Friday, October 29, 2010

Mastery of Your Thoughts

“Self-discipline begins with the mastery of your thoughts. If you don't control what you think, you can't control what you do. Simply, self-discipline enables you to think first and act afterward.” ~Napoleon Hill

Mastery of your thoughts. How often do you control what you think about? How often do you think about what you are thinking about? It's called Metacognition and we need to do more of it. Most people just go about their lives without really thinking. The challenge is to really think about what you think about.

"Self-discipline enables you to think first and act afterward.” Think first and act afterward. What a novel concept! Thinking and responding rather than not thinking and then reacting.

Pat Riley said “Discipline is not a nasty word.” He is so right.

Action:
Think and respond rather than reacting. Take today to think about what you think about. It might enlighten you to as to why some things keep happening to you. Work on Self-Discipline.

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

“Self-discipline begins with the mastery of your thoughts. If you don't control what you think, you can't control what you do. Simply, self-discipline enables you to think first and act afterward.”

Thursday, October 28, 2010

Who You Are

"It's not what you are that holds you back, it's what you think you're not."
~ Denis Waitley


Are you thinking that what holds you back is who you are? That's not what is holding you back. What is holding you back is thinking that you are not enough, thinking that you need to become more. All you really need to do is to find who you think you're not inside of you! We each have been created uniquely, and each of us has something special to bring to the world.

Are you bringing your uniqueness to the world? Here's the sad part if you aren't. The world will never see what you were meant to bring to it because you are the only one who was given that special gift to give the world. The gift you were meant to bring to the world can only be brought by you.

Here's the attitude you need to have. Joan of Arc said "I'm not afraid... I was BORN for this!" You were born to bring your uniqueness to the world. Don't be afraid. Start now.

Action:
Realize that you have everything you will ever need to bring your uniqueness to the world inside of you already. Your don't have to learn something new, you just need to release what's inside of you.

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

I Give You Permission

"We need to give ourselves permission to act out our dreams and visions, not look for more sensations, more phenomena, but live our strongest dreams -- even if it takes a lifetime."~ Vijali Hamilton

Have you given yourself permission to act out your dreams and visions? Really? Most people are waiting for someone else to give them permission. If you are waiting, here it is: I GIVE YOU PERMISSION TO ACT OUT YOUR DREAMS!! See, that wasn't so hard, was it? You have been given permission.

Are you looking for more sensations and more phenomena? SQUIRREL!!!!
See, most of us are too busy adding on, looking for more and more when the best thing to do is take things that don't work away, instead of just adding to what we do. When what we have all works for us, it allows us to live our strongest dreams.

Action:
Give yourself permission or take the permission that I bequeath to you. Act out your dreams and visions. Take things away that don't work for you anymore.

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"We need to give ourselves permission to act out our dreams and visions, not look for more sensations, more phenomena, but live our strongest dreams -- even if it takes a lifetime."

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Your Mental Paths

"As a single footstep will not make a path on the earth, so a single thought will not make a pathway in the mind. To make a deep physical path, we walk again and again. To make a deep mental path, we must think over and over the kind of thoughts we wish to dominate our lives." ~Henry David Thoreau

What kind of deep mental paths are you creating? Are you allowing them to dominate your life? Research has found that we have about 60 thousand thoughts per day...and 85% of those thoughts are NEGATIVE! They also found that out of those 60k thoughts, 80% were the same thoughts that you had yesterday!

Peace Pilgrim said "If you realized how powerful your thoughts are, you would never think a negative thought." Wow, NEVER think another negative thought! It's interesting that to develop your mind with positive thoughts it take work and work, while our brain goes to the negative so much easier. Think about the last time you had a "What if" thought. Was it positive or negative? Most people's "what ifs' are always negative. What if you could make them positive?

Action:
Challenge yourself to think NEW thoughts every day. Don't get caught in the never-ending loop of old, negative thoughts. Make your "what ifs" positive. It really can be that easy.

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"As a single footstep will not make a path on the earth, so a single thought will not make a pathway in the mind. To make a deep physical path, we walk again and again. To make a deep mental path, we must think over and over the kind of thoughts we wish to dominate our lives."

Monday, October 25, 2010

Adjust Your Actions

"When it is obvious that the goals cannot be reached, don't adjust the goals, adjust the actions."~Confucius

Are you doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result? Albert Einstein called that insanity, but that is exactly what many people do because of two reasons: 1) They don't know any better, or 2) Fear. Which one is holding you back?

Do you not know any better? If so, there's good news! You can learn anything new right now. You don't have to wait. There are people who can help you get to where you want to get. But...it's going to require something of you. The ability to ask for help! Most of us won't do that or can't do that. Do men ever ask for directions? Do you have the ability to ask for help?

The second reason is fear! The people who are afraid are the people who scream the loudest that they don't need help or that they are doing fine and that they have no fear. Fear is not something that you get rid of, like bad food. Fear needs to be managed because it is always there, a big part of our brain. And the better we manage our fears, the better we become.

Erica Jong said “And the trouble is, if you don't risk anything, you risk even more." Are you risking even more because you don't risk anything?

Action:
Manage your fears today and adjust your actions to help you reach your goals. It might be just a slight change that makes all the difference in the world...because there are no small changes. Take a risk...today!

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"When it is obvious that the goals cannot be reached, don't adjust the goals, adjust the actions."

Friday, October 22, 2010

Add or Take Away?

"Perfection is achieved not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away." ~Antoine de Saint Exupery

Wow, what a different way to look at things. We are so used to adding more and more things to make it work, but according to Exupery, he says that perfection is achieved when there is nothing left to take away.

Michelangelo always said that his famous "David" was inside the marble all the time and all he needed to do was take away the excess. What are you adding vs. what can you take away to make things perfect? Think about that, take away the excess and you will be left with the most important stuff. Too often we add and add rather than take away.

Action:
Look at everything that you do. Stop adding to what you do. What can you take away? Look for your perfection in the taking away rather than the adding.

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"Perfection is achieved not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away."

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Make It Happen

"When it comes to the future, there are three kinds of people: those who let it happen, those who make it happen, and those who wonder what happened." ~John M. Richardson Jr.

Which one are you??? I know, you are one of those who make it happen, right? But really, do you make it happen or do you just say that you do? It's real easy to say, but much harder to do and when things get hard, we tend to not do them. Because it's too hard or will take too long or we are not committed to doing it, so we don't. Then we just let life happen to us.

Here's the thing about letting things happen to you. If you don't have a plan, you will have to be a part of someone elses plan. And guess what, their plan doesn't have much for you. I hope that you aren't one of the ones who just wonder what happened. Everything happens for a reason.

Action:
Go about today and MAKE THINGS HAPPEN! Don't go through this day just letting it happen to you. Create the life that you've always wanted.

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"When it comes to the future, there are three kinds of people: those who let it happen, those who make it happen, and those who wonder what happened."

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

The Reality of Your Dream

"Nothing is as real as a dream. The world can change around you, but your dream will not. Responsibilities need not erase it. Duties need not obscure it. Because the dream is within you, no one can take it away." ~ Tom Clancy

How real is your dream? Do you allow yourself to dream or do you put it on the back burner so that you can deal with your responsibilities? Are you more concerned with your duties than your dream? Now, don't get me wrong, your duties are important, but not as important as your dream!

Only you can take your dream away from you. No one else can. Do you realize that or have you let others take your dream away? I sure hope not, but if you have, you can reclaim your dream right now. Just do it! Right now! Your dream is your choice. Make sure that you choose well.

Action:
Take one step toward your dream today. That's all it takes, is one step a day. Soon you will so close to your dream that you will be able to touch it and feel it!

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"Nothing is as real as a dream. The world can change around you, but your dream will not. Responsibilities need not erase it. Duties need not obscure it. Because the dream is within you, no one can take it away."

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Listening and Talking

“Want to overcome discouragement? Stop listening to yourself and start talking to yourself.”

Are you listening to yourself and not talking to yourself? It's a real easy trap to fall into. And we often listen ourselves out of opportunities, don't we. Have you name your little voice? Mine is Ziggy, for Sigmund Freud and the comic Ziggy. That make it easy to talk to and make it either stop or at least tone down the noise.

Your brain is NOT your friend. It is designed to keep you safe and to challenge anything new or different. How can you grow unless you try new or different things? You need to constantly ask questions and challenge how you think. Can you do that? It is difficult, but I believe that you can.

Action:
Stop listening to yourself and start talking to yourself. You will be in a better frame of mind and even more productive!

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

“Want to overcome discouragement? Stop listening to yourself and start talking to yourself.”

Monday, October 18, 2010

Your Adventure

“The big question is whether you are going to be able to say a hearty yes to your adventure.” ~Joseph Campbell

Are you ready to say a hearty YES to your adventure? Really? Then, what are you waiting for? Permission? OK, I give you permission to say a hearty YES to your adventure. Now, what are you waiting for?

Oh, you need to let go of yesterday, right? The beautiful journey of today can only begin when we learn to let go of yesterday. You may not have known it, but you need to let go of the past if you are every going to move forward. Are you ready to let go of the past and live in the present?

Action:
Start leaving the past in the past so you can live in the present and move into your future. The future that you create. The future of your dreams. "It's never too late to be who you were meant to be."

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

“The big question is whether you are going to be able to say a hearty yes to your adventure.”

Friday, October 15, 2010

What Others Think

"You wouldn't worry so much about what others think of you if you realized how seldom they do."~Eleanor Roosevelt

I just love this quote! Read it again. Now, think about how many times you didn't do something because of what other people thought about what you were going to do Guess what? They weren't thinking about you!

Think about when you meet someone and tell them what you do for business. Guess what? They don't care about what you do for business. What they care about is what you can do for THEM!! That is the only time people really think about you...when you can show them how you can help them! It's all about them. Never forget that.

A favorite quote of mine is "It's none of my business what you think of me." See, because when I care about what you think about me, I change who I am to fit what you think about me.

Action:
Realize that most people are NOT thinking about you. What they do care about is what you can do for them! So don't run your life based on other people's thoughts.

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"You wouldn't worry so much about what others think of you if you realized how seldom they do."

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Problems vs. Opportunities

"Each problem has hidden in it an opportunity so powerful that it literally dwarfs the problem. The greatest success stories were created by people who recognized a problem and turned it into an opportunity." ~Joseph Sugarman

This is so true...the problem is that we focus so much on the problems that we can't see the opportunity. A long time ago, one of my first mentors told me, "don't come to me with a problem unless you also have a solution." That's always stayed with me. Do you think like that? What would happen to you if you did?

Why do people do business with you? Because you solve a problem for them, that's why. We are all looking for our problems to be solved for us. Those who can solve the problems are rewarded, not those who can't or only see the problem.

Action:
Stop focusing on the problem and start focusing on solutions! Analyze the problem but then search for opportunities. Don't stay focused on the problem, only the opportunities.

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"Each problem has hidden in it an opportunity so powerful that it literally dwarfs the problem. The greatest success stories were created by people who recognized a problem and turned it into an opportunity."

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Self-Confronting Questions

"Some self-confronting questions: 'Where do I want to be at any given time? How am I going to get there? What do I have to do to get myself from where I am to where I want to be? ... What's the first, small step I can take to get moving?'"~ George A. Ford

Questions are the answer! When was the last time you asked yourself these self confronting questions? Have you ever asked them? Most people just go through life without ever asking these questions and don't know why they do what they do, other than to pay the bills. Without asking these questions, you will never be who you were meant to be, never become the person who can change the world with your unique talents...all because you stayed safe by not asking those self-confronting questions.

Stop playing small!! Be who you were meant to be! Bring your unique talents to the world, because if you don't, the world will never see them. Each of you were meant to bring something great to the world, why are you keeping it to yourself??

Action:
Ask yourself those questions and more. Challenge your perception of who you are and who you are becoming. Be who you were meant to be.

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"Some self-confronting questions: 'Where do I want to be at any given time? How am I going to get there? What do I have to do to get myself from where I am to where I want to be? ... What's the first, small step I can take to get moving?"

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

You Control Your Destiny

"Understanding that we control our own destiny is the key to our success in life. Simply put, when we decide how we want our life to be we must take responsibility and move forward."~Mac Anderson

Do you realize that? YOU control your own destiny! It's not controlled by the economy, your boss, your spouse, your parents...YOU control your own destiny!! The challenge is knowing what you want it to look like and being specific! Most people really don't know what they want. They want to be "rich." To be "happy." What do those things mean?? Nothing to your brain. You need to be specific in knowing what you want and why you want it.

Why do you want to be "rich?" And what does "rich" mean to you? Put a number on that. Say, "I want to make $750k a year!" Your mind can get around that. Now, why do you want to make $750k a year? The whys will be your driving force when you slow down or are depressed or not feeling excited about what you are doing.

Action:
Be specific about what you want out of life. Real specific. Realize that it's your choice...no one elses, only yours.

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"Understanding that we control our own destiny is the key to our success in life. Simply put, when we decide how we want our life to be we must take responsibility and move forward."

Monday, October 11, 2010

Limitations and Adversities

"The marvelous richness of human experience would lose something of rewarding joy if there were no limitations to overcome."~ Helen Keller

What is limiting you now? Why are you letting it limit you? Most of our limitations come from our own mind. Is that what is limiting you today? Why?

Samuel Johnson said "Adversity has ever been considered the state in which a man most easily becomes acquainted with himself." Are you becoming acquainted with yourself? Who are you becoming?

Our lives are based on overcoming our limitations and dealing with adversity. How are you doing? Really? It's important to realize that we are never face with a problem that we can't deal with or overcome...unless we choose to not deal with it or not overcome it. Dig deep, find that limitation and adversity overcoming button within you. It's your choice, no one elses.

Action:
Find your overcoming button within you, if you already haven't. When was the last time you needed to use it...you might be needing it now.

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"The marvelous richness of human experience would lose something of rewarding joy if there were no limitations to overcome."

Friday, October 8, 2010

Burdens and Difficulties

"People become attached to their burdens sometimes more than the burdens are attached to them."~George Bernard Shaw

Are you attached to your burdens? Sometimes we grow to accept our burdens and then don't get rid of them, but keep them attached to us. Is that you? Are you keeping that burden attached to you?

"Real difficulties can be overcome, it is only the imaginary ones that are unconquerable." ~Theodore N. Vail

Are you allowing those imaginary difficulties to keep you down? "Real difficulties can be overcome, it is only the imaginary ones that are unconquerable." Yes, real difficulties CAN be overcome. It's the trash in your head that is unconquerable. Wow, it all comes back to what we think. "No thought lives in your mind rent-free." What are you paying for the thoughts that you have? Is it costing you or are you getting a return on your investment for what you think?

Action:
Realize that the biggest problems that you will face today are the imaginary ones, not the real ones. Lose you attachment to your burdens. It's your choice!

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"People become attached to their burdens sometimes more than the burdens are attached to them."

"Real difficulties can be overcome, it is only the imaginary ones that are unconquerable."

Thursday, October 7, 2010

Ignore Conventional Wisdom

"Swim upstream. Go the other way. Ignore the conventional wisdom. If everyone else is doing it one way, there's a good chance you can find your niche by going in exactly the opposite direction." ~Sam Walton

Are you swimming up stream? Ignoring the conventional wisdom? Or are you going with the flow, doing what everyone else is doing? Being a penguin rather than a peacock?? BE YOURSELF, everyone else is taken! Too many people are stuck as penguins in the sea of sameness, not standing out, not being all that they could be. Is that you? I hope not.

If you feel stuck and like you aren't getting anywhere "there's a good chance you can find your niche by going in exactly the opposite direction." Can you do that? Can you try? Don't be stuck in "this is the way we've always done things" routine. Look for a way to stand out! Let your beautiful feathers shine, not just the black and white of a penguin.

Action:
It's never too late to be who you were meant to be. Challenge your assumptions and beliefs today. See if they really hold up or they were given to you by someone else. BE YOU!

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"Swim upstream. Go the other way. Ignore the conventional wisdom. If everyone else is doing it one way, there's a good chance you can find your niche by going in exactly the opposite direction."

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Will This Matter 5 Years From Now?

"When you find yourself stressed, ask yourself one question: Will this matter five years from now? If yes, then do something about the situation. If no, then let it go." ~Catherine Pulsifer

Will this matter 5 years from now? What a great question to ask about everything that comes into your life! Too often, when we are in the midst of challenges, we think that they will never end. That's just the way our minds work...so ask yourself that question. Will this matter 5 years from now?

The moment you accept responsibility for EVERYTHING in your life, is the moment you can change ANYTHING in your life. ~Hal Elrod

You want to change anything in your life? Take responsibility for everything in your life...everything. Sometimes, we take some responsibility but not for everything. The key is taking responsibility for everything. That is the best way to change anything in your life.

Action:
When you find yourself stressed, ask yourself that question, Will this matter 5 years from now? After answering that question, then take responsibility for everything in your life!!

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"When you find yourself stressed, ask yourself one question: Will this matter five years from now? If yes, then do something about the situation. If no, then let it go."

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Do Things You've Never Dreamed Of

“Within you right now is the power to do things you never dreamed possible. This power becomes available to you just as you can change your beliefs.”

Do you believe this? Really? Then why haven't you done the things that you never dreamed possible? What's stopping you from doing it? It is our beliefs that hold us back. What belief do you have that's holding you back? You aren't smart enough? Your too old? You're doing the only thing you know how? What is holding you back?

Dr. Joyce Brothers said "In each of us are places where we have never gone. Only by pressing the limits do you ever find them." Have you pressed your limits? Why not? Fear only exists in your mind, nowhere else. Are you ready to do things you've never dreamed of???

Action:
Analyze your beliefs about yourself. See what those beliefs hold for you. It's never too late to be who you were meant to be. Make it happen!!

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

“Within you right now is the power to do things you never dreamed possible. This power becomes available to you just as you can change your beliefs.”

Monday, October 4, 2010

Open Up and Bloom

"A rose only becomes beautiful and blesses others when it opens up and blooms. Its greatest tragedy is to stay in a tight-closed bud, never fulfilling its potential."

Are you a tight-closed bud, never fulfilling your potential? No? Really?? I find that most people never fulfill their potential. Some are even a tight-closed bud. That to me is really sad, when people are just doing what they are doing and not really knowing why, or when they don't know what they want out of life.

That's the main problem for most people, they don't know what they want out of life. They also don't believe that they could have what they want to have because someone told them that, or they tried once and failed, so they quit trying. Is that you?? I hope not.

Action:
Realize that right now, today, that "It's never too late to become what you were meant to be." Choose to be who you were meant to be! Now!!

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"A rose only becomes beautiful and blesses others when it opens up and blooms. Its greatest tragedy is to stay in a tight-closed bud, never fulfilling its potential."

Friday, October 1, 2010

Attitude vs. Circumstance

"All the water in the world cannot drown you unless it gets inside of you.” ~Eleanor Roosevelt

No matter what the problem, financial situation, history or whatever difficulty is around you --let it be around you. It's a circumstance. It's around you but is not meant to control or determine your attitude. Are you letting it control your attitude?

Our attitude comes from our state of mind, and the state of our heart. Let us keep our mind and our heart focused on gratitude and appreciation. Gratitude is a harmonious vibration with abundance. When you are grateful, you get more things to be grateful about.

All the water in the world can be around us and we can float on top of it, swim in it and play in it. It doesn't have to drown us because we view it only as a circumstance, something that can't control our attitudes...unless we let it.

Action:
Realize that circumstances can't control your attitude or actions. It is a choice that you have as to how to deal with each circumstance. Don't let it negatively affect you.

Know. Be Known. Make A Difference!

"All the water in the world cannot drown you unless it gets inside of you.”