Success...One Day At A Time

Inspiration In The Most Unlikely Of Places...

Since my seperation, I've rediscovered my love for movies. Except that now, instead of just watching them for what they are, I tend to look at the general message behind them.

Of course, there are the fairly generic ones like the hero survives, gets the girl, or generally succeeds at the end. After all, some of the most successful movies show us how 'good' always triumphs over 'evil' and all that stuff.

What's interesting for me is that bad news sells newspapers, yet happy endings sell movies! Perhaps it's because people want an escape from the 'bad news reality' - although personally I'm focusing my life on aiming for 'happy endings' wherever I can - despite whatever my circumstances may be.

And so should YOU too!

There's another thing I like to pick up on when I watch a movie. It's the little sentences of dialogue that actually MEAN something. The fascinating these 'pearls of wisdom' are...quite often, in the most unlikely of movies! Some of the most interesting ones actually came from films that didn't exactly fit in the 'everyone wins' category.

For example, here are just a couple of such quotes...

From Mr Magorium's Wonderful Emporium - "Your life is an occasion. Rise to it"
(Uttered by Mr Magorium just as he's about to die)

From Flashbacks of a Fool - "He lived his life in the present moment, just like a child. That's so rare in a man."
(Said by the wife of a man who suddenly died young)

There are certainly more that I picked up on at the time that I can't remember at the moment.

I can guarantee that practically every other person in the auditorium watching these movies NEVER pick up on these nuggets of wisdom.

If they did, I bet that they didn't take it out of the context of the story and realize that where their life is actually concerned - these quotes are seriously powerful!

I'm certainly trying wherever possible to move my life around to 'rise to it'...and I can certainly tell you that the more YOU live (and enjoy) the 'present moment' then the better and more rewarding your life will be.

Sometimes inspiration comes from the most unlikely of places - and hidden in movies where you least expect it!

IMPORTANT! Your exclusive $1 trial to the first Lesson of my and Napoleon Hill's "The Law of Success for the 21st Century" Program runs out tomorrow! If you like what you just read here - then you'll LOVE what I share with you in this Program! - just click here to read more about it...

Why You Should Refuse To Be Normal...

I gladly tell anyone who asks me that I never want to be 'normal'. However, a good friend of friend of mine couldn't understand why I DIDN'T want to be normal!

I had to explain to her that my version of normal meant that I...

- Refused to accept that I had to work hard until I retired
- Knew that I was as 'special', 'talented', or 'gifted' as anyone else
- Didn't have to limit myself just because everyone else does for various reasons
- Had complete responsibility and control for both where I currently am, and where I am going
- Refused to even entertain thoughts that anything other than my thoughts, feelings, and their resulting actions could influence my life
- Understood that any crap in my life could either drag me down, or be used as a learning experience - even if it may sometimes be difficult to do so.
- Live a life of my own choosing, whatever the consequences

There are a few more, but I can't think of them at the moment!

I see it all the time. It's just what we're brought up to believe, and further 'educated' on by the media as the years go on.

Even my own family laugh at me because my priorities are different to everyone else's (and I mean EVERYONE!). They think that I am chasing a 'dream', when in fact I'm just getting closer to the purpose I am here for - to experience what this life brings me, or more accurately, to experience what I bring into my life as a result of the way that I think and feel.

Whether you may hate me for saying so - it's not good enough for you to accept that leading a 'NORMAL' life is something that you aim for! You can moan all you like about why you can't do something with your life, but I can guarantee that, without a doubt, YOU yourself are holding yourself back in some way.

I devote my life to learning this stuff, and teaching what I learn about it, and I can tell you - the more you realize that YOU alone have the control and the power of your own destiny - the more chance you will have of creating one that you really want!

The Manifestation 2-Step

I've been tinkering recently with a few manifestation techniques as part of my ongoing "I live what I teach" process that I share with my "It's Obvious, Stupid!" print newsletter subscribers. Naturally, I'm keeping the specifics of what I am doing (and also the interesting results I'm getting!) for them, but it's interesting to note a couple of things that I thought might be worth sharing with you.

Firstly, there is always a challenge of getting the balance of your thinking right. Even the most positive people in the world (like myself) have times where, no matter what they try and do, they can't easily get out of a down mood.

Now, in the past, I may have beaten myself up over the fact that I wasn't thinking positively, but now I realize that its much better to just let my mood get on with it, and accept that I'm much better off focus my positive thoughts and energy when I'm in a much more positive mood!

Life is about balance...and sometimes due to circumstances in your life, it's not always easy to stay on the positive side. The less you let it get to you the better, and just accept that, as long as you try to look for feeling a little bit better, then that's all you can do until your mood shifts.

Secondly...I see so many people just literally wandering around in a daze, just going through the motions of life. What a waste! I can see the (often negative) thoughts whirring around behind their eyes as they walk around. Little do they know that most of the time, they are literally creating what they fear!

I know this stuff because it's exactly what I did with my separation last year from my wife of 14 years, Lesley. Almost everything I dread happening actually happened, almost as if I had scripted it myself! The hours I spent before we split up expecting the worst actually came true!

So, whatever you may be doing, and (more importantly) whatever you may be thinking - PLEASE just at least look for what you want in your life rather than focusing on what you don't want.

I can't stress how truly important this point is.

What Can I Help You To Achieve?

I have just a very short message for you to think about (and comment on!) this week.

This isn't a pitch for an upcoming product, nor some subliminal mind-trick to get you to invest in my current products.

I've been writing this ezine for over five years, have written almost 800 posts on this blog, give you a free ecourse over at To Our Success, have written a few ebooks, a home study course, and have a printed newsletter.

Yet so few people are taking advantage of the help I make available...and I want that to change!

This is why this question is your opportunity to tell me what I can do for you. It's designed to :

- Help you focus on what you really want
- Help me understand your needs better so that I can tailor what I provide more for you

So...the stage is yours...

"What can I do to help YOU achieve what you want from life?"

Please comment below and let me know...

Is Your Success Down To Imagination Or Failure? You Choose!

"The two great major influences that cause the mind of man to grow are the urge of necessity and the urge of desire to create.
Some minds develop only after they have undergone failure and defeat and other forms of punishment which arouse them to greater action. Other minds wither away and die under punishment, but grow to unbelievable heights when provided with the opportunity to use their imaginative forces in a creative way."

So says Napoleon Hill in what I believe to be the greatest self improvement book of all time - The Law of Success.

It's tucked away at the end of Lesson Eight - Self-Control, in his 'after-the-lesson' comment called "The Evolution Of Transportation" (of all things!). Whilst everyone else bangs on about his Master Mind concept...there are literally hundreds of gems like this one, 'lost' within the book.

It's lucky then that I'm probably one of the top experts where The Law of Success is concerned. When you've scanned and edited by hand 1,170 pages yourself over a number of months as I did - then you'll soon understand why this book is so great.

Anyway...let's get back to the quote. It's a very important one when you are looking to lead a continuously successful life.

We'll deal with each sentence in turn...

"The two great major influences that cause the mind of man to grow are the urge of necessity and the urge of desire to create."

Ever heard that before? I certainly hadn't - but doesn't it make perfect SENSE?

Brillant stuff in my opinion. Couldn't have said it better myself.

It's just a shame that most people can't be bothered to grow at all - and don't have any urge to do ANYTHING apart from go through the motions at work, and perhaps live for the weekends. Sad but true.

I hope that, as you're here and reading this - you are proving that you're not one of those people who are literally wasting their lives doing practically nothing.

OK...let's move onto the next sentence in the quote...

"Some minds develop only after they have undergone failure and defeat and other forms of punishment which arouse them to greater action."

I can certainly count myself as one of these people! It wasn't until 'bad things' happened in my life that I realized I actually COULD do something about it! I haven't looked back since, and haven't had any regrets at all about quitting my job without a clue about how I was going to pay the mortgage and support a young family.

This also explains why many 'gurus' have been bankrupt or homeless turn their lives around. Once you've hit what seems like rock-bottom, there is only one way you can turn...and that's upwards!

Donald Trump and Oprah Winfrey are just two examples of this type of person who succeeds despite the odds.

Inspiring though it is...I wouldn't wish such things to happen to you, just to PROVE to you that there IS more to life than the daily grind. Fortunately, not every successful person has benefitted from a serious dose of adversity like I have!

Let's look at the other side of the coin from the last part of Napoleon Hill's quote...

"Other minds wither away and die under punishment, but grow to unbelievable heights when provided with the opportunity to use their imaginative forces in a creative way."

Now, you may be the type that collapses under pressure. I certainly know that a couple of members of my family wouldn't have been able to cope with what we did - just because they struggle ALL of the time just going through the day-to-day stuff of life!

As I also mentioned earlier - you don't particularly want to have something bad happen anyway as a learning experience, do you?

So...the path for you might be the way that practically the other half of successful people use for inspiration. You get inspired by the ideas that you have.

Look at Richard Branson and Bill Gates as two examples of this type of person. They are fired up by the exciting things and businesses they can create. They didn't need to be inspired by adversity - their own MASSIVE ideas are what keeps them STILL working despite their huge wealth.

So...if you need a little punishment to inspire you - by all means hit the floor if that's what it will take!

But perhaps it's a much better decision to start using that thing between your ears, and start making the most of the strengths you ALREADY have. No idea is necessarily a bad idea. It's the lack of execution of it, and the refusal to keep on keeping on at all costs that usually ends in failure.

That's why you need to have something in your life to DRIVE you forward, whatever life puts in front of you.

The thing is...I can't TELL you what that should be. Only YOU knows what is inspiring enough for you (good or bad) to make you do WHATEVER is necessary to make you succeed.

I'd wish you luck...but you certainly won't need it if you continue to educate yourself about how your mind works, and what inspires you.

I believe in you. The more important thing is - do YOU?

Note:
If you like this sort of analysis of what Napoleon Hill has written...then you'll love my Our Wealth Partnership newsletter, as every single month I have an entire section devoted solely to 'Napoleon Hill's Big Lesson'.

In this month's issue - Issue #5 due out in the next week, I'm getting to the root of what a Master Mind should REALLY be based upon, based on the exact formula Napoleon Hill himself specified in The Law of Success. You'd be surprised at how many people completely get it wrong! ('Experts' included)

In previous months in Napoleon Hill's Big Lesson in Our Wealth Partnership, I've...

- 'Outed' the secret that Napoleon Hill says is contained in Think & Grow Rich (and prove what it is by what he wrote in the Law of Success).

- Analyzed Hill's 'Golden Rule' and why it is so crucial to EVERYONE'S success, whatever their abilities, income, or background.

-Investigated his simple, yet effective, way of instantly discovering whether an opportunity is right for you or not.

So...you can see that the keys to success are timeless, and you'd be a fool to think otherwise. It's facinating stuff...and it is one of the SIX sections in my monthly print newsletter.

Self-Improvement, Accountability, And Why Masterminds Don't Work...

Wednesday 1st November. Just over three weeks away. Make a note of it in your diary.

I'm going to be sharing something with you that I know will make a *continuous* difference in your life.

I'll give you more details as we get closer to the time.

So...another two weeks has passed since I last wrote to you.

I've been a little lax in writing to you over the last few months because of two very important things...

1) I'm spending most of my time focusing on my December 31st deadline for the execution of my 100% hands-off passive revenue system. (which has nothing to do with self-improvement)

2) I've been taking some time to tie-down exactly where my strengths lie in the self-improvement arena, so that I can help you the most, at the same time as continuing to enjoy what I do. (which is why November 1st is an important day)

Yet...it's not until you are doing it for the tenth time you realize that you aren't enjoying it anymore that it becomes a 'challenge' to keep delivering to the best of your ability.

For example...I used to write on this blog almost every single day for TWO YEARS...yet now I sometimes find it a challenge to write every two WEEKS!

Partly because I got out of the habit...but also because it was something I challenged myself to be disciplined to do.

Like in 2005 when I decided that I would earn $200,000 completely passive revenue (not from my self improvement business!) during that year. (I reached my target by August...and taught my wife to do the same...and she earned a similar amount, too!)

Similarly...I made the decision in April to lose some weight...and now I'm around fifty pounds lighter...and much more healthy because of it.

And like when I wrote in my success journal last year that I would earn more in two hours than I did in my last year of 'working for a living' in 2001...and I achieved that in February.

Over the years I have spent a lot of time training to be accountable to myself for achieving the goals I set.

But, I'm sure that you'll agree...it's not always easy to do that.

I know from experience that I certainly don't achieve every goal I set myself - but I certainly make a damn good effort at trying!

You might be like me, and can use your own mind to make yourself accountable for success...or you might sometimes have difficulties in following through.

I realized (properly) a few months ago...that, even though I have achieved a great deal myself...I STILL need other people who aren't 'emotionally attached' to my outcome to keep pushing me (as YOU do, too.)

That's why, in conjunction with a few friends in the Internet world, I set up a Master Mind group that will really come into full swing early next year.

BUT...it's not just me and a bunch of my mates getting together under a label called a 'Mastermind' (as many gurus out there proclaim to create - at the same time as spelling it incorrectly!).

Nope. You see...I've spent too much time reading, analyzing, applying...and helping other people implement, Napoleon Hill's Law of Success to understand HOW and WHY it works.

Well...it MIGHT work for certain people if you manage (by chance) to get the people in the group right.

That's why I purposely SELECTED those people in my small group (in conjunction with the OTHER people in the group) to ensure that we all had KEY strengths in different areas to each other.

In other words...we're not getting together because we are good at the same things - we're getting together because we are not so good at things that another member of the group EXCELS at.

And...you can't possibly make this work at the level Napoleon Hill intended by just throwing a group of people together because they happen to be at the same seminar together, or are able to afford the cost of 'participation'.

I think you can see what I mean!

So...even though I KNOW I will continue to achieve great things in my life...I also know that there are some things that I would probably NEVER get around to doing because they aren't my strengths.

And...because they aren't my strengths - then I know that it will be a massive challenge to keep myself accountable to achieving them.

And that is also why that, even though I am hugely successful by most peoples' standards, I know that I STILL need other people to keep me on track in a way that I can't do myself.

A little like what I do here with YOU when what I write really makes sense to you!

So enough about me, and what makes me tick...

Just make a comment below and share it with us all...

Goal Setting? It's Pointless Trying To Aim For It Unless You Know Why

It's been a few weeks since I last wrote to you, but I've been busy with a number of things that have taken up my time...

Like having a week on vacation where I didn't go on the Internet once...nor even take my laptop.

And...working up for my presentation at the Underground Online Seminar which I did last Sunday at the wonderful time of 8 a.m.!

To give you an idea of how well I did at the seminar...here's a picture of the standing ovation I received...

Well...OK, I'm being a little economical with the truth.

I got the attendees to do a slow hand clap whilst I quickly spun around for the shot!

Still...it does slightly resemble the standing ovation I MIGHT get one day!

One of the most interesting things to come out of that seminar was the discussion I've since had about my style of presenting.

To say that it is a little sarcastic, 'funny', and relaxed is an understatement.

I also apparently offended a number of people because of some of my comments!

I don't think that there was any other speaker there who had as many people dislike them.

BUT...I also had many people come up to me and tell me how great it was that I was so 'honest'.

What it boils down to is...I was myself, whereas many of the other presenters certainly spoke in a different manner to who they really are, or how they write in their emails.

Life's too short to try to be someone you are not, as one day you'll wake up and wonder why things haven't quite gone according to plan as you've spent most of your life trying to please other people.

When you should REALLY be looking to please yourself first!

Now...I might not appear as 'silly/stupid/rude/sarcastic' when I write to you as I do when I am presenting, but one of the reasons is that the written word doesn't always translate my dry sense of humor as well as it could.

But...you DO see the more thoughtful and challenging side to me that is always beneath my joking around.

The people I work closely with in a Mentoring capacity appreciate it that I will call them out if I think that they aren't doing what they should be.

They know that even the most driven people occasionally need a good kick up the backside to make sure that they get something from their life.

The big question is, what are YOU going to do about it?

Me? I'm starting to look towards getting people around me who will challenge me when I decide to move onto other things.

And, I'm looking at using some of the lessons learned from working with my other Mentees to find a way to help YOU, too.

The question is...what sort of help do YOU need?

Because...unless you know your goal, its pointless trying to aim for it, whether you get help doing so or not.

Does Goal Setting Really Work?

Where success is concerned, I have a big problem with goals.

The whole purpose of goal setting is to have a target, work backwards from it, then break down what you need to do in manageable chunks.

Sounds fine on paper...and it seems to work for some people (especially for the authors who write books about goal setting!).

But...

- I have achieved things I wouldn't have imagined being able to
- I have NOT done things that I really thought I wanted to do...and now know that I would hate.
- Had situations thrown at me that overnight changed my whole perspective about who I am and what I wanted to do
- Met people and read books that, through single ideas, made immediate decisions about directions I wanted to take
- Realized that my 'ideal' five years ago meant that I would spend more time doing stuff that I didn't like, unlike today, where most of my day is spent doing stuff that is interesting and challenging.

I could go on.

Now...before you get angry with me about slating goals...I want to tell you that I DO believe in having them.

But...not in the sense that most people do.

You see...I set my goals purposely to be fluid, dynamic, moving targets...which I haven't got a hope in hell of back-working to nail down what I should be doing today instead of sharing this with you!

My goals are BIG, certainly...but they are missing an ingredient that most people tell you that you should include...

A specific income figure.

Why?

Well...I MAY end up earning a million dollars a year/month/day/minute...but if it means that I am doing stuff I don't really enjoy, or that I am missing out on being able to do things with my family etc...then it ain't for me.

I once even wrote an article when I started out online that is published in a book that talks about how I would become a millionaire in three years.

How naive I was back then!

Since then, I've realized that a BIG goal is all you need to aim.

I now aim for between one and three a year.

Last year was to sort out my finances.
This year was my health and the automation of my business.
Next year will be laying the foundation for the long-term future, and seeing how I can achieve even more (and better) work with less 'effort' (effort being having to do stuff I don't enjoy)

The year after that?

Well...that can wait until the other stuff is out of the way!

By using goals in this way...I don't force myself into doing specific tasks at specific times.

I always have an easy checklist whenever I do anything...

If it isn't, then I either find some way of getting done differently, or just move on and focus on something else that DOES move me towards my target.

It's simple because it has to be.

You may be a methodical, task-oriented person who enjoys ticking off the next task...but I'm too laid back for that.

Above all where goals are concerned is that you know what sort of person you are.

For example, I'm pretty self-motivated, and have some discipline for getting things done when I need to.

You may be someone who needs structure, daily routines, and set hours, to get things done....in which case, my type of goal setting may not work for you.

Remember, is it YOU that it has to work for...and if you find that you are struggling to follow something because you feel that you should, give some thought to the fact that the system may not suit you...and not the other way around!

Is Your Future Wealth And Success Important? Don't Waste This Then...

Over the next few weeks...you will begin to see these ezine issues shorten in length.

Why?

Well...I've come to realize that my time is a very precious thing, and, even with the best intentions in the world...giving it away for free isn't always the best way to make the most of it.

So...I've decided to focus more on the projects that leverage my time, and which therefore allow me to spend more time with my family (which is the whole purpose of doing what I do).

Over the last few months I have been working harder than I would have liked...so it's time for me to reign in my working hours at the expense of some of the stuff I do for free.

And...after I have spoken at Yanik Silver's Underground Online Seminar in September...I'm even considering 'retiring' from teaching others how to earn a full-time salary from Adsense websites like I do.

Now...if my entire life revolved around how much money I could make, and how much stuff I could sell to people, then that wouldn't be an option - but in my case - there is a whole list of things ahead of earning money in my life that are more important to me.

Let's face it - you can get any sort of advice from many self-improvement experts for free online, so I'm sure that you won't miss out if I don't give you as much free content as usual.

Anyway...you've got more than 800 entries in the archive on this site to go through if you ever think you're going to run out of free!

The trouble with free is that, as you haven't had to give some value in return (money, time, or otherwise) - you usually don't make the most of what you learn.

I'm as guilty as anyone where that is concerned...so you're not alone.

And...perhaps it not a coincidence that the more wealthy I become...the more importance I place on those things that money can't buy.

That's not to say that I didn't believe that they were important when I was in debt up to my eyeballs...it's just that, especially where the background to my family is concerned, I'm a lot more aware of the QUALITY of my life instead of just the QUANTITY of my income.

I've seen many self-proclaimed gurus (in the Internet marketing world especially) over the last few years literally stand up on the stage, and use their talent as a speaker to relieve people like YOU from their hard-earned money just to be able to say that they made 'x' dollars from an hour presentation.

Irrespective of whether what they sold actually got results for any of their buyers.

Stuff like that really sticks in my throat...where people are sucked in by promises of life-changing information - yet they are being sold empty promises.

I certainly don't view people as dollar figures as many speakers do...and that's why I'd much rather spend my time helping those people who can really make the most of what I teach them...which I KNOW will change their lives if they actually apply what they learn.

And those people who take action (and who also therefore take up my time) are the very people who I want to work with in the longer term.

I value my contribution to the world higher than just giving away my time for free - just because other people tell me that I should.

And YOU should keep an eye on whether you are doing something because conventional wisdom tells you that you ought to be doing it, too.

Sure...you can't just quit your job and go off and paint landscapes for the rest of your life, but you can certainly make the most of where you currently are...and consistently focus your mind on where you want to be.

You then might even realize that the job that you believe you hate actually isn't that bad when you weigh it up with the freedom it gives you at the weekends.

Or that there is one particular element of it that you really enjoy. And that single thing is the foundation of looking at how you can do more it in your job in the future.

Life is about looking at what you are currently doing that you don't want to - and then focusing on how you can do less of it in the future.

And then using that time to do more of the things that allow you to spend the time to make the most of the inspired talents that you undoubtedly have!

And THAT'S why you won't see many more long ezine issues from me.

My time is important to me...and never forget that YOUR time is too.

Are You Living To Earn...Or To Achieve Something?

Do you really know what you want from your life?

Really?

Are you chasing a target set by your parents, spouse, or neighbors?

Are you driven by what you KNOW that you can achieve, or are you running from day-to-day, week-to-week, month-to-month - just trying to deal with what happens to you?

Or do you feel that you are in control of the outcome of some parts of your life?

We're funny, you and me.

We are our own worst enemy.

It's very unusual to meet someone whose sole measure of wealth and success is NOT how much money they make.

And...many successful people still trumpet the fact that they are millionaires...yet as they are saying this...they know inside that it doesn't mean a thing because the rest of their life is crap.

One of the by-products of making such a decision is that your self-esteem will rocket.

(I know...I now value MYSELF and my contribution to the human race more highly than I ever have done.)

Once you stop trying to prove yourself to others...you'll suddenly find that people will start trying to prove themselves to YOU!

And, in the funny way that this thing called life works...once you stop chasing something...you'll inevitably find that that very thing turns up anyway!

Of course...if outwardly you are telling others that you are no longer in the chasing game, yet inside you still are - then you ain't going to kid the Universe, I can tell you!

In the same way that I KNOW that I will never go back to a 9-5 job ever again - YOU must know deep-down that, once you decide to 'Stop Worrying and Start Living' (as the great Dale Carnegie titled one of his books) - then a weight WILL be lifted off of your shoulders.

Of course...everything won't suddenly all go according to plan.

Everything won't suddenly, as-if-by-magic, change.

Like it takes years to put on weight...it may take months to lose it - not minutes.

And...if you've got the weight of many years of fire-fighting situations that you've got yourself into - then it WILL take you a while to change your thinking.

Even though I write about this stuff on a regular basis - it still took me a few years to really convince myself that I WAS good enough to achieve whatever I wanted on MY terms.

And YOU are, too!

Yet...I've seen one or two people I know begin to change, and see the results of that change - yet still end up taking the 'easy' path of going back to their old way of thinking and acting when things don't quite go according to plan for a period of time.

And yes, you DO deserve to have a wonderful life (whatever people may tell you).

But...if you keep chasing it, it will take you longer to find it!

Yet...if you just concentrate on the job of just being YOU and work on what you can achieve (rather than earn) - then there will be no stopping you!

It's never too late to start...and YOU are as capable as ANYONE else on this planet.

You just have to BELIEVE in your ability to make things happen!

Why Are You Doing This...?

Sometimes the last thing you want to do is the very thing that you think you need to do.

Bit like needing to write this when I haven't got the faintest idea what I'm going to write!

Isn't life...interesting?

I've long realized that, if I begin to find something 'difficult' - then I should look at ways that I can either...

a) make it more interesting
b) stop doing it altogether

So...

When even writing this weekly article begins to become more of a 'challenge' than it ever used to be then this means that change is not far away!

Now...it's not that I'm going to stop writing this stuff.

Nope.

I'm just going to shift my focus from feeling the 'need' to do it, to finding a path where doing this, once again, just - flows!

Many people will tell you not to change a 'winning formula'.

I'm here to tell you that ANY formula whether it's 'winning' or not - will soon become a chore if you don't listen to the signals your mind is sending you.

I'm not a fan of just going through the motions for the sake of just doing something (or so that I can tell others that I have done something) - if it means that I am not inspired and motivated when the time comes to do it.

Over the last few years, I've began to understand why so many successful people have become so despite what many other people told them.

If you continue to search for and refine the actions that inspire you...then YOU, too will be well on the way to leading a much happier, focused, challenging, and ultimately wealthy life.

Being stuck in a rut 'just because' isn't a good enough excuse for me at least, any more.

I spent fifteen years accepting my fate...when in fact, over the last four, I've come to the conclusion that I was master of my own all along!

And YOU are, too...even if you might not think so at the moment.

Life has a habit of fooling us into thinking that we aren't in control of how it shapes up.

Never forget that you ARE in control.

As long as you constantly look at why you do what you do.

It's You - Make The Most Of It!

Having been on the road for almost the whole of the last seven days...I've had some time to think about what's really important, why I do what I do, and what I don't do what I think I should do!

Tens of hours of driving left me with one overriding thought...

"It's about time that we play to our own rules, rather than trying to play by somebody else's"

I've met some interesting people on my travels...and I have had some very interesting conversations over the last week.

But...I never quite realized how much different my thinking is to many people.

Not that I am 'right' and they are 'wrong'.

Far from it.

Just that many of my thoughts, beliefs, and plans for what I want to do with my working life are the complete opposite of most people!

And...of course, what 'works' for me might well not suit you at all!

We're all different...and, although we do certainly share some common goals - what could be the best thing in the world to one person - might be awful to someone else.

Quite often - that's where many peoples' problems start.

They're too busy trying to fit into someone else's idea of success that they forget that they have their own skills and needs.

Just because your brother is successful at something and (supposedly) is living the life of YOUR dreams - it doesn't necessarily mean that YOU cannot be the happiest person on Earth if you don't reach the same 'levels' as he does.

YOU are YOU...and there is no changing that.

YOU are someone who is special, talented, and above all, ABLE to be successful in whatever area of life you play to your strengths in.

But...you MUST stop comparing yourself to other people - as who THEY are is nothing to do with YOU.

Plus - if you compare yourself to someone else you'll likely find something negative in that comparison.

Your life and success is all down to being YOU...and not trying to aim for someone or something who wouldn't allow you to be happy at all if you ever got there!

Sound familiar?

Those Little Life-Changers...

You are the sum total of your regular habits.

If you aren't happy with your current situation - in whatever area of your life...then you'll certainly find the root of it in what you regularly do (or perhaps don't do!).

For example...if you consistently:

- Eat the wrong things - you'll put on weight.
- Put off doing stuff you know you should be doing - then you'll get behind.
- Dream instead of do - then you will never reach your goals.
- Blame others for your failures - then you'll never be responsible for your success.
- Find excuses instead of possibilities - then opportunity will continue to pass you by.

In short - it's the little things that shape your life.

Yet - most 'gurus' will tell you that you need to make BIG changes in order to make things happen!

Perhaps it's because they have an expensive 'big change' package to sell you?

Remember - if you only aimed for big changes in other areas of your life - you would never end up living in your home until you had saved up for it.

Nor would you marry someone on your first date until you got to know them a little better over a period of time, would you?

Just start doing something, ANYTHING - that moves you that little, tiny bit closer to who and where you want to be - and let these little changes take care of the big life-changing ones all by themselves!

So what little thing are YOU going to do today?

Your Guru Isn't Helping Your Motivation!

Aren't us humans wonderful things?

What motivates me might stress you out.

How I juggle lots of things at once might put you into a tailspin because you only want to focus on one thing at a time.

How that my preferred method of learning by reading makes your eyes glaze over as you prefer to learn by listening.

I've seen it a few times this week.

I'm all inspired because I'm doing my thing my way - yet the other person can't believe that I could even be thinking about doing things that way!

That's why (and, yes - I have said it many times before), 'one size' NEVER fits all when leading a happy and successful life is concerned!

Just because someone tells you what works for them - doesn't necessarily work for you.

Thinking about it - that's probably how I ended up writing about this stuff for a living.

I spent so many years trying to fit my life around what I was told I SHOULD be doing that nothing seemed to work at all.

Sound familiar?

Ever had the feeling that, even though you are trying your hardest NOT to be YOU - you still feel that it's not going according to plan?

That's what sometimes bothers me about a lot of the successful people I see on the Internet.

I've seen many Internet marketers try to turn themselves into self-improvement experts recently.

And, they believe that because they got successful selling information using their talents - they know that there is an opportunity to earn something from people like YOU who might be interested in how they motivated themselves to do it.

Now - I'm not getting on my high horse here - some of what they teach CAN be helpful, but it is doing no favors whatsoever to most of the people who look up to the guru as an expert.

But WE know, don't we...that YOU are not THEM!

- YOU know that you don't have their particular reason for motivation.
- YOU know that you don't have the same particular skill at doing something like they do.
- YOU know that you don't want to work in the same way as they do.

It's not all gloom and doom, however.

YOU do know the best ways in which YOU work, and what inspires YOU.

And...yes, you DO have some wonderful talents hidden behind that disbelieving face of yours!

What I'm really saying is - make sure that you 'follow' someone for the right reasons.

Yes - you CAN learn from ANY successful person.

But - just because someone is successful at selling how-to information - doesn't mean that they are the best person to MENTOR you in how to make more of YOUR life.

It's easy to get caught up in the hype - but remember that if you spent some time looking at what ALREADY motivates you, and what you do well - then you will be halfway there.

I purposely go out of my way to tell you that 'MY' way isn't THE way for YOU.

Any 'guru' who tells you otherwise is a fool, in my opinion.

YOUR success will be achieved from a huge combination of different elements that you will (hopefully) pick up along the way from many different people - and it WILL be unique to YOU.

And...I bet that you know most of it already.

Plus - you don't need to try and change yourself because someone you respect tells you to.

You just need someone like me to give you a kick occasionally to remind you to make more of what you DO have!

Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes...It's Your Decision

Change is a wonderful thing.

Just one little step in a different direction can change the outcome of your entire life.

I know...with the benefit of looking back - I've realized that my whole life has spun on an axis of circumstances and quickly-taken 'gut-feeling' decisions.

And...if YOU really examine the path that you took to get to wherever you are today - then you will no doubt find that quite often, what you thought was nothing much at the time, changed the path of your future.

But...that's all well and good, but how will that help you now?

Well...

If your future success (or failure) is usually determined by the 'little things' - then at least you don't have to always aim for BIG changes (no matter what some of the 'gurus' may tell you).

It's easy to get hung up on the fact that you should be x pounds lighter, or y amount better off - but that figure means absolutely nothing in the context of REAL life.

Making the decision to eat that chocolate or buy that 'toy' is all that matters where those particular problems in your life are concerned.

Isn't it easier to make a decision NOT to do something like that ONCE - rather than projecting yourself into your future and trying to convince yourself that you will have to do it every day for the next few years?!!

I don't know about you - but I find it easier to stop myself from eating something I shouldn't by distracting myself, rather than telling myself that I'm bad for wanting to eating it!

Take yesterday, for example...

It was about 11:30am and I was starting to feel a little hungry - and could easily have made myself a sandwich for my lunch.

But...I had something that I needed to do first that couldn't wait - so I made the 'little' decision to postpone my food until I got that job done.

At 2:30pm - long after I had finished that particular project - I realized that I hadn't had my lunch!!!

Because I had distracted my lazy willpower with something else to focus on - I ended up missing a 'snack' that would have undoubtedly passed my lips by then if I had eaten at 11:30am.

Now...that may not sound like much in terms of an achievement, but what if I ended up doing this every couple of days?

I may not actually lose any weight - but I would certainly be at least seven pounds lighter than I WOULD have been come the end of next year!

At the time - these decisions don't have to be huge in terms of the effort you need to take to 'get them done'...but when they're added together - the difference CAN be massive.

That's why continually educating yourself about how to develop you own skills and talents is a fantastic thing to do.

The more that you do something a little better, a little more quickly, a little more enjoyably - the easier your life is going to be compared to where it is now.

Of course it takes time.

The best way of long-term growth always does.

But...when you look back this time next year and see what all these little positive decisions have added up to - you'll realize that it was worth it!

I think that today is a great day to start making those little decisions, don't YOU?

Whose Buddy Are You?

My nine-year-old daughter Katie, came home from school yesterday - full of excitement about the fact that she had been chosen as a 'buddy' to a younger child.

"What's a buddy then?" I asked.

"Well...you look after them and you play with them and you make sure they're alright and Jade is looking after someone but Melissa is not and I don't really like my buddy really but as I'm a buddy I'll look after them and I'm going to get a badge with 'buddy' written on it and..."

"I think I get the idea!"

(She likes to fit in as much as she can when she gets an opportunity to talk!)

"And we had to line up by the buddy sign and I called Jade over because her buddy was waiting for her and I should be getting my buddy badge soon..."

(She has also inherited a family trait passed down from my father to me to her - that of repeating ourselves!)

So...what has Katie being a buddy got to do with YOU?

Well...I was wondering - do YOU have a 'buddy'?

You know, someone you can go to to ask questions, ask for advice, talk through stuff with?

Someone who understands what you're going through?

"Yeh...and Melissa was angry with me because she said that I was showing off about being a buddy because she wasn't, and I said to her..."

(Alright Katie - I think they get the idea already - you can stop now!)

So...

The challenge for you is to find someone whom you can short-cut the learning process.

Someone who can just say "Yeh - just do this..." when you've spent hours trying to work something out.

Someone who can just say "Don't do that - I tried it last year and this happened" when you come up with a new idea.

Someone who can just say "You don't need to know all that - I didn't" when you are faced with what seems like a daunting learning curve.

Can you see where I'm going with this?

You CAN do it all yourself and make your own mistakes (like I did) - or you can take a few months (or even years) off of your learning timeframe by linking up with someone who has been there before.

Bet you're wondering where you can find such a person if you haven't already got someone, aren't you.

Well...

You could pay someone to be your 'coach' or mentor.
- Many of the very top household names do it this way...and even top actors have an acting coach.

You could attend a seminar and meet up with someone who is in the same boat as you.
- Quite often, even if this person isn't an 'expert' - they probably could share some knowledge about what works and what doesn't for them.

You can get an ebook, book, or course on your topic written by an expert.
- The trouble with this is that most of the 'experts' aren't...and, unless you have an implementation mentality, all that new knowledge may be waster by inaction.

You could participate on online forums.
- Not necessarily the best way, but many relationships have been started from answering each other's posts and progressed to email, phone calls etc

You could participate in a 'networking' type online (or offline) club.
- More business-oriented generally, but, if you invest the time to cultivate relationships, can be worthwhile

(I'm thinking about developing a similar type of website to those networking sites - not with a business-building focus - but just to get people like you connected to others with similar ideas, challenges etc.)

It's not always easy to find the right buddy for you - but it is certainly worth the effort in terms of the return you get from your time invested.

Just reading an autobiography from an expert in your area can give you some ideas about how to overcome obstacles or short-cut your learning curve.

There IS someone out there who is a perfect match for helping you get to where you want to go - you just need to make a little effort to find them.

Believe me - it's time well invested if it enables you to chop a few years off of learning stuff that you might not even need to learn!

At the very least - you will be able to talk to someone who understands what you're going through, which is always an excellent thing.

"And you need to help them just in case they are sad or fall over or don't know where they are going or something and..."

Yes, Katie - I think that they get the picture now!

Go Down The Driving Range Of Ambition Instead...

Why is it that we don't do the things that we know we should do...

Yet usually end up doing the things that we know we shouldn't?

I've got a confession to make.

Over the last week - I've been sitting on something that I know I should do - yet can't quite bring myself to complete.

So - you're not alone!

In fact - in the past, this lack of action on a project would have had my mind coming up with all sorts of excuses why I couldn't get going, or whether I would EVER get around to it.

The days would have built up into weeks. The weeks would have grown into months.

And then I would find myself a year later wondering why I hadn't finished something that I was motivated, excited, and passionate about the year before.

(Actually - I've got a couple of unfinished projects sitting on my hard drive that have been there for a couple of years!)

Well...at least it shows I'm not perfect, and that Lesley is right.

If I'm supposed to be a positive-minded, motivational 'expert' (her words not mine!) - then why am I such a miserable sod?!!

Anyway...

I've realized recently that I DON'T have to get hung up on the fact that there are some things in my working life not quite finished.

Sure...in an ideal world, we would all wake up in the morning and spend our day completing everything in 'gold star' fashion.

Then we'd go to sleep again...and do the same tomorrow!

But, as I'm sure you'll agree...life isn't like that, is it?

Both you and I have those times where we can't really be motivated to do much.

I bet we both have more of those times that we would like, too.

But...as long as we still have times were we DO fire on all cylinders and are taking some serious action towards our goals - then I don't think that it's a bad thing.

Instead of moping around beating yourself up that you're not as perfect as guru 'x' says he (or she) is - just spend the time doing something that gets you interested, excited, passionate, and focused that doesn't have anything to do with hard work in your mind.

Me? When I don't feel particularly creative...

- I just read my marketing courses I've still got to go through.
- Or go down the golf driving range.
- Or go for a walk and listen to some self-improvement stuff.
- Or go and pick up Katie from school.
- Or phone someone whom I know will never get off of the phone - but I will still have a great time catching up with.

Or perhaps I'll just sit down and watch some TV that interests me. No, not soap-opera stuff or the 'bad' news, but thought-provoking quality stuff like The Apprentice or Lost that gets my brain working.

An hour of escapism is worth so much more to your long-term motivation than just getting angry at yourself for not doing what you should, that's for certain.

Remember, though. There's no excuse for spending ALL of your time 'playing' when you should be 'working' on yourself.

Yet - you already know that, don't you?

But...YOU alone are responsible for what you do with your future.

So if you take my advice but get a little carried away, and use it as an excuse - then perhaps you'd better just accept that where you currently are is where you really want to be.

Unless you want to really do something about it, that is!

To Get Out Of Your Rut - Get Off Your Butt!

No more 'Mr Nice Guy'.

I've decided.

I've spent almost four years online writing constructive and positive articles.

I've gone out of my way to write in a way that gently supports you...at the same time as attempting to challenge you to make more of yourself.

I get emails from subscribers just like you who benefit greatly from this approach.

But...I also get to hear from those people who believe that they need MORE support.

You see...their situation is different...they are struggling, they're facing impossible challenges, they don't have time....blah blah blah.

If YOU are one of those people, you can do two things...

1) Get OVER IT! And get used to me challenging you to get up and DO something with your life.

2) Stop reading what I write. You know what to do to unsubscribe.

Over the last few years I, personally, have...

- Spent 20 hour days for four years caring for my disabled son, Connor. Believe me, having to resuscitate your child in the back of the car in rush-hour whilst your wife is driving is not fun.

- Lost him despite it all (and, if you've ever been to your own child's funeral, you'll know how difficult that is.)

- Had to tell his older sister (who was six at the time) - that the light of her life was never coming back.

- Been fired from a job after 11 years for something that I wasn't responsible for - with no job to go to.

- Suffered from (and beat) severe depression.

- In debt more than the equivalent of 2 years' worth of hard work.

- Seen the woman I love suffer from panic attacks because of all of the stress.

So...I think that I am qualified to be the judge as to whether I became successful BECAUSE of feeling sorry for myself, or IN SPITE OF all that happened.

I'm not telling you this to feel sorry for me - or to hold up a badge of 'my life has been worse than yours'.

Far from it. (In fact, whilst in hospital I realized how lucky my family was having only one disabled child!)

I'm telling you this because I am sick of the moaners, whiners, whingers, and complainers, who just sit feeling sorry about their lives - and expect OTHER people to sort it out for them!

They don't realize that the ONLY way that they will actually make more of themselves is by taking steps to do SOMETHING about it - instead of complaining how unlucky they are.

To be honest - I go out of my way to be constructive when I write because I know that the vast majority of people are motivated by a positive challenge.

Yet - even that isn't enough.

It's time for YOU to actually do something DIFFERENT than you did yesterday, last week, last month, last year.

The ONLY way things are going to change is if YOU change!

I'll let you into a little secret where success is concerned...

If you continue to go down the same path...then you're always going to end up in the same place!

NOBODY else can get you to a different place unless YOU physically take yourself there!

Of course, I can guide you based on what works for me - but YOU alone have to take the path that works for YOU.

Sitting at the beginning crying your eyes out isn't the best way to work out how to get there - that's for certain.

I make no apologies if I've offended you - sometimes you need to get a reaction - whether good or bad - to make some people take stock of their lives.

It's time for YOU to start looking at what you CAN do instead of why you can't.

And...if you're too stubborn to bother - then I cannot help you.

Recession? Admit It. It's All Your Fault...

There's a trap waiting for you.

It's one that you literally fall into on a quite regular basis.

It's called blame...passing the buck...having an excuse.

We've both been there, you and I.

It's quite often hard not to when from the very top of our society down - everyone blames everyone else.

"It's the government's fault that I can't."

"If they gave me more I would be able to do this."

"If only I had a chance of a better job then I would. "

"If only I had talent like them then I would be able to."

"If only I...replace with suitable excuse."

Sound familiar?

Welcome to the 'Blame Game'.

With the talk of 'recession', house price collapse, rising gas prices, and every other doomsday scenario being predicted at the moment - everyone is starting to blame everyone else.

Everyone is trying to make someone accountable when they are probably just as 'guilty' as anyone else.

When all is said and done - in this case anyway - WHO is to 'blame' is irrelevant. Taking decisive action now and learning from the 'mistakes' made in the past is what is important.

Blaming other people for the lack of YOUR success is a sure-fire way to failure.

Read that sentence again - just to make sure that you get it.

What goes in between those ears of yours is THE most important barometer of how successful you will be.

Many people are in worse situations than you may be in - yet 'deal' with it and make something of their lives.

Many people have 'survived' worse financial situations than you may be in - and end up living the life of their dreams.

Many people have actually made their fortunes during the worst 'recessions'!

Many people lost everything a few days ago - yet some will bounce back stronger than before...and others will complain about how unlucky they were and look to blame their situation on their lack of getting back on their feet.

Using excuses and placing the blame is the EASY way out.

And, not surprisingly - it's the EASY way to getting more of what you DON'T want.

It's time for you to stand up and accept complete responsibility for where you currently are.

Whatever situation you are currently in.

It's the ONLY way.

You can only fight your way out if you understand completely that it is YOU alone who are responsible for the success or failure of YOUR fight.

The world is full of miserable people who are full of excuses.

Don't let yourself be just another one of them.

YOU are so much better than that!

Are You Being Conditioned To Fail?

Whether you realize it or not - you've been conditioned from the moment you opened your eyes.

You've been conditioned by your parents, your schooling, the TV, your colleagues, and the people whose ezines you read online.

Most of the time - without even knowing that it's happening!

Welcome to the world we live in.

One that you live primarily based upon how OTHER people think.

Now...some of this conditioning you can trace directly back to the views your parents had (for example about food, politics, relationships, religion, and money).

Others can be traced back to your own experiences - like the fears you may have about heights, spiders, snakes, success, and failure etc.

But...it may surprise you to find out that some of the most powerful beliefs you have were probably put into your mind without you having the faintest clue about how they got there!

This is the realm of unconscious (or what most people call subliminal) conditioning.

- Do you read a newspaper?
- Watch the news on TV?
- Catch the occasional Oprah or perhaps the Jerry Springer-type 'chat' show?
- Read books?
- Visit the shopping mall or grocery store?

Unless you're a hermit then I bet that you may do a few of these things.

Which means that your world is partly defined by the opinions and views of OTHER people based on their OWN experiences.

Of course...most of it (if purposely done) might well be with good intentions - but that can often be just as bad as being influenced in a 'negative' way.

Let me illustrate a point so you see what I mean...

==========

You read a novel about an ex-government hero who finds out about a plot by the director of the CIA to cause an explosion on a train, blame the terrorists, whom are then caught with a great fanfare thanks to the knowledge of the director of the CIA and his team, and sentenced to life in Guantanamo Bay without a trial.

The director becomes a public figure - and this PR enables him to leapfrog the political ladder and become a close allay of the president, and favorite to become the next president of the current terrorism-fearing country.

==========

Bet you've now got an opinion about the director of the CIA now, right? Well...even if you don't consciously have - your little brain is ticking away there - weighing up the injustice of the story and perhaps adding to your distrust of the government etc etc.

The trouble with all this is that your brain hasn't got a CLUE what is 'real' or not!

If the story is exciting, involving, and well-written - then you can't help to involve your FEELINGS about what you are reading.

And...once your feelings get involved - then a stronger connection is made to similar (based on real experiences) feelings you already have on a particular topic.

The result?

You now have some other 'truth' to back up what you already believe.

Now...perhaps you may not agree with that example - so let me give you another one based on MY own 'actual' experiences...

==========

The Internet's culture is U.S. based. It's currency is the $. The vast majority of (English language) users live in the U.S. You automatically expect ME to be American - that's just the way it is.

I live in the UK...but I have been to a number of seminars in the U.S. over the last couple of years, and have many friends from 'over the pond' because of it. I even write in U.S. English!

So...I'd like to think that I have some experience of how us 'entrepreneurs' are viewed.

==========

Here's my take on the cultural (and therefore conditioning) differences between how most people view entrepreneurs and self-starters in the UK and U.S. -

U.S.

- Respected for what they have done.
- Admired for the amount of money they earn.
- Being bankrupt in the past is often part of making them a success.
- People whom do a great service to the economy.

(Remember - this is MY take from the outside looking in)

UK

- Grudgingly respected for what they have done.
- Disgust shown at the amount of money they earn.
- Being made bankrupt in the past means they were lucky this time.
- Should be taxed more so that the less fortunate can benefit more.

These opinions, of course, aren't totally across the board - though you would be surprised at the sheer numbers of people who share them.

So can you see from this how much more 'difficult' is to be seen to be successful here in the UK than in the U.S.?

Of course - we are gradually getting more into the 'celebrity' model of success like our U.S. cousins i.e. famous for being a sportsman, famous for being famous, famous for not actually having a job but for having photographs taken - that sort of thing.

What this ultimately means is that my 12-year-old daughter is conditioned at an early age (unless I teach her differently) that the best way to earn your fortune is not to become an entrepreneur - but to be seen with the latest soccer player on her arm!

So what does this mean for YOU?

Well...for a start - a lot of your beliefs are someone else's put upon you.

Secondly - a lot of what you ASSUME about how your life 'will' turn out is based very little on actual fact.

Thirdly - what you think about yourself and your capabilities is a product primarily based upon parents, friends, colleagues, and even advertising.

And lastly - you don't have to become bankrupt first before you can lead the life of your dreams!

Remember - just because someone else tells you something it doesn't mean that it's a FACT!

In fact, where your ability to be successful is concerned - when you really think about it - there are very few 'facts' out there that are exactly that.

Unless you choose to believe them, of course.

Procrastination IS A Good Thing!

I bet you're thinking that I've finally flipped, right?

Thought so.

How can procrastination possibly be a good thing, I bet you're wondering.

Well...it can...but only if you use it in the right way.

If you're like me - I bet that you suffer from the odd dose of not really wanting to get started.

Then that builds as time moves on...and you find yourself hours (or even days) later still fretting about getting around to actually do what you already SHOULD have done!

It's not a great feeling, is it?

That dull ache in your brain constantly reminding you that you should be doing something you can't quite get around to.

Ever wonder why that actually is?

I have...especially over the last few weeks where I have been procrastinating on things that I think that I should be doing - yet aren't.

Now...many teachers of self-improvment (myself included) can give you tips on how to overcome what can be a very nasty habit.

I've probably written about at least ten different ways you can try to overcome it (my favorite way of doing it is just START!).

Yet - it's not very often that we look at the reasons WHY you are procrastinating rather than the fact that you are.

So...as I like a challenge I decided to look at why I myself never quite get around to doing some things - yet others I can stay motivated to do, and focused on, for hours on end.

Why do YOU think that is?

Well...in my opinion - your procrastination habit is directly related to three things:

1. Whether you like what you need to do
==========================

I bet you've had that 'Monday Morning Feeling' too, right?

One of the landscapers who was working on my garden recently told me that it isn't until he wakes up on a Thursday morning that his Monday morning feeling goes away!

How can you live your life like that?

Even though he seems to like his job - he still tells himself that he doesn't really!

Most people don't necessarily enjoy what they do - and, of course, that translates into constant procrastination!

2. Whether what you need to do is part of a bigger picture
=====================================

Even if you don't enjoy what you do generally - if you know that the time and effort you are putting in now is an investment towards a fulfilling and rewarding future - then it's a lot easier to get started.

Most people just live from paycheck to paycheck and NEVER have a goal that really inspires them.

If you know that working overtime is going to mean that you can go on the vacation of your dreams in six months time - then isn't it easy to be motivated enough to offer to do it in the first place?

Also - if your job enables you to do what you really love all weekend, every weekend - then its so much easier to push yourself when you need to if it translates into a better experience or a new toy to play with come Saturday and Sunday.

3. Whether you can get an immediate reward from doing it
======================================

For some people - doing stuff today that pays for a vacation in six months time is not enough to motivate them.

It can be very difficult to STAY motivated when you cannot see immediate results from what you are going to do.

Sure - there are those people who just 'go through the motions' because they know that their paycheck is due every month, but, if YOU are like me - you want to make MORE of your life, don't you?

The degree to which you will procrastinate on any particular task is directly linked to these three reasons - and how tolerant you are of how much effort you can put into something before you see a reward.

Now that you know WHY you procrastinate - is that going to STOP you from doing so in the future?

Maybe.

Knowing why isn't going to help you next week when the task you need to do is still waiting there - eating up your brain-time, is it?

But...perhaps that's a GOOD thing!

Why?

Well...if the task that needs doing isn't being done because of one or more of those three reasons above - then SHOULD you be attempting to do it anyway?

Surely - if you need to do something that:

- You don't like
- Doesn't inspire you
- Doesn't at least make you feel good for doing it

Then don't YOU think that perhaps you should be trying to do MORE of the things that :

- You do like
- Inspires you
- Makes you feel great

Wouldn't you agree?

Sure...I know that you're thinking that we all need to work and do stuff that we don't like because we have to survive.

Yet - I would argue that it doesn't HAVE to be that way!

Sure, you might not (currently) be in a position to do what you really love to do...but I bet that there is at least something about what you currently do that you DO like, does inspire you (maybe a little?), and does make you feel like you achieve something from doing it.

And...if there isn't - then perhaps you should try to at least think about doing something for yourself outside of your current working hours that DOES accomplish all of those things.

At least then you WILL have something to do that will PROVE to you that procrastination isn't a habit that you 'always' have.

So...why do I believe procrastination is a good thing for you?

Well...the key to a rewarding life - financially, mentally, and emotionally is being able to spend MOST of your waking hours actually 'working' and 'playing' at the things that challenge and inspire you.

Believe me - if something REALLY inspires you - then you will NEVER procrastinate where it is concerned - even when you aren't getting paid for it (a bit like why I am able to write this article really).

Procrastination is an excellent barometer of whether what you are going to do is RIGHT for who you really want to be.

So - when do we get started?

Everything Is Palsy-ble - But Only If It Makes You Feel Good

After my scary appearance two weeks ago due to my Bell's Palsy 'episode' - I am practically back to normal.

Of course - I KNEW that I would be one of the 50% who go back to normal within the first month!

A little bit of application of what I have been learning about creating the life I REALLY want helped, of course.

And THAT'S a major key to YOUR (continuing) happiness and success.

YOU should be aiming to create the life that YOU want.

Not the life that other people tell you that you SHOULD be aspiring to.

Not the life that YOU believe that you SHOULD be aiming for.

Nope.

Just the life that makes you feel, well, GOOD!

One of the biggest lessons I've learned - especially over the last few months - is that I am in sole control of how I REACT to other people and events.

I can let the latest scaremongering about the (remote) possibility of being sued for creating mp3 files ruin my day - or I can just get on with what I was doing anyway.

(Which - generally at the moment is watching the Wimbledon Tennis Tournament with my feet up whilst the landscapers toil away in 90 degree heat in my garden!)

I can let the latest moan about whatever a member of my family has or hasn't done make me mad - or I can just let them get on with it and not let the negative talk infect MY thoughts.

It's easy to REACT to other people and situations.

It's so much more difficult to be in CONTROL of what YOU are thinking, doing, and behaving - irrespective of what other people are saying or doing.

The challenge for YOU is to get into your own little 'world' of focusing on what YOU really want for YOURSELF - because, after all - nobody else understands what makes YOU really happy.

Of course - the situation you are currently in might not inspire any particular good-feelings for you.

But I bet that you can LEARN something about what makes you HAPPY by being there!

It's easy to wish your life away - to another job, another relationship, another card paid off, a long-term holiday.

Yet - unless you find something to be happy about NOW - right this moment - then all you are going to do is get more of the same.

Two hours of feeling sorry for yourself at work will NEVER result in you getting a better, more challenging role - that I can guarantee.

The people that make the most of their lives aren't always the ones who drive fast cars, have a massive house with a swimming pool and tennis court.

Quite often - these people are working 100-hour weeks - mortgaged up to their eyeballs - trying to project an image of affluence to other people.

Yet inside - they are literally wasting their lives away.

Happiness (and ultimately success - however you define it) is only the result of a continual process of feeling GOOD about who you are, what you are doing, and why you are doing it.

THAT certainly can't be measured in numbers, property, or awards.

Yet - it's THE most powerful and inspiring thing there is.

YOU can't expect to be happy in your FUTURE when you constantly sit in a place of MISERY now.

Life doesn't work like that.

That's why you can't feel miserable or angry if you are SMILING (properly).

Try it - and you'll see what I mean!

Me - I've just got both sides of MY smile back - and, after having some weeks with only one side of it - I'm glad that, because of that, I can SEE for myself how feeling good about yourself NOW absolutely impacts on how good YOU will feel about yourself in the FUTURE.

Now - back to feeling good about myself!

Don't Let Its Apparent Simplicity Fool You...

Resource Mentioned In This Issue
================================

Title : The Power Pause
Author : John Harricharan

Comment :

No doubt that you may have seen the promotion of this ebook that is 'doing the rounds' at the moment.

In my opinion - all of the plaudits are justified for what is perhaps the biggest selling 'sleeper' ebook of recent years (even though it carried a rather 'hefty' price tag!)

The simplicity of the 3-step Power Pause described in the ebook disguises the real power behind it.

In short...after you read it - you'll never look at the 'challenges' in your life in the same again.

Powerful stuff.

I met the author of this amazing ebook - John Harricharan, last January at an internet marketing seminar...he was sitting directly in the row behind me!

We had a brief discussion...and, well, there is something about his presence that certainly stuck with me since we spoke.

Anyway...

Over the next couple of days this ebook is available at a fraction of what it has been in the past.

In fact...the ebook alone is easily worth as much as it originally sold for.

BUT...

It's very rare these days to find bonuses with these sorts of 'offers' that are actually worth looking at.

Not in this case.

For example...one of the bonuses is an ebook I recommend a couple of years ago (at $27) - and is still one of my favorites - The Emotion Prism.

Another bonus - "Success - A Spiritual Matter" is a book I rated so highly that I paid hundreds to get the rights to sell it myself.

Plus...there are a couple of other ebooks and transcripts in there (including the excellent "Intuition" special report) that are worth FAR more than your investment in this excellent package.

I don't recommend much these days - but "The Power Pause" is one of those ebooks that has stood the test of time, and will still work as powerfully for YOU now as when it was first released.

Go here to find out more about it for yourself...

The Power Pause

Two Sentences To Make A Difference...

Yes...it's been a while.

But...sometimes there are things that have to take place behind new babies and the holidays.

So...to start off the New Year, instead of asking you what your resolutions would be...

I want to ask you TWO things...

"What are you going to do this year that you haven't done yet (for whatever reason) but know that you should have?"

"WHEN are you going to do it?"

That's it. Nothing else.

We're talking specifics here...no - 'I want to lose weight'...or 'get fit' or 'get a better job'!

What EXACTLY will you do...and by WHEN?

And...just so that you don't feel left out...here's mine:

"I will get Lesley involved with some of the admin and accounting functions of my business so that the extra time will allow me to work ON the business...instead of IN it!"

"I will begin 'training' her by January 31st."

Believe me - this task is something that I have put off for a few years...even though Lesley doesn't mind helping out - and I'm useless at the admin stuff!

So...this is quite a BIG thing for me to achieve going into this year!

What about YOU?

Why ARE You Doing Those Things That You Find Difficult?

Did you know that I lost my marbles for a whole six months a few years ago?

I lost my sharpness, my intelligence, my motivation, and my sense of humor.

How did I do it?

I vegetated. Stagnated. Flopped. Shuffled. Sighed.

Every day I watched at least 8 hours of daytime TV every day.

My brain was shrinking right behind my very eyes. I knew more about what was going on in daytime soaps than what was going on in my life.

I had become one of those bit-part actors without a speaking role who pretend to have a conversation in the background. Except that I wasn’t in a soap opera, I was a nobody in my own life!

Ever felt like that?

Ever spent more energy worry about the people in the Big Brother house instead of concentrating on improving your own life?

One day it hit me. My life was an exact reflection of what I was doing –

NOTHING!

I had ‘caught’ a mild depression because I believed that I hated my life and my job.

The truth was that I hated myself for getting into such a position in the first place.

One day I woke up.

That day was the first day of the rest of my life. I was fed up of gradually losing the potential that I knew I had. Fed up of seeing a ghostly figure in the mirror every morning.

I read, then read some more. How to run your own business. How to focus your mind. How to THINK success.

I went back to work the next week – knowing that within six months I would resign.

Knowing that I was the ONLY person responsible for my future.

I had read many books before…but it took reaching the lowest point in my life to realise that I had to do something with what I read if I wanted to be somebody – somebody of whom my family could be proud.

You can do it, too.

You don’t have to be a TV zombie before you realize that YOU already hold all of the cards. Whatever hand you have been dealt – you’ve got to play them – because you can’t give them back!

To quote an email I received from a lady who is certainly worse off than you – “Every day, I suit up and show up with a smile”.

Don’t waste the opportunity of making something out of the only life you have got – stop being and start DOING.

Don’t wait for a disaster to happen like I did before you realize it.

Life isn't about bank balances, the lastest computer or TV, or even that flash car your neighbor has that will take him four years to pay off.

Life is about being able to wake up in the morning - ANY morning - and not having to wish it away because you don't like what you do during it.

Life is about playing the game on YOUR terms...using the undoubted talents that you DO have.

It's pointless me telling YOU what you should be doing to make more of your life.

YOU and you alone KNOW what you are good at, what you enjoy doing, what you find 'easy' to do without much stress.

Life only becomes difficult when you're having to try too hard to do the things that don't come easy to you.

Of course...things aren't going to change overnight. If you've spent years moving in one direction - you're not going to turn it around overnight.

But...once you find the strength to START...then you're on your way.

If I can look at myself in the mirror and be happy with my life compared to where I was just a couple of years ago - then there is NO reason why YOU can't, too.

And...if you don't believe me...then you'd better before you start!

Have You Changed To Decide In A Minute?

Quite often...the easiest thing is to just carry on what you've always been doing.

You know...

- Just reading and not applying
- Surfing instead of working
- Watching TV instead of reading
- Doing just enough instead of your best

It seems that we have an in-built capacity to not be that bothered when it comes to taking action about what bothers us!

Why is it so difficult to just stop doing the 'wrong' things...and start doing more of the 'right' things?

Well...we're all essentially lazy, that's why.

Now...I don't necessarily mean lazy in terms of sitting-and-there-not-doing-anything lazy.

Nope. I mean that we're lazy when it comes to making the effort to CHANGE...even one little bit.

Quite often...it's not even that the process of changing is particularly difficult.

After all - how difficult is it to pick up a personal development book at the same time as using a remote control to turn off the TV program that we are just idly watching for something to do?

See what I mean?

I'm going to hold my hands up here - I'm certainly far from perfect where full-on 100% focused action is concerned.

Quite often I'm happy yo just give myself some 'nothing time' to let what I've been focusing on percolate in my brain.

BUT...that doesn't mean to say that I spend hours (or even days) at a time not moving myself forward in some way.

And...neither should YOU!

YOU are here to DO something with the talents you have been given. YOU are here to EXPERIENCE life instead of watching someone else experience it on some reality TV program!

That's why, if you're not moving towards where you (think you) want to go EVERY day - then it's time you changed something. Anything!

One thing to remember, though...is that you musn't just FILL UP your time.

It's all very well spending a week's worth of bedtime reading on a book if all you do is pile it up on your bookcase once you've read it!

At least aim to get some return on your invested time by highlighting the sentences and paragraphs that really mean something to you.

It's also easy to spend hours surfing the 'Net under the disguise of 'investigation'.

I'll be honest - I used to spend DAYS doing that - then wonder what the hell I had achieved the week before!

The outcome of YOUR life is determined by the DECISIONS you make - every minute of every day.

The sad fact for most people is that they will continue to make the SAME ones day-in day-out for the rest of their lives - and spend all of that time wishing things were different.

Things CAN be different (in some cases quite dramatically) - but ONLY if you CHANGE those little DECISIONS you make.

You can decide to do nothing...or you can decide to ACT.

What's it to be?

Are There No Limits To Excuses?

It's easy to assume that you can only go as high as you think that you can.

To someone who is cleaning the streets...the salary of a bank manager may well be far beyond their perception of what is POSSIBLE to achieve.

Yet...many people DO achieve the (not necessarily so) lofty status of manager...who can't ever comprehend earning a salary equivalent to what their CEO earns.

Yet there are many CEOs in this world...and many people who earn sums far in advacne of what the CEOs THINK is possible for THEM.

So...what's going on here?

Surely the guys like Bill Gates at the top of the tree couldn't have just got there because of luck?

Not if you define how lucky you are by the opportunities you create and implement.

It's so easy to wish your life away - yet never truly BELIEVE in what you are able to achieve.

It's not all your fault, though.

Your parents had a huge influence in how you view yourself, your abilities, and the degree to which you believe in yourself.

The area you were brought up in easily could just have influenced your view off people who are very well-off in comparison to others.

Even how your boss treats you NOW could have a seriously limiting effect on your self-esteem, and therefore your capacity for 'greatness'.

But...it's not ALL 'doom and gloom'.

Far from it.

Half of the winning of the war is understanding that you are in a battle in the first place.

Too many people ignore that voice in their head saying 'you're not good enough' - and try to carry on regardless with predictable results.

If you REALLY wanted to change...then don't you think that you would have stopped...

- Watching so much TV
- Reading newspapers
- Wasting your money on needless things
- Slacking at work for years

Well?

Of course...you will certainly come up with excuses as to WHY you don't have the time, or money, or talents to be better than who you are.

Which...to be honest...I would expect if you were a person who limits themselves by looking for why they CAN'T instead of how they CAN?

Your mind constantly is trying to please you by bringing into your life what you think about most of the time.

Isn't it about time that you actually got it to go and fetch something that you might actually WANT for a change?

It's up to YOU.

Tough Hurdling Over Procrastination

Last week I probably did a month's worth of work.

Even better...I did a month's worth of work on things that had been sitting there waiting to be done for the last six months!

How?

Well...to coin a phrase I've used often myself...

"If you could have done it yourself...you would have done so by now!"

Or in other words (in this case, anyway)...if I hadn't had the motivation to do it by now...then I needed help!

So I went out and 'created' help.

How?

I made myself accountable.

Better still...I made four other people accountable to me, too!

I established a little 'master mind' group that meets via phone every week...who collectively share their experiences and advice...and sets targets for the next week - the completion of which they are accountable for to the other members in the group.

Not only that...I have implemented a 'three strikes and you're out' rule for those who either...

a) Don't turn up every week
b) Don't complete their targets every week

Of course...we make allowance for the serious stuff of life getting in the way like family issues and vacations.

Aside from those - there are NO excuses!

And, by the way...I am included in this as well!

Sure...in some cases this may seem tough...but, to be honest, sometimes we ALL need a little 'tough love' to get us over that procrastination hurdle.

This accountability call is part of a little experiment I am conducting to see if my theories are right about a few things where success is concerned.

Time will tell whether it goes the way I imagine it will...but, at the very least...ALL of us who are accountable have ALREADY started/finished/worked on stuff that we had all put off for longer than we should have.

By any definition - THAT is progress!

And...in my book, that's a good a reason as any for YOU to find out ways to become accountable to other people for your (and their) success.

Taking Inspiration From I Can't Be Bothered-Dom!

It's so easy to just accept that you will never quite be able to achieve what you really want in your life.

There's always some reason or excuse why we can't (or won't) do certain things.

Something that I've been finding out about myself recently.

We ALL go through those periods where we just...well...for want of a better phrase - "can't be bothered"!

When was your LAST one?

Well...although I have them a lot less frequently than I used to - I usually find that I am motivated the least when there is something that I know I SHOULD be doing...but doesn't really excite me.

Yet...working for myself as I do - these things still MUST be done!

So...how do you get over those minutes, hours...or even days of can't be bothered-dom?

Well...for a start...don't let the fact that you can't be bothered - bother you!

It's how we react to the things that happen in our life that shapes our future...not what actually happens.

If you keep worrying about why you're not so motivated...then it's just going to make this 'problem' worse!

So...if you can...just do something that DOES inspire you INSTEAD.

Once you get back into the groove of the good old work ethic - then you'll find it so much easier to tackle those things that don't inspire you as much as the others.

Of course...it takes a little practice to be able to detach yourself from constantly beating yourself up because you're not accomplishing what you need to.

But...at least if you're doing SOMETHING...rather than worrying about this stuff...then isn't that a GOOD thing?

Success - It Isn't Really All That Bad, Is It?

Success is one of those things that is aimed for - yet very rarely reached!

Why?

Well...the trouble with 'chasing' success is that it is a moving target.

What you may have defined as success five years ago - you might class as a failure now.

That's why it's so important to keep a little perspective on your life...and where you're going.

It's so easy to focus on the things that we haven't done...instead of giving ourselves a huge 'pat on the back' for what we HAVE achieved!

Of course - it's human nature to dwell on the what could have beens - but nevertheless - it's certainly worthwhile taking the time and effort to challenge your ingrained thinking about who you are and what you have achieved.

By all accounts (and perhaps by many other peoples' standards) you may ALREADY be a 'roaring' success...you just don't realize it.

If you're happy and content in a at least one area of your life whether it's work, your family, your fitness, your hobbies, or your friends then...

THAT IS A GOOD THING!

Remember...don't 'infect' the good areas of your life with the 'bad'.

Life is all about how YOU react to the challenges that are thrown your way...and how you deal with them in relation to how they impact the other areas of your life.

So...life can't be ALL that bad can it, really?

If it seems that way - just spend some time looking at what WORKS for you right now - this very moment...and work from there.

It WILL be worth it.

Beating The Confidence Trick

Doesn't it sometimes seem that the whole world is laughing whilst you are feeling the opposite?

Does it feel to you that life is sometimes like one big 'confidence trick'...and YOU are the loser?

Sometimes it can be a challenge to be positive when things seem to go against you.

But IT is possible to be confident DESPITE what the 'real world' says.

I am of the firm opinion that part of who we are is defined by how well we deal with the failures in our life.

I know...over the last few years it has seemed that sometimes my life has been going downhill whilst other people were confidently going around without a care in the world!

Until...I realized that MY world (and my place in it, as well as my view of it) was defined by what I did or didn't do when faced with the challenges in my life.

In short...YOU can either 'roll over' and blame the world for your troubles...or you can look at WHY these things are happeing to you.

Believe me...there is ALWAYS a 'big picture' reason why things happen to YOU in YOUR life.

Things happen because the next step in your development is to become the person that is capable with dealing with such a challenge.

Whether you like it or not...you NEED to face up to these 'hits' on your confidence so that you learn - and move up.

Blaming others doesn't allow you to learn from an experience.

Passing the 'buck' is a sure-fire way to remain where you are. Guaranteed.

If you accept that you need these challenges to become the person you REALLY should be, then over time, YOU will be that person to whom OTHERS look towards!

Not only that...once you learn to face the smaller challenges head on...you'll find it SO much easier to deal with the bigger things that life throws you.

Go On - Flutter Your Success Wings!

We all change.

In fact...you're probably a different person that you were a few hours ago!

Why?

Well...even over the last few MINUTES - you've made decisions that will shape your life for YEARS to come.

Don't believe me?

Well...it's like the old saying that a butterfly flapping its wings in the Amazon rainforest can affect weather patterns on the other side of the world.

Who knows...but you can't PROVE it! And...just because you can't prove something doesn't mean that you should disregard it!

So...who's to say that going up in one elevator instead of another one this morning at work didn't change the outcome of something else in the future?

By taking that elevator instead of another one, you could...

- Be at your desk 10 seconds earlier
- Say hello to someone that you wouldn't have met
- Replied to an email earlier than you would have done
- Answered your ringing phone instead of missing it

You get the idea. Life's like that film called "Sliding Doors" that starred Gwyneth Paltrow.

Who's to say how different your life COULD have been if you had made a split-second decision that took you on a different path.

Achieving success is like that.

Once you have REALLY decided NEVER to go back to the 'old you'...your world begins to change...because your DECISIONS will be different than before.

And...as EVERY decision that you make undoubtedly impacts on your future...then, once you've fluttered your own success wings - who knows what ELSE you are changing - miles and years away.

It's NEVER too late to start making DIFFERENT decisions.

Every single one that you make will either have a positive or a negative effect on your future...so you'd better make sure that you start making the right ones!

Success Is For Wimps Who Are...

You may have heard the saying...

"Trying to fit a square peg into a round hole"

In other words...trying to make something fit that has absolutely NO chance whatsoever!

My life used to be like that.

I was spending 40 hours a week doing ONE thing...when I desperately wanted ANYTHING else!

I even used to spend my weekends thinking about what I needed to do on Monday morning!

How sad is that?

Sad...but unfortunately true for a lot of people who believe that success is entirely down to how far up the career ladder you go.

Shame, really...because there is a whole other LIFE out there that was MADE for you.

Imagine what it would be like...actually enjoying what you do...and never having that 'Monday morning feeling' EVER again.

Think about it. Wouldn't it be great?

Great...but impossible?

Well...no, not really.

I personally don't have a Monday morning feeling...yet I probably site at my desk in my home office longer than I used to in the bank I used to work in!

And...if you look on a per-hour basis in terms of income...I'm probably worse off!

Yet...I can safely say that I am a thousand times more content with my life.

Not because I work for myself. Not because I have a six second commute. Not because I can go for a walk along the beach a 2pm if I want.

Nope.

I'm happier because I do what I ENJOY doing (generally!).

But...if you LOVE being a banker, salesman, security guard or whatever and all that entails...go for it! But...make sure that you don't forget how important it is to be part of your family.

Father, mother, son, daughter...without our emotional foundations...it would be pointless to be the most successful ANYTHING...because you sure as hell won't enjoy it much on your own!

So...the first step is to try to do more of what you actually enjoy...but also make sure that you look at what you want from your ENTIRE life...both now and in the future.

Success is for wimps who are miserable when they achieve everything that they've ever dreamed of...and wished that they had spent more time with the people they love in the process.

So...always make sure that you leave some 'room' in your life for those people whom you want with you when you 'make it'.

Otherwise...there won't really be much point!

Habit. Habit. Habit.

It's back to basics time.

Unless you DO something differently - then nothing much is going to change.

I know...I did EXACTLY the same for years...and then wondered why my life never got any better.

Sound familiar?

We are all creatures of HABIT...and, the more you use this to your advantage...the better results you will have.

But...you MUST start small...otherwise you will be attempting to climb a mountain without knowing the 'ropes'...and will undoubtedly try and give up at the very first attempt.

Or maybe after the second or third if you really try to stick at it!

So...

- If you want to lose weight...just begin by eating one 'treat' less than you usually do.
- If you want a new job...just start by getting out your old CV and re-writing it.
- If you're looking to earning a second income...just write a couple of hundreds words about WHY you want to do it!
- If you want a promotion at work...start noting down what impresses you most about the people who are successful where you work.

Sure...they may be LITTLE things...but nevertheless very IMPORTANT little things!

And...once you've given up ONE treat every day for two weeks...then it will certainly be easier to give up another one!

The ONLY way things are going to CHANGE for good is if you change your HABITS!

One little baby step at a time.

Sure...it takes longer this way...but I guarantee that it is certainly that much HARDER to fall 'off the wagon' when you are taking it one step at a time.

Not only that...it's a hell of a lot more difficult to 'go back' to the OLD you when you have replaced your bad habits with good ones!

Six Years Today...My Life Changed

It would have been Connor's sixth birthday today.

It seems like so much more than 15 months ago that we lost him.

Yet...for me...he's still there - making sure that coincidences come our way...and STILL shaping the lives of my close family.

Take today, for example.

Every 'anniversary' (and a few other occasions, too) we visit the rememberance garden at his old children's hospice - Demelza House.

Quite often our parents come too...but today, unfortunately, my mother couldn't come along because she had a medical appointment that could only be arranged for today.

Fair enough...but the place she had to go for this appointment was none other than the site of Connor's pre-school...a place where he always used to laugh and smile as soon as he was pushed through the doors.

We didn't know that they dealt with patients other than children...until today.

Not only that...apart from Demelza House - this place is the ONLY other place that we could possibly associate with Connor.

Lesley still gets goosebumps every time we drive by.

Now...you may be thinking that this is a coincidence.

But we KNOW otherwise!

In my opinion...coincidences are sent to us as reminders that something (or someone) is important.

And...I can't think of a more important reminder than this one today!

Isn't This A Better Place To Be?

I've decided...

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What about YOU?

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

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

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

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

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

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

Why?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

See you next week...

A Spotless Mind And A Meaning

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

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

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

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

This one certainly did that!

Now...if you haven't seen it then I'm not going to spoil it for you by