Success...One Day At A Time

Isn't This A Better Place To Be?

I've decided...

I have spent too much of my time over the last few months increasing my workload.

The net result in income terms isn't all that different...yet I have quite often felt that I was 'working' for a living too much!

Which...when you are writing motivational stuff like I do...that's NOT a good thing.

Sure...I still need to be productive...and contribute to where I really want to go.

Yet...at the same time I still need to make sure that my lifestyle dictates my work and not the other way around.

So...I am concentrating on "less is more"...meaning that I want to make sure that I focus most of my energies on things that will benefit me most...as opposed to what fills my day.

It's not an easy decision to make for someone like me who likes to be 'busy'.

So...I am laying down the challenge to myself to be more productive for shorter bursts so that I can still move forward in the way that I want to...but more driven by what I want.

What about YOU?

Do YOU quite often end up taking on too much...when not so much might be a much better place to be?

It's almost an ingrained trait to expect to be working all of the time...yet THINKING time is AS important as ANY amount of ACTION you may take.

So...things are changing for me (as they always seem to do every six months or so)...what about YOU?

If you're not quite feeling right where YOU are...what are you going to do about it?

Will You Miss Me...Or Will I Miss It?

After today's entry...I will be taking a week off from writing this blog.

Why?

Well...just to see if you miss me!

Or perhaps more accurately...to see if I miss writing this!

I've always told myself that I should only 'work' in terms of writing...when I actually FEEL like doing so...because even stuff you really enjoy can become a negative if you are literally forcing yourself to do it instead of it coming naturally.

Sure...these entries eventually DO come out quite naturally once I start writing...but as a process...I am finding it increasingly a challenge to approach starting in the manner I would like to!

It's the same with anything YOU do, too.

Don't do it just "because..."

Try to find a way to either be a little more creative and do it slightly differently...or look at how perhaps you can re-structure what you do so that it becomes more meaningful.

Life's too short to not actually ENJOY what you do...yet it isn't always possible to do things that you would REALLY like to do as much as you would like to.

I personally DO like to write this stuff...but, only if it is challenging enough for ME to do the best 'job' that I possibly can to help YOU.

See you next week...

These Success Waters Are Lovely!

All the money in the world couldn't buy the experience I had today.

If you've got children...you'll understand.

After a rare hot day...we decided to go to a nice sandy beach about 20 miles from where we live.

A very pleasant four hours were had by us all (even me who hates sand!).

But...seeing eight-year-old Katie's face as the ice cold English Channel hit her full in the face as a wave crashed over her was worth ANY money you could pay me!

Yeah...I'm a 'cruel' father...but she soon got her own back when she made me swim for about 6 inches in water that seemed to have ice in it!

Yet...even though it STARTED off as freezing...eventually you DO get used to it, don't you?

It's always a shock when you first dip your toes in the water...yet ten minutes later you're swimming away quite happily.

Yet...the temperature of the water didn't change - YOUR perception of how cold it was did.

I sped the process along a little more quickly by sitting myself and Katie at the edge of the water and told her to imagine that the water was really warm...like bath water.

We soon got used to it...yet...if I had been on my own - I would have just dipped my toes in - convinced myself it was too cold to bother...and just walk back up the beach again!

And I wouldn't have had some FUN!

It's like ANYTHING 'new' in YOUR life.

It may feel strange when you first 'test the water'...yet in most cases...what you most fear about what MIGHT happen - NEVER does.

Plus...it proves to you that you CAN do it.

So...I haven't got an excuse NOT to go back into that freezing water next time I am down on the beach (alone or otherwise)...and YOU won't be able to have an excuse NOT to carry on doing something new once you've started it already!

Just try it and see - these success waters are lovely!

In This Lottery Called Life...

Life is a little like a lottery.

Many people still try to 'play the game'...even knowing that they have practically no chance of winning.

Now...that may have sounded a little negative...so let me explain.

Too many people continue to do the same things over and over again...and WISH that things were different.

Whereas a much smaller minority continue to do DIFFERENT things over and again...and KNOW that things WILL be different.

Which one are you?

The person who plays the lottery wishing for a big win...or the person who becomes part of a syndicate in order to have a better probability of winning smaller amounts regularly?

That syndicate is made up of your opportunities.

And...the more chances you 'risk' on the opportunities that come your way...the greater the probability of your success.

Plus...you know that...even if one chance fails...it just means that you are just that LITTLE bit more closer to winning.

It's not easy to have such a mindset when things don't appear to be going your way often enough...but, when you stick with it...you WILL (as long as you learn from your adventures) eventually move towards the place you really want to be.

In this lottery called life...success is all about probability...and how you play the 'game' will determine how 'lucky' you are.

All you need to do is SPREAD your risk by looking out for the ideas and opportunities that come your way.

And just take ACTION!

Just Get It Out Of The Way!

It's easy to get distracted when you're not really doing something that excites you.

Wouldn't you agree?

Of course...we all have to do those things that we would rather not...but the 'pain' can be lessened if you know that once it's out of the way...THEN you'll be able to do more exciting stuff.

For example...I know that I must cut the grass in my garden...and that it will take me over 2 hours to do so.

But...it's something that I don't particularly enjoy...although, of course...I'm always happy with the end result.

The trouble is that it has been occupying my mind for the last few weeks. Working at home doesn't work...as, when the sun shines, Lesley starts giving me one of her 'knowing' looks.

Bet you've been there, right?

It might not be grass...it may be your taxes...or that final bit of DIY that needs finishing.

These little 'have-to' jobs clutter up our head - when really we should be using our minds for more challenging things!

It can easily drain both your motivation and your energy if you are spending too much time constantly thinking of stuff that you DON'T want to do!

So...I'M cutting MY grass over the weekend (whether providing)...what will YOU be doing to get rid of one of those nagging tasks?

Succeeding To Fail...Or Failing To Succeed?

To be honest...I make this stuff up as I go along.

I'm not clever...particularly gifted...nor possess a brain any bigger than yours.

I just sit and just 'dump' whatever is inside my head through my fingers and onto the keyboard.

Too many people get hung up worrying about whether anyone would listen to them.

I have an answer for that...

"Who cares?"

You see...where life (and leading a challenging life) is concerned...YOU should try to be aiming towards doing stuff that makes YOU happy, fulfilled...and content in that you are actually getting some enjoyment out of life!

Not an easy position to take, I know.

But...it's much better for your 'mental' health in the future!

It's EASY to get stuck in working out the process of something - rather than just getting on with it and learning by trial an error.

Unless you 'fail'...you'll never know what it feels like to succeed.

I 'fail' regularly.

Just over the last two days I have spent time writing salesletters for a couple of things that I am working on...and have got absolutely NO sales whatsover!

Hey - I call THAT learning!

It's easy to get disheartened when things don't always go your way...but if we could always GUESS what is going to happen as a result of our ACTIONS then we would all suddenly become successful, wouldn't we?

But...unless YOU actually take ACTION...you'll never, ever know if THIS one is the one that finally tips you over the 'edge' - and leads you towards the place that you think you want to go.

Notice I said THINK you want to go.

Why?

Well...believe me...once you begin to get closer to where you THOUGHT you wanted to go...you'll realize that you can go that much FURTHER.

But ONLY by continuing to take POSITIVE action...even if it means 'failing' your way to success!

Knowing WHY...It's Time To Stop

Today...I am at a crossroads.

I am close to coming to a decision whether I should carry on writing this every day as I do.

The whole purpose of EVERYTHING that you do in life should revolve around what you ENJOY doing.

Sure...I enjoy the creative process of writing something useful every day...but sometimes, as with most things, our desires evolve.

And...for me (as it should be for YOU) - you shouldn't continue doing stuff "Just because..."

Because...that's when life becomes routine and less of a challenge!

To be frank...I'm thinking of doing this perhaps in a different format of some description...though I'm not sure what.

The reason WHY you do things should always be at the forefront of your mind when you begin to question whether you are getting as much enjoyment out of something as you did in the past.

If there is no 'why'...then quite often that's when we lose a purpose for what we do.

For example...I am a creator of content...but I need to express myself in different ways other both me and my 'message' will get stale.

Perhaps doing a fair bit of speaking recently has moved me towards more DIRECT human interaction...especially when using a medium like this blog...it can sometimes be difficult to gauge feedback the way you can in real life.

If YOU feel that you aren't delivering as much as you could...or that you feel that you need a change - think about WHY you need to evolve.

What's changed?

It might not necessarily be a bad thing. I began writing this over 18 months ago...and I've certainly changed as a person since then.

Who knows?

But...life has to be challenging, exciting, and FUN.

And about knowing when to STOP...and look at things from a completely different angle.

You've been warned!

A Spotless Mind And A Meaning

As you may know...I occasionally go and see the odd movie now and again when I need a little break from work.

Today, Lesley and I went to see "The Eternal Sunshine Of A Spotless Mind" which stars Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet.

It's certainly one of those films that keep you 'on your toes'!

I love movies that make me think...yet still make me think about...WHY?

This one certainly did that!

Now...if you haven't seen it then I'm not going to spoil it for you by going into any details...but I also like to come away with a phrase that represents what I think is the 'lesson' behind any film I see.

And...the lesson from this one was...

"Good or bad...things are MEANT to happen"
Which seems to go against a LOT of peoples' thinking!

I'm a a firm believer that, although there may be a 'fate'...YOU can INFLUENCE it!

Our destiny is a changing sea that can be charted via different courses...yet we can still end up at the same place.

And...it's down to YOU which course you take - the challenging one with the bigger rewards...or just the plain old rough force 10 gale!

I certainly know which course I would prefer to steer on - that's for sure.

Remember...quite often, the very people and things that you take for granted are quite often the very same things that you would miss if they weren't there!

So...make the most of EVERYTHING that matters in your life...you only get a chance to live it once!

The Little Thing That Tips The Balance

I'm a lazy sort of person.

Well...I'm not exactly lazy...but I like to make sure that I actually have some 'down time' occasionally (which, believe me...isn't that easy to do when your office is next to the living room!).

You see...life's all about balance.

I used to work all the hours I could chasing a career that deep down I didn't want. I missed the first couple of years of now-eight-years-old Katie growing up.

It's a mistake I certainly wouldn't repeat again.

I was so focused on how much money I could get in return for what I did that I forgot that there was a lot of GOOD things that either money couldn't buy...or didn't cost very little.

Things like a cuddle from your child. A knowing smile from your wife when she finally laughs at one of your jokes!

THOSE sorts of things.

I get them all of the time now because I spend more time with both Lesley and Katie than I ever used to...though, in terms of hours...I actually WORK longer!

I know that it may not be easy for YOU just to 'down tools' for an hour's walk along the beach, for example...but it's the LITTLE things that really do matter where quality of life is concerned.

Things like meeting your partner for lunch. Surprising them by taking the afternoon off to spend time with them. Doing those little romantic things like emptying the dishwasher or hanging out the clothes.

THOSE sort of LITTLE things DO make a difference...add VALUE to your life...yet don't cost a single penny!

Plus...when the people you love are happy...doesn't that make YOU happy?

It certainly makes ME happy, that's for sure.

So...just for a few moments after you stop reading this...think about one, tiny, little thing that will brighten up your and/or your family's day.

Just one. That's all.

And once you realize that it DOES make a difference...then it will certainly help to put your life into a much more pleasant perspective.

Focusing On Your Successful Future

Focus is one of those things that we all know that we should have...but don't quite often manage!

How well can YOU focus on the important stuff?

I always found it difficult until I realized that unless I actually sat down and concentrated on something...then I would never get to where I wanted to go.

Easier said than done, of course.

I'm a firm believer that, however good you think your ability to focus is, you STILL need to 'train' yourself by getting into some good habits.

I bit like what I do when I write every day. If I'm in my office...then I MUST write EVERY single day...even if I don't 'want' to.

Why?

Well...it helps train my focus so that I can at least concentrate for 15-20 minutes EVERY day.

And...once you're able to do that...focusing for longer periods becomes that much more easier to do.

In a way...YOU need to build up your focus 'muscle' just like any other. And...the more you 'train'...the stronger and better you become.

Yet, even after all this training over the last two years...I STILL need a little 'reminding' ocassionally!

I STILL need to actually close down emails and stop surfing...to focus on getting things done.

So...you DO need to practice!

The rewards are well worth it. Without a degree of focus on whatever task you are doing...you might as well not bother doing it.

We both know that we NEED to be able to concentrate for certain periods during the day...so it is ESSENTIAL that you begin by doing something like I do...focus on something for just 15-20 minutes a day, that's all.

After that...there will be no stopping you!

It's Never Too Late To Choose...

Ever get the feeling that you wished there was MORE to your life?

Ever wonder what it would be like to REALLY do what you want?

Now...I'll stop before I begin to sound like some sales pitch for some 'get rich quick' business opportunity!

But...isn't it terrible to literally 'wish' your life away like that?

I've discovered that all this chasing stuff is often the WORST thing that you could do.

Plus...wishing for something doesn't necessarily lead you to actually DO something about going for it...so you just end up with negative experiences from the whole thing.

But...it doesn't have to be like that!

It all comes down to how you view what goes on in your life.

Your ability to enjoy life is not based around what happens...but on how your VIEW what happens!

For example...one person could be totally inspired by something that would totally demotivate someone else...yet, what happened physically was exactly the same.

It was how they PERCEIVED what happened that was the crucial thing.

I guarantee that you can either use as an excuse, or take strength from, the SAME things that happen in your life.

It would have been SO easy to blame circumstances for my 'failure'...but instead I CHOSE to be INSPIRED by what happened to me and actually DO something about it.

I've never looked back since I made that decision, believe me.

Take a look at where you are at the moment.

Is it what you VIEW your situation to be that is getting to you?

It DOES take a mindset-shift to see that perhaps things could be different...if you look at them differently...and it's never too late to actually TRY to see situations for what they REALLY could be.

Opportunities!

Yes, that's right. EVERY situation, however dire it may seem...is an OPPORTUNITY to learn and build from.

You may disagree with me...but I KNOW it to be true because of how life has 'treated' me in the past!

Too many people place the blame on their situation...when in fact...it's their VIEW of their situation that is the problem.

And...it's never too late to CHOOSE to see it differently!

If Only...You CAN Change!

We all change...whether we realize it or not.

I'm not the same person as I was five years ago...and neither, I expect, are you.

Perhaps you may not THINK that you have...but you have.

For a start - you're five years older!

Which means that, if you haven't really progressed much over that time...what's changed is that you have put off doing stuff for longer than you should have.

I know...I was there for years myself.

But...it's NEVER too late to REALLY change - your outlook, your life...your feelings about what is POSSIBLE for you.

But...the longer you put this really important stuff to one side...the harder it will be to break those 'habits of a lifetime' (to-date, of course!).

But...nevertheless you CAN...and you WILL...but only if you begin to take stock of your life...and make the DECISION that you MUST move forward on a personal level EVERY day if possible.

It's only when you begin to effortlessly achieve things that you never would have believed possible (like I have done in the last couple of years)...you'll realize that YOU are your own worst enemy where holding yourself back is concerned.

We only get one shot at this life...isn't it a waste if we spend most of it wishing "If only...."?

Positive Or Negative Leverage? It's Your Choice

Us humans are funny things.

Most of us seem to have an inbuilt ability to leverage the negative...and ignore the positive.

We ALL do it...just some more than others!

I'll admit that I sometimes find it difficult to accept praise sometimes...and instead focus on what I could have done better.

But I'm learning!

You see...I've realized that, if I COULD have done any better - I WOULD.

After all...I'm hardly not going to TRY to do my very best at something, am I?

And...if you really care about what you do, YOU wouldn't either, would you?

So - don't beat yourself up about it!

It's so easy to get sucked into looking for negatives - even when, by most peoples' standards - you may have experienced one almighty positive!

The very fact that you focus on your 'failings' means that you are pointing your subconcious in that direction for the future.

And...as we BOTH know that "You become what you think about" - then, that's hardly a good thing to focus on, is it?

The key here is to CELEBRATE your victories...even the little ones!

In my book...if you end up missing a goal that you set for yourself...yet you end up so much further ahead than when you started - is THAT a bad thing?

Nope. Definitely not!

If you had asked me three years ago if I would have developed as a person to this degree by now...then I would have never believed you...and just laughed it off!

It's NEVER too late to CHANGE...but only if you ALLOW yourself the ocassional 'pat on the back' for actually DOING something!

THAT'S the way that you build a strong foundation for a successful LONG-TERM future!

The Write Way To Generate New Ideas

Inspiration can come from very strange places.

That's why I have a pen and paper by the side of my bed.

I've learned my lesson.

I've lost count of how many flashes of inspiration came into my mind as I was drifting off to sleep...and told myself to remember them in the morning.

Which, of course, I never did!

I've even been know to scribble an idea on a newspaper that we had just bought!

There are many people who claim that they NEVER come up with ideas.

Are YOU one of those people?

Does it annoy you that people like me constantly go on about this idea that we had...or that idea that literally just sprang into our minds?

Yeah...used to annoy me, too!

Until I realized that I wasn't helping myself...but not writing down the ideas that I DID have!

Like with all things to do with your mind...the more you feed it...the more it wants...and the more it creates.

That's why so many people stay in debt for their entire lives - whatever they try to do. They constantly fill their mind with lack...and guess what becomes a reality?

I've personally found that the more I make a note of my ideas (whether I actually DO anything with them or not) - the more ideas I get!

It's almost as if your mind has to constantly produce a certain amount of ideas just to keep it active.

And...this idea 'muscle' only seems to work this way once you constantly try to capture what it is coming up with!

Some of my best ideas have come from just a split-second thought - that, if I had ignored, and not written down, would have been lost forever...perhaps sent out into the 'Universe' for someone else who was more tuned-in to the process to make use of.

I'm certainly no more clever, nor more creative than you...I just make a note of what comes my way!

I have pads of paper covered with notes, doodles, diagrams, one-sentence ideas...most of which I very rarely look at.

But...whenever I'm lacking in inspiration...I have a whole treasure trove of ideas on paper that can spark off new ideas...or remind me of old ones that I thought were great at the time.

Plus...if I see an idea that is a couple of years old that I only thought of 'again' recently...it acts as a motivator in that perhaps I SHOULD actually follow-through on it because I first thought of it ages ago!

THAT is how ideas work...and how I am able to regularly come up with new ways to secure my financial future.

And YOU can, too...but only if you begin by writing your ideas down in ONE place!

Nobody Ever Told You That You Could

I expect that I have repeated myself often on this blog.

In fact...I'm almost certain that I have repeated that I have said that I repeated myself!

So what?

Your path through life is driven through what I call "channels".

These channels are like ski tracks through snow...sharply defined.

Until someone walks all over them - and you've no way of knowing exactly where your tracks were.

So...you just go ahead blindly...making MORE tracks until you realize that your tracks were PURPOSELY covered over because you were going the WRONG WAY!

So...in our lives...we blindly go through these channels that we've set ourselves based on what we BELIEVE to be TRUE about ourselves.

So...if you think that you're ugly...no matter what happens...that's the channel your're going to go down, whether it's 'right' for you or not.

Even when you have the opportunity to prove yourself wrong when you arrive at another channel going in a different direction - you STILL follow the same channel...and still continue along the SAME direction.

The complain about how unlucky you are!

Are YOU one of those people who literally forget that you DO have a CHOICE about which channel to follow?

Maybe. Maybe not.

Today I had conversations with two people who both said in a roundabout way...

"I can't do 'x' because 'y' MIGHT happen"

Shame really...because UNLESS they do 'x' - their 'y' might ALWAYS happen!

Your capacity for achievement is determined by how much you really BELIEVE that you CAN.

Except nobody ever told YOU that you COULD.

So you DON'T...and then make up reasons WHY you CAN'T.

Until you 'get it'...that you CAN if you REALLY want to.

I Am Not Them...And You Are Not Me!

Let's face it...we're all completely different.

What inspires and motivates me...might well put YOU off completely!

This is a big problem where leading a successful life is concerned.

We look up to those people who have achieved something in their lives...and, we try to COPY what they did...because it obviously worked for them.

Big, big mistake!

For example...one of my brothers is doing quite nicely running a travel agency business online.

Fair enough.

BUT...he has to be IN his office at least six days a week in order to make that happen!

Me...I'd much rather fit my work into my lifestyle rather than the other way around.

But...my brother loves what he does - so he's more than happy with what he is doing.

And...if I really wanted to...I could go into the same business as him...armed with my more experienced Internet marketing knowledge - and earn more money than him

But...I don't WANT to!

I WANT for YOU to be reading THIS...that's what I want!

(Plus, of course, I want to make a living doing it at the same time.)

I am successful in my own right because I purposely decided very early on that I wanted to do as much stuff that motivated me...and not just because I was told that doing 'x' would make me the most money.

For example...I now realize that I quite enjoy the challenge of public speaking...but I am not about to 'hit the road' and do it full-time because it will get in the way of some of the other stuff I want to do.

Yet...I KNOW that I COULD make my 'fortune' this way...but I don't really WANT to.

That's not me thinking that I'm the best...and I'm clever, blah, blah...it's just an example of what I know I could be successful at if I just COPIED what the experts do.

Yet...I am NOT them, and YOU are NOT me!

So...instead of YOU looking for the "one-size-fits-all" approach to success...look at what YOU really want to do that the experts do...and then look at how you can FIT that in the picture of what really INSPIRES you to get up in the morning.

Because, believe me, the worst place you want to be is committed to doing something that you THINK you should be doing...when you KNOW that it isn't quite what you WANT it to be...and all because you just did what someone else said worked for them.

Remember...it's YOUR life...unique as it is...so play to YOUR own strengths - not someone else's!

It's ALWAYS Up To YOU!

This will be the last post I will ever write.

And...

You're either disappointed, not bothered...or happy (in which case - why are you reading this!)

OK. I lied.

Me - stop writing? Yeah - right!

But...did you see how I got a reaction from YOU in just 10 words...words that I typed in perhaps days before you are even reading this?

I didn't even have to SAY them - yet - in some form, small or large - I got a REACTION from YOU!

That's why I LOVE the Internet.

But...did you notice how little old me CAN influence YOU through my words alone?

Now...I'm not trying to be clever here...I just want you to be aware of something VERY important.

If I can influence YOU with MY written words...how much do you think that what YOU are THINKING influences what you DO?

Remember...you are a LOT closer to you than I am!

And...you've got a lot of prejudices about what YOU are capable of built up through years of experience.

Holding you back. Telling you that you couldn't possibly do...........

So you see...that's why you need to be careful with what you fill your mind with.

Why?

Well...because if you are constantly affecting your emotions and actions through BAD thinking...then you're not going to give some of those GOOD thoughts an opportunity to turn your life around.

And...if you remember your reaction to the first sentence of this entry - you'll now KNOW that you can what YOU feel in a split second...which then can impact on the rest of your day (if not your life!)

So...in what ways are you NOW going to start doing something about this POSITIVE thinking stuff...and actually start seeing the results of it?

As I always say - success is all in YOUR mind.

It's up to YOU. It's ALWAYS up to YOU!

The Cure For Those Who Never Quite Get Around To Fin...

It's a very rare day that I have to THINK for inspiration where writing this is concerned.

Usually...I just begin by writing the first thing that comes into my head - and then one idea leads to another...and I end up with an entry!

Like this entry.

As I clicked on the "New Entry" button on my blog program...I hadn't a CLUE about what I was going to write - I just KNEW that I HAD to write SOMETHING!

And the words..."It's a very rare day" came into my head almost immediately.

Now...I'm not telling you this to make myself appear to look 'clever'.

I am telling you this because I firmly believe that we try too hard to make things happen...when, quite literally, the solution to whatever we are chasing is already inside our heads.
It's almost as if the process is connected to positive, focused intention.

In other words...I know that I WILL write this (no matter what) - so my mind HAS to find something for me to write about!

And...I've gone from never having written ANYTHING since school...to writing this every day...as well as at least the equivalent of a book every six months in addition.

The thing is...all I literally do is write what I am thinking about.

Which is why I think that, if YOU were interested enough in a topic, YOU could write a lot about it, too.

The biggest failing of anyone trying to achieve something (whether a writer or not) is that they get so caught up in the process of self-analysis - that it gets in the way of just getting what's inside their head - out!

That's why it's so easy to fall into the 'procrastination trap'...because you are so busy wondering 'if this' or 'why that'...instead of just DOING whatever it is.

Part of it also stems from the fact that you may be doing something because you HAVE to (or FEEL that you have to)...which then gives you another excuse to put off the inevitable.

Bet you've been there, right?

The lesson from all of this is just to forget about thinking about stuff to much...and just 'get it out there'...no matter how 'bad' you may think that it is.

Believe me...if YOU do actually follow-through and do 'stuff' on a regular basis whether at work, at home, or in your own business - then you will be leaving the vcast majority of people behind.

Plus...you will kill off your procrastination worries for good!