As you begin to take action toward the fulfillment of your goals and dreams, you must realize that not every action will be perfect.
Not every action will produce the desired result. Not every action will work.
Making mistakes, getting it almost right, and experimenting to see what happens are all part of the process of eventually getting it right.
Thomas Edison is reported to have tried over 2,000 different experiments that failed before he finally got the light bulb to work. He once told a reporter that, from his perspective, he had never failed at all. Inventing the light bulb was just a 2,000-step process. If you can adopt that attitude, then you can be free to take an action, notice what result you get, and then adjust your next actions based on the feedback you have received.
Ready, Fire, Aim!
Don’t be afraid to just jump in and get started moving toward your goals. As long as you pay attention to the feedback you receive, you will make progress. Just getting into the game and firing allows you to correct and refine your aim.
The Most Valuable Question You May Ever Learn
In the 1980s, a multimillionaire businessman taught me a question that radically changed the quality of my life. So what is this magical question that can improve the quality of every relationship you are in, every product you produce, every service you deliver, every meeting you conduct, every class you teach and every transaction you enter into?
Here it is:
“On a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate the quality of our relationship during the last week?”
Here are a number of variations on the same question that have served me well over the years...
“On a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate…
• our service?
• my teaching?
• our product?
• this class/seminar/workshop?
• this meeting?
• our date/vacation?
• our performance?
• this meal?
• my coaching/managing?
• this book/recording/show?
• my parenting/babysitting?
Any answer less than a 10 always gets this follow-up question:
“What would it take to make it a 10?”
This is where the *really* valuable information comes from. Knowing that a person is dissatisfied is not enough. Knowing in detail what will satisfy them gives you the information you need to do whatever it takes to create a winning product, service or relationship.
There Are Two Kinds of Feedback
There are two kinds of feedback you might encounter – negative and positive. We tend to prefer the positive – that is, results, money, praise, promotion, raise, awards, happiness, inner-peace, etc. It feels betters. It tells us we are on course and doing the right thing.
We tend not to like negative feedback – lack of results, little or no money, criticism, poor evaluations, complaints, unhappiness, inner conflict, pain, etc.
However, there is as much useful data in negative feedback as there is in positive feedback. It tells us that we are off course, headed in the wrong direction, doing the wrong thing. This is priceless information!
In fact, it’s so valuable that one of the most useful projects you could undertake is to change how you respond to negative feedback. I like to refer to negative feedback as information for “improvement opportunities.” Here is a place where I can get better.
Ask Yourself for Feedback
In addition to asking others for feedback, you need to ask yourself for feedback, too. More than any other source of feedback, your body will tell you whether or not you are on course or not. When you are relaxed and happy, your body is telling you that you are on track. When you are constantly exhausted, tense, in pain, unhappy and angry, then you are off track.
Take time to listen to what your body is saying to you. Take time to listen to your physical sensations and your feelings. They are sending you important messages. Are you listening?
Remember, Feedback Is Simply Information
You don’t have to take it personally. Just welcome it and use it.
For more on Using Feedback to Your Advantage, review Principle #19 in The Success Principles. It’s one of the most important principles you can apply.
© 2007 Jack Canfield
Are you "stuck" in this area?
Send me your most pressing question about this topic, then join me for our monthly "Ask Jack Canfield" Tele-Clinic! http://www.askjackcanfield.com/
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jack Canfield, America’s Success Coach, is the founder and co-creator of the billion-dollar book brand Chicken Soup for the Soul and a leading authority on Peak Performance. If you're ready to jump-start your life, make more money, and have more fun and joy in all that you do, get your FREE success tips from Jack Canfield now at: http://www.freesuccessstrategies.com/
Thursday, January 31, 2008
The Most Valuable Question You May Ever Ask
Courage
Here is a little levity on the subject of courage...
Cowardly Lion:
What makes a King out of a slave?
Courage.
What makes the flag on the mast to wave?
Courage.
What makes the elephant charge his tusk in the misty mist or the dusky dusk?
What makes the muskrat guard his musk?
Courage.
What makes the Sphinx the 7th Wonder?
Courage.
What makes the dawn come up like THUNDER?!
Courage.
What makes the Hottentot so hot?
What puts the "ape" in ape-ricot?
Whatta they got that I ain't got?
Dorothy & Friends:
Cowardly Lion:
On a more serious note...
The Journey to Your Goals
On a recent cross country flight I looked out over the Rocky Mountains from 30,000 feet and saw hundreds of paths sort of heading towards the summits of the various peaks.
I write "sort of" because looking at these zigzagging paths made it very clear why they are called switchbacks. Those switchbacks occupied my thinking for most of the rest of the flight to Oakland and have been on my mind often since.
It occurred to me that those switchback paths are much like the paths we often take towards our largest, most important goals. We're definitely on a path, but it doesn't always seem direct or in a straight line.
Through my reflection I have found five messages about goal setting - and goal attainment - in the switchback paths.
1. The need for a clearly defined goal. If you are on a mountain path, the goal is pretty clear. You are there because you want to get to the top. In your daily routine how often do you strive to make your goals that clear and obvious?
From the 30,000 perspective you probably can see yourself progressing towards your goal, but sometimes on the path it's hard to see. Keeping your goal clearly in front of you is critical to your attitude and aids in maintaining your persistence and belief.
2. Switchbacks allow you to get started. Have you ever faced a mountain of a goal and the steps towards it seemed hard, steep and full of risks? While boldness is important, often at the beginning of a journey, you just need to get started; to build some momentum and confidence.
Taking a winding path may not be the most direct route, but it's one of the best ways to insure a successful start and finish.
3. Keep your head up. Not only do you need to clearly define your goal, but you must always keep it in sight as well. In any journey, whether walking or moving towards a goal, you must keep your head up - to be alert to dangers and diversions and to keep the goal in sight. Even if the switchbacks make it seem - even momentarily - as if you are moving away from it.
4. Switchbacks allow for ongoing progress. I've hinted at this already, but it bears repeating - the path of the switchback allows for ongoing progress. The path allows for steady consistent progress - which is critical to reaching any goal of importance.
5. Watch for shortcuts. The well worn path is a valuable one to have, but there may be opportunities to skip a switchback. The serious hiker and goal achiever is always looking for a short cut - a path that might be a bit more difficult, but may cut significant time off of the journey.
Yes, moving towards your goals is a journey, but you must always have the destination in mind. If someone dropped a rope from a helicopter, and your goal was to get to the top of the mountain, be willing to grab on!
We must keep moving forward, but always be looking for the big opportunity to shorten our path and reach our goals more quickly.
Obviously, this is written from the perspective of reaching individual goals, and hopefully that perspective has been valuable. However, thinking of these five points is just as important (if not more important) for you as a leader or as part of a team that is trying to reach important and perhaps big goals.
Keeping your focus and enthusiasm for goals as an individual is hard, but keeping a team or organization on track and excited often presents an even larger challenge. Keep these lessons in mind and put them to use for yourself or your team and they will aid you on your path.
____________
Kevin Eikenberry is a leadership expert and the Chief Potential Officer of The Kevin Eikenberry Group, a learning consulting company that helps Clients reach their potential through a variety of training, consulting and speaking services. To receive a special report on Unleashing Your Potential go to http://www.kevineikenberry.com/uypw/index.asp or call us at (317) 387-1424 or 888.LEARNER.
It's Always Your Choice
How to Get Lucky!
I stumbled across a blog today at http://www.thesimpledollar.com/ and read a post of a review of the book Never Wrestle With A Pig by Mark McCormack. The author of the blog highlighted some of the points the book made, but I want to mention just one that is vitally important. In the first chapter of the book, Give Yourself A Reality Check, McCormack talks of our need to realize that you have to work hard to make it happen.
I agree 100% with that point. People who think that it is easy for someone else to succeed and it should be easy for them as well don't really know what they are talking about. They aren't privy to the years of experience that built up the skills that makes what they are doing now look easy. They aren't privy to the time they spent cultivating relationships, studying and gaining essential knowledge, establishing habits of setting goals and achieving them, becoming proficient in establishing effective plans that lead to successful accomplishments, etc. We just sit back and classify them as "lucky" and wish we could be lucky just like them.
~ Seneca
One of the points McCormack makes that I want here is that if you're relying on luck to carry you through something, it probably won't work! You need to put all your effort into making yourself "luck proof" just as these "lucky" people have done. Consistent winners are those who have done everything they can to stack the odds in their favor. They plan and prepare and then do absolutely EVERYTHING in their power to bring about favorable results.
~ Thomas Jefferson
Whatever it is that you want in life, plan for it, prepare for it, persistently pursue it and you, too, can get lucky!
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
STING Procrastination
When you hear the word "sting", don't you get an unpleasant feeling? You probably thought of a bumble bee, a wasp or even a scorpion. Who in their right mind really wants to get stung? Nobody! And procrastination is no different. In fact, if you STING procrastination enough times, it probably won't hang around you any more. Won't that be nice! So let me tell you how to do it:
S - Select one task.
Select one task that you have been putting off. It could be something as simple as cleaning the kitchen or as complex as doing your taxes. Break it down and select one small piece of it if it is a large or complicated task and just focus on that for now.
T - Time yourself.
Set a time limit to work on the task. I recommend one hour for adults and 15 to 30 minutes for children depending on their age and attention span. Use a kitchen timer so you don't have to watch the clock.
I - Ignore everything else.
Don't answer the phone or check your e-mail during this time. Focus only on what needs to get done and don't give in to tempting distractions.
N - No breaks.
Work straight through to keep the momentum going. Keep on pushing yourself right up until the timer goes off or the task is completed.
G - Give yourself a reward.
Once the timer goes off, you are done whether the task is fully completed or not. The object wasn't so much to get everything done in this amount of time, but to overcome the procrastination and start making progress. If you do that, you win! And every winner deserves to be rewarded for their efforts. For more on this topic, and even some suggestions of rewards, see my Reward Yourself! posting.
That is how you STING procrastination!
S - Select one task.
T - Time yourself.
I - Ignore everything else.
N - No breaks.
G - Give yourself a reward.
If you practice this every day, procrastination will be but a distant, unpleasant memory!
How Do You Live?
While I was sick a couple of weeks ago, I watched a lot of movies because I really wasn't up to anything else. In one of the movies, I heard a quote that has always struck me as comical, but I think it aptly describes how many of us tend to live our lives.
Many of us live our lives with no greater purpose than to earn enough money to pay our bills. We get up in the morning, chase the almighty dollar all day long, collapse in front of our T.V. for several hours at the end of the day, go to bed, and then repeat the cycle all over again the next day. Very few of us live our lives on purpose. And so we readily accept whatever purpose is handed to us.
Start living your life instead of just going through the motions. And, if you are going to live your life, make it a life worth living! Instead of accepting whatever it is that life gives you, decide what you will have and go get it!
What is it that brings you the most joy and fulfillment in your life?
Are you doing it?
What do you want to be remembered for?
Are you accomplishing it?
Celebrate 2008! is my effort to inspire people to take action in their lives by setting goals to achieve the things they really want to achieve in their lives and stick with those goals until it happens. If you haven't set a goal or a resolution this year, please do so now. Do not go to your grave with your song unsung. None of us know how long we have to live, to breathe and to achieve so start today!
Sunday, January 27, 2008
A Tribute & The Six B's
President Gordon B. Hinckley, prophet of God and president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, passed away this afternoon at the age of 97. I cannot say enough how much I love and respect this man. At an age when most are feeble and enjoying their retirement, he continued to travel the world over spreading the gospel and inspiring everyone he came in contact with. He became close friends with notable people like Larry King and held many interviews that were broadcast around the world, enabling him to clear up misconceptions regarding the church and to share our beliefs with all that would hear. The good he has done in his lifetime would fill volumes of books. My prayers are with his family at this time.
In honor of President Hinckley, I would like to share with you "The Six B's." It was a message directed to the youth, but I believe it has value to all of us.
BE GRATEFUL - Express appreciation to everyone who does us a favor or assists us in any way. Two little words - "thank you" - the mark of an educated man or woman.
BE SMART - The Lord wants us to train our minds and hands to become an influence for good "...that ye may be prepared in all things" (D&C 88:78-80).
BE CLEAN - We live in a world filled with filth and sleaze. We cannot afford to let it touch us. We should not be disrespectful of the body which the Lord has given us. Avoid evil talk, choose your friends carefully. You are a child of God.
BE TRUE - Let us be loyal to the Church under all circumstances. The authorities of this Church will lead us in paths of happiness.
BE HUMBLE - The meek and the humble are those who are teachable. Be willing to listen to the whisperings of the still, small voice.
BE PRAYERFUL - Look to the Lord for understanding and guidance, and walk according to His precepts and commandments. The miracle of it all is that He hears, He responds, He answers.
To learn more about President Hinckley, the LDS church or to read the full text of the message surrounding The Six B's, visit www.lds.org.
Saturday, January 26, 2008
The ABC's of Happiness
A--Accept
Accept others for who they are and for the choices they've made even if you have difficulty understanding their beliefs, motives, or actions.
B--Break Away
Break away from everything that stands in the way of what you hope to accomplish with your life.
C--Create
Create a family of friends whom you can share your hopes, dreams, sorrows, and happiness with.
D--Decide
Decide that you'll be successful and happy come what may, and good things will find you. The roadblocks are only minor obstacles along the way.
E--Explore
Explore and experiment. The world has much to offer, and you have much to give. And every time you try something new, you'll learn more about yourself.
F--Forgive
Forgive and forget. Grudges only weigh you down and inspire unhappiness and grief. Soar above it, and remember that everyone makes mistakes.
G--Grow
Leave the childhood monsters behind. They can no longer hurt you or stand in your way.
H--Hope
Hope for the best and never forget that anything is possible as long as you remain dedicated to the task.
I--Ignore
Ignore the negative voice inside your head. Focus instead on your goals and remember your accomplishments. Your past success is only a small inkling of what the future holds.
J--Journey
Journey to new worlds, new possibilities, by remaining open-minded. Try to learn something new every day, and you'll grow.
K--Know
Know that no matter how bad things seem, they'll always get better. The warmth of spring always follows the harshest winter.
L--Love
Let love fill your heart instead of hate. When hate is in your heart, there's room for nothing else, but when love is in your heart, there's room for endless happiness.
M--Manage
Manage your time and your expenses wisely, and you'll suffer less stress and worry. Then you'll be able to focus on the important things in life.
N--Notice
Never ignore the poor, infirm, helpless, weak, or suffering. Offer your assistance when possible, and always your kindness and understanding.
O--Open
Open your eyes and take in all the beauty around you. Even during the worst of times, there's still much to be thankful for.
P--Play
Never forget to have fun along the way. Success means nothing without happiness.
Q--Question
Ask many questions, because you're here to learn.
R--Relax
Refuse to let worry and stress rule your life, and remember that things always have a way of working out in the end.
S--Share
Share your talent, skills, knowledge, and time with others. Everything that you invest in others will return to you many times over.
T--Try
Even when your dreams seem impossible to reach, try anyway. You'll be amazed by what you can accomplish.
U--Use
Use your gifts to your best ability. Talent that's wasted has no value. Talent that's used will bring unexpected rewards.
V--Value
Value the friends and family members who've supported and encouraged you, and be there for them as well.
W--Work
Work hard every day to be the best person you can be, but never feel guilty if you fall short of your goals. Every sunrise offers a second chance.
X--X-Ray
Look deep inside the hearts of those around you and you'll see the goodness and beauty within.
Y--Yield
Yield to commitment. If you stay on track and remain dedicated, you'll find success at the end of the road.
Z--Zoom
Zoom to a happy place when bad memories or sorrow rears its ugly head. Let nothing interfere with your goals. Instead, focus on your abilities, your dreams, and a brighter tomorrow.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
How Winning Is Done
~ Sylvester Stallone as Rocky in Rocky Balboa
I've Been Shot!
I have noticed a tendency among people that is a little bit frightening. It is a tendency that makes any goal difficult to achieve if not all-together impossible. Here are some examples of that tendency:
• A man wants to have a happy and successful marriage, but enjoys a final fling at his bachelor party the night before the wedding.
• A woman wants to lose weight and so she hits the treadmill after she finishes off a chocolate bar.
• A couple want to be more secure financially but they buy the big screen TV on credit and then make a budget to live on.
• A student wants a good grade in a class but puts off studying until the night before finals.
I could go on and on with examples. Instead, let me let you in on an obvious, yet well-ignored secret:
Your chances of winning any race are significantly greater if you don't shoot yourself in the foot right before you start running!
We have the incredible ability to adapt to challenges and overcome them. What I don't understand is our tendency to make a challenge more challenging than it needs to be through self-sabotage. Do you do that?
Take a look at your goals and dreams and take a good hard look at what you did, and may very well be doing still, which is holding you back from achieving all you ever wanted. Take responsibility for your failure and make the decision to stop failing and start succeeding. Do this and you will sprint across the finish line rather than collapse upon it!
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
SHAKE IT OFF AND STEP UP!
A parable is told of a farmer who owned an old mule. The mule fell into the farmer's well. The farmer heard the mule 'braying' - or - whatever mules do when they fall into wells. After carefully assessing the situation, the farmer sympathized with the mule, but decided that neither the mule nor the well was worth the trouble of saving. Instead, he called his neighbors together and told them what had happened...and enlisted them to help haul dirt to bury the old mule in the well and put him out of his misery.
Initially, the old mule was hysterical! But as the farmer and his neighbors continued shoveling and the dirt hit his back...a thought struck him. It suddenly dawned on him that every time a shovel load of dirt landed on his back...HE SHOULD SHAKE IT OFF AND STEP UP! This he did, blow after blow.
"Shake it off and step up...shake it off and step up...shake it off and step up!" he repeated to encourage himself. No matter how painful the blows, or distressing the situation seemed the old mule fought "panic" and just kept right on SHAKING IT OFF AND STEPPING UP!
You're right! It wasn't long before the old mule, battered and exhausted, STEPPED TRIUMPHANTLY OVER THE WALL OF THAT WELL! What seemed like it would bury him, actually blessed him...all because of the manner in which he handled his adversity.
THAT'S LIFE! If we face our problems and respond to them positively, and refuse to give in to panic, bitterness, or self-pity...THE ADVERSITIES THAT COME ALONG TO BURY US USUALLY HAVE WITHIN THEM THE POTENTIAL TO BENEFIT AND BLESS US! Remember that FORGIVENESS--FAITH--PRAYER-- PRAISE and HOPE...all are excellent ways to "SHAKE IT OFF AND STEP UP" out of the wells in which we find ourselves!
- Author Unknown
Reward Yourself!
How is everybody doing on their Celebrate 2008! goals and resolutions. Did you give up? Are you barely hanging in there? Or is it becoming easier as the tasks that lead you toward your goals turn into daily habits because you have been consistent in doing them? Whatever you are experiencing right now, I hope you renew your commitment to succeed today and push on through the difficult times. Trust me, it will get easier!
An often overlooked way of pushing through the difficult times is to set rewards along the way to keep you motivated. My wife has a desire to lose some weight right now. She has really wanted to try a diet service that sets you up on a meal plan and even provides the majority of the food you need to stick to the diet. She is really optimistic about the results that she would get with this service, but has hesitated because the price didn't really fit in our budget. That is when I offered her a deal.
My experience has been that proper eating will slow weight gain or maintain your current weight, but consistent daily exercise is required in order to lose weight. With her busy schedule, she has struggled to maintain a consistent exercise program these past two years with the exception of the physical toll of chasing after our three boys day in day out. I told her that I would provide the money for the diet service if she demonstrated her commitment to losing weight by exercising every day except Sunday for two solid weeks. I also warned her that it would probably require that she get up a little earlier (she is not much of a morning person) so she could get it in before the boys were up. In spite of that, she was really excited to get started - and she has done great!
My wife has come back to me many times and told me how good she feels now that she is exercising regularly again. Her mood has improved, she has more energy and she feels good about the accomplishment. She said it was rough starting out because she hadn't exercised in a while, but every day she pushes herself a little bit farther and a little bit harder. It isn't always easy and there are days when she procrastinates it and doesn't feel like doing it, but the promise of the reward keeps her moving.
Jack Canfield talks about this as rewarding your inner child. Here is an exerpt from an article of his:
Your Inner Child
A big part of creating more success in life is rewarding yourself when you succeed. So, it’s important to reward your inner child as well. Every time you work hard to meet a goal, the part of you that just wants to have fun has to sit still and be good. However, just like any kid, if it knows it will be rewarded later with a treat, it will hang in there with you.
How can you reward your inner child?
• Take a 20-minute walk after an hour or two of concentrated work
• Go for walks in the morning with your spouse, friend, or significant other
• Take 20 minutes to listen to music and daydream
• Take most weekends totally off
• Take several weeklong vacations throughout the year
• Get regular massages
• Engage in daily meditation, exercise and yoga
• Take music lessons
• Go to movies, concerts and plays
• Listen to comedy tapes and watch the Comedy Network
• Listen to motivational audio programs when driving
So, if you aren't on track to succeeding with your goals, perhaps you need to set up a system of rewards for your inner child. The promise of achieving the goal isn't always enough to keep you going (in fact, it is rarely ever enough). Set up some monthly or even weekly rewards to motivate you. Reward yourself with every milestone you accomplish. It doesn't have to be an elaborate or expensive reward. Just make sure it is something you enjoy.
Review your success plan today and set up rewards to keep you going today!
Choose To Enthuse!
As I've been speaking around the country over the past year or so, I've often asked my audiences this question: "How many of you have way too much enthusiasm? You're seeing a psychiatrist for enthusiasm management therapy, and have a seatbelt on your bed to keep you from jumping out too fast in the morning and breaking a leg?" I get lots of laughs, but almost no one raises a hand.
Then I ask how many people would be happier, more productive, and more successful if they could consistently be more enthusiastic than they are now. Almost every hand in the room goes up (those who don't raise their hands are invited to attend my remedial class on honesty).
The good news, I tell them, is that scientists have shown that there is no enthusiasm gene. Enthusiasm is a choice. You decide every morning whether or not you're going to have a good day. You can't decide what happens to you, but you can decide whether you react to it enthusiastically.
Choosing enthusiasm is the triple crown of attitude. Your organization wins because enthusiasm is the added "spark" that puts the smile into customer service. Your family, friends and coworkers win because enthusiasm is contagious, and you're helping them to be happier and more productive.
And, of course, you win because people with a lot of enthusiasm have a lot of life, and people without enthusiasm don't. They're like the man who passed away but had his life insurance denied, because since he'd never really lived, he couldn't have really died.
Energy is the fuel for enthusiasm - it's hard to be enthusiastic when you're physically out of gas. And here again, there's good news: more than we care to admit to ourselves, whether or not we have energy is also a choice.
And here's more good news: human energy is the ultimately renewable resource. The more you use it, the more of it you have.
__________
Joe Tye is president of Paradox 21 Inc., which provides corporate training and culture change initiatives based on a proprietary curriculum of The Twelve Core Action Values of Personal Leadership Effectiveness. He is also the author of several books and audio programs on personal, career, and business success, and a popular motivational speaker. Visit http://www.joetye.com
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
A Very Grave Story
A man was walking home after drinking at the hotel and decided to take a shortcut through the cemetery. As he walked in the dark he stumbled and fell into a freshly dug open grave.
He sat there and contemplated his sorry situation. After a few minutes he heard someone walk past. It was a doctor. The man cried, “Help me! Help me!” The doctor looked down, pulled out his pen and notepad, wrote a prescription, dropped it into the grave and walked away.
Later the man heard another person walking by. It was a priest. Again he called, “Help me! Help me!” The priest, thinking it was a lost spirit, said a prayer and walked away.
By now the man was feeling low and lonely when he heard another person approach.
Again he cried out, “Help me! Help me!” This time it was a friend who recognized the man. The man in the grave said, “Mike, is that you?”
“Yes, buddy, it’s me. Wait a second.” Then Mike jumped into the grave.
The man shouted, “You idiot! Now we are both in a hole.”
Upon which Mike replied, “Yes we are, but I’ve been here before and I know the way out.”
Morale of the story:When things look grave, look up and rise above your challenges with the help of people who care, people who share and are people who are there for you.
Is This On Your Daily To-Do List?
Skip a bath if you have to, but don't skip motivating yourself daily to create the life of your dreams!
How to Stay Motivated
Be willing to say to yourself, "I’m on the right road. I’m doing OK. I’m succeeding." We too frequently become adept at pointing out our flaws and identifying failures. Become equally adept at citing your achievements. Identify things you are doing now that you weren’t doing one month ago … six months ago … a year ago. What habits have changed? Chart your progress.
Doing well once or twice is relatively easy. Continuously moving ahead is tough, in part, because we so easily revert to old habits and former lifestyles. Over the long run, you need to give yourself regular feedback to monitor your performance and reinforce yourself positively. Don’t wait for an award ceremony, promotion, friend or mentor to show appreciation for your work. Take pride in your own efforts on a daily basis.
Keep the end result in sight. Always see the big picture of the ultimate goal you’re working for and the benefits that come with it. During World War II, parachutes were being constructed by the thousands. From the workers point of view, the job was tedious and repetitive. (Like making "cold calls" on the phone or in person.) It involved crouching over a sewing machine eight to ten hours a day, stitching endless lengths of colorless fabric. The result was a seamless heap of cloth. But every morning the workers were reminded that each stitch was part of a life-saving operation.
As they sewed, they were asked to think that this might be the parachute worn by their husband, brother or son. Although the work was hard and the hours long, the women and men on the assembly line understood their contribution to the larger picture. The same should be true with your work. Each thing you do benefits the health and well being of adults and children throughout the world, not just generally, but specifically. These are the visions that drive us through tedious details to the top.
Set up a dynamic daily routine. Getting into a positive routine or groove, instead of a negative rut, will help you become more effective. Why is the subway the most energy efficient means of transportation? Because it runs on a track.
Think of the order in your day, instead of the routine. Order is not sameness, neatness or everything exactly in its place. Order is not taking on more than you can manage, without still being able to do what you really choose. Order is the opposite of complication; it’s simplification. Order is not wasting a lot of time trying to find things. Order is avoiding a lot of recriminations because you didn’t do something you promised. Order is setting an effective agenda with others, so neither of you is disappointed. Order is doing in a day what you set out to do.
Order frees you up. Get into the swing of a healthy, daily routine and discover how much more control you’ll gain in your life.
Denis Waitley
Reproduced with permission from Denis Waitley's Weekly Ezine. To subscribe to Denis Waitley's Weekly Ezine, go to http://www.deniswaitley.com/ or send an email with Join in the subject to subscribe@deniswaitley.com Copyright © 2005 Denis Waitley International. All rights reserved worldwide.
Friday, January 18, 2008
The Seasons of Life
As I travel around the country and world lecturing, one of the most frequently asked questions is what do I expect to happen over the next 6-12 months and/or even years? Well, I'm no expert, but I can share with you my thoughts. Whether it is preparing for the next few months or the next several years, I still believe there are overriding principals that we should follow and be led by. So I'd like to devote today's message to my view of the period of history we're in now and how it relates to words I wrote over 20 years ago in my book, "The Seasons Of Life". Forgive me in advance if I sound a bit philosophical, but as you know by now, I do believe your philosophy is critical to your life's success.
Life is about constant, predictable patterns of change. For the six thousand years of recorded history, as humans have entered this world, received parental instruction, classroom instruction, and gathered the experience of life; many have set for themselves ambitious goals, and dreamed lofty dreams. As the wheel of life continues its constant turning, all human emotions appear, disappear, and appear once again.
A major challenge faced by us all is that we must learn to experience the changing of life's cycles without being changed by them; to make a constant and conscious effort to improve ourselves in the face of changing circumstances.
That is why I believe in the power and value of attitude. As I read, ponder and speculate about people, their deeds and their destiny, I become more deeply convinced that it is our natural destiny to grow, to succeed, to prosper, and to find happiness while we are here.
By our attitude, we decide to read, or not to read. By our attitude, we decide to try or give up. By our attitude, we blame ourselves for our failure, or we blame others. Our attitude determines whether we tell the truth or lie, act or procrastinate, advance or recede, and by our own attitude we and we alone actually decide whether to succeed or fail.
How incredibly unique that a God who would create the complex and immense universe would create the human race and give to those humans the free choice that would permit them to select their own achievement or their own destruction.
This strange, but all-knowing God gave to us a delicately balanced sphere called earth. On it, he placed the intelligent human who would either develop it or destroy it. How terribly fascinating that a God would leave both projects - earth as well as humans - unfinished! Across the rivers and streams he built no bridges; he left the pictures unpainted, the songs unsung, the books unwritten, and space unexplored. For the accomplishment of those things, God created the unfinished human who, within his heart and mind, had the capacity to do all these things and more, depending upon his own choice.
Attitude determines choice, and choice determines results. All that we are and all that we can become has indeed been left unto us. For as long as you continue to draw breath, you have the chance to complete the work in and for the earth and for yourself that God has begun for you. In the cycles and seasons of life, attitude is everything!
So let's begin our discussion of the four seasons. I'll start by making two comments. First, life and business are like the changing seasons. That's one of the best ways to illustrate life: it's like the seasons that change. Second, you cannot change the seasons, but you can change yourself.
Now with those two key phrases in mind, let's look at what I consider to be the first major lesson in life to learn, and that is how to handle the winters. They come regularly, right after autumn. Some are long, some are short, some are difficult, some are easy, but they always come right after autumn. That is never going to change.
There are all kinds of winters - the "winter" when you can't figure it out, the "winter" when everything seems to go haywire. There are economic winters, social winters and personal winters.
Wintertime can bring disappointment, and disappointment is common to all of us. So you must learn how to handle the winters. You must learn how to handle difficulty; it always comes after opportunity. You must learn to handle recessions; they come right after expansions. That isn't going to change.
The big question is what do you do about winters? You can't get rid of January simply by tearing it off the calendar. But here is what you can do: you can get stronger; you can get wiser; and you can get better. Remember that trio of words: stronger, wiser, better. The winters won't change, but you can.
Before I understood this, I used to wish it were summer when it was winter. When things were difficult, I used to wish they were easy. I didn't know any better. Then Mr. Shoaff gave me the answer from a part of his very unique philosophy when he said, "Don't wish it were easier, wish you were better. Don't wish for fewer problems, wish for more skills. Don't wish for less challenge, wish for more wisdom."
Next is spring. Fortunately, following the turbulence of winter comes the season of activity and opportunity called springtime. It is the season for entering the fertile fields of life with seed, knowledge, commitment, and a determined effort.
However, the mere arrival of spring is no sign that things are going to look good in the fall. You must do something with the spring. In fact, everyone has to get good at one of two things: planting in the spring or begging in the fall. Take advantage of the day and the opportunities that spring can bring.
It is the promise of spring that as we sow, so shall we also reap. Faith further provides to us an irrevocable law decreed in heaven which assures that for every disciplined human effort we will receive a multiple reward. For each cup planted, a bushel reaped, for every good idea given to another, many shall be given to us in return. For every demonstrated act of faith, a multiplicity of the rewards; and for every act of love given, a life of love in return.
Just remember it is a natural characteristic of springtime to present itself ever so briefly, or to lull us into inactivity with its bounteous beauty. Do not pause too long to soak in the aroma of the blossoming flowers, lest you awaken to find springtime gone with your seed still in your sack.
With the intelligence, wisdom, and freedom of choice given to us as humans exercise the discipline to plant in spite of the rocks, weeds, or other obstacles before us. The rocks, weeds, and thorns of the world cannot destroy all your seeds if you plant massively enough and intelligently enough. My suggestion is to choose action, not rest. Choose truth, not fantasy. Choose a smile, not a frown. Choose love, not animosity. Choose the good in life in all things, and choose the opportunity as well as the chance to work when springtime smiles on your life.
Spring shows us that life is truly a constant beginning, a constant opportunity, a constant springtime. We need only to learn to look once again at life as we did as children, letting fascination and curiosity give us welcome cause to look for the miraculous hidden among the common.
Get busy quickly on your springs, your opportunities. There are just a handful of springs that have been handed to each of us. Life is brief, even at its longest. Whatever you are going to do with your life, get at it. Don't just let the seasons pass by.
The third major lesson in life to learn; how to nourish and protect your crops all summer. Sure enough, as soon as you've planted, the busy bugs and noxious weeds are out to take things over. Here is the next bit of truth: they will take it, unless you prevent it.
There are two key phrases to consider with the third major lesson. The first is "all good will be attacked." Don't press me for a reason. I was not in on some of the early decisions, so I don't know why. I just know that it's true. Let reality be your best beginning. Every garden will be invaded.
The second phrase is "all values must be defended." Social values, political values, friendship values, business values - all must be defended. Every garden must be tended all summer. If you don't develop this skill, you'll never wind up with anything of value.
But for those who make diligent efforts to plant, protect, and preserve there are not enough birds, bugs, or other obstacles to destroy all the efforts of last spring.
Now, the fourth and season is fall, the time of harvesting the fruits of our springtime labor. Fall also presents us with our fourth major lesson to learn in life, and that is to learn how to reap in the fall without apology if you have done well and without complaint if you have not.
For nothing is more exciting than a bounteous crop, and nothing more dreadful than a barren field in the fall. We must remember that in all areas of the human existence, what we put into this world, we get back from it. It is nature's way of evening the score. So regardless of the results, take full responsibility for your crop. One of the highest forms of human maturity is accepting full responsibility for our lives.
Which brings me back to the beginning of our discussion. We must remember that life is constantly recycling itself. Much of life is about the balancing of two opposites; like the positive and negative charge on a battery. Life's balancing of opposites totally surrounds our lives; man/woman, day/night, good/evil, life/death, water/land, summer/winter, recession/expansion, joy/sorrow, etc.
Yes, I believe we will have major changes, but I also believe we will continue to have just one winter, spring, summer and fall each year. Much of our success will lie in our ability and philosophy to plant in the springtime of opportunity. To weed and cultivate in the testing time of summer, to harvest without apology and/or complaint in the season of fall and to get stronger, wiser, better in the transition and learning times of winter.
Remember it is not what happens to you that determines your future; it is what you do about it.
To Your Success,
Jim Rohn
This article was submitted by Jim Rohn, America's Foremost Business Philosopher. To subscribe to the Free Jim Rohn Weekly E-zine go to www.jimrohn.com or send a blank email to subscribe@jimrohn.com Copyright © 2007 Jim Rohn International. All rights reserved worldwide.
When Is It Good Enough?
Do you suffer from the same problem of "perfectionitis"? You just can't let other people see your work until it is perfect. And you suffer for days trying to make it perfect right up until the deadline leaving you stressed and exhausted and feeling like it still isn't perfect enough. Let me share with you a key to overcoming "perfectionitis".
A mentor of mine by the name of Mike Litman compiled a book called Conversations With Millionaires based on his radio interviews with wealthy and successful people that included:
- Tony Robbins Millionaire Mentor, Jim Rohn
- #1 Authors of One Minute Millionaire: Robert Allen & Mark Victor Hansen!
- Rich Dad, Poor Dad co-Author, Sharon Lechter
- Jack Canfield, co-Author of Chicken Soup for the Soul
- Michael Gerber, Author of The E-myth
- The Genius behind 1-800-FLOWERS, Jim McCann
- Guerilla Marketing Author, Jay Conrad Levinson
- Even Chocolate Chip Cookie Guru, Wally 'Famous' Amos!
The reason why is because of a little piece of advice he received from a mentor of his. The advice he received was:
Mike no longer tries to get his projects and ideas to "A+" quality and presentation before he shares them with others. When they are a "C", he gets them out there, then listens to the feedback of what other people think would make it better, and then makes the changes. Have you heard of the terms "beta-testing", "updates" and "version x.x" in the computer software industry? These are real-life examples of this principle.
So what are you trying to perfect in your life right now that is causing you to procrastinate getting it out there? It doesn't have to be great. Just get it to good and then ask people around you how you could make it better. I did that when I started The Millionaire Marathon and you can do it to!
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
The Secret Is Out!
~ Brian Tracy, Maximum Achievement
I found this in the introduction to Brian Tracy's book, Maximum Achievement. What I want you to take from this is that you can have whatever you want. You just have to:
Want it badly enough - Do you have a burning desire to accomplish this goal? If not, crank up the flame!
Be willing to persist long enough and hard enough - Most people quit on the 1-yard line and don't realize it. Will you? Or are you willing to keep on pushing until you have scored that touchdown?
Do what others have done to accomplish similar things before you - Achieving success is much like opening a combination lock. When you turn to the right numbers in the right sequence, the lock will open for you every time. The right combination of thoughts and actions will enable to accomplish pretty much anything you want, and you can figure that out if you search long enough and hard enough. You can also shortcut the process by watching and studying those who have achieved something similar to what you and learning what it is that they did to overcome their obstacles and their success. You don't have to recreate the wheel to be successful!
The Power of a Plan
I helped my wife rediscover the other day what I like to call the Power of a Plan. We have all heard and read tons of things about the power of goal-setting ... even from me. But most advocates of goal-setting don't mention the essential element of success of planning and those who listen to them wonder why they fail to reach their goals time and time again.
My wife was wondering this just the other day. She had committed to some pretty big goals in her Mary Kay business over the past year. My wife accomplished some amazing things, but when she did accomplish the specific major goals she had set it was often through major stress and struggle right up to the deadline or she would miss the deadline all together and have to start all over. She eventually noticed that each time she accepted a major goal commitment, there was almost always an immediate period of demotivation and inactivity.
Why was this happening? She loved what she was doing and she wanted the results these goals would bring, but for some odd reason she just had a hard time wanting to keep working whenever she had these major goals in place. She finally admitted that she felt overwhelmed right from the get-go. She would mentally convince herself, sometimes consciously and sometimes subconsciously, that it was just to far to get from where she was to where she wanted to be and that she just wouldn't make it. And if she wasn't going to succeed, why bother trying?
Since she was struggling through a slow period at the time, we sat down Sunday night and I asked her for a sales goal to reach by the end of the current quarter. I took that goal and divided it by how many weeks were left. When I showed that number to her and asked her if it was possible to reach that amount each week. She was shocked when she looked at it because it was below her working sales average and she was confident that she could easily sell that amount each week. I took a sheet of paper and asked her to write down what she would need to do this week to sell that amount and to set up the next week for success as well. After she wrote it out, I asked her what part of that she would do on Monday, then Tuesday, and so on. She now had a plan!
What was really neat about the whole process was watching her frustrations disolve away and see them be replaced with excitement and optimism. Rather than dreading the coming week and all she had to do, I could tell she was actually looking forward to the coming morning and the activities she had planned for the coming day. She was no longer staring at the huge chasm and wondering how she would be able to jump it. She was now looking at the stepping stones that lay before her and seeing that it was only a short hop to each one. It was great! Her Director in Mary Kay had outlined plans like this for her in the past, but it was the first time that we had sat down to do it as a couple and make a plan that truly fit our situation, our needs and our goals. We even went on to talk about weight-loss goals and home organization goals that had been overwhelming her and how she can accomplish them as well.
No matter what it is that you want to accomplish in life, you need to set a goal to achieve it and then back it up with an actionable plan to get you there. Whatever you are going for, how much do you need to improve each month, each week, and each day? What do you need to do to make those improvements? Write them down and take action on the very first one and you will be well ahead of 97% of those who dream of something better! Do it now!
Back from the Dead!
I apologize to all those who have been following this blog pretty regularly. I have been fighting the worst cold of my life this past week that had left me bed-ridden for quite a while. I will be doing double posts for the next week to compensate for lost time.
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
So, What Do You Think?
If you think you dare not, you don't;
If you'd like to win but you think you can't,
You can almost be certain you won't.
If you think that you'll lose, you are lost,
For out in the world you will find
Success begins with a person's will;
It's all in the state of the mind.
If you think you're outclassed you are;
You've got to think high to rise.
You've just got to be sure of yourself
Before you can win the prize.
Life's battles don't always go
To a stronger or faster man;
But sooner or later the person who wins
Is the person that THINKS they can.
~ Anon.
I love this poem because it perfectly illustrates the simple truth that we will get what we think about most. If you think you will win and are unwilling to accept anything less, you will win. If you don't think you stand a chance, then you have mentally forfeited. And if you've mentally forfeited, then your physical actions will follow that weak thought with a weak performance. Just as sure as you don't scratch your nose without thinking it first, you don't win unless you think you can.
So whatever it is that you want - more money, less weight, a promotion, greater love - whatever it is, start out thinking that IT CAN HAPPEN FOR YOU!
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
What You Can Learn from an Oyster
There once was an oyster whose story I tell,
Who found that some sand had got into his shell.
It was only a grain but it gave him great pain,
For oysters have feelings although they're so plain.
Now, did he berate the harsh workings of fate
That had brought him to such a deplorable state?
Did he curse at the government, cry for election,
And claim that the sea should have given him protection?
No--He said to himself as he lay on a shell,
Since I cannot remove it, I shall try to improve it.
Now the years have rolled around, as the years always do,
And he came to his ultimate destiny--stew.
And the small grain of sand that had bothered him so
Was a beautiful pearl all richly aglow.
Now the tale has a moral; for isn't it grand
What an oyster can do with a morsel of sand.
What couldn't we do if we'd only begin
With some of the things that get under our skin.
~ David Cohen
Our greatest joys and successes often lie on the other side of our greatest irritations or challenges in life. Dave Ramsey built a company, wrote a book and hosts a nationally syndicated radio show talking to people about the very topic that caused him so much heartache and pain - debt (see www.daveramsey.com). John Dilemme stuttered so badly that he couldn't say his own name and now he makes his living as a public speaker (see www.findyourwhy.com). Oprah Winfrey publicly failed several dieting attempts. Look at her now!
Remember the following truths:
- There are no "problems" in life, only challenges!
- The only thing that can stop you is you!
- There is no such thing as failure; only feedback!
- If you persist long enough, there is nothing that you cannot accomplish! A steady drip of water will wear away solid rock. So keep on dripping!!!
Monday, January 7, 2008
I Don't Want To!
My wife and I spent some time talking this evening about the things we want to accomplish this year. One of the major obstacles we both face, and maybe you are facing it to, is that we don't necessarily want to do all the little things that will bring us the results we want. It reminded me of something Mike Litman, a mentor of mine, taught me on his Greatness Held Hostage cd. What he taught me is:
You may be facing a difficult or perhaps just an unattractive task that is standing in the way of you and your success. It could be working out every day and eating healthier foods. It may be cutting out unnecessary expenses and saving more money. It may be cultivating a more forgiving attitude and being kind to those who are unkind to you. You know what it is that you don't want to do. The question you really need to ask yourself is: "Do I want the results more than I not wanting to do this task?"
Look at your reasons why you want to accomplish your goals and resolutions. (You did write them down, right?) Are your reasons big enough to carry you past the seeming unpleasantness of doing this task? Is achieving the results important enough to you to do what you don't want to do?
It isn't always motivation that we need - sometimes it is just momentum. Give yourself a 30-day challenge. Perform this "unpleasant" task consistently for 30 days and then evaluate yourself at the end of that period. Is it still as unpleasant as when you started or are you starting to enjoy yourself? I think you will find, more often than not, that the task is not nearly so difficult or unpleasant as what you thought it would be when you started and you will be doing it on a daily basis with ease and great satisfaction. And, if you keep doing that task and either step it up a little more for the next 30 days or add another essential goal-achieving task to your daily regiment, you will be well on your way to achieving your goals and your dreams!
(To find out how to get your own copy of Mike Litman's Greatness Held Hostage cd or a copy of his book Conversations With Millionaires, visit http://www.mikelitman.com/.)
Sunday, January 6, 2008
Keeping the Faith
What course of action have you chosen to pursue in this new year? Weight loss? Getting out of debt? The Millionaire Marathon? Whatever course you have chosen, memorize this verse and say it out loud to yourself often, visualizing yourself victorious in the end. Do this daily and you will keep the faith, you will fight the fights that need fighting and you will finish your course and be a 2008 Champion!
Saturday, January 5, 2008
Our Deepest Fear
~ Marianne Williamson
Friday, January 4, 2008
Living the Dream
I don't know how many of you have seen it, but there is a fun family movie from the 90's called Casper. In that movie, Bill Pullman is a therapist who has a theory that the reason why there are ghosts around is that when people die their spirits have "unfinished business" that ties them to the mortal plane and doesn't allow them to cross over to the other side. It is a comical and entertaining movie, but I think it also touches on an important message of living life to its fullest and not dying with any "unfinished business." Let me share the following story of a woman named Rose who was determined to finish her business of living life:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The first day of school our professor introduced himself and challenged us to get to know someone we didn't already know. I stood up to look around when a gentle hand touched my shoulder.
I turned around to find a wrinkled, little old lady beaming up at me with a smile that that lit up her entire being.
She said, "Hi, handsome. My name is Rose. I'm eighty-seven years old. Can I give you a hug?" I laughed and enthusiastically responded, "Of course you may!" and she gave me a giant squeeze.
"Why are you in college at such a young, innocent age?" I asked.
She jokingly replied, "I'm here to meet a rich husband, get married, have a couple of children, and then retire and travel."
"No seriously," I asked. I was curious what may have motivated her to be taking on this challenge at her age.
"I always dreamed of having a college education and now I'm getting one!" she told me.
After class we walked to the student union building and share a chocolate milkshake. We became instant friends. Every day for the next three months we would leave class together and talk nonstop. I was always mesmerized listening to this "time machine" as she shared her wisdom and experience with me.
Over the course of the year, Rose became a campus icon and she easily made friends wherever she went. She loved to dress up and she reveled in the attention bestowed upon her from the other students. She was living it up.
At the end of the semester we invited Rose to speak at our football banquet. I'll never forget what she taught us. She was introduced and stepped up to the podium. As she began to deliver her prepared speech, she dropped her three by five cards on the floor. Frustrated and a little embarrassed she leaned into the microphone and simply said, "I'm sorry I'm so jittery. I gave up beer for Lent and this whiskey is killing me! I'll never get my speech back in order so let me just tell you what I know."
As we laughed she cleared her throat and began: "We do not stop playing because we are old; we grow old because we stop playing. There are only four secrets to staying young, being happy, and achieving success. "You have to laugh and find humor every day. You've got to have a dream. When you lose your dreams, you die. We have so many people walking around who are dead and don't even know it!"
"There is a huge difference between growing older and growing up. If you are nineteen years old and lie in bed for one full year and don't do one productive thing, you will turn twenty years old. If I am eighty-seven years old and stay in bed for a year and never do anything I will turn eighty-eight. Anybody can grow older. That doesn't take any talent or ability. The idea is to grow up by always finding the opportunity in change."
"Have no regrets. The elderly usually don't have regrets for what we did, but rather for things we did not do. The only people who fear death are those with regrets."
She concluded her speech by courageously singing The Rose. She challenged each of us to study the lyrics and live them out in our daily lives. At the years end Rose finished the college degree she had begun all those years ago.
One week after graduation Rose died peacefully in her sleep.
Over two thousand college students attended her funeral in tribute to the wonderful woman who taught by example that it's never too late to be all you can possibly be.
None of us really know how long we have on this earth. Some of us could have several years. Some of us may only have a few days. You really don't know how much time you have left so why would you waste it? Dream big dreams and then go out and live them!
Thursday, January 3, 2008
What's On Your Mind?
I want to talk a moment about what really drives our levels of success and failure. It is easily summed up by a passage of scripture from the Old Testament:
"For as a man thinketh in his heart, so is he"
How we think, how we see ourselves, contributes immensely to who we are and the circumstances we are in. Our thinking creates our reality. If we are happy, it is because we think happy thoughts. If we are in love, it is because we think loving thoughts. If we are wealthy, it is because we think wealthy thoughts. And the opposite is true as well. If we are miserable, it is because we think miserable thoughts. If we are lonely, it is because we think lonely thoughts. If we are afraid, it is because we think fearful thoughts.
We have more than 60,000 thoughts go through our mind every single day. The majority of these thoughts (I have heard more than 90%) are the same thoughts we had the day before and the day before that. We have a pattern of habitual thinking or what I think of as "thinking ruts" that governs our daily lives. The sad thing is that we did not consciously create most of these habits. Who would be crazy enough to consciously establish the habitual thoughts of "I am ugly," "I am worthless," "I am a loser," or "I am unwanted?" And yet people do think that way about themselves. And because they think that way, they ACT that way as well.
Watch your thoughts, for they become words.
Your thoughts may not be quite so extremely negative, but I am willing to bet that you have some thoughts that are doing their share of damage. Maybe they are thoughts like "I can never get a break" or "Losing weight is hard" or "I can't afford that." And all this time you are depressed, struggling with your weight loss and broke.
"If you think you can do a thing or think you can't do a thing, you're right."
Your success in any area of your life is dependant on your thinking that IT IS POSSIBLE FOR YOU, that YOU CAN AND WILL MAKE IT HAPPEN, and that EVERYTHING IS GOING YOUR WAY!
You must first create success inwardly in your thoughts, beliefs and feelings before you can experience it outwardly. So take time today to consider your goals and resolutions for 2008 and what you would be like after you have accomplished them. Notice your current, predominant thought patterns about yourself and the likelihood or chances of your succeeding. Are your thoughts congruent with your image of you having succeeded in your goals? If not, CHANGE THEM!
I know that I didn't give you any tips on effective ways to change your thoughts. If that is something that would interest you, feel free to leave a comment about it as I am considering doing a 7-day series on the matter later this month if enough people are interested. Feel free to comment on ways that changing your thoughts have benefited you in your life as well.
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
Celebrate 2008! - The Yoda Lesson
Now that you have your New Year's Resolutions formed and written down (you did make your resolutions, didn't you?) and you are beginning your efforts to achieve them, I would like to remind you of an important lesson taught by a little green man. In Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, Master Yoda was instructing Luke Skywalker in the ways of the force. Luke responded to Yoda's instruction to use the force to carry out a task by saying, "I'll try." Then came the popular quote:
"Try not. Do or do not, there is no try."
As you embark on your journey to make 2008 the best year ever, you need to ask yourself:
So many of us, when faced with a difficult or formidable task, say that we will try to do it. Think about what is going through your mind when you say that. You aren't picturing yourself as being victorious or even crossing the finish line. You doubt your ability to do it and are already planning to fail. But, at least you tried, right?
James Ray, one of the teachers featured in The Secret, teaches that trying is nothing more than failing with honor. People don't think much of someone who isn't willing to make an attempt. They don't think much more of a quitter. And we don't think much of them either. But, for some reason, we have learned to give some measure of glory to being a "tryer" - a person who mentally quits before we have even started. And, if we have quit mentally so early on, there is no way we can succeed on any level. But we gladly accept the pats on the back and sympathetic statements of "At least you tried."
Or perhaps they will tell you that "it isn't whether you win or lose, but how you play the game." This is very true if your true goal is just to be in the game and have fun. But sometimes we have to win!
If your health is at risk because of your weight problems, is it enough just to have fun while exercising?
If you are deep in debt and on the verge of bankruptcy, is it enough just to have fun making a budget and paying bills?
If you relationship with your spouse is on the rocks, is it enough just to have fun thinking of ways to revitalize your love for each other?
If you go to law school, is enough just to have fun taking the Bar Exam?
Whatever you set for your New Year's Resolutions this year, is it enough just to have fun pursuing them?
Sometimes it is not enough just to have fun. Sometimes you have to win, no matter what. If your child ran into the street chasing a ball and you saw a car speeding towards them, not paying attention, it wouldn't matter if you were barefoot and there was 100 feet of broken glass between you and your child - you would be committed to win that race to your child or die in the attempt! Are you just as committed to winning this year by accomplishing your resolutions?
"Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans:That the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favour all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamed would have come his way. I have learned a deep respect for one of Goethe's couplets: 'Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it! Boldness has genius, magic, and power in it.'"
Will you commit yourself to your resolutions this year? This is a "Yes" or "No" question - there is no room for "I'll try."
If you choose to commit yourself, know why you are committed. Write down what pains and frustrations you are tired of experiencing regarding your resolution. Write down what pleasures and joys you are tired of being denied to you. This is your "Why" - your reasons for accomplishing your resolutions. Read them often. Let them drive your emotions until you are ready to DO or DIE! Do this and take daily action towards your resolutions and I bet that you DO!
Get Committed + Get Moving = Get Success!
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
Celebrate 2008! - Part 5
Welcome to the fifth and final installment of Celebrate 2008! I hope the information was interesting and helpful as you prepare to make this year the best year you have ever had. In case you missed any of the sections, or need to go back and review any of them, here are links to what we have covered so far:
Part 1 - History of New Year's Resolutions and the Challenge to Celebrate 2008!
Part 2 - Reasons Why People Do Not Set New Year's Resolutions and Reasons Why You Should
Part 3 - Steps to Setting Powerful Resolutions
Part 4 - Techniques & Strategies to Help You Accomplish Your Resolutions
I also have a more humorous post on New Year's Resolutions available on my other blog. Feel free to stop by and read Out With the Old, In With the New.
And now the 3 final pieces of advice:
1. Choose the Pain You Will Suffer
If there is something that you are unhappy about in your life, it is most often you feeling the pain of regret. Most people default to this rather than make a conscious choice of what pain they will suffer. Even some of the most formidable goals can be achieved by establishing a few simple disciplines and practicing them every day. So make the choice of which pain you will suffer. I will tell you that the pain of regret rarely ends, but you hardly notice the pain of discipline after a while.
2. Set Resolutions All Year Long!
You don't have to wait for New Year's day to set your resolutions. That just happens to be a natural time to reflect and set new one's because it represents the end of a defined point in time and the beginning of another. The truth is that you should be setting and accomplishing resolutions all throughout the year. Never procrastinate the opportunity to start a new goal when you have the time and opportunity to do so and you wish to change something in your life. I don't advocate working on more than 2-3 goals at a time, however, because that will result in loss of focus and overwhelm. But set and achieve your goals all year long and reward yourself every time you accomplish one. That will make each year a year-long celebration.
3. Get Enthusiastic and Get Going!
~John Wesley
You have great opportunities ahead of you. But these opportunities rarely jump into your lap and say, "Here I am!" You have to seize them and make the most of them. One way to do this is to make and keep resolutions or goals. There is no time like the present to take action and change your life. And if you fire up with enthusiasm, people will be amazed by what you accomplish. So fire up, people, and get going now! Get out there and Celebrate 2008!
We've come to the end of our journey, but I hope that this will not be the end of our relationship. My intention is to continue posting stories, quotes and information on this blog every day of 2008 so that you may benefit from that information as I find it or experience my own successes. I promise that the posts will be shorter ... most of the time. So, please come back often and feel free to comment. Share what is working or has worked for you on any given topic so that others may gain and learn from your experiences also. Have a great year!
Wait! I know I said this would only be a 5-part series, but I came across some information that is very important and very useful in accomplishing your resolutions this year. Read The Yoda Lesson for a slight verbal and mental shift that will make a difference between failure and success with your resolutions!
