INGREDIENTS OF HAPPINESS

 

                       FIVE INGREDIENTS OF HAPPINESS

                   SELF-DISCIPLINE IS ESSENTIAL TO HAPPINESS. SELF-DISCIPLINE REQUIRES BOTH THAT YOU DETERMINE CLEARLY WHAT HAPPINESS MEANS TO YOU AND ALSO THAT YOU WORK PROGRESSIVELY EACH DAY TOWARD THE ACHIEVEMENT OF THAT IDEAL CONDITION.

                   IN MY EXPERIENCE AND TEACHINGS, I HAVE FOUND THAT THERE ARE FIVE INGREDIENTS TO HAPPINESS. A SHORTFALL IN ANY OF THESE AREAS CAN CAUSE STRESS, UNHAPPINESS, AND A FEELING OF BEING OUT OF CONTROL.

                                        FIVE INGREDIENTS OF HAPPINESS

                 1. HEALTH AND ENERGY : THIS IS PERHAPS THE MOST IMPORTANT ELEMENT OF A GOOD LIFE. WE STRIVE FOR IT ALL OUR LIVES. IT IS ONLY WHEN YOU ENJOY HIGH LEVELS OF PAIN-FREE HEALTH AND A CONTINUOUS FLOW OF ENERGY THAT YOU FEEL TRULY HAPPY.

                    IN MANY CASES, HEALTH IS A "DEFICIENCY NEED". THIS MEANS THAT YOU DO NOT THIK ABOUT YOUR HEALTH VERY MUCH UNTIL YOU ARE DEPRIVED OF IT. FOR EXAMPLE, YOU DO NOT THINK ABOUT YOUR TEETH UNTIL YOU HAVE A TOOTHACHE. YOU DO NOT THINK ABOUT YOUR BODY UNTIL YOU HAVE ACHES OR PAINS OF SOME KIND.'

             

                  YOU MUST USE DISCIPLINE AND WILL POWER THROUGHOUT YOUR LIFE TO ACHIEVE AND MAINTAIN HIGH LEVELS OF HEALTH AND FITNESS. CHAPTERS 16 AND 17 COVER THESE IN MORE DETAIL.

                 HAPPY RELTIONSHIP . FULLY 85 PERCENT OF YOUR HAPPINESS OR HAPPINESS WILL COME FROM YOUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHER PEOPLE. AS ARISTOTLE SAID, 'MAN IS A SOCIAL ANIMAL". WE ARE DESIGNED TO FUNCTION IN SOCIETY, WORKING AND LIVING WITH OTHER PEOPLE AT EVERY STAGE OF OUR LIVES.

                 YOUR ABILITY TO ENTER INTO AND MAINTAIN HIGH-QUALITY RELATIONSHIPS WITH YOUR SPOUSE, CHILDREN, FRIENDS, COLEAGUES, AND OTHERS IS THE TRUE MEASURE OF THE QUALITY OF YOUR PERSONALITY AND YOUR LEVEL OF MENTAL HEALTH. PEOPLE WITH HIGH LEVELS OF SELF-ESTEEM AND SELF-RESPECT GET ALONG BETTER WITH OTHERS AND HAVE MUCH HAPPIER LIVES.

                ONE OF OUR BIGGEST MISTAKES IS TO TAKE OUR RELATIONSHIPS FOR GRANTED, ESPECIALLY OUR MOST IMPORTANT ONES. WE OFTEN DON'T THINK ABOUT THEM UNTIL THERE IS A PROBLEM, AND THEN WE THINK OF NOTHING ELSE.

                  3. MEANINGFUL WORK. TO BE TRULY HAPPY, YOU MUST BE FULLY ENAGAGED WITH LIFE. YOU MUST BE DOING THINGS THAT KEEP YOU ACTIVE AND GIVE YOU A SENSE OF FULFILLMENT. IF YOU ARE MAKING A LIVING, YOU MUST BE DOING WORK THAT YOU ENJOY, DO WELL, AND FOR WHICH YOU ARE WELL PAID.

                PEOPLE ARE TRULY HAPPY ONLY WHEN THEY FEEL THEY ARE MAKING A CONTRIBUTION OF SOME KIND, THAT THEY ARE PUTTING IN MORE THAN THEY ARE TAKING OUT. YOU NEED TO FEEL THAT WHAT YOU DO REALLY MAKES A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES AND WORK OF OTHER PEOPLE.

                  IN STUDIES OF EMPLOYEE MOTIVATION, EMPLOYEES THINK THAT PEOPLE ARE PRIMARILY MOTIVATED BY MONEY AND BENEFITS. BUT WHEN EMPLOYEES ARE SURVEYED, AND THREE FACTORS THAT MOTIVATE THEM THE MOST TURN OUT TO BE.

                 CHALLENGING AND INTERESTING WORK,

                 OPPORTUNITIES FOR GROWTH AND ADVANCEMENT, AND 

                 PLEASANT COWORKERS.

               ONE OF YOUR MOST IMPORTANT RESPONSIBILITIES TO YOURSELF IS TO FIND THE RIGHT JOB FOR YOU, AND THEN, ONCE YOU HAVE IT, THROW YOUR WHOLE HEART INTO IT. IF FOR ANY REASON, YOU DO NOT FEEL LIKE PUTTING YOUR WHOLE HEART INTO YOUR WORK, IT MAY BE LACKING ONE OR MORE OF THE THREE ESSENTIALS TO A POSITIVE WORKPLACE. IT MAY BE A SIGN THAT THIS IS NOT THE RIGHT PLACE FOR YOU.

              FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE . SOME OF THE GREATEST FEARS WE EXPERIENCE ARE THOSE OF LOSS, FAILURE, AND POVERTY. WE FEAR BEING DESTITUTE, WITHOUT FUNDS, AND DEPENDENT ON OTHERS.

                ONE OF YOUR CHIEF RESPONSIBILITIES TO YOURSELF FREEDOM THROUGHOUT YOUR LIFE. THE HAPPIEST OF ALL PEOPLE ARE THOSE WHO HAVED REACHED THE POINT AT WHICH THEY NO LONGER WORRY ABOUT MONEY. THIS IS NOT SOMETHING YOU CAN LEAVE TO CHANCE, BUT RATHER SOMETHING THAT REQUIRES DELIBERATE, PURPOSEFUL ACTION AND TREMENDOUS SELF-DISCIPLINE TO ACHIEVE.

               WHENEVER YOU FEEL THAT THERE IS A BIG GAP BETWEEN WHERE YOU ARE TODAY FINANCIALLY AND WHERE YOU WOULD IDEALLY LIKE TO BE, YOU EXPERIENCES STRESS, WORRY, AND UNHAPPINESS .

                  5. SELF-ACTUALIZATION . THIS IS THE FEELING THAT YOU ARE BECOMING EVERYTHING YOU ARE CAPABLE OF BECOMING. THIS OCCURS WHEN YOU FEEL THAT YOU ARE REALIZING MORE AND MORE OF YOUR TRUE POTENTIAL.

                    ABRAHAM MASLOW IS BEST KNOWN FOR HIS HIERARCHY OF NEEDS. HE DETERMINED THAT PEOPLE HAVE BOTH "DEFICIENCY NEEDS" AND "BEING NEEDS". PEOPLE STRIVE EITHER TO COMPENSATE FOR THEIR DEFICIENCIES OR TO REALIZE THEIR POTENTIALS. HE CONCLUDED THAT YOU BEGIN TO EVOLVE AND DEVELOP TO THE HIGHEST LEVELS POSSIBLE FOR YOU ONLY WHEN YOUR DEFICIENCY NEEDS ARE FIRST SATISFIED.

                   DEFICIENCY NEEDS. YOUR FIRST DEFICIENCY NEED IS FOR SAFETY AND SURVIVAL. SATISFYING THIS NEED REQUIRES THAT YOU HAVE SUFFICIENT FOOD, WATER, CLOTHING, AND ACCOMMODATION TO PRESERVE YOUR LIFE AND WELL-BEING. IF FOR ANY REASON YOUR SAFETY OR SURVIVAL IS THREATENED, YOU WILL BECOME TOTALLY PREOCCUPIED WITH SATISFYING THIS NEED. YOU WILL EXPERIENCE TREMENDOUS STRESS, AND YOU WILL BE COMPLETELY UNHAPPY UNTIL YOU ARE SAFE ONCE MORE. FOR EXAMPLE, THINK ABOUT BEING IN A LIFE-THREATENING SITUATION.

                      THE SECOND DEFICIENCY NEED THAT MASLOW IDENTIFIED IS THE NEED FOR SECURITY. THIS NEED EMBRACES FINANCIAL, EMOTIONAL, TO PROVIDE FOR YOURSELF, SECURITY IN YOUR RELATIONSHIPS AT WORK AND AT HOME, AND PHYSICAL SECURITY TO ASSURE THAT YOU ARE NOT IN DANGER OF ANY KIND. IF YOUR SECURITY NEEDS ARE THREATENED, YOU BECOME COMPLETELY PREOCCUPIED WITH THEM. FOR EXAMPLE, THINK ABOUT LOSING YOUR JOB SUDDENLY, HOW WOULD YOU FEEL?

                   THE THIRD DEFICIENCY NEED THAT MASLOW IDENTIFIED IS BELONGINGNESS. EACH PERSON HAS A NEED TO BE IN SOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHERS, BOTH AT HOME AT WORK. YOU NEED TO BE RECOGNIZED AND ACCEPTED BY OTHER PEOPLE IN YOUR WORLD. EACH PERSON NEEDS TO BE COMFORTABLE IN HIS OR HER RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHERS AND SEEN AND ACCEPTED AS PART OF A TEAM OR GROUP.

               SELF-ESTEEM NEEDS. ONCE YOU HAVE ACHIEVED A SUFFICIENT LEVEL OF EACH OF THESE BASIC NEEDS - SAFETY, SECURITY, AND BELONGINGNESS - YOU THEN TURN OF SATISFY THE HIGHER NEEDS FOR SELF-ESTEEM AND SELF-WORTH, YOUR BEING NEEDS. YOUR SELF-ESTEEM  AND SELF-WORTH, YOUR BEING NEEDS. YOUR SELF-ESTEEM IS THE CORE OF YOUR PERSONALITY AND LARGELY DETERMINES HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS TO YOU. EVERYTHING YOU DO IN LIFE IS EITHER TO INCREASE YOUR SELF-ESTEEM OR TO PROTECT IT FROM BEING DIMINISHED.

                 YOUR SELF-ESTEEM -HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT YOURSELF AND HOW MUCH YOU LIKE AND VALUE YOURSELF- DETERMINES YOUR HAPPINESS MORE THAN ANY OTHER SINGLE FACTOR. YOUR SELF-ESTEEM COMES FROM MANY FACTORS. WHEN YOU ARE LIKED AND ACCEPTED BY OTHERS, LIVING CONSISTENTLY WITH YOUR HIGHEST VALUES, DOING A GOOD JOB AND BEING RECOGNIZED FOR IT, AND MOVING PROGRESSIVELY TOWARD THE ACHIEVEMENT OF YOUR GOALS AND IDEALS, THEN YOU NATURALLY FEEL HAPPY AND SATISFIED. YOU FEEL VALUABLE AND VERY MUCH IN CONTROL.

                   THE HIGHEST HUMAN NEED. THE HIGHEST NEED TAT MASLOW IDENTIFIED WAS FOR SELF-ACTUALIZATION. HE CONCLUED THAT LESS THAN 2 PERCENT OF THE POPULATION EVER REACHES THIS HEIGHT OF PERSONAL FULLFILLMENT. MOST PEOPLE REMAIN SO PREOCCUPIED WITH THEIR DEFICIENCY NEEDS AND PROTECTING OR ENHANCING THEIR SELF-ESTEEM AND THEIR EGO NEEDS THAT THEY GIVE LITTLE THOUGHT OR EFFORT TO SELF-ACTUALIZATION.

                 BUT IT IS ONLY WHEN YOU REALIZE THAT YOU HAVE TREMENDOUS PERSONAL POTENTIAL AND BEGIN STRIVING TO DO, BE, AND HAVE MORE THAN EVER BEFORE IN SOME AREA THAT YOU BEGIN TO EXPERIENCE SELF-ACTUALIZATION AND TRUE HAPPINESS.

                 THE HAPPIEST OF ALL PEOPLE ARE THOSE WHO FEEL THAT THEY ARE DOING SOMETHING WORTHWHILE AND IMPORTANT WITH THEIR LIVES. THEY FEEL THEY ARE STRETCHING AND MOVING BEYOND ANYTHING THEY'RE EVER DONE BEFORE. PEOPLE DEVOTED TO SELF-ACTUALIZATION MAY BE WRITING BOOKS OR CREATING WORKS OF ART. THEY MAY BE CLIMBING MOUNTAINS OR COMPETING IN SPORTS. THEY MAY BE BUILDING BUSINESS OR SCALING THE HEIGHTS OF THEIR PROFESSIONS.

                  THE WONDERFUL THING ABOUT SELF-ACTUALIZATION NEEDS IS THAT THEY CAN NEVER BE COMPLETELY SATISFIED. AS YOU CONTINUALLY STRIVE THROUGHOUT YOUR LIFE TO BE AND HAVE AND DO MORE THAN EVER BEFORE, YOU EXPERIENCE A STEADY FLOW OF HAPPINESS AND CONTENTMENT. YOU FEEL THAT YOU ARE BECOMING MORE AND MORE OF WHAT YOU WERE TRULY MEANT TO BECOME.

                                                  NEVER BE SATISFIED

             IN EACH OF THESE AREAS, WHENEVER YOU EXACT SELF-DISCIPLINE AND WILLPOWER TO OVERCOME THE TENDENCY TO TAKE THE EASY WAY, YOU FEE HAPPIER ABOUT YOURSELF. WHEN YOU TAKE A LEAP OF FAITH IN THE DIRECTION OF YOUR DREAMS AND THEN DISCIPLINE YOURSELF TO KEEP GOING IN SPITE OF ALL OBSTACLES AND HARDSHIPS, YOU FEEL POWERFUL. YOUR SELF-ESTEEM AND SELF-CONFIDENCE INCREASE, AND THEN AS YOU MOVE, STEP BY STEP, TOWARD YOUR IDEAS, YOU FEEL GENUINELY HAPPY.

                 IN THE NEXT CHAPTER, YOU WILL LEARN HOW TO INCORPORATE SELF-DISCIPLINE INTO YOUR DAILY HEALTH HABITS TO ENSURE THAT YOU LIVE A LONG, HAPPY, HEALTHY LIFE.

EACH DAY TWO HOURS FOR YOU

                      TWO HOURS EACH DAY 

                            WILL GET YOU TO THE TOP

                    IT HAS BEEN CALCULATED THAT ALL YOU NEED TO INVEST IS ABOUT TWO EXTRA HOURS PER DAY TO MOVE FROM THE AVERAGE TO THE SUPERIOR. ONLY TWO EXTRA HOURS EACH DAY WILL MOVE YOU FROM WORRYING ABOUT MONEY ALL YOUR LIFE TO BEING ONE OF THE HIGHEST PAID PEOPLE IN YOUR FIELD.

                 PEOPLE IMMEDIATELY ASK, WHERE AM I GOING TO GET AN EXTRA TWO HOURS EACH DAY?"

                 IT'S SIMPLE : TALE A OF PAPER AND DO THE FOLLOWING SIMPLE CALCULATION :

               * CALCULATE THE NUMBER OF HOURS IN A WEEK: 7 DAYS TIMES 24 HOURS EQUALS 168 HOURS.

              * IF YOU DEDUCT FORTY HOURS FOR WORK AND FIFTY-SIX HOURS FOR SLEEP, YOU HAVE SEVENTY-TWO HOURS LEFT OVER.

 

              * IF YOU DEDUCT THREE HOURS PER DAY (TWENTY-ONE HOURS) FOR GETTING READY OR AND TRAVELLING TO AND FROM WORK, THAT LEAVES YOU FIFTY-ONE HOURS OF SPARE TIME TO DO WITH AS YOU PLEASE.

              * IF YOU INVEST TWO HOURS PER DAY BACK INTO YOURSELF, FOURTEEN HOURS PERWEEK, YOU STILL HAVE THIRTY-SEVEN HOURS LEFT OVER. THAT'S AN AVERAGE OF MORE THAN FIVE HOURS PER DAY OF FREE TIME.

                 ALL YOU NEED TO DO IS DEVOTE TWO HOURS EACH DAY TO MOVE YOU FROM AVERAGE PERFORMANCE TO SUPERIOR PERFORMANCE AT WHATEVER YOU CHOOSE TO DO.

                    FORM THE HABIT OF CONTINUOUS LEARNING

                 THE BEST NEWS IS THAT WHEN YOU BEGIN READING PERSONAL OR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT LITERATURE, LISTENING TO AUDIO PROGRAMS IN YOUR CAR, TAKING ADDIONAL COURSES, AND UPGRADING YOUR SKILLS IN THE EVENINGS AND ON THE WEEKENDS RATHER THAN WATCHING TELEVISION, YOU SOON GET INTO THE HABIT OF CONTINUOUS LEARNING. IN NO TIME AT ALL, IT WILL BECOME AUTOMATIC AND EASY FOR YOU TO LEARN, GROW AND UPGRADE YOUR SKILLS EVERY AY AND EVERY WEEK.

                   THE AVERAGE ADULT WATCHES ABOUT FIVE HOURS OF TELEVISION EACH DAY. FOR SOME PEOPLE, IT IS SEVEN OR EIGHT HOURS. THEY TURN ON THE TELEVISION FIRST THING IN THE MORNING AND WATCH IT UNTIL  THEY LEAVE FOR WORK. THEY TURN IT BACK ON AS SOON AS THEY GET HOME FROM WORK. THEY THEN WATCH TELEVISION UNTIL 11 OR 12 O'CLOCK AT NIGHT, GOING TO BED WITHOUT ENOUGH TIME TO GET A GOOD NIGHTS SLEEP. THEY THEN GET UP IN THE MORNING, DRINK COFFEE, AND WATCH TELEVISION FOR AS LONG AS THEY CAN BEFORE THEY GO OFF TO WORK ONCE MORE.

                                           YOU CAN BE RICH OR POOR :

                                                        IT'S YOUR DECISION

                    YOUR TELEVISION SET CAN MAKE YOU RICH OR POOR. IF YOU WATCH IN ALL THE TIME, IT WILL MAKE YOU POOR. PSYCHOLOGISTS HAVE SHOWN THAT THE MORE TELEVISION YOU WATCH, THE LOWER ARE YOUR LEVELS OF ENERGY AND SELF-ESTEEM. AT AN UNCONSCIOUS LEVEL, YOU DON'T LIKE OR RESPECT YOURSELF AS MUCH IF YOU SIT THERE HOUR AFTE RHOUR WATCHING TELEVISION. PEOPLE WHO WATCH TOO MUCH TELEVISION ALSO GAIN WEIGHT AND BECOME PHYSICALLY UNFIT FROM SITTING AROUND TOO MUCH.

                    YOUR TELEVISION CAN ALSO MAKE YOU RICH -BUT ONLY IF YOU TURN IT OFF. WHEN YOU TURN OFF YOUR TELEVISION, YOU FREE UP TIME THAT YOU CAN THEN USE TO INVEST IN BECOMING A BETTER, SMARTER, AND MORE COMPETENT PERSON. WHEN YOU LEAVE YOUR TELEVISION OFF WHEN YOU ARE WITH YOUR FAMILY. YOU WILL FIND YOURSELF TALKING, SHARING, COMMNUCATING, AND LAUGHING MORE PERIODS OF TIME, YOU BREAK THE HABIT OF WATCHING TELEVISION - AND YOU WILL HARDLY MISS IT AT ALL. YOUR TELEVISION CAN BE AND EXCELLENT SERVANT, BUT IT'S A TERRIBLE MASTER. THE CHOICE IS YOURS.

                                INCREASE YOUR INCOME 1000 PERCENT

                    THERE IS A SIMPLE SEVEN-STEP FORMULA YOU CAN USE IN ORDER TO INCREASE YOUR PRODUCTIVITY, PERFORMANCE, OUTPUT, AND INCOME BY 1000 PERCENT OVER THE NEXT TEN YEARS. IT WORKS FOR EVERYONE WHO TRIES IT. IT IS SIMPLE:

                      FIRST, ANSWER THIS QUESTION : IS IT POSSIBLE FOR YOU TO INCREASE YOUR OVERALL PRODUCTIVITY, PERFORMANCE, AND OUTPUT BY 1/10 OF 1 PERCENT (I/1000TH) IN AN ENTIRE WORKING DAY? YOUR ANSWER WILL PROBABLY BE "YES" . IF YOU WERE TO MANAGE YOUR TIME A LITTLE BETTER, AND WORK ON MORE VALUABLE TASKS, YOU WOULD QUITE EASILY INCREASE YOUR OUTPUT BY 1/1000 IN A DAY.

                 HAVING DONE THIS FOR THE FIRST DAY, COULD YOU INCREASE YOUR OUTPUT BY 1/10 OF 1 PERCENT THE SECOND DAY? AND THE ANSWER, OF COURSE, IS "YES".

                    HAVING INCREASED YOUR PERFORMANCE BY 1/10 OF 1 PERCENT ON MONDAY AND TUESDAY, COULD YOU CONTINUE TO DO IT FOR WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY, AND FRIDAY? AND AGAIN, THE ANSWER IS "YES".

FORMULA FOR THE TOP

 

          

                           SEVEN STEPS TO THE TOP

                  HERE ARE THE SEVEN STEPS IN THE 1000 PERCENT FORMULA

                              

            STEP 1 :

                               ARISE TWO HOURS BEFORE YOUR FIRST APPOINTMENT, OR BEFORE YOU HAVE TO BE AT WORK. INVEST THE FIRST HOUR IN YOURSELF BY READING SOMETHING EDUCATIONAL, MOTIVATIONAL, OR SPIRITUAL. AS HENRY WARD BEECHER ONCE SAID, "THE FIRST HOUR IS THE RUDDER OF THE DAY".

                     WHEN YOU GET UP AND INVEST THE FIRST HOUR IN YOURSELF, YOU SET YOURSELF UP MENTALLY TO HAVE AN EXCELLENT DAY. YOU WILL BE MORE POSITIVE, ALERT, CREATIVE, AND PRODUCTIVE ALL DAY LONG WHEN YOU START YOUR DAY BY INVESTING THE FIRST HOUR IN YOURSELF.

                     IF YOU READ IN YOUR FIELD ONE HOUR PER DAY, THAT WILL TRANSLATE INTO ABOUT ONE BOOK PER WEEK. ONE BOOK PER WEEK WILL TRANSLTE INTO ABOUT FIFTY BOOK PER YEAR. SINCE THE AVERAGE ADULT READ LESS THAN ONE NONFICTION BOOK PER YEAR, IF YOU WERE TO READ FIFTY BOOK IN YOUR FIELD EACH YEAR, DO YOU THINK THAT WOULD GIVE YOU AN EDGE IN YOUR PROFESSION? DO YOU THINK THAT IT WOULD MOVE YOU AHEAD OF VIRTUALLY EVERYONE ELSE IN YOUR BUSINESS ? OF COURSE IT WOULD!.

                   IF YOU READ FIFTY BOOKS PER YEAR FOR TEN YEARS, THIS WOULD BE 500 BOOKS THAT WOULD HELP YOU IMPROVE YOUR PRODUCTIVITY, PERFORMANCE, AND INCOME. AT THE VERY LEAST, YOU WOULD NEED A BIGGER HOUSE JUST TO HOLD YOUR BOOKS. AND YOU WOULD BE ABLE TO AFFORD IT!.

                 READING ONE HOUR PER DAY IN YOUR FIELD WILL MAKE YOU A NATIONAL AUTHORITY IN THREE TO FIVE YEARS. THIS ALONE CAN GIVE YOU YOUR 1000 PERCENT INCREASE OVER THE COURSE OF YOUR CAREER.

                          STEP 2

                              REWRITE YOUR GOALS, EVERY DAY. GET A SPIRAL NOTEBOOK AND REWRITE YOUR MAJOR GOALS IN THE PRESENT TENSE EVERY MORNING BEFORE YOU START OUT, WITHOUT LOOKING BACK AT WHAT YOU WROTE THE PREVIOUS DAY. THIS WRITING AND REWRITING IS THE PROCESS OF PROGRAMMING INSTRUCTIONS INTO THE GUIDANCE MECHANISM OF YOUR MIND.

                             WHEN YOU REWRITE YOUR TEN GOALS EACH MORNING, YOU WILL CONTINUALLY SEE AND THINK TEN GOALS OPPORTUNITIES TO ACHIEVE CHANNELED, AND DIRECTED. YOU WILL BE MORE PURPOSEFUL AND DETERMINED. AND YOU WILL ACHIEVE YOUR GOALS MUCH FASTER THAN IF THEY WERE MERELY WISHES FLOATING AROUND IN THE BACK OF YOUR MIND.

                            WRITING AND REWRITING YOUR GOALS EACH DAY CAN GIVE YOU YOUR 1000 PERCENT INCREASE IN INCOME OVER TEN YEARS.

                            STEP 3 :

                                        PLAN EVERY DAY IN ADVANCE. MAKE A LIST, AND SET PRIORITIES ON YOUR WORK BEFORE YOU START OFF. YOUR ABILITY TO SET PRIORITIES AND TO CHOOSE THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THAT YOU CAN BE DOING AT EVERY MOMENT IS THE KEY TO ORGANIZING YOUR LIFE AND DOUBLING YOUR PRODUCTIVITY. (WE WILL TALK IN DETAIL ABOUT TIME MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUE IN CHAPTER 12)

                                  WORKING ON YOUR TOP PRIORITIES CAN INCREASE YOUR INCOME BY 1000 PERCENT OVER TEN YEARS, AND IT IS PROBABLY IMPOSSIBLE TO ACHIEVE WITHOUT IT.

                            STEP 4 :

                                      DISCIPLINE YOURSELF TO CONCENTRATE SINGLE MINDEDLY ON ONE THING. CHOOSE THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THAT YOU CAN DO EACH DAY. THEN, START ON IT FIRST THING AND THEN WORK ON IT UNTIL IT IS 1000 PERCENT COMPLETE. YOUR ABILITY TO FOCUS AND CONCENTRATE, WHEN YOU DEVELOP AND HONE IT INTO A HABIT, ALL BY ITSELF, WILL ENABLE YOU TO DOUBLE YOUR PRODUCTIVITY, PERFORMANCE, AND OUTPUT IN THE NEXT MONTH - AND IT WILL GIVE YOU YOUR 1000 PERCENT INCREASE OVER TEN YEARS.

                             STEP 5 :

                          LISTEN TO EDUCATIONAL AUDIO PROGRAMS IN YOUR CAR. THE AVERAGE BUSINESSPERSON WHO DRIVES SPENDS 500-1000 HOURS PER YEAR BEHIND THE WHELL OF A CAR. WHEN YOU TURN YOUR CAR INTO A "UNIVERSITY ON WHEELS" OR A "MOBILE CLASSROOM", YOU GET THE EDUCATIONAL EQUIVALENT OF ONE TO TWO FULL-TIME UNIVERSITY SEMESTERS AS YOU DRIVE AROUND.

                      MANY PEOPLE HAVE GONE FROM RAGS TO RICHES BY SIMPLY LISTENING TO EDUCATIONAL AUDIO PROGRAMS IN THEIR CARS AS THEY DRIVE FROM PLACE TO PLACE. YOU COULD DO THE SAME. THIS ALONE COULD GIVE YOU YOUR 1000 PERCENT  INCREASE.

                       STEP 6 :

                           ASK TWO MAGIC QUESTIONS AFTER EVERY CALL OR EVENT. FIRST, ASK YOURSELF, "WHAT DID I DO RIGHT?' THEN, ASK YOURSELF, WHAT WOULD I DO DIFFERENTLY?

                          THE FIRST QUESTION, "WHAT DID I DO RIGHT? FORCES YOU TO THINK THROUGH AND RECALL ALL THE CORRECT THINGS THAT YOU DID IN THAT LAS MEETING, PRESENTATION, OR EVENT, EVEN IF IT WAS NOT SUCCESSFUL. WRITE THEM DOWN.

                       THE SECOND QUESTION, "WHAT WOULD I DO DIFFERENTLY?" FORCES YOU TO THINK THROUGH ALL THE DIFFERENT WAYS YOU COULD IMPROVE YOUR PERFORMANCE IN A SIMILAR SITUATION. WRITE THESE IDEAS DOWN AS WELL.

                    IN BOTH CASES, BY REVIEWING YOUR PERFORMANCE, BY THINKING ABOUT WHAT YOU DID RIGHT AND WHAT YOU WOULD DO DIFFERENTLY, YOU PROGRAM YOURSELF TO PERFORM EVEN BETTER THE NEXT TIME. THIS IS NOT OF THE FASTEST AND MOST POWERFUL EXERCISES IN PERSONAL GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT I HAVE EVER DISCOVERED. THIS PROCESS DRAMATICALLY SPEEDS UP THE RATE AT WHICH YOU MOVE INTO THE TOP 20 PERCENT.

                    STEP 7 :

                        TREAT EVERY PERSON YOU MEET LIKE A MILLION - DOLLAR CUSTOMER. TREAT EACH PERSON YOU MEET AND WORK WITH, BOTH AT HOME AND IN THE OFFICE, AS THOUGH HE OR SHE IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PERSON IN THE WORLD. WHEN YOU TREAT PEOPLE AS IF THEY ARE VALUABLE AND IMPORTANT, THEY WILL RETURN THE FAVOR BY TREATING YOU AS IF YOU  ARE VALUABLE AND IMPORTANT AS WELL. THEY WILL WANT TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH YOU, WORK FOR YOU, BUY FROM YOU, AND INTRODUCE YOU TO THEIR FRIENDS.

                       YOU BEGIN TREATING PEOPLE LIKE MILLION- DOLLAR CUSTOMERS BY STARTING AT HOME, WITH THE MEMBER OF YOUR FAMILY. REMEMBER, THEY ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT PEOPLE IN YOUR LIFE. SO WHEN YOU START YOUR DAY WELL, FIRST THING IN THE MORNING, BY MAKING THE MEMBERS OF YOUR FAMILY FEEL IMPORTANT AND TELLING THEM THAT YOU LOVE THEM, YOU WILL BE MORE POSITIVE, RELAXED, AND HAPPIER FOR THE REST OF THE DAY.

               FULLY 85 PERCENT OF YOUR SUCCESS WILL BE DETERMINED BY HOW MUCH PEOPLE LIKE AND RESPECT YOU, ESPECIALLY IN BUSINESS AND SALES. NEVER MISS AN OPPORTUNITY TO TREAT PEOPLE WELL.

                 WHEN YOU PRACTICE THESE SEVEN STEPS EACH DAY FOR A MONTH, YOU WILL SEE CHANGES AND IMPROVEMENTS IN YOUR LIFE, WORK, AND INCOME THAT WILL ASTONISH YOU. AFTER A MONTH OF REGULAR PRACTICE, YOU WILL HAVE FORMED A NEW HABIT OF CONTINUOUS PERSONAL IMPROVEMENT THAT CAN CARRY YOU ONWARD AND UPWARD FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE.

LEADERSHIP

 

                     SEVEN PRINCIPLES OF LEADERSHIP

                        TO BE AN EFFECTIVE LEADER, THERE ARE SEVEN PRINCIPLES YOU MUST INCORPORATE INTO YOUR LEADERSHIP BEHAVIOR AND ACTIVITIES.

                        1. CLARITY : THIS IS PERHAPS YOUR MOST IMPORTANT  RESPONSIBILITY. YOU MUST BE ABSOLUTELY CLEAR ABOUT WHO YOU ARE AND WHAT YOU STAND FOR. YOU MUST BE ABSOLUTELY CLEAR ABOUT VISION AND WHERE YOU WANT TO LEAD YOUR PEOPLE. YOU MUST BE ABSOLUTELY CLEAR ABOUT THE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE ORGANIZATION AND HOW THEY ARE TO BE OBTAINED. 

                         ESPECIALLY, YOU MUST BE ABSOLUTELY CLEAR ABOUT THE VALUES, MISSION, AND PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION AND WHAT IT STANDS FOR, EVERYONE AROUND YOU AND BELOW YOU MUST KNOW EXACTLY WHY THEY ARE DOING WHAT THEY DO AND WHAT THEIR COMPANY HAS BEEN FORMED TO ACCOMPLISH.

                     2. COMPETENCE : AS THE LEADER, YOU MSUT SET A STANDARD OF EXCELLENT PERFORMANCE, FOR THE ORGANIZATION AS WELL AS FOR EVERY PERSON AND FUNCTION IN THE COMPANY. YOUR GOAL MUST BE FOR YOUR COMPANY TO BE AS GOOD AS, OR BETTER THAN, YOUR VERY BEST COMPETITOR. YOU MUST BE CONTINUALLY SEEKING WAYS TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF YOUR PRODUCTS AND SERVICES TO YOUR CUSTOMERS.

                      3. COMMITMENT : THE LEADER IS ABSOLUTELY COMMITTED TO THE SUCCESS OF THE ORGANIZATION AND BELIEVS COMPLETELY THAT THIS ORGANIZATION IS THE BEST IN THE BUSINESS OR WILL BE THE BEST IN THE FUTURE. THIS PASSIONATE COMMITMENT TO THE ORGANIZATION - AND TO SUCCESS AND ACHIEVEMENT - MOTIVATES AND INSPIRES PEOPLE TO DO THEIR BEST WORK AND PUT THEIR WHOLE HEARTS INTO THEIR JOBS. 

                     4. CONSTRAINTS : THE JOB OF THE LEADER IS TO IDENTIFY THE CONSTRAINST OR LIMITING FACTORS THAT SET THE SPEED AT WHICH THE COMPANY ACHIEVES ITS MOST IMPORTANT GOALS OF REVENUE AND PROFITABILITY. THE LEADER THEN ALLOCATES PEOPLE AND RESOURCES TO ALLEVIATE THOSE CONSTRAINTS AND REMOVE THE OBSTACLES SO IT CAN PERFORM AS ONE OF THE BEST IN THE INDUSTRY.

                      5. CREATIVITY : THE LEADER IS OPEN TO NEW IDEAS OF ALL KINDS AND FROM ALL SOURCES. THE LEADER IS CONTINUALLY ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO FIND FASTER, BETTER, CHEAPER, AND EASIER WAYS TO PRODUCE EXCELLENT PRODUCTS AND SERVICES AND TO TAKE BETTER CARE OF CUSTOMERS.

                      6. CONTINUOUS LEARNING : THE LEADER IS PERSONALLY COMMITTED TO READING, LISTENING, AND UPGRADING HIS OR HER PERSONAL KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS AS AN EXECUTIVE. THE LEADER SHOULD ATTEND ADDITIONAL SEMINARS AND COURSES TO IMPROVE HIS OR HER SKILLS AND ABILITIES.

                       AT THE SAME TIME, THE LEADER ENCOURAGES EVERYONE IN THE ORGANIZATION TO LEARN AND GROW AS A NORMAL AND NATURAL PART OF BUSINESS LIFE. THE LEADER PROVIDES TIME AND RESOURCES FOR TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT. THE LEADER KNOWS THAT THE BEST COMPANIES HAVE THE BEST-TRAINED PEOPLE. THE SECOND-BEST COMPANIES HAVE THE SECOND-BEST TRAINED PEOPLE. AND THE THIRD-TRAINED PEOPLE - AND ARE ON THEIR WAY OUT OF BUSINESS.

                       7. CONSISTENCY : THE LEADERHAS THE SELF-DISCIPLINE TO BE CONSISTENT, DEPENDABLE, RELIABLE, CALM, AND PREDICTABLE IN ALL SITUATIONS. ONE OF THE GREAT COMFORTS OF BUSINESS LIFE IS FOR AN EMPLOYEE TO KNOW THAT THE LEADER IS COMPLETELY CONSISTENT AND RELIABLE. AN EFFECTIVE LEADER DOES NOT CHANGE FROM DAY TO DAY. THE LEADER IS NOT "BLOWN IN THE WIND" BY EACH NEW SITUATION, PROBLEM, OR EMERGENCY THAT ARISES. INSTEAD, THE LEADER IS CALM, POSITIVE, AND CONFIDENT - ESPECIALLY UNDER PRESSURE..

                                     A LEADER IS A STANDARD BEARER

                            THE LEADER SETS THE  STANDARD FOR THE ORGANIZATION. IT IS NOT POSSIBLE FOR ANYONE IN THE ORGANIZATION TO HAVE A CLEARER VISION OR TO ASPIRE TO A HIGHER STANDARD OF EXCELLENCE THAN THE LEADER. FOR THIS REASON, THE LEADER IS THE ROLE MODEL, THE ONE WHO SET THE TONE AND THE MORALE FOR EVERYONE IN THE ORGANIZATION. THE PERSONALITY AND INFLUENCE OF THE LEADER AFFECT EVERYONE BELOW HIM IN THE COMPANY, ORGANIZATION, OR DEPARTEMENT.

                           YOU CANNOT RAISE MORALE IN A BUSINESS, IT FILTERS DOWN FROM THE TOP, FROM THE LEADER. THE BEHAVIOR OF THE LEADER INFLUENCES AND AFFECTS THE BEHAVIOR OF EVERYONE ELSE. IF THE LEADER IS POSITIVE, CONFIDENT, AND UPBEAT, EVERYONE IN THE ORGANIZATION WILL BE INFLUENCED BY THIS BEHAVIOR AND WILL BE MORE POSITIVE, CONFIDENT, AND UPBEAT AS WELL.

                                                    WALK THE TALK

                          WHEN YOU BECOME A LEADER, YOU MUST DISCIPLINE YOURSELF TO BE "LEADERLIKE". YOU MUST WALK, TALK, AND ACT THE PART OF A LEADER. YOU BECOME A DIFFERENT PERSON WITH DIFFERENT RESPONSIBILITIES.

                           WHEN YOU ARE WORKING YOUR WAY UP, YOU ARE PART OF THE STAFF OR THE SALES TEAM. WHEN YOU BECOME A MANAGER, YOU ARE PART OF MANAGEMENT. THIS MEANS THAT WHEN YOU ARE PART OF THE STAFF, YOUR ORIENTATION IS UPWARD AND SIDEWAYS, BUT WHEN YOU BECOME A LEADER, YOUR ORIENTATION IS DOWNWARD, TOWARD ALL THE PEOPLE FOR WHOM YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE.

                         PERHAPS THE MOST IMPORTANT BEHAVIOR OF A LEADER IS FOR YOU TO DISCIPLINE YOURSELF TO BE A ROLE MODEL. IMAGINE THAT EVERYONE IS WATCHING YOU AND PATTERNING EVERYTHING THEY DO AND SAY BASED ON YOUR BEHAVIOR.

                       WHEN YOU BECOME A LEADER YOU NO LONGER HAVE THE LUXURY TO "LET  IT ALL HANG OUT". FROM THE TIME YOU ARE PROMOTED INTO LEADERSHIP, YOU HAVE A SPECIAL RESPONSIBILITY TO DISCIPLINE AND CONTROL YOUR WORDS AND BEHAVIORS IN SUCH A WAY SO THAT YOU BRING ABOUT THE POSSIBLE RESULTS FOR YOUR ORGANIZATION AND FOR OTHER PEOPLE.

                                                      SET THE STANDARDS

                       THE LEADER SETS THE STANDARDS FOR THE ORGANIZATION'S BEHAVIOR QUALITY OF WORK, PERSONAL ORGANIZATION, TIME MANAGEMENT, AND APPEARANCE. IN EXCELLENT ORGANIZATIONS, THE LEADER IS THE PERSON WHO EVERYONE LOOKS UP TO AND WANTS TO EMULATE.

                       IN MOST CASES, THE LEADER WORKS HARDER THAN OTHERS IN THE COMPANY. THE LEADER APPEARS TO BE MORE COMMITTED, DETERMINED, COURAGES, VISIONARY, AND PERSISTANT THAN ANYONE ELSE. THE LEADER SET S  TONE THAT EVERYONE WANTS TO EMULATE.

                   THE LEADER ALSO SETS THE STANDARD  FOR HOW PEOPLE ARE TREATED IN THE ORGANIZATION. WHEN THE LEADER TREATS PEOPLE WITH COURTESY, CONSIDERATION, AND CONCERN, IT QUICKLY BECOMES KNOWN THAT THESE ARE THE STANDARDS TO WHICH OTHERS MUST ADHERE.

                                           SET VALUES AND PRINCIPLES

                IN ADDITION TO A CLEAR VISION FOR THE ORGANIZATION, THE LEADER MUST HAVE A SET OF VALUES AND ORGANIZING PRINCIPLES THAT GUIDE BEHAVIOR  AND DECISION MAKING. EVERYONE MUST KNOW WHAT THE LEADER AND THE COMPANY STAND FOR AND BELIEVE IN. THE JOB OF THE LEADER, THEN , IS TO ARTICULATE THIS VISION OF EXCELLENT PERFORMANCE WITHIN THE CONSTANTS OF HIGH ETHICAL STANDARDS AT ALL TIMES. HE OR SHE MUST WALK THE TALK AND LIVE THE VALUES AND BEHAVIOR HE OR SHE TEACHES.

                      THE VERY BEST STANDARD FOR A LEADER IS THE GOLDEN RULE. "DO UNTO OTHERS AS YOU WOULD HAVE THEM DO UNTO YOU".

                      FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN JACK WELCH WAS THE PRESIDENT OF GENERAL ELECTRIC, HE ENCOURAGED MANAGERS TO TREAT EACH EMPOYEE AS IF THAT EMPLOYEE MIGHT BE PROMOTED OVER HIS HEAD SOMETIME IN THE FUTURE AND HE MIGHT FIND HIMSELF WORKING UNDER THE PERSON WHO IS NOW WORKING BELOW HIM. THIS WAY OF THINKING ENSURED THAT MANAGERS TREATED THEIR STAFF WITH A HIGH DEGREE OF RESPECT AND COURTESY.

SET GOAL TO YOUR LIFE

 

                  

                            TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR LIFE

                          ARISTOTLE WROTE THAT HUMAN BEINGS ARE TELEOLOGICAL ORGANISMS, WHICH SIMPLY MEANS THAT WE ARE PURPOSE DRIVEN. THEREFORE, YOU FEEL HAPPY AND IN CONTROL OF YOUR LIFE ONLY WHEN YOU HAVE A CLEAR GOAL THAT YOU ARE WORKING TOWARD EACH DAY. THIS ALSO MEANS THAT THIS ABILITY TO BECOME A LIFELONG GOAL SETTER IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT DISCIPLINES YOU WILL EVER DEVELOP.

                    IN  NATURE, THE HOMING PIGEON IS A REMARKABLE BIRD. IT HAS AN UNCANNY INSTINCT THAT ENABLES IT TO FLY BACK TO  ITS HOME ROOST, NO MATTER HOW FAR AWAY IT STARTS OR IN WHAT DIRECTION IT MUST GO. YOU CAN TAKE A HOMING PIGEON OUT OF ITS ROOTS, PUT IT IN A CAGE, PUT THE CAGE IN A BOX, COVER THE BOX WITH A BLANKET, AND PUT THE COVERED BOX IN THE BACK OF A PICKUP TRUCK. YOU COULD THEN DRIVE 1000 MILES IN ANY DIRECTION, OPEN UP THE TRUCK, TAKE OUT THE BOX, TAKE OFF THE BLANKET, OPEN THE CAGE, AND THROW THE HOMING PIGEON INTO THE AIR.

                THE HOMING PIGEON WILL CIRCLE THREE TIMES, GET ITS BEARINGS, AND THEN FLY STRAIGHT BACK TO ITS HOME ROOST. THIS IS THE ONLY CREATURES ON EARTH THAT HAS THIS ABILITY - EXCEPT FOR HUMAN BEINGS, EXCEPT FOR YOU.

                 YOU ALSO HAVE THIS REMARKABLE HOMING ABILITY WITHIN YOUR OWN BRAIN, BUT WITH ONE SPECIAL DIFFERENCE . THE HOMING PIGEON SEEMS TO KNOW INSTINCTIVELY EXACTLY WHERE ITS HOME ROOST IS LOCATED. IT THEN HAS THE ABILITY TO FLY DIRECTLY BACK TO THAT ROOST. IN CONTRAST, WHEN HUMAN BEINGS PROGRAM A GOAL INTO THEIR MINDS THEY CAN THEN SET OUT WITHOUT HAVING ANY IDEA WHERE THEY WILL GO OR HOW THEY WILL ACHIEVE THAT GOAL. BUT BY SOME MIRACLE, THEY WILL BEGIN TO MOVE UNERRINGLY TOWARD THAT GOAL, AND THE GOAL WILL BEGIN TO MOVE TOWARD THEM.

                 STILL, MANY PEOPLED ARE HESITANT TO SET GOALS. THEY SAY, " I WANT TO BE FINANCIALLY INDEPENDENT, BUT I HAVE NO IDEA HOW I'M GOINT TO GET THERE". AS A RESULT, THEY DON'T EVEN SET FINANCIAL SUCCESS AS A GOAL. BUT THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT YOU DON'T EVEN SET FINANCIAL SUCCESS AS A GOAL. BUT THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT YOU DON'T NEED TO KNOW HOW TO GET THERE. YOU JUST, NEED TO BE CLEAR ABOUT WHAT YOU WANT TO ACCOMPLISH, AND THE GOAL-STIVING MECHANISM IN YOUR BRAIN WILL GUIDE YOU UNERRINGLY TO YOUR DESTINATION.

                FOR EXAMPLE, YOU CAN DECIDE THAT YOU ARE GOING TO FIND YOUR IDEAL JOB, IN WHICH YOU WORK FOR AND WITH PEOPLE YOU LIKE AND RESPECT AND DO WORK THAT IS BOTH CHALLENGING AND ENJOYABLE. YOU TAKE SOME TIME TO WRITE DOWN AN EXACT DESCRIPTION OF WHAT YOUR IDEAL JOB AND WORKPLACE WOULD LOOK LIKE, AND THEN YOU GO OUT INTO THE JOB MARKET AND BEGIN SEARCHING.

               AFTER A SERIES OF INTERVIEWS, YOU WILL OFTEN WALK INTO THE RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME AND FIND YOURSELF IN EXACTLY THE RIGHT THE RIGHT JOB. ALMOST EVERYONE HAS HAD THIS EXPERIENCE AT ONE TIME OR ANOTHER. YOU CAN HAVE IT BY DESIGN RATHER THAN BY CHANCE SIMPLY BY DEVELOPING ABSOLUTE CLARITY ABOUT WHAT YOU REALLY WANT.

                                              THE TEN-GOAL EXERCISE

                      THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL GOAL-ACHIEVING METHODS I HAVE EVER DISCOVERED. I TEACH IT ALL OVER THE WORLD, AND I PRACTICE IT MYSELF ALMOST EVERY DAY.

                    TAKE OUT A CLEAN SHEET OF PAPER. AT THE TOP OF THE PAGE WRITE THE WORD "GOALS" AND TODAY'S DATE. THEN, DISCIPLINE YOURSELF TO WRITE DOWN TEN GOALS THAT YOU'D LIKE TO ACCOMPLISH IN THE NEXT TWELVE MONTHS. WRITE DOWN FINACIAL FAMILY GOALS, AND FITNESS GOALS, AS WELL AS GOALS FOR PERONAL POSSESSIONS, LIKE A HOUSE OR A CAR.

                  DONT' WORRY FOR THE MOMENT ABOUT HOW YOU ARE GOING TO ACHIEVE THESE GOALS. JUST WRITE THEM DOWN AS QUICKLY AS YOU CAN. YOU CAN WRITE AS MANY AS FIFTEEN GOALS IF YOU LIKE, BUT THIS EXERCISE, REQUIRES THAT YOU WRITE DOWN A MINIMUM OF TEN WITHIN THREE TO FIVE MINUTES.

                                                        SELECT ONE GOAL

                    ONCE YOU HAVE WRITTEN OUT YOUR TEN GOALS, IMAGINE FOR THE MOMENT THAT YOU CAN ACHIEVE ALL OF THE GOALS ON YOUR LIST IF YOU WANT THEM LONG ENOUGH AND HARD ENOUGH. ALSO IMAGINE THAT YOU HAVE A "MAGIC WAND" THAT YOU CAN WAVE THAT WILL ENABLE TO ACHIEVE ANY ONE GOAL ON YOUR LIST WITHIN TWENTY-FOUR HOURS.

                   IF YOU COULD ACHIEVE ANY ONE GOAL ON YOUR LIST WITHIN TWENTY-FOUR HOURS, WHICH ONE WOURL HAVE THE GREATEST POSITIVE IMPACT ON YOUR LIFE RIGHT NOW? WHICH ONE GOAL WOULD CHANGE OR IMPROVE YOUR LIFE MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE? WHICH ONE GOAL, IF YOU WERE TO ACHIEVE IT, WOULD HELP YOU TO ACHIEVE MORE OF YOUR OTHER GOALS THAN ANYTHING ELSE?

                WHATEVER YOUR ANSWER TO THIS QUESTION, PUT A CIRCLE AROUND THIS GOAL  AND THEN WRITE IT AT THE TOP OF A CLEAN SHEET OF PAPER. THIS GOAL THEN BECOMES YOUR "MAJOR DEFINITE PURPOSE". 

                         ACTION EXERCISE  :

                          1. RESOLVE TODAY TO "SWITCH ON" YOUR SUCCESS MECHANISM AND UNLOCK YOUR GOAL-ACHIEVING MECHANISM BY DECIDING EXACTLY WHAT YOU REALLY WANT IN LIFE.

                         2. MAKE A LIST OF TEN GOALS THAT YOU WAT TO ACHIEVE IN THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE. WRITE THEM DOWN IN THE PRESENT TENSE, AS IF YOU HAVE ALREADY ACHIEVED THEM.

                        3. SELECT THE ONE GOAL THAT COULD HAVE THE GREATEST POSITIVE IMPACT ON YOUR LIFE IF YOU WERE TO ACHIEVE IT, AND WRITE IT DOWN AT THE TOP OF ANOTHER PIECE OF PAPER.

                        4. MAKE A LIST OF EVERYTHING YOU COULD DO TO ACHIEVE THIS GOAL, ORGANIZE IT BY SEQUENCE AND PRIORITY, AND THEN TAKE ACTION ON IT IMMEDIATELY.

                      5. PRACTICE MINDSTORMING BY WRITING OUT TWENTY IDEAS THAT COULD HELP YOU ACHIEVE YOUR MOST IMPORTANT GOAL, AND THEN TAKE ACTION ON AT LEAST ONE OF THOSE IDEAS.

                       6. RESOLVE TO DO SOMETHING EVERY DAY, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, TO ACHIEVE YOUR MOST IMPORTANT GOAL UNTIL YOU ARE SUCCESSFUL.

                      7. CONTINUALLY REMIND YOURSELF THAT "FAILURE IS NOT AN OPTION". NO MATTER WHAT, RESOLVE TO PERSIST UNTIL YOU SUCCEED.

SELF-DISCIPLINE AND COURAGE

 

                                        YOUR COURAGE

                         YOU NEED LARGE AMOUNTS OF SELF-DISCIPLINE TO DEAL COURAGEOUSLY WITH ALL THE FEAR-INDUCING EVENTS OF YOUR LIFE. THIS IS PROBABLY WHY CHURCHILL SAID, "COURAGE IS RIGHTLY CONSIDERED THE FOREMOST OF THE VIRTUES, FOR UPON IT, ALL OTHERS DEPEND".

                           THE FACT IS THAT EVERYONE IS AFRAID - AND USUALLY OF MANY THINGS. THIS IS NORMAL AND NATURAL, OFTEN, FEAR IS NECESSARY TO PRESERVE LIFE, PREVENT INJURY, AND GUARD AGAINST FINANCIAL MISTAKES.

                        SO IF EVERYONE IS AFRAID, WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE BRAVE PERSON AND THE COWARD? THE  ONLY DIFFERENCE IS THAT THE BRAVE PERSON DISCIPLINES HIMSELF TO CONFRONT, DEAL WITH, AND ACT IN SPITE OF THE FEAR. IN CONTRAST, THE COWARD ALLOWS HIMSELF TO BE DOMINATED AND CONTROLLED BY THE FEAR. SOMEONE ONCE SAID THAT - WITH REGARD TO WARFARE, ALTHOUGH IT APPLIES TO ANY SITUATION - "THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE HERO AND THE COWARD IS THAT THE HERO STICKS IN THERE FIVE MINUTES LONGER".

                                             FEARS CAN BE UNLEARNED

                    FORTUNATELY, ALL FEARS ARE LEARNED, NO ONE IS BORN WITH FEARS. FEARS CAN THEREFORE BE UNLEARNED BY PRACTICING SELF-FEARS. REPETEDLY WITH REGARD TO FEAR UNTIL IT GOES AWAY.

                 THE MOST COMMON FEARS THAT WE EXPERIENCE, WHICH OFTEN SABOTAGE ALL HOPE FOR SUCCESS, ARE THE FEARS OF FAILURE, POVERTY, AND LOSS OF MONEY.  THESE FEARS CAUSE PEOPLE TO AVOID RISK OF ANY  KIND AND TO REJECT OPPORTUNITY WHEN IT IS PRESENTED TO THEM. THEY ARE SO AFRAID OF FAILURE THAT THEY ARE ALMOST PARALYZED WHEN IT COMES TO TAKING ANY CHANCES AT ALL.

                  THERE ARE MANY OTHER FEARS THAT INTERFERE WITH OUR HAPPINESS. PEOPLE FEAR THE LOSS OF LOVE OR THE LOSS OF THEIR JOBS AND THEIR FINANCIAL SECURITY. PEOPLE FEAR EMBARRASSMENT OR RIDICULE. PEOPLE FEAR REJECTION AND CRITICISM OF ANY KIND. PEOPLE FEAR THE LOSS OF RESPECT OR ESTEEM OF OTHERS. THESE AND MANY FEARS HOLD US BACK THROUGHOUT LIFE.

                                                   FEAR PARALYZES ACTION

                      THE MOST COMMON REACTION IN A FEAR SITUATION IS THE ATTITUDE OF, "I CAN'T!" THIS IS THE FEAR OF FAILURE AND LOSS THAT STOPS US FROM TAKING ACTION. IT IS EXPERIENCED PHYSICALLY, STARTING IN THE SOLAR PLEXUS. WHEN PEOPLE ARE REALLY AFRAID, THEIR MOUTH AND THROAT GO DRY, THEIR HEART STARTS POUNDING. SOMETIMES THEY BREATHE  SHALLOWLY AND THEIR STOMACH CHURNS. OFTEN THEY FEEL LIKE GETTING UP AND RUNNING TO THE BATHROOM.

                      THESE ARE ALL PHYSICAL MANIFESTATIONS OF THE INHIBITIVE NEGATIVE HABIT PATTERNS, WHICH WE ALL EXPERIENCE FROM TIME TO TIME. WHENEVER A PERSON IS IN THE GRIP OF FEAR, HE FEELS LIKE A DEER CAUGHT IN THE HEADLIGHTS OF A CAR. THIS FEAR PARALYZES ACTION. IT OFTEN SHUTS DOWN THE BRAIN AND CAUSES THE INDIVIDUAL TO REVERT TO THE FIGHT-OR-FLIGHT" REACTION. FEAR IS A TERRIBLE EMOTION THAT UNDERMINES OUR HAPPINESS AND CAN HOLD US BACK THROUGHOUT OUR HAPPINESS AND CAN HOLD US BACK THROUGHOUT OUR LIVES.

                                                       DO THE OPPORSITE

                    ARISTOTLE DESCRIBED COURAGE AS THE "GOLDEN MEAN" BETWEEN THE EXTREMES OF COWARDICE AND IMPETUOUSNESS. HE TAUGHT THAT "TO DEVELOPE A QUALITY THAT YOU LOOK, ACT AS IF YOU ALREADY HAD THAT QUALITY IN EVERY SITUATION WHERE IT IS CALLED FOR". IN MODERN TERMS, HOWEVER, WE SAY, "FAKE IT UNTIL YOU MAKE IT".

                     YOU CAN ACTUALLY CHANGE YOUR BEHAVIOR BY AFFIRMING, VISUALIZING, AND ACTING AS IF YOU ALREAD HAVE THE QUALITY YOU DESIRE. BY AFFIRMING, BY REPEATING THE WORDS, " I CAN DO IT"! EMPHATICALLY WHENEVER YOU FEEL AFRAID FOR ANY REASON, YOU CAN CANCEL THE FEELING OF "I CAN IT".

                 EVERY TIME YOU REPEAT THE WORDS " I CAN DO IT!" WITH CONVICTION, YOU OVERRIDE YOUR FEAR AND INCREASE YOUR CONFIDENCE. BY REPEATING THIS AFFIRMATION OVER AND OVER AGAIN, YOU CAN EVENTUALLY BUILD YOUR COURAGE AND CONFIDENCE TO THE POINT WHERE YOU ARE UNAFRAID.

                                       VISUALIZE YOURSELF AS UNAFRAID

                         BY VISUALIZING YOURSELF PERFORMING WITH CONFIDENCE AND COMPETENCE IN AN AREA WHERE YOU ARE FEARFUL, YOUR VISUAL IMAGE WILL EVENTUALLY BE ACCEPTED BY YOUR SUBCONSCIOUS MIND AS INSTRUCTIONS FOR YOUR PERFORMANCE. YOUR SELF-IMAGE, THE WAY YOU SEE YOURSELF IS EVENTUALLY ALTERED BY FEEDING YOUR MIND THESE POSITIVE MENTAL PICTURES OF YOURSELF PERFORMING AT YOUR BEST.

                    BY USING THE "ACT AS IF" METHOD, YOU WALK, TALK, AND CARRY YOURSELF EXACTLY AS YOU WOULD IF YOU WERE COMPLETELY UNAFRAID IN A PARTICULAR SITUATION. YOU STAND UP STRAIGHT, SMILE, MOVE QUICKLY AND CONFIDENTLY, AND IN EVERY RESPECT ACT AS IF YOU ALREADY HAD THE COURAGE THAT YOU DESIRE.

                   THE LAW OF REVERSIBILITY SAYS THAT "IF YOU FEEDL A CERTAIN WAY, YOU WILL ACT IN A MANNER CONSISTENT WITH THAT FEELING, EVEN IF YOU ACT IN A MANNER CONSISTET WITH THAT FEELING. BUT IF YOU ACT  IN A MANNER CONSISTENT WITH THAT FEELING, EVEN IF YOU DON'T FEEL IT, THE LAW OF REVERSIBILITY WILL CREATE THE FEELING THAT IS CONSISTENT WITH YOUR ACTIONS.

                  THIS IS ONE OF THE GREATEST BREAKTHROUGHS IN SUCCESS PSYCHOLOGY. YOU DEVELOP THE COURAGE YOU DESIRE BY DISCIPLINING YOURSELF REPEATEDLY TO DO THE THING YOU FEAR UNTIL THAT FEAR EVENTUALLY DISSAPPEARS - AND IT WILL.

CHILDREN GROWTH

 

                   YOUR GREATEST RESPONSIBILITY

                            WHEN YOU HAVE A CHILD, A HIGH LEVEL OF SELF-DISCIPLINE IS ESSENTIAL IN ORDER TO FULFILL YOUR COMMITMENT AND DELIVER ON YOUR RESPONSIBILITY. THE DAY YOUR FIRST CHILD IS BORN, YOU HAVE TAKEN ON A MINIMUM TWENTY-YEAR COMMITMENT TO DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO RAISE YOUR CHILD AS A HAPPY, HEALTHY, AND SELF-CONFIDENT ADULT.

                         AT EVERY STAGE OF YOUR CHILD'S LIFE, YOUR WORDS, ACTIONS, NONACTIONS, AND BEHAVIORS ARE SHAPING AND INFLUENCING THAT CHILD AND DETERMINING HOW HE OR SHE WILL TURN OUT AS AN ADULT.

                        THE GREATEST NEED THAT A CHILD HAS IS FOR AN UNBROKEN FLOW OF UNCONDITIONAL LOVE AND ACCEPTANCE FROM HIS OR HER PARENTS. CHILDREN NEED LOVE ALMOST AS MUCH AS THEY NEED OXYGEN. THE AMOUNT OF LOVE THAT A CHILD RECEIVES, ESPECIALLY IN HIS OR HER FORMATIVE YEARS, IS THE CRITICAL DETERMINANT OF HOW HEALTHY AND HAPPY HE OR SHE BECOMES AS AN ADULT.

                                         HOW CHILDREN SPEEL "LOVE"

                   HOW DOES A CHILD SPELL "LOVE"? T-I-M-E . CHILDREN DETERMINE HOW VALUABLE AND IMPORTANT THEY ARE AND DEVELOP THEIR SELF-ESTEEM AND SELF-WORTH BY MEASURING THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT THE MOST IMPORTANT PEOPLE IN THEIR LIVES SPEND WITH THEM WHEN THEY ARE YOUNG. THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR TIME, AND ONCE GONE, YOU CANNOT MAKE IT UP. PERHAPS THE GREATEST REGRET REPORTED BY PARENTS IS THAT "I DIDN'T SPEND ENOUGH TIME WITH MY CHILD WHEN HE OR SHE WAS YOUNG".

                    WHEN YOU BECOME A PARENT, YOU MUST DISCIPLINE YOURSELF AND ORGANIZE YOUR LIFE SO YOU CAN SPEND AMPLE TIME WITH YOUR CHILD THROUGHOUT HIS OR HER GROWING YEARS. YOU MUST DISCIPLINE YOURSELF TO CUT BACK, REDUCE, DOWNSIZE, AND ELIMINATE OTHER ACTIVITIES THAT PREVENT YOU FROM BEING AND  EXCELLENT PARENT.

                                             SETTING NEW PRIORITIES'

                          WHEN YOU GET MARRIED, YOUR LIFE GOES THROUGH A MAJOR SHIFT. YOUR LIFESTYLE CHANGES, AND MANY OF YOUR COMMON ACTIVITIES LOSE THEIR IMPORTANCE AND URGENCY.

                     WHEN YOUR FIRST CHILD IS BORN, YOUR LIFE SHIFTS AGAIN, IT OFTEN FEELS AS IF THE FIRST STAGE OF A ROCKET, AND YOU ARE NOW ON A DIFFERENT TRAJECTORY IN LIFE. INFACT, IT IS NOT UNCOMMON FOR COUPLES TO CHANGE THEIR LIVES COMPLETELY WHEN THEIR FIRST CHILD IS BORN. THEY CUT BACK OR DISCONTINUE MANY OF THEIR PREVIOUS SOCIAL ACTIVITIES. THEY STOP DINING AND DRINKING WITH FRIENDS, AND THEY STOP GOING OUT SOCIALLY ON THE WEEKENDS.

                    THEY BEGIN TO BUILD A DIFFERENT LIFE TOGETHER AROUND THEIR HOME AND CHILDREN. THE CHILDREN BECOME THE FOCUS OF THEIR TIME AND ATTENTION. THE CHILDREN BECOME THE PRIMARY SUBJECT OF THEIR CONVERSATIONS.

                  RESPONSIBLE PARENTS APPROACH  CHILDREARING AS THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF THEIR LIVES. THEY PLAN AND ORGANIZE THEIR TIME AND ACTIVITIES SO THEY CAN FULLFILL THIS RESPONSIBILITY AT A HIGH LEVEL.

                       

                                                 LONG-TERM THINKING

                      CHILDREN FORCE YOU TO THINK LONG-TERM. WHEN YOU REALIZE THAT EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO OR FAIL DO WITH YOUR CHILDREN IN THEIR FORMATIVE YEARS WILL HAVE A LASTING IMPACT FOR GENERATIONS TO COME, YOU BECOME FAR MORE THOUGHTFUL AND SENSITIVE TO THE THINGS YOU SAY AND THE WAY YOU TREAT THEM. 

                        WHEN YOU ARE YOUNG AND SINGLE, YOU CAN "LET IT ALL HANG OUT". YOU CAN BLOW UP, GET ANGRY, EXPRESS YOUR FEELINGS FREELY, AND "BE YOUR OWN PERSON". BUT WHEN YOU HAVE A CHILD, YOU NEED TO IMPORSE A HIGHER LEVEL OF DISCIPLINE AND SELF-CONTROL ON YOURSELF.

                     CHILDREN ARE HYPERSENSITIVE TO THE INFLUENCE OF THEIR PARENTS DURING THEIR FORMATIVE YEARS. THEY SEE AND EXPERIENCE EACH WORD AND REACTION OF THERI PARENTS, AND THEY INCORPORATE THOSE WORDS AND ACTIONS INTO THEIR WORLD VIEW AND SELF-IMAGE.

                    IN ALMOST EVERY CASE, WHEN YOU SEE A DYSFUNTIONAL ADULT, YOU CAN TRACE IT BACK TO DYSFUNCTIONAL PARENTING. WHEN THAT DYSFUNCTIONAL ADULT WAS A CHILD, THEIR PARENTS DID OR SAID THINGS TO THEM THAT HURT THEM, CONFUSED THEM, SCARED THEM, AND CREATED WITHIN THEM FEELINGS OF INSECURITY, ANGER, AND INFERIORITY.

                                               THE GREATEST GIFT IS LOVE

                      THE GREATEST GIFT YOU CAN GIVE CHILDREN IS TO LET THEM KNOW THAT YOU LOVE THEM 100 PERCENT OF THE TIME AND THAT YOUR LOVE FOR THEM NEVER CHANGES, NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS.

                         THERE IS NO GREATER BLESSING FOR CHILDREN THAN TO KNOW WITH COMPLETE CONFIDENCE THAT THE MOST IMPORTANT PEOPLE IN THEIR LIFE - THEIR PARENTS - LOVE THEM COMPLETELY AND ACCEPT THEM TOTALLY, NO MATTER WHAT THEY DO OR WHAT MISTAKES THEY MAKE.

                        CHILDREN ARE NOT LITTLE ADULTS. THEY DO NOT HAVE THE ABILITY TO MAKE GOOD JUDGMENTS ABOUT THE RIGHT OR WRONG THINGS TO DO. IT TAKES THEM MANY YEARS OF TRIAL AND ERROR AND SOMETIMES BITTER EXPERIENCES TO DEVELOP THE WISDOM AND JUDGMENT THAT ENABLE THEM TO MAKE GOOD DECISIONS FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR FUTURES.

                         THE KINDEST WAY TO TREAT YOUR CHILDREN WHEN THEY MAKE MISTAKES IS TO BEHAVE WITH CALMNESS AND COMPASSION AND TO HELP THEM LEARN THE LESSONS CONTAINED IN THE PROBLEM OR DIFFICULTY.