Sheila Blackmond and her family were once the subject of ABC’s Extreme Home Makeover, but many years later, they still face many challenges and hardships. Take a moment this holiday to learn their story and see if you can lend a hand.

Our culture doesn’t have a model for dealing with those who don’t succeed in it. Maybe it’s time to make compassion and giving part of our business model.

Here is what you need to know: most of what you have heard about the economy is dead wrong, or just irrelevant. Are we still in a recession? Has the recovery begun? How do I find a good job now? Is it the right time to start a business ? What’s going to happen with health care reform? How will that affect me? These are the wrong questions to ask. The big lesson from the market crash of 2008 is that we can’t rely on government or big business for hand-outs. Each one of us needs to take full responsibility for our lives, our business, our career, our health, our family. All of it- no excuses. But, we don’t need to do it alone. Amazing opportunities arise when we reach out to the communities in our lives: our family, our friends, and the places where we live. The Internet and social media make it easier than ever to build communities and connect to them.

Everyone has been inspired by a great teacher. Recently, I had a chance to record a”thank you” to a very special teacher that greatly influenced my life.