Based on the events of my past 24 hours, there are a number of things I could do emotionally and physically to express my frustration. I could cry. I could beat the ground. I could throw things. I could yell and scream and curse. Any number of angry and aggressive overtones that may make me feel good temporarily, but won’t get to the bottom of any problem solving.

Instead I’m choosing to be thankful for what I have. I can breathe. I can walk. I can talk. I can drive. I have a good job that helps support my family. I have a loving, stable support system with my wife, my daughters, my family and my friends. I have a warm apartment to keep me safe from the chilly climate. There’s no sense in dwelling on the negatives because if I’m able to put one foot in front of the other and plan things out, everything will fall into place.

I have a 10 day vacation on my plate to be with the children. I’ll be able to get some things straightened out that need to be fixed, and also get the chance to just recharge my personal batteries and go into 2010 with some more gusto. I want to be able to balance my emotions with regulation, looking at things from a wider perspective so as to not get caught up in the moment when I’m feeling frustrated, scared or angry at the events surrounding me.

I trust that if I focus on what I need to take care of, the rest will fall into place. There’s no sense in sweeping my problems under the rug. Due to natural wear and tear, big ticket items can have setbacks and we just need to take care of them to make them last as long as you can. I’m thankful for the service station manager for instance who led me to another mechanic who can fix one of my problems with a sensor at a fraction of the cost I would incur going directly to a dealership. I made the point of discussing the problem, and by putting the word out in the right way I can save myself time, money and mileage to get the issue rectified.

If you live in a state of helplessness, whining and moaning about the problems of your world and then cutting people off in conversation when they offer advice, you are leading the life of a victim. I don’t want anyone to thing my life is a tragedy- because it’s not. That’s why I’m choosing to hold my head up high, tackle each item that comes up right then and there and work on solutions.

I had the chance to take in an interesting audio clip from Jack Canfield where a woman got 10 copies of a paper she needed photocopied at a store that doesn’t specialize in this (like a Kinko’s or Staples). She continued to ask the right questions which led her to the manager, and then the manager willingly tested 2 different photocopiers for her to see the quality difference, making 5 copies each of the paper she needed. When the test was done, the woman walked out the door with what she ultimately wanted- and didn’t accept ‘no’ or ‘we don’t do that’ as a final answer.

You never know if you can get a discount or an upgrade unless you ask. What’s the worst that can happen- you’ll be in the same boat whether you ask and don’t get it or you never ask. Put yourself in the right frame of mind and you’ll be surprised how much more you get out of life that you wanted.

I’ll keep asking for what I want. Have a great day and night!

Alan Cohen started me on my journey by driving out of the Dragon. “The Dragon Doesn’t Live Here Anymore” was, perhaps, the first book of this genre to light me up.

I’m signed up for his Daily Inspirations and they come every single day!  Without fail.  A good system he’s got there.  I imagine him directing all this from his lanai in Hawaii. Wonderful, inspiring quotations from a variety of wise sources.  There are some classics of course that ring true through the ages. But I want to say the ones that quiver my heart the most are Alan’s.

Why is that?  He has a grounded insight and way of expressing himself much like Jackson Browne in his venue.  Maybe it’s the male energy.  The women in this field far out number the men.  The men we do have, the likes of Jack Canfield, Wayne Dyer and Dan Millman are amazing.  But to every man I can name three or four women.

Alan gives a fresh spin on familiar themes.  He writes in clear, natural prose. The words are simple, but they harmonize on a whole different scale.  For instance, “The ego is infinitely complicated.  Love is infinitely simple.” or “Stop when it starts to feel like work.” It’s hard to argue with him.

A recent quote struck me: “You cannot surpass the current paradigm from within the current paradigm.  You must discover a greater paradigm and expand into it.” I had to think about that for awhile.  I came to understand that I have a  tendency to make adjustments to my current situation. Tweak this here.  See if I can enhance that . . .  If I could just make this turn the other way. But the truth, the real way to make changes is to take the broader view.  Take the roof off of it.  To change the vision, you need to imagine it again.

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about my paradigms, my stories, the way I see the world.  So much of it is leftover stuff from a time when I didn’t understand things as well.  Those beliefs saw me through some situations and changes that I may not have faired as well without.  But, here, now, today, things are different.  The mentality that served me well before no longer does.  And rather than try to “fix” myself, or change the story, I like this idea of dreaming a new belief system and moving or expanding myself into it.  It feels like a smoother and easier transition.  I can write a new story much easier than trying to fix all the broken spots in the old one.

from Gwen Bell’s Best of 2009 Blog Challenge

The Question:  What did you start this year that you’re proud of?

I recently started “Kniss Connection,” a weekly video series to kick start the week with a positive perspective. I spend a couple minutes talking about a particular topic each week; it’s quick and easily accessible.  I love the idea that, with today’s technology, there is potential to inspire and empower people all over the world.  If I can make even one person’s day a little brighter, or give them a tool to manage stress, or build rapport with others, then the whole thing is completely worth it.

It’s been a learning lesson for me too…  Not only am I getting to know more about video and sound editing software, but working on this project continues to poke my perfectionist buttons.  I’m a 7 on the enneagram, so I’m well aware of how easy it is to take on the negative qualities of a 1 – the perfectionist.  These videos provide a consistent opportunity to practice letting go and relaxing, instead of obsessing over every last detail of sound quality, background, what I said, etc…  I won’t even mention how long the first video took to create, with take after take, but now, it’s becoming a more fluid process.

Here’s the most recent video, in which I talk about an equation I learned from Jack Canfield’s Success Principles (E+R=O).

If you’re interested, you can subscribe to my YouTube channel and receive an email reminder when new videos are posted.

I’m reading a great new book by John Wooden regarding mentoring. John Wooden has won the most national college basketball men’s championships in the history of the sport. He’s had the longest winning streak in the history of the game and also had the privilege of coaching a couple of undefeated teams. But one of his greatest gifts he’s given to people have been the lessons of knowledge and experience he’s passed on to others through mentoring.

Not just basketball players or coaches benefit from his Pyramid of Success tool he’s developed. One of the concepts he talks about with basketball coach Roy Williams is the fact that if someone with experience and success offers to give you their time to gain knowledge and wisdom, you should take the opportunity when it shows up.

I’ve been lucky enough through the years to have business owners pass on wisdom to be about running a business, coaches who’ve helped me excel at bowling, and professors who were willing to take the time to break down and reconstruct my writing. I’m always up to ask questions of others who are more skilled, more knowledgeable and who’ve gone through a lot of the ups and downs of life that I want to learn from.

I believe you can learn from the moment you are born to the moment you pass away. If you are unwilling to grow, I do believe certain parts of you wither away from non-use. Every time my children experience something, whether it’s an excellent grade on a project that worked hard on or a punishment they receive as a result of making a poor decision in their life, I hope they take what happens, learn from it to grow in the right direction.

I found it interesting in the forward that John Maxwell would be willing to spend a certain amount of money for people he wanted 30 minutes of their time to ask questions of. When he would get people to accept, John would spend 10 times the amount of time he would get with the particular person preparing for this mentoring question and answer session. Don’t be afraid to ask these people out for a breakfast or lunch and probe their brains and be willing to take down their answers and implement their knowledge into your own habits.

I study the best writers, I continually read 3-5 books a week, I watch motivational DVD’s and video material, I listen to audio books and lectures/ seminars on my car rides to and from wherever I go. I take notes, I ask more questions and I’m willing to implement what is offered into my life. I think most of my successes have happened in my life by the Jack Canfield adage of preparation meeting opportunity. When you’ve learned a skill and can apply it with ease, you can achieve more faster than someone else who’s ill prepared for what may be placed in front of them.

I hope you think about this as we approach the new year. Everyone makes pie in the sky resolutions of what they want to achieve, but without research, preparation, the resources to achieve these resolutions and accountability, you’ll quickly fall back into the same routine you’ve always had, getting the same results you’ve always seen. Don’t you want to achieve more next year? Wouldn’t you love to be increasing your income and increasing your recreation time? How about improving the quality of your relationships both near and far?

Be ready to make this year a year of learning, a year of sharing, and a year of special outcomes. Good luck in the pursuit of all your hopes and dreams- I look forward to discussing these concepts more in the coming year.

mbark on a journey of expanded awareness Beyond Belief. This innovative film reveals the role beliefs and the subconscious mind play in creating your experience. Uncover the source of limiting beliefs which can stop you from having what you want.

Beyond Belief provides tools to release limiting beliefs and to remove obstacles that are blocking you. Discover the powerful resources you have buried inside. Unleash the power of your creative mind.

Wake up…to your dream life.

Beyond Belief contains interviews with some of the top authors, researchers, scientists, teachers, psychologists, personal transformation experts, healers, and spiritual leaders in the world. These experts join together in delivering a powerful message that will transform your life. Many of the experts in this documentary were featured in films such as The Secret and What the Bleep Do We Know.

Beyond Belief is an invaluable resource for anyone who truly wants to create the life of their dreams.

What a tough day in our household. Therapy day normally isn’t the most favored activity on my daughters’ schedules. They know they have to work out their pasts and also handle their present, but it’s not fun week after week listening to your own life story and juggling the ensuing feelings. I didn’t expect though that arriving home would cause the girls to just explode- and once again I had to be the peacemaker as best as possible.

I get the fact that my youngest wants the perfect family. Yet the crux of the issue lies in her lack of self-worth. She’s unwilling to follow easy instructions. She marches to her own beat when it comes to communication. She’d rather accuse you of having an issue than look within herself and witness the choices she’s making that are creating her current outlook on life.

How do you teach someone about love? It’s not an activity I believe you can merely gain superior knowledge in through a book. Is love something that we merely feel through our minds and hearts, or do you need total sensory experience through touch, through smells, through eyesight? How do you reignite the spark of trust when a person staunchly believes that they are unlovable?

I realize what also factors into the mix is the holidays. Adoptive children feel intense emotional overload surrounding traditions that emphasize the family. Thousands of doubts, fears and insecurities run through, particularly scenes of happiness as well as despair if something terrible happened during one of those Thanksgivings or Christmases.

When everyone went to bed, my wife and I reminded each other that changes will take place. Whether it’s additional outside support that will come within the home, or if certain members will have to go to other facilities to receive the treatment they need- love will still be present. It’s a shame when you see someone with so much potential who would rather go through life in a passive, non-committal manner than to put their whole heart, soul and body into the game.

It’s a wonder I’m not going crazy. I’m so thankful for everyone I have in my life that helps me stay sane. The gift of music to keep my ears buzzing, the greatness of bowling to throw my energy in a safe direction. The mind which pumps out thoughts that you are reading right now. The books that I read to learn, grow and share with others. I know as Jack Canfield has taught me that no matter what people may do or say to me, I know in my head and heart I’m still a worthwhile person.

The title of this entry may come from the title of the biggest Foreigner hit song, but my hope is that my youngest daughter takes another chance to learn about love from us. 4 years is a long time to stay on the sidelines and feel like you are all alone to face this world. When will that “a-ha” moment hit where she discovers that negativity continues to breed negativity, and that you aren’t permanently unlovable because of the early years of turmoil and chaos.

Wish me luck as the journey continues.

CLICK THE LINK BELOW TO LISTEN TO A GRATITUDE DIALOGUE WITH COURAGEOUS LOVING CO-FOUNDERS AMY AND MICHAEL SHERMAN

Have you ever experienced a Gratitude Bounce? What is a Gratitude Bounce? Let me offer you a real life example. It all began with me getting lost into some old negativity…

BEFORE THE BOUNCE: Amy and I were home, and something happened that upset me, and I went to a bad place and my bad place sent her to a bad place and those bad places got worse and suddenly the relationship started stinking like old, wet bananas.

SHIFT INTO GRATITUDE: I went to bed thinking, “My god, we’re better than this…” and I went back to the drawing board.  Keep things simple.  I listened to a some material on a Jack Canfield CD, talking about getting back to gratitude.  Waking up and putting your feet on the floor – Foot 1: “Thank.” Foot 2: “You.”  And then focusing all day on everything to be grateful for. What’s working?  What am I not paying attention to that is serving me?

GRATITUDE DIALOGUE: So I created a Gratitude Dialogue, that you can listen to above. Nothing to crazy, it’s something that integrates gratitude with being received by a partner.  In this way, the gratitude bounces back and forth against each other, inspiring the next piece of gratitude.  I’m grateful that my car is healthy.  She’s grateful that our daughter is healthy.  I’m grateful to have such a cool daughter.  Bounce, bounce, bounce, like playing catch.

MENTAL BOUNCE: So the results from all of this gratitude is a mental bounce – the two of us reconnecting, refocusing on what we notice and saying Thank You, again and again – it has led to a shift in my mood, and in fact, there’s been more rings at the phone for business.  Gratitude helps us get in the flow and we begin to give our gifts again as we are meant to.

Whatever we do or say with our partners bounces up against us like a ball.  What energy do you want to be bouncing?  If you experience a gratitude bounce, your mood will bounce upward, your relationship will rediscover positivity and your approach to business will give you a lift.   Find someone who will receive you – and then you receive them back. This is where the work grows roots.

I encourage you to experience a gratitude bounce as we go into the holidays!

Comments above!

Warmly, Michael Sherman, Co-founder of Courageous Loving.

FREE FEEDBACK RELATIONSHIP COACHING — Have your relationship questions answered by email.  Receive free, insightful and respectful feedback to any question you have about personal or professional relationships.  Take this survey – CLICK: HERE

SUPPORT INNER PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST! – Help us to bring healing Imago Dialogue

"Give Inner Peace A Chance" Bracelets

to Israeli and Palestinian couples, and bring them together for a powerful communalogue project.  Purchase a “Give Inner Peace A Chance” bracelet for $10 and we will cover the shipping.  All proceeds from the bracelets go to the Imago Peace Project in the Middle East. To learn more, CLICK: HERE.

Attract Money or Attract Abundance is a skill we all can learn.

I forgot to write about the free lessons you can get in the “Science of Getting Rich”.  Everybody has the right to live a prosperous life. If we don’t, something is wrong in our way of living. We can’t say the world is unfair or I have bad luck. That is not the truth. Just follow the link … Click here to FREE lessons … These FREE lessons will explain to you.

We always experience the world around us that we are thinking about or are expecting. If we expect a world evil to us, we will experience it. The more people that think the same thought make the world become as the thought.

Bob Proctor teaches us about 11 very important laws that are guiding our lives. In a video he talks about one specific law that really makes a difference for many people. Don’t miss this video clip… Click here to listen.

We can decide the thoughts we think and as a result make us attract Money, Wealth and Prosperity.

Read more at my homepage.

Klas Elo…

I found out over the weekend one of my favorite personal development speakers Jim Rohn passed away. I discovered him through the work of Anthony Robbins and Jack Canfield. I would listen to some of his audio material like Take Charge of Your Life and The Challenge to Succeed through orders I made courtesy of Success magazine. He may not be with us any longer in physical form, but his information will live on forever.

A farm boy from Idaho who would make his fortune in his late 20’s and early 30’s, Jim Rohn made his money through sales with Herbalife, and then took his knowledge on the road and spent almost 40 years giving talks around the world about business philosophy and personal development. His insights were sharp and his information priceless. He would be forceful when need be and also deliver stories with the right amount of care and concern.

One of his many famous quotes is the title of this entry. He wanted people to understand that gaining success is not a mystery- if you really want something, you need to study the process, ask questions, get around the right people and then apply the knowledge that you gain. A lot of times he would use examples from the Bible and real life interactions to illustrate key points.

He’s the one that reminded me that you need to keep a journal and capture the ideas and thoughts that happen every day. Don’t trust your mind to remember all the short term and long term movements- ink it and keep it on you forever. That way you can look back and possibly take the seed of an idea and let it blossom into something that could multiply your income 2 times, 3 times or even 10 times your current income.

I recommend that readers go put Jim Rohn into a YouTube search engine and look at some of this man’s famous clips. Go to your local library and see if you can get some of his audio materials. If you like what you hear, go to the Success magazine store and see what you can purchase. I wish that I could make even a fraction of the impact that this man has made on lives around the world.

In other notes for the day, I’m really touched that my oldest daughter wants to get me a really cool Christmas present. I mentioned to her that another of my favorite personal development authors/ speakers will be doing a special workshop in 2010 in our local area and that I would like to attend. She asked my wife if she could borrow some money to get my Christmas present. When she asked how much, my daughter said- “about $500.” She said that I deserve the chance to see this speaker, and she realizes how much self-improvement and personal development matter to me.

Don’t worry- I wouldn’t expect my daughter to do this. I plan on gathering the money myself to attend this special one day workshop- but the thought does blow me away. 7 years before she wasn’t a part of our lives, and I’ve touched her enough to see that she wants my dreams to come true. I guess the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree…

About a year ago, I was offered an opportunity to be a co-author in  Jack Zufelt’s compilation book called The DNA of Success Stories.  I liked his eclectic mix of authors and perspectives.  So many books on the topic of success are business related.  This book has some of those chapters, but it also includes stories about overcoming the odds, finding purpose in  life, spirituality with great advice and words of encouragement for the reader. 

I am one of two educators in the book and we share co-author status with Chicken Soup’s Jack Canfield and success guru Bryan Tracy: these two gentlemen are clearly recognized as successful speakers, authors and no doubt their bank accounts!  In The DNA of Success Stories, all 20 authors share equal status which allows the reader to to choose their own perspective on success.

My chapter recounts years of coaching and directing a high school band program.  I have experienced plenty of success as defined by wins, trophies and accolades, but my experience and thoughts on the topic have certainly evolved.  I call my chapter “Embrace Your Journey” and I know that those of us in education who do embrace our roles can really make a difference, influence lives and feel our purpose most days year in and year out.

I hope you will consider getting a copy of this new and affordable book for yourself and perhaps as a gift for a friend.  You can read posts regarding some of the chapters HERE or go straight to my shopping cart to purchase a copy at BUY

Educators – we “succeed” when we choose to earn a modest salary and measure our success in the happy, healthy lives of our students. I think we don’t stop often enough to realize our purpose and influence; it’s easy to get caught up in the day to day craziness of teaching, classrooms, standards, meetings, et al and lose site of the journey – I hope you embrace yours.

by Klas Elo…

Today it is not easy to get rich !! or ??  Is this the truth? I know there is a lot of people out there that always seem to be rich. These rich people sometimes get lost in our economy and seem to be bankrupt but after a couple of months they are back in track.

What is the difference between us ‘Normal people’ and the rich people. Bob Proctor, Jack Canfield and Michael Beckwith has ideas about it. They say there is a science known for several hundreds of years. We just have to learn how to use the law’s. Our universe is ruled by laws we all can use. We just have to learn how.

It seems like everybody has their own theory on how to survive the recession. A lot of stuff you’ll see across the internet and blogosphere is advice like:

1. Protect your job
2. Move while others are distracted
3. Earn extra money
4. Evaluate your mortgage
5. Refinance high interest credit cards
6. Reduce spending
7. Haggle your way to savings
8. Conserve and reduce your energy bills
9. Avoid taking on any unnecessary debts

I really could go on to reach 99 just to represent the saying, “99 ways to skin a cat”. But I won’t waste your time. I know you can Google it for yourself and find hundreds more advice from every Tom, Dick and Harry out there.

So let me get straight to the point.

With so many ways and advice, how come not everyone gets rich? How come not everyone who reduces their spending get rich? How come not everyone who has an education get rich? How come not everyone who starts a business get rich?

Because it’s not about what you do, it’s about how you do it. Cause while there are 99 ways to skin a cat, if you don’t do it RIGHT — whichever method you have chosen — it won’t bring RESULTS.

So what is the ONE right thing that you need to do to get rich?

Bob Proctor knows. And he wants to tell you that there is a science — a formula — to get rich. It’s about doing certain things in a certain way. And this blueprint has been proven to make anyone get rich across centuries.

So before you waste your time trying out 99 ways blindly, get this one formula that will transform your financial future.

To learn more – go to www.klaselo.se/thesgr/prod  and listen to Bob Proctor, Jack Canfield and Michael Beckwith when they talk about “The Science of Getting Rich program”.

 /Klas Elo…

We live in a different economic climate these days. Some states in the USA are reporting double digit unemployment numbers. Even if you do have a job, many of us this year have seen health insurance costs passed on to us, raises suspended or frozen, and others having to take some unpaid furlough time or risk being laid off. It’s very easy to be swayed into thinking there’s no hope for your future and that we will be stuck in these recession times for years.

I went through the same feeling during my college years of the early 1990’s. I worried about finding the right career after obtaining my degree. I realized quickly that if you really are sincere about who you are as a person and get to know others through your lifetime (plus make a regular habit of keeping in contact with them), your chances of survival are much higher.

Luckily for me, I continued through my college career developing my own deejay business with my best friend and partner. We pooled all of our extra income back into the business, updating our look, our equipment and continually striving to offer the biggest production at the best prices. When I finished college I started on a path of teaching- obtaining an emergency private school job in my town thanks to the headmaster of the school following my career. I made an impression not just working in his cafeteria for four years, but also through my work in the community and my academic accolades.

When I moved into my current work at a hospital, my father-in-law gave me the heads up about an opening on the overnights. I spent years debating whether I wanted to work at this particular place of employment- but knew that now would be the right time to do this because of our child care needs. When it comes to adoption, I didn’t want my daughters to spend a long time getting to know us or form attachments. Being that they were older children, we knew the road would be harder and bumpier- so I felt it would be easy for one of us to be at home with the kids when they got home from school. I’ve never regretted the decision- I love my work, I love my wife, I love my daughters and I think they are growing up to be wonderful young ladies as a result of the security and consistent parenting models they receive.

You can always do something to move you in the direction of your goals. If you don’t have the dream job you desire, find someone who’s working in that field and ask them for advice about the skills and people they need to know to get into that field. I’m going to take some advice from Jack Canfield that he posed in the January 2010 issue of Success magazine. He believes this year everyone should take one new activity they’ve never done before and spend 30 consecutive days doing that activity. Some of his ideas include: 30 minutes per day of aerobic exercise, reading 30 minutes a day in the personal development/ self-help field, call one of your children on the phone, drink 10 glasses of water per day, and so forth. Imagine how much stronger you would be in mind, in body, in spirit, if you added 12 new life skills to your personal balance sheet?

Now is the time to take matters into your own hands. There are universal principles that apply in any time period to make things better for your life. Study people who made their success in tough time periods of life: especially the great depression of the 1930’s and 1940’s. It’s so easy to put the blame on the government, on your parents, on where you live, or any other external circumstance. Take the time to look within yourself and I bet if you spend more time working on yourself, the ideas and goals you need to accomplish to get further ahead will be staring at the mirror in front of you.

Mother Teresa once said, “There is more hunger for love and appreciation in this world than for bread.”

I think this is such a powerful statement because appreciation and gratitude is such a powerful tool, and when people are appreciated, it brings about a huge sense of accomplishment, value, power, and happiness to their life.

The great part about appreciating others is that it’s so easy!

So, who have you appreciated today?

I’d like to encourage you to think about who you have (or haven’t) appreciated lately. Take just a minute or two to write people’s names down…and the next time you see them, make a point to appreciate them for the blessings they bring to your life.

I know I make this point frequently and Jack Canfield probably reaches more than I ever will in my lifetime, but that doesn’t make the message that less important for today and tomorrow!

So, who have you appreciated today?

We have 24 hours in a day, yet feel like we can never accomplish everything we desire in that time frame. It’s so easy to procrastinate, put things off and wait until someone else comes along to give us that push to action. Why do we struggle with self-motivation? To take a page out of Shakespeare’s world with a minor substitution, to do or not to do can be the statement that sends your world to new heights or keeps your life in stall out mode.

When I first started living on my own in college, I learned that the professors give you a syllabus for the semester that outlines when papers, quizzes, tests and projects are due- along with percentages of what your grade will be based on. They won’t tell you how to manage your workload amongst all your classes. They won’t be urging you on to get that book read, that paper written, the studying you need to put in for the big mid-term or final. It’s all left up to you. If you didn’t develop good study skills in your formative years, you’ll certainly have to develop the mindset in college to know how to manage your time effectively- or you’ll be swimming in stress and possible failure.

It was at this point that I learned to break tasks down into smaller chunks, and understand that if I have 20 books to read in a semester, I need to look at how much I can realistically accomplish each day as well as fitting in my normal daily living activities, socializing, meal times and adequate sleep. I would write out daily and weekly to do lists and cross each off as they were accomplished. If I needed assistance in the form of studying for tests, I would seek out teaching assistant or my professors during their office hours. I worked on teamwork to get the material embedded in my head- so we would form study session groups in our dorm.

I wasn’t very good at waiting until the last minute to accomplish major 15-20 page papers. I often volunteered to be first when it came to class presentations- because I felt my preparation and attention to detail would be a good barometer for my classmates to aspire to. If I want to accomplish my dreams, I know I have to be one to come up with the desire, the plans, writing it down, breaking it up into manageable tasks and then taking each step forward every day to achieving my goals.

So I’m urging you to develop lists called “To Do Now”, starting with your most difficult tasks at the top and working your way down to your easiest tasks. If you aren’t able to accomplish something that day- transfer this task to your “To Do Now” list for the following day. Write out what you want to accomplish the night before you go to bed- it will give you the impetus to know what you have to get going on when you awake. If you need some inspiration in the morning, seek out the comfort of positive material from Success magazine or authors such as W. Clement Stone, Napoleon Hill, John Maxwell, Brian Tracy, Deepka Chopra, Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, Jim Rohn, Denis Waitley, T. Harv Eker, Marcus Buckingham, and hundreds of others. Look in the mirror and reflect on how wonderful, special and unique of a person you are. You have talents and abilities the world needs in their lives everyday- so shine like the bright beacon of light you are.

You don’t want to look back at the end of the year and wonder where the time went- you want to feel like you have more to offer to this world and can’t wait to tackle each day with gusto.

Avvertenza: se è la prima volta che vi imbattete sulla legge dell’attrazione universale e volete conoscerne il segreto, dovete leggere prima l’introduzione e proseguire in ordine con i vari capitoli, altrimenti sarà dura poter capire bene come stare meglio! Introduzione.

Pensate ad un’auto che viaggia nella notte, la luce dei fanali illumina la strada solo per cento metri, eppure potete percorreremigliaia di chilometri guidando nella notte perchè vi basta vedere i cento metri davanti a voi. E’ così che la vita si snoda, e se crediamo che dopo questi cento metri di strada i fanali dell’auto illumineranno i prossimi cento, la vita continuerà ad illuminarsi fino alla vostra destinazione, otterrete qualunque cosa vorrete solo perchè la volete!

“Salite il primo gradino con fiducia.
Non occorre vedere tutta la scala,
salite il primo gradino.”
M.L.King

Un’altra cosa che la gente si chiede è quanto tempo ci vorrà, quanto tempo occorrerà perchè si manifestino quell’auto, quella relazione, i soldi o qualunque cosa sia. Non esiste nessun libro d’istruzioni che dice se ci vorranno 30 minuti o 3 giorno oppure 30 giorni, dipende soprattutto da quanto voi siete sintonizzati con l’universo. Le dimensioni delle cose non contano per l’universo, sul piano scientifico non è più difficile attrarre qualcosa che per noi non è più enorme piuttosto che attrarre qualcosa che hai nostri occhi appare infinitamente piccola. L’universo fa tutto quello che fa con uno sforzopari a zero. L’erba non fatica per crescere, lo fa senza sforzo, è il grnde disegno. Dipende da tutto quello che succede nella nostra mente, da come vediamo le cose, se pensiamo che il tempo è proporzionale alle dimensioni del desiderio ci sbagliamo. Per l’universo non esistono regole, inviategli la sensazione di avere quello che volete e lo avrete!

Molti hanno più facilità con le cose piccole perciò è meglio cominciare con qualcosa di piccolo, un caffè per esempio, datevi l’intento di attrarre un caffè ogg. Provate ad immaginarvi di parlare con un amico che non vedete da molto tempo. Per un motivo o per l’altro qualcuno vi parlerà di quella persona. Quella persona vi chiamerà o avrete un suo messaggio.

“Molti si meravigliano di come riesco a trovare parcheggio, è sempre stato così dal giorno in cui ho capito il segreto. Mi basta visualizzare un parcheggio libero nel punto in cui io lo vorrei è il 95% delle volte lo trovo li pronto per me. Il 5% delle volte aspetto un minuto o due prima che qualcuno mi liberi un posto. Funziona sempre.” David Schirmer.

The Key Influencing Factor in your performance at work is not your skills, your status, your experience. It isn’t even who you know, or who knows you. All these things are important, but there is something fundamental that is required to make all these things attain value. It is your Self-Esteem.

When we feel that we are adding value to our organization and that the value is created as a direct result of ourselves and the collaboration with colleagues, we have a healthy self-esteem. There is a direct link between the results of our performance review and how highly we believe that our work has caused good external results (sales, volume, customer satisfaction, etc – the things that our objectives are measured against).

So it’s no wonder that the people who are seen to perform the best are the people who appear happy, confident, charming and relaxed.

Get this: Some people think that it is the reward of great performance that creates these things in people. But it is the other way around – these things create the great performance.

In fact an acquaintance of mine who considers himself to have experienced some bad luck lately looks at my own personal success and reward as falling into my lap. He is a skeptical, generally negative person who tends to see the bad in things before he looks for the good. He sees the happiness I exhibit being a result of my rewards (e.g. bonuses). It has been tough to explain that one leads to the other, but not in the way he thinks.

Perhaps he is right, to a certain extent. My belief in myself and high self-esteem must have started somewhere – perhaps by encouragement from my parents or a mentor – but the difference between me and him is that I deliberately shift myself into a ‘virtuous cycle’ where every success creates further opportunities to grow, learn and take on new challenges with confidence. My self-esteem is both a cause, and an effect!

I was looking around to see what is available for people who have a nucleus of enlightenment that their own self-esteem can be a cause and effect too, but are not sure how to develop it. The ACE Your Performance Review Crash Course doesn’t really help in that space.

Instead, I found an excellent course on DVD by Jack Canfield (author of Chicken Soup for the Soul, and The Success Principles) who talked me through his ‘proven recipe’ to approach the building of self-esteem. I was on the road for a few days, so I whacked it onto my iPod and off I went. I was totally engaged – mostly because it shares real stories from real people – so it’s easy to relate to it. Especially as Jack Canfield is humble and down-to-earth. There isn’t a shade of consultant-speak (which I abhor!)

It is very inspirational for people on all stages of their enlightened journey.

If you’re ready to take your journey, this is what you’ll learn:

• BUILD YOUR SELF-ESTEEM HIGHER THAN EVER
• CHANGE YOUR RESPONSES TO CHANGE YOUR OUTCOMES
• TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES
• CREATE A VISION AND FIND YOUR PURPOSE
• CREATE MORE BALANCE & LIVE A MORE FULFILLING LIFE

Perhaps the short statements above don’t do it justice…

Jack Canfield – Peak Performance Principles – How to Boost Your Self-Esteem and Discover Your Purpose – Personal Development DVD Training Video

It’s not just a phenomenon. It’s not just a fad. For many its a way of life… a way to envision and focus on what you want. Lately, Dream Boards, also known as Vision Boards, have become very popular. It could be due to the popularity of The Secret, Oprah’s continued discussion around the importance of these visionary tools, or just the Average Joanne who places her goals on a wall that she come in contact with daily. Regardless, Vision Boards are becoming the norm as they are helping people attract their goals.

How?

Well, Jack Canfield co-author of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series, credits these boards to his successful career. In his guide, Key to Living the Law of Attraction, Canfield stated, “Visual images and pictures will stimulate your emotions, and your emotions are the vibrational energy that activates the Law of Attraction.”

It’s not magic or anything like that, so don’t be afraid of it. It’s simply a visionary tool that allows you to focus your energy and attract what you want. The purpose of the Vision Board is to attract your goals and dreams to your life by surrounding yourself with images of what you want to become, where you want to live, what you want to have, etc. It is a form of visualization – where you envision your dreams.

It’s very simple to create. All you need are a few magazine cutouts, photos, pics from the internet – basically any image that speaks to you. You should also include some inspirational phrases, affirmations, etc. Take a look at my Vision Board. You’ll notice a lot of fitness and athletic images. I even have an image of my blog in an E-Zine format. And of course I have an image of a home similar to the one my family will soon live in (That’s actually Will Smith’s house- but hey I can dream big. That’s the purpose of the Dream Board).

There are a few alternatives to using boards. Some people use books, some create them online. Oprah actually has a desktop application where you can create your own Vision Board, making it more portable than using posterboard. Oprah’s O Dream Board

Most importantly, have fun with it, and allow your Dream Board to change as you grow. Feel free to leave feedback or share your stories.

In The Success Principles (which I highly recommend) Jack Canfield mentions how his friend Martin Rutte told him that whenever he wants to bring in new business, he thoroughly cleans his office, home, car, and garage.  “Every time he does, he starts getting calls and letters from people who want to work with him.”

That got me thinking about the state of my home office.  If it’s the epicenter of my work and creativity in my home, it would serve me to get organized and allow the flow of energy a clear path.

Then, in a completely unrelated conversation with my awesome astrologer friend Tony Howard, he mentioned that it might be helpful for me to consider how, in Japanese culture, great care is taken in the placement and order of every item in their home.

All of this within the last few days.  Hmm… noticing a theme?

And then, in a conversation last night regarding Napoleon Hill’s Think and Grow Rich, someone mentioned this line:  “Resolve to throw off the influences of any unfortunate environment and to build your own life to order.”  He may have meant order as in made to order, but the first thing that came to mind was ORDER, i.e. the opposite of chaos.

This is how the universe teaches me… through the people in my life and the material I read.  It shows me the same lesson, time and time again, in a different presentation, until I get it.  My job is to listen, learn, and take action.

Done!

As Napoleon Hill writes in Think and Grow Rich,

“Our brains become magnetized with the dominating thoughts which we hold in our minds, and, by means with which no man is familiar, these “magnets” attract to us the forces, the people, the circumstances of life which harmonize with the nature of our dominating thoughts.”

Just like what The Secret by Rhonda Byrne has taught or in the words of Jack Canfield and many others, “Since “like” attracts “like,” you attract the things you like or want.”

So basically, we have to be in a “Money Consciousness” – Napoleon Hill

We have to think about money in order to attain money. Easier said than done, I’ve known this for a while yet I still have trouble keeping my money consciousness…  (practice makes perfect) All of us have to build an obsessive desire to Money.  (note:  this is honest money, not dishonest money.  The money we think about is money coming from the good products and good services we provide.

A big part of LifeStyle Living is having the kind of lifestyle we truly want to live.  Such as having a big house, a nice car, a great spouse, great kids and most of all true happiness.  In the 21st Century, freedom to do anything we want is bought by money.  Money gives us freedom, especially time freedom and this is a good thing!!!  So we must be in a money conciousness to be a money magnet!

I was on one of our team calls the other day – call the Millionaire Training Circle (Ya, that’s an awesome name!)  and after the call was done I really felt that I needed to share with you the secret formula.

Are you ready?  Pen’s out…  This formula will get you anything you want in life.  It can also be a little brutal because your results according to this formula will also tell you what you were really committed too.

Okay here it is:  I + M = R

I= Intent 
What are you really committed to.  What is your intent.  If you’re intent is to become a millionaire through network marketing then NOTHING will stand in your way right?  If your intent is to be a wonderful spouse, or an amazing parent, or the best auto mechanic on the planet – Intent is where it starts. 

M = Mechanism
Okay, Mechanism is your chosen vehicle to get you where your going.  If you’re intent on becoming a millionaire your choices are infinite.  Millionaires come from every background, every race, every country… and on and on.  Network Marketing is nothing more than a mechanism to help you on your journey to become a millionaire.  (It also happens to be one of the least risky, most leveraged, highly proven wealth mechanisms available to you and I)

R = Results
Results are what you get after you’ve applied your real true intent to your chosen mechanism.  Results are results – meaning they don’t lie. Results are often harsh but always true.

Look at your life, where you are right now, and reflect on how you got there.  Example, I have people who have signed up on my team and they tell me they want to go to the top…. however, about 3 months into the game they quit?  Why, because their true and real intent was not to go to the top but rather to “give it a try” to “see if it works”.  It’ll never work with that intent!

I don’t care what you’re doing in life – if you’re going to get to the top of anything - especially network marketing – your commitment has to be absolute, resolute, and unbending.  On Jack Canfield’s CD series “The Success Principles”  I learned this mantra that I use every day, “No matter how are it gets, now matter what happens, I will succeed!” 

It takes Iron will to make it to the top! 

Here are my final thoughts on the secret formula to getting anything you want in life – it is all about your Intention!  There are an infinite number of mechanisms to get the results you want – what it really takes to get to the top is 100% intention!  

I’ve found this to be an invaluable tool to examine my life and the results that I’ve achieved so far.  I hope it is a blessing to your’s as well.

Have an awesome day!

Justin