How Not to Choke

When my son was a senior in high school, he played baseball. I did not want to miss a game.

One of the games I watched was Mt. Abraham playing against Harwood. When Harwood's pitcher was warming up, the fans on the sidelines thought he looked good and wondered whether our batters might have a tough time against him. He had a good fast ball and seemed to have good control.

Things changed once the game started. Harwood was up first. Mt. Abraham got the first three batters out. Then Harwood's pitcher took the mound. With his first pitch, he struck Mt. Abe's batter in the back; he walked the second batter; and then struck the third batter in the head. Bases loaded. Had the fourth batter not moved out of the way on several pitches, he would have been hit as well. At that point Harwood's #22 was moved to center field. Another pitcher took his place.

Where did the control go? What changed for that pitcher when the game started? Did he not have the ability---the control---to throw strikes over the plate, when during the warm-up it appeared as if he did? Or did he simply lose his ability once the game started?

It appeared that he was a victim of choking. I would love to talk to that player to find out what was happening when he was warming up. What was he thinking? What was his mood? How relaxed was he? What was he feeling? Once a batter stood next to the plate, what changed? Thoughts? Mood? Relaxation? Emotions? Often a coach will tell his athlete, "Relax! You're trying too hard!" Good advice, but not easy to do.

When I was nineteen, I competed in the FIS World Championships in Val Gardena, Italy. Slalom was my best event. After the first run, I was in sixth place. Not bad, but I wanted to do better. I wanted to podium. I wanted to win---at the very least win a medal. As I memorized the course for the second run, that's what I thought about---moving up and winning a medal. How to do that? The more I thought about winning a medal, the more nervous I got. At that point, ski racing wasn't as much fun as it had been.

When I got to the top, I looked for my Dad in the crowd of spectators. He saw me and came to me. I shared my thoughts and nervousness with him. He was so calming! He had a little grin on his face and a glint in his eye, when he said, "I always thought you were the cool cucumber in the family!"

I just broke into a smile and said to myself, "Yeah, I am!" I stopped thinking about how I was going to do. I was confident that I could ski with the best of them. I did my best and ended up with the silver medal.

Two years later, I competed in the Olympics in Sapporo, Japan. This time I won the first run---not by much---three hundredths of a second. As I was memorizing the course for the second run, I could feel myself start to choke. I kept thinking, "I could win today! I could win an Olympic gold medal!!!" But the more I let myself think those thoughts, the more nervous I got. Finally, I told myself, "B.A. (that was my nickname), get a grip on yourself! You've got to calm down!"

I continued on my way. I fought to stay calm. I reminded myself, "I can only do my best." I built up my confidence, "If the French girls can win, I can, too!" I prepared myself for defeat," Even if I don't win, I've won the first run and not very many people have done that. So no matter what happens now, I can always be proud of what I've already achieved!" I thought of my father and the World Championships in Val Gardena. Finally I was calm.

Second run, I ran fifteenth---after everyone who had a chance to overtake me. But I was able to stick to my game plan. I didn't watch anyone ahead of me. I closed my eyes and visualized the course. I stretched and did my warm-ups. And then I slid into the tent.

Danielle Debernard had finished second on the first run. Before my second run, she was leading by about a second. That's huge in ski racing. I didn't know she had skied that well. I'm glad I didn't because I could have easily choked thinking she was so much better than the rest of us on that run. I could have easily choked just thinking that all I needed to do was beat Danielle. Thinking about who you need to beat does not work. It just adds more pressure and increases the chance of choking.

When I slid into the start, I was just going to do the best I could. When I finished, Danielle had won that run by a hundredth ahead of me. But overall, I won by two hundredths.

The trick to not choking? Control your thoughts. Believe in your ability. Enjoy yourself. When you concentrate on the skills, the results will take care of themselves.

About the Author

As a gold medal Olympic skier, Barbara Ann Cochran knows what it takes to achieve peak performance. No matter how much a person has achieved, she helps them climb to their next level by creating success through positive mental preparation.

Visit http://www.sportssuccesscoaching.com/ for more information about her programs.

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Bearing More Than Most

Sometimes what stands out for me in my life is that I have withstood more bearing than most in life. But who am I to make that assessment, and why should I need another to compare my life to, to make such an assessment? Well I guess I don't and neither do you. After all what does it really do on a healing level to compare your burdens to another? Isn't there enough pain in your own hurt to create validation? I have always loved what Susan Jeffers said, "Since when did we ever get into a competition of, 'Who could be the most pathetic?'" I have most definitely learned that lesson and have caught myself many times to keep from returning to that choice of "all that exists to a worm in horseradish is, well horseradish" (an old Yiddish saying-and a great one at that 'eh?).

Although the fact does remain, even in living a healing path, there is no denying that there is pain, there are setbacks, and you do take the hand of fear when you want to move forward. A quote I came across this weekend, was by D'Amato, "Heroes and cowards feel the exact same fear, they just respond differently" The most profound history makers, have all felt fear, that's just it, they FELT fear and they moved through it. That is the point, to not get stuck, but to move in spite of the fear and the challenges.

Pain, loneliness, sadness...How to deal with it, when no one is there to hold you? Can it even be done? Is that even possible? Yes it can and it does. Now how to deal with it is usually the question left lingering. Much of the wisdom I have ever come across has done a really amazing job of telling the what, but I do have to say that so many painful nights I was left not knowing the how, especially all alone. The how, in my opinion goes in the way of coping, well coping done alone can be quite a tumultuous climb, yet most of our pain bearing occurs in isolation. Why is that, I still wonder? Either way, I promised you the how. How will come in many forms and it will be different at any given time. I suppose that is why this topic is left in it's own abandonment many times.

You may have heard these suggestions in different ways, but perhaps not as a menu of choices. When you are feeling beaten down, isolated, and incapable of taking one more breath, first and most importantly, remember YOU ARE NOT ALONE, NO MATTER HOW ALONE YOU FEEL!

I promise you this Truth. The menu of choices available for healing pain are:

Write, journal, call a friend, if no one is available and you need a hug, hug yourself! Music is extremely healing, drive, just go...get away even if only for a few minutes, breathing, deep breathing, even hire a breath work teacher(Google it) Hit a pillow even with a baseball bat to release anger, sleep with guided imagery (Google Belleruth Napartsek) drive and yell with the windows rolled up, cry, hurt, get mad, the point really is to FEEL! When we feel E-motion which is really energy-in-motion we can be a channel to the pain that must pass through less it manifest as something stagnant (a whole other article) Better to let things move through than to camp out and become pain's container. It may not feel that way in the moment of the excruciating emotion, but I assure you the saying, "This too shall pass", was True, maybe not empathetic, but nonetheless True.

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How to Achieve the Unachievable

"I believe in miracles...

Where you from...

You sexy thing..."

Ok - so yes, I am starting this article with a song, but I want to look at achieving the unachievable. I constantly love reminding myself that there is no reality, except for the one I create, so nothing is unachievable unless I decide to believe it to be so.

So this month, I wanted to explore that concept, and see if you can take some of these principles into your riding.

Has anyone seen the movie called 'Miracle' starring Kurt Russel? It came out in 2004 and it tells the story of the miracle of the US Olympic Hockey Team beating the Soviet Union and going on to win Gold at the 1980 Olympics.

For the US to beat the Soviets was truly a miracle at that time. It was unachievable - the Soviets had won four consecutive gold medals from 1964-1976, and were going for their fifth consecutive gold medal in 1980. In 1979 The National Hockey League All Stars played the soviets and lost 0-6.

The US team on the other hand, were untested college students. At an exhibition match shortly before the 1980 Olympics the Soviets played the US team and beat them 10-3.

No one believed the US team could beat the Soviets. Nobody, except a man by the name of Herb Brooks. Herb believed they could beat the Soviets and Herb believed they could win the gold medal. And.... they did.

So how do you achieve the unachievable:

1. Be creative

Herb realised that everyone was trying to beat the Soviets by playing a certain style of game... and it wasn't working! So to beat them, he would have to create an entire new style of playing. He innovated, developed and installed a completely new strategy that was based on extreme conditioning, discipline and speed - his players struggled to learn and master this, but they did, and thanks to Herb's creativeness and thinking outside the box, they won. So be creative in your riding - just because you have always done it 'this' way doesn't mean it should always be done that way. New thinking equals new results. What new ways can you be creative in your riding?

2. It's not all about talent.

Herb did not pick the most talented players for his team, and there were many more talented players on the Soviet team. But Herb knew that talent is only part of the puzzle. He was looking for players who would be part of a team, who would embrace his new methods, and stand up to the demands. This is good news! Riding is not about talent. It's about thinking. It's about working with your horse. It's about so many things, the least of these being talent. So don't worry if you don't have the 'ideal' body type, or find it challenging to master sitting trot - with the right thinking and training, that will all be overcome.

3. Know that adversity inspires!

Herb just missed out on playing in the gold medal hockey team of 1960. But he used that to drive his determination to win a gold as a coach in 1980. Fate had disappointed him once, but he was not going to let himself be disappointed again. He was going to do whatever it took to get the gold. In riding you will miss out, you will have disappointments, and you will have setbacks. WE ALL DO! Believe me! But the only thing that matters is how you use the disappointment - I use it in the same way as Herb - to motivate me to be even better than I can possibly be. How do you manage disappointment? A better question is - how will you handle disappointment now, after reading this?

4. You have to have a MASSIVE goal!

A goal that inspires and even scares you a little bit! When I look at my goals I giggle - I giggle, because they are the most outrageous, insane, HUGE, crazy, brave, sensational goals I have seen..... Great! You can't get excited about a small, insignificant goal. You set a goal to brush your teeth and you do, weeh yay, whatever. But a big goal, a scary goal, a goal that is monumental... well that just gets you going! You jump out of bed in the morning, and stay up late, you do crazy things, and have crazy thoughts, and at the end of the day... you have your goal.

So is your riding goal - outrageous? Bill Gates says don't even bring me an idea unless 3 people have laughed at it. Then I know it will be worth looking at. My measure is as long as people still think I am crazy... then

I am right on track!

And finally

5. You need buddies!

Success is not the results of you alone. To achieve the unachievable you need a team of people coming together for your one goal. Who is part of your team in your riding? Your vet, farrier, coach, horse - they all have to work with you towards the one goal.

To Your Riding Success,

Natasha Althoff-Kelley
http://yourridingsuccess.com/
Visit my website for your free ebook on "How to Achieve Lasting Riding Success"

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Stop Procrastinating With the STING Method

Can a simple five letter mnemonic device help you to stop procrastinating? Many productivity experts would agree that a great way to stop procrastinating is by applying the STING method. The letters in STING stand for the following:

Select one task you've been putting off.Time yourself.Ignore everything else around you.No breaks allowed.Give yourself a reward when the task is done.

Select One Task You've Been Putting Off

A lot of people will procrastinate simply because they have so many things to do, that they're not sure where to get started. The first step in the STING method is to select just one of the tasks that you've been putting off. You can decide between picking a small task in order to feel the satisfaction of crossing something off of your to do list, or you can choose a larger task, break it down into small chunks, and get started with the first small chunk.

Time Yourself

You're going to give yourself a specific amount of time to work on the task. I like to work for twenty-five minutes, and then give myself a five minute break. If the task is likely to take longer than twenty-five minutes, then I repeat this process of working for twenty-five minutes and then taking a five minute break, three times. Other people prefer to work for forty minutes without a break, while others can go for an entire hour. Choose the length of time that works best for you.

Get a kitchen timer, or use an online application, in order to time yourself while you're performing the task. Once you're ready to start working on the task that you've selected, start the timer. Try to get done as much of the task as you can before the timer rings, and your time is up.

Ignore Everything Else Around You

During the time that you're going to be working on the task that you've selected, you're going to ignore everything around you. Make sure to turn off your Twitter and email applications, let the phone go to voice mail if it rings, and close any sites that you may have open on your computer which are not directly related to the task you're working on. If someone comes into your office while you're working, ask them to come back later.

No Breaks Allowed

Be sure to take your restroom trip before you start, and have a glass of water on the desk next to you, because you can't take any breaks during the time that you've allotted for working on the task at hand. If you think of anything else that needs to be done while you're working on the task, such as making a phone call, simply write it down so that you can do it later. You can take a break once the time is up.

Give Yourself a Reward When the Task is Done

A great way to stay motivated while you're working on a task is to have a small reward to look forward to once you're done with the task. This can be as simple as turning on your favorite music and sitting back in your chair for a few minutes, or getting a cappuccino or some other beverage that you enjoy. Remember that what gets rewarded gets done.

Conclusion

As you can see from the explanation above, STING is a very simple method. However, if you go ahead and try it, you'll be pleasantly surprised at how effective it is. As Rita Emmett, author of "The Procrastinator's Handbook" likes to say, this method will take the sting out of procrastination.

Written by Marelisa Fabrega. For more tools, tips, and techniques to help you stop procrastinating, visit How to Stop Procrastinating.

http://EzineArticles.com/6492853

Do You Have What It Takes to Achieve the Next Level of Success?

If you have spent any time in your business or organization reaching for that next level of success, you know that, in most cases, it does not come naturally. As much as we desire to be the best our Creator purposed for us to be, the journey of achievement is usually elusive and sometimes inconsistent. As we have learned, it is imperative that we follow a system that takes us out of our comfort zone and forces us to grow and develop new skills, acquire new confidence, and reach for new levels of awareness.

Thankfully, we do not have to be natural achievers. In fact, "natural achiever" is a contradiction because our natural instincts are always fighting against our achievement. This is because achievement involves change and growth, and that can be intimidating. Our natural instincts are constantly trying to press us into the comfort zone of staying right where we are.

With all that in mind, do you have what it takes to achieve?

Whether you have just started your journey toward greater achievement, or you have been working at this for years, it is helpful to evaluate where you are in the process. The following questions and your honest answers should give you a good idea of where you are in your commitment to achieve.

Commitment to a Goal - Do I have a burning desire to achieve something specific?

You've heard the expression, "If you fail to plan, you plan to fail." This is especially true when it comes to achievement. Without a specific goal in mind, we will default to our safe comfort zone where nothing changes. It is only when we identify that burning desire to achieve a specific goal that we can take the necessary steps to bring it to fruition.

Courage to persevere - Am I willing to follow a system in developing an enhanced level of emotional courage?

The emotion of fear is a protective reflex and is a basic, instinctive, human response when we see or feel a perceived danger. But that fear response ultimately leads to negative, unproductive attitudes. Growth feels uncomfortable and scary because it pushes us out of our comfort zones.

To grow in emotional courage, we must develop our potential, and that potential always lies just beyond our comfort zones. We have to be willing to diligently follow a development system that will help us push past our fear into sustained growth.

Open-mindedness - Am I willing to be coached without being defensive?

This is a tough one. I would say that most of us do not like being told what to do. We like the feeling of being the boss and being in control of our own destiny. But a fundamental part of achievement is keeping an open mind and allowing yourself to be coached by someone who has been there before.

When my colleague Mark Smith joined the Navy, he committed to having an open mind and a heart that was coachable as he soaked up everything he could learn, no matter how trivial. As a result, he was awarded the Navy Achievement Medal six times and Sailor of the Year for the 3rd Marine Division and rose quickly through the ranks. Do you have that level of open-mindedness to learn whatever it takes to succeed?

Accountable for your actions - Will I choose to be accountable for my effective actions?

The choice of accountability is arguably the most significant choice anyone can make regarding their future achievement. Take the time to find a mentor or group of people with like-minded interests to whom you choose to be accountable for your goals. As an example, a dieter with the support of similar-minded people is more likely to be successful in the long run as they feel an obligation to follow through with their healthy eating and exercise plan.

It is the same with achievement. When you know that you must report to a colleague or mentor how you are reaching your goals on a daily/weekly/monthly basis, you will be more likely to follow through.

Have you taken a mental inventory of the four qualifying factors above? Take your time and really be honest with yourself, because it is important to know that there can be no achievement without these characteristics or without a willingness to develop these characteristics.

Let that sink in for a moment.

Are you committed to a goal? Are you ready to develop emotional courage? Can you be open-minded and coachable? Will you be accountable for your choices and actions? If you answered yes to these questions without hesitation, you do have what it takes to achieve. Embrace the achiever in you, and get ready for that next level of success!

Inspiring genuine growth and achievement in leaders, David Byrd has 30 years of experience working with top business executives and their organizations. He is a master of effective leadership and works closely with leaders worldwide to maximize their leadership potential. For more information about The Next-Level Achievement System® or David's book, Achievement - A Proven System For Next Level Growth, visit http://www.authorsup.com/David-Byrd.

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How To Set And Achieve Goals - Focus Is The Key

Are you someone who already has all your life's goals and aspirations nicely mapped out in front of you? For most of us, the answer would be a meek no. This is understandable. We feel very difficult to set goals, because of the fear that we can't achieve them. We don't want to feel like a failure, so we rather not set any goals. However, you do not have to set sky-high goals. A small goal is still a goal. Pulling that off is still an accomplishment. Make sure you celebrate when you achieve your goals, big and small.

Once you learn some simple tips on how to set and achieve goals, you will be more confident and your chances of success increases multiple times. What I'm going to share below may be something you already know, but sometimes, we need a little nudge to the right direction when we are at crossroads.

First things first, your goals should be measurable - meaning they should be specific, regardless whether it's a sales target number you want to achieve or it's personal development that you want to improve yourself on. This precise measurement helps you to know clearly which areas are still lacking and acts as a measurement of how far you have progressed.

At the beginning of each month, it's important to decide where to set your next level of achievement. You can set it at your own pace, however fast or slow, it's entirely up to you. There is a saying: If you don't use your time, someone/something else will use it for you. Think about it - even if you wake up with not a single objective in mind, your day will still be occupied. It will probably be filled with unproductive things like watching TV, surfing the net, chatting on the phone etc. But at the end of the day, when you realize you have allowed a whole day to go by wasted, how does that make you feel? On the other hand, when you know about how to set and achieve goals, your day will be filled with productive activities that move you closer to your desires and dreams.

Focus is the key. For instance, you have difficulty closing sales. If you are focused, when you seek consultation on how to improve that particular skill, you will do it with the intention to learn something useful. You will listen out for pointers on how to close. This can only happen if you have in mind what is your weakness and the specific skill you want to improve. Then, if the results did not happen, you are able to look back at what happened and do a more effective analysis of what went wrong.

Whatever skills you may learn on how to set and achieve goals, intense Focus is of utmost importance. Focus on your immediate milestone; focus on one month at a time. Start with short-term goals. You know ultimately you will get there. But focus on this month first. You have to stay very focused and train the power of your mind on what you want to achieve each day. Get ready to receive when it comes. Because it will come when you ask with intensity.

What is your benchmark on how to set and achieve your goals? It is when upon looking at your goals, your level of Excitement exceeds your level of Fear. Your goals should motivate you, not paralyse you. Once your goals are set, don't change them. Change your strategies instead.

When you focus on the end results (the "Why" you want to achieve), you become more creative. You will start to have many ideas on the varied ways of realizing your objectives, and things will start to happen. That is the "How", and miraculously things will start to fall into place.

So, focus is the key; focus on the present, take one month at a time. When your desire is strong, you will attract the ability of how to set and achieve your goals to reach out to your objectives. In other words, when your "Why" is strong enough, don't worry about the "How", it will come to pass.

I believe we are all constantly looking for ways to change our lives for the better. We can all attract whatever we want and be whoever we want in this world, if only we understand the universal laws and learn the ways to work in harmony with them. Do you want to discover the secrets of how to live a fuller, richer life? I have discovered an excellent resource that has helped me tremendously. If you want to know the secret, check out this website here now.

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Want Great Success? Apply Great Effort!

If you want great success in your life, you need to start following the Law of Applied Effort. Basically, this law states that all major achievements are the result of hard work and dedication. If you want great success, start applying great effort!

"Effort only fully releases its reward after a person refuses to quit." -Napoleon Hill

Almost all self-made millionaires and entrepreneurs credit hard work for their success. It's not where you were born, where you went to school, or who your parents are. Success comes from following the laws of success. This week, focus on the effort you put forth in everything you do. The more effort you invest in a project, career, or family the more you will get out of it!

If you work 40 hours a week, you might be a moderate success. You may slowly climb the company ladder and in time you might be financially independent. Every hour above 40 hours a week you work you will move your career forward. You will stop being average and start being a leader in your field when you put out more effort. Successful people work more hours and smarter hours. Most executives and small business owners work 60 hours a week. They apply more effort and get more results.

"In all human affairs there are efforts and there are results, and the strength of the effort is the measure of the result" -James Allen

If working more hours, scares you then you are probably not in the right career! Successful people who work more hours are doing it not only because they love the results of their work but because they love what they do!

Five Rules to Follow When Using Huge Effort:

1. Great success is the result of great effort. Focus on your most valuable tasks to get the biggest results.

2. Arrive earlier and stay later. Start your day prepared. Plan your day before it begins. Get to work earlier then everyone else and stay a little longer then everyone else. This will allow you to get more done during quiet times, and by planning your day you, can finalize loose ends before you leave.

3. More effort equals more opportunities and luck. The more effort you put out the more opportunities will come your way and the luckier you will be. People that are doing more and working harder become "luckier" because other people see their value.

4. When you are at work, WORK! The average person working 40 hours a week is really only working 30 hours a week! Forget the long coffee breaks, the extended lunches, the personal Facebook account, emails and calls. You will rise to the top if you actually work on high value items all week long!

5. Remember the Law of Cause and Effect. If you want to be better than the average person, you need to become excellent at what you do. Invest more time, gain more expertise, work smarter, and you will make more money and achieve more success than the average person!

Dave Magrogan is the CEO of Kildare's Irish Pubs, Doc Magrogan's Oyster House, Two Men and a Truck Moving Company, and Rhino Living Consulting and Training Group. By clearing the mental clutter, using his subconscious mind, applying the "Laws of the Jungle" and setting big, audacious "Rhino" goals, he has built a 20 million dollar empire in just a few short years! Visit the Rhino Living web page at http://www.rhinoliving.com/ to find out how Rhino Living can help you!

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Getting High School Diploma Online: Useful Tips For Success

The internet has opened doors for millions of people who cannot obtain their education through the traditional means. All you need is a reliable internet connection, a suitable browser and the determination to follow through with your studies. With these, you can obtain your high school diploma online from any location in the world.

Just like it is in the traditional system, distance education also requires students to study, sit and pass tests. You need to figure out how you are going to approach your study in order to obtain your diploma with ease. Here are some useful tips that you can consider applying.

i. Come up with a plan
Once you have enrolled for a distance learning program, you need to come up with a well planned study schedule. While online learning affords you the privilege of flexibility, it is important that you create a study timetable that will ensure that you have sufficient time for your course work and revision.

ii. Have the determination
Having a determination is key when pursuing just about anything in life. Yes, you will encounter a number of challenges during your study. However, this should not persuade you to give up. When the units turn out to be difficult, don't just skip them without referring to your tutor. This is the wrong way of going about distance learning, and you are likely to fail if you follow this road. You need to have open communication with your tutor through emails and online discussions every time you face a challenge.

iii. Be physically ready
Examine yourself to be certain that you are physically ready to pursue your high school diploma online. It is important that you have a fresh mind and a healthy body ready to acquire new knowledge and skills. Also, you have to be serious about completing the program. To help with this, you can set personal goals and a time frame within which you intend to complete your studies.

iv. Have the right tools and facilities
It is important that you have in place the right facilities that you will need for a successful distance learning. Ensure that you invest in a high speed computer and a reliable internet connectivity in order to facilitate your learning and access your study materials with ease. If you do not have good internet skills, ensure that you take some short courses that will enhance your computer and internet skills.

v. Get acquainted with the testing system
It is important that you get familiar with the examination format before enrolling for the tests. If you are not, you can try out free online tests. There are hundreds of websites from where you can take free high school tests online. Besides familiarizing you with the format, these tests will also help you identify your weak areas in order to pay more attention to them in preparation for the actual exam.

With good dedication and discipline, you can get quality education through distance education. The best part of it is that you have the flexibility and the convenience of studying from the comfort of your own home. Better still, it will take you a very short time to obtain your high school diploma online than it would if you went through the traditional approach.

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The Love Bug and the Law of Attraction

I am not a Donald Trump-far from it, but I live a nice, comfortable life and I am now retired from running a successful business. I mostly do what I enjoy and enjoy what I do! Lots of people ask me, how the heck I retired so young especially since I mostly did hard labor in my life. I always put a smile on their face because my answer is that you have to become a love bug so the law of attraction starts working in your favor.

Okay, how do you do that, I am often asked and so I'll answer that question here:

Back in 1987 a woman by the name of Marsha Sinetar wrote a most inspirational book with title, Do What You Love, The Money Will Follow. As much as I like what she has to say, I disagree with the basic premise. I do not believe that anyone finds a job (or career) he or she loves at least for very long. For one thing, every job becomes routine after a while and no job is without its disappointments and challenges. I did not "love" my job-even though I was in business for myself-all the time. I had my days wishing I was doing something else no less than you probably feel from time to time about your own work. Nevertheless, what is called the law of attraction worked positively in my life, I "attracted" a great many customers and clients, and the money really did follow!

Part of my so-called "secret of success" is that I thought in successful terms; I never assumed the negative and my rule of thumb was really simple: if I work hard, treat people fairly and do the job the best that I can, I can't fail. This was more than positive thinking for me, this was my love bug philosophy, to truly care about my customers and devote myself to giving real and conscientious service as opposed to only product. I can tell you now that this formula works. You do NOT have to be in business for yourself to started attracting positive results in your own life.

The first thing you need to know is that no matter what you do for a living, you are at bottom line, in the service business. And so always put in the effort to give a little extra "service" to your boss, to your customers and for that matter to whomever you greet. If you do, I promise you, your world will brighten up and good things will eventually start happening for you. (I say eventually so you won't think that if you do this once or twice success is going to quickly fall in your lap-you must make this the consistent "who and what" you are and when you do this the law of attraction begins to respond...favorably! This means not favoring only your best customers, clients or fellow workers but treating everyone equally as important as everyone else).

Now and then, I will hear someone who I tell this to, say something like, hey, I'm a nice, giving person and I'm still impoverished. The so-called Law of Attraction seems to keep missing me.

There are a few things that I believe about this but my thoughts are best summarized by *religious philosopher, Ernest Holmes who said:

Suppose one has thoughts he lives in poverty year after year, he has thereby personified a law, which continues to perpetuate the condition. If the thought is not erased the condition will remain. A law has been set in motion which says "I am poor" and sees to it that this is so. This is at first an auto-suggestion, then it becomes an unconscious memory, working day and night. This is what decides how the Law of Attraction works for us, because the laws of attraction and repulsion are entirely subjective. Our use of them may be conscious to start with, but it becomes subconscious as soon as it is used.

What the writer is telling us in the above refers to what he calls "Universal Subjectivity" which is a "Creative Intelligence at our disposal." This same observation is made by both ancient and modern-day sagas and, today, by a number of quantum physicists in their references to Universal Mind and/or Consciousness. Paul Davis, **a professor of physics, says, "Nature is a product of its own technology, and the Universe is a mind. Our own minds could then be viewed as localized islands of consciousness in a sea of mind." In this same view physicists like David Bohn who offers that there is a deep implicate order behind matter which we might call Cosmic Consciousness and certainly the psychologist Carl Jung's synchronicity is based on his concepts of a collective unconscious. Wayne W. Dyer tells us that we can manifest our own destinies. And so, we are in good company when we suggest that, most basically, we are in connectedness with a universal intelligence that "streams" through everything in the mysterious realm we call "life" giving rise to our personal projections.

A problem exists, however, in that we do not always have control over our thoughts, even if we "believe" that we do. For example, if a child has been called slow, untalented, bad or a failure enough times by his parents or other authority in his or her life, that child's brain will begin believing this and soon enough these negative self-views will become projections such as, I can never make it...I was born to lose...if it weren't for bad luck, I'd have no luck at all...I just wasn't meant to have happiness and so forth. Well, these "beliefs" are not just passing thoughts. They are affirmations and that which we affirm to be true...eventuates into a fixture of our unconscious minds, which is in direct connectedness with what Holmes calls Universal Subjectivity, which believes what you tell it. In simple terms, if you believe that you can't succeed or be happy or accomplish much in your life, you will be given what you are unconsciously asking for; as you are the creator of your own reality. Thus, the Law of Attraction will be working to give you the poverty of spirit and/or impoverished life you are projecting into the Universe either consciously or unconsciously. And, in regard to this, just remember that whatever you project into the Universe is always reflected. (As we have observed over the years, hate and love are, if you will, boomerangs).

Now then, assuming what we are talking about is true we have a problem since we are not always AWARE of our deepest beliefs. For example, on the surface we might be saying something like, I really want to accomplish in my life; make lots of money and live well. But, beneath the surface it is possible that you are thinking something like, nothing ever works out for me, I can never get ahead and so forth. And, because you can't simply or easily change your unconscious beliefs, how do you overcome the negativity in you?

In order to change your mind, you must change your actions. You muster the courage to put your love into your work...you can even "fool" your brain by saying aloud, I love doing this, this job is so much fun and say that everyday until your brain is convinced that you mean it and delivers the message to your unconscious. But more, say silently to yourself, to your fellow workers, your boss and of course your clients and customers, I love you before addressing them or waiting on them. Then make service your goal-not the sale, and see what begins to happen for you. Just keep in the forefront of your mind that upon every opportunity you will give a little more than is expected of you. By putting out these few efforts the Law of Attraction will stop working as the Law of Repulsion in your life and good thing will begin happening for you.

Remember I spoke of Marsha Sinetar's wonderful book Do What You Love, The Money Will Follow. While I believe this to be true, I choose to change the message to Love What You Do, and All the Good Stuff Will Follow. Again, I do not think any of us can find work that we love especially that we'll love all of the time, but we can CHOOSE to love what we do all the time we are doing it. Love is probably the best and most effective magnetism for the Law of (positive) Attraction to work effectively in any of our lives.

You needn't believe any of this of course but what do you have to lose by giving what I am suggesting a sincere try? You can change your mind, by consciously changing your actions; by putting love into your work and into your customer/client care. This is what I term The Love Bug Philosophy in action; a most simple formula for solving our most complex problems!

*SOURCE: The Science of Mind * Ernest Holmes * Tarcher/Putman * 1998 (First copyright 1938)

**SOURCE: Letters to Vanessa * Jeremy W. Hayward * SHAMBHALA * 1997

By: MARK PIERCE

Mark Pierce has a vast and interesting background including being a successful business owner for 21 years. After being retired for a few years he decided that he wanted to do something that was creative, productive and people orientated so he formed Survival Station Publications. Most recently he has completed a most unique book with the title The ABC's of Loving and in his spare time he writes articles on the necessity and dynamics of love. He also busies himself by giving lectures and is co-authoring a study course on marital relationships. You can find out more about Mark at http://www.lovebug.biz/.

http://EzineArticles.com/6483732

Life Is Energy

Why people get different life results? Some people are very active and some aren't. Because their life energy is different. When you have quality energy, you have quality life results. In fact, Self Hypnosis Meditation for example, is for people like you who want to achieve bigger results and a higher level of natural health, happiness, peace and success in their business and personal lives expand beyond what is currently thought possible. That's what I like best about Self Hypnosis its ability to give me what I want when I want it, energy, relaxation, pain relief, protection and a deep connection to the Source of everything.

Energy Is Also Nutrition.

Energy flow nourishes the human spirit and gives us the ability to concentrate; it's the basis of creativity, and the healing energy of our body. On Earth, the whole life energy comes from the Sun. Plants can store the sun energy in chemicals. Nutrition is also a very important element to produce good life energy The main chemical synthesized by plants is cellulose a sugar, which wraps their cells, starches and other simple sugars are more easily used by animals. All animals, no matter if carnivorous or plant eating, must break down the complex proteins, fats and sugars from the food into smaller easy to assimilate molecules. Humans, for example, have enzymes for breaking down starch or simple sugars, but not for cellulose. Fats are the easiest to break down; proteins too are easier than sugars to be broken down.

Tradition.

In the Western tradition founded by Hippocrates, vital forces were associated with temperaments and humors. Treatment, medical issues, nutritional issues, appetite, are not a reliable means of determining the energy needs of an individual. However, healthy habits are. Therapy practice, Yoga exercises, meditation and healthy nutrition for your individual health needs to be balance and restored to the human energy system. Learn about daily practice of good habits for health maintenance. All you have to do is take a good look at your life as it is and make the decision to change those things that are not longer working to replace them with new positive, productive once. It's simple, when you just want to live a better life you need to eliminate for ever all those negative influences and all the bad nutrition, because that's poising you. Yes, you can make a difference only when you begin to care about yourself.

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March Confidently Toward Your Dreams

You, friend, are entirely capable of distinguished accomplishment. Learn to tap into your extra energy reserves and resolve to dedicate your energy to a worthy goal or objective. Then with faith and confidence in yourself, watch how far you go and how much you may well contribute to this spinning planet in space. Be a peak achiever--performer for what you believe is a burning dream in your heart. Keep your eyes on your goal daily and refuse to be sidetracked by anything or anyone.

Remember the stirring words of Henry Thoreau: "March confidently in the direction of your dreams, and you will be surprised how far you can go and how much you can accomplish." Be a willing workaholic with a clear purpose. Then your work, career, or vocation may seldom seem like work, for you are doing what you want to do...and hopefully what you love to do.

Psychologists are now inclined to believe that mental fatigue is nothing more or less than a loss of interest. It may well be that we would never become mentally tired if we kept our interest at a high pitch. The person who has found congenial work and absorbing interests, who has mastered the fine art of locking his, or her, worries in his desk by night and hurrying home to perhaps complete a happy family circle, will never grow old prematurely.

We are just beginning to comprehend the astounding and profound influence which the mind exerts in the process of growing older. Did you know that Benjamin Franklin was in his 71st year when he set out for Paris to undertake the delicate diplomatic task of negotiating an alliance between France and the United States? Most of Franlin's contemporaries had long been huddling in a warm corner, waiting for the Grim Reaper. Not Benjamin Franklin.

Franklin was 77 when he negotiated the treaty with Great Britain. This treaty made our nation a republic. Within a few months after he turned 80, Franklin was elected governor of Pennsylvania. Ben was also 81 when he once again revealed how smart he still was at the momentous convention that framed the Constitution of the United States. It was Ben Franklin again who suggested the idea of representation both by states and by population. He was a grand old man on the cutting edge of history.

Other examples come to mind too. Justice Oliver Wendall Holmes made many important Supreme Court decisions at the age of 92.

Verdi composed one of his operas at 81.

Titian began painting La Pieta when he was a young 91.

Thomas Edison was experimenting with synthetic rubber while in his nineties.

George Bernard Shaw was still writing plays at 93.

So ask yourself this key question. Will you still be on the cutting edge ten years from now? How about twenty years? Will you still be a peak achiever or performer? It's a good question. I say you will just as long as you're still marching confidently in the direction of your dreams.

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High Achievement: Key To Personal And Career Development

High achievement is something that many people desire, but only a select few ever get. Similar to a race, most people get very enthusiastic at the start, but dwindle in the middle or towards the end - and therefore not achieve the goals they've set for themselves. If you are bent on your personal and career development, achievement should be one of your agenda.

Situations greatly vary from person to person. There are a number of different factors that may have propelled someone to reach the mark. And there are reasons for others to fail or under-achieve as well.

What sets high achievers apart from the rest of the crowd? Well, I cannot enumerate them one by one but here, I came up with a list of the primary ingredients that are always part of the High Achiever's character.

1. A High Achiever Does Not Make Excuses

In reality, each of us has the potential to do more than we allow ourselves to achieve. This means that, if we only maximize our abilities, time and resources, we can surpass what we've already achieved so far.

The problem with majority of people is that we are so quick to make excuses, most of them not valid or could actually be solved with little effort.

We complain that we don't have enough skills or abilities; that the task is too difficult for us... Hey, isn't learning a process?

One day, a member of my virtual staff asked me, "Why do you know so many things? Do you have many degrees under your belt?"

My answer was simple. I never stop until I get the information that I need to get tasks done. With the onset of the internet, we all have easy access to virtually any data that we need, even step-by-step "how-to-do-this" instructions. And if you are resourceful enough, you'll find them for free.

In order to hone your skills, you need to practice them. You probably don't get it done perfectly at the beginning but you only need to try harder.

Well, if you really won't make the extra effort to study and push yourself to learn and improve your skills, you will remain where you are - an under-achiever.

Aside from complaints about lack of know-how, the next thing we often whine about is the lack of resources. I don't want to make a long discussion about this one. Maybe just a sweet reminder of the all-too-common saying: "Great things have small beginnings."

Be clever in using what you already have. Take advantage of free technology. Be humble and ask for help. Practice wisdom in your financial management and invest in things that will be useful for you in the long term. Actually, there are a lot of practical solutions to this excuse. You can start small and build up your resources little by little.

Lack of time is also a common lousy excuse by under-achievers. If only I had more time, I could have done more.... Really?

One thing that all mankind has an exact fair share of is time. We all have 24 hours to spend in a day. It is really up to us to make them productive and useful.

How many hours did you spend in front of the TV instead of doing something more fruitful? How many days are spent hanging out with friends, which you could have invested for quality family time?

Why can you spend long hours for internet games and social networking but can't set a time for research and more learning? And how many mornings did you oversleep and not start something on the right schedule?

The list can go on... Time management is simply a matter of self-discipline.

2. A High Achiever Learns from Mistakes and Failures

One trait that underachievers have is they are afraid to try - because they are afraid to fail. On the other hand, high achievers are not afraid of failures, not because they are braver than the rest of the world. It is because they view failures as opportunities to improve themselves and to start again more intelligently.

So what if you failed today? We always wake up to a new tomorrow. It is another chance to try again - but this time, learn from the past and make things better.

Wise failure management is an achievement in itself. The secret to being friends with failure is to stay focused to your goals while keeping plans flexible. If plan A fails, try plan B... Makes sense?

3. A High Achiever Believes in Himself

Perhaps this is the most pronounced difference between a common person and a high achiever - the latter has confidence in himself. That is why a high achiever is not afraid to move forward. He is willing to explore and push his limits. He sees beyond the ordinary. He tries other possibilities and ventures to the other side of field.

We may have the unconditional support of family and friends around us. But it makes a lot of difference if we believe in ourselves too. Believing in what we can do is a great motivation towards succeeding at whatever plans we have laid out for our lives.

There is a reason why high achievers compose only a minority of our population. It is because their minds don't run the way that everyone else does. They know what to believe and what not. They don't freak out and panic at bad news. They don't waste time getting caught up on global hullabaloo and negativity. They don't listen to negative opinions of other people as much as they trust their own.

It is important that we develop our self-confidence. Just imagine how confused you can be with all the conflicting opinions available to you daily. If you trust yourself, they need not influence you in a negative way.

4. A High Achiever Makes Plans and Acts on Them

Planning is a great exercise of the mind. It is a major tool for personal and career development. You may have set goals for yourself but if you have not made plans toward achieving them, you will never move any step forward. You need to work out a feasible plan.

No, this is not like the New Year's resolution that you have decided on impulse and immediately forget. These are realistic, actionable plans that are geared towards your goal, whether personal, business, health or relationships areas of your life.

Write out your plans. This will make it more scalable, measurable and flexible. Set timelines. Then break your plans into milestones and ACT on them. And once in a while, park your actions to see if they are effectively working towards the goal. This will give you the chance to restructure your plans if need be.

These qualities of a High Achiever are progressive. They can be learned and developed. That's the great thing about life... We always have the opportunity to be better persons. There is no deadline for improvement. We only need to be wise in taking advantage of what we are already blessed with.

The opportunity of becoming a High Achiever is HERE and the time to get started is NOW... The decision to take a step is yours. Be proactive towards your personal and career development.

Cee J. Fuerte is a Freelance Writer, Personal and Career Development Coach, Lifestyle Blogger and Online Entrepreneur. She is found online at http://www.CeeFuerte.com/.

http://EzineArticles.com/6474677

Blueprint For Success

If you don't know where you want to go and what you want in life, even if the best opportunity materializes in front of you, so what? You will just give the opportunity a blank look and continue to meander aimlessly along. Sad to say, the world is made up of many such people. They are so wrapped up in carrying themselves from one day through to the next that when it comes to the significant things in life, they have no more energy. Are you one of them?

It is very important to have a blueprint for success, as you are more likely to achieve your desired goals. This blueprint isn't a simple to-do list or a vision statement. It is your beacon of how to get to your objectives. When you peer into the future, what do you see? What do you want to be there? What does success mean to you?

Your blueprint for success can be for any aspects of your life. Here, let's talk about your career. You don't want to spend the rest of your life working hard only to make your boss richer. You want to be a successful leader in your own right. For that, you need to adopt a right attitude and the correct perceptions of what is required of you.

Here are some tips I like to share with you...

(1) Willingness to "zerorise"

When you are embarking on a new venture, you must be prepared to un-learn, learn and re-learn. The most dangerous words are "I know". You essentially dig your own grave if you think you already know everything. If you don't first follow and learn, you will not be equipped with the skills to lead.

(2) Be serious about your success and willing to commit to work your business

Earning your success is not like striking lottery. There is no easy way out. If you put in a 50% effort, then you only have yourself to blame if you get a 50% result. Knowing that is the only way to go, at the onset, you might as well put in your full effort and time. Because the results will be worth it.

(3) Set your goal, work your plan and keep progressing upwards

Goals are rules for adults. They will change as you advance, but at each step, the goals should always be crystal clear. Constantly review your blueprint for success to keep you focused and so you will know how to get back on track when you stray.

(4) Have 100% belief in yourself

Truly know and believe that you Deserve the success and that you Can succeed. Having a positive mindset is winning half the battle. If at every obstacle, you think you will never make it because of some challenges you encounter, then that self-fulfilling prophecy will become your reality.

(5) Constantly invest in yourself

When you want to grow to be a better person and a better leader, you have to devote time to improve yourself. Our environment is endlessly changing, continually evolving. If you stop learning, you stop growing, and worse, you get left behind. Seek to upgrade your skills, or see yourself becoming no longer relevant.

In summary, victory only awaits those who search for it. So go forth and pursue your goals. Equip yourself with all the tools. Take the necessary action. Create your own blueprint for success and make it happen!

I believe we are all constantly looking for ways to change our lives for the better. We can all attract whatever we want and be whoever we want in this world, if only we understand the universal laws and learn the ways to work in harmony with them. Do you want to discover the secrets of how to live a fuller, richer life? I have discovered an excellent resource that has helped me tremendously. If you want to know the secret, check out this website here now.

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Beating Bad Times: The Lesson of Leno Lechene

The impacts and side effects of our chronic sick economy are daunting: 25 million Americans unemployed, grossly underemployed, or given up; plunging confidence across the board; crazy capital markets no one understands; an unthinkable rating downgrade for the U.S.; an out-of-control spending and deficit course that promises disaster; a screwy debt deal from a hopelessly dysfunctional leadership; a FED that guarantees unprecedented low interest rates for two more years because it only sees more of the same; an Administration that has no clue but forever campaigns that progress is being made; growth incentives choked off by new destructive regulations galore and an impossible tax mess; class warfare literally torching other countries; the list goes on.

But, hands down, what worries me the most is the impact that this whole mess has in breaking the spirits and hopes of individuals and families, particularly young people, who are just trying to gain a footing and prepare for a future. And when I start to move into this funk, I am always buoyed up by a valuable lesson that I received long ago, during a recession, from a guy named Leno Lechene. It's a lesson that has always inspired me and helped me get through some tough patches.

I had only one question as I sat across from Leno: "Why would you even think about doing such a thing?" The country was in a recession, and Leno had decided to give up a decent job and move his family across the country to take a job that no one else wanted. The new job was a traveling salesman (it was all men back then) for the Bulova Watch Company in the state of Michigan, excluding the entire Detroit area. It was a grossly high-expense, inefficient, spread-out, low-volume territory that no one wanted, particularly during a recession. And that's the only reason the job was being offered to Leno.

Technically, Leno did not have the credentials to qualify for a Bulova position. He was raised in a small Italian community in Illinois. As a young boy, Leno saw his father sent to prison for the rest of his life and his mother die of a chronic illness. Leno bounced among foster homes, lost track of his siblings, and was on his own by the time his formal education ended in the eighth grade. As an 19-year-old struggling during the depression, he continually applied for a government WPA job. The recruiting supervisor advised Leno that his chances would be improved if he took the place of a person on the roster who hadn't shown up and who had a name that sounded "more American." Leno jumped on the idea and appropriated an absentee's name and position in order to land the job.

After his service in World War II, Leno became a travelling jewelry salesman. He soon discovered that the best salesman in his industry worked for Bulova, and Leno badly wanted to be part of the best. So he applied to become a "Bulova Man" every year for ten straight years, constantly being rejected because he did not have the requisite education. But now Leno was being given a chance. Bulova had decided to offer to the guy who had pestered them for ten years a dog territory that no one else would take.

Leno was thoughtful in responding to my "why" question. Here's a summary of the lesson I received from Leno that day - his thoughts expressed in my words:

For many, their security is limited to a position, a role, that has a clearly defined path. When things get rough, like now, they cling to their roles for dear life. Many who lose their cherished roles, even the most educated, just end up waiting for things to turn around. They have no capacity to think beyond the clearly defined path they know. They have a built-in excuse to slow down. They grow weaker, and everything gets harder.

With me, it's never been about roles or clearly defined paths. My security is rooted in the fact that I am an excellent salesman, one of the very best, and in my passion to always improve. I know how to push smart and hard in bad times so that I can survive and lay a strong foundation for better times. I know how to work well with all kinds of people, even the jerks. Especially the jerks. But, most of all, in the world of traveling salesman, I know how to constantly think smarter about what I am doing so that I can chart and navigate new paths that others don't even see.

Real success usually is a function of a person's capacity to think bigger and smarter about what he or she is doing. It's harder than it sounds. It takes passion and drive and a willingness to shed norms that shackle so many. But when this kind of bigger and smarter thinking becomes part of you, it takes over and empowers you to regularly rediscover how good you can be. It's much stronger than any position or role. In tough times like these, it's often the key for those who grow strong from adversity.

Most believe that I am crazy for taking this job. The path isn't clear for them. All they see are insurmountable risks. But I have thought hard enough about the situation to see far beyond the obvious. And I've never needed a clearly marked path. Armed with the Bulova line, I can make it happen in this territory.

Leno ended his lesson with two words: "Just watch."

Eleven years later, our law firm's mail clerk put on my desk the fanciest piece of mail that I had ever received. I could not restrain my exuberance as I read its contents. I was being invited to a gala event at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City where Leno Lechene would be honored as the "Bulova Man of the Year." It was an award given to the salesperson with the strongest territory in the company.

Why was I being invited? Well, you see, that true-blue American name that Leno had appropriated as a teen way back when to land that WPA job was "Charles Drake." Leno was my Dad.

Dwight Drake is an experienced planning lawyer, law professor, and business owner. He teaches business, tax and planning course at the University of Washington School of Law. He is the author of the PlainTalk Planning online educational service (http://www.plaintalkplanning.com/). For more information about Professor Drake and access to his other works, go to http://www.drakeplaintalkplanning.com/.

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Participation in Self-Development Seminars Provides Power To Achieve

The concept of self-development is not new. There are writings of it in Freud, Jung, and even 18thcentury moralists like Samuel Johnson. However, only recently, has the proliferation of the field of "self-help" literature, infomercials, DVDs, audio books, seminars and workshops taken us by storm. This has led to a concept that is so positive on its surface, yet quite difficult to navigate by those it seeks to help. Sorting through it all is a task that can prove to be daunting for those who are looking to development themselves.

We are far beyond the days of the East versus West authors such as Eckhart Tolle, known for his best-selling "The Power of Now," and kindred authors like Thich Nhat Hanh. The notion of life coaching in the area of books alone can fail to address the specificity of those seeking self-development. This is particularly true in the areas of depression or weight loss, for example. Where there is such a mass of data, that the information gets lost and the positive messages are hidden in soul searching of "why" and "what"; with the "what" developed through following regimes laid out in tight structures and journals. The other end of the spectrum is Rhonda Byrne's 2006 best-selling self-help book "The Secret". This drew praise and criticism alike from the self-development community. The criticism stemmed from its inapplicability to specific problems and a notion that only thinking good would attract only good; without providing enough direction to put something concrete into action.

The international success of Tony Robbins and other life coaches might also suffer from a similar problem of generality. However, what we have learned is that the seminars and workshops given by life coaches who really think and understand that audiences want connectivity really do work. Seminars and workshops that have true participation and involvement are intrinsically helpful to those seeking betterment in their day to day lives because they change the state of the attendees. Even corporate applications such as team building can benefit from various facets of this type of self-empowerment and state-change approach.

This isn't a new concept. It is in fact well-studied. For example, those suffering from anxiety or depression are often recommended group therapy by their psychiatrists or other qualified professionals in order to help tackle the difficulties of their condition. A support system hastens the pace of improvement, and encourages those who would not otherwise seek treatment to engage in a safe community of supportive peers. This works best when there are some attendees who can inspire others, either through direct shared experiences or by the nature of being able to handle comparable situations. The principles of cognitive-behavioral therapy in a group setting are not unique to depression or anxiety and can in fact be generalized to other areas of self-development - weight loss, self-esteem, the courage to start a new career. Many positive responses in all areas of life-changing experiences are grounded in empirical evidence, scientific studies and personal testimonials.

Attending a self-development seminar to help feel good about jump-starting that business you've always wanted to open is a tremendous way to make contacts, network with others, and most of all, appreciate just how many others are in your position. This helps to declaw the beast, so to speak. And this is where it gets interesting - seminars, workshops, and other public sources of self-development do not mutually exclude the books, CDs, DVDs, and other programs out there. Traditional forms of self-help, whether that means following a workbook or step-by-step DVD program, or even seeking the help of a therapist for biofeedback, hypnosis, and other forms of treatment can be used to support and supplement the attendance at a seminar or workshop.

The real meat of self-development comes from the will to overcome a problem or embolden one's drive and desire to improve. Seminars and workshops provide an enthusiastic and supportive environment. This situation can provide support for those who have questions, concerns, or doubts about the material they are working on in books and other areas; or can make people enthused to go and look for more in a particular direction.

It may sound counter-intuitive, but to develop one's self is to develop one's ability to work with others. To be able to look into one's own self in the company of others and to be enthused to believe that achievement is possible provides a very powerful setting to make changes. By engaging in a community of support and encouragement, the efficacy of any self-development regimen will experience a profound change in pace. What are you waiting for?

http://EzineArticles.com/6493946

Making the Right Decision

When and how do you know you're making the right decision? I am sure that's a question you've asked yourself many times in your life. Everyday we make hundreds of choices. From the seemingly small insignificant ones, to the big "life changing" ones, we always wonder in the back of our minds whether or not we just made the right decision.

You always hear people say to trust your intuition, or the saying, "go with your gut". I am a believer of these mottos also. Your first impression or intuition is always the best because it comes straight from the heart and hasn't had a chance to be tainted by all the non supportive thoughts floating around in our heads. Once our Ego gets a hold of the choice, it filters in our desire to perform and the views and mentality of our society. From there it is no longer pure. How many times does that little voice in your head comes in right when you're about to make a decision and add it two cents. It's there for every choice from, whether or not to enter a relationship or business deal, buying a car, which school to choose for your kids, where to go on vacation and even down to what we wear when we go out. Then after a few days, months or even years, that wrong feeling you had inside bubbles to the surface and has you questioning all over again, "Did I make the right choice?".

An example for me would be my most recent race in Utah. On the Sunday morning of the race it was pouring rain. Usually I am very good in the rain, so it was a chance for me to get some really good results against the competition. So my Ego really wanted to race and perform. However when I woke up that morning, I wasn't feeling so good inside about racing anymore. All night I had been plagued with dreams of crashing. These were in addition to a multitude of challenges and big business opportunities going on in my life throughout the past few weeks. I finally, for the first time in my racing career, forced myself to sit out and not race. I had come to the conclusion that I couldn't afford the time or energy that would come if I were to possibly crash. It was a measured concept "of Pleasure vs. Pain". The possibility of standing victorious on the podium was pleasant to my Ego, while the possibility of crashing and losing all my momentum with my speaking business, my book tour and any business opportunities with my investors, would have been more painful in the long term. So, we will never know how it might have turned out, but for me it was the right decision.

All decisions we ever make are the right ones. They happen for a specific reason. They're there to show us a lesson or teach us the value in something we need to see in our lives at that time. That may be to be more or less tolerant in our lives. To become aware if we are being too impulsive or resistant. They allow us to look at ourselves to see if we're being ourselves or looking to impress someone. What ever the lesson may be, it's there for us to get something out of it. So, the question remains, are we making the right decision? Whether you're following your first intuition or taking days to mull it over, the answer is: only time can tell and only you will know. Keep your eyes, ears and heart open for what follows and you'll always find your answer.

You can discover more about how to Win the Race of Life at: http://www.NadineRacing.com

Gratitude,

Nadine Lajoie

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Creating A Smarter To-Do List

Most productive people have a to-do list. They realized a long time ago that working from a list just makes a lot of sense. Being productive requires juggling a lot of tasks and projects on any given day. I'm not a fan of multi-tasking but, in the busy world most of us live in, keeping several balls in the air is a necessity.

If you agree that it makes sense to always work from a list, then it will probably make sense to also make sure you're working from a smart to-do list. A place where you've captured all those things that have to get done and those promises that need to be followed up on just improve the quality of your day. I'd argue that the health of your to-do list mirrors the health of your daily productivity.

Starting Point - Keep a Master Task List

The basic idea of a to-do list is to keep track of those things that should be done. Keeping a master list of all those projects and promises is the starting point for creating a smart to-do list. There's real value in getting ideas, projects and promises out of your head and onto paper as quickly as possible.

Ideas are funny things. If not captured quickly, they'll disappear quickly. Create the habit of writing down productive thoughts, important tasks and especially those promises in one central location, where you'll always know where they'll be.

Common Qualities of a Smart To-Do List

One of the benefits of capturing thoughts, tasks and promises is that you'll be able to sort out the important tasks from things that would just be nice to do, or those things that seemed like a good idea at the time but have now lost their luster.

Smart to-do's:
· Are actionable
· Are actionable in a short period of time
· Will move you toward completion of an important goal or project
· Are things you're responsible for - not someone else

Always Think "Next Action"

David Allen, in his classic book, "Getting Things Done," talks about the importance of "next actions." Those next actions are defined as "the next physical, visible activity that needs to be engaged in, in order to move the current reality forward."

Almost all projects require more than one activity in order to complete. Being able to break a larger project into smaller, more manageable tasks is one of the keys to creating a smarter to-do list.

The Formula for a Smart To-Do List

Remember that making a smart to-do list is important but the magic of the list is found in action - not in simply crafting a smart list. Accomplishment is about doing, not about dreaming. You can't wish your tasks to completion.

Use this formula to create a visual picture of how your tasks, and ultimately your project, will be completed. The formula is Verb + Noun + Date = a completed action. Here are a couple of examples: "Call Jim on Tuesday and schedule his performance review," or "Draft outline for XYZ project by noon today."

The more specific the task, the better and size the task, so it's doable in a relatively short time.

Creating a smarter to-do list is really quite simple. Start with a master list of all those things you have to do, want to do or have promised to do. Always think "next action" and break those projects down into manageable tasks that can be completed quickly.

Les Taylor is a professional speaker, author, consultant, and recognized expert in the field of personal improvement and professional development. Get several "free" performance improvement resources at http://www.achievement-solutions.com/ also, read interesting and entertaining performance improvement articles at Les Taylor's blog at http://www.gettingmorewithles.com/

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Interdependency - What Is It And What's So Good About It?

I always thought, and was always taught that being INDEPENDENT was what we should all be striving for. But Stephen Covey (author of: 7 Habits of Highly Successful People) tells us that that is NOT the most effective way to live our lives.

From the day we are created we depend on our mothers for our survival and from the moment we are born we begin the path of learning to do things for ourselves. It's a gradual process and if our parents are nurturing us in the right way, we will become more and more independent until we are eventually able to manage well on our own. But do we ever really manage completely on our own? Of course we don't but many of us still strive to manage on our own as much as we possibly can.

Stephen Covey tells us that whilst as adults we will ideally be "self-reliant and capable", he also tells us that we can achieve so much more with the help of others. Interdependency is what we need to have in order be at our most effective, NOT independence.

Now this sounds obvious doesn't it, but we often miss the obvious don't we? And I don't think we realise just HOW MUCH we'd be able to achieve if we pool our resources in the right way.

Rather than striving just to be independent, we should ideally strive to be EFFECTIVE. And we can't be as effective without each other. We can never possess all the character aspects and skills to do everything on our own so teamwork will always pay dividends whether it's in relation to your family, friends or your work.

Businesses are good examples of interdependency, they wouldn't be able to exist and flourish if they didn't employ people with the differing areas of expertise required to make their businesses function efficiently.

I work in the internet marketing world and that's one industry where interdependence is very evident. Internet marketers don't necessarily employ people to help them like a large company would, but instead, they "joint venture" with other self employed marketers who possess the skills that they don't have. It's a very constructive process and a win-win situation. These people are not paranoid about others stealing their secrets and their customers, but see things in a more positive light, instead they see that they can expand and share their knowledge, help others and reach a wider audience by promoting each other to each other's customers.

It's great to see people that are co-operating and building profitable working relationships rather than being possessive and paranoid about their knowledge, thinking that someone will steal it and ruin their business. Interdependency is simply a different and better way of thinking and behaving.

If you're someone who is used to having people look after you practically and emotionally, then you have some way to go as you won't be able to go straight from being DEPENDENT to being interdependent.

You have to have the inner strength of independence first in order to move on to being interdependent. By inner strength I mean that you know that your life is not controlled by what others will or won't do for you and how others feel about you.

It is from a position of inner strength and confidence that you are in a position to CHOOSE to let others help you and for you to CHOOSE to help others. You don't NEED each other as you know you can survive on your own, but you DO know that great benefits come from working together in a positive and constructive manner rather than in a dependent manner and that through being INTERDEPENDENT you will score your greatest achievements.

Interdependency requires another step up in inner strength however, as you must move away from wanting to be in total control. That can be very difficult for independent people at first. You now will have to hand over some of that control to others, along with your trust.

Helen is the author of the Richer Life Bulletin. The Richer Life Bulletin provides regular relevant information, tips and support with the aim of helping people who want to improve their lives. It is sent out free of charge. http://www.richerlifebulletin.com/

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What Is Success for a Blogger?

Blogs are everywhere on the Internet now. They're no longer restricted to free blogging sites like WordPress, Blogspot, or LiveJournal - almost every website has a blog now, whether they belong to indie online vendors or to major corporations. Blogging has become fairly easy thanks to the new software, websites, and scripts available online, and pretty much anyone can make a blog and claim to be a blogger. But are they successful bloggers? What is success in the realm of blogs?

Readership

When discussing successful blogs, most bloggers will talk about readership and how the number of page views and visitors can reflect the level of a blog's success. While a lot of bloggers can be the analytics and numbers, you have to remember that these statistics aren't the only things that matter. You could have a lot of people just staying on your blog and then leaving after a few seconds without even reading any of your content. So what is success for a blog if it's not just about numbers?

Having many readers isn't enough to call your blog successful; what you want is to have a lot of loyal readers. These are readers who actually come to your blog and stick around, bookmark your blog and keep coming back to it, or at least comment on your posts to show that they actually care about what you have to say.

Achieving Goals

There are so many kinds of blogs that it can be hard to pin down one solid definition of success for a blog. What you need to figure out is what your goal is in creating your blog. The answer to "what is success?" with regards to achieving a goal can vary from one blog to another. Whether it's something as easily attainable as just having an outlet for your thoughts or something more massive like becoming the number one authority on a particular subject, you have to find out what it is you want your blog to do for you, and drive your blog toward that goal.

Enjoying What You Do

What is success without happiness? Though it may sound cliché, it remains true even in the realm of blogging. If you find yourself dragging yourself up to your computer and forcing yourself to blog about things that don't even interest you in the slightest, then you can hardly call your blog or your work a success. While you pursue your goals and try to build up readership, remember to keep finding ways to make the blogging experience enjoyable for you, the blogger, as well.

For more tips on how to live a successful life, visit http://www.broderickenterprises.com/. Find everything you ever needed to know about achieving true success!

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How to Turn on the Light of Life

In the morning bath in wisdom so that you may start your day clean. Break your night fast on philosophy and understanding of what is required of you to pass the day. Invest your mind on thoughts to plant actions for the rest of the day. As you prepare to step out into the busy world take a piece of bread with you for this will provide life to you when you feel hungry. Ensure that you are clothed to welcome, attack and to defend yourself, so forget not to arm yourself also with knowledge and awareness but still beautified with peace.

In your travels across the plains of the world, be determined forever focused on your vision. Rest only to gather strength for the next step. Watch your company because you might attract thieves and conmen. Keep your purse close to your heart and your plans inside your heart. Do not ask directions from just about anyone but find someone who speaks your language, do not tell them your mission but tell them your path. When unsure of what to do in life tell the truth because truth is the easiest way to fool a person. Say a silent prayer when no one is looking so that you may maintain your privacy.

As you walk on the road of life, they will be detractors, people bent on seeing you fail. They will invite you into the comforts of their home, or offer you good food that you never had before, do not be fooled because it never really is yours, it is only a distraction. Remember all food is passed out at the end of the day and the house is not yours until it is in your name. In all your dealings say thank you, when they cheat you thank them for their time at least they did not kill you. Do not borrow what you cannot give back immediately otherwise your success will be ransomed for what you borrowed. Drink water for it is life's best thirst quencher but do not be drunk on substitutes for they may kill you.

Keep in touch with your friends but of all keep God as your best friend. Only run when you are confident and never stop when you are supposed to be moving. Once in a while look at the stars for you never know they might lead you to the birth of a king. Listen to the wind it might bring you warnings and news to guide you. Enjoy the rain and never curse it for it refreshes the weary traveler. Love the ground you walk on; and be thankful you are not buried in it. Be gracious to strangers for these might be angels. Welcome advice even bad advice but select carefully what you listen to. Look at the time daily for it is a reminder of where you are going. When you sleep, make sure you lock the door and close the window but keep your purse under your pillow. Watch others for surely someone is watching you.

Count your blessings and multiply them, never refuse a gift even if it seems not to have purpose during your journey. Do not keep old rags because they will only weigh you down, your greatest treasure is in heaven never forget that. Smile whenever you can it will make you younger. Laugh more it will bring peace to you. Greet those who come into your path but do not befriend them. Be silent when people around you argue but offer advice if it will save a life. Do not worry when a storm comes, it is nature's way of assuring you that you are still alive. Admire the trees for you might notice fruit to eat on your journey. Read a book, for inside every book is experience and knowledge. Do not be afraid to share your food but never share your ideas unless it is with a friend. Close your eyes to blink during the day and keep watching where you are going.

Remember my friend, in life you will meet fools but in their foolishness is a lesson of wisdom. Doors will be opened for you but remember to open doors for others. Practice daily exercise it will keep you healthy. The night is not a place of fear but a time of inspiration so use it wisely. Share your bed with your spouse only because that is your heart and body. Whichever place you leave make sure you leave it the way you found it or better than you found it, never leave it worse. Let your name be remembered only for the good and apologize for the bad. Reach out to the poor for this might be your door to success. Keep a journal with you and write all your dealings.

Finally my friend, make sure you always turn the light so that you may see your way. Carry a torch with you for the darkness can come swiftly upon the land. Your oil should always have a reserve because sometimes the nights can be long and you need to light your way. Never walk in the dark unless if God's light is leading you. Sleep in your room after you have seen that it is safe when you turn on the light. Never depend on other people's light for they may take it away from you, keep yours in case of emergencies. Always remember to hide in the shadow of God because He is the light you need. Trust me on this my friend, you can forget everything I have told you today but never forget to turn on the light.

Winston is the author of the book "You Have All Been Fooled", a ground breaking book about capability and ability that challenges your very perspective of life

http://jplan.wordpress.com/

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When Will It Be Okay To Give Up On Someone Who Is Chasing An "Impossible Dream"?

During some difficult times in the life of my business, I have found myself in need of people to believe enough in me to give me support. Quite often the needed support was in form of a willingness to simply avoid saying negative things to my face. Honestly, that would have been enough.

For the person going through hard times in the pursuit of a valued goal, nothing can make the process more difficult than having persons close to him/her, and who happen to be privy to the details of his/her suffering, resort to making insensitive remarks or lame attempts at humour!

Don't get me wrong, I am one person who is well aware of the need to be able to laugh at myself when I fall flat on my face in the pursuit of my sometimes crazy goals. Those who know me will attest to the fact, that I readily come up with humorous narratives based on temporary defeats I'm going through at a point in time, to share with others.

However, I strongly disapprove of some people who use such periods to launch criticism or even campaigns of calumny against the person experiencing adversity. Rarely do they do this for the reasons they offer e.g. "he's just making his wife and kids suffer for nothing by insisting on making it in this line of business".

Only few people who have deep levels of conviction are able to retain decent degrees of self-esteem, to continue, after being exposed to such orchestrated doses of negativity.

In my case, I am "lucky" to have been able to repeatedly turn my situation around for the better, by having "blind faith" and "refusing to recognise failure" - causing no small embarrassment to those who had questioned my abilities, and sometimes my sanity:-)

That's why I sometimes ask people: What would it cost you to keep your doubts to yourself, and offer only words of encouragement, support and even ideas, to a person who is courageous enough to embark on a life changing adventure, to achieve a seemingly impossible goal?

Think about it for a moment. Do many of us not often claim to love one another? If we really do, it should NEVER be okay to give up on others - especially not on those we can see have not given up on themselves!

I believe that if someone who believes so passionately in herself and her dream, in spite of what others consider glaring realities around her, continues to strive to achieve it, YOU (and others like you) can help by pursuing one of the following "more acceptable" lines of action:

a. Offer active support - Ask her what you can do to help the process. Quite often, it won't be money. It could be experience, or unique insight! If you have doubts, raise them in a manner that does not attack her self-esteem. Except what she aims to do is illegal or unethical, offering support in this manner should pose no problem to you.

b. Offer passive support - If you are like many others, who find it difficult to buy into other people's dreams or visions, but still care, I urge you to keep any "don't do it" suggestions to yourself. She is unlikely to welcome them. People who are driven to achieve highly challenging goals do not appreciate being told they cannot do it. She might need someone to talk to when things get rough. Be there for her.

So, How Will This Help?

Over time, your efforts are likely to quicken the progress towards success, and also ease the pain and suffering she is exposed to, until the breakthrough is achieved. At the very least, you get to look good whether or not the goal is achieved, and your relationship with that person will likely be enhanced.

In my experience, so many people try to give up on another person's behalf, especially when they know s/he sometimes needs their help for different things in order to keep working towards the goal.

But, I am of the experience based opinion, that it is not for you to reason whether or not progress is apparent! Make suggestions if need be, but keep them constructive. Most importantly, resist the temptation to try getting the person to be "reasonable, and find something more worthwhile to do".

As can be seen from studying the lives of many great achievers dead and alive today, the progress of mankind might just depend on people like the person(s) you support in this manner!

"The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man." - George Bernard Shaw (1856 - 1950), Man and Superman (1903) "Maxims for Revolutionists"

Self-Development/Performance Enhancement Specialist - Tayo Solagbade - works as a Multipreneur, helping individuals/businesses develop and implement strategies to achieve their goals, faster and more profitably.

Depending on his availability, Tayo accepts invitations to deliver customisable talks and keynote speeches (on Self-Development, Best Practice/Workplace Performance Improvement, Getting Maximum Benefits From Spreadsheets, Cost-Saving Farm Business Ideas, and Entrepreneuring) for an affordable fee. Call 234-803-302-1263 for details.

Visit http://www.tksola.com/ to subscribe to Tayo's Self-Development Digest newsletter (published monthly since June 2006). You get FREE copies of two new PDF reports written by Tayo, titled (a). Tested, Proven & Ready-To-Use, Ideas For Marketing Your Book At Zero-Cost; (b). There Are Different Types Of Public Speakers!(Subtitle: Introduction To Public Speaking For Business Marketing).

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Why Fear Increases Productivity

Fear increases productivity primarily due to its ability to instill a strong sense of purpose in people! Fearing the loss of anything we covet is one of the most intense motivating factors a person can experience! This motivation pushes you to focus your effort on doing whatever it takes to prevent your loss! Whether the fear is intentionally used such as in a work environment or the product of a random occurrence or event it strengthens your sense of purpose making your efforts more productive!

Let's look at the effect of how our fearing something can contribute significantly towards our efforts being much more productive!

Motivation

It is human nature when confronted with any type of fears to do whatever we can to make these feeling go away! This is quite frankly one of the most uncomfortable feelings to experience therefore it gives you an instant sense of purpose which is to extinguish the fear! Obviously having any type of fear will compel you to focus your effort on ridding yourself of it and in many cases by doing whatever it takes!

Focus

Fears or threats are typically something that gets our immediate attention! Just as typically is a persons reaction which is to take immediate measures to fix, solve or defeat the source! In this way the actions you take have a singular sense of purpose thereby increasing your focus and making your effort or efforts all the more productive!

Perseverance

Possessing the intense motivation and the keen focus we discussed above only serves to strengthen our resolve in order to accomplish our immediate goal! Nobody likes the uncomfortable feeling or the mental torment of being fearful of something and nor do they want this condition to persist! With that said doing what it takes and for as long as it takes is the normally adopted attitude people take to recapture their former comfort level!

Fear increases productivity in a way that may not be all that comfortable but it is very effective nonetheless! Facing the loss of anything we covet whether it is a loved one, income or even bodily harm is one of the greatest motivating factors a person can have for taking action to prevent the loss! Fearing anything strengthens our sense of purpose to do what it takes in order to rid ourselves of this fear. The discussion above shows the 'progression' we go through when faced with the potential loss of something we covet and how it will compel you into channeling your effort into avoiding the loss! In this way this particular emotion serves to make our efforts more purposeful and productive!

TJ Philpott is an author and Internet entrepreneur based out of North Carolina.

To discover more about what increases productivity in a person to improve your own performance and to also receive a free instructional manual that teaches valuable niche research techniques for your online marketing needs simply visit: http://affiliatequickstart.com/

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