Category Archives: Inspirational

Jul 05 2015
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Inspirational, Personal Success

Success Boiled Down To 13 Steps!

During a recent check-in to Yahoo! Finance I came across a very good, inspiring article titled: “78 years ago, a journalist studied 500 men and boiled down their success into 13 steps.”

In a nutshell, the article summarizes how Andrew Carnegie, who became the richest man in the world after starting with little more than a penny upon arriving in the US from Scotland, took a budding journalist under his wing. This journalist (Napoleon Hill, author of the best seller Think and Grow Rich) was entrusted to document — and share with the world — the strategies that turned him [Carnegie] into one of the wealthiest and most successful businessmen of all time.

While the resulting book Think and Grow Rich is a must read for all, this article boils down the teachings into the following 13 steps:

  1. Desire: You have to want it.
  2. Faith: Believe that you can achieve your goal.
  3. Auto-suggestion: Use affirmations to reach your goal.
  4. Specialized knowledge: Gain experiences and continue learning.
  5. Imagination: Come up with ideas and visualize your success.
  6. Organized planning: Take action.
  7. Decision: Defeat procrastination with decisiveness.
  8. Persistence: Don’t stop until you get what you want.
  9. Power of the Master Mind: Surround yourself with the best.
  10. The Mystery of Sex Transmutation: Choose a compatible partner.
  11. The Subconscious Mind: Master positivity and dismiss negative emotions.
  12. The Brain: Associate with other smart people and learn from them.
  13. The Sixth Sense: Trust your gut.

You’ll note that these steps include NOTHING that could be considered:

  • A “get rich quick” scheme
  • Impractical or outdated

Instead, observe that MOST of what is outlined above involves the development, nurturing and effective use of our MIND.

Is there anyone reading this that doesn’t have one? A mind, that is?

The obvious answer is: NO!

Then, if you are not where you want to be, all you need to do is follow the 13 steps outlined above, which are covered in a little more detail in the referenced article, by clicking here. While this is a great way to “get started” you can continue the process by grabbing a copy of the complete document – Think and Grow Rich.

In closing, the 13 steps are NOT hard. It is simply a matter of putting our MIND to it.

What are you waiting for?

All the best!

Jul 04 2015
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Inspirational, Successful Kids

The American Dream – What Are We Teaching Our Children?!?

Several months ago I posted this article. I thought it fitting to repost on this 4th of July, celebrating the independence that this GREAT country so deservedly earned!

The same (independence) can be earned for ourselves too, if we decide.

In a recent conversation with my 17-year old son (Evan), he was mentioning that, in one of his classes, a survey was taken asking the students the following questions:

  1. Can most anyone be successful in America?
  2. Are the majority of the unemployed not working by choice?

He was surprised to observe that he was among the very few who answered YES to both questions. I’m so proud of my kids and the way they think 🙂

Let’s explore each question:

Can “Most” Anyone Be Successful in America?

First, we must define what success is. It certainly is not the same for everyone. I’d suggest that the definition of the American Dream (as shared in Wikipedia) pretty much sums it up.

The American Dream is a national ethos of the United States, a set of ideals in which freedom includes the opportunity for prosperity and success, and an upward social mobility achieved through hard work. In the definition of the American Dream by James Truslow Adams in 1931, “life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement” regardless of social class or circumstances of birth.

The idea of the American Dream is rooted in the United States Declaration of Independence which proclaims that “all men are created equal” and that they are “endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable Rights” including “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

The American Dream is, in my opinion, alive and well: for those willing to go for it!

For anyone doubting this…If someone were to tell their story about why they aren’t successful it is absolutely certain that we can identify a person (or numerous people) with the same story (or worse), who ARE successful (even wildly so).

As such, it would seem that success is a choice: to do what is absolutely necessary to become successful, or not. The good news is that I’m not leaving anyone hanging or simply “wishing them luck.” That is, the purpose of this blog is to share strategies to becoming successful! One simply has to take the necessary action – EVERY SINGLE DAY.

Now, for the 2nd question…

Are The “Majority” Of The Unemployed Not Working By Choice?

There are “some” unemployed who are trying diligently to land a job and having a tough go of it. My heart goes out to these people: those diligently trying – EVERY DAY. And, it is my hope that this blog offers some helpful strategies!

That said, there is no shortage of “jobs.”

After a quick drive through my hometown any casual observer will see a number of “Help Wanted” signs for full and part-time work. In reviewing the local newspaper or an ad on a truck passing by one can find the same. And, we haven’t even gone online yet…

As such, if an able-bodied person doesn’t have a job (and hasn’t for a long period of time) I would agree with those who answered this question, in the affirmative (i.e., many of the unemployed are “choosing” not to work).

Given that we ALL must start somewhere (and, that would be at the bottom), it is critically important to reinforce to our children that:

  1. ANYONE can succeed / live the American Dream
  2. They MUST get a job and not rely on others (including the welfare system) – NO EXCUSES!

In summary, if we want “success” we must define what that means to us (specifically) and GET TO WORK.

DISCLAIMER: It is realized that a “very small” segment of our society cannot work due to moderate-to-severe mental and/or physical challenges. These are the people we MUST take care of. And, I’m happy to do my part! For the rest of us, able-bodied humans, the following quote applies:

If you don’t work, you don’t eat. 2 Thessalonians 3:10

God Bless America!

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Jun 18 2015
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Inspirational

The Art Of Time Travel

Tales of time travel are certainly fascinating.

The stories typically involve the character(s) traveling to the past, to change some event, with the hope of creating a different / better future-state.

Let’s play on this.

Reality: We ONLY have the present moment.

But, we can visualize (or, for those who prefer to keep their feet on the ground, plan for) a future-state.

We do this when we plan a trip. The steps include determining:

  • Our budget (what we can afford)
  • Where and when we want to go
  • How we are going to get there
  • Who is going with us
  • What we need to bring with us
  • What we are going to do while we are there
  • And, how we will return

Why do we do all of this “planning?” Obviously, to create an outstanding, safe and rewarding experience for all involved.

Said another way, to create a future experience that is pleasing to us.

Let’s keep going.

Reality: We ONLY have today.

If we arrive at “today” (again, today 🙂 ) and our life is less than what we desire, it is simply because on the prior “todays” we likely didn’t put in place and execute the plans necessary to create a smoother more enjoyable “today.”

Here are a few concrete examples:

  • A college student needs to register for their classes. The task has been on their list (in their head) for weeks. They wait until the last minute. Guess what: The scheduling options are now limited. The desirable class-times published in the course catalog are no longer available. They must now adapt their other activities (i.e., work, sleep, etc.) to fit the remaining available times. Bummer…
  • A business-person is going on a trip to a desirable location where they can spend some leisure time. They decide a few days in advance that they’d like to get a pair of prescription sunglasses. It is now early Sunday afternoon, the day before the trip and they go to a retail eye-care outlet. The outlet is busy and it turns out that the wait time is too great and will consume the remainder of their afternoon. No prescriptions sunglasses for this trip.
  • A person needs to get their car inspected before the state-imposed deadline. Like everyone, their schedule is very busy. They realize they have a couple of hours, right now: it is late afternoon. They decide to try and get their vehicle into the shop, by calling them. The shop indicates that they are booked for the rest of the day. No inspection today.

All of these examples demonstrate the outcomes experienced when someone is unaware of the art of time travel.

Instead, if these very important “to do’s” were “planned” to occur in advance, vs. waiting until the deadlines, “today” would arrive and the tasks would simply get done. In the above examples, we are, quite frankly – thrashing.

I hate thrashing.

Let’s keep going.

If we arrive at “today” and wish we could:

  • Offer substantial help to someone in need, but we don’t have the time or money to do so…
  • Live in a better home or neighborhood, but cannot afford it…
  • Quit that unfulfilling job and do something more interesting, but cannot due to the amount of debt hanging over our head…
  • Go to that event, but it is sold out…
  • Visit that exotic location to experience the culture and exquisite foods of a different country, but can’t (today) because this sort of trip needs to be planned months in advance…

It is because we didn’t leverage the art of time travel.

We simply CANNOT arrive at “today” and assume things like the above will show-up unless we take the necessary action “today” to create these desirable future-states.

It would be like arriving at “today” (in mid-summer), looking at our vegetable garden and being ticked-off because it is empty, when the reality is: we never planted the seeds!

In short, the art of time travel involves projecting the future we desire, laying down the plans for its fruition and executing – relentlessly.

Oh, and I found another quote that is in agreement with The Strangest Secret, published in a prior post.

If you put your mind to it, you can accomplish anything. Marty McFly (Back to the Future).

Here is to TODAY – the ONLY day we have!

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