Success...One Day At A Time

Successful People Are Changing. Are You?

Even though it might not sound like perfect sense at the time...always leave yourself open to changing ANY aspect of your life on the spur of the moment.

I had a reminder of this over the last week, as I came across something online that, within a few months, will have a far-reaching implication of how I run my online business.

It's a business model idea that, if I run with it to its full potential, I will be only working ON my business and not IN it by the end of the year. (Yes...you CAN hold me accountable!).

Yet...last week, I was working towards a different way of approaching a slightly different outcome!

And...this new model combined with a technical aspect of the Internet that I worked out less than three weeks ago means that all of my energies are currently focused on almost entirely opposite things than last month!

So...next time an idea whacks you in the face, think about what you COULD do with it, rather than looking for excuses why you couldn't possibly make it work.

Sure, you certainly won't be right every time...but the law of averages means that you WILL eventually move yourself further forward than you can imagine now.

Recommended Resource

11 simple principles for success, weird name...but the only thing I've recommended in months. Go here and find out for yourself why I like Banabu so much...

Our Wealth Partnership

Over the last few years I have been writing solely on the Internet about how the lessons from my own life could be applied to helping you getting more from your life.

If you have been a subscriber to my ezine for any length of time you will know that I adopt a ‘real-life’, no BS, attitude to leading a happy and successful life.

By ‘real-life’ I mean that my approach is based around my own experiences – which I then translate into meaningful strategies and lessons that YOU can apply to make the most of your own life.

This approach can have its challenges.

Firstly – thanks to the (many different) problems involved in sending and receiving email – it seems that 20%+ of my subscribers hardly ever see what I send them.

Secondly – a fair proportion of the remaining 80% probably have a huge pile of ezines and emails to sort through every week…and don’t often get the chance to sit down for a few minutes and actually READ what I write.

And – that is one huge problem for you. If you don’t read – then I can’t help you.

And…if I can’t help you – then the path to the life of your dreams will certainly be longer and more fragmented.

It’s not your fault…I’m as guilty of this as anyone else. I’m subscribed to ezines that I love – but very rarely read because they happen to be in my inbox at the wrong time – or I get sidetracked with something else, and it gets lost amongst hundreds of other emails.

However…I realized that I read all of the ‘paper and ink’ newsletters that I subscribed to.

And...I've learned recently that, quite often, all it takes is to get someone to USE what they invest in...and the results then begin to take care of themselves.

So...I'm seriously considering a monthly print newsletter - provisionally titled 'Our Wealth Partnership' as its focus will be on getting YOU to open up to the abundance that is undoubtedly out there for you.

It will run 12 to 16 pages or so - as I want to make sure that it gets read in its entirety!

As for pricing...well I'm not sure yet.

Plus...I will also be focusing in on some of the more important books and resources I have read that have had a huge impact on my success.

I can guarantee 100% that "Our Wealth Partnership" will only contain brand-new stuff that I have never published before, and all of the content will be EXCLUSIVE to the newsletter.

So...what do YOU think?

I've got the necessary infrastructure in place to make it happen...but I'm hardly going to create something that you aren't interested in.

Just post a comment below with your views/concerns/ideas about "Our Wealth Partnership"...

Shouldn't You Be Doing Less To Achieve More?

One thing has struck me today as I have been working.

The battle with your inner voice is the KEY to your success.

Without question.

You see, working in my home office, I've found that it is easy to get distracted when I'm trying to focus on something, and even easier to find myself interrupted when I am actually focused on something!

Little one-year-old Skye certainly has a habit of going crazy at the times when I'm really concentrating!

Yet - on the days like today, when I've had a lot of time to myself as Lesley has taken the children out - I've found that I'm not taking advantage of the situation!

You see - I'm not perfect after all!

Of course - I haven't completely wasted the day - I wouldn't allow myself to do that.

But...it has reminded me that I 'function' better at different times of the day than others.

Bet you do, too.

I can do great things at 6 a.m.
Can crank out an excellent article at 2 p.m.
And even focus on a little future project at 7 p.m.

Yet - often in the middle of all that - I check stuff, re-read forums, scan emails, and generally don't get as much work 'done' as perhaps you would expect.

Now...that's not to say that I am not motivated.

Nor...am I particularly 'bothered' about it!

I decided some time ago that beating yourself up for being YOU is a road to nowhere, that's for sure.

The more that you try to do what you THINK you should be doing, the less likely you are going to do the stuff that you NEED to be doing to help you towards your future.

That's why I'm not bothered.

An hour at 6 a.m. is worth two or three hours of mid-afternoon sighs!

(Guess why I have started to get up at that time so that I can ACHIEVE something before everyone else in my house gets up?)

Where success is concerned...it's not all about the firing on all cylinders - working your guts out - just to make as much as you can.

Nope.

For YOU - success should be about being able to lie on your bed at night - and actually KNOW that you have done something that has moved you forward towards your goal.

Will YOU be doing that tonight?

I certainly will.

The Results Of That Mindset 'Woo-Woo' Stuff...

On an internet marketing forum last week...I attempted to explain my 'secret' to my increase in income over the last few months.

This is what I came up with...

*******

Aside from the technical aspects - my income is down to FOUR major things...

1) Applying what I already knew about marketing to other things that are already out there.

2) Applying a couple of snippets from what I learned from an Internet Marketing seminar in Las Vegas in June last year to leverage this knowledge.

3) Leveraging my time by outsourcing programming and other tasks...and by training my wife Lesley to do some of the stuff that I do. Let's say that she's finally paying her way :-)

4) Most important of ALL...understanding that mindset 'woo-woo' stuff is THE most important factor in ANYTHING relating to the above. ANYTHING.

Once I starting GIVING AWAY what I THOUGHT that I needed most - what I thought that I needed most turns up more often than ever before.

Believe me - this works more than all of the technical knowledge in terms of getting you what you want.

How do I know?

Well...let's say that I know of one other person that does EXACTLY what I do. The only difference between us is that I apply #4) consistently and he doesn't.

At the last count - I was doing at least 4x to 6x as well as he was.

*******

Well...what do YOU think?

If you've been reading what I write for any length of time...you'll know that I place some serious importance on THINKING as well as ACTION.

Recently though - I've taken this a little further by constantly focusing on what I was thinking. So...if I catch myself having a negative thought (don't we all?) - then I consciously make myself think instead of a positive thought.

Or - perhaps looking for ANY positive aspect relating to the negative thought I was having.

I can certainly tell you that it does take some effort to do this when you are literally 'wound up'!

But...as with ANY habit...as time goes on - it begins to become 'second nature'...and my positive thoughts begin to consistently appear when in the past then may have been 'so-so' thoughts.

One other 'method' that I have been practicing is to read more 'spiritual' books instead of 'how-to' books.

In other words...in my spare time I fill my mind with ideas about manifestation, abundance, thought-power, connection, quantum physics, life, Universe, and everything!

Sure...the how-to personal development books certainly have their place...but in the place where I personally am going towards - I am more interested in CREATING my results using my mind instead of trying to CORRECT my shortcomings through taking ACTION.

Believe - this fundamental shift in thinking is something that (if you aren't already 'there') will inevitably happen to YOU once you come to your OWN realization that struggling to make things happen can often attract the opposite.

Strange...but nevertheless true.

Of course...I don't for one minute expect you to agree with me. After all - we are all unique in our own way - and my particular 'path' to attracting my desires will not necessarily be the best way for YOU.

But...

Take my word for it...

Within the next five or ten years...there will be a shift from 'hard work' to 'hard thinking' in terms of getting what you want.

I, for one, will certainly be leading the charge to a more relaxed, happy, yet infinitely more abundant life, for both YOU and I, for that you can be certain!

The more I read and listen - the more I see similarities between the different ways of using your mind to get what you really want.

Whether you're religious, an atheist, a career-person, a homemaker, an entrepreuner, or unemployed...you CAN achieve great things with your life.

Once you find the path that 'make sense' to you the most.

And...that's what I'm here to try to help you to do.

It's Not Good Enough To Just Do 'Enough'

It's been a week since I last posted an entry on this blog.

Why?

Well...for a number of very different reasons...

Firstly - in the space of 24 hours it was subjected to almost 2,500 'rogue' comments.

Originally - it took me a few hours to manually delete them all until I found an automated answer that can now take care of a lot of them at the source...plus clear any that get through in minutes.

Shame I didn't realize that there was something out there that did it the first time!

Secondly - I've made a very conscious decision over the last month or so to really focus on making of the most of the content that I have ALREADY created - before I go ahead and create a load more!

At the last count - I have SEVEN personal development related projects that are at various stages of completion (or re-purposing) - so I figured that it was about time that I spent some time consolidating what I've already done.

Plus...a couple of weeks ago I put on my Internet Success Mindset one-day seminar - for which I've had to edit audios, design covers etc for - which always takes longer than usual!

Now...I'm not for a moment complaining. Far from it.

I am just going through one of my almost-six-monthly changes of 'tack' so that I can constantly work on improving what I have to offer YOU...and also to ensure that I personally don't get 'stale' in terms of what I do.

If you get bored waiting for new content - then just use the 'search' facility on this site - and I'm sure that you'll find something to read from the 500+ entries I have posted over the last 18 months.

It's easy for all of us to get a little complacent - and just keep jumping through the same hoops without really pushing ourselves because it's become relatively 'easy'.

If you know me well enough by now...you'll understand why I firmly believe that standing still is really the same as moving backwards!

Not only that - unless you are constantly improving and challenging yourself - then it's easy to just let life slip you by.

Which, for me, means that it's not good enough to just do 'enough'.

Go On...Complain Instead Of Do...

On Sunday...I'm pushing myself out of my comfort zone.

Why?

Well...I'm presenting my one-day "Internet Success Mindset" Seminar.

Which I'm very excited about.

Even though the most I have ever spoken before was for an hour!

On Sunday - I'm doing FIVE!

Why?

Not for the money - that's for sure. I'm just about covering my costs for the room hire and everything else.

I'm doing it because I NEED to...I NEED to because I NEED to keep pushing myself along that little bit further!

As with most things...life always has a little twist in store.

You see - the initial reason why I felt that I should do this was so that I had something to offer at the 'back of the room' at my first U.S. seminar appearance talking about the Internet success mindset.

Except I found out yesterday that it has now been cancelled!

So - now my ONLY reason for pushing my (self-imposed, mind you) limits on Sunday is to force me to accept that I CAN do a one-day seminar if I CHOOSE to.

Yet - I wouldn't probably have got around to it yet if I hadn't needed to have something to sell at that other seminar!

Believe me - if you look at pushing yourself that little bit further when each new opportunity comes along - you'll find that challenges open up for you in ways that you couldn't possibly imagine!

THAT sort of growing experience doesn't come from sitting on your backside watching TV and complaining about how 'lucky' other people are.

I KNOW - I was THERE for almost fifteen years so I understand that feeling.

And NOW - I just wonder why I wasted so much of my life complaining instead of DOING!

What about YOU?

Looking At WHY These Things Happen...

I always look for the hidden meanings when things happen that I don't personally have control over.

Like today.

Someone with a rather disgusting adult site link automatically 'posted' hundreds of comments to this very blog - the content of which was both disgusting...and, in my opinion, pointless.

Is it me - or can you also see what little 'value' this spammer could get by having porn links on a motivational blog?

Especially when I delete them as soon as I am notified of them automatically via email.

Normally - this wouldn't be such a problem - but this person went one step further by automatically changing IP the address of each posting - knowing that I wouldn't be able to block them as I usually do if it is just a person manually spamming (believe it or not - I've already banned over 250 IP addresses over the last six months).

Sad, really.

So...for me...what's the hidden message here?

Well...as I have mentioned in the past - I have been contemplating changing the format of a few things - and how I do them.

Perhaps it's time to not have such an 'open' forum for people to just spam at the expense of me trying to help others.

So...I might password protect this site...or maybe even charge a very small 'membership' fee for access.

After all...that way I will be able to control who visits...and also be in a better position to give my opinion to those people whom truly want to hear and learn from it.

Of course...I haven't fully decided yet - but it has been something that has been on my mind over the last month or two as the blatant spam has continued to increase.

I don't like to get angry at stuff like this happening...as unfortunately - it seems to go 'hand in hand' with being visible online.

So...that's why I just look at WHY.

I firmly believe that there is usually a reason for everything - good and 'bad' - it's just that sometimes it's harder to find the meaning behind something if your emotions are getting in the way!

So...I'm always fighting against human nature to make sure that I see it!

It's Never 'Plain Sailing' - But Does It Make Sense?

Although I have been writing less recently - I haven't entirely been not doing much.

I've spent so much time, energy, and money over the last couple of years on my internet (and marketing) education...that now I have decided that I should actually devote more time to APPLYING this new knowledge instead of purely creating new content (like this).

I can tell you...as someone who has been known to write every single day for months on end - it's not always easy to do.

But...in my business...it's always necessary to make the most of what (and who) you know - in order to leverage your time better.

And...as my time is VERY important to me...I always try, wherever I can, to make the best use of it wherever possible.

Even if that time spent resulted in failure (or as I call it - temporary defeat).

Funnily enough - I have had more than my fair share over the last few months - but I'm very philosophical about the whole thing.

I know that these temporary defeats are just pushing me towards something that DOES complement me 100%...whether I realize it yet or not!

It's only with retrospect that seemingly unconnected events make sense...and I am more than convinced that this year will be one of those that I look back on and see that my 'path' was defined more clearly than in the years before.

Even if it isn't always 'plain sailing'!

Isn't that part of the fun?

The Best And Worst Of Us...

Having just spent a week in Las Vegas...it's nice to be back home.

Not being a gambler...nor a fan of 'shows'...it certainly isn't my ideal destination!

But...there I went to spend four, 14-hour days stuck on a chair learning more about how successful people 'work'.

I also managed a visit to the Strip...as well as finally getting to see the Grand Canyon up close.

And...just as we drifted a mile down the Colorado river... we suddenly saw a red-tailed hawk swoop across the bow of our boat...and fly into his nest on the protected side of the Canyon.

At the same time...it was eerily silent as the two-minute gap between helicopters taking off and landing left us soaking up the atmosphere before the thud-thud-thud of rotor blades sounded in the distance.

Certainly time for reflection...that was for sure.

Las Vegas to me, seems such a 'hollow' place. Walk just yards off of the strip...and you hit areas that you wouldn't find comfortable walking at night.

Being more aware of my feelings compared to my last visit two years ago...I got an overwhelming feeling of almost desperation spread amongst the squealing of people turned up-side down by roller coasters and rides in the 'theme park' hotels.

Why desperation?

Well...the fact that the hotels have become more lavish and and are adding rooms and shops at an alarming rate told me without speaking who the winners were in this gambling 'haven'.

If I sound a little down...I don't mean to be.

It just saddens me to see tens of thousands of people chasing a 'dream' where the odds are ALWAYS in favor of the house.

For me...Vegas is the best and worst of America.

The amazing Sistine Chapel-like ceiling paintings of the entrance to The Venetian is spoiled by the ding-ding of the slot machines.

Of course...I know that one couldn't possibly exist without the other, but to me, anyway, some of the greatest modern-buildings-replicating-historic-buildings are lost behind the sad faces of people piling their money into a computerized money pit.

Of course...the whole place is MEANT to be one huge 'theme park'...but at least at Disney all you lose is what you pay for.

People just chasing more money with the hope of changing their lives is, to me, just completely the wrong way around.

YOU should be changing YOUR life...with the EXPECTATION of EARNING more money.

That's the way it SHOULD be...and IS for those people who, usually because of some misfortune, realize that they may have their life priorities upside-down.

Even one of the speakers said that it's pointless trying to sell a 'dream' - unless you give people a promise of some financial reward as part of the deal.

It's a shame that just plain being HAPPY and having FUN is clouded by the non-stop chasing of something that gets further away the closer you get to it!

That's why I am glad that I live in MY head...and am happy with my 'lot' - whatever financial rewards it may bring.

What's the point of running after something that you may realize that you don't even want as you chase after it.

Too many lives are wasted chasing after someone elses' version of what YOUR dream should be.

Unless you begin with your thoughts...then you're going to be in a race around a running track with no finishing line.

Take stock of what's REALLY important in your life...and then look at what talents you undoubtedly have already in your possession.

THAT'S where YOUR future lies...not in some competition to win some money that you will undoubtedly lose the next time that you play.

Whether you spend it in front of a slot machine, a TV, the Internet, a book...or watching your child's school play... that time, once used, is FOREVER lost to you.

Never to return.

So...invest wisely in what you want from your future.

The true short-cuts to security are not shown in the faces of the smiling people just like you who just won a car on a slot machine.

No.

Long term prosperity is reflected in huge plasma screens that project ads 24 hours a day.

Those owners are the winners...purely because they know that us humans prefer greed to real lifelong change for the better.

Remember...the things that matter most are the things that money CANNOT buy - however much you win or earn.

And...a dollar bill, a pound coin, or a euro doesn't fit the bill.

'One Size Fits All' Doesn't!

I'm off for a week to Las Vegas to attend an Internet marketing seminar.

I expect that I will see some familiar faces there.

Those people are those who are either...

a) There to constantly develop their knowledge and contacts
b) There because they are 'seminar junkies'

Now...I certainly am in the a) camp as I go to these things - but only if I make sure in some way that I get a 'return' on my investment - whether it's from the application of my new knowledge, or from making new contacts.

Unfortunately...I'll also meet again the 'junkies'...who are attending yet another seminar just to say that they've been...but aren't really any further forward than when I first met them over the last couple of years.

These people...although having good intentions...get sucked in by the actual attending part - and forget that, if they've been to more than a couple of seminars - they should actually be making progress.

It seems to me that they'll STILL looking for the 'next big thing' - instead of working out WHAT they REALLY want from attending.

Of course...it's not always easy to quantify a return from going to these things...but being in exactly the same place six months after attending does not signal success to me!

It's the same with whatever you do.

It's pointless reading something (or even watching, for that matter)...unless you literally TRANSLATE it into a way that COULD work for YOU.

Remember...you'll probably fail if you try to 'copy' exactly what the 'gurus' tell you - as YOU are not THEM.

But...in order for you NOT to be a KNOWLEDGE junkie who is just standing still - then you need to understand that you should aim for the nuggets of information that fit YOU like a glove instead of trying to apply everything and fail.

I could tell you EXACTLY what I do and how I do it...yet, unless you apply it in a way that suits YOU...then it almost certainly won't work for you.

We are ALL different...and therefore isn't it any wonder that 'one size fits all' DOESN'T?

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!

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...."?

Do You BELIEVE That You Are Bigger?

There's something interesting that I've found as I've progressed online...

"The more you achieve - the easier it is to THINK bigger"

And...once you begin to THINK bigger...then your mind automatically begins to focus on what is POSSIBLE as opposed to what you think you might not be able to achieve.

I saw this realization dawn on so many people at my UK Net Seminar over the weekend.

One of them told me that after the first day they went to their room full of FEAR!

"Why?" I had asked

They replied that they had a realization..."This could actually WORK!"

Why did they feel that way?

Well...they saw 'regular' people like me achieving what they didn't really believe was possible...and it made them realize that it WAS possible!

And...automatically...their entire outlook on what they BELIEVED was possible changed.

It was as if 40 people in that room mentally 'stepped up a gear'...determined to really push themselves onto bigger and better things.

Yet...NOTHING had really changed in the 'real' world.

Sure...they had more information (or they were reminded of information that they had previously ignored)...but information is useless on its own.

What had changed was that, in their minds, they had begun to BELIEVE that they were BIGGER than they had previously thought.

And...so are YOU, too!

Doing The 'Same Again' Just Won't Work!

After putting on my first-ever 'proper' 2-day seminar (on Internet Marketing)...I've realized a couple of things.

1) It's not good enough to just 'do enough' - doing your BEST is much more rewarding!

2) I won't be moving forward next time if I don't put a seminar on that is bigger or better in some way.

Do YOU think like that after succeeding at something?

How many people or businesses think that way?

I see so many people just doing enough to get by.

And...I see so many slightly more successful people doing enough to get by...over and over again...without really 'going' anywhere!

I KNOW that if I DON'T push myself to achieve that little bit more (OK - much more than that!) next time...then I wouldn't have really moved forward.

I know that I can put on a great seminar. I know because of the feedback I got over the weekend.

But...from a developmental point of view...it's not good enough just to do the same AGAIN.

Firstly...I'd personally get bored (which I hate), and secondly...what would I have learned?

Sure...there would be different people in the audience...and the 'balance' of the event may be different...but for ME...I won't be developing MYSELF - which is more crucial to me than putting on a seminar that is exactly the same just to try to make some money from it.

What works for ME is challenge and variety...it's the way that I personally GROW.

What works for YOU?

Doing the same thing over and over again "because...." certainly won't!

Go On...Back Yourself Into A Corner!

I've added a new 'skill' over the last couple of weeks.

I now KNOW that I CAN interview people!

I've had to do so six times over the last couple of weeks as I've been interviewing experts for my UK Net Marketing Seminar.

Now...because I know that I can do it because I've done it six times...this now means that I have another 'tool' that I can use in the future.

But...if I'm perfectly honest...I would rather have NOT done the interviews!

But...it was a necessary part of the marketing for the seminar...and SOMEONE had to do it!

In a way...I HAD to 'back myself into a corner' to ENSURE that I actually followed through on a new skill...even though I would be uncomfortable doing it.

Sure...I'm far from the best interviewer in the world...but unless I TRIED - I wouldn't have found out if I was CAPABLE of doing so!

And...I bet that YOU could certainly do a LOT of things if you HAD to!

The trouble is...most of the time, because you don't have to...you just find excuses NOT to something that may be a little uncomfortable.

I certainly wouldn't have been able to achieve a LOT of what I have (along with the self-esteem increase that comes with it) unless I had literally FORCED myself to go that little bit further.

And...if you can find a way to do the same...YOU will, too!

One Last Time For That Persistence To Pay Off

Today I've spent hours trying to get a form on one of my websites work.

I used EXACTLY the same code as I've used on similar ones...yet for some reason, it just didn't work!

So...I tried another piece of code...an hour later - a different error!

It was starting to get a little frustrating!

But...I NEEDED to get this form up...I couldn't let the technology beat me!

So...I tried a different way...using some survey software that I had used (which had worked) a year ago.

Another hour later...this one came up with a completely different error than the other two!

Now...I'm not a programmer - so I was beginning to wonder if I was making life complicated for myself.

So...I went online - and spent ANOTHER hour setting up the form on a third-party website using their free option.

This suited me fine until I realized that, because the version was free...it didn't keep ALL of the information together...it just grouped the results from each part of the form.

It was about this time that Lesley decided to take Katie, and her visiting friend, Lizzie, out to the beach...as I was about to go through the 'head in the hands' stage!

So...what would YOU do?

Well...I know that I must always 'walk my talk'...so off I went searching online again to find yet ANOTHER piece of code...which needed about 30 minutes of manual alteration before I could run and test it.

I can tell you now...when I realized that I would have to put a LOT of effort in without knowing if it COULD work (teach-myself coder that I am)...for a brief second I really wondered if it was worth it!

But...then I caught myself...and, head down, got on with the job!

Guess what...it worked FIRST TIME! (Hooray!)

Hours after I had first started...I had got what I wanted.

But...if I didn't KNOW that the BEST successes usually ride on the back of the point-of-giving-up...I certainly would have!

Life's the same.

If you give up - you will NEVER achieve ANYTHING.

And...most of the time...your successes are just around the corner from the point where you think that you've tried that last time.

Just because something doesn't work...doesn't mean that it will ALWAYS be that way! It's down to YOU to try that ONE last time (again and again) until your PERSISTENCE pays off.

It WILL...just try it and see for yourself!

An Idea Shared Is An Opportunity Leveraged

The more that I FORCE myself to work with other people...the more I have realized that, in the past, I was holding myself back from not doing so.

There have been a couple of occasions over the last 24 hours where I have had something glady 'taken off of my hands' because my partner preferred to do it themelves.

And...it just so happened that these tasks were the ones that I LEAST like doing!

It IS good when these relationships work...although sometimes they do NEED work in order to make sure that you BOTH understand what your roles are.

Like a marriage, I suppose...without the fighting!

I'm much more focused now on actually moving forward WITH others as opposed just on my own.

I'm the sort of person who can easily get bored...so I NEED to have a number of different things 'on the go' at any one time to make sure that I'm always motivated!

It's such a shame that we don't really foster a more sharing (instead of competitive) attitude to what we do.

You may have heard of the saying "A problem shared is a problem halved".

Well...where opportunities are concerned..."An idea shared is an opportunity leveraged"!

How can YOU make the most of YOUR relationships...both personal and professional?

If you look hard enough...you WILL find a way to leverage BOTH of your time and effort.

Isn't Accountability A Wonderful Thing?

I've had the idea (and the means to execute it) for a product/service since October last year...yet I've never quite got around to spending enough time on it in order to 'get it out there'.

The thing is...I KNOW that, if I have an idea...and don't almost IMMEDIATELY run with it...then it will run out of steam...and perhaps never see the light of day.

It's the same with this product...I spent a few months just completely doing NOTHING with it!

It's a joint venture...and, to be honest, neither of us has done much about it really.

Until a couple of weeks ago when we set a deadline for its completion.

Not only that...we decided that we would have WEEKLY 'accountability' calls where each of us would have to report on what we had done in relation to what we agreed on the previous week's call.

Now...I'll tell you now...this process is like PULLING TEETH!

I've put this project on almost indefinite hold for so long that it is SO difficult to get back into it and make sure that I do something EVERY week in order to make it happen.

It is SO difficult...yet, so EMPOWERING.

For example...I know that I have to do something in time for our call tomorrow...yet, if we weren't having that call - I KNOW that I wouldn't do it!

I bet you know what I mean, right!

Good intentions and all that!

But...because I have to EXPLAIN MYSELF to my partner for what I have or haven't done...then guess what I'm going to do first thing tomorrow?

That's right...work on this project...because I want to make sure that I will do what I said I was going to do last week.

I'm the sort of guy who tends to get stuff done often at the last possible moment...but, if it gets done...and that's the way I work...who cares, right?

But...I KNOW that I WILL do whatever I MUST do...because of that damn phone call tomorrow!

I know that I'm not perfect where getting everything done...and sometimes I DO need that little 'kick' myself!

Isn't ACCOUNTABILITY a wonderful thing?

I'm Here. I'm Capable. So Why Not?

I have had work 'coming out of ears' at the moment.

It's amazing what you can accomplish when you REALLY set your mind to it.

I'm juggling three or four completely different disciplines at the moment.

For example...just today I -

- Finished writing a sales letter
- Configured a shopping cart
- Set up a blog for my brother
- Worked out why some HTML wasn't working
- Began writing notes for a teleclass that I am leading this week

Plus...I'm writing this!

Now...I'm not telling you about this to boast...I'm telling you this because, if I wasn't really bothered, I could have got away with not doing any of them.

But...I didn't because I KNOW that, like a muscle in your arm...your mind EXPANDS through resistance!

You wonder why so many people are literally throwing their dreams away because they don't actually do ANYTHING to stretch themselves.

I've heard three different people over the last few days saying that they couldn't do something because they had to 'do something else'.

I've got LOTS of 'something else' to do, too...but that doesn't stop me from throwing down a challenge to myself to REALLY push myself.

It's not about working all hours. It's not about doing stuff that I hate doing.

It's about seeing how far my skills and ingenuity can take me.

And...guess what?

I've realized that the MORE I do...the more I am CAPABLE of doing!

Yep...even YOU could do more (FOCUSED) 'work' towards whatever you choose...as long as you tell yourself that it is a LEARNING experience...WHATEVER happens!

Failure is not a word in my book...there is only temporary defeat.

And...temporary being the way it is...means that, if, for whatever reason, I DON'T achieve as much as I would like in a given day...I know that I CAN tomorrow!

And...so can YOU...but only if you REALLY want to.

What Have YOU Learned In The Last Two Years?

The other day I did a little exercise of taking stock of what I have learned in the two years since I began my online journey.

It amazed me how many brand NEW skills and talents I learned that had absolutely NOTHING to do with my previous 15-year-long career!

Here's a list of what I haven't since March 1st 2002...

- How to code a basic website with HTML
- How to read and 'play around with' basic PERL and CGI scripts
- How to manage my websites at my hosting company
- How to write a salesletter
- How to build my list to 25,000
- How to write articles so that people read them
- How to write and publish a weekly ezine
- How to write and create a online product
- How to write and deliver an online 'program'
- How to create an offline product
- How to get programmers to create a software product for me
- How to sell products online
- How to get other people to sell my products online
- How to sell other peoples' products online as an affiliate
- How to book, write, and lead a teleclass
- How to record a teleclass
- How to convert those recordings into mp3s and streaming real audio files
- How to record CD-quality audio using my PC and a mic.
- How to burn both audio CDs and CD-roms...and how to package them
- How to speak in public about 2 topics - motivation and internet marketing (my first 'gig' was in front of 365 people in San Francisco! - THAT was scary!)
- How to coach one-to-one
- How to network with people at seminars
- How to create and manage a blog
- How to record and deliver online 'videos'
- How to create/deliver/organize/record a REAL seminar

Perhaps I should also add..."be able to write daily"!

Now...that may seem like a LOT of things to pack into just 2 years...but really, they have just literally followed on from one another.

Now...I ask YOU...yes, YOU, sitting there reading THIS!

Are you thinking more about what you THINK you can't do instead of what you COULD do if you took ACTION?

Well?

Not sure?

Take a look at my list. If you'd asked ME two years ago whether I would have done more than 3 or 4 of those things...I wouldn't have believed you!

But...since I took ACTION...I've found it so much EASIER to stretch myself in whatever direction my DESIRES take me.

Sure...I'm not the 'finished article' by ANY stretch of imagination...but I am constantly looking at developing my skills further.

Plus...by 'trying out' many brand new things...don't you think that I now have a MUCH clearer picture of the sort of tasks that DO inspire me?

What about YOU?

What have YOU learned in the last 2 years that has helped YOU get to where you want to go?

A 'Phone-y' Painful Thought

Now...I'll be the first one to admit that I am not a 'phone person'.

Whenever it rings...I always make sure that someone else answers it! (Although, I'm getting better with my office phone...which rings about twice a month!)

So...believe me, having the last two days I have had...is certainly another step forward in my development as a person!

I've spent literally seven hours over two days on the 'phone to people whom I HAD to contact for something I am doing in the UK.

Painful!

Well...not really.

The THOUGHT was painful...but the real world isn't as bad.

Plus...I'm slowly conquering another 'demon' of mine...where I usually email instead of picking up the phone.

Now...because I am PURPOSELY putting myself into a position where I MUST use the phone in order to achieve the results I want...I am once again adding to my list of things that I CAN do. (Instead of won't!)

But...if I didn't HAVE to...then I certainly wouldn't have done.

So...the moral of this story is to engineer your life in such a way where you set targets for yourself...even if you're not sure if you are really going to achieve them.

I firmly believe that I am closer to where I want to be by developing my phone 'capacity' than if I didn't.

And...where success is concerned...that is ALWAYS a good thing!

Going Solo...Or Is It So Low?

It's scary how some even relatively successful people think small.

Sometimes it amazes me how the 'bigger picture' can't be grasped because you may be so focused on YOURSELF that you can't see that you are mentally holding yourself back by thinking that way.

(Now...that was quite a long sentence...so it might be worth re-reading it - it'll be worth it!)

Now...I was guilty of it, too, for a number of years. I was so focused on measuring myself against other people that I literally went out of my way NOT to help them.

It worked the other way, too. They didn't help me, either.

Now...as a 'solo entrepreneur'...I come across so many people who are solely 'out for themseleves' that they can't see that a short-term sharing of an income pie would result in a longer-term benefit.

So...guess which people I am actively looking out for to build relationships with?

The world is a huge, prosperous and abundant place...and there is much MORE than enough to go around than we realize.

It's only when you realize the power of people thinking and working TOGETHER that it all becomes so clear.

It's just a shame that most people don't even give it a second-thought.

Do YOU?

The Universe WILL Take Care Of It!

So many people just don't "get it"!

Every day I receive those dodgy emails...and over the last week or so, I've even started to get some dodgy comments posted on this blog.

Shame that I see every one as soon as it is entered...and delete it immediately.

Now...it's not the fact that it happens that annoys me...it's just a shame that the person (people) who do this sort of thing hasn't got a CLUE about how life works!

Merrily trying to stomp on the ground of other peoples' hard won efforts is hardly going to help them when the Universe is looking at their net 'contribution' to the world.

I am a firm believer that, whatever shape or form you cheat...you get what's coming back to you eventually.

The Universe takes care of the 'good people' eventually...even if it might not always seem like it.

Now...I COULD loas one of those 'good guys'...ok at what's happened to me and curse the Univese'''' for not helping me one bit.

But...when I look at the 'bigger picture'...my experiences - good, bad, and plan horrific have made me into the person who I am today.

Someone who is a MUCH better PERSON because of it all.

Cutting corners or trying to get 'one over' on someone won't help you one single bit.

Even if you may THINK that you have won in the short-term...the 'Universe' has a way of balancing these things out...even if it takes years for it to catch up!

So...be warned!

Memories? They're Important...Not Just For Me

I've just spent the last few days reading and editing the transcripts for my "Kickstart YOUR 2004" Program that I did at the end of January.

Isn't it funny that you don't remember half of what you say?

It got me thinking...

How much more am I missing because I am not noting it down for recall later?

Now...I'm quite good at jotting down ideas...and also at 'fleshing them out'...but it was fascinating to spend a few hours reading something...and struggle to remember actually SAYING it!

I'm not too proud to say that reading the transcripts got ME all fired up again!

So...I'm going to make sure that I capture in some shape or form whatever I may speak about that's important in the future.

I'm not 'big' on voice recorders (although I have one)...but from now on...I am always going to make sure that where my business is concerned...NOTHING is going to slip away!

Who knows...what I say may become valuable in the future (at least to Katie and my grandchildren-to-be !)...so I am going to make sure that I keep as much of my 'stuff' as possible.

So...guess who went and ordered a portable hard drive this afternoon?

Those Who Do, Will

I met some amazing people at the UK Internet marketing seminar.

They were amazing because...

1) They were there.
2) They were open to suggestions by those people who could help them.
3) They were nice 'normal' people who just want to benefit from the Internet...but not at the expense of other people.

The very fact that some of them made a journey of almost 5 hours to get there showed me how 'serious' they were about changing their future.

Are YOU serious?

I mean...REALLY serious?

Are YOU so serious that you would get up at 5a.m. on a Sunday morning...just so you could drive 4 hours to get somewhere?

Now...you may be thinking "What's this got to do with being successful?"

Well...EVERYTHING!

You see...those people that DO will ALWAYS get ahead of those people who can't really be bothered.

It's a FACT...written in stone.

Unless you DO...you won't.

This isn't only true in the practical 'action' sense...it's true where your thinking is concerned.

Unless you THINK positive...then how are you going to BE positive?

So...get started. DO something.

Life will only pay you back when you have put some effort in first.

And...those people at the seminar will prove it!

THAT'S what life and business is ALL about!

Off for another couple of days networking and learning amongst the online world...

Time is very important to me...and I don't like to waste it.

So...whenever I do ANYTHING...I want to make sure that, instead of just getting my 'money's worth'...more importantly...I want to get my 'time's worth'.

Being away from home and study upsets my routine...and my routine (OK...good habits)...are those things that make me who I am.

For example...I know that after only two days away from writing this will mean it will be that much more difficult to pick up again on Monday where I left off.

But...as I will be with 'friends'...both old and new...then this weekend will be an excellent excuse to get to KNOW PEOPLE.

When all is said and done...even though my business is 'virtual'...the people who read it and provide my living are NOT...so it is important to get back to REALITY - just to meet some REAL subscribers 'in the flesh'.

Why?

Well...I LOVE to meet my subscribers in person...because it is an EXCELLENT barometer of whether what I am in real life matches up with what YOU are reading here.

So far...I have been told that, 'warts and all'...I am one and the same person.

And THAT'S important to me...because, if you saw me in the street...I would LOVE for you to greet me as a friend...rather than wanting to cross to the other side!

THAT'S what life and business is ALL about!

Note that I didn't mention money?

So What? Who Cares?

Motivation is a funny thing.

One day you can't find it wherever you look...and an another it keeps you 'burning the midnight oil' far longer than you ever expect.

Usually at some point during my week...I get to the point where I can't be creative anymore - so I just become 'lazy' for a few hours (or even a day).

This week...perhaps because I have...

1) Lots of different things to do.
2) A deadline (of sorts)...because I am at a UK Internet Seminar over the weekend.

I have probably worked more hours than I have done for some time.

So...I appreciate the times when I DON'T do anything...because that then gives me the mental 'break' to have weeks like this one.

You can't live life at breakneck speed all of the time...it defeats the object of appreciating some of the people and things that mean a lot to you.

Sure...you can get immense enjoyment from working for 100 hour weeks consistently...but for me, that doesn't fit in with what I want out of LIFE.

I want to enjoy it...live it...spend time with my family.

And...not just burn myself out so that I can become 'someone'!

Video Killed The Audio Star

Finally...after almost a year of 'playing around'...I have completed my first online 'video'!

The technology has been around for a while...but in terms of functionality has improved considerably in the last few months.

So...I finally sat down and created something in less than 7 minutes (in one take'' - and it shows!).

Not much effort, really...but the results are a phenomenal 'return' for a few minutes work.

It still needs some fine-tuning...both in MY presentation...and the presentation that you see onscreen...but what I have in mind to do with this stuff will be both fun and a challenge!

Plus...I've finally 'nailed' another demon of mine...that I can't produce a video without notes...in a conversational format.

So...here it is...

http://www.oursuccesspartnership.com/video/101.html

I know that it still needs some work...but I'd be interested to know what you think!

Many thanks in advance!

Hocus Focus...Let's Get Excited!

One of the most important things that I have learned over the last couple of years is how important it is to have some focus in your life.

I know what I want from where I am going in my life...so I need to make sure that I focus on which ideas should contribute to me getting there!

As time has gone on...I have evolved a fairly rigid 'selection process' through which I put my ideas through.

But...on the odd occasion...one may slip through that I begin...and gets left behind as I get back to concentrating on the other more 'focused' ideas.

You...see, it got to the point where I was literally sitting at my PC...having so many ideas in various stages of development, that I was literally paralysed because I couldn't choose which ONE to do.

So now I make it a little easier on myself.

Wherever possible I try to only work on one or two different things each day.

That way...I don't get bored at having to do the same thing...and it means that, over time, very few projects get left behind.

Also...by being flexible in this way...it enables me to run with the really BIG ideas that come along once in a while - I just allocate a couple of days to work on them when I'm really EXCITED about them.

Excitement is one of my main motoivators where my work is concerned.

I know now that, the quicker I follow through completely on an idea...the more chance I have of finishing it!

So...that's why I need to make sure that I concentrate my energies on a few FOCUSED projects at a time.

It helps me...but was it useful for YOU?

If It's Open...It's Done!

It's scary...but I've just spent the last 6 hours catching up on my emails from the last 2 weeks!

Where did that time go?

Ever put things off like that...only to have to 'bite the bullet' and spend a huge chunk of time 'catching up'?

I've done it...certainly more than I would like to, that's for sure.

Of course...there is a way around this.

Answer the damn emails as they come in!

So...that's what I am going to do. Just to prove to myself that I can.

Want to join me?

Now...I don't mean that I am going to let email INTERRUPT what I am doing - oh no!

What I mean is that, once I open it...then I'm going to DO SOMETHING with it!

It's a bit like all those personal development books you read. You're too busy thinking about the next one to buy when you finish one...that any good intentions go out of the window.

Follow through is crucial...IMMEDIATE ACTION is even more so!

So...next time you think about putting something off because you can't really be bothered to so it now...remember that, when it comes around to doing it eventually...you sure don't want to have a LOT of stuff to do that you can't really be bothered with at the SAME TIME!

It's my new rule...if it's open...it's DONE!

Help...It's Too Big!

"Think Big"...I'm sure that you've heard that phrase before.

Except...isn't it scary to do so?

I used to get altitude sickness if I saw my bank's CEO walk into the office...but just last Friday...I got drunk with a couple of Internet millionaires.

The only scary thing about that was the massive hangover I had at the seminar the next day (If you've ever drunk Long Island Iced Tea cocktails - you'd understand!).

Yet...I am still little 'ole me with the same physical and mental capabilities that I had before.

But...I've realized that practically ALL of my limits in what I could achieve were self-imposed.

And...even though you may not think so...I bet that your limits are, too.

Just in the last couple of hours...I had proof of how challenging it is to think even BIGGER than the big thinking I've been practicing for some time now.

It's funny...but I bet that you've had the same feelings as me before...

I've been playing around with some new ideas recently...and I just found out that somebody else in a different country...but with a similar model...has done VERY nicely out of it.

In fact..so nicely...that when I worked out the return from his efforts...that's when the "IT'S TOO BIG!" thoughts start to creep in.

Isn't it always so easy to find the things WRONG with something when they look too far 'out there' for you?

But...you know what...THIS time...things are different.

You see...I don't personally agree with the complete philosophy behind this model...a bit too much 'hypey' for me...

But...even if I do things more 'my way'...I have just had proof from a different continent (well - it's two now, actually) that my general concept works.

You'd better 'watch this space' over the next 12 months or so to see how I CAN take on those "that's-TOO-big-type-thoughts"...and PROVE that, if I really want to...I can achieve whatever I want to.

And...you'll be along for the ride!

How The Hell Did Their Views Change Me?

They say that you cannot please all of the people all of the time.

Where my online business is concerned...sonetimes it's a challenge to please SOME of the people SOME of the time!

But...I've learned that some of the negative or downright rude emails that I get say more about the sort of person writing them than they do about me.

It's easy for me to let comments from one or two people 'get to me'...but I've learned to tell myself...

"Who cares?"

I am in the sort of position where I share a LOT about the 'real' me...in terms of my hopes, dreams, challenges, and desires.

So...when I get a bolt from the blue that tells me that I am this-or-that...or that I am trying to rip people off...it can hurt...but ONLY if I choose to let it.

You see...I KNOW that my reality is defined by the quality of my thoughts.

The 'real' world doesn't have to change one little bit...but, if our thoughts make us believe that something has changed...then, all of a sudden, we feel threatened.

When...NOTHING has changed! The ONLY thing that has changed is ONE piece of new information has changed EVERYTHING that went before it!

Scary really, when you think about it!

So...the next time you get a reaction or some feedback from ANYONE...think about what has REALLY changed.

Most of the time...I bet that it is YOUR VIEW that has been changed by THEIR OPINION...so please...just recognize that perhaps NOTHING has really changed in a real sense.

Believe me...I know that it's not always that easy to do...but it is the ONLY way to ensure that you stay on the path that is right for YOU!

So...I'm On A Plane...What Could I Possibly Do?

So...by going to yet another Internet marketing seminar (my fourth in 19 months)...did I get a return on my 18 hours of flying, $1,200+ commitment, and four days away from Katie and Lesley?

What do YOU think?

Despite only having one-and-a-half hours sleep in the last 48 hours...I'm as fired up as I ever have been!

Why?

Well...you will undoubtedly find out over the next few months...that's for sure.

Even without the networking with some great guys (and girls!) that I've met before...and those that I have now met in the 'flesh'...I KNOW that I WILL be getting a return on my investment.

Here's a clue about what happened on the plane on the way out BEFORE the seminar...

Have YOU ever gone through an almost-10-hour flight...and not even open your headset 'package' for the seat-back films...or the radio?

Nor did I have my laptop with me.

So...what COULD I have done that I KNOW will literally revolutionize my business over the next year and beyond.

As I'm jet-lagged...I'll give you a little clue...

My youngest brother, Mark...went to the seminar with me.

So...read again what I DIDN'T do...and tell me what YOU think I DID DO during that flight that has convinced me beyond any reasonable doubt that I WILL double my business within a year...

Have a go...and I'll let you know in a few days' time...

Blimey...Is This A Rant?

Never let it be said that nothing surprises me anymore!

I just received an email from someone saying that I should be doing my "Kickstart YOUR 2004" teleclasses for free because I should want to help people!

The email went on to say that, if I REALLY wanted to help people...I should help them for free.

I wonder whether my free 183-Lesson Ecourse - "To Our Success", or this very weblog (over 400 entries plus) count?

I can't think of many other people who give as much away as I do.

So...why should I charge $67 for Kickstart?

Well...I personally feel that sometimes...you need to make some form of commitment (time, financial, or otherwise) in order to REALLY make the effort to really make changes in your life.

Secondly...I KNOW that what I will be delivering will be worth far more than $67 to anyone who actually USES what they learn.

I also value MY time...and therefore, if I am taking two hours out of my Thursday evening...and two out of my 'family' Saturday afternoon...then I am doing myself (and my family) a disservice if I am not compensated in some way for that.

Plus...I have spent a not-too-insconsiderable amount of time in making sure that I DELIVER more than I promise.

And finally...I KNOW that I WANT to WORK with those sort of people who are willing to INVEST $67 (risk-free, by the way) in trying to sort out their futures.

Sure...YOU may be one of those people who can't afford $67, and that's more than fine, but there are SOME people who EXPECT 'something for nothing'.

And those people, to be honest...usually end up getting 'nothing for nothing' because, as they didn't have to make some form of sacrifice...they don't actually work on getting a PAYBACK on their investment.

Unfortunately...I know that there are probably 97% plus people who read this expect EVERYTHING for free.

I just know that the sort of people who DO finally make inroads towards what they want out of life are prepared to WORK a little at it.

I'm sorry if I have come across as greedy...hopefully you know me well enough to know that I'm certainly the opposite.

In this weblog...I have probably GIVEN you EVERYTHING that I could possibly know over the last 18 months or so...but for some people, a little sacrifice is necessary in order for them to actually put it into ACTION.

And...for a lot of those people...the fact that they need to get a 'return' on their monetary investment is something that finally PUSHES them into ACTION.

Those people are the ones that will benefit from "Kickstart"...not the people who will forever want something for nothing...who usually still end up with nothing.

Isn't That What Life Should Be About?

To be perfectly honest...I don't really care anymore.

Well...I'll be a little more honest...I'm fast learning the importance of not caring!

What do I mean?

I (as I expect you have, too) spent practically all of my adult life trying to 'please' other people...or do things FOR other people.

And...generally forgot about what I wanted in the process!

Exzcept now...I'm changing.

You see...I'm toughening up...especially where my analysis of my 'self' is concerned.

In this day and age of money and making a living...it's so easy to forget that we get the most out of life by rising to the mental, physical, and emotional challenges.

(Well...less of the physical at the moment...but the exercise program is next on the agenda!)

I forgot how much I actually GET from the PROCESS of doing what I do.

Most people are so focused on the RESULT (usually money-related)...that, if it doesn't go their way...they literally 'write-off' that feeling of accomplishment of actually DOING something in the first place!

It's something that I am working on in my life...to detach myself from the outcome of what I do.

Of course...it's not always easy in my sort of business if what you have spent ages creating is a 'failure'...but as far as I am now concerned...I want to focus more on the achievement of DOING instead of worrying about other people 'caring'.

Isn't that what life SHOULD be about?

It's Royalty...But Not As We Know It!

People who know me will tell you how 'lazy' I am!

Well...I'm not exactly lazy...I just like to make sure that I use my time as productively as I can.

That's why I always try to stick to a rule of getting a return on my efforts more than once.

It may be that I get paid twice for the same amount of work...for example by leading a teleclass..and then selling the recording.

But...quite often...I might not even get paid to do something in the first place...like when I have spoken recently or when I am interviewed.

What I do in those cases is make sure that I have a way that I can re-use that content in the future.

So...I might offer a digital recording of an interview as a bonus to a product...or use it as an inducement to sign up for my ezine or ecourse, for example.

So far...I have a digital copy of EVERYTHING that I have ever done...be it ebooks, special reports, ecourses, teleclasses, programs, speeches or interviews.

Every single one will be used in some shape or form in the future.

People laugh at my when I say that I don't want to do 'x'...because I have no way of being able to either save it or re-sell it in the future.

Ultimately...I KNOW that my time is the most important commodity I have...and, if I am able to DUPLICATE my time spent...then I am able to get MORE from the effort I put in.

Which means that, in the end...I won't have to work as MUCH as other 'paid-by-the-hour' or 'paid-only-once' people that I know.

Please bear this in mind if you are looking for different ways to make the best use of your time.

It's not always easy to make it happen...but it is EXACTLY how authors, songwriters, and other royalty-based performers earn their living...often for many years after their initial efforts.

If they can do it...then I'm certainly going to try my best to see that I can, too!

And so should YOU!

Just That Little Extra Effort Can Make A Huge Difference

I missed writing an entry yesterday because I was 'on the road' from 5:30a.m. until 11p.m.

My brother Mark and I had the pleasure of a total of seven hours driving to get to meet some fellow Brit 'net people at the first 'UK Meet' put on by Peter Twist.

As you may know...I try to make it to a few seminars 'across the pond' every year...as I firmly believe that, aside from the speakers...there is SO much value in just 'showing your face'.

There are millions of people woprldwide doing what I'm doing...yet comparatively few in percentage terms actually turn up physically to meet and network with other marketers.

That's one reason why I am off to Orlando next Thursday for another seminar...fly 10 hours Thursday, seminar Friday and Saturday, fly over 9 hours back on Sunday.

It's a 'fun' schedule (like yesterday)...but, I KNOW that, if I want to make the MAXIMUM USE of my time and knowledge running a business online...I NEED to make sure that I KNOW what the 'big guys' and the up-and-comers are doing.

That's why I went to the UK Meet yesterday (apart from doing a 45-minute 'presentation' - which is excellent practice).

I now KNOW in person a few people in the UK that I SHOULD know if I want to make the most of position as a full-time 'Interneter' in the UK.

To be honest...it would have been easier for me not to have to get up at 5.a.m on a Sunday morning despite going to bed at 1a.m.

BUT...

If you want to 'stand out' as somebody who makes the effort...then a sacrifice of a lot of sleep for one night is a small price to pay.

YOU need to regularly look at ways that you can literally PUSH yourself towards where you want to go.

I sacrifice time and money (and no little effort in pushing myself to talk to people) by going to seminars.

What do YOU do to mark yourself out in whatever 'business community' you are in as somebody who is making an extra effort?

Sometimes your efforts may not involve that big of a sacrifice (unlike mine!)...but nevertheless a lot of the time...just doing that little bit extra will get YOU noticed in a BIG way.

It's In The Deadline, Stupid!

I read an ezine from one of the top Internet Marketers today.

He is about to finish the training of his protégés...who paid him $14,497 each for the privilege!

Now...I don't know about you...but that is a fair amount of money!

Do you think that this sort of money commitment would guarantee that you DELIVER?

Apparently not.

You see...a lot of these proteges were constantly struggling to find the time to work on their new ideas.

Life constantly got in the way. (Doesn't it always?)

Well...it turns out that, even though they had spent all of this money...they STILL couldn't bring themselves to REALLY do what needed to be done...despite the best intentions of all concerned.

Until...they were presented with a conrete DEADLINE!

They DELIVERED!

I've written before about my views on how how important accountability is. (See my entry from October 24th 2003 called "I Hold You Accountable To Succeed" )

Now it seems that there is indeed a fundamental BENEFIT to giving people deadlines and holding them accountable!

It certainly works for me...for the participants on my Mentor Program...and for the participants of that Protégé Program.

I can make it work for my 'students' as a 'teacher'...but the next step is how to make it work for YOU in 'real life'.

Any ideas?

Do I Have Time For New Ideas?

It's funny...

Even though I already have loads of ideas either at the 'paper' stage or in development...I STILL can't help myself from having more!

As with everything success-oriented...you constantly attract what you think about.

I'm constantly thinking about new ideas and opportunities...and guess what my subconscious delivers to me?

But, of course...there is always a twist.

I find that I ALWAYS have to sacrifice something else in order to make new things happen.

Today's idea, for example...involve me exchanging a not-that-small amount of money in order to take the first step!

Other ideas involve me having to push myself in a direction that I might not feel comfortable...but is ultimately for my long-term benefit.

And...above all...ALL of these ideas involve a TIME COST - which, to me...is more important than ANYTHING else.

The trouble is that it is SO easy to just accumulate unfinished ideas...that you never end up with anything that actually generates income!

So...despite my eagerness to line up yet another future project...I am going to ask my subsconscious to consider whether the 'idea-of-the-day' today is something that I should commit myself.

And...I'll find out in the morning if it is!

As you may know...I am almost fanatical about NOT overcommitting myself on the time front...so it is very important to me not to just take on whatever comes my way.

After all...I'm here to experience LIFE...not to just sit in front of a computer all day long chasing more digits on my bank account!

And...so should YOU.

I've Failed (And That's What's Good About It)

In my post on October 9th...I told you what I would complete before Christmas...

Guess what?

I failed to release almost any of the 'products' that I said that I would...although I have COMPLETED a few of them.

Why am I not too bothered? Well...let's go through each of the six products that I mentioned...and I'll tell you why at the end...

1) My first hour-long audio CD

Completed...I just need to write the salesletter for it...and decide if I will send it out myself or get somebody else to do it for me. Even the CD cover graphics are done!

2) The home study version of my "Truth About Success" Mentor Program

I have so far sent out 20 to people who were at a conference I spoke at earlier in the year.

Again...the salesletter needs writing...but, again...I am considering outsourcing the production/delivery side...because...well, it's too much hassle and time consuming to do it myself!

Burning 20 lots of 6 cd sets isn't fun...I can tell you!

3) An enhancement to my "Law of Success" package

The enhancement is forming part of my Teleclass Program that I both conceived and released after I wrote this...and we are at Week 6 out of 16.

Once the Program is completed...I will have the enhancement to the main ebook...but will also have a 16 CD Home Study Course of some description.

Not only that...I will have personally summarized in my own words the entire 1,100 plus pages of "The Law of Success"...which is an excellent way of continuing my education.

4) At least one teleclass series

I haven't created a standalone series...but the "Law of Success" Teleclass Program that I mentioned above is, for the most part..exactly that!

5) The audios for my "To Our Success" E-course

I started off quite well with this one...but we moved in the mean time...and my commitment slipped at the expense of other projects.

But...I HAVE recorded the first 91 Lessons (out of 183)...so I'm halfway there!

6) Something exciting that, for the moment anyway, I'm keeping to myself!

That something was a brand new idea at the time...and is still undergoing development.

BUT...come January it will be 'out of the blocks'...and is something that I am both excited about and proud of.

Also...it is a little departure for me is that I am working with someone else in making it happen.

Why? Because I would gladly forgo 50% of any future profit in return for not having to do the stuff I don't want to!

I have already written most of the salesletter for this one...and it is actually online SOMEWHERE if you can find it!

So...six projects...all at various stages of completion.

Would you call that a success or a failure?

Well...put it this way...

If I didn't set myself such 'lofty' targets for what was only an eleven week period out of the year (during which time we moved house)...do you think that I would have achieved much more than I did?

I very much doubt it.

You see...the 'moral' of this story is that YOU need to set yourself some TARGETS...challenging, yet acheivable ones!

Of course...life will probably get in the way...and you might not achieve what you set out to do...but I bet that you would have achieved a LOT more than if you hadn't set ANY targets at all.

So...that's all well and good for ME to say...but what are YOU going to do about it?

YOU Are NOT 'Most' People...

It's that time of the year where everything (apart from Christmas shopping) slows down.

I've received hardly any emails today...it seems that even those underhand people who revel in sending spam are taking some time off!

But...why should I? And...why should YOU?

We're at the beginning of what will be a two-week period this year where inaction and lack of urgency is the norm.

But...why should it be?

Two weeks is almost four percent of the entire year...yet it is so easy not to 'bother' when everyone tells you that nobody else is, either!

Aside from the fact that Katie is around...I'm not treating most of this week (and next) really much different to how I normally would.

I STILL have projects that I want to work on.
I STILL have (a few) emails to answer.
I STILL have books to read and audios to listen to.
I STILL have this to write (with a couple of days off, of course!)

So...just because OTHER people 'stop'...I CAN'T!

Why?

Well...because I can't stop being WHO I am. And...who I am is defined by what I do and how I act.

I am ME...not my job. And...neither are YOU!

Of course you should spend time with your family.
Of course you should have a great couple of days off.
Of course you take it a little easier.

BUT...you should NEVER STOP being YOU.

And...you should certainly never stop IMPROVING on being YOU!

I may sound as if I am telling you to do the opposite to what MOST people do.

I AM.

YOU are NOT 'most' people....successful people NEVER are!

All It Takes Is A Little Imagination

Last night I led a teleclass on the Program that I am running based on Napoleon Hill's "The Law of Success In Sixteen Lessons" ebook.

It was on imagination.

As I've spent a few hours reading, analyzing, and teaching about imagination over the last couple of days...it made me realize how powerful (yet underused) it is!

Too often we get held up by trying to come up with the 'next big thing' when instead a much easier way to success is there all along.

All you need to do is to use your imagination to look and see what works in one 'industry'...and see how you can apply it to another.

Quite often...what may seem ordinary to one section of the community can be quite amazing to another.

There's nothing NEW out there...never forget that.

So...stop making things difficult for yourself...and begin to use your OWN imagination to see how you make something 'old' seem 'new' and exciting.

Look at how the humble cup of coffee made the fortunes of the owners of Starbucks.

All it takes is a little imagination!

Keep Away...Time Thief!

Time thieves.

We all have them.

It could be watching a soap opera for the sake of it. It could be reading a newspaper.

Perhaps even more scarily it has become email...or (even worse) Instant Messaging (IM)!

I've just spent 20 minutes that I would have otherwise spent working IM-ing (is that a word?) backwards and forwards with my brother Mark.

And...I haven't done a THING!

Now I know why I never really got around to doing this IM lark. It eats away at my time!

But...it IS addictive...being able to chat as if they were on the phone.

Except...IF they were on the phone...you KNOW that you weren't working and would make sure that you didn't spend too long, wouldn't you?

So...do you think that I am going to be giving out my IM details.

Nope. Definitely not. Never.

Please don't take it personally - I would LOVE to chat to you...but if I did I know that I wouldn't be able to help myself...and I would NEVER finish a thing!

But...it sure takes a lot of self-control NOT to!

You Can If You Really Think About It

Every day...I try to come up with something useful to say...which is usually based on what has happened to me, or my current thinking.

Could YOU come up with something constructive and positive about what you learn from YOUR day?

Of course...it's not always easy to do...but, get this - it's possible!

This blog is proof that it is.

Now...what I write may not be of a great interest to you...but it sure as hell makes ME focus on what I can learn from what I do every day.

Then...it becomes a challenge to make sure that you 'get it' as well.

Hopefully...for the most part, anyway, I succeed in doing that.

So...what about YOU?

Give me ONE single thing that you have learned from YOUR experiences today...

Go on...you CAN if you REALLY think about it.

I dare you!

I Believe In YOU!

I had a very interesting 'chat' today with a good friend of mine - Andrea Lee.

As I was talking...I realized a very interesting thing.

There I was...chatting away as if I was an expert in what I do...yet, all I am doing is playing to the strengths that I KNEW that I had for many years.

I always knew that I could...

- Work well under pressure
- Pick the important 'bits' out of what I am reading or listening to
- Come up with new ways to solve 'old' problems
- Thrive on challenging myself

ALL of these I used to do when I was working in a bank...without a doubt.

Yet...I ALWAYS thought that I was never quite good enough.

Now...my belief system has changed so much that now...I KNOW that I AM good enough.

And...so are YOU!

(Yes...you ARE!)

It all comes down to whether you BELIEVE in yourself or not.

I believe in YOU...

It's about time that YOU did, too.

What Will YOUR First Decision Be?

Did you know that you don't really have a CLUE about the effect your decisions will have on your life.

Sure...you can try to make the 'best' ones...but isn't EVERY decision that you make the RIGHT one for you at the time?

How can you possibly know what will happen in your future if you choose 'x'...or perhaps what won't if you choose 'y'.

It's so easy to over-analyze your decisions to the point of not actually making many.

Through making considered decisions, you CAN make your path through life a little easier, but in truth, the BEST decisions are the ones which force you into getting out of your comfort zone.

It's essential that YOU put yourself into a position where you MUST make some decisions that could be uncomfortable!

Why?

Well...if you really want to move on from where you currently are, the only way that you can do so is to become MORE of something...

- more knowledgeable
- more self-confident
- more experienced
- more passionate
- more competent

To become ANY of these...you need to make some decisions that will ensure that you GROW.

And...with growth usually comes a little bit of (sometimes painful) effort.

Take me, for example.

I'm forcing myself to do things like teleclasses and public speaking...even though I don't enjoy at all the period building up to them.

But...I KNOW that, once I start them...I'm fine...and I also get a sense of achievement from completing something that pushed me that little bit harder.

I'm just like YOU...I hate that uncomfortable feeling that accompanies stretching yourself.

But I know that, if I want to move upwards from where I currently am...then I MUST do so...otherwise I won't be able to get to where I want to go.

And...it all begins with making a few decisions that commit yourself to things that, although they may feel awkward...help you to grow.

What will YOUR first decision be?

Are You Using It To Waste Your Time?

Are you sitting comfortably?

How long have been idly 'surfing' today?

Five minutes? Half an hour? An hour? More?

Can you put you hand on your heart and say that you have got something of VALUE from that time you have just spent?

Well?

Now...I'll admit that I'm no 'angel' either where surfing is concerned! (But...I have an excuse in that I need to keep up with what's going on in my business! Honest!)

Seriously though...are you just replacing your TV time with surfing time?

Are you kidding yourself that you are doing something more valuable than just watching TV?

Maybe.

The key question here is...

"What concrete, measurable, and usable information have you APPLIED in return for the time you have spent acquiring it?"

The Internet is, and will continue to be, the biggest 'time thief' in the history of the world.

Within a few short years...our 'addiction' to TV will be surpassed by our quest for 'knowledge' on the Internet.

And...like the TV...the vast majority of people who use this medium will get absolutely NO value whatsoever from the time that they have committed to it.

Now's the time to start thinking of your online 'education' as something that you MUST get a return on.

I believe that it was Einstein who said that you could become a world expert at something within three years if you spent an hour every day learning about it.

YOU have the ideal resource available to you to begin this NOW.

What are YOU going to do about starting to USE it properly?

It's Not Who You Are...But How You Are Perceived

It's a strange thing...perception.

In my opinion, most people don't put enough importance on it...whether in business, or at home.

Take an online business, for example.

I can tell immediately whether someone is serious or not by the way their website is designed...or by what domain name they have.

The Internet is a prime example of free getting in the way of what you really want to achieve.

Sure...you CAN get most of the 'tools' that you need to run an online business for free...but at what expense?

- A crappy domain name that bears no resemblance to who or what you are.
- Autoresponder messages which contain an advert that have nothing to do with your business.
- Websites that look like they were designed by my seven-year-old daughter!

Believe me...all of these 'mistakes' are more common than you imagine.

How would you be perceived by someone if you were doing all of these three?

Yet...most people don't even think about perception at all...and then expect prospective customers to cough up hundreds of dollars for a product or coaching.

It's not solely restricted to the online world.

You need to make sure that your entire 'package' is perceived by your prospective customers (partner/lover) in the right way.

So...step back a little and look at yourself from someone else's point of view...

- Do you 'dress' for the part?
- Does your business match up to your advertising?
- Do you honestly stand by everything that you sell, say, and do?
- Do you invest both your time and money in proportion to how 'big' you want to become.

When I started out online some 20 months ago...I purposely invested in the more expensive (but more reliable) tools that were out there.

I paid for my hosting, autoresponders, graphics, and associated web packages.

I also have invested thousands of dollars on buying, reading, and applying knowledge from those people who already are where I want to be.

I hope that, despite me only working from a study in my house...you have the perception of me as someone who is reliable, trustworthy, honest...and above all, business-like.

Can you say that about everything YOU do?

Isn't It Time That YOU Thought About It Too?

Today I spent most of the day assisting as my brother-in-law put up pictures and lights in our new house.

Of course...I'm able to do it myself...but I didn't for two reasons:

1) It would take me forever.
2) Lesley didn't want two or three 'wrong' holes for every one that I got right!

I was more than happy to take a back seat where these things are concerned.

Why?

Well...what's the point in me struggling to do something that I neither have the ability for, or the inclination to do?

It's something that I've been thinking a lot about recently...especially where my 'work' is concerned.

I KNOW that my strengths lie in creating and marketing my knowledge...and not necessarily in the clerical or technical stuff that goes with an online business.

So...as from a couple of weeks time...I will be getting Lesley more involved in my admin stuff...and I will be looking NOT to spend too much time teaching myself any of the more complicated technical stuff.

I've managed to get to grips with enough to get me this far...so I'm sure that I still get by in the future.

And...Lesley is far better at the admin stuff than I am...much more thorough!

It's hard for an-almost-control-freak like me to force myself into a position where I can hand off parts of my 'duties' to other people...but I know that, when I do...both myself and my business will benefit in the long run.

Remember...YOU should ALWAYS look to play to your strengths FIRST instead of trying to overcome your 'weaknesses'.

It's taken me a long time to realize how true that statement really is.

Isn't it time that YOU thought about it, too?

A Master Mind Lifestyle Choice

I've just re-read through the first Lesson of "The Law of Success In Sixteen Lessons" in preparation for tomorrow night's first class of my Teleclass Program of the same name.

I've lost count of how many times I have read "Master Mind"...yet each time I find something new about it...and how I can apply it to my life.

I've been a little slow on the 'uptake' in regards to how powerful it REALLY can be.

So...in an effort to continue to push myself out of my comfort zone...I am literally forcing myself to 'Master Mind' with someone on one of my new projects.

I can tell you...that's a challenge for a control-freak like me!

But...even before launch (watch out early December for it)...I KNOW that 'sharing the load' means more than doubling the results.

So far...it's one of the best decisions I have ever made in regards to my business online.

I tap into the power of someone who is strong in the areas where I am 'weak'.

In the past I would have done it all myself...because I wouldn't have wanted to split the profits...but now I see the bigger LIFESTYLE picture.

Not only that...doing a joint venture like this certainly brings a huge dose of ACCOUNTABILITY with it

And you know how important I think THAT is!

So...could this be the first Master Mind of many? I've got a feeling that it may be.

My Opinion On The Latest 'Next Big Thing' - Mastery TV

I've received many emails over the couple of weeks asking me to join "Mastery TV"...and a few emails asking my opinion about it.

Basically what it contains are digitized videos and audios from some of the 'top' names in personal development that you can watch online in a TV-like format.

And, aside from the usual 'suspects' who promote any of these 'mlm-type' programs...there are one or two people whom I respect involved.

So...on your behalf...I thought that I'd take a closer look.

When you sign up...you are presented with a blurb about how to promote Mastery TV.

And that's when the warning bells started!

Here's an excerpt...

=========================================================

WHY YOU SHOULD PROMOTE MASTERY TV

1. You will help us positively impact 1 billion people in the next 5 years
2. You are part of a team that makes a difference
3. You will be financially rewarded in a big way when we launch
4. You are one of the FIRST to know about this and that gives you a huge advantage

=========================================================

I don't know about you...but doesn't this sound a little 'hypey' to you?

Are the first two points really just disguising what they are REALLY trying to say on points 3) and 4)?

What do YOU think?

Not sure?

Well...perhaps this next part will give you a clue where they are coming from:

=========================================================

WHAT YOU SHOULD DO NEXT

1. Your website is: http://www.masterytv.biz/sofsuccess
2. Promote this site to everyone you know. Let the system do the work.
3. Login to your system (you're in now). Check how many have taken the tour and how many have told others (click "View Your Organization" on the right)
4. Continue to follow-up with people and get them on any conference calls we announce.

During this pre-launch phase, we will not be accepting Affiliate applications, but by taking this tour you have automatically reserved a spot in our database. Everyone who enrolls from your website, will be connected to you.

There is already massive buzz about Mastery Television, but it is still very new. You only get this pre-launch opportunity once. If you get the big players first, you get them forever. Promote your pre-launch website below. Go for it! NO SPAM. (Spammers and their entire organizations will be permanently deleted from the database)

http://www.masterytv.biz/sofsuccess

IMPORTANT : Once we announce the Affiliate program, you will be given just 72 hours to maintain your spot in our compensation plan. Its CRITICAL that the email you gave us is checked on a daily basis. You can change your account information on the right of the screen.

NOTE: Mastery Television strongly supports those who take action and produce results. Just before our official launch, we will be placing all of the company's enrollments under the people who were the most successful during the pre launch. Everyone you enroll will be yours forever. If there was ever a time to go for it, this is the time. This intro period will never happen again. Carpe Diem, Gary !

============================================================

Now...call me a cynic...but haven't they lost the 'personal development' message somewhere along the way...and are just desperate to get YOU to sign up as many people as possible in as short amount of time as possible?

Now...let's be a little realistic here.

There is no reason why you CAN'T make a little money from this 'opportunity'.

But, it always leaves a bad taste in my mouth where they tout the "first mover's advantage".

This is where the 'great' Cash Evolutions, Guerilla Marketing Bombshells, Desktop Money Machines and Free Agent Paths have come unstuck to various degrees over the last couple of years.

Playing on the 'little guy' so that the so-called 'big guys' end up making all of the money at the start...and people like you make very little.

Sure...at least in the case of Mastery TV they actually have a good 'product' behind it.

My only concern is that most people don't use the Internet like a TV...and there are still an awful lot of people out there who are still on dial-up modems that won't be able to use it without a huge cost.

So...for me...the jury is out at the moment in terms of the content. The idea IS great...but I would like to see for myself a little more before I was convinced enough to recommend Mastery TV because of that.

To be honest...it would be easy for me with my list of 25,000 people like you to recommend this...and make some nice money in the process.

But...I'm not convinced that YOU would.

Why?

Here's another clip from the site...

===========================================================

The 'Automated Internet Marketing System' will make running a business on the Internet so simple that virtually anyone can succeed. It contains some never-before-seen tools that will SHOCK and AMAZE you. Details will be released soon.

===========================================================

Now...I run a mile when I see words like "will make running a business on the Internet so simple that virtually anyone can succeed."

I TOTALLY DISAGREE with that statement.

Sure...they will give you a website will bells and whistles that will do a reasonable job of converting prospects to the site.

But my guess is that the site they will give you will focus on the OPPORTUNITY instead of the CONTENT.

Which is where most of the mlm programs go wrong.

As I said before...this DOES have some good content behind it...but where an mlm is concerned...you soon will run out of prospects if you are aiming it solely at a biz opp level.

So...do I recommend that you sign up?

Well...that is of course, entirely up to you.

I have...and that may surprise you. (Well...I HAD to - to find out more about it!)

But...I will be waiting to see what they are offering in terms of content before I decide whether to recommend it or not.

All I can say is...if you are looking for a 'way out' and an 'easy way' to make money online...then steer well clear, at least until the 'dust settles'.

But...if you're interested to see what they are offering, and are willing to take their marketing 'claims' with a pinch of salt...then go and take a look at the video on the site and see what you think.

http://www.masterytv.biz/sofsuccess

Remember...this is only MY opinion...based on what I have seen and experienced online over the last few years.

It MAY work for you...and I sincerely hope that it does.

But PLEASE...base your decision on what you think of the CONTENT instead of how much MONEY you could supposedly earn.

So...what do YOU think?

Ice Hockey And Procrastination

It seems that you can only moving forward to the degree that you are willing to try different things.

I used to TRY...but not really quite get around to doing much.

Now...I TRY...and actually APPLY myself to do whatever I need to do.

What about you?

Today, I've worked on a few different projects...some of which I only though about a couple of days ago!

I've realized that unless I get on and DO...I will never quite get around to HAVING what I really want from my life.

Even now, I struggle sometimes when I know that I am extending myself, or that I am beginning something that I don't know how to finish.

The simple answer to stop me from procrastinating is to just get on and DO it!

It's no good good any more for me to come up with excuses why I CAN'T do something...when I KNOW full well that I CAN do whatever I set myself to do...if I TRY hard enough.

Sure...things might not go quite right all of the time, but as the ice hockey player, Wayne Gretzky said...

"You miss all of the shots you don't take"

Are YOU?

I'm All At Sea...But I Know Their 'Secret'

Who said that the Caribbean Sea wasn't CHOPPY?

After experiencing a couple of 'London weather days' at sea (you know - wind, rain, cold!)...I'm glad to be back home and on dry land!

Except...even though I got off of the ship about 36 hours ago...it wasn't until I walked into my house back in the UK that I felt like my balance had deserted me!

It seems that my inner ears were quite happy when I was sitting at the "News Cafe" on Ocean Drive, or whilst I was counting sleeping ground staff whilst in the airport lounge at Miami for three hours.

They were still OK on the eight hours of the most turbulent flight I have ever had overnight....and on the train/tube/train/car combo on my journey home from the airport.

Yet...as soon as I set foot in my front door...I'm 'all at sea'!

Even as I am writing this...it feels like I'm still sailing towards the Bahamas!

On the seminar/cruise I renewed some old friendships...and made some new ones.

And...it reinforced my belief that the guys (and gals) like Armand Morin, Alex Mandossian, Tony Blake...and the other very successful (and soon to be well-known) entrepreneurs...aren't that much different to you and I.

They're not superhuman. They're not 'lucky'.

They just work at what they love. They ACT on their ideas.

And...they just make sure that there are always some RESULTS from their ACTIONS...whether it seems good or bad.

One day I will speak to these guys in more detail about what MENTALLY makes them succeed.

Sure...some of them have marketing backgrounds. But most of them used to be in jobs that they hated...had debts coming out of their ears...and constantly battled with self-esteem.

It's not about your background. Your race. Your color. How much money you 'start' with.

It's about coming up with ideas that excite you enough to ACT on...and then making sure that you come up with ENOUGH so that, through the laws of probability...you will practically ENSURE your success.

They know it. I've come to realize it over the last couple of years.

And now...YOU know it, too.

So...what are YOU going to do about it?

Come on...stop reading...and start ACTING.

What's the FIRST thing that you are going to ACT upon now that you KNOW how important it is to your success?

The clock is ticking...it's only YOUR time that you are wasting!