Success...One Day At A Time

I Just Quit My Job...

Question:

"I just quit my high salaried job, because it didn't give me any satisfaction. The thing is I havent yet found a job to replace the money I need to pay of my mortgages & bills. I am looking around and talking to people, trying my darnest to keep positive, but its tough.

Did I make a mistake? should I have stuck to a dead end job that was paying the bills? My gut says no! that's why I did what I did. All the personal development books say that I should remain focused and positive and something will happen. Guess I am just a little worried and impatient.Any insights?"

Answer:

This is a difficult one, that's for sure!

I did exactly the same myself and have never looked back - even though there are many occasions where I could have just 'given up' and gone back to a 'proper' job.

BUT...

I wouldn't always recommend it to EVERYONE!

Why?

Well...you need a compelling REASON to NOT want to carry on what you're doing.

MY reason was that I wanted to spend time helping to look after Connor, my special needs son. I knew that, whatever happened - THAT was what I had to do.

There were many times in the past when I felt like quiting my job - but I knew that I didn't have a burning DESIRE to do something else. Connor came along and gave me that opportunity.

Now...I am not for a moment suggesting that what you shouldn't have quit your job.

You alone know whether the circumstances were compelling enough to do so. (And...perhaps you meant to use a stronger phrase than "it didn't give me any satisfaction"!)

There is one school of thought that says that you should have Plan 'B' in place before you quit. For example - if you wanted to be an information marketer, network marketer etc - then begin it in your spare time, and see if it FITS you and your personality first before you take the big step of quitting your job.

Sometimes - you may find that your job allows you to have great holidays, and a great away-from-work lifestyle at the weekends - so perhaps it might not be that bad after all.

But...as you've already quit your job - you're now going to find out whether you have a sufficient DESIRE to do something else.

One thing you MUST bear in mind, though.

All of the positive thinking in the world won't make things happen. YOU DO.

You can ATTRACT opportunities into your life by constantly focusing on what you DO want...and there are many ways to make this happen - through affirmations, meditation, self-hypnosis etc.

But...I can guarantee that, if ALL you did was spend all day in bed THINKING about what you want - then things aren't going to happen. (And - I'm not for a moment suggesting that you are!)

So the key here is to LOOK for what is coming to you.

1. Keep Track Of The Ideas That Jump Into Your Head
(Make sure you always carry a pen and paper with you to write them down...and have one beside your bed.)

2. Look For Coincidences Happening In Your Life
(There are reasons why people 'turn up'...or events go a different way than you expect. Even if the 'message' isn't obvious - think AROUND why these things are happening.)

3. Don't Rule Out ANY Opportunity
(If an opportunity to take a part-time job to cover your bills comes up - perhaps THAT's what you NEED to do AT THIS MOMENT in order to take you to the 'next step')

4. Look For The Lessons In 'Failures'
(If you get knocked back for a different job - what could you PERSONALLY have done differently for next time?)

5. Try Not To Focus On The Money
(In your situation - if you are constantly focusing on needing to do something BECAUSE you have to pay your bills...guess what is filling up your mind - worry about LACK of money. Your subconcious then goes out and tries to fulfil your 'request'...and guess what happens?)

6. Don't Waste ANY Time
(Your situation is a SERIOUS one. So - until you begin to make things happen...consistently take ACTION. So - no TV time. Any spare time driving to interviews should be spent on listening to personal dsevelopment tapes in your car. Taking constant action leads to MOMENTUM. So - the more people you tell that you are looking for a job like 'x' - the more chance you have of someone knowing someone who knows someone who has heard about a vacancy!)

7. Let Your Subconscious Find A Solution
(Just before I drift off to sleep at night - I often ask my subconcious to help me find a solution to a VERY SPECIFIC challenge I may have. Whether you believe in a higher power or not - it is certainly worth ASKING for help. The answer doesn't always come as soon as I wake up - but all of a sudden I may think of a solution during the next day to that very same challenge that I was struggling with for hours the day before!)

8. Get Accountable
(Acountability is a wonderful thing! Tell your family that you are doing 'x' today - or making a certain amount of phone calls etc. That way - you will have less of an excuse NOT to do something...especially at the times when doubt may set in.)

Overall - if you combine your THOUGHTS with ACTION - you WILL find a way.

But - you must be OPEN to EVERY single opportunity that comes your way.

The more your project yourself mentally and physically into doing what you need to do - the more chances of success you will have.

Good luck!

Taking Action. Should You Want To?

Question :

"My biggest problem, is getting out of thinking mode and into action mode.
As much as I read and make lists.....nothing ever seems to get done 'today', and by the 3rd tomorrow, I am disheartened. What , I ask you, is that!!!"

Answer:

The key here is NOT to make a big 'to-do' list!

Seriously.

I personally find 'to-do' lists quite de-motivating.

Of course...for some people they work fantastically well - but, for others, they can be worse than having a list at all!

So, what do you do about it?

Well...is what you are writing down on your list something that you WANT to do...or is it something that you SHOULD do?

There's a difference.

If your lists are cluttered up with SHOULD-dos, then you will certainly struggle to get things done.

Here's some examples of SHOULD-dos...

- Accounting/taxes
- Cutting the grass (my favorite)
- Painting the house
- Clearing out your garage
- Writing your book

Of course - some of these would be on the WANT-tos of many people - yet for some people - they seem to stare up at them from the page - day after day...constantly niggling away.

Remember - this is the stuff that you SHOULD do (and may even have a deadline for), so you are hardly going to be inpired and motiavted when you think about doing them.

So...don't have them on your list!

Why? Well...in some cases, like taxes, you KNOW that, eventually - you will HAVE to do them (and WILL do them).

Others can perhaps just go on a SHOULD do list that is separate from the more exciting WANT to stuff.

So - your SHOULD do could be to write a book...but you can easily WANT to try to write an article every week for a year...or 500 words a day...or a chapter a month.

Other stuff you may WANT to do...

- Applying just ONE principle you learned from a personal devlopment book.
- Make ONE phone call to someone who could put business your way
- Spend time with your family
- Spend 15 minutes taking notes from the last book you read
- Taking only the FIRST step on your new project

Even though some of these may not be the most EXCITING things in the world that you would WANT to do - it will be so much easier just to do ONE thing - because you KNOW that it will help you get to where you really want to go.

Plus...if you make your tasks small things that don't take up too much time - you will stand more chance of completing each one EVERY day, and not carry any over until tomorrow.

Once you get your momentum going - you can make the tasks longer or more stretching...but, at the start at least - just START something...and everything else will become easier once you do.

And...what about those SHOULD-do tasks?

Well...whether it takes you six days or six years - EVENTUALLY you will get them done when it comes down to the timwe when you HAVE to...whether you like it or not!

But...at least in the meantime - they're not getting in the way of what you really WANT to do!

Looking For Lack?

The world is an abundant place.

Especially the developed world.

Yet - we fail to realize it...and instead go on about what we want that we don't have...and what other people have that we wish we had.

Sound familiar?

Prosperity is a mindset shift that unfortunately the vast majority of people just don't 'get'.

I blame money.

And...even now - it's VIRTUAL money that causes the problems!

It's 0s and 1s on a central computer somewhere owned by your credit card or bank.

It's not even money that we hold in our hands any more.

We get so hung-up trying to EARN money - that we forget that we're supposed to GIVE value in return for it FIRST!

Just like the farmer is rewarded with his year's worth of effort tending his land and crops.

It's not that people want something for nothing - it's that they want something MORE than they are prepared to give in return.

They complain when their neighbor gets 'lucky'. They moan when someone tries to make the most of their talents and charge for them accordingly.

They gripe about never having as much money as 'x' - yet constantly do NOTHING about their situation to make a CHANGE.

Remember...the ONLY way to get off of the road you're currently going down is to TURN!

Keeping going - doing the same things - they won't help you.

Neither will focusing on what's WRONG with your life instead of what is GOOD (or even GREAT) about your life.

If you think hard enough - you do have at least ONE thing going for you that some other people would give up all of the money in the world for...

- A partner
- A healthy child
- A reasonably secure job
- A home
- Your health
- A car

It's easy to hold yourself back because you think that the 'grass is greener' somewehere else.

It isn't.

Your grass will always be a green as YOU choose it to be!

Once you start to focus on what you HAVE and what you can DO - then your mind will have the fuel to THINK of ways to enhance what you already have.

Instead of just focusing on finding more of what you are 'wishing' for.

Isn't it about time that YOU mentally took CARE of you?

Isn't it about time that you looked for what is GOOD about your life instead of constantly worrying about what may not be?

YOU are a unique, talented individual - with passions and skills that other people could only wish for.

Isn't it about time to REALLY appreciate that you DO have a chance to make something of your life?

Only YOU really KNOW what you've got going for you. Start today to make a note of what you DO have.

It does make a difference.

You'll Know...

Having got out of the habit of writing daily - it's now a strange sensation to be writing twice within the space of twelve hours!

Well...that's the human mind and creativity for you!

It seems as if we spend so much time struggling to focus on what we should be doing that, quite often, trying to FORCE something out is the worst that we can do.

I know...I've tried it! Many times.

For example...I enjoy writing this stuff (whether you enjoy reading it or not!)...yet it would be awful if I HAD to do it at a certain time or day just because I HAD to.

And that's with something that I LOVE to do!

Imagine how bad it then gets if it's something that that you DON'T really enjoy doing!

Enough said.

The trick is to make the most of those times when you are in the 'flow' - and are able to do things almost effortlessly.

Yes...even I have been known to actually purposefully WANT to cut my grass (even though it's one of those things that always gets put off!)

Nothing changed...but my THOUGHTS about it did...that was all.

If you are in one of those "Let's Go!" moods - then you can usually tackle those things that you don't always want to.

And the easiest way to get into one of those moods?

Don't pressure yourself. (Not - I don't mean get lazy!)

What I mean is that usually, if something is IMPORTANT enough to you, you WILL eventually get it done.

Except that, quite often...most things are that important because they aren't really linked to WHY you do what you do.

If I know that I want to be successful in my business...I know that I need to develop many different skills.

Most of which may push me a little out of my comfort (or for most people - their "I can't be bothered") zone.

Yet - I know that, if I need to do something by next Tuesday - then, as long as it gets DONE by next Tuesday - it's irrelevant whether I get it done a week before, 2 days before...or even stay up to 2.a.m. the night before working on it!

As long as it gets done.

If you're not in the right frame of mind to do something (especially where creativity is required) - then, please, don't force yourself to do it!

Just wait.

You'll KNOW when it's the right time, believe me.

Just Think For A Moment

I've been spending quite a bit of time thinking lately.

Thinking about...

- WHY I do what I do
- WHAT I really want to do - both now and in the future
- WHOM the sort of person I am and want to evolve into
- HOW I can convert my knowledge in many different disciplines into focused results-generating ACTION
- WHEN I listen to that voice inside my head - how do I feel?

Some of the 'results' from this thinking doesn't always come out the way that you would expect it, I can tell you!

What about YOU?

If YOU were to think about these things - what would YOUR 'answers' be?

Of course...there are no real 'wrong' answers to these questions.

What could be crucial to MY future success - might be the worst thing that could ever happen to YOU!

That's why it's so important to reference YOURSELF whenever you read or listen to ANY personal development material.

Unless it's in YOUR frame of context - then what you may learn might well end up worthless.

Do this enough times...and you're literally wasting huge chunks of your life reading (and no little money) - without any form of 'return' from your investment...which, once gone is lost forever.

I've decided that LESS is certainly MORE where new information is concerned.

Of course...I still invest in learning about myself and my business (as YOU should) - as that is exactly what successful people do.

BUT...I'm also spending some time CONSOLIDATING my previously acquired knowledge to make sure that I have made the most of what I've learned in the past.

And...at the same time...take a step back, stop for a moment...and THINK!

Feedback...And The Male Art Of Shuffling!

As the days and years go on...I am constantly trying to work out one thing...

WHY!

Both you and I should be seriously considering...

- WHY we do what we do
- WHY we don't do what we do
- WHY we have done something in the past...yet struggle to do again
- WHY we spend more time worrying than doing (but you've been there, right?)

And....many more WHYs I haven't written down!

We're complicated creatures - yet, in a way, we work simply.

And - it's all down to how we value and use FEEDBACK.

For example...

Over the last few weeks I have had a cough that has now progressed into a cough/cold...and, as my wife Lesley would say - it would be easy for me to start 'shuffling' my way through the house feeling sorry for myself as I have done so many times in the past!

(Note: If you're a man - you'd understand!)

Yet this time - although I do feel somewhat 'under the weather'...I feel a little different.

Why?

Well...instead of just accepting that, because I 'usually' get a summer cold, and suffer from a mild asthma - I've questioned WHY.

WHY do I suffer from the odd cold and wheezing fits? (albeit a lot less than I used when I commuted and worked in an office)

Well...I KNOW that I am a positive thinker - and I know that I am not actively shuffling and feeling sorry for myself (most of the time!).

But...I also know that I am overweight for my size...and, since I begin this nomadic sitting-in-front-of-a-computer-all-day-long lifestyle - the only real exercise I take is chewing my food! (and the occasional walk by the beach).

So...instead of just ACCEPTING that I will *always* be ill every now and again - I'm looking for the FEEDBACK from my body.

And that feedback is telling me that I should treat it with a little more respect and not take it for granted!

In exactly same way as I do my business and my relationships.

Except this realization has taken me a lot longer than the other two!

So, for YOU - what feedback is YOUR body, relationships, or work effort giving YOU?

If it's good - great! But...if, like me - it may not be - how are you going to WORK with the feedback that you've been given so that it DOES become better?

Butterfly Wings, Five Minutes...And A New Habit

Let's face it - we're creatures of habit.

Who we are and what we do is entirely dependent on those little habits that consume our days.

Like...

- how we sleep at night
- what TV we watch
- what clothes we prefer
- who our friends are
- how we travel to work

And many more other things that people forget are really habits as they just form part of their everyday activities.

Yet - take yourself out of a particular routine that you have got used to...and something doesn't seem quite right.

It's the same whether we are trying to create a new GOOD habit...or trying to unwind ourselves from a BAD one.

You may have heard that some people say that a butterfly flapping its wings in South America has an impact on the weather patterns on the other side of the Atlantic.

All part of the supposed connectedness of nature to the Earth and how it works.

Well...I firmly believe that YOUR habits are like those butterfly wings.

One little change can have a HUGE effect on your future.

Don't believe me?

Well...what if you changed your habit of getting up at 7a.m. to getting up at 6:30a.m.?

What could you accomplish in those extra 30 minutes? How about if it was only 15 minutes? Or 5 minutes?

What if you decided that you would read 5 pages of a personal development book in that extra five minutes?

You could read an EXTRA 150-page book EVERY month - just by waking up 5 minutes earlier.

That's 12 EXTRA books every year. Just from 5 minutes a day.

Of course...you don't have to read 5 pages of a book.

You could speak affirmations
...or go for a jog to the end of the road and back
...or get into work 5 minutes earlier
...or spend 5 minutes reading with your child
...or write your task list for the day

Get the idea?

Just one little change and five minutes CAN have a big effect on your life - just by the cumulative effect of those five minutes day after day.

So...what daily habit could YOU get into for just five minutes?