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

Happiness Is for Hippies?

Ok, so the title was little more than a cheap ploy to draw your attention. But, the truth of the matter is that we should all be happy and enjoy life, not just those embedded in the hippy culture, living life on their own terms.

Recently, I've been thinking a lot about life balance, happiness, joy and what's important in life. Yeah, I know, money is important but it doesn't buy you happiness.

If that were the case, the United States would be one of the happiest countries on the face of the earth: we have one of the wealthiest populations on the planet.

In fact, when compared to other countries, we don't rank anywhere near the top in happiness: the U.S. is #23.

I found this really cool article called "The World Map of Happiness" on Guy Kawasaki's blog.

Here's who made the top 20:

1. Denmark
   
2. Switzerland
   
3. Austria
   
4. Iceland
   
5. The Bahamas
   
6. Finland
   
7. Sweden
   
8. Bhutan
   
9. Brunei
   
10. Canada
    
11. Ireland
    
12. Luxembourg
    
13. Costa Rica
    
14. Malta
    
15. The Netherlands
    
16. Antigua and Barbuda
    
17. Malaysia
    
18. New Zealand
    
19. Norway
    
20. The Seychelles
    

Here's the actual World Map of Happiness Map

So, with all that being said:

• What is happiness?
• How can you be content, regardless of your circumstances?
• How do you find joy whether something good or bad happens to you?
• What does life-balance and quality living have to do with happiness?

I'll address these questions in a future post...

Gratitude: Why Bother? Studies Tell the Story

Previously I wrote about a practice I had started, listing 5 things each day that I'm thankful for. It has radically altered my life and changed my heart in ways that I couldn't have imagined; my outlook on life has become more positive, and I've become more loving, giving and understanding of others.

For those of you out there that are "practical pragmatists," I found studies that highlight the benefits of people who are grateful and how much more they get out of life.

But first, a few quotes:

"The best kind of giving is thanksgiving."--Chesterton

"Ingratitude is the essence of vileness."--Kant

"Give thanks in all things..."--The Bible

"A noble person is mindful and thankful of the favors he receives from others."--the Buddha

Why it pays to be grateful:
" Consider that recent academic studies have shown:

• People who describe themselves as feeling grateful to others and either to God or to creation in general tend to have higher vitality and more optimism, suffer less stress, and experience fewer episodes of clinical depression than the population as a whole. These results hold even when researchers factor out such things as age, health, and income, equalizing for the fact that the young, the well-to-do, or the hale and hearty might have "more to be grateful for."
  
• Grateful people tend to be less materialistic than the population as a whole and to suffer less anxiety about status or the accumulation of possessions. Partly because of this, they are more likely to describe themselves as happy or satisfied in life.
  
• In an experiment with college students, those who kept a "gratitude journal," a weekly record of things they should feel grateful for, achieved better physical health, were more optimistic, exercised more regularly, and described themselves as happier than a control group of students who kept no journals but had the same overall measures of health, optimism, and exercise when the experiment began. (Researchers use frequency of exercise as a barometer for general well-being because it is an objective measure that links to subjective qualities; people who exercise three or more times per week tend to have better indicators of well-being, even when health conditions that affect the ability to exercise are factored out.)
  
• Grateful people are more spiritually aware and more likely to appreciate the interconnectedness of all life, regardless of whether they belong to specific religions."

[I got this from the article, "Rx for Life: Gratitude (Why every day should be a day of thanksgiving)" by Gregg Easterbrook, found on www.beliefnet.com.] Check it out if you get a chance.

So, you see, it pays to be grateful--literally! I'm glad that the world of mainstream psychology and people in general are beginning to see the wonderful benefits of "giving thanks daily" or being grateful in your own way.

Here is an article about being grateful you might find interesting:

Rx for Life: Gratitude
www.beliefnet.com/story/51/story_5111.html

Getting Things Done While Maintaining Your Sanity

I know some people who are so organized that every piece of their life is planned, down to the last detail. To me that's a little overboard. But, a few tools to help you maintain balance and bring order can certainly be helpful. It has been for me...

Recently, I found a couple of tools that have really helped me keep my priorities in front of me and get things done.

1) Joe's Goals; www.joesgoals.com/:
This is a great, FREE easy to use resource. Not for your "To Do" List but instead for routine tasks or priorities, like:

• working out at the gym 6 times/week
• eating 6 meals a day at specified times
• going to the chiropractor twice per week
• date night

Joe's Goals allows you to check off the items you accomplished and those you did not, giving you a daily, weekly and monthly score to track your progress. And, its very easy to use.

2) Vitalist; www.vitalist.com:

Granted there are tons of tools out there that help you "Get Things Done" (GTD), but I found one that works well, with a minimum of headaches. Here's why I like Vitalist:

• IT'S FREE
• easy to use, intuitive interface
• allows you to drop your list onto your Google/Yahoo page, so its right in front of you
• integrates into your Google calendar
• many features like the ability to add notes, due dates, put off until "someday," ticklers, etc.
• separate lists by context for work projects, home tasks, biz stuff, etc.

If neither of these appeal to you, go to this website where you'll find tons of stuff to help you streamline your life:

3) "Big List of Online Productivity Tools:"

http://lifedev.net/big-list-of-online-productivity-tools/

The power of purpose: what’s yours?

Though this may not always be the case, when you’re in touch with your calling, know your life purpose, or live your life knowing that you have a mission, in general, you tend to live your life in a certain direction.

Can you guess what that direction is?

Naturally; most things in your life tend to align around your purpose in life, as long as you know what it is, live consciously, and make at least a bit of effort to move in that direction.

And did I mention how fulfilling it can be? Believe me it’s wonderful!

A few years back, I revealed what my life purpose is. Fast forward a bit, and you’ll notice that I’ve modified it a bit, so that I now feel it resonates with me.

Here’s my life purpose/mission/calling:

“To empower others to live with passion and purpose;
so they can be who they were created to be, and
do what they were called to do!”


You’ll notice that it’s right around 25 words, and very easy for me to remember.

If you don’t have a mission statement, don’t worry. They’re easier than you think to put together.

Nightingale Conant has this really simple tool that makes is a breeze called the Mission Statement Builder. Check it out. Why not do it today?

You’ll never know the true power of passion and purpose until you do!

Character & Integrity Prevails, In The Long Run

Hollywood portrays the successful business person as doing "whatever it takes" to succeed, with little regard for morals, honesty or integrity. Whatever shortcut, conniving scheme, manipulative trick that will get that person to the top, make them millions or achieve their goals is considered acceptable.

But is it really? Whatever happened to character? Integrity? Honesty?

Anyone ever heard of the saying, "what goes around, comes around? I think some people call it karma. Others call it the law of attraction. Whatever you call it, it "bites back," even if you don't believe it will. Now, I don't mean this in a graceless, legalistic or harsh manner. It's just a law of nature that I've seen play out many times in my own life.

Here's a really uplifting story I read the other day. You know how the movies most often portray cops as dishonest, amoral,"on the take," or more interested in racking up tickets to meet his/her monthly revenue quota than serving others?

Well, this article, "Cop who ticketed himself reaps praise" may seem a little silly or even ridiculous at first glance, but it speaks volumes when it comes to character. Here's what happened, according to the article:

"Chief Dick Knoebel drove past a stopped school bus with its lights flashing in September, then wrote himself a ticket for $235 and docked himself four points on his driving record."

Most police officers would have blown it off or outright ignored the flagrant violation. But this guy, Chief Dick Knoebel "did the right thing," even when no one was looking.

Now, in my book, that's the definition of character: what you do and how you act when no one's looking. That's the true you. If only more of us would follow his example more often, what a different world we might live in...
Oh, and here's the link for the article so you can read it yourself.

Your Ideal Life: "You Can Do It!"

What is it that you want out of life? Here is a simple process to put you on the path to achieving your dreams. The key is imagination, repetition and perseverance.

1. Ask yourself these questions to help you figure it out:

• What are your passions, dreams and desires?
• What do you find yourself naturally doing, that people gravitate towards you for?
• What do your currently do that you love? (for work, play, fun)
• What would you do if you didn't get paid for it (ok, make that "not paid much")?
• How can you live "your ideal life," doing what you love to do, being who you were created to be?

2. Write out the answers to these questions, then think of what your "ideal" would be in each of the following areas of your life:

• career/work
• health
• financial
• spiritual
• relationships
• personal growth
  

3. Now, focus your vision a little bit more by writing out what your "ideal" would be in each area. When you are writing up your “ideals” or dreams, write a vivid,engaging description as if it has already happened. The more details the better. Make it something that gets you really excited and motivates you to move forward. Use present tense, for example: “I am a full-time entrepreneur, doing what I love daily…” Then add specifics.

4. Select the dream/area that is most meaningful to you, and read it every day out loud. Do it first thing in the morning & then in the evening, before you go to sleep. When you read it, do so with emotion and passion. Perhaps you can close your eyes and pause after each sentence, picturing yourself living your dream.

5. Commit to doing this 5 days of the week for a month. You will find that you’re naturally getting excited about your dreams and making them a reality in your life. I’ve done this several times and have had incredible results.

One example is when I put together my vision of my ideal client when I was working in the real estate field.

When I met with my potential client, I showed him what I had been envisioning/praying for (I typed it out) and compared it to the description of what he was looking for. He was both incredulous and excited. “Talk about synchronicity,” he said. And we decided to work together on the spot.

I encourage you to get started today, and then start expecting the miraculous to come your way each day!

$75,000 a Minute? I'd Say You're Doing Well

Earlier today I came across this article on CNNmoney.com.

Earning $75,000 a minute f just seems plain wrong. Or maybe unfair. Perhaps something I'd like to do--tomorrow maybe. And no, it's not The Donald. But if I was making that much, I think I'd be set for life--at least for the next several months or so.

Who's making that kind of bank? The billion dollar Exxon Corp. Apparently, they set the record for U.S. corporations last year. Incredible!

But really, how much money does any one person need? Though money doesn't buy happiness, it certainly helps for living life right.

I found this other article on the www.secretsofsuccess.com website the other day. I hesitated to share it only because it gives quite a different perspective on money than I'm used to. But with an open mind I read on. Of particular interest was the 5 tips the author had on distributing your wealth.

Check it out, you might learn something. I know I did.

Who Are You--Do You Have a Clue?

Right on the heals of yesterday's post where I pondered the question of "who's better than who?" comes something really close to my heart.

As I've said before, I believe that success really comes down to authenticity or being true to yourself by doing what you love to do. I call this the "true you living" process. My vision of success can be summarized as follows:

"... being who you were created to be while doing what you were called to do...

The first step in being truly successful begins with figuring out "who you are." Granted, we can never know the complete, perfect and truest answer to this question, but we can certainly take a stab at it.

I found this really cool personality test called TRUE COLORS.

It's loosely based upon Meyers-Briggs and separates people's personalities into four different colors. The beauty of this thing is that it enables you to better understand your whole world, in a sense. Who you are, how you think, and how you interact with others, for starters.

It's only 5 questions and takes about two minutes. (I thought the test was really fun and don't even know the person who owns the site). Check it out, you'll like it. Here's the link:

http://www.truecolorstest.com/True-Colors-Personality-Test.html

I'm Better Than You (according to who?)

Ok, I only sorta believe that. Before you shut me down, let me explain.

• Should we take our cues about who we are from other people or their opinions?
• If someone makes more money or is more gifted in an area, is that person really "better than us"?
• What indicates that we are a successful?

I know this is deep, but hang with me.

I would hope that my friend is better than me in certain areas, like his job. If he wasn't, then either I or someone else would have it, right? The same is true of me with what I do. In essence, we have all been given certain gifts, skills and abilities. Things we do naturally, with little effort, that we could almost do in our sleep.

I would offer, then, that we are all "better" or uniquely gifted (whatever) than others in this respect.

Many people receive acclaim or monetary rewards for effectively utilizing their gifts and doing what they do naturally. This is the fruit of their efforts and indicates how well they have used what they have.

I would say that we are successful when we are doing what we love to do while being who we are created to be. What do you think?

Case in point: Mother Theresa. She lived in abject poverty serving others. She adhered to the religious belief that "putting others before yourself" (or being last--allowing others to be 'better' than you) was a good thing.

Was she successful? Are others better than her? Are you? What say you, BetterMeister?

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

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]

Sure-Fire Success System that Never Fails

Recently, I've come to realize that the most important ingredient that you must have if you want to succeed is a positive attitude or mindset.


Mindset Matters if You Want to Make it Big

While, in the past, I've given grudging acknowledgement to this principle, it wasn't until the last three weeks that I had a revelation that has literally changed my life. What I learned can best be summarized in the following points I found in a book, "Napoleon Hill's Keys to Positive Thinking; 10 Steps to Health, Wealth and Success:"

"The successful person will make the time to do what's important. This includes reading and studying to develop wealth, achieving success in their particular vocation and acquiring good health.
  
The key to making your private time pay off is to challenge yourself. Explore new worlds and philosophies that cast a new light on your situation. There are countless ways to do this. Let's look at four basic ones:

1) Condition your mind.
If you have religious training, you will find it helpful to pray for guidance. Your greatest hope lies in the power of prayer.

2) Make a plan.
It's a good practice to think in terms of yourself, your family, your vocation and whatever else is of interest to you. Have specific objectives and time limits to achieve them. You can have more than one definite purpose as long as it's not in conflict with any other.

3) Question yourself.
Consider the many possibilities at which you can arrive. Then, decide which is most desirable. Write down the questions you asked yourself and your responses in a permanent notebook.

4) Refresh your memory.
It's imperative to check back with yourself regularly, preferably on a daily basis. Make it a point to update your permanent notebook daily."

“Goal Getting” breakthrough for those who are sick and tired of the same goal-setting crap on the market that never works for you anyway

If you’re anything like me, by now you’re long over your New Year’s resolutions. They’re probably long forgotten or embarrassingly shoved in the corner. After all, “out of sight is out of mind.”

Let’s face it: most people never fulfill their resolutions, much less put together a program for getting them where they want to go in life.

And for those that do (put together goals, that is), most of the time they fall far short. It’s been my experience that for those who never reach their goals (despite writing them down), it’s not their fault.

You can breathe a sigh of relief. Honestly, much of the achievement/goal setting stuff on the market is utterly worthless, in my opinion. That’s largely because these goal setting programs depend on willpower and sheer effort just to get something done, and this runs contrary to human nature.

Anytime you’ve got to force something, chances are, it’s not going that well for you. And that applies to reaching your goals.


What if I could turn you on to a system so radically different that it could literally change your mind about going after your dreams and believing that it’s possible for you to reach them?

Last year I discovered an incredible new system that felt so natural to me that I got really excited. And the funny thing? I’m actually using it on a weekly basis, and for the first time, I not only believe I’m achieving my dreams and goals, but I actually am!

Here’s the resource:

“Double your income doing what you love” by Raymond Aaron

It’s a book you can pick up on Amazon.com. Once you’ve finished the book, you can go to the author’s website and download, and then complete his intuitive, easy-to-complete forms.

Good luck and let me know what you think!

The Best Of The Best: A Resource That Could Save Your Life

Thank God that most people haven’t gone through what I have to get on with life.

What I mean by that is this: over time, I slowly came to realize that the biggest roadblock to success in my life is me. That’s the painful truth.

Have you ever heard the saying, “I’ve seen the enemy and he is me?”

I’ve found that I’ve got a lot of past baggage, or perceptions and beliefs that hold me back.

When you come to grasp this, you have a choice to make: should I stay or should I go?

In other words, do I choose to remain where I’m at, or do I choose to face my beliefs and get to work, so I can move on with my life?

For those of you who are at that place where they want to “get unstuck,” and have discovered that few, if any things have worked for you, I’ve got a resource that has literally been a lifesaver. And no, I don’t benefit in any way by mentioning it to you.

Here it is:

“The New Psycho Cybernetics: a mind technology for living your life without limits”

Keep an open mind, as many of you may not be too comfortable with self-help resources out there, even if it may turn your life around. I encourage you to try it. If you’re not comfortable buying the CD set, I believe Amazon.com has the book for a fraction of the retail cover price.
I highly recommend it.

I don’t say this lightly, as I’ve got a ton of self-help resources, and would say that most similar items aren’t on par or nearly as helpful as this CD set & guidebook has been for me. Be prepared for some deep, practical, hands on change coming your way if you choose to go this route.

You can get yours at nightingale.com, although you could probably find it cheaper on Amazon.com.

Free Success Resources

Over the last 15 years or so, I’ve found some particularly helpful resources on success.

The first is inspirational speaker Jack Canfield’s reading list, chalk-full of many fabulous books spanning several categories.

Next, you’ll find – in no particular order – many different inspirational classics on success, achievement, and wealth.

These are my gift to you.

Make sure you print out the ones you like, and save those you prefer to read later to your hard drive.

Enjoy!


Top Success Resources:

Jack Canfield’s reading list

“As a man thinketh”

“Acres of Diamonds”
(Dennis Waitley reading the book)




“Think and grow rich”
(The author, Napoleon Hill discussing the book's principles)

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.

Exercise This, Man...

Have you considered the importance of rest and what that does for your health and well-being.?While rest is critical, exercise is crucial. The last few months since I've been eating more healthy, I've been feeling so much better. Several weeks ago, I decided I wanted to go back to the gym and start exercising again.

Just "Do It!"

Let me just say that it's been a lot tougher than I thought. I'm not in the same trim, 7% body fat shape I was in my collegiate days. But, I will persist and I'm sure my efforts will pay off. Also, I have accountability--so I can't quit. My wife and I have entered the Body for Life Fitness Challenge (starts next week) at our chiropractor's office, so we have a system in place to help us be successful.

So, I encourage you to get back to the gym or engage in a specific, ongoing exercise regimen. It doesn't have to be anything complicated and you don't have to aspire to be a professional body builder or female model. Just get in there and "do it!" You'll be glad you did.

A Creative Way to Exercise: Wii-ercise Me, Baby!

Here's a twist on exercise that you've probably never thought of. It's mostly for the college crowd, those fanatical gamers out there, or for those looking for a good excuse NOT to go to the gym while engaging in some type of activity.

You've probably heard of "Jazzercise," which involves exercising to music in a vigorous, yet creative fashion. Well, I call this "Wii-ercise." For those of you out there that are clueless, it's basically an interactive video-game, kinda like virtual reality where you become part of the game (literally), whether its bowling, baseball or whatever.

Ok, it's not truly exercising with the goal of fitness in mind, but for those who struggle to show their faces inside the likes of a gym, it may be a good technique to move in that direction.

I found this really interesting article which outlines how to get your "Wii ON." You might want to check it out, it's a lot of fun!

"Like a Candle in the Wind:" Anna Nicole Smith & Your Health

Just the other day I found this great website, www.realage.com, that allows you to take this great test to see where you stand health-wise. Granted, it’s a gimmick, but it makes sense. I took it and when all the dust cleared, I was actually 6 years younger health-wise than my actual age. I attribute this to the fact that I’ve lost significant weight after my appendectomy a while ago, and have kept it off through a healthy diet and exercise.

Think on how important it is to do everything you can do to remain healthy. I realize I need to stick to my exercise and aerobics regimen, and to eat nutritious foods, at least a good deal of the time.

Ask yourself:

1. How do you feel? Are you operating at your optimum? When you wake up are you ready to go or do you already have that headache and flagging energy that drags throughout your day?
   
2. Where do you want to be? Are you satisfied with your health, productivity, physical-emotional-spiritual balance or would you like to make improvements?
   
3. Are you willing to change? If you’re happy where you are, great! If you would like to make improvements, start small. Maybe you could begin by taking the test at www.realage.com. Yes, it’s a bit long, but it’s also very comprehensive. This could be just the jumpstart or catalyst to start you on your way to a “new you!”
   
4. What are some easy, simple things you could do that would have an impact on your health? Ideas: get to bed earlier, cut out those triple cheeseburgers and super large fries at Wendy’s, walk twice a week, etc.

"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.