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

Determine Your Destiny by Choosing Only Positive Thoughts

Choose carefully the thoughts you think, because they determine your destiny: 

• “You become as small as your controlling desire, as great as your dominant aspiration!” –James Allen

• “You become what you think about!” –Earl Nightingale

• “A man is literally what he thinks!” –James Allen

• “As individuals think and believe, so they are!” –Claude M. Bristol

• “Whether you think you can or think you can't – you are right!”  –Henry Ford

• “You can do it if you believe you can!” –Napoleon Hill

• “Believe that you will succeed and you will!” –Dale Carnegie

Videos to Help You Acquire a Positive, Success-Oriented Mindset:
(Total elapsed time for all videos=12 minutes)

Believe and Succeed! (incredibly powerful and inspiring!) [2.29]



The Power of Attitude by Mac Anderson [3.32]



Attitude Is The #1 Key to Success [3.08]



Control Your Thoughts for Success [.47]



You Can Choose Your Attitude: learning to dance in the rain [2.44]

Don't Let the Bank Rob You: Success of a Different Sort

Here's a really great story I found regarding a biz owner on the "island" of England (U.K).
You know how banks charge you for everything these days? And, if you happen to be off when balancing your checkbook and you have a few checks that bounce, you get hit with $25 - $35 per check charges (even higher in England)?
Well, you don't get any grace or mercy from the bank when that happens. And it seems that both here in America as well as in England, the banks are going crazy with these charges, with little consideration for right or wrong, or even correcting their errors.

According to the Daily Mail article titled, "Customer sends bailiffs in to seize bank's computers" found at www.dailymail.co.uk, a man named Declan Purcell had a bunch of charges deducted from his account to the tune of 3,400 pounds that he thought were wrong, so he:

"decided to give one of the high street giants a taste of its own medicine. When Royal Bank of Scotland refused to refund £3,400 charges that Declan Purcell believed he was owed, he sent in the bailiffs.
Stunned customers at his branch of RBS watched as debt collectors seized four computers, two fax machines and a till filled with cash.
The branch manager was told that the items would be sold unless RBS came up with the money owed to Mr. Purcell.
Only when the manager gave an undertaking that the debt would be paid did the bailiffs leave.
Mr. Purcell said: ‘I think the bank was pretty shocked when the bailiffs went in. But my view is that this is exactly what they would have done to me.’”

Great story! Apparently, what happened was that Mr. Purcell went to court, got a judgment against the bank and then had the judgment enforced, according to the law. The Royal Bank of Scotland decided to not defend their interests and neglected to respond to any correspondence regarding settling the judgment. So, the law stepped in and the bailiffs went to collect the money owed.

Kudos to Mr. Purcell for stepping up and taking action in the face of extremely daunting odds—and prevailing! According to the article, Britain’s Office of Fair Trading is investigating the exorbitant charges that are leveled on customers for overdrafts and other practices.

"Crack That Whip:" Developing a Personal Motivation Plan

It's funny, but I never was motivated by force or threats, and my guess is that most people aren't either. A while ago, I had this life "coach" whose idea of motivation was harassing, pushing and nagging me to action. Did it work? Well, let's just say that the relationship lasted for less than two weeks.

I call this the "push" method of motivation/management. You see this in may top-heavy corporations that have an authoritarian management structure, and whose employees are basically told what to do.

Later, I hired a life coach who encouraged and supported me in such a way that I found my own personal system that motivated me and moved me to growth.

This is the "pull" method of motivation/management. It allows people to discover their gifts and skills and work in areas in which they can make the most significant contribution to their company or business. You will generally find this in companies that are smaller organizations whose management encourages ideas, creativity and autonomy and whose managers are confident visionaries.

What are some great ideas for forming your personal motivational plan?

Probably the most important thing to remember is to ENJOY YOURSELF. Don’t make this a boring, legalistic chore that you look forward to as much as getting your teeth pulled at the dentist’s. Have fun with it!

Here are some suggestions:

• Write out your list of your dreams, goals and desires. When you know what you want, you have a target to move toward. Most people (97%) don't bother and thus wander aimlessly across the landscape of life. Go ahead, dream a little—you’re entitled.

• Put together some type of tracking system, or some way to know how you’re doing and review it on a daily basis. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy and this certainly can be lighthearted and fun. (On a later post, I’ll share some great online tools for doing this—and it takes just minutes a day to do!)

• Exercise regularly and watch your nutrition. When I first started this I wasn’t happy. I cut out many foods temporarily like beef and other stuff I liked, and I felt deprived. But I kept at it. And in only a few weeks, I felt better than I’ve felt in years, I’m sleeping better, have great energy and my productivity has increased by a factor of three or more. Persist for a bit and you’ll get the rewards.

• Find your spiritual center. I don’t mean go out and join the latest cult or become “so heavenly that you do no earthly good.” However, research has shown that there are significant benefits for those who attend church, pray and read the Bible, amongst other spiritual practices. These include: oftentimes longer life, healing more quickly from illness and diseases, and overall better outlook/attitude on life.

• Associate with positive people and images. This may seem unnecessary for some. Yet, I can say that when I stopped watching horror movies, associating with those who did nothing but complain, and started focusing on the positive things in life and the possibilities instead of the negative, my life changed in a huge way.

• Set aside a time each week where you can review your progress and plan for the next. You’d be amazed at what this simple process can do for you. You’ll gain an appreciation for all you accomplish and before you know it, you will see your dreams materializing before your very eyes.

• Get together on a regular basis with a group where you can share your dreams and progress. Some people call this a "mastermind" group. Whatever you call it, it’s a forum where you can get with others and be accountable. You can share your progress toward your goals, your struggles in getting there and get feedback along the way.

If you have any comments or anything that’s worked great for you, please share it with us.

My Personal Motivational Tools

Today I thought I'd take the time to reveal exactly what I use each morning to get me going and keep me motivated on a daily basis.

This first set of tools are video clips that help me visualize who I want to be and where I want to go.


Powerful Video Clips for Changing Your Mindset:


1) Kicking Off Your Day with Passion and Purpose





2) Believing and Acting As If You Can’t Fail
(developing a positive mindset and overcoming challenges)



3) Riches and Wealth
(attracting abundance)




4) Living the Good Life (Money, by Frank Kern)



Just for Fun!

My reward:

Bose Wave Music System with multi-CD changer (website & pictures)

Bose Wave Music System (video)




My car:

Boxster Spyder Unleashed (video)

Porsche Boxter Spyder (picture)

Details and Specs (Porsche site)



My Watch:

Porsche Design Flat Six P'6340 Automatic Chronograph



More Inspiration and Visualization:
[all songs run time=35 mins]


1) "You Are Loved (Don't Give Up)" by Josh Groban [4.14] 

Principle: 

God loves me unconditionally. As I spend time with Him, He will give me all I need to become the person He has created me to be and to do the things He has called me to do. 

What is my sole responsibility? To be open to Him and surrendered to His will.





2) "Hide (You Don't Have to Hide)" by Joy Williams [4.10]

Principle: 
I don't need to allow fear to rule my life or protect myself from failure or pain. That's God's job. He will do it. As I rest in Him and trust in His ways, I have a peace that passes all understanding.



 
3) "In Christ Alone" by The NewsBoys [4.17]

Principle: 

Nothing or no one can separate me from my destiny in Christ.

4) "Lord (I Don't Know)" by The NewsBoys [4.32]

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. (Pr 3:5-6, TNIV)

Principles:

• I don't have to understand everything going on around me or why something does or doesn't happen! (Pr 3:5-6)

• My Father knows -- even when I don't -- and He holds everything in His hands (He's got everything covered)!

• There is not a thing that happens to me that is beyond His reach, that He hasn't allowed!

•  Though My Father is a good God giving good gifts to His children, He does allow painful things in my life for my own good, that He may make me more like Christ!

• When I give all things over to Him at all times (especially in the midst of pain), I grow and become who He has created me to be because I am living and walking in His resurrection power! (Jn 3:30)

 
5) "I Believe" by Joy William [2.56]

Principle:

As I trust that God's promises are for me, and I have faith in Him and His Word, I experience the abundant life that He promises, emotionally, physically, spiritually, relationally, maritally and financially.

6) "Surrender" by Joy Williams [3.48]

Principle:
I don't worry about my future nor my past, my finances, relationships, my health or anything else. As I continue to surrender to Him in intimate relationship, He will give me what I need and tell me what I need to do and when.



7) "Letting Go" by Jeremy Camp [3.40]

God's will is to:

• redeem our past
• renew our present and 
• resurrect our future 

Principles:

1. He will transform us according to the renewing of our minds; as we move from life in the flesh to life in the Spirit by surrendering fully to Him and His ways!
2. To be full of His joy and the beauty of His Holiness that equips us to accomplish His will -- to be alive in Christ and consumed with His very presence -- we are to die to self (thereby releasing the death that keeps us in bondage)!
3. We do this  by letting go of anything and everything that separates us from Him!

 “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from the heart of anyone who believes in me.’” (Jn 7:38, NLT)



8) "Every Moment" by Joy Williams [3.15]

Principle:  
Hold on to every moment and live life to the fullest because life is precious. Live life with no regrets and make the most of each day! ("believe and live as if you can't fail)




9) "He Reigns" by The NewsBoys [4.59]

Principle:

He is my All in All; God is all I need: "with Him I can do all things, apart from Him, I can do nothing."

10) "It Is You" by The NewsBoys [4.26]

Principle:
Through worship and by focusing my eyes on Jesus, I succeed in Christ. Everything is as it should be and everything flows naturally and effortlessly in my life in Him.




Even More Powerful Videos:

Wake Up and Live Life Because it’s a Beautiful Day!! (videos on celebrating life and living it to the fullest)

Determine Your Destiny by Choosing Your Thoughts! (videos that highlight the importance of mindset in achieving your dreams)

Believe and Receive What You Think About! (videos to build your faith, belief, and encourage you to keep going) 

 

Videos That Will Tickle Your Funny Bone! (because humor is a healthy habit)

Page1 

--links

Page2

--links

 

Believe and Receive What You Focus Your Mind On

Exciting Quotes:

• "What the mind of man can conceive and believe, the mind of man can achieve.” –Napoleon Hill

• “To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream; not only plan, but also believe.” –Anatole France

• "Believe Big. The size of your success is determined by the size of your belief. Think little goals and expect little achievements. Think big goals and win big success." –David J. Schwartz

• “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” –Eleanor Roosevelt

Videos to help you laugh and take yourself less seriously (because life is meant to be fun!) [Total elapsed time=5.5mins]

Hitch movie: Life of the Party (dance scene) [1.42]

Gummy Bear Song [2.41]

Happy Feet Penguin Dance [1.07]


Videos to increase your faith, belief, and keep you motivated:
(Total elapsed time for all videos=34 minutes)

Live your life as if it were on purpose [3.47]

Walk by Faith (even when I cannot see) – Jeremy Camp [4.07]

All Things Are Possible – Hillsongs United [4.05]

I Still Believe (even when I can’t see) – Jeremy Camp [4.4]

When You Believe – Mariah Carey & Whitney Houston [4.55]

Prince of Egypt – I Believe (same song as above; movie version) [4.55]

I Gotta Believe (victory by trusting my Father) – Yolanda Adams [3.44]

Famous Failures [1.16]

Never Give Up: 1 degree makes all the difference! [3.37]

Encouraging Words

Successful Failure: the Path to Achievement

I just love it when I find stories where someone has become enormously successful then failed.

Not that I relish someone else's bad fortune. Most of the time, these snippets provide long-term motivation and inspiration that transcends cliches and hollow platitudes. That's because so much of the time these entrepreneurs bounce back quite remarkably, having learned a huge lesson that puts them back in the game, usually more successful and profitable than ever.

Here's an article that is particularly meaningful to me: www.secretsofsuccess.com. It's the story of a guy who is involved in the field of adult education. This is an industry that is close to my heart, since I work as a copywriter at a company called NextStudent, an organization that assists students in planning for and financing their college education.

Anyway, check it out. Hope you find it as powerful as I did!

Day Launcher Routine (10mins 4 all 3 vids)

Finish Strong (4:15)







Finding Joy (3:33)







Choose Life  (2:40)
(frustration is a choice)

Attitude Matters--How's Yours?

This is your second helping from my toolbox of favorite quotes.

We started with "Destiny," to kinda give you the big picture, now I'll give you a few from "Attitude." My experience has been that you can have the world's greatest goals and "shoot-for-the-moon" aspirations, but if your attitude STINKS, then it's not likely you'll get where you want to go.

The foundation of your attitude is your BELIEFS, which is something everyone must look at along the road to success, if they don't want to lose everything (or everyone) along the way. I'll spend some time covering this later.

Attitude:

"The greatest discovery of my generation is that human beings can alter their lives by altering their attitudes of mind."--William James

"Your living is determined not so much by what life brings you as by the attitude you bring to life."--John Homer Miller

"You are searching for the magic key that will unlock the door to the source of power; and yet you have the key in your own hands, and you may make use of it the moment you learn to control your thoughts."--Napoleon Hill

"For as he thinks in his heart, so is he."--Proverbs 23:7 (Amplified version)

Food for Thought (or quotes to live by)

This weekend I was going thru some old stuff and found some of my long-lost quotes, dear to my heart.

Over the next few weeks, I'll talk about these more in-depth. I'll hit on what they mean to me and how they can serve as reminders to keep us moving along the signposts of life in the pursuit of our goals, dreams and desires.

They are especially helpful when you hit a snag, become discouraged or things take a turn for the worse--when there's not much else you can do.

And oh, yeah. Scripture works well too. By this I mean verses from the Bible. More on that later.

But, for now, here are some of my favorites:

Destiny

"We become what we think about. Life is a self-fulfilling prophecy."--Kierkegaard

"Concentrate on where you want to go not on what you fear."--Anthony Robbins

"It's a funning thing about life; if you refuse to accept anything but the best, you very often get it."--W. Somerset Maugham

"To love what you do and can feel that it matters - how could anything be more fun?"--Katherine Jackson

Got any earth-moving quotes or sayings that have rocked your world? Let me know.