore out from treatment I would continue to go in and complete the task at hand. When I would play a pick up game basketball or football I would give that 110% it did not matter what I was doing I would give 110%. Hey it is good to even give 110% at resting that is something that can hard to do as well.

What about your dreams?

The dream of owning that business or getting that job. Buying that house or planting that garden. The dream of being healthy or just living life. It does not have to be just a dream it can be reality and all it takes is for you to take the first step.

You can do that right by saying to yourself I have had it. I am done with living this way. Life was made for living and that is what I am going to do. I am taking my life off hold and now I am going to live life like it should be lived. I hope that you take this first step and take your life off hold and live life to its fullest.

Life was made for living, not for putting it on hold. -Ant

Transplant Genomics Webinar

From the desk of one of our Kollaberators Transplant Genomics.

In honor of #NationalKidneyMonth, we are celebrating the lessons learned from two kidney transplant recipients during our “10 Things I Wish I Had Known Before and After Transplant” webinar. Join to hear from Shane and Kendon as they share their transplant journey and some lessons that helped them along the way.

👉 Register at https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_zkwN4UJJSYaihBSfggfBvQ?fbclid=PAAaaLRoJRbMedjNgXVQ-FXo0JUeQXdMpDKmvLHx9LNuoplP8U6aCL0lViFJA#/registration

Are you opted in?

It’s time to get an opt-in list. You’ve read countless articles and sought expert advice about opt-in lists and read about people who’ve made a small fortune with them. You think you know all about opt-in lists and followed their advice to the letter, but still weren’t able to make money. You might even be losing money. No matter how many people you have on your list, if only a tiny percentage buy from you, you’re still losing money.

Is there anything we can do to fix it? Where have you failed where others have succeeded? Most people make the mistake of diving right in. Your topic is something you think will be really popular and make you money. I’m sorry, but that’s not true. There’s no guarantee they’ll buy just because you wrote them.

You can rejuvenate your failed opt-in list if you’ve started one and failed. Here are three easy ways to build a profitable opt-in list for beginners.

1) Make sure your customers trust you and your products. Launching your opt-in list won’t make you an expert or a believable seller. Before you start an opt-in list, write a lot of articles. Start your own site and write about what you know. First, build forums so you can learn about your customers’ wants and needs and then target those.

Join forums on other sites too. Make sure you’re giving expert advice. Eventually, you’ll be able to start your own opt-in list once people trust you. You can also build a base with other forum users. Let them know you’re looking for subscribers. It’s always helpful to have friends as customers. Give them a link to your site so they can see what you’re all about. Consumers and subscribers will only trust you if they believe in you. They want to get value for their money. It’s unlikely that they will buy from you if they don’t know you.

2) Make a product or service people want and need. Even though it’s not your forte, if you provide something you’ve researched and learned a lot about, you can carry it on. Put your time, effort, and money into something you can sell and that your subscribers or buyers can use. Make sure you do your research well and you’ll make money. Don’t forget to give your subscribers some promotional stuff they can use.

3) Get to know the other members of your opt-in list. The benefit is obvious, especially if it’s someone with a successful opt-in list. These are people with experience in this field, and experience is still the most valuable teacher. You can find lots of articles on the internet, but nothing beats a first-hand account from someone you trust. It will be easier for you to figure out what to do and what not to do if you ask experienced opt-in list users. The general concept can still be applied even when different situations happen. You’ll be able to find out what you need to stay away from from these people.

Don’t expect to build a profitable opt-in list overnight. It takes a lot of preparation and effort. You need to maintain your opt-in list’s quality as your list grows. You’ve got to keep it organized and manageable. Get help if you need it, but make sure your subscribers are happy and satisfied, and they’ll want to buy.

Supporting us would be awesome. Follow us on social media @officialdgivens and visit http://www.officialdgivens.com to see what we’ve been up to. Blessings

Are you opted in?

It’s time to get an opt-in list. You’ve read countless articles and sought expert advice about opt-in lists and read about people who’ve made a small fortune with them. You think you know all about opt-in lists and followed their advice to the letter, but still weren’t able to make money. You might even be losing money. No matter how many people you have on your list, if only a tiny percentage buy from you, you’re still losing money.

Is there anything we can do to fix it? Where have you failed where others have succeeded? Most people make the mistake of diving right in. Your topic is something you think will be really popular and make you money. I’m sorry, but that’s not true. There’s no guarantee they’ll buy just because you wrote them.

You can rejuvenate your failed opt-in list if you’ve started one and failed. Here are three easy ways to build a profitable opt-in list for beginners.

1) Make sure your customers trust you and your products. Launching your opt-in list won’t make you an expert or a believable seller. Before you start an opt-in list, write a lot of articles. Start your own site and write about what you know. First, build forums so you can learn about your customers’ wants and needs and then target those.

Join forums on other sites too. Make sure you’re giving expert advice. Eventually, you’ll be able to start your own opt-in list once people trust you. You can also build a base with other forum users. Let them know you’re looking for subscribers. It’s always helpful to have friends as customers. Give them a link to your site so they can see what you’re all about. Consumers and subscribers will only trust you if they believe in you. They want to get value for their money. It’s unlikely that they will buy from you if they don’t know you.

2) Make a product or service people want and need. Even though it’s not your forte, if you provide something you’ve researched and learned a lot about, you can carry it on. Put your time, effort, and money into something you can sell and that your subscribers or buyers can use. Make sure you do your research well and you’ll make money. Don’t forget to give your subscribers some promotional stuff they can use.

3) Get to know the other members of your opt-in list. The benefit is obvious, especially if it’s someone with a successful opt-in list. These are people with experience in this field, and experience is still the most valuable teacher. You can find lots of articles on the internet, but nothing beats a first-hand account from someone you trust. It will be easier for you to figure out what to do and what not to do if you ask experienced opt-in list users. The general concept can still be applied even when different situations happen. You’ll be able to find out what you need to stay away from from these people.

Don’t expect to build a profitable opt-in list overnight. It takes a lot of preparation and effort. You need to maintain your opt-in list’s quality as your list grows. You’ve got to keep it organized and manageable. Get help if you need it, but make sure your subscribers are happy and satisfied, and they’ll want to buy.

Supporting us would be awesome. Follow us on social media @officialdgivens and visit http://www.officialdgivens.com to see what we’ve been up to. Blessings

Are you ready to take on leadership responsibilities?

The journey through life brings us into contact with various personalities and traits that make up each individual and are a part of what makes them unique. We all admire and look up to certain traits, yet there are a few that we all hold in high regard, and being a leader is unquestionably one of them. To be a leader means to be responsible, to be accountable, and to have the courage to stand up for what is right in the face of injustice.

Leaders are those that lead by example as opposed to just by words, and they lead by example not by words. Their goals are important to them because they set the tone for others to follow and motivate them to achieve what they want. As a leader, it is imperative that they understand the importance of teamwork and collaboration, as they work towards a common goal together. They take the time to listen to and value the opinion of their team members, providing them with an environment where innovation and creativity can flourish. It is most important, however, that a leader is someone who takes responsibility for the team’s failures, as well as its successes, and who always strives to do better in the future.

It is also crucial that leaders have the ability to effectively communicate with others so that they can achieve their goals. Leaders must be able to clearly communicate their vision and goals to their team, and inspire them to make the required changes to achieve those goals.

Are you ready to take on leadership responsibilities?

Supporting us would be awesome. Follow us on social media @officialdgivens and visit http://www.officialdgivens.com to see what we’ve been up to. Blessings

Leadership initiative

Take the initiative to become a leader

Power is not the key to leadership. People shouldn’t be harassed or driven by fear. In order for the organization to be successful, others must be encouraged to work towards the organization’s goals. Bringing everyone on the same page and helping them see the big picture helps the organization run smoothly. Don’t be a boss, be a leader.

It is easier for people to follow others when they can see a clear purpose for their actions. Your followers will only follow you if they see that you are heading in the right direction. The chances of people following you are rare if you don’t know where you’re going.

In order to be a leader, you need to be able to inspire others. In short, being yourself, knowing what you know, and actually doing what you know is all it takes. The way you behave as a leader reflects the way your subordinates should behave as well.

The respect and confidence that your subordinates have for you is another foundation of good leadership. Good relationships, trustworthiness, and high ethical standards build trust and confidence. As soon as you have their trust and confidence, you can communicate your goals and objectives.

In order to lead effectively, communication is of utmost importance. You must be able to clearly communicate the knowledge and technical expertise you have acquired over the years to others. It’s important to assess situations, weigh pros and cons, and actively seek out solutions.

There are no do-it-all heroes among leaders. It is not a good idea to claim to know everything, and it is also not a good idea to rely on your skills alone. Make sure you recognize your subordinates’ skills and talents. Until you realize this, you won’t be able to work together as a cohesive unit.

Being a leader is a very time-consuming and hard job that takes a lot of effort and commitment. A lot of things take time to learn.

Supporting us would be awesome. Follow us on social media @officialdgivens and visit http://www.officialdgivens.com to see what we’ve been up to. Blessings

Reflections on the Journey: Speak Life

By: Wills Porter

We all hold a double-edged sword

There is something profound about the spoken word. In a way I think that the spoken word is the most profound aspect of the human experience. In one way we can speak life. We can encourage. We can bring hope. In another way we can speak hate. We can bully. We can tear apart dreams and people’s since of worth. This is why I believe that the spoken word is a double-edged sword. And get this… we all hold this sword.

In my life many people have spoken life into me. To start, there’s my pediatrician and transplant team. When I was an infant and couldn’t get well, they worked hard to help my family find answers. When I was first referred to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, not a lot was known about my medical situation. However, after many tests, an open liver biopsy and a trip to Ohio, my team at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta determined I needed a liver transplant.

Life Changes

Fast forward a few years and some calls for transplant that didn’t work out and my tine to get a new liver had come. After the hour-long drive to Atlanta I was worked up for surgery. This, my family and doctors hoped would be my second chance.. a life change for the good. However, what was about to happen would be life changing in am entirely different way. The operation started off good but in an instant things took a turn for the worst and I experienced a cardiac arrest. As time went by I lost more and more oxygen. I was ultimately revived and the surgery was called off. It wasn’t until I experienced a subsequent seizure that my family and doctors realized what had happened. The neurological damage was so large that my parents were told I may never walk. talk, see or make facial expressions ever again. I wasn’t even three. My parents had to wonder who I would one day be. Even through this medical trauma, my doctors spoke life into me. My family and family friends also spoke life into me. When it was all going wrong they could have turned their back, they could have hung it up and quit. Instead they turned to face the darkness and spoke life. It would one day pay off but in the moment no one could really see how all this would end. 

After many hours of physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy I was making incredible strides in recovery. There was just one thing that wasn’t coming back. my vision. I would ultimately need to learn to read braille and walk with a cane. My parents decided to go ahead and get me seen for an evaluation. So, this is how it was going to be. I was alive but it was time I adapt and overcome. After the evaluation my parents braced for the news.

Your son can see. These four words changed everything. These words definitely spoke life. Could this really be? How? Everyone saw I was lost on the table. What about the cardiac arrest and seizure? Nope. I had come through once again. This changed everything. Surely the call for transplant was near. It took some time but on December 31,1999 that call came. Was this really going to happen on New Year’s Eve? Surely this was my time and on January 1st, 2000, I woke up with a new liver in a new millennium.

Fresh perspectives

Since receiving my second chance I have faced many challenges. As a child, many of the challenges I experienced revolved around staying healthy while also having a weakened immune system. More so than any medical challenge I experienced, the greatest challenge I experienced was adjusting to life outside the hospital. Being a transplant recipient of 23 years, I know that this challenge is not exclusive to my transplant journey. However, when I was younger, I didn’t know everything I know now. As a high school student, I didn’t have a purpose and I didn’t have a vision. Then the summer between my sophomore and junior year happened. It was durring this time that I had a camp counselor named Edward. Durring that week of camp, Edward spoke life into me. More importantly, Edward changed my life. Edward challenged me to use my past challenges as a platform to make a difference. After that week of camp ended, I left camp with a fresh perspective on my life and my life purpose. Thanks to Edward, I went from asking why me to why not me? No longer was I angry at my life circumstances. Instead, I was thankful for the fires of life because they were refining me into the person I was made to be. Ever Since meeting Edward all those years ago, I have taken many steps to become who I was made to be. While taking these steps has not been easy, I have taken these steps knowing I have people in my life to speak life into me. Even in the darkest of times, I have people in my life who speak life into me when I need it most.

The spoken word is a double-edged sword that we will either use to build up or tear down. How will you use the sword?

Will you speak life?

At the beginning of this blog, I said that the spoken word is like a double-edged sword. In one way we can encourage and bring hope. At the same time, we can also bully, speak hate, and destroy other’s sense of self-worth. With this in mind, I want to conclude this blog by challenging you with three questions. First, who has spoken life into you when you needed it most? Maybe it is a coach, a teacher, a friend, or a mentor. Secondly, I want you to consider who is currently speaking life into you. Consider who you surround yourself with and who you let speak into your life. Finally comes the most important question. Who are you currently speaking life into?

The way I see it, life isn’t about the amount of money you make, the career you have or the awards and honors you have obtained. Instead, life is about making the most of your position in life to impact others for good. I wish I had time to tell the stories of those I have spoken life into and the incredible things these people have done. Unfortunately, I don’t have time to do that. So., I guess you will have to find out for yourself exactly what can happen when you choose to speak life.

Who has spoken life into you?

Who is currently speaking life into you ?

Who can you speak life to?



Your Outlook can change your Outcome.

There is ancient text that says “The Spirit of a Man shall sustain himself through his infirmity’s.”

I find this text fascinating and it is one that have applied to my life for several years. The word spirit in Webster dictionary has a few meanings but one that stirs my mind is “temper or disposition or outlook especially when vigorous or animated.” The word disposition is a important word to this meaning as it means “prevailing tendency or mood.”

My mind goes back to 2008 when I had a stroke. It was devastating in fact I believe it affected me more than when I was diagnosed with Kidney Disease. But why this is a great question. I believe part of the reason is I was laid off from work and this I used my stroke as a excuse for not getting up and trying to work or find a job. One negative thought from a negative situation can undo all the positive things that has happened in your life. Unless you grab a hold of your mind and change your thoughts.

Does our mood or disposition change because of what we go through. It certainly does if we are sick, lost a loved one, or something did not go our way. We need to control our emotions if we want to see a positive outcome of negative situation. To keep a good positive spirit up we must.

1. reading a encouraging book.

2. Talking to someone that encourages us.

3. Listen to a self-help or motivational talk.

4. Create a goal. It could be as simple as making our bed. Just the simple joy of accomplishment as making your bed can cause a feeling so great that you will set bigger goals for yourself the next time.

These are just a few thoughts that may help you on your journey.

Life is short, even at its longest.

I am sure that we have all seen the memes that say life is short eat more tacos or do this and that. While these are fun there is truth to every one of these memes “Life is short.”

Someone said “Life is short even at its longest.” How true life is just that short. I know for me it took something such as kidney disease and starting dialysis to make me realize how short and fragile life really is.

But if life is short how should we spend our time. The simple answer is carefully and wisely. Every minute of every day spend your time on things that bring meaning and purpose to your life. This could be time with your family, working on your dream, trying new ideas and learning new skills. Lately I myself have been working to learn more musical instruments. It brings me joy when I find a new chord or lick.

Time with my kids is so fun. There has been a video that has been circulating and the person says that we only have kids for a short time. From 1-5 is the most enjoyable times and you will never get those time back. I have 3 kids they range from 5-2 and I have started to enjoy even the more stressful times.

Time with family is also important. Not just close family, extended family. The cousins and Aunts and Uncle you may only see one a year. Set up a lunch or coffee with them. In the days of electronic I think many feel that following each other on social media is enough when it isn’t.

Don’t let your situation in life hinder you from doing the things that brings you happiness and joy. While it’s true that life is short, make sure that it will be a life well spent.

Book Review: 5 Ways I tackled and thrived through kidney failure.

I love to read books on success, motivation, self help, financial ect. But also love to read books on other people’s journey through kidney failure.

I can remember when I was on dialysis I longed to read or hear other peoples journey on dialysis and how they overcame the challenges of life. But not just the medical challenges, the mental clans just life challenges. In his book Author Darren Cawley he does just this.

Darren has 5 subjects that he has written about Affirmation, Role Models, Positive Mindset, Reading and exercise. You may ask what do these subjects have to do with kidney failure. Through out his book Darren is able to point to his kidney failure experience and coordinate it with each subject beautifully. This is so needed in to todays time. Instead of just focusing on the medical terminology and all the things that could happen to you with kidney failure. Darren ensure that you have the tools to overcome those challenges that kidney disease may throw at you.

This book is a must read and definitely one for your e-library. Not only for those that have kidney disease but it can also apply to any challenges we may face in life.

Click the link to to sign up and receive your copy. https://darrencawley.com