90 Day Goals

Goals: What Would You Like to Accomplish in the Next 90 Days?
By Jeff Herring

"What would you like to accomplish in the next 90 days?"

That's the question I often ask of my coaching clients or seminar members as we begin to set goals.

Once you have answered that question, here are 10 steps to get there.

1. Ninety days

Choose something that you would like to accomplish or change within the next 90 days. Ninety days is a much more manageable length of time than a year and allows us to enjoy reaching our goals more often.

2. What to subtract

What is currently in your life that you would be willing to commit to not being there 90 days from now?

3. What to add

What is currently not in your life that you would be willing to commit to having in your life 90 days from now?

4. Choose one

Whether it is something to remove from or add to your life, pick just one thing to accomplish in the next 90 days. While it's great to have as many goals as you might want, it's best to choose just one thing to focus on.

5. Write it down

It does not matter how strong your memory might be, it's still not as strong as the weakest ink. There is power in writing things down because it reminds you of where you want to go. So when life gets busy and stressful (as in most of the time), you are much less likely to get distracted long enough to lose your focus.

6. Find a model

Find people who have done what you want to do and follow the trail they have left. Success always leaves a trail that if we learn how to follow can save us frustration and time.

7. Create a map

If you wanted to travel across unfamiliar territory you would consult a map. Here are the two most powerful steps to creating your own map. Ask yourself "What are all the necessary actions I need to take to get to where I want to go?" and write down the actions you decide on and follow them. Doing this allows you to:

8. Be consistent

It's rarely one big effort that helps us achieve our goals. More often, it's small consistent actions taken each and every day.

9. Schedule a future action

Whatever your goal may be, right now, today, schedule a future action that anticipates the completion of your goal. If you want to get rid of a certain amount of weight, schedule a shopping trip to buy the clothing that will fit on that day. If your goal is to save or invest a certain amount of money, fill out the deposit slip now and schedule time on that future date to make the deposit.

10. Maintain and celebrate

Once you accomplish a goal, it's all too easy to cross the finish line and stop doing all the things that got you where you wanted to go. We need to keep doing what has worked, and perhaps do even more of it.

While you are doing this, celebrate.

One of the best things about achieving goals is celebrating how far you have come. It's fun, and it builds momentum for the next 90 days.

For more tips an tools on goal setting and goal getting visit Tools for Successful Living

Abundance or Scarcity?

Abundance or Scarcity: What Belief Do You Choose to Engage?
By Leanne Hoagland-Smith

For the last several years, I have included on my email signature the following salutation “Peace and Abundance.” This is a daily reminder that my success begins with how I engage my beliefs. For I know that it is my beliefs that drive my behaviors.

During a conference, one of my mentors shared a very simple exercise that I now use with my clients to demonstrate the power of how our beliefs guide what we shall receive. He asked those in the audience to take a sheet of paper and on the left side write the letter B for Birth and on the right side write the letter D for Death.

Upon completion of this task, he then asked, “What was in between?” Answers varied from life to troubles. In his coy and quiet southern accent, he acknowledged every answer as being good, but not quite the one he was seeking. Eventually, he stated that what existed in-between birth and death was “just a matter of inconvenience.”

How many times have you visited the local gas station in the morning, swiped your credit card and upon completion of filling your tank, you failed to receive the requested receipt? The electronic message is displayed, Please see cashier. Maybe, if you were like me, you stomped up to the cashier’s counter with not the most pleasant face and waited in line.

As you waited, you looked to your watch and counted the minutes that this delay was costing you. Then, maybe, you gruffly said something like “The pump said I needed to see you for the receipt” or “My receipt didn’t print!” The harried cashier printed out the receipt, you grabbed it, quickly mumbled “thank you” and walked out in a huffy hurry. As you entered your car, you were still very upset and those thoughts stayed with you most of the day.

Now, by engaging a mentality of peace and abundance, where we accept that we will face daily inconveniences, life begins to change.

Yes, machines still fail to print receipts. However, now when you enter the gas station, you receive a smile from the cashier because you engage the belief that this is ‘no big deal.” Your attitude of peace and abundance has infected the cashier and she offers you a free coffee as well as an apology for your inconvenience.

You calmly walk back to you car, receipt in hand and accept this minor inconvenience for exactly what it is – a minor inconvenience. You choose not to engage in a mentality of conflict and scarcity. The day begins with peace and abundance. Just imagine how far everyday you can go by engaging beliefs of abundance instead of scarcity?

Personally, I can attest that since engaging these positive beliefs of peace and abundance, I have received not only the pleasure of a smile, but offers of free coffee and even money. However, what is really incredible is that I now begin the morning engaged with myself and in control of what I allow to affect me.

As always, the choice is yours to make and yours to live with.

Copyright 2005(c) Leanne Hoagland-Smith, www.processspecialist.com

Leanne Hoagland-Smith, M.S. CEO of ADVANCED SYSTEMS, is the Learning & Process Specialist. With over 25 years of business & education experience, she helps her clients to double their performance through the implementation and realignment of processes. By uniting systems, strategies and people to create loyal internal customers, Leanne delivers ROI solutions in 4 key areas: financials, leadership, relationships and growth & innovation within a variety of industries.

As co-author of M.A.G.I.C.A.L. Potential: 7 Capacities for Living an Amazing Life Beyond Purpose to Achievement due for 2005 release, Leanne speaks nationally to a variety of audiences. Please contact Leanne at 219.759.5601, leanne@processspecialist.com or visit www.processspecialist.com if you are seeking unheard of results.

Never Quitting Equals Success

Never Quitting is an Attitude
By Peter Viliamu

Never Quitting Equals Success
Most people who achieve fortunes in the world are not born rich but everyone on earth has the opportunity to be successful and prosperous. Success basically comes to those people who will not quit and who strive until they achieve their goals.

There are many, many stories of financiers and businessmen who without any formal education strive to overcome their difficulties and went onto be highly successful and in some cases famous. Some people strive towards achieving one single goal in their lives and many attain that when they are still young. However, others are prepared to risk everything to be successful even if it means high risk involving new ventures or new adventures.

Malcolm Forbes, the money magnate, used to say that it was "never too late to learn". Forbes said that he learnt to ride a motorcycle when he was 50 and to fly balloons when he was over 50. This tells us that whatever your obstacles you can be as successful as anyone else if you are prepared to never quit.

Your Attitude Makes the Difference
For success in a business or in fact anything there's one thing you especially have to factor in: - YOU. Your attitude and your approach to things determine absolutely what you will get. Many years ago, Henry Ford summed it up perfectly - "Whether you think you can, or whether you think you can't, you are right."

Focus on the Positive
Successful business people develop their positive attitudes because they feed on progress. At the end of the day, instead of dragging up all the difficulties and problems that you have that day, look at what you have accomplished. Write down the two most positive things that you have achieved that day and congratulate yourself on those positive conclusions.

You can always end each day on a positive note by taking note of the things you have achieved rather than by focusing on the things you wish you had achieved. It may be things that happen to you or people around you or events that proved advantageous to you.

There are probably things that no one else knows anything about because they were achieved quietly during your day. So, you may be the only person to give yourself a pat on the back by acknowledging that you made progress however small. Always retain a positive attitude in your business and personal life because the characteristic of being positive is one that most successful people possess.

A positive attitude does not come by accident. It is something that involves your personal choice of how to react. It is easy to react in a negative manner and decide to give up. Just remember it is just as easy to choose the positive manner and tell yourself that there is hope, that tomorrow is yet to come and that what you failed to do today you will be able to achieve the next day.

Highly successful people know how to create a positive attitude for themselves. They don't just wait for it to arrive. By assuming a positive attitude on the things that happen in your business and personal life your confidence will be restored and your sense of hope will be increased. This will allow you to have a new perspective on life and encourage you to have the attitude of never giving up.

When you fall, do you get right back up? Do you learn from your mistake and move on? Or do you kick yourself so hard in the butt that you just mope around for days in your Pj's and wonder why you're so miserable? The more mistakes you make, the more you learn. The more you learn the more you grow and the more likely you'll be a future bright star in the sky.

The old saying "if you don't quit, you'll make it" still holds true.

Copyright 2005 StartRunGrow
www.startrungrow.com

StartRunGrow is a global online information organization that specializes in creating, developing and marketing business help information specifically with the aim of "making business easier" for entrepreneurs around the world. The StartRunGrow objective is to become a dominant player in the business help arena providing end to end solutions for the millions of small and medium businesses worldwide who continue to struggle daily with the difficulties of starting, running and growing a successful business.

Fall Into Love With Your Life!

Life Purpose: How To Be in Love with Life
By Bernice Lupo

Falling In Love with Life . . . There is no feeling in the world like the feeling of energized, on purpose living.

Have you ever been in love? You smile easily, you lie in bed for a little longer in the morning letting yourself dream and everything you do seems to have more color, more depth. That’s a lot how it is when your life is doing what you know it should be.

You fall in love with your life.

1. You only have eyes for what matters.

When another person fills your head, your heart sings and your brain is always returning to the face, the smile, what captivates you about her or him. Each time your thoughts come back to that person throughout the day, you sense a little jump deep inside you. Someone who is very dear to me has recently found herself swept off her feet and she’s in her 40’s! She laughs away her inner glow by saying, “I feel like a teenager again!”

When you are in love with life, you become enamored with your Life Purpose. You know why you exist, you know where you want to go, who you want to be. The result is like an electric undercurrent that never stops. No matter what you are doing or encountering through the day, you constantly return to purpose. It’s yours. It’s who you are and out of that comes unending ideas and a steady flow of creativity. How often I wake up in the morning excited to put into action the ideas that have come to me as I stir out of sleep and remember why I am who I am.

2. You easily set out your priorities.

It isn’t difficult to decide what to do when you are totally smitten with someone. I’ve watched romance blossom between my two daughters and the men of their dreams and it’s tough to decide to do an activity that doesn’t include their company! Being together makes everything more exciting.

When you are in love with life, you know what it is that brings you a sense of wellbeing. And you don’t let much interfere with that. If you find yourself being pulled off target, you reassess in light of your true values. Nothing appeals more than spending the majority of your time and energy on what you have determined is yours to hold.

3. You find that you are much more present in whatever you do.

The feel of her hand in yours, the soft look in her eyes, the sound of her voice – these absorb you when you find yourself totally alone with the one you love. You guard that time, cherishing it as priceless. You are completely immersed in each other undistracted by anything else.

When you are in love with your life, you have the ability to be there when you need to be. What does this mean? How often have you carried on a conversation with someone and found yourself unable to respond intelligently because you haven’t been listening? You were not really there with that person – your mind was somewhere else.

Being at peace with your top priorities means that you can be focused on whatever you are doing. Your mind doesn’t need to wander because you know that you have time set aside to pursue your most important activities. It also means that you are intentional about what you are doing so that you can give yourself permission to set everything else aside except for what presently occupies you.

Time with your kids becomes time with your kids where you watch and truly listen to them. Your heart almost explodes during moments when you know that this is part of what you want your life to be. Building relationships with them is your major concern at this precise moment overriding whatever it is that could be distracting you.

4. You know that you stand out.

All of us are made with a deep desire to be loved, to be chosen. Having someone “choose” you fulfills a subconscious need which creates an inestimable sense of worth. There are moments when you discover someone is in love with you when you would move the earth for them if you could.

Having a purpose is a lot like this except for the fact that it lasts longer than the feelings of romance being in love with another person brings. When you know that you are “chosen” for a specific intentional reason in this world, you have an anchor that grounds you. You have a rock to stand on, something upon which to build. No matter what happens, this doesn’t change. You are still the same person made in the same way and that is one of the unchangeables we so desperately need in this constantly shifting life.

5. Hard times are still hard but determined perseverance is increased.

Now I know that being in love with someone can be a fickle thing. With a person you do not stay in that romantic era or your love doesn’t deepen and grow. Love moves ahead to the reality of relationship and learning to live with someone who doesn’t live up to your every expectation. It’s important to make a solid commitment to making the bond work or it won’t last. The bonus is that the magic still continues if you make room for it.

Being in love with life has its blind and disillusioning moments as well. Unfortunately, there is much that we can not control. But the strength of knowing yourself, knowing your purpose, knowing who you want to be is the strongest force in the world for keeping you on track – even when you face the most enormous mountains. This is the magic of living. When the clouds clear, you bring yourself back again to where you are going. You keeping moving ahead and hope remains alive because you know it’s all part of what you are meant to do.

There is no feeling, no exhilaration like being in love………..with life. My life purpose is “to inspire others to discover and live out the adventure of who they truly are.” It’s fascinating for me to assist others as they fall in love with their lives as I have. That’s the reason for my web site at http://www.goldrefined.com and the reason for the GOLD Life Performance System. They are the tools. Put them together with an eagerness to discover and the magic begins!

Bernice Lupo is a Certified Life Performance Coach, author and speaker who is in love with her life! She spends her days assisting others to find huge energy reserves by defining and refining who they are and how they truly want to live. She enjoys life in small town northern Alberta, Canada, where she lives with her husband, two daughters,son-in-law and a possessive little dog. Her highly acclaimed GOLD Life Performance System has enabled many to discover a new freedom releasing them from time management to focus instead on the management of energy.

Get Motivated - Stay Motivated!

How The Donald Stays Motivated
by Peter Murphy

Even highly successful people need to keep an eye on self-motivation. When thousands of people are looking to you for leadership, guidance and inspiration you cannot say: "I don´t feel up to it today".

Even Donald Trump, successful and driven as he is, has moments when he needs to pause, refocus and consciously get motivated.

In his best selling book, How to Get Rich, Donald Trump revealed a clever way to stay motivated. And it won´t cost you a billion dollars to use this motivation strategy.

Trump describes in his book how he sometimes reviews previous successes. This is a great way he can inspire himself to achieve even more.

How does he actually do this?

He keeps a box in his office crammed with newspaper clippings and letters that serve as reminders of his success to date. He can sift through the contents of the box and relive those special moments from his past.

By reading newspaper and magazine articles about his achievements he can quickly and easily motivate himself to achieve even bigger goals.

And by re-reading letters from people he respects he can once again enjoy their endorsement of what he does and what he has achieved.

This simple act of reviewing previous successes is a powerful way to shift how you think and feel - to renew your sense of what is possible and to get you into inspired action.

The more you condition your mind to focus on what you are capable of - the more of your abilities you can tap into. And when you activate more of your potential you will succeed much more often.

How can you apply this motivation secret today?

1. Surround your work area with evidence of your previous successes. Place certificates, awards and photos in a prominent location. Don´t leave them gathering dust in a drawer.

2. Keep letters and newspaper clippings that highlight your achievements. e.g. customer testimonials, trade magazine articles about new developments you are involved in, notes of promotions or bonuses you have earned.

3. Review your previous successes on a regular basis. When you do so you will be conditioning your mind to expect and create even more success in the future.

As you begin to remind yourself of what you are capable of you will naturally start to demand more of yourself and you´ll feel inspired to achieve greater results.

Your motivation will soar and each little success will build on the previous success to create an unstoppable motivation that transforms the quality of your life.

Although this motivation secret sounds too simple to be of any value it really does work. After all, if Donald Trump pays attention to it, don´t you think you could benefit from doing the same?

Peter Murphy is a peak performance expert. He recently produced a very popular free report that reveals how to crush procrastination and sustain lasting motivation. Apply now because it is available for a limited time only at: http://www.getmotivatedstaymotivated.com/special.htm

If Not Now, When?

If Not Now, When?
By J. E. Burke

How many times have you made excuses for putting off something you really needed or wanted to do? Probably too many times to count. It is all too easy to get in the habit of putting the desires of your heart on hold. You may have been taught to put the needs of others first or that it is selfish to think of your own desires.

Mind you, there is times when it is appropriate and right to put the needs of others first, i.e., children, and others who have a right to depend on you.

Yet, even with that you must not always put yourself last and deny yourself the happiness that comes from doing something for yourself. The truth is, when we do something that brings us fulfillment, it has a positive impact on every area of our lives.Another truth is that if we don't do certain things we greatly desire for ourselves, that feeling of failure and disappointment often negatively impacts our lives. It doesn't have to be that way.

Now is the time to begin a new journey of personal and, perhaps even financial fulfillment. You have within you the ability to change your circumstances. The change begins when you make up your mind to stop putting off those things your really want, and ought to doing for yourself.

Recently, I watched the local news as they featured the story of an 80 year-old man who had just received his high school diploma.This elderly man, now slowed by age walked slowly with his hand outstretched to receive his diploma. The look in his time-worn face was one of sheer joy. It was the joy of at last accomplishing this goal that was obviously of utmost importance to him. This man's high school education had been interrupted by World War II, and later by providing for a family.

Apparently,for decades he held on to that desire. This man had situations in his life the held him back, but they did not stop him.

When it comes to your dreams, your hopes and your desires,what's holding you back?

I don't know what prompted the man in the story to finally do it, but he helps us see the importance of going after our dreams,even if it is a dream delayed. Why don't you take a few moments right now to think about what you want that you have not yet achieved?

It may be a short or long list. In either case, you must decide where to begin. If there is only one thing on the list, then make a decision today to begin the process of reaching that goal.If there are several, then assign each item a number with the most important goal being listed as number one.

One of the goals many of us put off is that of starting a business as a means of achieving financial independence. If having your own home-based online business, getting a new job, losing weight, or whatever is on your agenda I encourage you to start now. If not now, when?

Copyright 2005 Elisha Burke

Dr. J. E. Burke, a college instructor, has been involved in various business enterprises via his business, Burke Publications for 11 years. Dr. Burke is an educator, writer and motivational speaker on a variety of topics. He is also known for his expertise on nonprofit organizations and grant proposal writing.

Burke Publications
http://burkepublications.com
jeb@burkepublications.com

Copyright 2005 Burke Publications All Rights Reserved

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com

Start Your Day On Your Terms

Start Your Day On Your Terms
Copyright © 2005 Mark Susnow
Inspire Possibility

Most of us start the day like we're trying to catch a train. We wake up, grab a cup of coffee, look at the paper and listen to the news. We rush out of the house to make an appointment or deadline or to put the finishing touches on a project. From deadline to appointment it goes. When we leave work we have other responsibilities and obligations, and it doesn't end until we go to sleep, and for some it still doesn't end. We never do catch the train. We forgot one essential thing. We are the conductor and the train can't go anywhere without us.

What if you knew deep inside that the train was not going anywhere? What would it take to develop the wisdom that there was a better way? What changes could you implement that would make a difference? I was a busy trial lawyer for thirty years, always running to catch the train. I still remember racing to the court room full of coffee and stress until I realized I was the conductor of my life. That realization allowed me to make life altering changes that continue to make my life more enjoyable, more successful and more fulfilling.

It all starts with creating your perfect morning. This is your morning, no one else's. Consider waking up to music you love, rather than to the music or news on your alarm clock. Then before doing anything else take 10-15 minutes and sit silently thinking about all you're grateful for.

Then start to wonder what the highlight of your day could be. From this new vantage point you might even skip that cup of coffee or that cigarette. As you leave your house and begin the flow of your day you look at each experience and wonder if this is going to be the highpoint of your day knowing there is more to come. The concept of looking at the highlight of the day can be used in any situation even one that seems unpleasant.

Looking for the highlight in this experience or this person can totally change your attitude. As the day unfolds, if you sense that things inside are heating up, consider taking a little break. You might even stretch for five minutes or walk around the block. As your day progresses the biggest difference is the knowledge that you can be busy and be relaxed.

I have found that starting the day this way increases my energy and efficiency throughout the day. When I leave my house centered and focused there is a much greater likelihood that I can maintain this balance throughout the day. There has been plenty of research by psychologists demonstrating the value of taking the time for morning meditation or creative silence.

I have been doing this for over thirty years and very rarely feel overwhelmed. I laugh more and generally enjoy my day. Of course I have my challenges and lose my focus periodically, but not for long. And before I go to sleep I again think about what was most special about this day.

The one thing I do know for certain is that there's a direct correlation between how I start my day and the quality of my life. Try a little experiment. For the next thirty days start your day on your own terms and discover the dramatic changes that are possible.

Mark Susnow has a unique background. Formerly a successful trial attorney for 30 years, as well as musician, he integrates what it takes to be truly prosperous in the world with the inner wisdom unfolded to him through years of yoga and meditation practice. As a personal coach, leadership consultant and inspirational speaker, Mark provides inspiration and motivation to many business leaders and professionals. He knows what it means to have a big vision and has demonstrated the courage and energy it takes to accomplish it. Consider contacting Mark and be sure to visit his website: Inspire Possibility

Find Your Life Purpose

Finding Your Life Purpose
by Jo Ball

You have a purpose in life. You have a unique gift or special talent. By using this to gift to benefit others you raise your spirit to it's highest. This is the ultimate. the dream of all dreams and the point where you can all live a life with abundant happiness.

The question is how?

This article will set you on that path and tell you what to do next.

Forget how much money you have. Forget how big your home is or how big you'd like it to be. Forget where you want to go on holiday. Forget your religious background and forget your education. I say this because focus on these things can stop you from seeing who you really are and therefore stop you from doing what you want to do in life.

The reasons why you've forgotten who you are and what you want to do are that they have been extracted from you or squashed by following beliefs and values of those around you. You've been stopped from exploring you.

We get caught up on 'being good' conforming to the norm, directed by peers and elders and adopting the beliefs of groups and our society as a whole. Your education may have thwarted your talent about as much as a religious upbringing may have choked your self-expression.

Parents and friends may also have suggested strongly or even told you what you needed to do when it came to your career. You have ended up working for the local government because it was safe and secure or for a bank, insurance firm, followed a legal or accounting path because you believed it had good career prospects and good chance to make money. You may have made good money, built a successful career, but also noticed that you have a desire to do something else. Here is how you can use that desire to your benefit.

Understand you came to this earth with the purpose to discover your true identity and that the experiences you have had so far have been pre-sent to help you discover that. Remember times when you've been told you can't do something because of education, religious or parenting boundaries. Remember the things you did that made your heart sing. Remember that these things hold the key to your self-discovery and your true desire and purpose. Maybe you know immediately what your gift is, maybe you don't have a clue. which ever, read on.

Whether you're immediately aware of your true talent or not, I know you get the sense that you are here for a purpose. And I know you will also understand that when you use that gift for the greater good you will feel happier, more fulfilled and more greatly rewarded than ever before. Living your life purpose you'll want to get up earlier, stay up later and you'll lose all track of time. You will literally move into timeless awareness, so absorbed and excited by what you create. And one more thing.

The rewards you get can be limitless.

Jo Ball is a Life Purpose Coach. She'd love you to join up to her free monthly newsletter full of ideas, tips and stories on living life on purpose. What's more when you join the fast growing readership she'll send you a free e-book, Greater Steps to Happiness as a thank you gift. Join Jo now at www.unstoppablelife.com

Who's Creating YOUR Reality?

Who's Creating YOUR Reality?
Rosella Aranda, Copyright: 2005
Contact: editor@Calling-All-Entrepreneurs.com

"What is happening within us will create what happens outside us."

"There is no `out there' out there, independent of what is going on in here."

"We are operating as if today were yesterday."

These quotes are taken from the movie, "What the Bleep Do We Know?" This fascinating film demonstrates cinematically what the Seth material told us years ago. Its basic premise is that we literally create our own reality. If there is conflict, turmoil or frustration in our outer experience, the cause lies in the inner realm of our minds.

Our outer world is nothing more than an outward manifestation of the mental images that we carry. Most of us have no trouble agreeing with this on the surface, but . . . It's Too Dark in There! Rather than explore the murky depths of our own soul, we would rather continue to look "out there" in hopes of finding someone else who might "crawl inside our heads" and fix us.

So we buy the latest and the greatest self-help package that catches our eye, but in short order we're back to where we started from. Did you know that many people never even use the programs they purchase? These people are defeated before they ever get started! And even for the most determined people who actually do everything suggested, the results have been fragile, artificial and short-lived. Why is that?

Ideas Must Be Planted in a Fertile Mind It's not so much that these reprogramming methods are faulty. It's just that the people who want and need these tools lack the basic sense of self-worth that would allow any desirable ideas to take root. It's almost as if there were an invisible demon inside shoveling out the good stuff as quickly as we can put it in! It's a bit like trying to plant flowers in a chalk garden. They will not grow.

This is why it is crucial to first expose and release the underlying subconscious beliefs that are holding us back. The circumstances behind how and why these harmful beliefs got lodged in the first place are as unique and varied as the individuals themselves, so a "one-size-fits-all" approach won't work.

You Are a Unique Individual with a Unique Personal Tale. It is only by uncovering the details of your own personal history that you will be able to permanently "unplug" and disempower your crippling beliefs. What Are You Going To Do About It? I'm reminded of a story that I first heard years ago on a tape series from one of my favorite mentors, Dr. Deepak Chopra. It goes something like this . . .

Elephants born in captivity are restrained by a chain which attaches one of their legs to a metal spike driven into the ground. This prevents them from straying away. They become accustomed to the fact that, as long as the chain and spike are present, they are unable to move. As they grow older, the minds of these baby elephants become programmed. When they see the spike and chain, they "believe" and accept that they cannot move.

They become so conditioned that when their owners tie them down with nothing more than a flimsy rope attached to a wooden post or a small tree, they make no effort to move away, because they are already convinced that they can't. In truth, their actual power as adults is so great that they could easily snap the rope or uproot the tree and just walk away with the whole thing! Their programming, however, prevents them from even making an attempt.

Does This Remind You of Anyone You Know? We are all very much like these elephants. We allow severely limiting beliefs, which have no basis in reality, to inhibit our actions and even our imaginations.

We are controlled by false childhood assumptions we made (or that someone else made for us) about our ability, power or even our inherent worth. Until we muster the courage and the energy to seek out and challenge these outdated notions, we will continue to be as "imprisoned" as these elephants.

"We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark. The real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light." - Plato

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Rosella Aranda, marketer and writer, helps entrepreneurs change their thinking and escape limitations permanently.
http://www.SabotageThyselfNoMore.com/ Free mini-course!http://www.FromThoughtsToRiches.com/ Now on Audio.

Without A Plan . . .

Without a Plan, You’re Doomed to Failure
By John Madden

“My job is an endless series of deadlines, I am constantly putting out fires” You’ve probably heard talk like that a time or two. You may sound like that yourself on occasion.

Are you a planner or a “firefighter”? Of course you know that real firefighters plan more than most of us do - to be ready to save lives and property when the emergency occurs. Not so for those of us who just play it by ear and hope that everything will turn out okay.

If you want to be a failure, then don’t bother to plan; avoid any phrase, document, or discussion with the word “plan” in it. You see, planning is only a habit of the really successful, so if you want to steer clear of that lot, no planning is the guaranteed modus operandi.

A major reason we don’t plan is that we have to deal with the future, and the future forces us to ask questions about what might or could be - as opposed to what was and what is. Because the future is unclear, many believe that planning for it is little more than guessing about the unknown.

Life’s greatest challenge is making a plan for what we would love to do at some time in the future. We know we need a plan. But we don’t know how to get started. Here’s a way you might try:

1. Plan backwards.

Start with the desired outcome or result. Take a period of time, say a year. Take a goal, and divide the year by the goal to end up with segments of the goal. So you have twelve months to achieve the goal. You break the goal down into segments of “next steps”, and you break the year into months or weeks. Allocate a period of time for completion of each step, working backwards from the final step.

Let’s say you want to publish your book in a year (Not impossible – some writers can finish a book in a couple of months or less). Twelve months from now, write, “First printing of (Title) delivered” You have the goal, the published book, and you have the time, twelve months. Now carve up the goal.

2. Take small steps toward big results.

What needs to happen before the book is published? Make a list. Just brainstorm with yourself or a friend on all the things you know or think have to be done. Write them down, as you think of them - in no particular order.

Then put them in the order in which you believe they need to be done. For instance, proof reading will need to be completed before the final printing; getting the book copyrighted will come after editing, and so on. Find out what time it will take for each step and allocate that in the plan.

Of course the major task is writing the book and you should put a target number of words or pages to be completed each month, each week - or even each day, if you can commit to more than one day a week.

3. Ask for help

Plans change for all kinds of reasons. A resource you thought you had may not be available any more, or you have personal or business problems that you didn’t expect. These things will inevitably throw you off balance, but keep your goal firmly in front of you and you will maintain focus. Ask those who have been there on the same journey or project for help.

Get on the Internet for tips on writing, planning, goal achieving, etc. There are so many resources out there available to us that there is no excuse today to not have a plan to reach your goal and fulfill your dream.

John Madden is an international speaker, trainer, and author of “Leap, Don’t Sleep” (How to get different results by doing something different).

He helps businesses and individuals become more profitable through customer service training, changing present results, networking for profit, coaching skills for managers, stress management through humor, time management, and interpersonal skills

You can reach him at 1-800-301-2924
email john@LeapDontSleep.com
web site: http://www.LeapDontSleep.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/

Regret or Passion?

Regret or Passion? Which Will Be Yours?
by Kathleen Gage

I once attended a retreat on how to live with passion and fulfill one's life's work. The facilitator posed the question, "If money was not an issue, yet you had to work full-time, what would you do?" Answering this question was a turning point for me. Now - years later - I am doing much of what came up in my answer.

How would you answer this question? Ask yourself, "What am I good at? What do my friends say I am good at? What do I enjoy and feel passionate about? What do I think is important?" The key to your happiness may well be held in the answers.

The answers may not provide you with something you would do on a full-time basis, but it is a wonderful way to discover what will make your life more complete. The willingness to acknowledge and act on the answers may well create the opportunity to live with more passion and joy than you ever thought possible.

In the answers lie your dreams. They will provide you with a road map of where you can put your energy in order to move closer to a more fulfilling and balanced life. Perhaps for you the answers will be an indication of where you can volunteer your time. Living with passion and joy means we don't have to have a monetary gain for everything we do. Many a career has been launched through the experiences gained from volunteer efforts.

Far too many people have dreams they have given up on. We often blame others or outside circumstances for the fact we are not accomplishing all we desire. Granted, there may be some outside circumstances that create real limitations. However, in many cases we may be using imagined limitations as an excuse to not move forward. It can be easier to blame other people and situations as the reason we have not achieved our potential than to walk through the fear of the unknown.

Limitations appear in many ways. Experience. Money. Time. Education. You name it, it is bound to be there. One of the greatest limitations is that of the mind. Determine which obstacles are real and which ones are imagined. Which excuses have been used over and over so that you will not have to face the fear of the unknown? Once you identify your real and imagined limitations, you will be able to work with them and move forward.

Granted, there is a lot that can dampen our spirits if we allow it. However, there are many opportunities to achieve your dreams if you are willing to step outside of your comfort zone, put effort into your vision and move forward little by little.

In order to break through your boundaries you must first realize what they are. Knowing what they are allows you to take action. Look for others who may have had similar roadblocks. Find out what they did to move forward. In their strategy may be your formula for success.

Are you secretly wishing you would do something with your life other than what you are doing, but fear holds you back? If you ask most people what their greatest regret is, more times than not they will say it is what they didn't do rather than what they did.

One of the greatest gifts we can give to others and ourselves is to unlock the talents we have been blessed with and to have the courage to use them. Ask yourself, "How well do I use my gifts to contribute to the well-being of myself and others?"

Will your life be filled with regrets or will it be filled with passion?

Kathleen Gage is a keynote speaker and business advisor based out of Draper, Utah. She is the author of several books including Message of Hope, Inspiring Thoughts for Uncertain Times. To sign up for Kathleen's free weekly inspirational thoughts visit http://www.turningpointpresents.com/messageofhope.htm

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Superior Attitudes Create Superior Results!
Al Smith is also the Editor and Publisher of a Motivational and Goal Achievement Ezine. Subscribe for FREE at
The Realgoalgetter Ezine.
Another publication from The Realgoalgetter Group.
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Time Management

Time Management: A Non-Renewable Resource
Gwen Stewart

Benjamin Franklin wrote: "If you want to enjoy one of the greatest luxuries in life, the luxury of having enough time, time to rest, time to think things through, time to get things done and know you have done them to the best of your ability, remember, there is only one way.

Take enough time to think and plan things in the order of their importance. Your life will take on a new zest, you will add years to your life, and more life to your years. Let all your things have their place." When you read Franklin's words, what do they mean to you?

Do you have enough time to balance your personal needs with your commitment to the outside world? Is stress causing havoc in your life? What exactly does it mean to have your life in balance and how do you achieve it?

Balance is defined as stability of mind and body; a state of being in balance; and harmony in the parts of a whole. The Chinese art of Feng Shui describes balance as being comprised of Yin and Yang energy.

Yin is the calming and peace-giving energy and Yang is the action-oriented dynamic force. Yin energy engages receptivity and allows rest, rejuvenation, healing, dreaming, and acceptance. The fire energy, Yang, makes achievement of dreams a reality and creates success. Feng Shui believes every 'whole' person requires balance in his or her life force energy.

The key to creating 'wholeness' is learning that we must take care of ourselves in order to be able to give what we want to give in our roles as parent, spouse, employee, etc. When we do not take care of ourselves, we end up either sick and/or feeling burned out, as our bodies and mind will make us take the time if we will not do it for ourselves. Emotional and physical health requires taking responsibility for our own well-being.

Most of us have the fantasy that somebody will come along and tell us 'it is now our turn,' and so we put off the biological need for rest and relaxation until we are ill. After learning that there is not going to be anyone to rescue us, we realise that the only one who is going to take care of us is, in fact, our self. Once this is recognised, the emotional and physical healing of self can now begin. (I don't know about you but I am a slower learner. It took me a long time to learn this. In fact, I still get a wake-up call every once in awhile when I choose to get sick rather than rest and take a break.)

We need to allow time each day in order to take care of ourselves. When we do take time, leave the guilt and thoughts of 'I should be doing...' outside the door. Instead, recognise that we deserve a few minutes of time for self and that we will be able to function better afterwards. Enjoy that time.

Time Management and Creating Balance

Time is defined as a period during which an action, process, or condition exists or continues; and management is defined as the act or art of managing. Time management is nothing more than the art of managing an action. In other words, the management of time is management of self and setting priorities for self. It is the conscious selection of where we will place our attention.

Reasons for Managing Time

· Time is not a renewable resource. When it is gone, it is gone forever.

· Everyone has the same amount of time.

· The creative thought that emerges from balanced lives and from the joy of our leisure time is what makes the difference in our level of creativity and productivity.

· Take time for silence. Silence and solitude are opportunities for thinking and for simply being.

· The best thing you can do to enhance your value at work is to take care of yourself.

· Time management provides structure to one's life and in turn, provides peace of mind.

· Time management is something one does for one's own psyche to make one's days easier.

Time Management and Creating Balance at Home

1. Determine what's important to you and in what order. Prioritise to get the important things done by putting 'first things first.'

2. Set goals and strive towards a sense of purpose and fulfilment.

3. Get organised and manage your time with a daily or weekly schedule.

4. Recognise your limits and have realistic expectations for yourself. You do not have to be 'super person.'

5. Reward yourself.

6. Keep things in perspective. Say to yourself, 'This too shall pass.'

7. Exercise and eat nutritional foods.

8. Think happy, as life seems to be easier when you smile. Use humour and find a way to laugh at the situation.

9. Be honest with yourself and others.

10. Say 'No' to the 'shoulds' and 'Yes' to the 'wants' in your life.

Time Management and Creating Balance at Work

1. Make sure your work life is a meaningful expression of your life purpose.

2. Decide to do it. Set up a TO DO list, prioritise A's, B's, and C's. Do A's first.

3. Planning - take 5 minutes at the end of the day to clean up your space and get organised for the next day's work.

4. If you have a problem, just before you go to sleep turn it over to your subconscious - your mind will work on it as you sleep and you will have an answer the next day.

5. DO IT NOW. Procrastination is a result of saying "I'll do it later."

6. Do not schedule early morning appointments that will disrupt your morning routine.

7. Say 'NO' to every new request for your time for the next month (saying NO to every request will minimise your guilt).

8. Think about it before you say 'yes' - say 'I'll get back to you.' Some of us are compulsive 'yes sayers' when we are asked to do something; taking a few minutes to think about whether we have the time, energy, or desire to perform this request requires that we have a moment to check in with ourselves.

9. Give yourself a break. People are more productive when they take a few minutes away every couple of hours.

10. Don't let other people's 'hurry sickness' dictate your life.

Remember: There is no such thing as a lack of time. There is nothing more important in your life than your time. Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “There is more to life than merely increasing its speed.”

In other words, the fundamental question is: 'How much of my life-force energy does this cost?'

Gwen Nyhus Stewart, B.S.W., M.G., H.T., is an educator, freelance writer, garden consultant, and author of the book The Healing Garden: A Place Of Peace – Gardening For The Soil, Gardening For The Soul and booklet Non-toxic Alternatives For Everyday Cleaning And Gardening Chores. She owns the website Gwen’s Healing Garden where you will find lots of free information about gardening for the soil and gardening for the soul. To find out more about the books and subscribe to her free Newsletter visit www.gwenshealinggarden.ca

Gwen Nyhus Stewart © 2004 – 2005. All rights reserved.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com

How To Navigate Adversity

Jerry Green’s Top Ten Adversity Busters by Mike Walker

I’ve navigated plenty of speed bumps on life’s road. My father’s death led me to an entirely different career than my planned one. My business burned to the ground. Unscrupulous partners left me with a $15 million dollar debt. My doctor diagnosed me with a disease that a year earlier would have meant probable death.

Some people call it adversity. I call it life. I’m going to share with you my philosophy for dealing with the downs that will no doubt accompany the ups. Some will make you want to smack your forehead because they are so obvious. But as I mentioned earlier, the key to business is taking in more than you pay out, and scores of business fail every year because they forget simple things like that.

Finally, I’ve got to say that I’m skeptical of anyone who claims to have the magic solution to your life. These things have worked for me, but they might not work for you. It’s important for you to know yourself, your strengths and weaknesses, and devise a success strategy that fits your personality.

Here is my top-ten list of adversity-busters:

Don’t panic. When something unexpected comes your way, shouting, “Oh my God, I’m ruined!” is not conducive to handling the situation. Remain calm and you’ll send a message to your brain that you might be able handle the situation after all.

Take the emotion out of it. To come up with a rational solution, you have to have a rational approach, and that’s hard to do while your blood is boiling.

Build and use your networks. Develop and maintain a diverse group of associates and friends. Take the initiative in keeping in touch. If you only contact someone when you need their help, they’ll cringe when your number comes up on their caller ID.

Be polite. The bank teller you cursed at might be the vice-president in charge of granting you a loan in a few years.

Get a plan down on paper. Review and list your assets and resources, then make a plan, Figure out what you need to do, and break it down into small steps if the big picture overwhelms you. Pay attention. It’s been proven that what people call ESP is often just a finely tuned sense of what is going on around them.

Once Carol Burnett woke up in the middle of the night and decided to move to the other side of the bed to sleep. Shortly after there was an earthquake and a very large, heavy big-screen TV fell from a shelf on to her bed, where she usually sleeps. In her sleep her subconscious sensed small tremors that led to big ones, and she paid attention.

It’s not unusual for me to make a serious business decision after only a few minutes. I get a certain feel about whatever it is I’m considering, and I go with it. I’m not saying don’t be careful, but be aware of the things your mind is trying to tell you. This works whether you’re dealing with adversity or on the lookout for new opportunities. If I hadn’t paid attention when I saw an ad for franchising a new, fledging rental car business, I would have missed out on Budget Rent-A-Car, which turned out to be even more lucrative than the car business.

Don’t waste time looking back. Every second you spend thinking “If only…” or “I should have…” is a second you could spend developing another opportunity. Maybe somebody told you to invest in Microsoft 15 years ago and you didn’t. So what? Dwelling on the past paralyzes you in the present.

Know thyself. Understand your strengths and weaknesses.

View your challenges as opportunities. Earlier in the book I talked about what my stepfather said when my business burned down. He told me it was the best thing that could have happened to me, because I could make a fresh start. That’s the attitude I took. He was right.

Ask for help. Be smart about it when you do. I asked Kansas City businessman Frank Morgan for a $15 million loan and he gave it to me. But first he made sure I knew my business. Give people a reason to help, and they usually will.

Good luck out there on the highway!

Jerry Green owns WHB810, America's largest all-sports radio station. His new biography, "Autos to Airwaves, Mantle to the Mob," is available at http://www.moonbookstore.com/ .
Starting out in the car business, Jerry owned a Playboy Club, one of the original Budget Rent-a-Car franchises, and a series of banks before venturing into the world of media.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/

--------------------
Superior Attitudes Create Superior Results!
Al Smith is also the Editor and Publisher of a Motivational and Goal Achievement Ezine. Subscribe for FREE at
The Realgoalgetter Ezine.
Another publication from The Realgoalgetter Group.
Check out the Previous Archived Issues here and then type in your name and email address to start receiving them now.
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Quick Life Makeover

Quick Life Makeover
By Kathy Gates, Professional Life Coach

You can try to chalk it up to “they don’t have as much to do as I do”. But let’s face it. Anybody who has an organized, smooth-flowing life has to work at it. I even heard one client of mine try to pass it off to good genes by saying that organized people have a different kind of brain.

Please! Let’s just face it people. Just like anybody who has a killer body has to work at it every day, a happy, healthy, easy life doesn’t just fall out of the sky. If it did, all the celebrities and politicians would have bought it and put it up on an infomercial by now.

It takes choice. Daily choice. It takes concentration, dedication, persistence. But oh, is it worth it. Doesn’t the way your tush looks in those tight jeans worth all those trips to the gym? And a happy life will be worth the work you put into it too.

But I know it can seem overwhelming. So here’s some tips to help
you “rush up” some results in your life makeover:

1. Get consistent.

Pick something, whether it’s big like not going over the budget, or small like doing the dishes every single night. Choose just one thing that you can do, and teach yourself to do it consistently.

2. Crank up the reserves.

Reserves are the “extra something” that back you up when things get tough. Set up some extras in your life. Everything from extra keys and extra eyeglasses, to a backup babysitter, to a frozen dinner in the fridge. Include some extra love, extra support. Add a dash of extra time, extra opportunity. You’ll have a life lived from abundance, not lack.

3. Make some smart choices.

Smart choices stem from keeping your eye on what you really want, not what you want at that particular moment. Keep your goals in focus by filtering it through this question “Will this make me happier tomorrow as well as today?”

4. Got boundaries?

Learning to say No is the best thing you can do for yourself and teach those you love. Saying No not only to those who want to steal your time and your energy and your spirit, but also being able to say No to yourself when it’s not in your own best interest. Try saying No 100 times today. See how good it feels! (please explain this upfront to people that it matters to!)

There are no quick fixes, because life isn’t about getting “fixed”. Give that up. Life is a process of managing what’s before you, and setting up things to create a happy, healthy, easy life. But these ideas will give you some quick results which will help you stay the course when things get tough.

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Professional Life Coach Kathy Gates specializes in helping people who are ready to create a simpler, less stressful, more joyful and meaningful lifestyle. Get information on her programs and services at www.reallifecoach.com .