A Time For Reflection

As 2007 comes to an end, it is a good time to reflect back on the year that was and prepare for the New Year. I have found that the best way to reflect back is to take some quiet time out and answer a few questions. This exercise can take between 30 minutes to an hour but it is well worth spending the time to do so.

The questions I use to reflect back are:

A. What was 2007 about?

What did I love about 2007?

What goals did I achieve and what challenges did I overcome?

What goals did I not achieve and what challenges held me back?

What did I learn from the challenges I faced this year?

What decisions did I make that have helped me this year?

B. Using the past as a springboard for the future.

What do I have in my life right now that was once a dream or a goal?

What character strengths or traits were needed to accomplish them?

What did I overcome in the process of achieving those dreams or goals?

C. What is 2008 going to be about?

What am I looking forward to the most in 2008?

What are my goals for 2008 and beyond?

What character strengths or traits will be needed to accomplish them?

What am I committed to doing in 2008?

What resources can I call upon (people, materials etc.) to help me reach my goals?

This is a very simple exercise that you can put yourself through and get refocused for the year ahead. I highly encourage everyone to go through the exercise and trust that by doing so, you will reap the benefits in the future.

Measuring Your Progress

The following post is by personal development and motivational speaker, Ruben Gonzalez, who has been featured in the movie "Pass It On" and also mentioned a few times in Jack Canfield's book, "The Success Principles".

As you set goals and begin working towards them, it is critical that you establish benchmarks you can use to evaluate your progress. The more specific your measures are, the faster you'll reach your goals because you'll reduce wasted time.

Going back to the example of the pilot flying cross country to New York, the more frequently he checked his true heading, the quicker he would arrive to his destination. If the pilot were only allowed to check his heading once every 30 minutes, he might never reach his destination.

Your subconscious mind works best when you set clear goals with deadlines. When you do, and when you are truly committed to reaching your goals, your subconscious mind will act like an autopilot that will steer you towards your goals. It will be like a radar that is tuned in to finding anything that might help you reach your goals.

It is important to identify all of the tasks you need to do to reach your goal. Once you have identified the tasks, you should prioritize them and focus on the most important task first.

You may have to break down each task into smaller sub-tasks - and so on. Each sub-task should have its own deadline. Deadlines create urgency and get you to take action.

For example, imagine you wanted to climb the Seven Peaks, the highest mountains in in each of the seven continents, by 2010. You would have to learn all about mountaineering, find guides, determine the best order to climb them, and focus on the first task - climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro.

Climbing Mt. Kili would then be broken down into sub-tasks. Getting into incredible physical shape, financing the expedition, acquiring knowhow, finding guides, purchasing climbing gear, etc.

Each of those sub-tasks might be broken down further. For example, in order to become fit enough to climb, you might have to change your diet, train yourself like a marathoner, lose 30 lbs, etc.

What you do is start with the 2010 deadline, and work backwards to see when all the other steps must be completed by. If you don't set deadlines, by human nature, you never do what you need to do to accomplish the goal.

Once you set deadlines and start taking action, you'll be amazed at how great you feel as you check off completed tasks. Before long you start creating momentum and when momentum is on your side, everything in the process will seem more and more effortless and more fun.

Along the way you keep careful records and measure your progress because what cannot be measured, cannot be managed.

No matter what your goal is, you can focus on smaller tasks that can be measured to gauge your progress.

If you want to improve your health and lose weight, you could focus on how many minutes and at what intensity you exercise each week or on how many calories you consume each day.

If you want to improve your sales, you could focus on how many calls you make each day.

If you'd like a promotion, you could ask your boss for specific tasks you could focus on to make yourself more valuable.

If you want to improve your relationships, you could focus on how many minutes you
spend with that special person. Quality time is a myth. Quantity time is where it's at. If you think quality time will improve your relationships, you're fooling yourself.

Start finding ways to measure your goals and tasks and your performance, and you will be more successful in everything you do.

Ruben Gonzalez is the author of "The Courage to Succeed," and the co-star of the blockbuster motivational movie "Pass It On." His experiences as a three-time Olympian, business owner, and professional keynote speaker give him a unique perspective on how to conquer the corporate struggles of today.

Ruben will inspire and equip the people in your organization to maximize their potential. For booking information, visit www.OlympicMotivaton.com or contact him at 832-689-8282.

Act To Create

If you want to live your dreams, not only must you decide what you want, turn your dream into measurable goals, break those goals down into specific action steps, and visualize and affirm your desired outcomes — you must start taking action.

I recommend making the commitment to do something every day in at least three different areas of your life that moves you in the direction of your dreams.
If one of your goals is physical fitness, make a commitment to do some sort of exercise — aerobics, weight training, stretching — four to five times a week for a minimum of twenty minutes.

I read recently that if you simply go for a 30 minute walk four times a week, that would put you in the top 1% of those people getting physical exercise!
If your goal is financial independence, start saving and investing a portion of your income every month with no exceptions.
If your goal is to write a book, write for a minimum of one hour every day.

DON'T LET FEAR STOP YOU

Most people never get what they want because they let their fears stop them. They are afraid of making a mistake, looking foolish, getting ripped off, being rejected, being hurt, wasting their time, and feeling uncomfortable.

Fear is self-created by imagining catastrophic consequences that have yet to happen. It is all in your mind. In fact, you can actually scare yourself by imagining negative and harmful images. But simply stop the catastrophic thoughts and images, and the fear goes away.

REJECTION IS A MYTH

One of the biggest fears that stops people from asking for support, guidance, advice, money, a date, a job, the sale, or anything else is the fear of rejection. In fact, it’s been known to literally paralyze people. They become tongue-tied and refuse to reach for the phone or get up and walk across the room. They break out in a sweat at the mere thought of asking for what they want.

I have come to realize that the whole concept of rejection is false — that rejection doesn’t really exist. Think about it for a moment. If you asked someone to join you for dinner, and they said no, you could tell yourself that you had been rejected. But think about it. Did you have anyone to eat dinner with before you asked them? No! Did you have anyone to eat dinner with after you asked them? No! Did your life really get worse? No. It stayed the same!

ACT AS IF

One of the secrets of success is to start acting like a success before you are one. Act as if. If you had already achieved your dream, what kinds of clothes would you be wearing? How would you act? How would you treat others? Would you tithe a portion of your income to your church or favorite charities? Would you have more self-confidence? Would you take more time to spend with your loved ones?

I suggest that you begin to do those things now.

When I decided that I wanted to be an “international” consultant, I immediately went and applied for a passport, bought an international clock that told me what time it was anywhere in the world, printed business cards with the words “International Self-Esteem and Peak Performance Consultant,” and decided I would like to first go to Australia. I bought a poster of the Sydney Opera House and placed it on my refrigerator.

Within one month, I received an invitation to speak in Sydney and Brisbane. Since then, I have spoken and conducted trainings in over 20 countries and continue to expand my business around the globe.

Start acting as if you already have everything you want. Most people think that if they have a lot of money, they could do the things they want to do, and they would be much happier. In fact, the reverse is true. If you start by creating a state of happiness and abundance, then do the things you are inspired to do from that state of being, you will end up having all the things you ultimately desire.

You may not be able to fill your closets with expensive Italian suits and designer clothing, but why not invest in one or two really great outfits, so that when you do need them, they are there. When you dress like you have already made it, you will look the part, and successful people will naturally be attracted to you and invite you to participate with them.

The Law of Attraction states that you will attract to you those things that match your state of being. If you focus on having gratitude for what you do have, you will feel rich, and you will attract more abundance into your life. If you focus on what you don't have, you will send out a message of lack and you will attract more lack into your life.


Jack Canfield, America’s Success Coach, is the founder and co-creator of the billion-dollar book brand Chicken Soup for the Soul and a leading authority on Peak Performance. If you're ready to jump-start your life, make more money, and have more fun and joy in all that you do, get your FREE success tips from Jack Canfield now at: www.FreeSuccessStrategies.com

Keeping a Journal- One of the Three Treasure to Leave Behind

The following excerpt has been taken from Jim Rohn's "How To Keep A Journal" audio series.

If you're serious about becoming a wealthy, powerful, sophisticated, healthy, influential, cultured and unique individual, keep a journal. Don't trust your memory. When you listen to something valuable, write it down. When you come across something important, write it down.

I used to take notes on pieces of paper and torn-off corners and backs of old envelopes. I wrote ideas on restaurant placemats. On long sheets, narrow sheets and little sheets and pieces of paper thrown in a drawer. Then I found out that the best way to organize those ideas is to keep a journal. I've been keeping these journals since the age of twenty-five. The discipline makes up a valuable part of my learning, and the journals are a valuable part of my library.

I am a buyer of blank books. Kids find it interesting that I would buy a blank book. They say, "Twenty-six dollars for a blank book! Why would you pay that?" The reason I pay twenty-six dollars is to challenge myself to find something worth twenty-six dollars to put in there. All my journals are private, but if you ever got a hold of one of them, you wouldn't have to look very far to discover it is worth more than twenty-six dollars.

I must admit, if you got a glimpse of my journals, you'd have to say that I am a serious student. I'm not just committed to my craft; I'm committed to life, committed to learning new concepts and skills. I want to see what I can do with seed, soil, sunshine and rain to turn them into the building blocks of a productive life.

Keeping a journal is so important. I call it one of the three treasures to leave behind for the next generation. In fact, future generations will find these three treasures far more valuable than your furniture.

The first treasure is your pictures. Take a lot of pictures. Don't be lazy in capturing the event. How long does it take to capture the event? A fraction of a second. How long does it take to miss the event? A fraction of a second. So don't miss the pictures. When you're gone, they'll keep the memories alive.

The second treasure is your library. This is the library that taught you, that instructed you, that helped you defend your ideals. It helped you develop a philosophy. It helped you become wealthy, powerful, healthy, sophisticated, and unique. It may have helped you conquer some disease. It may have helped you conquer poverty. It may have caused you to walk away from the ghetto. Your library -- the books that instructed you, fed your mind and fed your soul -- is one of the greatest gifts you can leave behind.

The third treasure is your journals: the ideas that you picked up, the information that you meticulously gathered. But of the three, journal writing is one of the greatest indications that you're a serious student. Taking pictures, that is pretty easy. Buying a book at a book store, that's pretty easy. It is a little more challenging to be a student of your own life, your own future, your own destiny. Take the time to keep notes and to keep a journal. You'll be so glad you did. What a treasure to leave behind when you go. What a treasure to enjoy today!

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The Road To Happiness

The following quote is from John D. Rockefeller, the Amrerican Industrialist and Philanthropist, who lived from 1839-1937.

"The road to happiness lies in two simple principles: find what it is that interests you and that you can do well, and when you find it put your whole soul into it - every bit of energy and ambition and natural ability you have."

Creative Vision - A Success Principle

Napoleon Hill, who wrote "Think and Grow Rich", is widely regarded as the person who introduced the world to the success principles that is widely taught in the personal development and self improvement industry today. He also wrote the Laws of Success and one of those success laws or success principles as we now know them, is having a creative vision.

Napoleon Hill called the creative vision success principle the “hub” of his science of success. He said that it calls for the use of one's imagination in creating mental pictures of what one wants and then working toward, that is, taking action, toward the realization of that goal. The best definition of success I have ever come across is from Earl Nightingale, who said that "success is the progressive realization of a worthy ideal". A worthy ideal is an idea you have fallen in love with.

The imagination is said to be the workshop of the mind. The world’s great achievers have used this principle extensively in bringing into fruition their desires. Einstein said that "imagination was more important than knowledge". Thomas Edison used his imagination to combine two old principles and create the electric light bulb.

Long before he became a famous Hollywood star, Arnold Schwarzenegger declared that he wanted to be Hollywood’s best. Asked how he was going to achieve what seemed like an unlikely feat, Arnold Schwarzenegger replied that “what you do is create a vision of what you want to be, and then live into that picture, as if it were already true.”

The starting point of using this success principle is to state clearly what you want, your desired goal or outcome; not a fuzzy or vague wish but a definite goal with a deadline. Something that you truly want; for if you want anything badly enough, the universe will conspire to give it to you.

Next create a mental picture of your goal. Our mind operated with images and we think in pictures. Imagine yourself already in possession of what you want. See, think and feel yourself in already possession of the things you want. As Dr. Wayne Dyer says, "if you believe it, you will see it"!

Work on the development of your imagination and use is a tool to quickly and easily attract what you want in life. In the words of Napoleon Hill, "whatever the mind of man can conceive and believe it can achieve. The imagination is the most marvelous, miraculous, inconceivably powerful force the world has ever known to work for you."