Charles Hannell wrote The Master Key System almost 100 years ago, but his thoughts, teaching and philosophy are timeless. Recently, while studying his work, I came across the statement, “I can be whatever I will to be” and it became stuck in my mind. Kind of like a tune that you just can’t get rid of. The more I thought about it, the more fascinated I became with the simple but profound principles it teaches.

(photo used courtesy of suika*2008)

1. I am responsible for my life

The first thing that becomes clear is that I am responsible for my life. I like that. It is nice to know that I am in control of my destiny. No matter what occurs in the external world, it is only my responses to those events that determine how they affect me.

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28

Paul wrote that back in the first century and to me he is making a great point. He did not say that everything would be good, but that “all things work together for good”. In other words, we, through our responses determine whether a thing is good or not.

If it helps us grow spiritually, then it is good. However it is we who determine whether we choose to grow through our experiences or not.

2. I am what I will to be – not – what I want to be

When I first came across this statement it read kind of funny – funny strange. At first, I attributed it to the fact that the book was written 100 years ago and language has changed somewhat since then. But the more that I thought about it, the more I came to realize that the statement is correct as stated.

“What I want to be” is more about dreams, hopes, wants and wishes. It imposes no responsibility nor decision and requires no dedication nor commitment. It would have no value stated this way.

You get to choose between what you want (hopes) and what you will (unrealized goals) have.

3. …I will to be

“What I will to be” implies power and determination. Say these two statements:

• I am what I want to be
• I am what I will to be

Which statement sounds weak and which sounds powerful? Which statement put you in control?

“I want” sounds like pleading and begging. It reminds me of a child having a temper tantrum, stomping his or her feet and crying because the don’t have something. It bears a very strong resemblance to most people I know. There is no power in wanting.

(photo used courtesy of soldiersmediacenter)

4. The force of will

When a person imposes their will on a thing, then accomplishing that thing becomes a mission – a quest. It is a self-promise that cannot be easily discarded. You can see obvious differences in the person who is on a quest to get into shape and the person who “wants” to get into shape.

A person does not write a “Last Want and Testament” as a preparation for distribution of their assets at death. They have a lawyer compose a “Last Will and Testament”. It becomes the only way that their goods can be disbursed, because that person has “willed” it to be so done.

5. Use this affirmation – as often as possible

“I am what I will to be”. Say it often. Substitute your own desires and see how it affects your life.

• I am what I will to be

• I accomplish what I will to accomplish

• I acquire what I will to acquire

• I create what I will to create

• I learn what I will to learn

• I understand what I will to understand

• I do what I will to do

• I am successful because I will to be successful

Try it for a few days and you’ll begin to understand how powerful your will truly is.

Tags: responsibility, decision, determination, affirmation

It sounds so easy – just kinda rolls off the tongue. In fact it’s so easy to say that we’ve all parrotted this phrase hundreds of times. The problem is that saying is not doing. This is just another one of those “little details” that often gets ignored.

1. Productivity begins with a plan

(photo courtesy of akaalias)

You will not become more productive by accident! It requires a combined commitment of time and effort – but your rewards will be substantial.

• What do you want to accomplish? What is your goal? The point of being more productive is so that you can move toward the realization of your goal. Do you have a goal? If not, then you need to stop right now and decide why you need to be more productive and then write it down.

• What is your level of dedication? A person who’s vision is defective needs to have it corrected before he/she begins to drive toward some distant point. Trying to accomplish anything without a clear statement of your goal is as impossible as trying to drive with defective vision. How will you know if or when you have succeeded? This unwillingness to commit your goal to paper provides an easy way out for many people. In fact when goals are not written down, they have no power and therefore are ineffective as a source of motivation. No accountability = no action.

2. Productivity moves beyond time management

• Being productive doesn’t end with time management. Though increased productivity has a time component, but it encompasses much more as Dustin M. Wax states in the cited article – productivity involves your personal fulfillment.
• But don’t forget the time component of productivity. Time is our most precious commodity and how we use our time is directly responsible for our level of achievement. Guard your time against time bandits.

3. Prepare for a productive day

Preparation is the mother of accomplishment. Devote a few minutes each day to creating a routine and asking yourself a few simple questions:

• What one thing can I do that will have the greatest impact on my production today? Then do it.
• How can I perform my duties in a more efficient manner? Ask others whom you value if they can see areas of your life that need improvement.
• What can I do to motivate and encourage my employees or fellow associates toward the accomplishment of our goals?
• How can I add value to others?

4. Some things that I do

• I keep a notebook or voice recorder with me at all times. Ideas, phone conversations, commitments – if you don’t record your thoughts, they will disappear – forever or at least until you have been sufficiently embarrassed by failing to keep a “forgotten” commitment.
• I use my notebook as an idea farm, planner, reminder and journal.
• I read my notes – often.
• I use an inexpensive ($29.95 at Office Depot) voice recorder when driving. I bought one after leaving the highway while trying to record my thoughts. I missed the mailbox, but not the lesson. Get a voice recorder.
• I prioritize my notes, then do the highest priority first and move on down the line.
• Anything left undone gets reevaluated and re-prioritized for the next day.
• I review old entries for new ideas.

5. Goal accomplished!

(photo courtesy of Wolfgang Staudt)

Tags: productivity, time+management, goals, success

• If you have to ask the question, then the answer is NO! 
• If you have the ability to do more than you are currently doing, then the answer is NO! 
• If no one is asking you for your advice on being successful, then the answer is NO!  Millionaire Mommy currently boasts a subscribership of 2848 readers and that number is growing.  I’ll bet that they read her posts to discover how she became a millionaire.  People want her advice because she is successful. 

Do you want to be successful? 

Everyone wants to be successful, right?  Not really.  Everyone dreams of success, but few “do” anything that moves them toward success.  The “doing” is a requirement for “having and enjoying”.  What are you doing that will lead you to success? 

Here are some clues: 

• If you are doing the same things as all your friends and associates, then you will not be successful. 
• Successful people are different by their very nature.  They separate themselves not because they have special abilities, but because they have developed common abilities to uncommon levels.  Everyone works, but they work hard.  Everyone has an idea, but they pursue their idea.  Everyone starts a fitness program, but they continue it.   
• Successful people realize that success can be achieved because others have done it.  Success is not a secret – it leaves clues.  Do what successful people do and you will increase your chances of being successful. 
• Successful people don’t sacrifice the “excellence of achievement” for the mediocrity of “good enough”.

What does success mean to you? 

Let’s get to the point – No one is going to “give” you success.  You must earn it and that may take time.  Watch the following video that I found on Dethroner – it defines success on so many levels.  This video is about eight minutes long, but worth every second.  Some points to remember as you watch:

• Obstacles can be in your way even when you don’t see them.
• Troubles can chase you down.
• When you are down, others want a piece of you.
•  Always fight for what you want.
• It helps to be a part of a “strong support network”. 
• Never give up!  Never quit!

You will be successful when you want success as badly as this calf wants to survive.  It’s as simple as that.

• Can you walk?
• Can you talk?
• Can you see and hear?
• Did you sleep in a bed last night?
• Are you hungry?
• Do you have a job?

(photo by PJFurlong06)

We all have so much to be thankful for. Perhaps it is because of this that we tend to focus on what we don’t have. It’s really just a matter of perspective. If you live in America and are living at poverty level, then you are still better off than 90% of the rest of the people in the world.

• America is the great land of opportunity. If you live here, then you are limited only by the limitations that you place on yourself.
• Statistically, a person who immigrates to the U.S. is four times more likely to become a millionaire than a native born American.
• Why? They see what is possible and realize that the only things that stand in their way can be overcome with hard work, time, dedication and focus. They see opportunity – not the lack of it.

You really have to work hard to feel sorry for yourself when you put things into perspective.

2. Don’t take yourself to seriously – No one else does

We all spend a lot of time wondering what other people are thinking and saying about us. The answer is simple – how much time do you spend thinking about other people? If my guess is correct, then it is quite a bit less than we are willing to admit.

(photo by Jimmy Joe)

We all like to think that people are listening to what we have to say and that they care about what we think. They are really just waiting for us to shut up so that they can have their turn to talk.

It is only when we focus our attention on “the other” person that people begin to appreciate us. People don’t really care what we think until they know that we care. By taking the time to listen we demonstrate that we value the other person.

• We want to hear what they think
• We are open to their ideas
• We want to help them

3. Keep your promises

Keeping your word will eliminate most of the guilt that you feel and lighten the load of stress.

(photo by discoodini)

• If you can’t fulfill an obligation then inform the person to whom you have made a commitment to as soon as possible. This will give them the chance to find an alternative and demonstrate your integrity. If you put it off, then you limit the options of the other person and put yourself in an even worse position.
• Don’t make promises that you know you can’t keep. Don’t promise the moon if you know that you can’t deliver it. You’ll lose credibility. People will lose respect for you and you won’t be taken seriously. It’s not worth it.
• Promises to you children (and spouse) count the same as a promise to a customer or colleague. Even though they’ll overlook your shortcomings in this area (for a while), it will eventually affect the long-term health of your relationship. It’s kind of difficult to tell a teen that you are interested in their life and problems when you haven’t been spending time with them.
• Apologies get old and no one takes them seriously if they are said too often. Keep your promises and you’ll have fewer apologies to make.

4. If you have a dream – then you owe it to yourself to pursue it

(photo by @n@bou)

Don’t blame others for your inability to do what you want to do. If you want it badly enough, then you will find a way to make it happen. Often the problem is that that there is “no easy” way to do what we want. There seldom is.

• Realizing a dream does not happen without effort – your effort.
• Show your passion – it shows that you are serious and lights a fire under others as well.
• Move confidently in the direction of your dream every day. Small steps add up. Do something every single day that contributes to the achievement of your goal.
• Ask for help. Others want to help and will help. Don’t be too proud – besides, sharing an accomplishment makes the accomplishment mean that much more.

Tags: promises, integrity, dreams, goals, blessings

The result: instead of reaping the benefits and power of our unique ability (learning capacity), most people are content to have just enough to “get by”. Mediocrity is the rule.

Instead of living up to our potential by focusing our talents where they can do the most good for:

• ourselves – in the form of financial prosperity
• society in general – in the form of influence, wealth creation and economic stimulation

…we are satisfied to languish along side the rest of the herd.

This herd mentality, the desire to be like everybody else, does more to hold us back than anything else. We must realize that if we are to rise to our potential, then we must separate ourselves from the rest of the herd. To fulfill your potential and open the doors to possibility, requires both the desire to be more than you are right now and the conscious effort to learn how to be more. To be the person you are destined to be requires you to:

1. Desire to learn

If you are content, then you will not change. You will not see or feel the need to change. It’s only when discomfort replaces contentment that we consider changing something in our lives. It is when our clothes begin to get a little tighter that we begin to think about losing the slowly added weight. Here’s a thought that should make you very uncomfortable:

“…Every 8 seconds a Baby Boomer turns 50. According to a recent MetLife Foundation survey, Americans over the age of 55 fear Alzheimer’s more than any other disease besides cancer. But researchers no longer accept the notion that memory loss is inevitable. Instead, they urge senior citizens to exercise their minds.” (this is excerpted from Time magazine – Read the entire article)

You must become uncomfortable with the fact that you are not living up to your potential – if you are not. The fact that only a small percentage of our population (3–5%) ever reach financial independence is evidence that everyone cannot be reaching their potential since we live in a world of abundance and the same opportunities are available to everyone. What we don’t realize is that these “successful few” are not blessed with any special abilities. They may have traits that make them different, but their abilities are the same as ours. Read the “Millionaire Mind” by Thomas Stanley.

One thing that does stand out in the successes of our world is that they have a tremendous desire to learn. The successful person understands that learning always results in growth:

• growth of opportunities
• growth of skills
• growth of net worth

In order to grow in your career or in your life, you must learn, otherwise you stagnate. Stagnation stinks – literally.

Does the term “neuroplasticity” mean anything to you? It should. Read Shae Hadden’s post “The Plastic Brain”. It may change your thoughts on life after middle age. You should also consider reading “How Thinking Can Change The Brain” by the Dalai Lama. One quote should be of particular interest to you die-hard “can’t-teach-an-old-dog-new-tricks” advocates:

“The Dalai Lama had put his finger on an emerging revolution in brain research. In the last decade of the 20th century, neuroscientists overthrew the dogma that the adult brain can’t change. To the contrary, its structure and activity can morph in response to experience, an ability called neuroplasticity. The discovery has led to promising new treatments for children with dyslexia and for stroke patients, among others.”

2. Be open-minded

Learning requires the study of new topics and ideas. If you have a “know-it-all” mentality, you will never be able to free your mind to be all it can be. Almost no issue is either black or white. Most issues are shades of gray. It is often our lack of understanding that causes us to act erroneously and irrationally on a given topic. Learn How to Exercise an Open Mind.

It is when we give up stereotypical thinking and absolutism, that we “free” our minds to expand. This inner growth and development leads to an outer growth and expression in our lives. It is because we open ourselves to possibility, that the possibility comes into existence for us.

Opening your mind exposes the opportunities and possibilities. Are these new opportunities? No, they have always existed, but due to “tunnel vision”, you could not see them. How many “narrow minded” people do you know who would be considered financially successful? I think that these terms are mutually exclusive. In order to succeed, you must be progressive in your thinking.

3. Expose yourself

You cannot learn in a vacuum. You must explore and expose yourself to ideas and concepts that are foreign to you.

During my college experience, I had a professor who had a profound impact on my life. He was instrumental in motivating me to become involved in a graduate teaching program which resulted in one of the most satisfying experiences of my life – teaching. I went through an intensive training program and became a qualified (and paid) lab instructor for a variety of the biology courses offered.

This great experience would never have taken place if I had been content to just go to class and “get my credit”. Due to his enthusiasm, passion for teaching and willingness to help, I approached him for advice. This simple step led to a tremendously successful and fulfilling experience for me.

Expose yourself to new possibilities. Take a chance and look at these videos of some of the great tech thinkers of our generation. You don’t have to agree with them, but listen to their input. You learn when you are exposed to new input.

4. Practice thinking

Surround yourself with great thinkers and practice thinking. Trade ideas. Debate and defend your closely held beliefs. Do they stand up to scrutiny and examination?

If you want to be a success, then you must associate with successful people – people who stimulate your thinking.

• Discussing the weather, what you watched on television or which sports team is number one is not mentally stimulating.
• Listening to the constant bitching and moaning of the negative “doom and gloom” nay sayers will not introduce you to new topics of discussion.
• Most people have their minds made up, they are just trying to make sure that you don’t stray to far from the herd.

Move away from these kind of people! Find a mentor or at the very least someone who you consider to be successful and spend some time talking to them. You will discover that their abilities are no different than everyone else’s. However, their attitudes are.

Practice bouncing your ideas off of someone who can and will help you. Don’t waste your time with someone in the herd who just wants to play catch – tossing the same, bland ideas back and forth.

5. Keep a daily journal

Ask yourself, “what did I learn today?” I am not talking about a listing of facts, but a chronicle of the lessons and ideals that you experienced that day. Record what and how you learned these new topics. The act of manually recording your new ideas will imprint the experience on your brain where it will remain.

We have all heard or read the writings and advice of both Mark Twain and Will Rogers. Both of these great writers simply recorded their journey through life and their experiences with the “common man” along the way. The result is that each of these men are considered to be great teachers and philosophers.

Keep a journal. Record your ideas and lessons for the day, then go back over them from time to time. You’ll be amazed.

Successful men and women:

• have a great desire to be more knowledgeable
• are open-minded in their thinking
• constantly expose themselves to new and different ideas
• surround themselves with “possibility” thinkers
• keep a daily journal

If you want to be successful, model success. Do the things that successful people do. It is really that simple.

Credits – blast-off photo used courtesy of NASA

Tags: keep+a+journal, practice+thinking, open-minded, learning

• climb a mountain
• become president
• jump out of an airplane
• make a million dollars

There is a recent movie that takes a hard look at the advantages of creating such a list.  It is entitled “The Bucket List”, and it stars Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman.

What’s on your “to do” list?

Nothing?  For most, that is the answer.  To them, this is a silly notion and certainly not worth their precious time.  The truly sad thing is that these same people will waste a good portion of their lives “watching” fairy tale productions (television) of others, doing extraordinary things with their lives and all the time they’re thinking, “I’d really like to be doing that”. 

You are a goal seeking organism

People are happier and more productive when they have a goal to pursue.  I believe that this is the reason that so many people lead lives of “quiet desperation”.  There is an inner conflict between what they want to do and what they believe they should be doing or are capable of doing.

When you have a goal, you move with purpose.  Your life and actions are calculated and planned so that you can move closer to your desired outcome.  Life has meaning – because you have created it’s meaning.  And along the way:

• you will do extraordinary things
• visit fantastic places
• meet unique people
• discover new and ancient cultures
• learn diversity
• create a lifetime of stories for your children and grandchildren
• you will be envied for having the guts to live life on your terms
• you will live your life as life is meant to be lived (not observed from the “easy” chair)

What do you “want” to do?

You get to choose what goes on your life’s to-do list.  Let your mind run free.  Take a few minutes to write down all of your dreams and hopes.  This simple act can be the beginning of your fantastic life.

Regrets

As a middle-aged man, I’ve got as much life left to live as I’ve lived already.  I’ve still got a lot of things left on my “to-do” list.  But, as I look back at my life so far, it’s not the things that I’ve done that I regret.  It is all the things that I haven’t done, that I wish that I had done, that causes me the most sorrow. 

When your life is over, will you have done all the things that you wish you had done?  Whose fault will it be?  Get busy working on your “to-do” list.  Life is about doing – not watching!    

On Nov. 30, 2007, I received an email from an associate director of marketing with Doubleday. She asked me if I would be interested in reading and reviewing a book entitled Make the Impossible Possible by Bill Strickland. Due to the high volume of orders that we had been receiving for the Rotater, I did not have the time to respond to her offer. However, at the end of December, I called this marketing director and told her that I would like to read this book and I would be happy to provide my thoughts about it. I received Make the Impossible Possible – One Man’s Crusade to Inspire Others to Dream Bigger and Achieve the Extraordinary, the next day via FedEx.

DISCLOSURE

I do not know how or why I was chosen. Since I was contacted through the contact page of soupornuts.com, I can only assume that it is because soupornuts.com is a personal development blog.

I have received no compensation of any kind for this review.

WHO IS BILL STRICKLAND?

• a product of inner-city Pittsburgh
• a resident of inner-city Pittsburgh
• a teacher
• a mentor
• a commercial jet pilot
• an social entrepreneur
• a facilitator
• most of all he is a dreamer, visionary and role model

IT ALL STARTS WITH PASSION

Every dream, hope, idea or goal that is achieved is dependent on passion. This story is no different – it’s about the passion of Bill Strickland. His passion and mission is to help people turn turn their lives around.

Bill says in the book, “The story I have to share with you is the story of the pursuit of one unrealistic, impractical, outrageous dream after another, and the remarkable consistency with which those dreams have come true…..That’s the essential lesson of my life and of this book: that each of us can achieve the “impossible” in our lives.”

PASSION CREATES

Bill Strickland’s passion for helping led to the creation of the Manchester Bidwell Center in Pittsburgh – a state of the art facility that offers job training for careers in:

• chemical laboratory technology
• culinary arts
• horticulture
• office technology
• medical

As well as classes for students in:

• ceramics
• photography
• digital arts
• design arts

SOME IMPRESSIVE STATISTICS

• over 90% of the kids who attend classes at the Manchester Craftsman Guild go on to receive their high school diploma
• 85% of these students continue their education after high school by enrolling in college of some other program of higher education
• 80% of adult students complete their vocational training
• 86% of these adults who complete their training find jobs

MY THOUGHTS ON THE BOOK

I am a voracious reader, and once I started this book, I simply could not put it down. It reached me on a number of levels.

1. It’s the remarkable story of a high school kid who sidestepped whatever kind of life that ghetto living could throw at him and went on to create an exceptional life for himself by helping those around him.
2. It’s the inspiring story of always keeping your dream – of not allowing others to determine what you are capable of accomplishing.
3. It’s about the establishment of the understanding that what Bill has accomplished can change the world. (If this seems laughable to you, then read the book to see who has partnered with Bill as they seek to establish development centers like the Manchester Bidwell Center all over the world.)

RECOMMENDATIONS

Do yourself a favor. Read this book. It will inspire and motivate you, while at the same time teaching you many of the principles needed to establish and run a profitable business. You won’t regret it.

Tags: Bill+Strickland, Manchester+Bidwell+Center, social+entrepreneur, Manchester+Craftsman+Guild

While we’re at it, let’s go ahead and admit that we are talking about financial success – that just-out-of-our-reach condition of financial security. The place where income exceeds expenses and results in a surplus of money that provides you with options like:

• driving the type of vehicle you would choose if money was not object
• vacationing when and where you want to
• providing your children with an education that is free of many of the public school distractions
• becoming involved in the community
• living in the neighborhood / city / country of your choice
• sharing your skills

Do you have what it takes to be successful? Ask yourself the following questions, be honest and then decide if you have what it takes.

1. Are you a self-starter?

Successful people take the bull by the horns. They:

• get to work on time (but early is better)
• volunteer to take on the “hard” jobs
• don’t give a crap what everyone else thinks about their desire to “get ahead”
• produce well developed ideas and the plans for implementing them
• don’t stand around the shop / water cooler / coffee machine wasting time discussing their latest dating escapades, the current “hot” sitcom, plans for the weekend or the latest office / shop gossip
• pay attention and they take notes – lots of notes
• are focused on achieving the goal or objective

2. Are you a visionary?

Successful people have a vision and they project a mental picture of the future they desire. When you create a vision of what you want, you automatically begin to formulate the plans to make your vision happen

The difference between the “average joe” and those who acquire financial security is that:

• for the “average joe” this is just a daydream and it is discussed in day-dreamy terms. One day – someday – hopefully – if everything comes together – when my ship comes in – when the kids are gone to college – when I have more time – yada, yada, yada. Let face it, for the “average joe” it “ain’t gonna happen”. That’s why he / she is the “average joe”.
• for the successful person their vision is a destination that they are on the road to arriving at. They complement their vision by have props that continually keep their goal in sight. These are the people who plaster their office / work area with pictures of their dreams. They post encouraging quotes. They read about other successful people. They attempt to motivate others, because in doing so, they keep themselves motivated.

3. Do you have the needed “people skills”?

Successful people understand that “it ain’t about themselves”. Like Zig Ziglar says, “You can have anything in life that you want, if you will help enough other people get what they want”.

Its called the Law of Reciprocity. When you help someone else, this creates a desire in the other person to do something to help you and “even the score”. This desire is not an overt one – it is more of a subconscious emotion. But all successful people recognize that by helping others, you are helping yourself.

Look at all the successful people that you know. How do they interact with others. Do they stand around and wait for other people to “pay homage” to them? I doubt it.

• They are the people you see approaching with their hand out ready to firmly shake your hand.
• They look you in the eye and “lock” on to what you are saying.
• When they speak with you, you get the feeling that you are the most important person in the room.
• They “listen” actively, hear what you are saying and they understand.
• They follow-up. This says that you are important and it demonstrates your importance to them.
• They are open to intelligent input / ideas.

4. Do you think on paper?

This simple concept is probably the most important. All successful people take notes because they are not vain enough to think that they can remember everything. Making notes:

• keeps your eye on the ball – you stay focused on the important stuff and are not sidetracked by the immediate emergency
• allows you to record your ideas
• allows you to schedule your day
• keeps the project moving in the right direction
• allows for follow-up

Is this all that there is to being successful? No way, but it’s a start. If you have these characteristics, then you are on your way. If you don’t have these traits, then I suggest that you begin to acquire them – IF YOU DESIRE FINANCIAL SECURITY!

Tags: success, traits+of+success, success+characteristics

1. How do you define success?

Success is unique to you. How you define success is based on:

• your dreams
• your hopes
• your present situation
• your past experiences
• your knowledge
• your passion
• your drive to do or be
• your family situation
• your age
• your belief system

…and there are probably a host of other things that can and will influence your definition of success. The point is for you to begin to think about what you want. It is very important that you determine what you want as opposed to what others want for you.

Make notes when a thought “pops” into your head. Then, set aside a quiet time to go through your thoughts, taking into account your unique situation, and then develop a definition of success that suits you.

2. Develop a plan to achieve your definition of success.

Since your definition of success is unique to you and your situation, then your plan must be unique. Points to consider:

• do you need more education?
• is it formal or informal education? (do you need to return to school or do you need to do research?)
• is your spouse/family on board with your new goals? (if so, great. if not, how will you deal with the situation?)
• are you willing to devote the time needed to grow? (growth requires change – you can’t grow and stay the same)
• can you see problems? (how will/can you deal with them?)
• can you live in the minute? (what can you do “right now”, “this minute” to achieve your goals?”
• do you deserve success? (if you don’t feel that you deserve success, you will do things to sabotage yourself)

3. Excuses: our illogical reasons for lack of success

The first response to any program of personal growth and development is the production of a number of excuses as to why you can’t become successful. Here is a short list of often expressed excuses:

• I’m too old. Really? Grandma Moses was in her 80’s before she ever painted. Colonel Sanders was in his 60’s when he began trying to market his “original” recipe.
• I’m not smart enough. Really? The fact is that most people are within single digits of the vast majority of the world’s population when it comes to a measurement of intelligence. We tend to overestimate the intelligence of others while at the same time underestimating our own intelligence.
• I don’t know where to start. Really? You don’t have to know where to start, you just have to start. You determine where that is. Anywhere is okay, the point is to just begin, the way will reveal itself once you begin to look.
• I’m worried about what my friends and family will think. Really? If they really care about you, they will stand behind you. If they don’t support you, you have to wonder what their motives are. Are they jealous? When you succeed, what will that say about their efforts?
• I’m just not that kind of person. Really? What kind of person are you? The kind that is destined to fail? The fact is that most people are more alike than they are different. We all deserve success, but we each determine our own destiny. We are where we are today because of the choices we made yesterday. We made our choices based on our thoughts. Therefore, it stands to reason that if we can change the way we think, we can change our choices and thus change our future.

These are not valid excuses for you or anyone else because someone else has faced these same situations and they overcame them. If they can be overcome, then you can also overcome them.

• Get your mind right
• Accept responsibility for your life
• Define success
• Create a plan
• Commit to personal growth and development
• Develop your mind
• Realize that mediocrity is not acceptable and success is your right

Tags: success, failure, define+success, create+a+plan, excuses

• There are reams of documents that must be filled out and submitted to bankers, lawyers and contractors.
• There are hordes of decisions to be made, analyzed, corrected and then remade.
• There is the constant juggling of your schedule to accommodate contractors, sub-contractors, appraisers, bankers, suppliers and more.
• There is the never-ending need to coordinate the sequences of events. Do we need the plumber first or the electrician? What about the sheet rockers and trim carpenters?
• Then of course, you have to constantly be mindful of quality and cosmetic issues.

But now, we are living our dream life in our beautiful dream home and all the stress and hard work seem insignificant. It was worth it – every drop of sweat, every agonizing decision, all the missed sleep – it was all worth it.

In retrospect, it’s seems very clear to me how similar the process of building a house is to building a successful life. Like building a house, building your successful life involves a number of decisions prior to the actual construction process.

1. Decide to be successful

My wife and I own a beautiful twenty acre tract of land that we envisioned would be more beautiful with our dream home on it. But nothing really happened until we made the decision to make it happen. You can tour as many model homes, open houses and home shows as you like, but until you actively decide to build your dream home, nothing will get done.

The first step is deciding that you want to build your dream home and then determining the actions you need to take in order to make your dream a reality. How big is it to be? Where will you build? What style? Financing? Blueprints? Contractors? It all starts with your decision to start.

Creating a successful life occurs in the same way. You see friends or acquaintances who seem to be enjoying a fuller family experience, a better career or greater financial security and you wonder, “why does their life seem to be more successful than your own”? Most of the time we’ve been lulled into the rut of complacency by default and inaction. We don’t realize we are in a rut and we don’t realize that there is more available to us if we will only seek it out.

• Do you want a more successful life?

• What does “a more successful life” mean to you?

• Is it career advancement and more compensation?

• Closer family relationships?

• Financial prosperity?

• Entrepreneurship?

• All of these?

Just like building your dream home, these are the types of decisions you must make.

It all begins with you acting on the vision that you hold in your mind of what you want and deciding to pursue your dream life.

2. Create your blueprint for life

What will it take for you to reach your vision of success? If you are building a house, you start with:

• a set of blueprints

• assembly drawings

• lists of necessary materials

• spec sheets

• architectural elevations

• building codes and requirements

These are the documents that specify the materials, sizes and placements, functionality and appearance of your dream home.

Just as it would be impossible to build your dream home without a blueprint and the associated documents, you can’t build a successful life without a plan. No one ever wakes up one day and discovers that while they were asleep, that they had been selected to be the CEO of a Fortune 500 company. It just won’t happen. But even if it did, how long would you last in that position if you had made no preparation for that position? I’m sure you’ll agree that it wouldn’t be long.

Your plan must:

• define what success is to you

• outline the steps you plan to take to reach your definition of success

• account for the skills you feel must be developed and how to acquire them

• evolve as more and better knowledge is gained

• allow for contingencies along the way

3. Develop your goals system

You must develop your goals system. No one can do this for you. This is a stumbling block for everyone and this is where almost everyone falters on the path to success. For whatever reasons, most people (95 – 97%) cannot, do not, or will not set goals for themselves. I am referring to actual written, recorded goals and the plans ( action steps ) necessary to achieve their goals. If you cannot make yourself focus long enough to record your goals, is it any wonder that your life is one of unrealized potential?

According to statistics that are repeated time and time again, three to five percent of our population is considered financially free and financially successful. Ironically, this is the same percentage that take the time to develop goal programs for themselves and then dedicate themselves to achieving their goals. Is there a correlation?

Develop a set of goals. Define what it is that you require, then get busy taking the necessary actions to achieve your goals. Don’t wait. Don’t hesitate. Focus on your goal. Develop a plan and take action. Do it now.

Every time that you are faced with a decision, ask yourself:

• Is this the best use of my time?

• Will this action/decision take me closer to or farther from my goals?

Then, act accordingly. If you will take the time and make the effort to do this every time you face a decision, you will increase your chances of becoming the success you dream of, exponentially.

4. Character & Integrity are the foundation for a successful life

Webster’s dictionary defines character as “moral strength” or “reputation”. How would your friends and co-workers describe your character?

• Are you honest?

• Are you sincere?

• Are you trustworthy?

• Are you loyal?

• Are you friendly?

• Are you helpful?

• Are you caring?

These are some of the characteristics of people who are considered “strong of character”. If you demonstrate these traits, then you don’t have to tell the world what you believe and stand for. Your life will show it.

Webster’s says integrity is “firmness of character”, “honesty”.

• How firm is your character?

• Will you stand up for what you believe in?

• Will you oppose the majority even if you have to stand alone?

• Will you defend the oppressed?

• Even if the oppressors are your friends?

Our integrity and character define what we believe in and what we stand for. The way we talk, the people we associate with and the places we frequent all tell the world in a much louder voice than our own, what we truly believe in.

You would not build your dream home on a faulty foundation and you cannot build a successful life on a weak character or a lack of integrity. Your new life would never be able to withstand the storms or trials you are bound to face along the way. Begin today to always stand for what you believe in, fight against opposition to truth and always, always keep your word.

4. The walls of success

The walls of your home provide you with protection from the elements, security from intruders, and provide support for your roof system. The first wall of your successful life is a positive mental attitude.

Your first wall: A Positive Mental Attitude

All successful people are highly motivated and possess a positive attitude. They know inherently that they are destined to succeed. Every event and every action is seen as a means to deliver them to their goal. These individuals believe that the universe is conspiring for their benefit in all things. Furthermore, successful people have an optimistic view, believing that the glass is always half full.

An action that does not go according to plan is not a failure, but a learning experience – the elimination of a theoretical solution and it is not an indictment of them or their abilities. Their positive mental attitude is demonstrated by the confidence with which they attack the obstacles standing between them and their destined success.

Successful people are reminiscent of Henry Ford, Thomas Edison, Colonel Sanders and all the rest who stumbled along the road to success but refused to quit because they courageously maintained a positive mental attitude.

Your second wall: A Strong Work Ethic

All successful individuals demonstrate a strong work ethic. Their mantra could be – “If it is to be, it is up to me.” In their mind, hard work is not an optional or part-time trait. Generally, they work long, long hours.

A truly successful life can only happen when you realize that in order to have it (success), you must get off your butt and go get it. You will not find it:

• in front of you television

• down at the bowling alley

• over at the local bar

• out in your hobby shop

• hanging with your boys (or girls)

Please don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying there is anything wrong with any of these means of killing time other than that is what you are doing – killing your time and these activities do not contribute in any way to acquiring the successful life you desire.

To achieve a goal worth having requires hard work. Ask any person whom you consider to be successful how they achieved their status. I don’t believe any will say,

• “ I just woke up one day, went to work and they made me president of the company”

• “My business just took off one day while I was watching TV”

• “The kids came and got me out of the bar and gave a Father or the Year party”

No, every successful person realizes that his/her effort brings about the desired result. The buck stops here. You must take responsibility for your own success and happiness. Truly successful people have the ability to clear their minds of the common distractions that we all face and focus on their goals. This ability to focus results in the development and implementation of plans that produce the achievement of their goals.

The successful person is action-oriented. They don’t take a wait and see approach. More than likely, they will start whatever it is they wish to accomplish and then make adjustments along the way based on feedback they are monitoring. I’ve heard it described as the “ready, fire, aim” approach. The point is, there comes a time when you’ve got to get off your butt and take action.

Your third wall: Passion

Few successful people have ever reached their status without passion. Passion is what drives you. It’s what you lie in bed and think about at night, examining new ways of approaching pertinent issues that you are faced with. Passion is the fuel that powers your engine. If you desire to be successful, find out what it is that you are passionate about and then develop a way to exploit your passion.

Your passion is anything that constantly occupies your thinking. It may be a hobby (woodworking, restoring antique automobiles, computers, entrepreneurship), your family, or any combination of things. Only you know where your passions lie.

Based on what your passion is, embrace the fast-changing landscape of the internet to research innovative ways to capitalize on your passion. All successful people understand that the future of technology is all about the proliferation of information via the internet. It is to your benefit to embrace this fast-moving technology and try to keep up with emerging advancements and how you can apply them to your passion.

Use your passion, be innovative and embrace new technology (it’s not going away). This will help you to welcome change which is just another way of saying, “be progressive with your passion”.

Your fourth wall: Perseverance

The last wall of your successful life/house is perseverance. The never-say-quit, refusal to give up attitude. Sometimes we see these people struggling and we wonder why they even bother. I know people have asked that about me. The reality is we set our eyes on our goals and nothing will deter us from achieving it.

The obstacles we encounter are only opportunities to display creative problem solving skills. Nay sayers only make us (me) want it more. Those who truly believe in us motivate us beyond words.

Those who succeed:

• thrive on pressure

• embrace deadlines

• are committed to overcoming obstacles

• are determined to succeed

• won’t quit

• don’t quit

• can’t quit

Remember Rocky Balboa and his refusal to stay down in the original Rocky movie. That’s perseverance!

5. Your roof: Continual Learning

To protect the interior of your dream home/successful life, you need a roof. That roof is a commitment to continual learning. Someone said, “If you’re not growing, then you’re dying.” I am in full agreement with that statement. Our minds thrive when we stimulate them and provide them with challenges.

Subconsciously, we limit ourselves when we say, we can’t do something or “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks”. This sets us up to fail. The truth of the matter is we can and will learn anything we want to learn if we are given the right motivation.

Twenty five years ago, few people considered the long-range impact that the PC would have on every aspect of our lives. Consequently, most people did not rush to learn how to use them. However, everyone now realizes that computers are an integral part of our lives. To survive in our present world, we must adapt and adopt this technology.

What you know today will not be enough tomorrow. It is as plain as that. Don’t be left behind. Commit to learning something new today and everyday.

6. Maintenance

Finally, in order to enjoy your new home/successful life, you must maintain it in good working condition.

• Do periodic self-evaluations.

• Try to stay humble.

• Give back something.

• Mentor someone.

• Be introspective.

• Remember to thank those that helped you along the way. No one becomes successful without help.

• Inspect your life and reflect on what it took to get to where you are now.

Tags: success, goals, blueprint+for+life, goals+system, passion, perseverance