Celebrate Your Freedom to Succeed: Act as if You Can't Fail

In celebration of the freedom that the 4th of July represents, I'd like to talk about personal freedoms of a different kind.


What if I could guarantee your success?

It's all in your thinking. Here's what I mean.

• Seriously, if you knew that you absolutely, positively couldn't fail at something, what would you attempt to accomplish?
• What dreams have you kept on the back burner that you would bring out if you knew that failure simply wasn't possible?
• What outlandish things would you do or try under these conditions?

For most, the sky would be the limit.


Encouraging Words for Forgetting About Failure

"Believe and act as if it were impossible to fail." - Charles F. Kettering

“All that is necessary to break the spell of inertia and frustration is this: Act as if it were impossible to fail. That is the talisman, the formula, the command of right-about-face which turns us from failure to success.”
- Dorothea Brande

“…Act with enthusiasm and confidence – act as if it were impossible to fail. Your beliefs become your reality, and your expectations have a direct result on the outcome of any given situation. Concentrate on your strengths, your triumphs and your successes...” - Joe Lavelle

Benjamin Franklin's 274-Year-Old Plan for Character Change

You may know him as a founding father of the United States, but he was also possibly one of the pioneers of the self-help movement, years before his time.

In 1726, upon return to Philadelphia from London, England, Franklin developed a "plan" for regulating his future conduct.

His plan consisted of 13 virtues, one of which he focused on for the week and evaluated himself as to his performance on a daily basis. 

Since he spent one week on each of the virtues, he was able to concentrate on each virtue four times per year, and utilized a small chart (see link below) to track his progress.

The 13 virtues and a short description of each: 
1) Temperance: Eat not to dullness and drink not to elevation.

2) Silence: Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself. Avoid trifling conversation.

3) Order: Let all your things have their places. Let each part of your business have its time.

4) Resolution: Resolve to perform what you ought. Perform without fail what you resolve.

5) Frugality: Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself: i.e. Waste nothing.

6) Industry: Lose no time. Be always employed in something useful. Cut off all unnecessary actions.

7) Sincerity: Use no hurtful deceit. Think innocently and justly; and, if you speak, speak accordingly.

8) Justice: Wrong none, by doing injuries or omitting the benefits that are your duty.

9) Moderation: Avoid extremes. Forebear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve.

10) Cleanliness: Tolerate no uncleanness in body, clothes or habitation.

11) Chastity: Rarely use venery but for health or offspring; Never to dullness, weakness, or the injury of your own or another's peace or reputation.

12) Tranquility: Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable.

13) Humility: Imitate Jesus and Socrates.


How to Follow Franklin's Guide

Use the guide below to track how well you do in adhering to Franklin's virtues or striving to improve your character. Alternately, create your own set of virtues or character traits you want to improve.

Each column of the chart below stands for a day of the week. At the end of the day, evaluate your progress by putting a dot, an "x" or the number of times you failed to adhere to each virture.

Franklin's Book of 13 Charts

Wake up & live life because it’s a beautiful day!!

Our decisions determine our destiny, so choose wisely!

“It’s choice – not chance – that determines your destiny!” – Jean Nidetch
Proclamation: 
“It’s choice – not chance – that determines my destiny…and I choose life!”


Choose to really live life! Begin now!

Fabulous quotes:

• “Believe that life is worth living and your belief will help create the fact!” –William James

• “If you have the courage to begin, you have the courage to succeed!” –David Viscott

• “You can have anything you want if you will give up the belief that you can’t have it! –Robert Anthony

• “If you can dream it, you can do it!” –Walt Disney

• “Success means having the courage, the determination, and the will to become the person you believe you were meant to be!” –George Sheehan

Incredibly Powerful Videos; [Total play time=34 mins]:

It’s a Beautiful Day! – U2 [4.11]




It’s a perfect day! (celebrating life!)[3.46]





You’ve Got the Music in You! (You get what you give) – New Radicals [4.38]




I’m Alive! – Celine Dion [3.38]




Life: Live it Well! [2.41]




Oh Happy Day – from Sister Act 2 [2.58]




Happy Day – Tim Hughes [3.41]




Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee -- from Sister Act 2 [4.28]




Clip from “The Yes Man” (how to say ‘yes’ to life!) [2.24]




Can You Feel the Love Tonight? – by Elton John [4.02]

Inspirational Videos on Success

Here are some of the most powerful videos I’ve found that deal with the topic of success.

As you may know, one of the most important characteristics of success is your attitude and belief in yourself, despite what’s going on around you.

Cheers—enjoy!

What drives you to succeed? 




Control your thoughts for success





Succeed with a positive attitude





How to remain positive even if…




Attitude makes all the difference

Believe and Achieve: How to Set Yourself Up for Success

We are what we think about. I think Napoleon Hill said that.

"As a man thinks in his heart, so is he." James Allen wrote a wonderful book on that very topic expounded upon by the Bible called, "As a Man Thinketh." If you don't have it, grab a copy the first chance you get.


What you don't need for success

• Smarts
• Talent
• Money
• Privelege
• Luck

While these qualities may all help, you definitely don't need any of these to be successful and accomplish your dreams.


What do you need to achieve your heart's desires?

The right mindset or attitude.


How do you get that?

By spending daily time working on it.

Consider using as the basis for improving your mindset a program I mentioned in a previous post based upon the book, "Napoleon Hill's Keys to Positive Thinking: 10 Steps to Health, Wealth, and Success."

I use it and it has helped me tremendously, giving me wonderful results!


Encouraging Words to Help You Believe and Achieve

“Regardless of who you are or what you have been, you can be what you want to be.” --W. Clement Stone

“Whatever the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve.” --Napoleon Hill

Napoleon Hill's Keys to Positive Thinking: 10 Steps to Health, Wealth, and Success

My last post I revealed a fantastic resource that has helped me to set aside the time I need to work on my mindset on the way to success (Napoleon Hill's Keys to Positive Thinking: 10 Steps to Health, Wealth, and Success).

I would highly encourage you to get it if you haven't already.

This book will enable you to put the principles found in Hill's highly acclaimed "Think and Grow Rich" book into practice, and get you taking action in no time.


Today I will unveil the exact 10 step process to help you become healthy, wealthy and successful (if you take action): 

STEP ONE --- Take possession of your own mind with conviction (p25-34)

STEP TWO --- Keep your mind on the things you want and off the things you don't want (p35-46)

STEP THREE --- Live the "Golden rule" --- "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you!" (p47-56)

STEP FOUR --- Eliminate all negative thoughts by "self-inspection" (p57-65)

STEP FIVE --- Be happy and make others happy (p66-76)

STEP SIX --- Form a habit of tolerance (p77-85)

STEP SEVEN --- Give yourself positive suggestions (p86-85)

STEP EIGHT --- Use your power of prayer or meditation (p96--107) 10)

STEP NINE --- Set goals! (p108-116)

STEP TEN --- Study, think and plan daily (p117-125)