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IN THE NAME OF ALLAH – THE SOURCE OF MERCY – THE MOST MERCIFUL

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I WOULD STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT IF YOU ONLY READ
ONE PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT BOOK THIS YEAR, IT SHOULD
BE MIND CONTROL SYSTEM. ‘THE BASIC HYPOTHESIS IS
PROFOUND. THE APPLICATION OF PROVEN RESEARCH IS
MASTERFUL. THE EXPLANATIONS AND SUPPORTING STORIES
ARE COMPELLING AND LUCID. THE TRANSLATION OF THE
RESEARCH AND STORIES INTO PRACTICAL IDEAS AND
SOUND ADVICE IS NOTHING SHORT OF BREATHTAKING.’

THERE IS NO GOD WORTHY OF WORSHIP EXCEPT ALLAH AND MUHAMMED (PBUH) IS THE MESSENGER OF ALLAH


RECLAIMING SELF: MAKING TIME FOR YOURSELF

IT OFTEN SEEMS THAT OUR DAYS ARE ENGULFED IN A MYRIAD OF TASKS. TODAY WE HAVE
MANY RESPONSIBILITIES AND MANY ROLES SPOUSE, PARENT, SIBLING, CHILD, FRIEND AND
CAREER WORKER. DO YOU FIND YOU LOSE YOURSELF IN YOUR RELATIONSHIPS, IN YOUR
NURTURING ROLES, AND IN THE BUSYNESS OF LIFE? DOES IT SEEM LIKE YOUR LIFE HAS
BECOME A SERIES OF TASKS TO COMPLETE, RATHER THAN MOMENTS TO ENJOY? WE OFTEN
GET SO CAUGHT UP IN THE DOING THAT WE FORGET TO BE.

USUALLY THE FIRST THING TO GO IN THIS WHIRLWIND OF ACTIVITY IS TIME FOR OURSELVES.
LACK OF TIME FOR OURSELVES OFTEN LEADS TO FEELING FRUSTRATED, TIRED,
OVERWHELMED AND OUT OF BALANCE. WITHOUT THIS TIME FOR SELF, WE LOSE SIGHT OF
WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO US AND OF WHAT WE NEED TO BE OUR BEST.

IF YOU ARE FEELING LIKE LIFE IS OUT OF CONTROL, THAT YOU ARE UNDERVALUED, THAT YOU
ARE TOO BUSY, OR IF YOU PUT THE NEEDS OF OTHERS CONSISTENTLY BEFORE YOUR OWN,
THEN IT IS TIME TO CREATE SOME TIME AND SPACE FOR YOURSELF. TAKING TIME FOR
YOURSELF ALLOWS YOU TO RENEW, HEAL AND CREATE RESERVES OF ENERGY AND PEACE.
HONOURING YOURSELF ENABLES YOU TO DISCOVER YOUR TRUTH, ACCESS YOUR CREATIVITY
AND EXPERIENCE A SENSE OF PEACE, WHOLENESS, PURPOSE AND BALANCE.

TAKING TIME FOR YOURSELF IS REALLY ABOUT SELF-CARE AND IS AN EXTREMELY IMPORTANT
COMPONENT TO CREATING THE LIFE YOU WANT. IT IS ABOUT HONOURING YOURSELF AND
CONNECTING WITH YOURSELF. TAKING CARE OF YOURSELF IS ONE OF THE FIRST STEPS ON
THE JOURNEY OF DISCOVERING YOUR TRUTH AND ACCESSING YOUR CREATIVITY. WHEN YOU
TAKE TIME FOR YOURSELF IT ALLOWS YOU TO STOP DOING FOR AWHILE AND TO JUST BE. IT
IS IN THE BEING WHERE YOUR POWER LIES. YOU AUTOMATICALLY RAISE YOUR STANDARDS
AND CAPABILITIES AND CREATE POTENTIAL AND POSSIBILITY IN YOUR LIFE. WHEN YOU
HONOUR AND NURTURE YOURSELF YOU CAN HEAR YOUR INNER VOICE MUCH MORE CLEARLY -
YOU CAN HEAR YOUR OWN TRUTH AND THIS CONNECTION ENABLES YOU TO LIVE
AUTHENTICALLY.

IN ORDER TO MAKE TIME FOR YOURSELF CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING. WRITE THE ANSWERS
DOWN ON A PIECE OF PAPER OR IN YOUR JOURNAL OR NOTEBOOK.

QUESTIONS
HOW COULD IT BE A GIFT TO OTHERS TO TAKE TIME FOR YOURSELF?
WHAT ACTIVITIES BRING YOU JOY OR NURTURE YOU?
WHAT IS KEEPING YOU FROM DOING THE THINGS THAT ENERGISE AND INSPIRE YOU?
HOW CAN YOU BRING MORE OF THESE SIMPLE TREATS INTO YOUR DAY?

TAKE ACTION
COMMIT TO DOING ONE ACTIVITY FROM THE LIST YOU CREATED EACH DAY FOR THE NEXT
WEEK:
EACH DAY TAKE 5 MINUTES FOR YOURSELF.
FIND A QUIET PLACE WHERE YOU CAN SIT AND NOT BE DISTURBED.
CLOSE YOUR EYES AND SIMPLY FOLLOW THE PATH OF YOUR BREATH. JUST FOCUS ON YOUR
BREATH.
IF OTHER THOUGHTS COME IN, JUST LET THEM GO. IF YOU FIND THIS DIFFICULT AT FIRST,
THEN FOCUS ON REPEATING THE AFFIRMATION "I AM HAPPY AND PEACEFUL".



QUIETING YOUR MIND AND BODY AND FOCUSING ON THE BREATH WILL HELP TO CHANGE
YOUR EMOTIONAL STATE AND PROVIDE YOUR SOUL WITH A PEACEFUL RESPITE FROM THE
BUSYNESS OF YOUR DAY.

TIME FOR YOURSELF DOES NOT HAVE TO TAKE HALF A DAY OR COME AT SOMEONE ELSE'S
EXPENSE. IN FACT, TAKING THE TIME TO REPLENISH AND NURTURE YOURSELF WILL GIVE YOU
MORE ENERGY AND YOU WILL BE BETTER ABLE TO SUPPORT THOSE YOU LOVE. IT IS OFTEN
THE SIMPLE THINGS THAT CAN MAKE THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE. FOR EXAMPLE, SITTING IN
YOUR FAVOURITE CHAIR AND SIPPING A CUP OF TEA, GOING FOR A WALK, OR LISTENING TO
YOUR FAVOURITE RECITATION. I ENCOURAGE YOU TO CARVE OUT 15 MINUTES FOR YOURSELF
EACH DAY TO DO SOMETHING THAT NURTURES YOU AND BRINGS YOU JOY. TRY IT AS AN
EXPERIMENT FOR ONE WEEK AND SEE WHAT CHANGES FOR YOU. RECLAIM YOUR SELF! WHEN
YOU DO, YOU WILL EXPERIENCE A SENSE OF PEACE, RENEWAL AND CONNECTION.

4 FORGOTTEN SECRETS TO SELF-CONFIDENCE

MANY PEOPLE KNOW HOW TO BE CONFIDENT BECAUSE THEY CHOOSE TO BE CONFIDENT. YOU
MAY KNOW SOME PEOPLE WHO APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN BORN CONFIDENT, BUT CONFIDENCE IS
A STATE OF MIND NOT AN INHERENT TRAIT.

PEOPLE TEND TO THINK THAT BEING CONFIDENT IS A DIRECT RESULT OF FEELING GOOD
ABOUT YOURSELF WHEN, REALLY, IT IS MORE COMPLEX THAN THAT.

YOU CAN HAVE A VERY HIGH OPINION OF YOURSELF BUT IF OTHERS DON'T RECOGNISE AND
APPRECIATE YOUR WORTH, CHANCES ARE, YOU WON'T BE TOO CONFIDENT.

JUST AS YOU WOULDN'T BE TOO CONFIDENT IF EVERYONE AROUND YOU ADORED YOUR EVERY
MOVE BUT YOU FELT TERRIBLE ABOUT YOURSELF.

THE KEY TO BEING CONFIDENT IS TO MINGLE A POSITIVE SELF-IMAGE WITH A FEELING OF
ACCEPTANCE BY THOSE AROUND YOU.

THE FOLLOWING SIMPLE STEPS SHOULD GET YOU WELL ON YOUR WAY TO A MORE CONFIDENT
AIR.

1. HAVE NO FEAR.

STATISTICALLY, REJECTION IS INSIGNIFICANT. FOR EVERY ONE TIME YOU ARE REJECTED, YOU
WILL BE ACCEPTED TEN TIMES, PROVIDING YOUR GOALS ARE REALISTIC. YOU MAY GET 10
REJECTIONS BEFORE YOUR ACCEPTED THE DUE 100, BUT THAT JUST GIVES YOU SOMETHING
TO LOOK FORWARD TO, HOPE. HOPE BREEDS HAPPINESS AND HAPPINESS DISPELS FEAR.

2. FAKE IT `TILL YOU MAKE IT.

IF THEY WANT A DUCK, WALK LIKE ONE, TALK LIKE ONE, THEY WILL THINK YOU ARE ONE AND
SOON YOU WILL BE ONE. HAVE YOU EVER TOLD A LIE SO WELL THAT EVEN YOU BELIEVED IT
WAS TRUE? SOME PEOPLE THAT YOU HAVE ENCOUNTERED, WHO SEEMED TO EXUDE
CONFIDENCE, MAY HAVE BEEN COMPLETE FRAUDS, BUT PROBABLY NOT FOR VERY LONG.
INEVITABLY IF YOU PRETEND TO BE SOMETHING FOR LONG ENOUGH, YOU WILL BECOME IT.
OTHERS TEND TO BE DRAWN TO THOSE WHO ARE CONFIDENT SO IN FAKING IT, YOU GIVE
THEM A CHANCE TO SEE YOUR POSITIVE ATTRIBUTES AND GAIN THEIR ACCEPTANCE.



3. DRESS THE PART

ALWAYS LOOK YOUR BEST. SURE YOU CAN RUN TO THE MARKET IN YOUR CURLERS AND
BATHROBE, BUT DON'T EXPECT TO FEEL LIKE YOU CAN TAKE ON THE WORLD BECAUSE IF EYE
CONTACT IS MADE YOU WILL FEEL NOTHING LESS THAN MORTIFIED. YOU WILL FEEL MUCH
MORE CONFIDENT WHEN YOU FEEL LIKE YOU LOOK NICE. IF YOU HAVE TO GO ALL OUT TO
FEEL ATTRACTIVE THEN DO IT, EACH AND EVERY TIME THERE IS POTENTIAL FOR YOU TO BE
REJECTED BY ANYONE, IN ANY WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM. AT LEAST YOU WILL BE ABLE TO WALK
AWAY WITH YOUR HEAD HELD HIGH.

4. MIX THINGS UP.

A SENSE OF ACCOMPLISHMENT WILL OBVIOUSLY MAKE YOU FEEL MORE CONFIDENT. SO QUIT
PUTTING OFF THOSE NEW VENTURES, WHATEVER THEY MAY BE. SOMETHING TO DO FOR FUN,
TO ADD TO YOUR RESUME, TO MAKE YOU MORE INTERESTING, JUST DIVE INTO IT, REMEMBER,
NO FEAR. SEEMS SIMPLE ENOUGH, RIGHT? SO GET OUT THERE AND SHOW THEM ALL WHAT
YOU ARE MADE OF AND EVOLVE INTO A NEWLY CONFIDENT YOU! YOU HAVE NOTHING TO LOSE
AND NOWHERE TO GO BUT UP. NOW YOU KNOW HOW TO BE CONFIDENT AND I AM CONFIDENT
IN THAT.

WANT MORE SUCCESS? BE LAZY!

HARD TO IMAGINE, BUT I'VE DISCOVERED THAT I HAVE TO BE AMBITIOUS ABOUT BEING
"LAZY.” AS A PROFESSIONAL, I WORK WITH HIGH ACHIEVING PROFESSIONALS AND
EXECUTIVES AND I AM NO SLOUCH MYSELF. IF YOU ARE LIKE ME, YOU WILL TAKE PRIDE IN
THE NUMBER OF TASKS AND PROJECTS YOU CAN JUGGLE, AND THE SHEER NUMBER OF
INITIATIVES YOU ARE INVOLVED IN ON A GIVEN DAY. YOU MAY FEEL, HOWEVER, THAT SOME
OF YOUR PERSONAL PRIORITIES NEED MORE TIME AND FOCUS THAN YOU PRESENTLY HAVE IN
YOUR PACKED SCHEDULE.

MY FRIEND SAMIR, FOR EXAMPLE, HAD AN EXTREMELY PROFITABLE TEXTILE BUSINESS, BUT
HE FELT LIKE A SLAVE TO IT. HE WANTED TO PURSUE REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT AND SPEND
MORE TIME WITH HIS FAMILY AND FRIENDS, BUT HOW? FINDING A SOLUTION CAN BE
ESPECIALLY CHALLENGING BECAUSE SOMETIMES WHAT YOU NEED TO GIVE UP SEEMS TO
HAVE EQUAL VALUE. SO DOES THIS MEAN, THAT INSTEAD OF PARING DOWN, YOU NEED TO BE
EVEN MORE PRODUCTIVE? NOT NECESSARILY. VERY BUSY PEOPLE LIKE US OFTEN HAVE A
TENDENCY TO PUSH OURSELVES HARD TOWARD OUR OBJECTIVES, TO GO AND GO UNTIL WE
ARE AT LEAST A BIT (IF NOT A LOT) FRAZZLED, EXHAUSTED, OR FRUSTRATED. AND SOME
OBJECTIVES REQUIRE ENORMOUS EFFORT AND TAKE FOREVER TO MATERIALISE. IN SUCH
CASES, BECAUSE WE HAVE LEARNED IN THE PAST THAT HARD WORK CAN PAY OFF, WE CAN‟T
HELP WONDERING WHY SOME OF OUR EFFORTS SEEM SO INEFFECTIVE.

IN FACT, RESEARCH SHOWS THAT TAKING A BREATHER HELPS IMPROVE ACHIEVEMENT IN ANY
ENDEAVOUR. IN MY BOOK, MIND CONTROL SYSTEM: HOW TO ACTIVATE THE NATURAL
TRIGGER AND MAXIMISE CREATIVITY, ATHLETIC PERFORMANCE, PRODUCTIVITY AND
PERSONAL WELLBEING. GOING FOR A WALK IN THE MORNING, OR EVEN TAKING A BATH CAN
HELP SOLVE THE SEEMINGLY UNSOLVABLE PROBLEM. IT TURNS OUT THAT TAKING TIME OUT
IS A POWERFUL BIOLOGICAL TRIGGER THAT CAN CONVERT CONFLICT AND CONFUSION INTO
CLARITY AND EXTRAORDINARY PERFORMANCE.



HOW? WELL, YOU MAY HAVE NOTICED THAT WHEN YOU ARE CLEAR ABOUT YOUR OBJECTIVE
AND YOUR STRATEGY, YOU GET THERE A LOT FASTER. HOWEVER, THAT LUCIDITY CAN
SOMETIMES BE ELUSIVE, ESPECIALLY WITH MORE IMPORTANT OBJECTIVES. WE CAN BEST
DEVELOP THAT CRYSTAL CLARITY IF WE RELAX AND "DO NOTHING" FOR AT LEAST A FEW
MINUTES A DAY AND IN MY EXPERIENCE, THEY ARE RIGHT. SURESH, A CONSULTANT FOR
NEXUS, WAS WORRIED THAT THE ORGANISATION WOULDN‟T EXTEND HIS CONTRACT, OR
IMPLEMENT HIS NEW IDEAS FOR IMPROVEMENTS. HOWEVER, AFTER HE DEVOTED 10 MINUTES
A DAY OVER TWO MONTHS MEDITATING AND JOURNALING ABOUT HIS OBJECTIVES, THE
REGIONAL DIRECTOR CALLED WITH GOOD NEWS AND PRAISED HIS CLEAR AND THOUGHTFUL
PRESENTATIONS.

HOW IRONIC: WHAT WE WOULD HAVE CALLED "LAZINESS" A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO AND
NOW A WISE BUSINESS AND PERSONAL INVESTMENT. WHETHER IT'S BEING ABSORBED IN
WATCHING OR PLAYING A SPORTING EVENT, JUST SITTING QUIETLY FOR TEN MINUTES, LYING
IN BED FOR AN EXTRA 10 MINUTES IN THE MORNING, READING A BOOK FOR PLEASURE, IT
TAKES A BIT OF COURAGE TO STEP BACK AND HAVE FAITH THAT DOING "NOTHING" WILL HELP
YOU ACHIEVE YOUR OBJECTIVES. FOR MOST OF US, IT'S A NEW PARADIGM. HOWEVER, IT
WORKS...AND QUICKLY!

HASSAN, A BUSINESS ANALYST, WAS OVERWHELMED WITH CHARTS AND PAPERWORK. HE
NEEDED ORGANISATION, A MORE LUCRATIVE BUSINESS AND A BETTER LIFESTYLE. HIS “LAZY
BREAK” BECAME A DAILY HALF-HOUR GAME OF BASKETBALL. WITHIN FOUR MONTHS OF
INCORPORATING THIS TIME OUT, HE GOT HIS OFFICE SYSTEMS LARGELY UNDER CONTROL
AND HAD REWORKED HIS PRACTICE TO ALLOW HIM TO MOVE TO A MORE UPSCALE
COMMUNITY.

THERE SEEMS TO BE A POWERFUL CONTRADICTION AT WORK HERE. YET, PRACTISING THE
LAZINESS HABIT INCREASES YOUR FULL ENGAGEMENT AND GENERATES A MORE PRODUCTIVE
AND OPTIMALLY FUNCTIONING STATE. YOU LEARN HOW TO BETTER ALLOT YOUR ENERGY,
YOUR TIME AND YOUR RESOURCES. I TELL MY COLLEAGUES TO SCHEDULE A BREAK INTO THE
CALENDAR, JUST LIKE A BUSINESS APPOINTMENT.

IF YOU ARE FEELING RESISTANT AND NERVOUS ABOUT GIVING LAZINESS A TRY, HERE ARE A
FEW SUGGESTIONS:

1. CONSIDER IT AN EXPERIMENT AND STICK TO IT UNTIL YOU GET RESULTS. YOU DIDN‟T GET
TO BE A HIGH NET-WORTH INDIVIDUAL BY GIVING UP AND BEING LAZY IS NO EXCEPTION!
TRY DIFFERENT TYPES OF TIME-OUTS AND DON‟T WORRY THAT YOU‟LL GET ADDICTED TO
PUTTING YOUR FEET UP, THAT‟S NOT YOUR STYLE!

2. FIVE OR TEN MINUTES ARE ALL YOU NEED TO START WITH AND MAYBE ALL YOU NEED ON A
REGULAR BASIS. THIS PRACTICE IS DIFFERENT FOR EVERYONE, SO SEE WHAT WORKS BEST
FOR YOU. SOME DAYS CALL FOR MORE LAZINESS THAN OTHERS. BE FLEXIBLE.

3. DON'T MAKE RELAXING BURDENSOME; YOU DON‟T HAVE TO DO IT EVERY DAY IN THE
BEGINNING AND YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU ARE HAVING FUN. IF IT HELPS, GET A TIME-
OUT BUDDY AND HOLD EACH OTHER ACCOUNTABLE.

4. HAVE A CHOICE OF ACTIVITIES AND PICK WHATEVER FEELS MOST APPEALING IN THE
MOMENT. REMEMBER WHAT YOU LOVED DOING AS A KID, OR WHAT YOU HAVE ALWAYS
WANTED TO DO. CHOICE IS KEY.



5. PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR RESULTS, OTHERWISE YOU MIGHT BE INCLINED TO DISCOUNT ITS
EFFECTIVENESS. FOR THOSE OF US WHO ARE WORKAHOLIC HIGH-ACHIEVERS, IT‟S A BIG
STEP TO ACCEPT THAT “DOING NOTHING” CAN BE EVEN MORE PRODUCTIVE THAN CONSTANT
EFFORT. IT‟S COUNTERINTUITIVE, BUT BRILLIANTLY SO.

11 QUESTIONS TO KICKSTART YOUR DREAM

WHAT‟S YOUR DREAM? WANT TO GIVE YOUR VISION A JUMPSTART? WRITE DOWN YOUR
OBJECTIVES AND USE THESE QUESTIONS TO SPEED UP DELIVERY OF YOUR DREAM.

1. WHAT‟S YOUR HIGHEST PRIORITY THIS LIFETIME?

WHAT‟S MOST IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO EXPERIENCE, EXPLORE OR EMBRACE THIS TIME
AROUND? UNTIL YOU ANSWER THIS QUESTION, YOUR LIFE GOALS WILL BE OFF PURPOSE.
UNALIGNED WITH YOUR INNER PASSION, YOUR INTENTIONS WILL LACK THE POWER TO
ATTRACT THE PEOPLE AND SITUATIONS NECESSARY TO BECOME A REALITY. GET GLUED INTO
YOUR TRUE JOY. WHAT ACTIVITIES TURNED YOU ON AS A CHILD? ? WHAT ARE YOUR HOBBIES
NOW? WHEN YOUR GOALS ARE ALIGNED WITH YOUR SOUL PURPOSE, SYNCHRONICITY KICKS
IN TO GUIDE YOU TO YOUR TARGET. WHEN YOU INTUIT AND OWN YOUR UNIQUE ESSENCE
AND CALLING, ASSISTANCE WILL FLOW TO YOU FROM EVERY EARTHLY AND HEAVENLY
SOURCE.

2. IS THIS YOUR DREAM OR SOMEONE ELSE‟S?

ARE YOUR GOALS YOUR OWN CHOICE, OR WHAT OTHERS THINK YOU SHOULD STRIVE FOR?
DO YOU WANT TO LOOK BACK IN YOUR OLD AGE AND WISH YOU HAD FOLLOWED YOUR
PASSION? WILL YOU REGRET HAVING "PLAYED IT SAFE?" IS IT SELFISH TO GO AFTER YOUR
OWN DREAM? WHAT JOY CAN YOU GIVE TO OTHERS IF YOU HAVEN‟T GIVEN IT TO YOURSELF
FIRST? YOU HAVE A DIVINE RIGHT TO LISTEN TO YOUR HEART. YOU HAVE A SOCIAL
OBLIGATION TO FOLLOW YOUR DREAM. ONLY THEN CAN YOU FULFIL YOUR DESTINY AND MAKE
THE EARTHLY CONTRIBUTION YOU WERE BORN TO MAKE.

3. DO YOU REALLY, REALLY WANT THIS DREAM?

DO YOU BOUND OUT OF BED EVERY MORNING TO PURSUE YOUR VISION? OR IS IT A
LUKEWARM DREAM YOU CHASE BECAUSE IT SOUNDS MEANINGFUL? ONLY THE REAL MCCOY
WILL GENERATE ENOUGH ENERGY TO MANIFEST ITSELF IN THE WORLD.

4. ARE YOU SETTLING FOR LESS THAN?

ARE YOU RESIGNED TO ACCEPTING LESS THAN YOUR FULL SHARE OF LOVE, HEALTH AND
SUCCESS THIS LIFETIME? HAVE YOU COMPROMISED AND SACRIFICED YOUR DREAM TO
DEATH? ANYTHING SHORT OF LIVING YOUR TRUE PASSIONS WILL NEVER MAKE YOU HAPPY.
DO YOU WANT TO ARRIVE AT THE GATES WITH THE REGRET OF NOT MARRYING THAT ONE
CAPTIVATING PERSON, STARTING THAT FUN BUSINESS, OR SEEING THAT EXOTIC PART OF THE
WORLD YOU ALWAYS WANTED TO VISIT?

5. IS YOUR DREAM ACTUALLY JUST A MEANS TO SOME OTHER DREAM?

IS YOUR GOAL THE ULTIMATE END IN ITSELF, OR MERELY A LIMITED MEANS TO THAT END?
ISN‟T IT REALLY THE NEW CAR ITSELF YOU WANT, RATHER THAN THE MONEY, THE MEANS TO



BUY THE NEW CAR? MORE TO THE CORE, ISN‟T IT REALLY A RENEWED SENSE OF SELF-WORTH
YOU DESIRE, RATHER THAN THE NEW CAR OR HOUSE TO IMPRESS THE FAMILY AND
NEIGHBOURS? AND ISN‟T IT REALLY HAPPINESS YOU WANT, RATHER THAN THE PICTURE-
PERFECT MATE, JOB OR BODY? FOCUS ON THE EXPERIENCE YOU WANT TO CREATE, NOT THE
PHYSICAL FORM THAT MAY OR MAY NOT BRING YOU THAT EXPERIENCE.

6. WHAT WILL YOU FEEL LIKE WHEN YOU REACH YOUR DREAM?

PERSONAL PASSION FUELS A VISION. DIVE INTO THE THRILL AND EXHILARATION OF THE
FEELING OF LIVING YOUR DREAM. EVERY MOMENT YOU CAN, DRINK IN THE JOY OF HAVING
YOUR GOAL. "WHERE YOUR CREATIVE ATTENTION FLOWS, SO FLOWS YOUR LIFE." IS YOUR
DAILY ATTENTION FEEDING YOUR DREAM? AS THE TV PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT
REMINDS US, "IT‟S MIDNIGHT. DO YOU KNOW WHERE YOUR CHILDREN ARE?" HEY, IN YOUR
LIFE, IT‟S HIGH NOON! DO YOU KNOW WHERE YOUR CREATIVE EXCITEMENT IS FLOWING? IT‟S
HIGH TIME YOU MANIFESTED YOUR ASPIRATIONS. DYNAMIC, SATISFYING CREATIONS ARE
NURTURED WITH LOVE AND CARE AS A FLOWER IN A GARDEN.

7. HOW WILL YOU BENEFIT FROM GETTING YOUR DREAM?

GET SPECIFIC ABOUT THE BENEFITS YOU‟LL RECEIVE FROM ACHIEVING YOUR VISION. WRITE
DOWN THESE PLUSES SO THEY WILL SINK IN AS MOTIVATORS. WHAT EXACTLY WOULD
HAPPEN IF YOU MADE A LOT OF MONEY DOING SOMETHING YOU LOVE? HOW WOULD YOU
APPROACH YOUR LIFE DIFFERENTLY IF YOU ALLOWED PEOPLE TO LOVE AND SUPPORT YOU?
WHAT WOULD YOU DO WITH MORE VITALITY AND HEALTH?

8. WHAT STEPS CAN YOU TAKE TODAY TOWARD YOUR DREAM?

DON‟T DEFER YOUR DREAM. SET UP SUPPORTS AND SYSTEMS AROUND YOU TO INSTANTLY
TRANSLATE YOUR INTENTIONS INTO ACTION. JUMP ON EVERY OPPORTUNITY THAT IS IN LINE
WITH YOUR PURPOSE AND VISION. KEEP THE MOMENTUM GOING. NO MATTER HOW HECTIC
LIFE GETS, PLEDGE TO TAKE AT LEAST ONE ACTION A DAY. EVEN THE SMALLEST ACTIONS
JOTTING DOWN A NEW IDEA, READING A SINGLE PAGE, OR MAKING ONE PHONE CALL CAN
START TO ADD UP. ARE THERE SMALLER PROJECTS THAT LEAD TO YOUR LARGER DREAM THAT
CAN GIVE YOU PLEASURE IN THE MEANTIME? IF THE DREAM IS TO RUN A MARATHON, TRAIN
FOR A LOCAL FUN-RUN FIRST. AND FIND A WAY TO MEASURE YOUR PROGRESS. TRACK THOSE
LITTLE WINS BY WRITING IN A JOURNAL OR TELLING A FRIEND.

9. ARE YOU TELLING YOURSELF: "I CAN‟T HAVE MY DREAM?"

MOST PEOPLE DON‟T BELIEVE THEY CAN LIVE THEIR DREAM. EITHER THEIR BELIEF SYSTEM
HAS THEM BELIEVING THEY CAN‟T MAKE A LIVING DOING WHAT THEY LOVE, OR THEY FEEL
THEY DON‟T DESERVE THEIR DREAM. TO AVOID THE PAIN OF FEELING THEY CAN‟T HAVE
THEIR DREAM, PEOPLE OFTEN KEEP THEIR DREAM SO BURIED THEY CAN‟T REMEMBER THEY
EVER HAD A DREAM. EVERYONE HAS A DREAM! AND EVERYONE IS DESTINED TO FULFIL THAT
PURPOSE. WHY WAIT?

10. ARE YOU AFRAID OF GETTING YOUR DREAM?

STATISTICALLY, MORE HEART ATTACKS OCCUR WHEN "GOOD" THINGS HAPPEN, THAN WHEN
"BAD" THINGS HAPPEN! GETTING YOUR DREAM IS LIFE THREATENING! OF COURSE, REALISING
YOUR DREAM IS ONLY THREATENING TO YOUR OLD EXPERIENCE OF YOURSELF AND YOUR LIFE



YOU KNOW THE ONE THAT‟S BORING OR PAINING YOU TO DEATH! CHANGE IS SCARY. FIND A
WAY TO MOVE THE ENERGY OF FEAR. THE ONLY WAY TO AVOID FEELING FEAR IS TO AVOID
LIVING ALTOGETHER!

11. DO YOU REALLY NEED TO ACCOMPLISH YOUR DREAM?

DO YOU REALLY NEED TO ACHIEVE YOUR GOALS TO BE HAPPY? ENTER THE "HOOTLESS STATE"
WHERE YOU NO LONGER GIVE A HOOT IF THE EXACT "PICTURE" OF YOUR DREAM COMES
TRUE. WITHOUT THE INTERFERENCE OF THE EGO‟S PUSH, PRESSURE AND MICRO MANAGING,
YOU HAVE A MUCH BETTER CHANCE OF BEING IN THE RIGHT VIBRATION SPACE TO ATTRACT
REAL HAPPINESS. WHEN YOU RELAX YOUR GRIP ON THE EXACT WAY YOUR FUTURE "HAS" TO
UNFOLD, YOU GIVE THE UNIVERSE MORE FLEXIBILITY IN HOW IT CAN FULFIL YOUR WISHES.
AND, ON A HIGHER PLANE, WHAT IF OUR TRUE TASK HERE ON IS SIMPLY TO BE WHO WE
ALREADY ARE IN OUR ESSENTIAL NATURE WITH OR WITHOUT MANIFESTING OUR SPECIFIC
GOALS? WHAT IF THE ESSENCE OF WHO WE ARE IS ENOUGH?

20 WAYS TO TELL SOMEONE "NO"

TELL ME IF THIS SOUNDS FAMILIAR...

SOMEONE ASKS YOU TO DO SOMETHING THAT YOU REALLY DON‟T WANT TO DO OR YOU
HONESTLY DON‟T HAVE TIME FOR. IT MIGHT BE A SCHOOL FUNDRAISER, PARTICIPATING ON A
COMMITTEE, OR EVEN JUST WORKING LATE. BUT YOU FEEL LIKE YOU WILL LET THE OTHER
PERSON DOWN IF YOU SAY NO. YOU FEEL GUILTY ALREADY AND YOU HAVEN‟T EVEN
RESPONDED YET!

SO YOU SAY, “SURE,” EVEN THOUGH DOING SO IS GOING TO PUT YOU UNDER TREMENDOUS
STRESS AND PRESSURE. YOU KNOW THAT YOU WILL PROBABLY END UP RESENTING THIS
ACTIVITY AND MAYBE EVEN DUCKING SOME OF YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES BECAUSE YOUR
HEART‟S JUST NOT IN IT, BUT YOU GO AHEAD AND AGREE ANYWAY.

WHY ARE WE SO AFRAID TO TELL PEOPLE "NO”?

FOR SOME REASON, WE HAVE BEEN TAUGHT THAT "NO" IS DISRESPECTFUL AND EVEN
INSULTING. WE SEEM TO VALUE OTHER PEOPLE'S TIME MORE THAN OUR OWN FEELING THAT
WE NEED TO BEND OVER BACKWARD TO ACCOMMODATE OTHERS, EVEN IF IT
INCONVENIENCES US. I KNOW WE ARE ATONING FOR THE "ME", BUT LET'S BE REASONABLE!
"NO" IS ACTUALLY ONE OF THE HEALTHIEST WORDS THAT CAN COME OUT OF YOUR MOUTH.

WHEN YOU TELL SOMEONE "NO," YOU ARE REALLY SAYING THAT YOU UNDERSTAND AND
ACCEPT YOUR OWN LIMITS AND DON'T WANT TO DO A SHODDY JOB BY OVERWHELMING
YOURSELF. THAT YOU VALUE YOUR TIME AND PRIORITIES AND AREN'T WILLING TO TAKE AWAY
FROM THE TRULY IMPORTANT THINGS IN YOUR LIFE. A LITTLE SELFISHNESS IS NECESSARY, IF
YOU WANT TO MAINTAIN A BALANCED AND SANE LIFE!

SO HOW DO YOU SAY "NO" WITHOUT INSULTING THE OTHER PERSON, FEELING CONSUMED
WITH GUILT, OR HURTING YOUR OWN CREDIBILITY?

WE NEED TO FIND A WAY TO SAY "NO" WITHOUT DRAGGING UP ALL OF THOSE HIDDEN
FEARS; THEY'LL THINK I AM LAZY OR SELFISH, THAT I HAVE NO CAREER DRIVE, THAT I AM
NOT AMBITIOUS, THAT I HAVE NO CONCERN FOR OTHER PEOPLE. AND IT'S TIME TO GIVE UP



ALL OF THOSE ROLES YOU ARE SO PROUD OF SUPERMAN, MARTYR AND HERO BUT ARE
KEEPING YOU FROM FINDING TRUE PEACE.

ONCE YOU'VE ACCEPTED THAT YOU HAVE THE RIGHT (AND OFTEN RESPONSIBILITY) TO TURN
SOMEONE DOWN, YOU CAN DO IT IN A WAY THAT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE A REJECTION. LET ME
SHOW YOU HOW:

1. I CAN'T RIGHT NOW, BUT I CAN DO IT LATER
IF YOU REALLY WANT TO HELP THE PERSON BUT DON'T HAVE TIME NOW, TELL THEM SO.
OFFER A LATER TIME OR DATE IF THEY CAN'T WAIT FOR YOU THEY WILL FIND SOMEONE ELSE.

2. I AM REALLY NOT THE MOST QUALIFIED PERSON FOR THE JOB
IF YOU DON'T FEEL THAT YOU HAVE ADEQUATE SKILLS TO TAKE ON A TASK, THAT'S OKAY. IT'S
BETTER TO ADMIT YOUR LIMITATIONS UP FRONT THAN FEEL OVERWHELMED DOWN THE ROAD.

3. I JUST DON'T HAVE ANY ROOM IN MY CALENDAR RIGHT NOW
BE HONEST IF YOUR SCHEDULE IS FILLED AND "FILLED" DOESN'T HAVE TO MEAN REALLY
FILLED! IT JUST MEANS YOU HAVE SCHEDULED AS MUCH AS YOU ARE WILLING AND YOU ARE
STOPPING.

4. I CAN'T, BUT LET ME GIVE YOU THE NAME OF SOMEONE WHO CAN
IF YOU AREN'T AVAILABLE TO HELP OUT, OFFER ANOTHER QUALIFIED RESOURCE.
PROFESSIONALS DO THIS ALL THE TIME WHEN THEY REFER A CLIENT TO A COLLEAGUE.

5. I HAVE ANOTHER COMMITMENT
AND IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT THAT COMMITMENT IS. IT COULD BE A MEETING OR A
DENTIST APPOINTMENT OR A DAY IN THE PARK WITH YOUR KID. THE POINT IS, YOU AREN'T
AVAILABLE.

6. I'M IN THE MIDDLE OF SEVERAL PROJECTS AND CAN'T SPARE THE TIME
LET PEOPLE KNOW WHEN YOU HAVE ALREADY ACCEPTED OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES, NO ONE
IS GOING TO FAULT YOU FOR HAVING ALREADY FILLED YOUR PLATE.

7. I HAVE HAD A FEW THINGS COME UP AND I NEED TO DEAL WITH THOSE FIRST
UNEXPECTED THINGS HAPPEN THAT THROW YOUR SCHEDULE OFF IT HAPPENS. SO ACCEPT
THAT YOU MAY NEED TO MAKE A FEW ADJUSTMENTS UNTIL YOUR LIFE STABILISES AGAIN.

8. I WOULD RATHER DECLINE THAN END UP DOING A MEDIOCRE JOB
KNOWING THAT YOU AREN'T ABLE TO DELIVER A QUALITY PRODUCT FOR WHATEVER REASON
IS REASON ENOUGH FOR TURNING A REQUEST DOWN.

9. I AM REALLY FOCUSING MORE ON MY PERSONAL AND FAMILY LIFE RIGHT NOW
PEOPLE ACT ASHAMED OF WANTING TO SPEND TIME WITH THEIR FAMILIES LIKE IT MEANS
THEY DON'T HAVE GOALS. HAVING A STRONG FAMILY IS A GOAL IN AND OF ITSELF!

10. I AM REALLY FOCUSING MORE ON MY CAREER RIGHT NOW
THE REVERSE IS TRUE ALSO; YOU MAY HAVE TO GIVE UP SOME CIVIC OR COMMUNITY DUTIES
TO FOCUS YOUR ENERGIES ON A WORK-RELATED TASK (AND THAT'S FINE, TOO!)

11. I REALLY DON'T ENJOY THAT KIND OF WORK



WHO SAID YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO ENJOY YOUR CHORES AND ASSIGNMENTS! WELL, IF YOU
DON'T ENJOY THEM, WHY DO THEM? LIFE ISN'T ABOUT DRUDGERY AND BOREDOM.

12. I CAN'T, BUT I AM HAPPY TO HELP OUT WITH ANOTHER TASK
IF SOMEONE ASKS YOU TO DO SOMETHING YOU REALLY DESPISE, REFUSE BUT THEN OFFER
TO HELP WITH SOMETHING YOU FIND MORE ENJOYABLE OR STIMULATING.

13. I HAVE LEARNED IN THE PAST THAT THIS REALLY ISN'T MY STRONG SUIT
ANOTHER WAY OF ADMITTING YOUR LIMITATIONS. DID YOU KNOW THAT ACTUALLY MAKES
YOU STRONGER? KNOWING WHAT YOU CAN HANDLE AND WHAT YOU CAN'T IS A TREMENDOUS
TALENT!

14. I AM SURE YOU WILL DO A WONDERFUL JOB ON YOUR OWN
MANY TIMES, PEOPLE ASK FOR HELP BECAUSE THEY DOUBT THEIR OWN ABILITIES. LET THE
OTHER PERSON KNOW THAT YOU HAVE CONFIDENCE THAT THEY WILL SUCCEED.

15. I DON'T HAVE ANY EXPERIENCE WITH THAT, SO I CAN'T HELP YOU
VOLUNTEERING TO HELP OUT SHOULDN'T MEAN THAT YOU HAVE TO LEARN AN ENTIRELY NEW
SET OF SKILLS. OFFER TO HELP OUT WITH SOMETHING YOU ALREADY KNOW HOW TO DO.

16. I AM NOT COMFORTABLE WITH THAT
YOU MIGHT BE UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THE PEOPLE INVOLVED, THE TYPE OF WORK, THE
MORAL IMPLICATIONS, THIS IS A VERY RESPECTFUL WAY TO AVOID A STICKY SITUATION.

17. I HATE TO SPLIT MY ATTENTION AMONG TOO MANY PROJECTS
LET PEOPLE KNOW THAT YOU WANT TO DO A GOOD JOB FOR THEM BUT THAT YOU CAN'T
WHEN YOUR FOCUS IS TOO DIVIDED OR SPLINTERED.

18. I AM COMMITTED TO LEAVING SOME TIME FOR MYSELF IN MY SCHEDULE
SELFISH, SELFISH, SELFISH! BUT IN A GOOD WAY! TREAT YOUR PERSONAL TIME LIKE ANY
OTHER APPOINTMENT BLOCK IT OFF IN YOUR CALENDAR AND GUARD IT WITH YOUR LIFE!

19. I AM NOT TAKING ON ANY NEW PROJECTS RIGHT NOW
YOU AREN'T SAYING THAT YOU WILL NEVER HELP OUT AGAIN, JUST THAT YOU FEEL YOUR
SCHEDULE IS AS FULL AS YOU WOULD LIKE RIGHT NOW.

20. NO
SOMETIMES IT'S OKAY JUST TO SAY NO! JUST MAKE SURE THAT YOU SAY IT IN A WAY THAT
EXPRESSES RESPECT AND COURTESY THAT LEAVES THE DOOR OPEN FOR GOOD RELATIONS.

4 SUPER REASONS YOU WILL LOVE "EASIFYING" YOUR LIFE

ARE YOU SOMEONE WHO WANTS A SIMPLER LIFE, BUT WHO ASSOCIATES SIMPLIFYING WITH
GIVING AWAY EVERYTHING YOU OWN AND GOING BACK TO BAKING YOUR OWN BREAD?
UNFORTUNATELY, THAT ATTITUDE CAN SCARE YOU AWAY FROM MAKING THE SIMPLE CHANGES
THAT CAN MAKE YOUR LIFE SO MUCH EASIER, BETTER, AND HAPPIER. INSTEAD, LET'S AGREE
THAT SIMPLIFYING MEANS WHATEVER YOU WANT IT TO MEAN IN YOUR OWN PARTICULAR
LIFE.

FOR ME, IT MEANS ELIMINATING THE STUFF AROUND ME THAT I FIND NEITHER USEFUL NOR
BEAUTIFUL (AND TRUST ME, OTHER PEOPLE WOULD NOT ALWAYS AGREE WITH MY DEFINITION



OF USEFUL OR BEAUTIFUL); HOWEVER, IT ALSO MEANS SETTING UP SYSTEMS TO MAKE SURE
THAT I HAVE EASIER WAYS TO HANDLE SOME AGE-OLD PROBLEMS IN THE FUTURE.

TO ME, SIMPLIFYING MEANS "EASE-I-FYING" (OK, SO THERE'S NO SUCH WORD, BUT THERE
SHOULD BE!). EASIFYING DEFINED WOULD BE: "MINIMUM EFFORT FOR MAXIMUM PLEASURE."
EASIFYING SIMPLY LOOKS AT THE PROBLEMS OF EVERYDAY LIFE THEN POSES CREATIVE
EASIFYING SOLUTIONS.

HERE ARE 4 SUPER REASONS THAT YOU WILL LOVE EASIFYING YOUR LIFE.

1. LESS STUFF, FEWER PROBLEMS

WITH LESS STUFF CLUTTERING UP YOUR LIFE THE BENEFITS ARE EASY TO SEE: YOU'LL HAVE
LESS STUFF TO CLEAN. LESS STUFF TO HAVE REPAIRED (MORE MONEY FOR YOU!); LESS
STUFF TO DISPOSE OF. (ENVIRONMENTALLY GOOD!), AND; LESS STUFF TO FIND. JUST PICK
ONE ROOM IN YOUR HOUSE AND LOOK AROUND IT. HOW MUCH OF THAT STUFF ARE YOU
REALLY ENJOYING AND GETTING USE FROM? HOW MUCH OF IT IS AN AGGRAVATION FOR
CLEANING, REPAIRING, LOSING, FIXING, DISPOSING OF, ETC.?

2. LESS EFFORT, MORE ENERGY

YOU'LL HAVE LESS FEAR AND WORRY ASSOCIATED WITH CARRYING AROUND A LOT OF STUFF.
IT WILL SIMPLY REQUIRE LESS EFFORT. BY SIMPLY COMBINING THINGS INTO ONE (AEROBICS
AND WEIGHTLIFTING AT THE SAME TIME), BY SETTING UP A SYSTEM TO DO THE WORK FOR
YOU (A BILL PAYING SYSTEM), BY ELIMINATING A TASK ALTOGETHER (DELEGATE IT TO
SOMEONE ELSE), YOU WILL BE CALMER, NOT STRESSED WITH THE DAY TO DAY LOGISTICS OF
STUFF. AN EXAMPLE, I LOVE TO USE IS THE FREEDOM THAT COMES FROM NOT SMOKING. IT'S
NOT THE FREEDOM FROM THE HABIT THAT MOST PEOPLE NOTICE FIRST. IT'S THE NO MORE
WORRYING ABOUT HAVING ENOUGH CIGARETTES, NO MORE FEARS OF NOT BEING ABLE TO
FIND A LIGHTER. YOU'LL FEEL MORE IN CONTROL OF YOUR TIME, YOUR SPACE AND YOUR
ENERGY.

3. LESS BAGGAGE, BETTER RELATIONSHIPS

"STUFF" REFERS TO NOT ONLY MATERIAL THINGS, BUT MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL CLUTTER AS
WELL. BY CLEANING OUT THE 'NEED-TO, HAVE-TO, AND OUGHT-TOS' OF YOUR OWN LIFE,
YOU'LL HAVE BETTER RELATIONSHIPS BECAUSE THERE'S NOT AS MUCH "STUFF" IN YOUR LIFE
TO FIGHT ABOUT. PUT THE PAST IN THE PAST BY RETURNING ANYTHING YOU BORROWED, BY
APOLOGISING TO WHOEVER YOU NEED TO, BY GETTING YOUR BILLS UP TO DATE, BY SENDING
THE CARD OR GIFT YOU FORGOT TO SEND, BY MAKING THE PHONE CALL YOU NEED TO MAKE.
YOU GET THE IDEA. ANYTHING THAT YOU "SHOULD" HAVE DONE, BUT NEGLECTED TO, HAS
YOU TIED TO THE PAST.

4. MORE FUN!

HAVING AN EASIFIED LIFE MEANS HAVING MORE TIME FOR THE THINGS YOU DREAM OF...
LIKE READING, OR TRAVELLING, OR ENTERTAINING, OR EXERCISING, OR PLAYING WITH THE
KIDS, OR VISITING WITH FRIENDS. YOU'LL FEEL MORE IN CONTROL BECAUSE THE CLUTTER,
PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL AND MENTAL WILL NO LONGER DICTATE HOW YOUR SPACE IS
ARRANGED, OR HOW YOUR TIME IS SPENT (LOOKING FOR THINGS), OR HOW YOUR ENERGY IS
USED (FRUSTRATION, AGGRAVATION).



NEED I SAY MORE?

THREE STEPS TO SUCCESS

HERE ARE THREE SIMPLE STEPS TO MAKE THINGS HAPPEN IN YOUR LIFE:

DO IT

"ACTION IS A GREAT RESTORER AND BUILDER OF CONFIDENCE. INACTION IS NOT ONLY THE
RESULT, BUT THE CAUSE, OF FEAR. PERHAPS THE ACTION YOU TAKE WILL BE SUCCESSFUL;
PERHAPS DIFFERENT ACTION OR ADJUSTMENTS WILL HAVE TO FOLLOW. BUT ANY ACTION IS
BETTER THAN NO ACTION AT ALL."

IF YOU WAIT UNTIL YOU HAVE ALL THE FACTS OR UNTIL YOU KNOW HOW YOU WILL HANDLE
EVERY POSSIBLE CHALLENGE THAT COMES ALONG, YOU'LL NEVER GET STARTED. BEGIN
SOMEWHERE. YOU CAN'T ACCOMPLISH ANYTHING UNTIL YOU BEGIN. DO IT.

DO IT RIGHT

"IF A TASK IS ONCE BEGUN,
NEVER LEAVE UNTIL IT'S DONE.
BE THE LABOUR GREAT OR SMALL,
DO IT WELL OR NOT AT ALL."

IT'S TRUE: IF YOU DON'T HAVE TIME TO DO IT RIGHT, WHEN WILL YOU FIND TIME TO DO IT
OVER? DO IT RIGHT.

DO IT RIGHT NOW

IN A FAMOUS WAR, AS THE SOLDIERS WERE TRYING TO CAPTURE A HILL, THEY WERE
THROWN BACK AGAIN AND AGAIN. THE BLACK POWDER AMMUNITION THEY WERE USING
PINPOINTED THEIR POSITION FOR THEIR ENEMIES. AS SOLDIER AFTER SOLDIER TOPPLED,
THE TROOPS BEGAN TO PANIC. UP RODE THE COMMANDER, ON A LITTLE HORSE URGING HIS
MEN TO FIGHT ON. ENCOURAGED BY HIS BRAVERY IN EXPOSING HIMSELF TO THE WHIZZING
BULLETS, THE TROOPS BEGAN TO CHEER THEIR COMMANDER.

"DON'T CHEER, MEN, THE COMMANDER CALLED OUT TO THEM. "FIGHT! NOW‟S THE TIME TO
FIGHT!"
THERE IS A TIME TO CHEER. A TIME TO REFLECT. A TIME TO PLAN. A TIME TO REMINISCE. BUT
THERE IS ALSO A TIME TO ACT. THOSE WHO ACCOMPLISH ANYTHING WORTHWHILE KNOW
THAT TIME IS NOW. DO IT. DO IT RIGHT. DO IT RIGHT NOW. THESE ARE THREE SIMPLE STEPS
TO SUCCESS.

EVERYDAY TOOLS FOR EXTRAORDINARY SUCCESS

I AM OFTEN ASKED ABOUT THE "SECRETS TO SUCCESS". I HAVE HAD THE CHANCE TO WORK
WITH HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE IN BUSINESS AND FINANCE AND THE GOOD NEWS IS,
THERE ARE NO "SECRETS" FOR SUCCESS!



THERE ARE, HOWEVER, A FEW TOOLS THAT, WHEN USED TOGETHER, COME CLOSE TO BEING A
"SECRET WEAPON". THEY REQUIRE NO SPECIAL TALENT OR SKILLS. THEY COST VERY LITTLE
AND EVERY SCHOOL CHILD HAS A COMPLETE SET.

THEY ARE AROUND US EVERY DAY, YET WE FAIL TO USE THEM AND WE DEPRIVE OURSELVES
OF THEIR POWER. HERE IS MY LIST OF THE TOP 5 "SECRET" WEAPONS OF EXTRAORDINARILY
SUCCESSFUL LEADERS:

1. 3X5 CARDS
YES, I AM REFERRING TO THOSE LITTLE CARDS YOUR MUM USED FOR RECIPES. SUCCESSFUL
PEOPLE USE THEM TO JOT NOTES, KEEP TIPS AND STORE VALUABLE INFORMATION. I CARRY
THEM EVERYWHERE AND HAVE SUPPLIES BY THE PHONE, BESIDE MY BED AND ON THE
KITCHEN COUNTER. THEY ARE WONDERFUL! THEY LAST FOREVER I HAVE CARDS I WROTE
OVER YEARS AGO! AND IF YOU ACCIDENTALLY LEAVE THEM IN YOUR POCKETS, THEY EVEN GO
THROUGH THE WASH. (TRUST ME ON THIS!)

2. A WATCH
HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE ARE INTENSELY TIME CONSCIOUS. THEY DON'T SPEND THEIR
TIME, THEIR ENERGY OR THEIR LIVES ON TRIVIAL PURSUITS. THEY WEAR A WATCH AND THEY
USE IT TO STAY ON TASK UNTIL THEY ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS AND CREATE THE LIFE THEY
WANT. TIME IS YOUR MOST PRECIOUS ASSET AND OUR MOST UNDER-VALUED COMMODITY.
WEAR AND USE A WATCH!

3. AN ALARM CLOCK
"EARLY TO BED, EARLY TO RISE, MAKES A MAN (OR WOMAN) HEALTHY, WEALTHY AND WISE".
IT'S STILL TRUE! I LIVE AND WORK WITH WEALTHY PEOPLE AND THEY GO TO BED AT 10:00
P.M., WAKE UP AROUND 6:00 IN THE MORNING, EVERYONE IS UP, AND THE CARS ARE
ALREADY HEADING FOR THE OFFICE. BUY AND USE AN ALARM CLOCK! START EARLY, WORK
SMART.

4. A LIST
HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE PLAN THEIR DAY. THEY MAKE A LIST OF THEIR MOST IMPORTANT
PRIORITIES. THEY CHOOSE THE THINGS THAT WILL MAKE A MAJOR, LONG-TERM, DIFFERENCE
AND THEY FOCUS ON THEM ALL DAY LONG. LAST THING IN THE EVENING, OR FIRST THING IN
THE MORNING, CREATE A LIST AND WORK FROM IT DURING YOUR DAY.

5. A COMPASS

MY MOST SUCCESSFUL CLIENTS ALWAYS HAVE A MAP, A PICTURE OR POSTER OF THEIR MOST
IMPORTANT GOALS AND THEY USE IT TO GUIDE THEM DURING THE DAY. THEY STAY ON
COURSE. IF THEY GET LOST, THEY RE-ASSESS AND GET BACK ON-TRACK IMMEDIATELY. HAVE A
"COMPASS" THAT REMINDS YOU OF YOUR DREAMS, YOUR GOALS, AND YOUR MOST DARING
DESIRES. STAY ON COURSE!

10 WAYS TO KEEP YOURSELF ENTHUSED

ALMOST ALL OF US FEEL ENTHUSIASTIC AT THE START OF A NEW PROJECT. HOWEVER,
KEEPING THE ENTHUSIASM GOING OVER TIME IS ANOTHER ISSUE, AND IS PROBLEMATIC FOR
MANY PEOPLE.



IN THE PROGRESS OF EVERY PROJECT WHEN ENERGY FADES UNLESS THERE IS AN INFLUX OF
EXTERNAL ENERGY. SINCE WE CANNOT BE SURE THAT WE WILL RECEIVE AN ENERGY BOOST
FROM OUTSIDE OURSELVES AT JUST THE RIGHT TIME, HERE ARE SOME WAYS TO PREVENT
OUR ENTHUSIASM FROM FLAGGING.

1. USE VISUAL REMINDERS OF YOUR GOAL.

DEVELOP VISUAL REMINDERS OF YOUR GOAL AND THE ADVANTAGES YOU WILL EXPERIENCE
WHEN YOU REACH IT. THE CLASSIC EXAMPLE IS THAT IF, WHEN YOU ACHIEVE IT, YOU WILL BE
ABLE TO AFFORD THAT LUXURY ITEM YOU ARE YEARNING FOR, GET YOUR PHOTOGRAPH TAKEN
WITH THAT ITEM (E.G. GO TO A CAR SHOWROOM, SIT IN THE CAR OF YOUR DREAMS, AND
HAVE A FRIEND TAKE A PICTURE), AND PLACE THE PHOTOGRAPH WHERE YOU WILL SEE IT
DAILY.

2. DEVELOP TINY STEPS.

IT IS EASY TO BECOME DISCOURAGED IF EACH STEP LOOMS LARGE AND REQUIRES A MAJOR
EXPENDITURE OF TIME. IF YOU BREAK THE PROJECT DOWN TO EXTREMELY SMALL STEPS,
THEN YOU CAN MAKE SOME PROGRESS EVEN IF YOU HAVE ONLY FIVE MINUTES. IT MAY BE
SOMETHING AS SMALL AS SETTING OUT THE MATERIALS FOR THE NEXT STEP, BUT,
NONETHELESS, IT IS PROGRESS.

3. CHECK OFF SMALL STEPS.

AS YOU TAKE THOSE SMALL STEPS, CHECK THEM OFF AS ACHIEVED, AND GIVE YOURSELF A
PAT ON THE BACK FOR YOUR PROGRESS. FOCUS ALWAYS ON PROGRESS YOU HAVE MADE AS
BEING JUST AS IMPORTANT AS THE DISTANCE YOU HAVE TO GO.

4. CUT OUT, OR AT LEAST CUT DOWN ON, YOUR TIME-WASTERS AND MIND NUMBERS.

LEARN TO IDENTIFY THE VARIOUS TIME-WASTERS THAT YOU USE TO "NUMB OUT." THEN
AVOID THEM AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. THE LIST MAY INCLUDE TOO MUCH TV, CHAT-ROOMS,
COMPUTER GAMES, TIME ON THE PHONE, SHOPPING, MIND-ALTERING CHEMICALS SUCH AS
ALCOHOL AND OTHER DRUGS, OR OTHER BEHAVIOURS IN WHICH YOU INDULGE FAIRLY
OBSESSIVELY.

5. GET ENOUGH SLEEP/REST.

OFTEN, WHEN WE FEEL THE NEED TO WORK HARDER ON A PROJECT, THIS TRANSLATES TO
MORE HOURS OF WORK, AND LESS OF REST. THE STATISTICS ON SLEEP DEPRIVATION IN THIS
DECADE ARE FRIGHTENING. IT IS TRUE THAT CERTAIN GREAT LEADERS HAVE BEEN REPUTED
TO FUNCTION ON VERY LITTLE SLEEP. HOWEVER, MOST OF THEM WERE IN SUCH POSITIONS
OF POWER THAT THEY COULD CATNAP WHEN THEY CHOSE AND THEY DID. IT IS ESSENTIAL TO
OUR EFFICIENT FUNCTIONING THAT WE GET ENOUGH SLEEP. YOUR PROJECT WILL SUFFER IF
YOU DO NOT.

6. JOURNAL ABOUT THE BENEFITS OF YOUR PROJECT.

JOURNALING INVOLVES HARNESSING OUR BODIES AND THE VERBAL PART OF OUR BRAIN TO
WHATEVER IT IS WE JOURNAL ABOUT. BY GETTING BOTH OF THESE ASSOCIATED WITH THE
BENEFITS OF THE PROJECT, YOU BECOME MORE FULLY INVOLVED WITH IT. DO THIS



ESPECIALLY AT THE START, WHEN YOUR ENERGY IS HIGH. ADD TO THIS JOURNAL WHENEVER
YOU CAN AND RE-READ IT REGULARLY.

7. DO NOT DISCUSS YOUR PROJECT WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE CLOUDS OVER YOUR PARADE.

YOU KNOW THE PEOPLE WHO WORRY THAT IF YOU SUCCEED YOU MAY GROW AWAY FROM
THEM. THERE ARE OTHERS WHO JUST DON'T WANT TO SEE YOU AIM TOO HIGH AND THEN BE
DISAPPOINTED. THEY MEAN WELL, BUT AVOID GIVING THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO RAIN ON
YOUR PARADE. PRACTICE WAYS TO CHANGE THE SUBJECT IF THEY TRY TO TALK ABOUT YOUR
PROJECT.

8. KEEP YOURSELF PHYSICALLY WELL.

IT SEEMS THAT WE CANNOT OPEN A NEWSPAPER OR MAGAZINE, OR VISIT A WEB SITE,
WITHOUT RECEIVING INFORMATION ON KEEPING OURSELVES HEALTHY. EAT RIGHT, EXERCISE,
DRINK PLENTY OF WATER... YOU KNOW THE ROUTINE. THE TRICK IS TO KEEP AT IT SO THAT
YOU HAVE THE PHYSICAL ENERGY NEEDED FOR YOUR PROJECT.

9. AVOID ALL-OR-NOTHING THINKING.

WHEN WE FALL INTO THE TRAP OF ALL-OR-NOTHING THINKING, WE BEGIN TO BELIEVE THAT
ENCOUNTERING OBSTACLES, OR FAILURE, AT ONE JUNCTURE EQUALS TOTAL FAILURE ON THE
ENTIRE PROJECT. REMEMBER THAT EACH STEP IS JUST A SMALL STEP. IF ONE DOES NOT
SUCCEED, TRY ANOTHER IN ANOTHER DIRECTION AND KEEP THE BIG PICTURE IN MIND.

10. CLEAR THE DECKS.

A MAJOR CAUSE OF LOSS OF ENERGY IS THE OTHER STUFF THAT ACCUMULATES AROUND US
WHEN WE ARE FOCUSING ON ONE PARTICULAR PROJECT. SCHEDULE TIME TO KEEP THE PILES
(PHYSICAL OR MENTAL) FROM ACCUMULATING. DO THE FILING, IF NECESSARY. KEEP UP WITH
YOUR TO-DO LIST IF YOU KEEP ONE. IF YOU DON'T, THEY WILL SAP YOUR ENERGY AND
OVERWHELM YOU. YOU MAY THINK THAT DOING THESE THINGS TAKES TIME FROM YOUR
PROJECT, BUT THEY WILL ACTUALLY FREE UP MORE ENERGY TO TAKE YOU TO A SUCCESSFUL
CONCLUSION WITH YOUR ENTHUSIASM STILL IN FULL FLOW.

THOSE WHO WILL LISTEN WILL LEARN

ADVICE COMES IN ALL SHAPES AND SIZES. FOR INSTANCE, SOMEONE GAVE THE SAGE
ADVICE: "IF YOU DANCE WITH A GRIZZLY BEAR, YOU HAD BETTER LET HIM LEAD." I SUPPOSE
IT'S GOOD TO KNOW WHEN TO GO ALONG WITH SOME PEOPLE.

IT'S BEEN ACCURATELY SAID THAT THERE IS A LOT OF ADVICE AVAILABLE FOR NOTHING AND
MOST OF IT IS WORTH IT. BUT HERE IS SOUND GUIDANCE, FROM AN UNKNOWN AUTHOR,
WORTH TAKING TO HEART: "IF SOMEONE HURTS YOU, BETRAYS YOU, OR BREAKS YOUR HEART,
FORGIVE; FOR THAT PERSON HAS HELPED YOU LEARN ABOUT TRUST AND THE IMPORTANCE
OF CAUTION. IF SOMEONE LOVES YOU, LOVE BACK UNCONDITIONALLY; THAT ONE IS
TEACHING YOU TO LOVE.

MAKE EVERY DAY COUNT. APPRECIATE EVERY MOMENT AND TAKE FROM THOSE MOMENTS
EVERYTHING THAT YOU POSSIBLY CAN, FOR YOU MAY NEVER BE ABLE TO EXPERIENCE IT
AGAIN. TALK TO PEOPLE THAT YOU HAVE NEVER TALKED TO BEFORE AND ACTUALLY LISTEN.



LET YOURSELF FALL IN LOVE, BREAK FREE AND SET YOUR SIGHTS HIGH. HOLD YOUR HEAD UP
BECAUSE YOU HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO. TELL YOURSELF YOU ARE A GREAT INDIVIDUAL AND
BELIEVE IN YOURSELF, FOR IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE IN YOURSELF, IT WILL BE HARD FOR
OTHERS TO BELIEVE IN YOU. YOU CAN MAKE OF YOUR LIFE ANYTHING YOU WISH. CREATE
YOUR OWN LIFE AND THEN GO OUT AND LIVE IT WITH ABSOLUTELY NO REGRETS. MOST
IMPORTANTLY, IF YOU LOVE OTHERS, TELL THEM, FOR YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT MAY COME
TOMORROW. AND LEARN A LESSON IN LIFE EACH DAY YOU LIVE." EVEN SOME FREE ADVICE
CAN PROFIT TO THOSE WHO LISTEN.

DISCOVERING WHAT YOU WANT FOR YOUR LIFE

I OFTEN RECOMMEND THAT LIFE PLANNING BE BASED UPON AN INDIVIDUAL'S PERSONAL
VISION AND PURPOSE. IF YOU ARE GOING TO HANDCRAFT A LIFE OF CHOICE, YOU'LL NEED TO
KNOW WHAT YOU WANT SO THAT YOU CAN MAKE THE CHOICES THAT TAKE YOU THERE. THE
TROUBLE IS THAT MANY (MOST?) OF YOU CANNOT NAME WHAT IT IS YOU WANT.

IF YOU DON'T MAKE CHOICES FOR YOUR LIFE, OTHERS WILL. OFTEN, CHOICES ARE MADE BY
CIRCUMSTANCES, WEAK FOUNDATION. CHOOSING WHAT YOU WANT IN LIFE AND OUT OF LIFE
IS A NEW SKILL FOR MANY PEOPLE. IT MAY TAKE SOME PRACTICE. AT SOME POINT YOU
REALISE THAT YOU ARE ABLE TO AND MUST, MAKE CHOICES FOR YOUR LIFE.

HERE ARE SOME TIPS THAT YOU CAN USE TO HELP YOU DISCOVER WHAT YOU DO WANT IN
THIS BRIEF, BUT MAGNIFICENT EXPERIENCE CALLED LIFE.

1. NAME WHAT YOU DON'T WANT; YOU MAY REALISE YOUR WANTS THROUGH CONTRAST.

2. TELL THE TRUTH ABOUT WHAT IS SO. DON'T PUT A POSITIVE SPIN OR POWERFUL
INTERPRETATION ON YOUR LIFE TODAY IF YOU DON'T REALLY BELIEVE IT. IF YOU THINK YOUR
LIFE IS LOUSY, SAY SO AND GET READY TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

3. IDENTIFY WHAT YOU DO VERY WELL AND WHAT YOU ARE LOUSY AT.

4. IDENTIFY THE FIVE THINGS/PEOPLE THAT ARE MOST NEGATIVELY OR OVER-INFLUENCING
YOUR BEHAVIOUR TODAY.

5. CONSCIOUSLY SCAN THE GLOBAL VILLAGE, IT'S PARTICIPANTS AND ACTIVITIES. LIST YOUR
TOP FIVE APPEALING CAREERS/ACTIVITIES THAT SERVE HUMANITY OR YOU LIKE THE BEST.

6. IDENTIFY THE TOP FIVE WAYS YOU'D LIKE TO EXPERIENCE YOURSELF. DON'T PUT ANY
LIMITS ON THIS.

7. TAKE THE TIME TO GET TO KNOW YOURSELF NEWLY. WEED OUT BELIEFS THAT NO LONGER
SERVE YOU. ARTICULATE YOUR NEEDS AND VALUES. ADOPT AN ATTITUDE OF SELF-
DISCOVERY.

8. ALLOW STILLNESS. CREATE EMPTY SPOTS WITHIN A BUSY LIFE IN ORDER TO CREATE THE
SPACE THROUGH WHICH NEW IDEAS CAN EMERGE. THE UNIVERSE ABHORS A VOID; WHEN
YOU CREATE THE EMPTY SPACE, IT WILL BE FILLED VERY QUICKLY.

9. CAPTURE THE IDEAS ABOUT VISION, PURPOSE, OR MISSION AS THEY COME. COMPILE THEM
IN A FILE OR BOX FOR FUTURE REVIEW.



10. FORMULATE YOUR IDEAS INTO A PERSONAL VISION OR SENSE OF PURPOSE THAT PULLS
YOU FORWARD. HOW MUCH TIME THIS PROCESS WILL TAKE DEPENDS ON YOU. THE BEST
PLACE TO START IS EXACTLY WHERE YOU ARE. YOU AND YOUR IDEAS ABOUT THIS, ARE EVER
EVOLVING. YOUR MIND IS THE GREATEST TOOL THAT YOU CAN USE IN THIS ENDEAVOUR. YOU
MUST USE IT IN A DELIBERATE AND FOCUSED WAY TO YIELD THE RESULTS YOU WANT. YOUR
THOUGHT COMES FIRST, THEN, YOU TAKE ACTIONS CONSISTENT WITH YOUR THOUGHT. LIFE
IS MUCH MORE GRATIFYING WHEN WE DELIBERATELY ENGAGE IT THROUGH OUR CHOICES
RATHER THAN LIVING THE EFFECTS OF SOMEONE ELSE'S CHOICES. IN OTHER WORDS, BEING
AT CAUSE OF LIFE, NOT AT THE EFFECT OF LIFE. BE THE ONE WHO CHOOSES THE LIFE GAME
YOU PLAY!

WHAT OWNS YOU?

SOME PEOPLE MOVE EASILY FROM A PALACE INTO A HUT. OTHERS FEEL DEPRIVED WHEN
THEIR INCOME FALLS BELOW AED300,000 A YEAR OR WHEN THEIR CHECKING ACCOUNT FALLS
BELOW FIVE FIGURES. IF YOU FEEL ANXIOUS AND NEEDY, YOU WILL HAVE TROUBLE MOVING
FORWARD.

AT THE SAME TIME, EVERY MONTHLY OBLIGATION CAN BECOME A SOURCE OF STRESS. I
DON'T REMEMBER WHERE I READ THIS STORY: A SENIOR PHYSICIAN, ADDRESSING NEW
MEDICAL STUDENTS WAS ASKED, "HOW CAN WE AVOID THE STRESSFUL LIFESTYLE THE EARLY
HEART ATTACKS, ADDICTIONS AND STROKES?" THE OLDER DOCTOR ANSWERED SIMPLY,
"DON'T BUY A BIG HOUSE." WHAT HE MEANT WAS, "DON'T STRETCH YOUR SPENDING TO THE
LIMIT." WHEN YOU LIVE BELOW YOUR MEANS, YOU CAN BUILD YOUR NEST EGG FOR FREEDOM.
HERE ARE THREE PRINCIPLES TO KEEP IN MIND.

1. WHEN YOU AGREE TO MAKE PAYMENTS, YOUR NEW POSSESSION BECOMES A MEMBER OF
THE FAMILY. YOU GAIN SATISFACTION BUT YOU ALSO LIMIT YOUR FUTURE OPTIONS. I KNOW
PEOPLE WHO INSIST A DOG OR CAT IS TOO MUCH RESPONSIBILITY, WHILE THEY BLITHELY
SIGN ON THE DOTTED LINE FOR JEEPS, PICK-UPS, BOATS AND CUSTOM FURNITURE.

2. WHEN YOU ENJOY YOUR CAREER AND YOUR LIFE, YOU USUALLY SPEND LESS. MANY OF MY
FRIENDS AND NEIGHBOURS HAVE EMBARKED ON SECOND CAREERS AS ARTISTS OR WRITERS.
AND MANY OF US STOPPED OUR CABLE TELEVISION SERVICE BECAUSE WE ARE TOO BUSY
LIVING OUR REAL LIVES TO WATCH SHADOWY FIGURES ON A SCREEN. SHOPPING IS NO
LONGER A RECREATION. WHO HAS TIME OR MOTIVATION? WE'RE FULFILLED BY OUR WORK
AND OUR LIFE.

3. SPENDING "FOR THE FAMILY?" EVERY CAREER COUNSELLOR MEETS MIDLIFE
PROFESSIONALS WHO SAY, "I HAD TO CHOOSE THIS PATH TO PLEASE MY PARENTS. AFTER
ALL, THEY SACRIFICED FOR MY FUTURE. NOW I WANT TO DO SOMETHING FOR ME!"

YOUR CHILDREN NEED SELF-RELIANCE, CONFIDENCE, FLEXIBILITY AND A SENSE OF HUMOUR.
I AM NOT AN EXPERT ON CHILD REARING. HOWEVER, I BELIEVE YOU CAN HELP MOST BY
SETTING AN EXAMPLE OF LIVING A HAPPY, FULFILLED LIFE AND RESPECTING DREAMS THAT
MIGHT BE DIFFERENT FROM YOUR OWN.

BOTTOM LINE: CAREER FREEDOM COMES WHEN YOU MOVE FROM, "CAN I AFFORD THIS
PURCHASE?" TO "IS THIS PURCHASE WORTH WHAT IT REALLY COSTS FUTURE OPTIONS,
CHOICES, STAYING IN A JOB I NO LONGER WANT?" SOMETIMES THE ANSWER IS YES. OTHER



TIMES, YOU CAN TRUTHFULLY SAY "NO" AND YOU FIND YOURSELF MOVING TO YOUR DREAMS,
FASTER AND MORE EASILY THAN YOU BELIEVED POSSIBLE.

HOW TO DO EVERYTHING

"I GUESS I AM GOING TO HAVE TO GET USED TO THE IDEA THAT I CAN'T DO EVERYTHING I
WANT TO DO," MY CLIENT SAID. AT FIRST, I DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THIS AND WE
CONTINUED TALKING. HIS STATEMENT STUCK IN MY MIND, SO MUCH SO THAT, A FEW
SECONDS LATER, I STOPPED HIM IN MID-SENTENCE. "WAIT A MINUTE," I SAID, "WHY,
EXACTLY, CAN'T YOU DO EVERYTHING?"

THE QUESTION STARTLED US BOTH, REALLY, BUT AS WE DISCUSSED IT, WE DISCOVERED
THAT IT IS POSSIBLE TO DO "EVERYTHING" YOU WANT TO DO, IF YOU KEEP THE FOLLOWING
POINTS IN MIND...

1. YOU CAN DO EVERYTHING, BUT NOT ALL AT ONCE. THE BIGGEST OBSTACLE I FIND KEEPING
INDIVIDUALS FROM ACCOMPLISHING ALL THAT THEY WANT TO DO, IS THAT THEY TRY TO DO
TOO MUCH ALL AT ONCE. THEIR WISH LIST OF GOALS AND ACTIVITIES GETS LONGER AND
LONGER, AND EACH ITEM IS GIVEN THE SAME PRIORITY: ASAP! DESPITE WHAT WE'VE BEEN
LED TO BELIEVE IN OUR MODERN AGE OF MULTI-TASKING COMPUTERS AND MEGA-TIME-
SAVING DEVICES, GIZMOS AND GADGETS, MOST PEOPLE CAN ONLY DO ONE THING AT A TIME.

2. YOU CAN DO EVERYTHING, IF IT'S IMPORTANT ENOUGH TO YOU TO DO. WHEN REVIEWING
PEOPLE'S LISTS OF "EVERYTHING" THEY WANT TO DO, I FIND THAT MANY OF US HAVE ITEMS
AND ACTIVITIES THAT ENDED UP ON OUR LISTS BY DEFAULT. WE ADDED THEM BECAUSE
SOMEBODY ELSE SAID WE SHOULD DO THEM OR BECAUSE WE THOUGHT, AT THE TIME,
THEY'D BE IMPORTANT... ONLY NOW THEY'RE NOT. IF IT'S TRULY IMPORTANT TO YOU, YOU'LL
FIND THE TIME AND WAY TO DO IT. IF IT'S NOT IMPORTANT, YOU WILL KEEP AVOIDING,
POSTPONING AND PROCRASTINATING ABOUT IT. IF THAT'S THE CASE, SCRATCH IT OFF YOUR
LIST AND MOVE ON.

3. YOU CAN DO EVERYTHING, BUT YOU MAY NOT BE THE BEST AT EVERYTHING. IF YOUR GOAL
IS TO BE THE BEST IN EVERY FIELD OF ENDEAVOUR YOU ARE TRYING TO PURSUE THEN
CHANCES ARE YOU ARE SETTING YOURSELF UP FOR DISAPPOINTMENT. THIS IS ESPECIALLY
TRUE IF YOU HAVE MANY DIVERSE AREAS OF INTEREST. FOR EXAMPLE, YOU MAY HAVE GOALS
IN THE AREAS OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP, WRITING, POLITICS OR WHATEVER. WHILE IT'S
POSSIBLE YOU MIGHT CREATE A VERY SUCCESSFUL RETAIL BUSINESS WHILE WRITING A
BEST-SELLING NOVEL OR GETTING ELECTED AS A MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT WHICH IS NOT
VERY PROBABLE. STRIVE, WORK SMART, AND APPLY YOURSELF AT EVERY ACTIVITY, BUT KEEP
IN MIND THAT BEING THE BEST REQUIRES A GREAT DEAL OF TIME, FOCUS AND ENERGY THAT
YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO COMMIT IF YOU ARE GOING IN 100 DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS.

4. YOU CAN DO EVERYTHING, BUT THERE WILL BE LIMITATIONS. EVERY ACTIVITY, EVERY
GOAL, BRINGS IT'S OWN SET OF LIMITING FACTORS THAT WILL EFFECT YOUR PARTICIPATION.
THINGS LIKE TIME, HEALTH, MONEY, AGE, SEX, WEATHER, POLICIES, ETC. SOME OF THESE
ARE CHANGEABLE, SOME ARE NOT.

5. YOU CAN DO EVERYTHING, BUT YOU WILL NEED HELP. OH, YOU CAN TRY TO DO IT ALL ON
YOUR OWN, BUT THE MORE YOU ATTEMPT TO DO, THE MORE HELP YOU WILL NEED TO GET IT
ALL DONE. SUCCESS IS RARELY A SOLO ADVENTURE. SURROUND YOURSELF WITH
SUCCESSFUL, ENCOURAGING AND UPLIFTING PEOPLE WHO WILL INSPIRE AND SUPPORT YOU



AS YOU PURSUE YOUR DREAMS. AFTER ALL, ONCE YOU MAKE YOUR DREAMS COME YOU, YOU
WILL WANT TO SHARE THEM WITH SOMEONE.

SPEAK UP!

EVER BEEN IN A MEETING WITH SOMETHING IMPORTANT TO SAY AND REMAINED SILENT? YOU
MAY HAVE FELT THE FLUSH OF THE GOOD IDEA AND THE RISING ADRENALINE. YOU MAY HAVE
MOVED TO THE FRONT OF YOUR SEAT AND READIED YOUR BODY TO SPEAK...AND THEN
DIDN'T. WHAT STOPPED YOU?

CERTAINLY THERE IS WISDOM IN KNOWING WHEN TO SPEAK AND WHEN NOT TO. KNOWING
THE POLITICS OF A SITUATION OR THE TIME CONSTRAINTS, YOU MAY CHOOSE NOT TO SPEAK.
OFTEN, THOUGH, YOU MAY HAVE A UNIQUE VIEW, PERSPECTIVE, ISSUE OR CONCERN THAT
NEEDS TO BE RAISED. THAT CONTRIBUTION WOULD ADD A NEW DIMENSION TO THE
DISCUSSION OR CHANGE THE DECISION ABOUT TO BE MADE.

YOU MAY FEEL STRONGLY ABOUT A NEW POLICY AND YOUR SILENCE ALLOWS FOLKS TO THINK
YOU AGREE. IS THAT THE MESSAGE YOU WISH TO SEND?

RECENTLY I WAS INVOLVED IN THE CREATION OF A NEW MANAGEMENT TEAM FOR A
DEPARTMENT. THIS BROUGHT TOGETHER FOUR PEOPLE WHO PREVIOUSLY HAD FELT THAT
THEY WERE IN A 'PECKING ORDER' AND CHANGED THEM INTO A COHESIVE DECISION-MAKING
TEAM. TWO OF THE FOUR HAVE STRONG OPINIONS AND ARE VERY COMFORTABLE
EXPRESSING THEM. TWO ARE VERY QUIET. IN FORMING THE TEAM, WE DISCUSSED THIS
DYNAMIC. HOW ARE WE EACH GOING TO BEST CONTRIBUTE TO THE TEAM? WE TALKED ABOUT
THE POSSIBILITY THAT THE TALKATIVE TWO COULD OVERPOWER THE SILENT TWO. IN FACT,
THEY MIGHT EVEN DO THE TALKING FOR THEM! FOCUSING ON THE FACT THAT EACH PERSON
WAS HIRED BECAUSE HE OR SHE IS AN EXPERT IN A DISTINCT FIELD, IT WAS SOON DECIDED
THAT EACH PERSON'S OPINION WAS VITAL TO GOOD DECISION-MAKING.

THE TWO WHO ARE QUIET ARE VERY COMPETENT AS ARE THE OTHERS. INCREASING THEIR
LEVEL OF COMFORT WITH ADDING THEIR VOICES TO THE GROUP WAS IMPORTANT. TWO
THINGS WERE AGREED UPON: EVERY PERSON WOULD SPEAK ON EVERY ISSUE AND EACH
PERSON WOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR DOING SO. ONE OF THE NATURAL 'TALKERS'
OFFERED TO ASK THE QUIET TWO FOR THEIR OPINIONS. THIS SEEMS LIKE A GOOD IDEA ON
THE SURFACE, HOWEVER, AS A RULE, IT IS A POOR IDEA.

WHY IS IT A POOR IDEA? SIMPLE. IF ONE PERSON TAKES RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE
CONTRIBUTIONS OF OTHERS THERE ARE TWO NEW KINDS OF CONTROL BEING ENCOURAGED.
THE 'TALKER' HAS CONTROL OVER WHEN THE OTHERS ARE ASKED FOR THEIR OPINIONS. THE
'SILENT' COULD BE WAITING TO BE ASKED MAKING THEIR CONTRIBUTION THE 'TALKERS'
RESPONSIBILITY. NEITHER OF THESE OPTIONS ARE OPTIMAL.

THE IMPORTANT PIECE IS THAT EACH PERSON UNDERSTANDS THAT HE OR SHE WAS HIRED TO
CONTRIBUTE HIS OR HER EXPERTISE AND EXPERIENCE TO THE TEAM. IT IS THE
RESPONSIBILITY OF THE INDIVIDUAL TO CONTRIBUTE. FOR THE TALKERS THAT IS EASY. IN
FACT, IT IS ENJOYABLE. FOR THE QUIET FOLKS, TWO THINGS SEEMED TO BE TRUE. ONE OF
THEM ONLY FELT IT NECESSARY TO CONTRIBUTE IF SHE DISAGREED WITH THE DIRECTION OF
THE CONVERSATION. THE OTHER IS VERY SHY. WHAT TO DO?



WITH SOME INDIVIDUAL COACHING FOR EACH TEAM MEMBER, EACH BEGAN TO MONITOR
INVOLVEMENT IN THE MEETINGS. FOR THOSE FOR WHOM IT WAS DIFFICULT, THEY
UNDERTOOK TO AT LEAST SAY WHEN THEY AGREED OR DISAGREED. FOR THOSE FOR WHOM IT
WAS EASY, THEY UNDERTOOK TO LEAVE SOME AIRTIME FREE. OFTEN, IT IS A CHALLENGE TO
FIND A QUIET MOMENT TO SUMMON UP THE GUMPTION TO SPEAK!

WHEN YOU HAVE SOMETHING YOU FEEL IS IMPORTANT TO CONTRIBUTE TO A MEETING,
FORMULATE YOUR THOUGHTS, TAKE A DEEP BREATH AND JUMP IN. NOTHING LIFE-
THREATENING WILL HAPPEN. IT'S A LITTLE LIKE LEARNING TO SWIM. THE FIRST FEW TIMES
YOU MAY GET A MOUTHFUL OF WATER AND SPUTTER A LITTLE. YOU MAY FIND YOURSELF
GASPING FOR AIR. YOU MAY FLAIL AROUND A LITTLE, BUT, WITH PRACTICE, THINGS EVEN
OUT AND YOU MAKE PROGRESS. YES, IT MAY FEEL AWKWARD. YES, YOU MAY DISCOUNT THE
IMPORTANCE OF WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY BEFORE YOU SAY IT. BUT, JUMP IN. YOU ARE THERE
TO OFFER YOUR SKILLS AND LEARNING. IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY.

A TIP OR TWO ABOUT HANDLING THOSE WHO ONLY VALUE THE SOUND OF THEIR OWN
VOICES MAY BE IN ORDER. THEY HAVE TO TAKE A BREATH SOMETIME. BE READY TO STEP IN
AND TAKE THAT OPPORTUNITY.

AGREE WITH THEM
BEGINNING WITH 'I AGREE WITH _____________ PART OF YOUR OPINION..." AND GO ON TO
OFFER YOUR THOUGHTS. BEING AGREED WITH, EVEN IN PART, WILL ENCOURAGE THEM TO
LISTEN TO YOU.

USE POSITIVE LANGUAGE
TELL PEOPLE WHAT YOU THINK WOULD BE BEST AND WHY RATHER THAN TELLING THEM WHAT
IS WRONG WITH THEIR IDEAS. AGAIN, YOU MAY CAPTURE THEIR ATTENTION.

HAVE CONFIDENCE IN YOUR IDEAS
WORK WITHIN YOURSELF TO CLARIFY YOUR THOUGHTS PRIOR TO THE MEETING. YOU MAY
EVEN MAKE SOME NOTES. BEING PREPARED WILL MAKE IT MORE LIKELY THAT YOU WILL HAVE
SOME ENERGY BEHIND YOUR POINTS OF VIEW AND THEREFORE, BE MORE LIKELY TO EXPRESS
THEM.

BE BRIEF AND SPECIFIC
THIS IS A GREAT TIP FOR EVERYONE AT THE MEETING. STAY ON THE TOPIC AND THE POINT.
GIVE YOUR THOUGHTS AND REASONS IN SHORT SENTENCES, THEN STOP AND LET OTHERS
RESPOND. THIS IS THE WAY BUSINESS GETS DONE! WHO WANTS INTERMINABLE MEETINGS?
SPEAK UP! YOU HAVE THE RIGHT AND RESPONSIBILITY TO DO SO.

POWER WORDS: TAKING CHARGE ONE WORD AT A TIME

RESPECT THE POWER OF WORDS CHOOSE THEM WITH CARE.

ONE OF THE MOST AMAZING AREAS OF SELF-CREATION COMES IN THE FORM OF WORDS. THE
THINGS WE THINK AND SAY TO OURSELVES AND THE THINGS WE THINK AND SAY TO OTHERS,
CARRY A CREATIVE SURGE OF POWER.

THIS IS AN AREA OF CREATION THAT IS OFTEN UNDER EMPHASISED. IT IS TRULY INCREDIBLE
HOW WE CAN BECOME SO UNAWARE OF THE WORDS THAT COME OUT OF OUR MOUTHS. WHEN
WE DON‟T MAKE THE EFFORT TO SCRUTINISE THEM CAREFULLY, THIS AREA OF OUR POWER



CAN EASILY SLIP OUR GRASP. OUR WORDS, OUR UTTERANCES ARE POWERFUL CREATIVE
ENERGY, PLAIN AND SIMPLE. THEY ARE THE ENERGY THAT CAN EITHER ALLOW OR DENY OUR
DREAMS.

I HAVE RETAINED THE VIEWPOINT OF GIVING DIGNITY TO MYSELF BY GIVING DIGNITY TO MY
WORDS. AFTER ALL, IT IS OUR WORDS THAT REPRESENT US. THEY COMMUNICATE TO OTHERS
WHAT WE FEEL INSIDE AND IT IS PRECISELY THOSE FEELINGS THAT LIFE HONOURS.

WOULD YOU GO AROUND RANDOMLY TOSSING NAILS EVERYWHERE YOU WENT? OF COURSE
YOU WOULD NOT, BECAUSE TO DO SO WOULD MEAN TO CAUSE DAMAGE TO YOURSELF AND
OTHERS. CERTAINLY, THERE WOULD BE A RESULT TO YOUR ACTION. YOUR WORDS HAVE THE
SAME IMPACT. THEY EFFECT YOUR LIFE IN SUCH AN AMAZING WAY BECAUSE OF THEIR
INHERENT CREATIVE/CAUSING POWER. SO JUST AS WITH THE NAILS, WE ARE WISE TO KEEP
IN CHECK EVERY THING WE SAY AND SEND OUT INTO THE WORLD.

BELIEVING THAT "THE SKY IS THE LIMIT" OR THAT THERE IS A "GLASS CEILING" ARE SOME OF
THE MORE OBVIOUS LIMIT MAKERS. BUT I HAVE FOUND THAT THE COMMON EVERYDAY
WORDS WE USE CAN BE MUCH MORE INSIDIOUS. THIS IS, AGAIN, BECAUSE THEY CAN SO
EASILY ESCAPE OUR ATTENTION.

HERE IS A SAMPLING OF POWER WORDS THAT YOU MAY WANT TO KEEP AN OPEN EAR TO.
NOTICE HOW THEY ARE USED AND HOW THEY EITHER ALLOW OR NEGATE CERTAIN REALITIES
AND POSSIBILITIES FROM ENTERING YOUR LIFE:

NOTICE WHERE THE POWER IS PLACED WHEN YOU SAY "I CAN‟T DO THAT TODAY" OR "I HAVE
TO GO SOON." IN ACTUALITY "I CAN‟T" MEANS THAT YOU ARE CHOOSING NOT TO DO THAT
PARTICULAR THING. YOU ACTUALLY, PHYSICALLY COULD DO THAT PARTICULAR THING, BUT
YOU ARE OPTING NOT TO.

"I HAVE TO," IN REALITY MEANS, "I AM GOING TO," BY MY OWN CHOICE. "I HAVE TO GO TO
THE DENTIST TODAY" OR "I HAVE TO GO MY NEIGHBOUR‟S PARTY" FROM A POWER ANGLE
COULD BE PHRASED AS "I AM GOING TO THE DENTIST TODAY (EVEN IF I AM AFRAID)" OR "I
AM GOING TO MY NEIGHBOUR‟S PARTY (EVEN THOUGH I DON‟T LIKE HIM)."

"I CAN‟T GO SHOPPING TONIGHT" FROM A POWER ANGLE TRANSLATES TO "I AM CHOOSING
TO GO SOMEWHERE ELSE TONIGHT (AND NOT SHOPPING)".

THERE IS AN IMMENSE UNIVERSE OF DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BELIEVING THAT YOU HAVE TO
DO SOMETHING AND KNOWING THAT YOU ARE ACTUALLY CHOOSING TO DO SOMETHING. IN
ORDER TO BE A CREATOR IN YOUR LIFE, YOU NEED TO ALIGN YOUR OUTER EXPRESSION OF
WORDS WITH YOUR INNER TRUTH.



WHEN YOU BECOME AWARE OF YOUR WORDS AND STATEMENTS, YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHAT
MESSAGE OF CREATION YOU ARE SENDING OUT. IT DOES US WELL TO LISTEN TO OUR WORDS
AND TO CATCH THE IMPLICATION BEHIND THEM. THE VERY FOUNDATION OF LIVING AS A
POWERFUL AND CREATIVE BEING IS IN KNOWING OUR PLACE OF CHOICE AT ALL TIMES. BY
UNDERSTANDING AND USING OUR POWER WORDS WITH CARE, WE TAKE A VERY EFFECTIVE
ROLE IN OUR LIFE.

SUCCESS HABITS

WHAT ONE THING COULD YOU DO TODAY TO IMPROVE YOUR BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL
SUCCESS? WHAT DIFFERENCE TO YOUR LIFE WOULD THIS MAKE IF IT BECAME A HABIT?

FORMING HABITS WHICH BECOME INGRAINED WILL YIELD RESULTS. I HAVE HESITATED TO
SAY 'THE RESULTS YOU REALLY WANT' BECAUSE IT DEPENDS ON WHAT YOU ARE DOING.

ARE YOUR HABITS KEEPING YOU STUCK OR ARE THEY MOVING YOU FORWARDS? IF ONE OF
YOUR HABITS IS SPENDING TOO MUCH TIME PLANNING AND NOT ENOUGH TIME DOING, THEN
YOU ARE NOT LIKELY TO ACHIEVE YOUR DESIRED RESULTS.

LET'S TAKE THE EXAMPLE OF SOMEONE WHO NEEDS TO MAKE TELEPHONE CALLS TO FURTHER
THEIR BUSINESS. A HABIT TO BREAK MAY BE SPENDING TOO MUCH TIME THINKING ABOUT
EACH CALL, PUTTING IT OFF, OR FINDING OTHER THINGS TO DO. THE NEW HABIT TO
INTRODUCE MAY BE TO MAKE 3 TELEPHONE CALLS A DAY OR TO IDENTIFY THE ONE DAILY
TELEPHONE CALL WHICH WILL HAVE THE BIGGEST IMPACT ON YOUR BUSINESS.

I ENCOURAGE YOU TO IDENTIFY AND INTRODUCE ONE DAILY HABIT INTO YOUR BUSINESS OR
PROFESSIONAL LIFE. KEEP IT SMALL TO START WITH AND AS YOUR FEELING OF SUCCESS
INCREASES, YOU CAN ADD TO IT. YOUR SUCCESS LIES WITH THE ACTIONS YOU TAKE EACH
DAY.

WHY FAILURE IS GOOD FOR YOU

HOW DO YOU VIEW FAILURE? DO YOU SEE IT AS SOMETHING NEGATIVE THAT YOU DON'T
WANT TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH OR DO YOU SEE IT AS SOMETHING POSITIVE? MOST PEOPLE
IN THE WORLD DON'T LIKE FAILURE.

FEAR OF FAILURE IS THE MAIN REASON WHY MORE THAN 80% OF PEOPLE IN THE WORLD ARE
NOT PREPARED TO CHANGE THEIR CIRCUMSTANCES. WHY DO PEOPLE FEAR FAILURE SO
MUCH? THE REASON FOR THIS IS BECAUSE PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND THE DYNAMICS
INVOLVED IN SUCCESS AND FAILURE.

EVERYTHING WE DO IN LIFE HAS EITHER A RIGHT WAY OF DOING IT AND A WRONG WAY OF
DOING IT. WHEN WE DO IT THE RIGHT WAY WE MEET WITH SUCCESS. NEEDLESS TO SAY THAT
WHEN WE DO IT THE WRONG WAY WE ARE UNSUCCESSFUL. UNDERSTANDING THIS IS
IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT PUTS FAILURE IN ITS PROPER PERSPECTIVE AND REMOVES THE FEAR
AROUND IT.

WHEN SOMEONE WHO DOESN'T UNDERSTAND THIS DYNAMIC MEETS WITH TEMPORARY
FAILURE HE GIVES UP THINKING THAT HE IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH OR THAT HE WILL NEVER
MAKE IT. BUT IS THIS REALLY WHAT IT IS? DOES THE FACT THAT YOU DIDN'T MAKE IT THE



FIRST TIME MEAN THAT YOU ARE NOT GOOD ENOUGH? DOES IT MEAN THAT YOU WILL NEVER
MAKE IT? NOT AT ALL! ALL IT MEANS IS YOU HAVE NOT FOUND THE CORRECT METHOD YET!
SO WHAT DO YOU DO NEXT?

YOU GO BACK AND TRY AND FIND OUT WHERE YOU WENT WRONG.
THEN YOU TRY AGAIN BUT THIS TIME EMPLOYING A DIFFERENT METHOD.
WHEN THIS DOESN'T WORK YOU GO BACK AND LOOK AT EVERYTHING YOU HAVE DONE SO
FAR.
TALK TO SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE WHO HAVE MADE IT IN THIS AREA.
THINK OF WHAT YOU MIGHT HAVE LEFT OUT AND TRY AGAIN.
WHATEVER YOU DO, DON'T GIVE UP.
WHY DO YOU NEED TO DO THIS?

EVERY FAILURE, EVERY ADVERSITY AND EVERY HEARTACHE, CARRIES WITH IT THE SEED OF
AN EQUIVALENT OR A GREATER BENEFIT.

FAILURE CONTAINS THE SEED OF VICTORY AND OF SUCCESS. FAILURE TEACHES YOU WHAT
WORKS AND WHAT DON'T. WHEN YOU STUDY THE REASONS FOR YOUR FAILURE AND LEARN
FROM IT, YOU WILL FIND THE KEY TO YOUR SUCCESS.

THE GREAT INVENTOR THOMAS EDISON KNEW THIS TRUTH BETTER THAN ANYONE ELSE. IT
TOOK EDISON 8000 TRIALS BEFORE HE PERFECTED THE EDISON BATTERY? AFTERWARDS HE
UTTERED THIS FAMOUS QUOTE: "AT LEAST WE KNOW 8000 THINGS THAT DON'T WORK".

YOU SHOULD ALSO BE LIKE THAT. EVERY SUCCESSFUL PERSON HAS HAD TO OVERCOME
TEMPORARY DEFEAT AT ONE TIME OR ANOTHER. KNOW THIS! YOU HAVEN'T REALLY FAILED
UNTIL YOU ACCEPT DEFEAT.

DO YOU ENVY THOSE WHO GOT SUCCESS EASILY? DON'T! SUCCESS EARNED IN SPITE OF
EARLIER FAILURE IS SO MUCH SWEETER THAN IF YOU WOULD GET IT OTHERWISE. THOSE
WHO EARN SUCCESS IN THIS WAY KNOW THE ROAD TO SUCCESS. THEY ARE NOT AFRAID OF
LOSING WHAT THEY HAVE BECAUSE THEY HAVE LEARNED HOW TO BECOME SUCCESSFUL.

THOSE WHO EASILY GOT SUCCESS DON'T KNOW THE ROAD. THEY GOT THERE SO QUICKLY
THAT THEY DIDN'T BOTHER TO LOOK AROUND. LET ME USE THE FOLLOWING ANALOGY TO
ILLUSTRATE. TAKE TWO GUYS TRAVELLING TO THE SAME DESTINATION, WITH THIS
DIFFERENCE. THE ONE IS GOING BY AEROPLANE AND THE OTHER BY CAR, BUT THE ONE
ARRIVING BY CAR HAD A FEW BREAKDOWNS ALONG THE WAY.

IF YOU TAKE THESE TWO GUYS BACK TO THEIR ORIGINAL POSITION AND ASK THEM TO FIND
THEIR WAY TO THEIR DESTINATION, WHO DO YOU THINK IS GOING TO REMEMBER THE ROAD
BETTER THE NEXT TIME? SURELY THE GUY WHO HAD A FEW BREAKDOWNS AND SPENT SOME
TIME ON THE ROAD, BECAUSE HE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AROUND.

LET TEMPORARY DEFEAT NO LONGER BE AN OBSTACLE. YOU HAVE MANY HIDDEN TALENTS, SO
START WORKING TOWARDS REALISING YOUR DREAMS. DON'T BE PUT OFF BY THE FEAR OF
FAILURE. FAILURE IS AN ALLY BECAUSE IT CONTAINS THE SEED OF SUCCESS.

3 WAYS TO GET POSITIVE



YOU LEAVE YOUR OLD, SECURE JOB FOR A FRESH OPPORTUNITY AT A HOT NEW COMPANY, BUT
ONE-MONTH LATER THAT HOT COMPANY IS OUT OF GAS, AND YOU ARE OUT OF A JOB.

AN OPTIMIST WOULD SAY, "WELL, IT'S UNFORTUNATE, BUT IT'S JUST TEMPORARY. I HAVE
OTHER POSSIBILITIES. I DID ALL I COULD." THIS PERSON BOUNCES BACK FROM
DISAPPOINTMENT AND STAYS MOTIVATED.

PESSIMISTS, HOWEVER, LOOK AT THE SAME SETBACK AND SAY, "THIS IS TERRIBLE. I WILL
NEVER GET OVER IT. IT JUST RUINS EVERYTHING. I DON'T HAVE WHAT IT TAKES FOR THIS
BUSINESS." THIS ATTITUDE WITHERS MOTIVATION AND LEADS TO DESPAIR AND SELF-BLAME.

WHICH STYLE IS YOURS? IF YOU TAKE THE PESSIMISTIC APPROACH, YOU MAY BE MAKING
HARMFUL SELF-FULFILLING PROPHECIES, PREDICTING FAILURE AND ROBBING YOURSELF OF
ENERGY AND DRIVE.
IF YOU ARE PLAGUED BY PESSIMISM, GIVE YOUR ATTITUDE AN OVERHAUL. IT JUST TAKES
AWARENESS AND EFFORT. START BY LOOKING AT WHAT ARE CALLED THE THREE P'S OF
PESSIMISM - PERMANENT, PERVASIVE AND PERSONAL.

IF YOU THINK THE SITUATION IS PERMANENT, YOU BELIEVE IT'S UNCHANGEABLE AND THE
CONSEQUENCES WILL LAST FOREVER. IF YOU ALLOW THE PROBLEM TO BE PERVASIVE, IT
WILL NEGATIVELY AFFECT EVERY AREA OF YOUR LIFE. IF YOU TAKE THE SITUATION
PERSONALLY, YOU FEEL IT'S A REFLECTION OF YOUR FLAWS OR FAILURE.

LEARN TO CHALLENGE THESE THREE P'S.

PERMANENT: ALWAYS LOOK TO SEE WHAT CAN BE CHANGED OR SALVAGED, THE OLD MAKING
LEMONADE FROM LEMONS APPROACH.

PERVASIVE: FOCUS ON THE SPECIFIC SITUATION AND DON'T GENERALISE. DON'T LET ONE
SMALL, ISOLATED PROBLEM BECOME LIKE A WILDFIRE ROARING THROUGH YOUR LIFE
AFFECTING EVERYTHING.

PERSONAL: DON'T PERSONALISE EVENTS WITH SELF-BLAME. ACCEPT LEGITIMATE
RESPONSIBILITY AND LEARN FROM MISTAKES BUT DON'T BEAT YOURSELF UP FOR EVERY
SETBACK.

THE KEY TO CHANGING YOUR PESSIMISTIC OUTLOOK IS LEARNING THAT YOU CAN CHANGE IT.
ACCEPTING THIS TRUTH IS THE FIRST STEP TO PERSONAL GROWTH. NEXT, FOCUS ON YOUR
STRENGTHS AND THEN ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR POSITIVE EFFORTS. YOU WILL SOON START
LIVING BETTER AND HAPPIER

7 STEPS TO A HEALTHIER, HAPPIER YOU

HEALTH AND HAPPINESS ARE NOT THAT DIFFICULT TO HAVE IN ONE'S LIFE. IT JUST TAKES
SOME ATTENTION AND SOME ACTION TO INSURE THAT YOU HAVE AS MUCH OF BOTH AS YOU
DESIRE.



FAR FROM BEING DIFFICULT, TIRING EXERCISES, GETTING HEALTHY CAN BE QUITE EASY. A
FEW SIMPLE ACTS OR LIFESTYLE CHANGES CAN PUT YOU ON THE PATH TO FEELING HAPPIER
AND HEALTHIER FASTER THAN YOU CAN IMAGINE...

YOU DON'T HAVE TO LIKE EXERCISE TO BE HEALTHY. YOU DON'T EVEN REALLY HAVE TO DO
EXERCISE TO BE HEALTHY AT LEAST NOT IN AS MUCH AS CREATING A STRICT, HARD-CORE
DIET AND EXERCISE ROUTINE. A FEW SIMPLE ACTS OR LIFESTYLE CHANGES CAN PUT YOU ON
THE PATH TO FEELING HAPPIER AND HEALTHIER FASTER THAN YOU CAN IMAGINE...

EAT BREAKFAST EVERY DAY.
YOUR MUM WAS RIGHT, IT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT MEAL OF THE DAY. DON'T SKIP IT.

DRINK LOTS OF WATER.
IN THESE DAYS OF COFFEE, TEA, SODAS, COLAS AND COOLERS IT'S EASY TO THINK WE ARE
GETTING ALL THE WATER WE NEED, BUT NOTHING BEATS GOOD OLD PLAIN WATER. NINE
GLASSES A DAY.

GET A GOOD NIGHT'S SLEEP AS ONE WHO DEALS WITH SLEEP PROBLEMS, I CAN TELL YOU
FROM EXPERIENCE, POOR SLEEP PATTERNS CAN QUICKLY DISRUPT YOUR LIFE. RESEARCH
SHOWS THAT 6 TO 8 HOURS OF RESTFUL SLEEP IS WHAT MOST OF US NEED TO BE HAPPY AND
PRODUCTIVE. IF YOU ARE HAVING PROBLEMS SLEEPING, CONTACT A DOCTOR IMMEDIATELY.

EAT MORE FRUIT
THE OLD "AN APPLE A DAY KEEPS THE DOCTOR AWAY" SAYING MAY NOT BE 100% TRUE, BUT
THE TRUTH IS THAT FRUIT PROVIDES YOUR BODY WITH NEED VITAMINS, MINERALS AND
NATURAL SUGARS.

START WALKING
FOR SHORT, NEARBY TRIPS IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD, LEAVE THE CAR AT HOME AND TAKE A
WALK. DO THIS A FEW TIMES A WEEK AND THE RESULTS WILL AMAZE YOU.

TURN OFF THE TELLY
READ A BOOK, GET OUTSIDE AND PLAY WITH THE PING PONG, HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH
YOUR SPOUSE. LOOK FOR THINGS TO DO OTHER THAN WATCH THE TELLY, ESPECIALLY
AROUND NEWS TIME.

LAUGH
EVERY DAY. A REAL, GOOD, HEARTY, BELLY LAUGH. LOOK FOR THE FUNNY THINGS THAT LIFE
HAS TO OFFER. SHARE A JOKE WITH A FRIEND. SHARE A LOT OF JOKES. LAUGHTER IS GOOD
FOR THE HEART AND SOUL, FOR YOUR HEALTH AND SPIRIT. NONE OF THESE THINGS
REQUIRES YOU TO SPEND A LOT OF MONEY. NONE OF THEM TAKE MUCH TIME OR ENERGY. BUT
EACH ONE CAN, OVER TIME, DRAMATICALLY IMPROVE YOUR PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH.
PICK ONE OR TWO TO FOCUS ON THIS WEEK AND BE HEALTHY!

MIND OVER MATTER

WHY SHOULD WE THINK UPON THINGS THAT ARE LOVELY? BECAUSE THINKING DETERMINES
LIFE. IT IS A COMMON HABIT TO BLAME LIFE UPON THE ENVIRONMENT. ENVIRONMENT
MODIFIES LIFE BUT DOES NOT GOVERN LIFE.



IN LIFE A LOT OF THINGS CAN MATTER TO US. WHAT MATTERS TO YOU? FOR EXAMPLE, THE
TYPE OF CAR YOU DRIVE OR THE NAME BRAND OF THE CLOTHES YOU WEAR. HOW MUCH YOU
WEIGH? YOUR AGE? WHAT OTHERS THINK OF YOU?

HAVE YOU SAID TO SOMEONE, "IT DOESN'T MATTER"? WHAT DID YOU MEAN? HAS ANYONE
EVER ASKED YOU, "DOES IT MATTER?" WHAT DID THEY WANT TO KNOW? WHAT ARE WE
TALKING ABOUT? WHAT IS IT THAT MATTERS? WHAT DOES „MATTER‟ MEAN?

SOMETHING MATTERS WHEN IT CONCERNS US. SOMETHING MATTERS WHEN IT IS IMPORTANT.
IT MATTERS WHEN WE TAKE IT SERIOUSLY. IF WE DON'T TAKE IT SERIOUSLY, IT DOESN'T
MATTER. WHAT DO YOU TAKE SERIOUSLY? WHAT MATTERS TO YOU? WHAT MATTERS TO YOU
DEPENDS UPON WHAT YOU MIND.

HAVE YOU EVER BEEN ASKED, "DO YOU MIND?" IT MIGHT BE, "DO YOU MIND IF I SMOKE?" IT
MEANS, 'DO YOU CARE?' IT MEANS 'DOES IT MATTER?' MIND AND MATTER ARE CONNECTED.

IF YOU MIND, THEN IT MATTERS.

AS A CHILD YOU MAY HAVE HEARD THE REFRAIN, "STICKS AND STONES MAY BREAK MY
BONES, BUT WORDS CAN NEVER HURT ME." THIS IS TRUE. WORDS ALONE CANNOT HURT YOU.
WORDS ONLY HURT IF THEY MATTER. WORDS ONLY HURT IF YOU MIND. IT IS YOUR RESPONSE
TO THE WORDS THAT DETERMINES HOW YOU REACT.

SUPPOSE THAT SOMEONE INSULTS YOU BY CALLING YOU "STUPID." DOES IT MATTER? WELL,
IT DOES IF YOU MIND. IF YOU MIND, YOU COULD START THINKING, "WHO DO THEY THINK
THEY ARE? NOBODY CAN TREAT ME THIS WAY. THEY WON'T GET AWAY WITH IT. I WILL SHOW
THEM." NOW YOU ARE CAUGHT IN A MOOD OF ANGER BECAUSE IT MATTERS. OR, YOU COULD
THINK, "I GUESS THEY ARE RIGHT. I JUST CAN'T DO ANYTHING. WHY DO I BOTHER TO TRY?"
AGAIN, IT MATTERS BECAUSE YOU MIND AND YOU ALLOW YOURSELF TO SLIP INTO A STATE OF
SADNESS AND SELF-CRITICISM.

A THIRD POSSIBILITY IS THAT YOU DON'T MIND BECAUSE YOU DON'T TAKE IT SERIOUSLY.
YOU MIGHT THINK, "WELL, THAT'S THEIR OPINION, BUT I KNOW IT IS NOT TRUE. IT'S RUDE,
BUT MAYBE THEY ARE HAVING A BAD DAY." YOU PAY IT NO MIND. IT DOESN'T MATTER. YOU
DON'T GET ANGRY OR SAD. YOU DON'T DWELL ON IT ALL DAY OR CREATE MISERY FOR
YOURSELF.

HERE IS THE SECRET OF MIND OVER MATTER: IF YOU DON'T MIND, THEN IT DOESN'T MATTER.
BE CAREFUL OF THE THINGS YOU MIND. BE CAREFUL OF WHAT MATTERS. INTENTIONALLY
MAKE THESE CHOICES. DECIDE WHAT YOU WILL TAKE SERIOUSLY AND WHAT YOU WILL
OVERLOOK.

SOME THINGS MATTER AND THEY NEED TO MATTER. THEY ARE IMPORTANT. OTHER THINGS
DON'T MATTER. THEY ARE OF SMALL CONSEQUENCE. LEARN TO TELL THE DIFFERENCE. LEARN
TO PRACTICE MIND OVER MATTER AND SEE IF LIFE GOES BETTER.

HOW TO BE A GOOD GUEST

FIRST THINGS FIRST. WHEN YOU GET AN INVITATION, R.S.V.P. THE HOST OR HOSTESS NEEDS
TO KNOW HOW MANY TO PLAN FOR.



ARRIVE 10-15 MINUTES AFTER THE INVITATION TIME (BUT NO LATER). THIS GIVES YOUR
HOST AND/OR HOSTESS THOSE LAST FEW MINUTES TO PREPARE.

WHEN YOU CALL TO R.S.V.P. CHECK AND SEE IF CHILDREN ARE INVITED, IF THEY HAVEN'T
BEEN EXPLICIT. IF THEY AREN'T, DON'T BRING YOURS. NOR SHOULD YOU EXPECT YOUR HOST
AND HOSTESS TO SOLVE THE BABYSITTER DILEMMA FOR YOU.

DON'T ARRIVE EMPTY-HANDED. PARTICIPATE! IT'S UP TO YOU TO MAKE IT A PARTY. BEING A
GUEST IS NOT A PASSIVE THING. A GOOD PARTY OR GET-TOGETHER RELIES ON EVERYONE
BEING PRESENT AND MAKING IT GOOD. TALK TO SOMEONE WHO'S ALONE, MIX AND MINGLE,
MAKE GOOD CONVERSATION, MAKE IT A POINT TO TALK WITH EVERYONE THERE AT SOME
POINT, DO YOUR PART.

DON'T OVERSTAY YOUR WELCOME, NO MATTER HOW MUCH YOU ARE ENJOYING YOURSELF.
THEY'VE BEEN COOKING AND CLEANING FOR DAYS. USE YOUR INTUITION. YOU MAY HAVE
BEEN TOLD 2-5, OR JUST "COME AROUND 8", BUT YOUR HOST AND/OR HOSTESS WILL GIVE
OFF NON-VERBAL SIGNALS WHEN IT'S TIME FOR YOU TO GO HOME.

PITCH IN AN UNOBTRUSIVE WAY. SAY GOOD-BYE. EVEN IF IT'S A LARGE GATHERING, SEEK
OUT THE HOST AND/OR HOSTESS AND TELL THEM GOOD BYE, AND THANK THEM!

AND LASTLY, SEND A WRITTEN THANK-YOU NOTE AFTERWARDS. IT'S JUST A NICE THING TO
DO. DON'T FORGET TO DO THIS FOR FAMILY, THEY MIGHT BE THE MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL.
THINK HOW MUCH YOUR MUM WOULD APPRECIATE IF YOU WROTE HER A NOTE AFTER THE
GET-TOGETHER!

SMILING, MOODS, & HEALTH

HE WHO LAUGHS, LASTS.

DO YOU WANT A GUARANTEED, EASY WAY TO IMPROVE YOUR MOOD AND YOUR HEALTH? TRY
SMILING. HUMOUR IS GOOD FOR US NOT ONLY FOR OUR MOOD BUT FOR OUR HEALTH AS
WELL.

LAUGHTER RELIEVES STRESS AND IMPROVES OUR IMMUNE SYSTEM. LAUGHING HAS BEEN
DESCRIBED AS AN INTERNAL JOG; MASSAGING OUR INNER ORGANS AND GIVING THEM A
WORKOUT. SMILING EXERCISES 14 FACIAL MUSCLES. WHEN WE LAUGH OUR BLOOD
PRESSURE GOES UP AND THEN COMES DOWN. WE ALSO STRETCH OUR LUNGS, RELAX OUR
CHESTS, AND BREATHE EASIER. LAUGHTER CAUSES OUR BODIES TO RELEASE NEURO
CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS ASSOCIATED WITH AN IMPROVED MOOD. WHEN WE CAN LAUGH AT
SOMETHING, WE CHANGE OUR PERSPECTIVE AND OUR ATTITUDE.
IT IS HARD TO HAVE A GRUMPY OUTLOOK WHEN LAUGHING. AS WE LAUGH, WE MOMENTARILY
DISTRACT OURSELVES FROM OUR PROBLEMS AND PERHAPS, EVEN FROM OUR PHYSICAL
DISCOMFORT. LIFE JUST SEEMS TO GET BETTER WHEN WE CAN LAUGH. HOW FREQUENTLY DO
YOU LAUGH?

HOW OFTEN DO YOU SMILE?

RESEARCH HAS FOUND THAT FOUR-YEAR-OLD CHILDREN SMILE AND LAUGH ABOUT 400 TIMES
A DAY WHILE FOR ADULTS SMILES AND LAUGHTER DECREASE TO ONLY 14 TIMES A DAY. FOUR-
YEAR-OLDS ARE OFTEN JOYOUS AND ADULTS ARE NOT. WHAT HAPPENS BETWEEN CHILDHOOD



AND ADULTHOOD? WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE? MAYBE, AS WE BECOME SERIOUS, HARD-
WORKING ADULTS, WE LOSE OUR SENSE OF HUMOUR ALONG WITH THE FREEDOM TO LAUGH.
SUCH A LOSS IS UNFORTUNATE BECAUSE HUMOUR CAN BE HEALING.

NOW YOU MAY SAY THAT YOU DON'T HAVE MUCH TO LAUGH ABOUT AND THIS MAY BE TRUE.
IT IS HARD TO FORCE YOURSELF TO LAUGH, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU DON'T FEEL LIKE IT. YOU
CAN, HOWEVER, MAKE YOURSELF SMILE. FORCING YOURSELF TO SMILE MAY WORK ALMOST
AS WELL AS LAUGHING, AT LEAST, FOR CHANGING YOUR MOOD. PUTTING A BIG SMILE ON
YOUR FACE SENDS A MESSAGE TO YOUR BRAIN THAT THINGS ARE OKAY. IF YOU ARE SMILING,
YOUR BRAIN THINKS, "I MUST BE HAPPY!" YOU CAN FOOL YOURSELF INTO FEELING GOOD BY
SMILING. AS YOUR MOOD IMPROVES, YOU OPEN YOURSELF TO NEW POSSIBILITIES. OTHER
PEOPLE, NOTICING THE CHANGE, RESPOND DIFFERENTLY TO YOU AND SOON YOU MAY BE
LAUGHING AS WELL AS SMILING. LIFE IS GETTING BETTER BECAUSE YOU SMILED. BE SURE
YOU SMILE TODAY. SMILE ON PURPOSE, EVEN IF YOU DON'T FEEL LIKE IT. SEE IF YOU CAN
FOOL YOURSELF INTO A GOOD MOOD. AS THE SAYING GOES, "FAKE IT UNTIL YOU MAKE IT".
INTENTIONALLY SMILE. LAUGH, IF YOU CAN. IT IMPROVES YOUR MOOD AND HEALTH. SO
START SMILING AND SEE IF YOUR LIFE DOESN'T BEGIN TO GO BETTER.

THE POWER OF FOCUS

WHAT ONE THING IS OFTEN MISSING FOR MANY PEOPLE WHO WANT TO BE SUCCESSFUL? THE
TYPICAL ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT OF HAVING MANY IDEAS, PROJECTS AND THINGS TO DO
ARE OFTEN THERE IN ABUNDANCE. PERHAPS YOU SEE MANY OPPORTUNITIES AND
POSSIBILITIES. HOWEVER, THE TENDENCY IS TO SPREAD YOURSELF TOO THIN AND 'TRY' TO
DO EVERYTHING. THIS OFTEN RESULTS IN YOU NOT ACHIEVING WHAT YOU SAY YOU WANT.

IT SEEMS THAT THE MORE IDEAS I HAVE, THE MORE IDEAS THIS GENERATES. RECENTLY THE
NUMBER OF IDEAS HAVE INCREASED DRAMATICALLY. THEY ARE THERE FIRST THING IN THE
MORNING AND EVEN WAKING ME IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT. VISUALISING AND
JOURNALING IS BRINGING UP EVEN MORE. I FEEL INSPIRED, EXCITED AND HAVE A LOT OF
ENTHUSIASM FOR MANY OF THE IDEAS. HOWEVER, I REALISED THAT IF I WANTED TO TURN
THESE IDEAS AROUND, GET THEM COMPLETED AND BE MORE PRODUCTIVE, THERE WAS ONLY
ONE THING FOR IT. I NEEDED TO BE EVEN MORE FOCUSED THAN I'D EVER BEEN. A CLEAR
INTENTIONAL FOCUS THAT MOVES US TOWARDS OUR DREAMS QUICKLY AND EFFECTIVELY.

ALTHOUGH YOU MAY BE VERY BUSY, WHEN YOU HAVE TOO MANY THINGS ON THE GO AT
ONCE, THEY ARE OFTEN SCATTERED AND YOU END UP DABBLING IN THINGS. YOU THEN FIND
YOU ARE NOT PRODUCING THE RESULTS YOU WANT. NOT ONLY THIS, BUT YOU MAY FEEL
OVERWHELMED, FRUSTRATED AND FED UP. THE FRICTION OF BEING PULLED IN MANY
DIRECTIONS, FEELING STRESSED AND HEAVY, EATS UP YOUR TIME AND ENERGY, LEAVING YOU
LESS ABLE TO BE FOCUSED AND MOVE FORWARD.

IF YOU ARE SOMEONE WHO HAS LOTS OF IDEAS, PROJECTS AND THINGS YOU WANT TO DO,
ACKNOWLEDGE THIS FACT. ACCEPT THAT YOU DON'T NEED TO ACT ON THEM ALL NOW AND BE
WILLING TO LET SOME THINGS GO FOR THE TIME BEING. THERE WILL UNDOUBTEDLY BE
SOME FEAR ABOUT THIS, WHICH IS NATURAL. CHOOSE TO BE WITH THE FEAR, ACCEPT IT FOR
WHAT IT IS AND CHOOSE INSTEAD TO BE FOCUSED.

WHEN YOU CHOOSE TO BE FOCUSED, YOU WILL EXPERIENCE A SENSE OF ACHIEVEMENT AND
INCREASED SUCCESS. FOCUS BUILDS MOMENTUM FOR FASTER RESULTS, LEAVING YOU MORE
PRODUCTIVE AND EFFECTIVE.



WHEN YOU ARE READY AND WILLING TO BE MORE FOCUSED, I SUGGEST YOU START BY
EXAMINING ALL THE POSSIBILITIES. BRAINSTORM IT ALL OUT ON PAPER. GET IT OUT OF
YOUR HEAD SO YOU CAN SEE IT ALL CLEARLY. WHEN YOU CAN SEE THE BIGGER PICTURE
MORE CLEARLY, START EXPERIMENTING WITH BEING FOCUSED. PLAY WITH THE IDEA OF
FOCUSING ON ONLY 3 THINGS. CHOOSE THE 3 IDEAS THAT EITHER FEEL MOST IMPORTANT TO
YOU, OR WHERE YOUR PASSION LIES, OR WHAT WOULD BRING YOUR DREAM ALIVE OR MAKE
YOUR HEART SING. WRITE DOWN YOUR 3 AREAS OF FOCUS, SPECIFICALLY. THE MORE
SPECIFIC YOU ARE, THE MORE FOCUSED YOU WILL BE.

WHEN YOU HAVE CHOSEN 3 THINGS, SEE EXACTLY WHERE THEY FIT INTO YOUR VISION OR
DREAM AND ASCERTAIN WHETHER THEY ARE THE MOST EFFECTIVE CHOICE TODAY. WITH
EACH OF YOUR 3 IDEAS, DEFINE YOUR COMPELLING REASON FOR PURSUING THEM AND
IDENTIFY WHAT EACH WILL GIVE YOU. YOUR COMPELLING REASON WILL INSPIRE YOU TO
CONTINUE AND BE COMMITTED. CHECK EACH DAY ON YOUR 3 AREAS OF FOCUS AND TAKE
ACTIONS, WHICH ARE ALIGNED WITH BEING FOCUSED.

MAKING THE SHIFT TO BEING FOCUSED AND EXPERIMENTING WITH THE IDEA OF ONLY
PURSUING 3 IDEAS AT ANY ONE TIME MAY BE QUITE A STEP OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE.
YOU MAY START THIS EXPERIMENT ONLY TO FIND YOURSELF SLIPPING BACK. IF YOU'RE READY
TO BE FOCUSED, WHOM DO YOU KNOW WHO WILL CHALLENGE YOU TO MAINTAIN YOUR
FOCUS? BEING CHALLENGED IN A HEALTHY WAY BY SOMEONE ELSE CAN ADD FUN TO THE
PROCESS, KEEPING IT LIGHT-HEARTED AND HELPING YOU TO MAINTAIN YOUR COMMITMENT.
WHAT I WANT FOR YOU IS TO BE FOCUSSED, ENABLING YOU TO ATTRACT AND ACHIEVE THE
SUCCESS YOU WANT.

THE 7 BREAKTHROUGH WAYS TO CRUSH PROCRASTINATION

1. SUCCESS IS NOT ACHIEVED ACCIDENTALLY. IT IS A SYSTEMATIC, DELIBERATE PROCESS OF
DECIDING WHAT YOU WANT TO DO WITH YOUR LIFE, WHAT YOU WILL DO WHEN YOU GET
THERE AND WHAT THE STEPS ARE TO GET YOU WHERE YOU WANT TO BE. ONE OF THE MOST
IMPORTANT ASPECTS OF SUCCESS IS THE ABILITY TO VISUALISE YOUR PATH AND STAY
FOCUSED ON YOUR GOAL UNTIL YOU REACH IT.

2. THE MORE RAPIDLY YOU ENVISION YOUR DREAMS AND DEVELOP A PLAN TO TURN THEM
INTO REALITY, THE FASTER YOU WILL ACCOMPLISH YOUR GOALS. MENTAL PICTURES ARE A
MECHANISM TO LEAD YOU DOWN THE PATH OF TRUE INDEPENDENCE AND MOTIVATION.
PROCRASTINATION IS A SELF-DEFEATING BEHAVIOUR THAT DEVELOPS IN PART DUE TO LOW
SELF-ESTEEM AND FEAR OF FAILURE. YOUR IMAGINATION IS LIKE A PREVIEW OF YOUR
FUTURE. IF YOU DON'T USE YOUR IMAGINATION YOUR LIFE WILL REMAIN MUNDANE AND
UNFULFILLING.

3. OVERCOMING PROCRASTINATION IS THE FIRST STEP IN HELPING YOU CREATE THE
LIFESTYLE YOU DESIRE. YOU MUST CHANGE THE HABITS AND BEHAVIOURS THAT LED YOU TO
PROCRASTINATE IN THE FIRST PLACE. CHANGE IS A SLOW PROCESS SO BE SURE TO REWARD
YOURSELF ALONG THE WAY FOR SMALL ACHIEVEMENTS. INSTEAD OF FOCUSING ON THE
DIFFICULTY OF A LARGE TASK, BREAK IT INTO SMALLER JOBS AND CREATE A TIMELINE FOR
FINISHING THEM.

4. SEVERAL SMALL JOBS DONE OVER TIME ARE MUCH MORE MANAGEABLE THAT ONE LARGE
TASK WITH NO END IN SIGHT. YOU WILL BE ASTONISHED AT HOW MUCH YOU CAN GET DONE



IF YOU CONCENTRATE ON ONE THING AT A TIME INSTEAD OF CLUTTERING YOUR MIND WITH
MULTIPLE TASKS. TRY TACKLING THE MORE UNDESIRABLE TASKS EARLY IN THE DAY SO THAT
BY AFTERNOON YOU CAN PURSUE MORE PLEASANT ACTIVITIES.

5. RELIEVE YOURSELF OF THE PRESSURE CREATED BY CLUTTER IN YOUR OFFICE OR HOME.
DEVELOP A FILING SYSTEM, RID YOURSELF OF UNNECESSARY PAPERS AND GIVE YOURSELF AN
ORGANISED PLACE TO WORK. WHEN YOU EXERCISE SELF-DISCIPLINE IN YOUR
SURROUNDINGS AS WELL AS YOUR BEHAVIOURS, YOU WILL MAKE MAJOR STRIDES IN
ACCOMPLISHING YOUR GOALS IN A SHORTER PERIOD OF TIME. NO MATTER WHAT IS
HAPPENING AROUND YOU, KEEP YOUR MIND FOCUSED ON THE REWARD YOU WILL RECEIVE BY
REACHING YOUR GOALS.

6. IF PEOPLE OR OUTSIDE FORCES DISTRACT YOU, USE THE POWER OF THE HUMAN MIND TO
BLOCK OUT WHAT IMPEDES YOUR PROGRESS AND CONCENTRATE SOLELY ON THE TASK AT
HAND. YOU WILL MAKE REMARKABLE PROGRESS BY REFUSING TO LET OTHERS ALTER THE
PATH YOU HAVE CHOSEN. OVERCOMING PROCRASTINATION AND STAYING MOTIVATED IS THE
WAY TO LIFETIME SUCCESS AND HAPPINESS. YOU WILL ACHIEVE YOUR GOALS RAPIDLY WHEN
YOU STAY FOCUSED ON YOUR DESTINATION AND THE REWARDS THAT WILL FOLLOW.

7. REVIEW YOUR HABITS AND WAY OF THINKING TO DETERMINE WHAT YOU ARE VISUALISING
MOST OF THE TIME. IF YOUR VISIONS DO NOT LEAD YOU IN THE DIRECTION OF
ACCOMPLISHING YOUR GOALS, THEN YOU MUST CHANGE THEM. DISCIPLINE YOURSELF TO
CONCENTRATE ON YOUR GOALS THE MAJORITY OF THE TIME AND IF YOU STRAY FROM THE
PATH, GET PROMPTLY BACK ON. IMAGINE WHAT THE REWARDS WILL BE WHEN YOU FINALLY
REACH YOUR DESTINATION AND KEEP THAT THOUGHT FOREMOST IN YOUR MIND.
PROCRASTINATION IS OF NO USE TO YOU IN YOUR QUEST TO FULFIL YOUR DREAMS. LOSE
THOSE OLD HABITS AND REPLACE THEM WITH HABITS THAT LEAD TO SELF-MOTIVATION AND
CONTROL OVER YOUR LIFE.

TOP 10 WAYS TO START LIVING A MORE MEANINGFUL LIFE

TOO MANY OF US LIVE LIKE GOLDFISH, SWIMMING IN THE SAME ORBIT DAY IN AND DAY OUT
FEELING UNINSPIRED, TIRED, BORED AND SOMETIMES WORSE. LIFE IS MUCH TOO PRECIOUS
TO WASTE THAT WAY. EVERY PERSON HAS A UNIQUE PURPOSE IN LIFE. I IMPLORE YOU NOT
TO WASTE YOUR DAYS BERATING YOURSELF FOR WHAT YOU DON'T KNOW AND DON'T DO
WELL. INSTEAD, DISCOVER YOUR STRENGTHS, PASSIONS, PURPOSE AND BUILD YOUR LIFE ON
THOSE.

HERE ARE 10 IDEAS ABOUT LIVING A MEANINGFUL LIFE, AS I UNDERSTAND THEM.
EMBRACING EVEN A FEW OF THESE WILL HELP YOU BEGIN THE EXCITING JOURNEY OF SELF-
DISCOVERY.

1. WE ARE ALL HERE FOR A PURPOSE. YOUR BEING HERE MAKES A DIFFERENCE. YOUR
PURPOSE MAY BE OBSCURE TO YOU AND A CHALLENGE TO DISCOVER. START NOW. THERE ARE
MANY RESOURCES, BOOKS TO HELP YOU WITH THIS ENDEAVOUR.

2. THE SECRET TO FULFILMENT IS SELF-KNOWLEDGE. START THE EXCITING JOURNEY OF
DISCOVERY.



3. THE SECOND PART OF THE SECRET TO FULFILMENT IS TO APPLY YOUR SELF-KNOWLEDGE
TO WHAT YOU DO AND HOW YOU LIVE. THE MORE YOU KNOW, THE MORE YOU CAN ACTIVELY
PURSUE YOUR TRUE PURPOSE.

4. DON'T WASTE TIME LAMENTING WHAT YOU DON'T DO WELL. CONCENTRATE ON YOUR
STRENGTHS. THOSE REFLECT WHO YOU ARE. LEAVE THE OTHER THINGS TO PEOPLE WHO DO
THEM WELL.

5. BUILD ON YOUR STRENGTHS. DO MORE OF THEM AND GIVE YOURSELF RECOGNITION FOR
DOING THE THINGS YOU DO WELL.

6. PAY ATTENTION TO THE SMALL DETAILS THAT YOU ENJOY IN YOUR EVERYDAY LIFE. DO
MORE OF THEM.

7. PAY ATTENTION TO THE SMALL DETAILS YOU DON'T ENJOY. FIND WAYS (SUCH AS
DELEGATION) TO ELIMINATE AS MANY OF THEM AS POSSIBLE.

8. KEEP A JOURNAL AND PUT PARTICULAR EMPHASIS ON THE THINGS ABOUT YOURSELF AND
EVENTS IN YOUR LIFE FOR WHICH YOU ARE GRATEFUL.

9. MAKE AN EFFORT TO RELEASE THE NEGATIVE ASPECTS OF YOUR PAST. TRY NOT BE
IMPRISONED BY YOUR PAST. DO NOT DEFINE YOURSELF BY YOUR PAST.

10. JUMPSTART YOUR SELF-ESTEEM BY GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY. VOLUNTEER IN A
MEANINGFUL WAY THAT SUITS WHO YOU ARE AND YOUR INTERESTS. ENJOY THE JOURNEY.
YOU WILL GET TO KNOW AND LIKE YOURSELF IN A WHOLE NEW WAY. WORK WITH A FRIEND,
AND USE THE RESOURCES OUT THERE, TO HELP YOU WITH OBJECTIVITY.

HAVE SOMEONE POINT OUT THE GOOD THINGS ABOUT YOU THAT YOU HAVE A TENDENCY TO
OVERLOOK. AS SOON AS YOU STOP DOING WHAT YOU HATE AND START DOING WHAT YOU
LOVE, YOU MAY FIND YOUR LIFE MORE MEANINGFUL AND FULFILLING.

THE 5 SECRETS TO STAYING MOTIVATED UNTIL YOU SUCCEED

FOR A LOT OF US OUR WORK SCHEDULES AT HOME AND AT OUR JOBS HAVE BEEN A MAJOR
SOURCE OF COMPLICATIONS IN OUR LIVES. OUR FINANCIAL WELL BEING DEPENDS ON OUR
PAYCHEQUE, AND OUR MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL WELL BEING DEPENDS IN PART ON HAVING A
WELL-ORGANISED LIFE.

BUT A FEW SIMPLE CHANGES IN YOUR LIFE CAN SHOW YOU HOW TO STAY MOTIVATED UNTIL
YOU SUCCEED. WITH SO MANY DEMANDS BEING PLACED UPON US, IT BECOMES CONFUSING
AS TO WHERE TO PLACE OUR PRIORITIES. SOMEWHERE ALONG THE WAY, IN THE MIDST OF
ALL THE UNCERTAINTIES OF OUR LIVES, WE TEND TO LOSE OUR SENSE OF MOTIVATION. AND
INSTEAD CHOOSE THE PATH OF LEAST RESISTANCE, PROCRASTINATION.

HERE ARE A FEW SECRET TIPS TO GET YOUR LIFE ORGANISED SO YOU CAN BECOME
MOTIVATED UNTIL YOU SUCCEED...

1. FOR MOST OF US, A JOB IS OUR MEANS OF FINANCIAL SUPPORT AND CONTRIBUTES TO
OUR PHYSICAL, MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL HEALTH AS WELL, SO QUITTING YOUR JOB IS NOT
AN OPTION FOR MOST. THE TRICK IS TO BALANCE YOUR JOB WITH YOUR HOME LIFE. THIS



CAN BE A CHALLENGING TASK BUT YOU CAN BEGIN BY CUTTING YOUR WORKDAY TO EIGHT OR
NINE HOURS A DAY TO ALLOW YOURSELF MORE TIME AT HOME. IF MAKING CHANGES IN THE
NUMBER OF HOURS YOU WORK IS NOT POSSIBLE FOR YOU, TRY SIMPLIFYING IN OTHER
AREAS TO GIVE YOU MORE TIME, ENERGY AND MONEY; THAT IS, IF YOU LIVE SIMPLY, YOU
WILL NOT NEED AS MUCH MONEY.

2. EVEN TAKING THE SIMPLEST STEPS CAN REWARD YOU WITH MORE TIME AND LESS STRESS,
SUCH AS CHANGING YOUR EXPECTATIONS OF OTHERS (ONE LESS THING TO WORRY ABOUT),
DROPPING THE CALL WAITING FEATURE ON YOUR TELEPHONE AND HAVING SIMPLE HOLIDAYS
WITHOUT MUCH FUSS OR SPENDING A LOT OF MONEY.

3. GETTING RID OF THE EMOTIONAL GARBAGE IN YOUR LIFE SUCH AS ANGER, HATRED AND
FORGIVING THOSE WHO NEED YOUR FORGIVENESS OR MENDING BROKEN RELATIONSHIPS
WILL HELP CLEAR THE WAY TO SHOW YOU HOW TO STAY MOTIVATED UNTIL YOU SUCCEED BY
GIVING YOU BACK YOUR TIME AND ENERGY. DECIDE HOW YOU WANT YOUR LIFE TO BE. WHAT
DO YOU NEED MOST IN YOUR LIFE AT THIS MOMENT ENERGY, PEACE, QUIET, TRANQUILLITY,
WISDOM, SPIRITUAL GROWTH? MAKE A PROMISE TO YOURSELF THAT YOU WILL ACHIEVE
WHATEVER YOU WANT AND THEN SET ABOUT TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.

4. CONCENTRATE ON WHAT'S MOST IMPORTANT AND PRIORITISE YOUR TASK LIST (THIS
SHOULD BE DONE BOTH AT YOUR JOB AND AT HOME). A GOOD METHOD IS TO PLACE EACH
ITEM ON YOUR "TO DO" LIST IN ITS PROPER PERSPECTIVE BY HAVING THREE LISTS: "MUST BE
DONE," "SHOULD BE DONE," AND "NICE THINGS TO DO." ONCE YOU PLACE A VALUE ON EACH
ITEM YOU WILL QUICKLY SEE THAT SOME THINGS NEED NOT BE DONE AT ALL. IN FACT, THE
ONLY TIME PROCRASTINATION MAY PAY OFF MIGHT BE WHEN EVERYTHING ON THE "NICE
THINGS TO DO" LIST CAN ALL BE MARKED OFF AS UNNECESSARY.

5. DON'T BE AFRAID TO ASK FOR HELP. THE SHEER VOLUME OF TASKS IN OUR DAILY LIVES IS
ENOUGH TO MAKE US WANT IT TO "JUST GO AWAY." AS A RESULT WE PROCRASTINATE, THUS
LOSING OUR MOTIVATION. IT IS NOT A SIGN OF INCOMPETENCE OR INEFFICIENCY TO ADMIT
YOU NEED HELP. LET YOUR CO-WORKERS OR YOUR SUPERVISOR AT WORK KNOW YOU NEED
HELP. AT HOME, EVEN THE SMALLEST CHILD IN YOUR FAMILY CAN DO SIMPLE TASKS.

SLOW DOWN, SIMPLIFY, SPEND LESS, ENJOY SIMPLE PLEASURES WITH YOUR FAMILY THAT
DON'T COST A CENT, AND YOUR LIFE MAY BECOME MORE BEAUTIFUL, HAPPIER AND
FULFILLING. GETTING ORGANISED AND RIDDING YOURSELF OF THINGS THAT ARE
UNNECESSARY ARE THE FIRST STEPS OF LEARNING HOW TO STAY MOTIVATED UNTIL YOU
SUCCEED.

CAN YOU BE AN OPTIMISTIC REALIST?

ONE QUESTION YOU MIGHT HAVE WHEN YOU READ THIS TITLE IS, "WHY I WANT TO BE AN
OPTIMIST?" OR, EVEN, "HOW COULD I BE OPTIMISTIC WITH LIFE THE WAY IT IS?" OR "WHO
COULD BE AN OPTIMIST IN TODAY'S WORLD? AND "TODAY'S WORLD" MAY MEAN TO YOU THAT
OFFICE YOU WORK IN THAT'S SO HOPELESSLY UNDERSTAFFED AND DISORGANISED, OR YOUR
INEPT BOSS, OR TERRORISM, STARVATION AND VIOLENCE IN THE WORLD, YOUR PERSONAL
INADEQUACIES FOR FACING YOUR PERSONAL CHALLENGES, THE LACK OF HELP AROUND THE
HOUSE, YOUR HYPER 2 YEAR OLD TWIN BOYS, SPENDING YOUR DAYS REELING AMONG THE
EMOTIONAL STATES OF YOUR TEENAGERS, YOUR MIDLIFE-CRISIS SPOUSE, AND YOUR AGEING
MOTHER, OR ANY OF THE ABOVE.



I WAS REMINDED OF THIS DILEMMA WHEN I WAS CORNERED THE OTHER DAY BY A
COLLEAGUE WHOSE WIFE WAS WATCHING THE PRINCE CHARLES THING ON THE TELLY, WHEN
THERE WERE MORE IMPORTANT THINGS GOING ON IN THE WORLD. BY THE END OF HIS
TIRADE HE HAD LISTED TERRORISM, CANCER, THE NATIONAL BUDGET CRISIS AND THE LEGAL
SYSTEM AS THINGS MORE WORTHY OF OUR ATTENTION THAT WERE, AT THE SAME TIME. BY
THE END OF HIS TIRADE, HIS WIFE'S "PESSIMISTIC ATTITUDE" HAD BEEN ADDED TO THE
LIST, AS HAVING "RUINED" HIS DAY. AND, HAD I ALLOWED IT, I COULD'VE ADDED TO THE LIST
THAT HIS RETELLING OF THE WAR STORY HAD "RUINED" MINE.

LET'S FACE IT: IT'S EASIER TO BE CYNICAL. IT'S ALSO MORE REALISTIC TO BE CYNICAL. IF
YOU ARE THE KIND OF PERSON WHO HAS A NEED TO BE RIGHT, BETTING THAT THE WORK
PROJECT WILL BE MESSED UP, THAT THE MARRIAGE WILL NEVER LAST AND THAT BUSH WILL
MAKE ANOTHER DECISION THAT WILL FAIL TO MAKE THE WORLD PERFECT ARE SURER BETS
THAN THE OPPOSITE.

AND SO, IF YOU ARE NEGATIVE AND PESSIMISTIC, YOU WILL MORE OFTEN BE RIGHT. BUT
LOOK AT WHAT ELSE YOU WILL GET: YOU WILL ATTRACT TO YOURSELF PEOPLE WHO FEEL THE
SAME WAY AND WILL JOIN YOU IN A NEGATIVE DOWNWARD SPIRAL; YOU WILL BE QUICK TO
BLAME ANYTHING BUT YOURSELF, LEAVING YOURSELF FEELING HOPELESS AND HELPLESS AS
WELL AS ANGRY; YOU WILL WASTE A LOT OF TIME BELABOURING THE OBVIOUS; AND YOU
WILL ALSO STRESS YOURSELF AND YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM. NEGATIVE THINKING LEADS TO
NEGATIVE EMOTIONS, WHICH BRING ON PHYSIOLOGICAL REACTIONS WHICH CAN DAMAGE
YOUR HEALTH IN THE SHORT-TERM AND IN THE LONG-TERM.

BEING OPTIMISTIC DOESN'T MEAN NOT BEING REALISTIC. IT MEANS MAKING CHOICES THAT
INFLUENCE OUTCOMES, BECAUSE THEY CAN ALSO BE SELF-FULFILLING. IF YOU ARE SURE
YOUR SECRETARY IS GOING TO FAIL YOU AGAIN, SHE WILL. WE ARE ALL INFLUENCED BY THE
ENERGY AROUND US AND WHO CAN FUNCTION WHEN SOMEONE IS HOVERING AROUND THEM
WHO THINKS SHE OR HE IS "AN IDIOT"? ALSO, IF YOU ARE DETERMINED SHE WILL FAIL YOU,
YOU MUST MAKE THAT HAPPEN TO DEFEND YOUR EGO AND SO WHAT ELSE CAN YOU THINK
WHEN IT'S OVER? SHE FAILED YOU.

REALISM WOULD SAY, IF YOU TRULY HIRED THE WRONG PERSON, DON'T BE A VICTIM. TAKE
CARE OF THE PROBLEM. IF YOU HIRED A PERSON WHO, LIKE EVERYONE ELSE, HAS GOOD
DAYS AND BAD, WORKS IN AN IMPERFECT SYSTEM, HAS TO TRY AND READ YOUR MIND AND
ACCOMMODATE TO YOUR ADMITTEDLY DIFFICULT DISPOSITION AT TIMES AND IS OVER-
WORKED, DON'T PLAY THE VICTIM. LOOK AT THE SYSTEM AND SEE WHAT YOU CAN DO TO
MAKE THINGS WORK BETTER, ASSUMING (OPTIMISTICALLY) THAT THIS IS POSSIBLE, I.E.,
THINGS WILL NEVER BE PERFECT, BUT THEY CAN GENERALLY BE IMPROVED UPON AND YOU
ARE THE ONE TO DO IT. YOU COULD START, IN THAT INSTANCE, WITH YOUR OWN ATTITUDE
AND EXPECTATIONS.

IN FACT, IF YOU WANT TO MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE, START WITH YOUR
SECRETARY'S "WORLD." GET IT? PRAGMATICALLY SPEAKING, THAT IS, IF YOU WANT TO
FUNCTION IN THE REAL WORLD, AN OPTIMISTIC VIEW WORKS BETTER. IT GIVES YOU THE
ENERGY TO MAKE THINGS HAPPEN, BECAUSE IT GIVES YOU POSITIVE EMOTIONAL ENERGY.
FUNCTIONALLY SPEAKING, IT IS WISER TO BE OPTIMISTIC. OPTIMISM IS A TOOL, THEREFORE.
IF YOU CAN STILL THAT VOICE IN YOUR HEAD THAT SAYS EVERYTHING STINKS, YOU CAN
BEGIN TO SEE WHAT YOU CAN DO ABOUT THINGS AS THEY ARE, SOME OF WHICH, YES,
"STINK," BUT NOT ALL. IF YOU ARE PLAGUED BY THE SUFFERING OF TERRORISM AND
TSUNAMIS, FOR INSTANCE, SET ASIDE A TIME TO FIGURE OUT WHAT YOU CAN DO ABOUT



THEM. YOU WILL QUICKLY REALISE THE DILEMMA OF WORLD LEADERS WHO ACTUALLY HAVE
TO DO THIS ON A GRAND SCALE; BUT YOU WILL ALSO FIND SMALL THINGS YOU CAN DO IN
YOUR OWN WORLD TO ADDRESS THESE ILLS. CALL YOUR LOCAL RED CRESCENT. THEY HAVE
BEEN WAITING FOR YOUR CALL; BECAUSE, CONTRARY TO WHAT THE PESSIMIST THINKS, YOU
SEE, THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WHO CARE ABOUT THE SUFFERING IN THE WORLD AND ARE
DOING SOMETHING ABOUT IT RATHER THAN COMPLAINING.

IN THE MEANTIME, KEEP YOUR OWN LIFE GOING IN A POSITIVE DIRECTION, WITH OPTIMISM.
IF YOU ARE DETERMINED THAT YOU CAN'T BE HAPPY UNTIL ALL THE ILLS OF THE WORLD HAVE
BEEN ADDRESSED, YOU WILL BE A LONG TIME WAITING. YOU WILL ALSO FAIL TO ADDRESS
WHAT YOU CAN ADDRESS, BECAUSE OF LAMENTING OVER LARGER THINGS, WHICH BASICALLY
ARE BEYOND YOUR CONTROL. IF YOU WANT TO TURN AROUND YOUR ATTITUDE, TURN YOUR
FACE IN ANOTHER DIRECTION. TO FOCUS ON WHAT'S RIGHT ABOUT THINGS DOESN'T MEAN
YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THINGS ARE WRONG, OR HOW WRONG THEY ARE. IT MEANS YOU
ARE MAKING A CHOICE ABOUT YOUR OWN PORTION OF THE WORLD, YOUR RESPONSIBILITY
IN IT, AND YOUR OUTLOOK.

DOES IT HELP "THE WORLD" IF YOU GO ON A TIRADE FIRST THING IN THE MORNING AND
DUMP ALL YOUR FRUSTRATION ON YOUR SPOUSE? OF COURSE NOT. REMEMBER YOU AND
YOUR SPOUSE ARE ALSO A PART OF "THE WORLD." FROM AN OBJECTIVE POSITION, THE
YOUNG MAN MENTIONED ABOVE HAS A GOOD JOB, A NICE HOME, PLENTY OF FOOD,
CLOTHING AND NECESSITIES, AND A LOVELY WIFE WHO WAS CHEERFUL, LOVELY AND
DRESSED TO GO TO HER JOB FOR THE DAY. THAT'S A SCENE HALF THE PEOPLE IN THIS WILL
NEVER HAVE. OPTIMISM MEANS, NOT "SLAYING THE REAL FOR THE UNREAL." THE MOMENT
THIS YOUNG MAN HAD WAS REAL AND IT WAS GOOD. THEN HE GOT INTO HIS OWN HEAD AND
DRAGGED UP ALL THE REASONS HE COULD THINK OF TO BE UNHAPPY; REASONS WHICH
EXIST AND ARE AVAILABLE TO ALL OF US, BUT SO IS THE CONTENTMENT OF THE IMMEDIATE
REALITY. IT'S ALMOST LIKE HE TAKES PRIDE IN BEING ABLE TO FIGURE OUT THERE ARE ILLS
IN THE WORLD, AS IF HE WERE ONLY ONE WHO KNEW THIS AND WERE CONCERNED ABOUT IT.

FOR AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT YOUR SELF-TALK DOES TO YOU, CONSIDER THIS SCENARIO. LET'S
SAY HASSAN IS FEELING LOW. HE THINKS HIS LIFE IS IMPOSSIBLE; IT CONTAINS THE USUAL
ARRAY OF HARD WORK, TOO MUCH STRESS, ARGUMENTS WITH HIS WIFE AND KIDS AND A
HOME PLUMBING SYSTEM THAT KEEPS BACKING UP. HOWEVER, HIS JOB, WIFE AND KIDS ARE
ALL WITHIN "THE NORMAL RANGE." HE WALKS OUTSIDE AND HAS A CHAT WITH HIS
NEIGHBOUR. THE NEIGHBOUR HAS A 23-YEAR-OLD SON WHO LIVES WITH HIM AND HIS WIFE.
THEY ARE RETIRED, LIVING ON A LIMITED INCOME AND SUFFERING HEALTH PROBLEMS. MOST
OF US WOULD SAY, A PRAYER FOR THE NEIGHBOUR, BUT A SENSE OF GRATITUDE FOR OUR
OWN SET OF PROBLEMS, WHICH IS MUCH SMALLER AND SOMEHOW SEEMS, NOW, MORE
MANAGEABLE. HASSAN, THE PESSIMIST, HOWEVER, GOES BACK INSIDE FEELING LOWER THAN
EVER, HAVING DECIDED THAT IF THE WORLD IS THAT AWFUL, WHY TRY AT ALL.

PESSIMISM HAS ITS ROOTS IN OUR BELIEFS, WHICH FEED INTO OUR EXPECTATIONS. IF A
PERFECT WORLD IS ONE OF YOUR BELIEFS, OR THE FEELING THAT YOU CAN'T BE HAPPY UNTIL
YOU LIVE IN A PERFECT WORLD, WHY NOT TAKE IT OUT AND HAVE ANOTHER LOOK. WRITE
DOWN YOUR CORE BELIEFS AND THEN GO OVER THEM WITH OPTIMISM AND PESSIMISM IN
MIND.

LEARN ABOUT OPTIMISM AND HAVE IT AVAILABLE. BE ABLE TO CHANGE YOUR SELF-TALK AND
ATTITUDE. THIS FLEXIBILITY WILL DEVELOP YOUR EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE, AND IN THE
LONG RUN, THE HAPPINESS YOU SAVE MAY BE YOUR OWN.



WIN THE INNER GAME OF SUCCESS -- THE DYNAMIC PATH TOWARD THE LIFE YOU
MOST DESIRE!

DO WE ALL WANT TO LIVE LIVES OF DEEP SATISFACTION AND SUCCESS? SURE, WHO
WOULDN‟T? HOWEVER, MOST OF US HAVE BEEN KNOCKED AROUND BY LIFE ENOUGH TO
BEGIN TO LOSE OUR FAITH THAT OUR DREAMS ARE ACTUALLY REACHABLE.

I HAVE HAD TO FIGHT THIS CHALLENGE MYSELF AND I HAVE COME TO BELIEVE THAT IT IS
ENTIRELY POSSIBLE FOR US TO SUCCEED AND REACH ALL OF OUR DREAMS. AND THAT MEANS
YOU, TOO. HOW DO I KNOW? BECAUSE I AM SUCCEEDING AND WINNING THE INNER GAME OF
SUCCESS.

IF I CAN DO IT, I ABSOLUTELY KNOW THAT YOU CAN TOO. WHY? BECAUSE I AM NOBODY
SPECIAL, JUST A GUY WHO HAD A DREAM TO HELP AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE. (MAYBE
„PEOPLE‟ LIKE YOU…).

FAR TOO MANY TIMES, WE ARE EXPOSED TO GOOD IDEAS AND THEN WE WATCH THEM WASH
AWAY IN THE LAUNDRY OF OUR LIVES. IS THERE ANOTHER CHOICE? YES. BUT FIRST WE HAVE
TO LOOK AT WHAT GETS IN THE WAY. THERE ARE OF COURSE LOTS OF OBSTACLES, BUT FOUR
BIG ONES THAT STAND OUT. I CALL THESE ROADBLOCKS THE BIG STOPPERS:

BIG STOPPER #1:

TAKING ACTION THAT EITHER DOESN‟T HELP OR ACTUALLY TAKES YOU IN THE WRONG
DIRECTION AWAY FROM YOUR GOALS AND DREAMS. MY FRIENDS KNOW THIS ALL TOO WELL.
SO OFTEN WE STEP INTO OUR DREAMS WITH EXCITEMENT AND ENTHUSIASM AND END UP
TAKING STEPS THAT DON‟T MATTER, THAT ARE REALLY WAYS TO AVOID THE TOUGHER, MORE
DEMANDING, “REAL” STEPS, THE STEPS THAT WILL REALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE. I KNOW, I
HAVE DONE IT TOO, SO IT‟S OKAY TO ADMIT IT.

BIG STOPPER #2:

WAITING. IT‟S SIMPLE: THE FAST EATS THE SLOW. PROCRASTINATION STOPS SUCCESS COLD.
IT JUST DOES. WE CAN NO LONGER AFFORD TO SIT AND THINK ABOUT THIS IDEA OR THAT
ONE, WEIGHING THEM OUT ENDLESSLY. A PERSON GEARED TOWARD SUCCESS STEPS INTO
THE DREAM, JUMP-STARTS THE ENTHUSIASM AND GETS GOING. IN THIS DAY AND AGE, IT‟S
THE FAST THAT EAT THE SLOW, AND WE ALL KNOW IT, DON‟T WE?

BIG STOPPER #3:

DRAMATIC SO-CALLED “LIFE PROBLEMS”. PROBLEMS DRAIN US OF VITAL ENERGY. THEY CAN
GIVE US A LITTLE EMOTIONAL “JUICE”, DUE TO THE “DRAMA FACTOR”. BUT THIS JUICE COMES
AT A HIGH COST. THE COST IS THIS: WE LOSE FAITH IN OURSELVES AND OUR ABILITY TO
HAVE THE LIFE WE MOST DESIRE. IF YOUR LIFE IS FULL OF SO-CALLED PROBLEMS, THEN IT‟S
HARD TO BE ABLE TO SEE, CONCEIVE AND BELIEVE THAT YOU CAN HAVE A LIFE THAT REALLY
WORKS, A LIFE THAT MOVES YOU FORWARD TO ACCOMPLISH YOUR DREAMS. PROBLEMS
CREATE A FUNK IN OUR HEARTS AND MINDS. IS IT POSSIBLE TO HAVE A LIFE THAT IS
PROBLEM FREE? I BELIEVE IT IS. I BELIEVE THAT WHEN WE ACT FROM OUR OWN INTEGRITY,
TAKING CARE OF OUR SELVES FIRST, THEN PROBLEMS TEND TO DISAPPEAR.


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