My first reaction to this book was not very good. Like most youngsters of my age, I thought it to be a book where some gray-haired would share their success stories. Despite the initial hitch, I opened the book only before the deadline of the project almost two months after simply staring at the cover.

The first chapter I skimmed through uninterestingly, it was only while reading the second habit that the power of this book rubbed on me.

Habit # 2 – Begin with the End in Mind

“The most effective way I know to begin with the end in mind is to develop a personal mission statement or philosophy or creed. It focused on what you want to be (character) and to do (contributions and achievements) and on the values or principles upon which being and doing are based.”

It is important in life to be self-aware of our goals and vision. Until and unless we know our vision we cannot formulate a way to make it happen. Despite of all the philosophy that one should live in the present, this made sense because it is giving wings to our imagination and to visualize our future. Everybody should have a purpose, a dream or a goal in life otherwise life would just become a survival game.

Stephen Covey further explained on how you can practically develop your own mission statement. In the end, you would realize what you want to be, what you will do to achieve that and your core values and principles.

Habit # 1 – Be Proactive

Influenced by the self-improvement tips discussed in the second lesson I started to read the book again and this time with much more concentration.

“Look at the word responsibility—“response-ability”—the ability to choose your response. Highly proactive people recognize that responsibility. They do not blame circumstances, conditions, or conditioning for their behavior. Their behavior is a product of their own conscious choice, based on values, rather than a product of their conditions, based on feeling.”

Our responses to different situations are just the learning that we have developed over the years. We may feel that this is how I am programmed to react and I have no control over this whatsoever. However, this is not true. We are the masters of our thoughts and we can determine how we wish to respond. In short, we can change our script with constant efforts and for that we must be proactive.

To start with analyze your responses, do you come across as a person in control of your responses or the one who is influenced by other’s actions. To gauge this, Stephen Covey developed ‘Circle Of Influence’ and ‘Circle Of Concern’. Follow the exercises mentioned by him and you would soon realize how dependent you are on other people’s actions.

Many other helpful lessons can be learnt from other habits – Put First Things First, Think Win/Win, Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood, Synergize and Sharpen the Saw.

After reading the book twice, I was ready to give my presentation. I had visualized how I would go with it and the end result before preparing the key points to be presented. Surprisingly, it went just as planned. 7 habits of highly effective people can guide you to the road to success, it is you who has to be proactive and start the journey.

But that’s not realistic (even if you have the next Big Idea). After all, the universe itself was not born fully formed. It continues to expand and develop, issuing “background noise” — a cosmic message — that scientists receive from every part of the sky.

I believe in breaking the Big Bang down into workable, day-to-day actions to achieve your goals. I call it The Little Bang Success Technique, because it is the small, consistent steps you take toward a goal that bring about results.

And there is no need to wait for everything to be in alignment before you take action. It is better to prepare, get started, moderate, modify, and keep going until you’re where you want to be.

Formulating a goal gives you direction. But once you commit to a goal, the process of doing is paramount.

Early to Rise is a perfect example of The Little Bang Success Technique.

ETR began as a series of e-mail messages sent by Michael Masterson to a few executives 10 years ago. These messages were meant to inspire those executives and spur them into action.

Initially there was no intention to bring ETR to a wider audience or make it a commercial venture. Michael Masterson would wake up each day with “one idea, big or small, that some less-experienced but equally ambitious person might find useful in some way.”

He began spreading his unique “cosmic message” in an ever-expanding, consistent manner. (As I said, that’s the foundation of The Little Bang Success Technique.)

ETR started with a staff of four, and grew to 35. It started with a single writer (Michael Masterson) and grew to include a host of regulars. It started with e-mailed “lessons” to executives and became an information-filled e-newsletter with 450,000+ readers.

Thousands of articles, product sales, membership programs, and many well-attended conferences later… ETR continues to push forward. It is a multimillion-dollar direct-marketing-based publishing business that started with a “Little Bang” (e-mails to a small group of executives encouraging them to take action).

ETR’s cosmic message is now heard around the world.

SUCCESS can be thought of as the ability to:

S – Sense

U – Unlimited
C – Chances
C – Coming
E – Every

S – Single
S – Second

The dim sound of success you may be hearing only in the distance will become stronger as you move toward to it. So in this moment, at this very second, initiate The Little Bang Success Technique. By expanding your personal “universe” consistently, one step at a time, you will achieve your goals.

One kind word or a single thoughtful action keeps your positive energy expanding. One good deed or a single objective reached keeps your productive energy expanding. One idea or one single opportunity seized keeps you expanding your personal “universe” — broadcasting your “cosmic message” for the entire world to hear!

This article appears courtesy of Early To Rise, a free newsletter dedicated to creating wealth and success through inspiration and practical, proven advice. For a complimentary subscription, visit http://www.earlytorise.com.By Bob Cox.

Improving this attitude affects everyone around you. They believe in you, trust you and want to support you.

This one attitude can change your entire life for the better.

A vital attitude for you to constantly improve is YOUR PASSION.

On a scale of 1 to 10, exactly how excited are you right now? Do you really want to succeed? Are you thrilled with your goals for today?

If not, you must generate some passion for your day, your week and your career.

Leadership

To succeed you must be a leader, if only a leader of one person: you.

“In all great leaders there is a purpose and intensity which is unmistakable.” — L. Ron Hubbard

Remember how former President Reagan had UNMISTAKABLE seniority when he met with Communist leaders? Have you noticed how the best speeches of politicians, ministers or actors always include high-volume intensity? The same applies to the most successful people.

“A man who merely wants to be liked will never be a leader. A broad examination of history shows clearly that men follow those they respect. Respect is a recognition of inspiration, purpose and competence and personal force or power.” — L. Ron Hubbard

Passion is a self-generated tool. You have the ability to motivate yourself; to concentrate on your purpose; to get yourself excited about what you do.

Your attitude sets the mood for everyone around you. They get excited if you are excited. If you are fascinated, so are they. Recommendations you give to others that come from the heart have a greater impact.

You Can Never Be Too Passionate

Everyone can increase their purpose and intensity.

When you organize all of your activities toward one focused goal, you not only feel more joy in what you are doing, you get more accomplished.

Sometimes it helps to find things that make you passionate. For example, for which of these objectives can you generate the most passion and intensity?

* Reaching a specific goal

* Accomplishing a certain level of perfection

* Making a great deal of money

* Going back to an original purpose

* Beating a challenge

* Filling your life with as much happiness as possible

* Fulfilling a duty to yourself or your family

* Helping a great number of people

* Creating a superior reputation

* Building a highly-successful business

* Helping others achieve success

* Becoming the best at what you do

* Hitting a specific statistical target

* Earning enough money to buy something you really need or want

* Making a positive impact on society

There is nothing stronger than a leader with a firm direction and passion to get there.

Copyright © 2009 TipsForSuccess.org. All rights reserved. Grateful acknowledgment is made to L. Ron Hubbard Library for permission to reproduce selections from the copyrighted works of L. Ron Hubbard

Action means converting your thoughts into a physical reality through consistent effort. It is putting things in motion and getting them done. ‘To act’ is to work on your thoughts to achieve your goals.

Every action that you take is the result of a desire that resides deep within your heart. If your intentions are good and you are clear about what you want to achieve, you are already halfway to success. It is the Power of Action that will take you through the next half. What is required is firm faith in yourself and a clearly defined purpose. The Power of Action is born in your heart as you aim for your goal with a strong will.

We all know that a seed cannot become a tree in one day. Every seed has an inherent capacity to grow but it needs a caring gardener who will plant it in the correct environment and take care of it with patience until it grows into a tree. Similarly, your soul has the potential to embrace the universe around you and give shape to your dreams, ambitions and desires. All you need is to act like the caring gardener of your mind, body and soul.

Action is a natural process
Growth is a natural process. A seed becomes a sapling with natural ease. Does it make any special effort to grow? Certainly not.

Once you start following the simple steps mentioned in this chapter, you will be able to tap the natural secret of setting things in motion with the least effort. Most people do not take action because they think it is painful to act. But they forget an important fact: that everything in the universe is in constant motion in some form or the other. Each and every cell of your body and each atom of the universe is in motion. So taking action is something that you do in harmony with the universe.

Co-ordination with the least effort
The human body is a classic example of co-ordination with the least effort. Innumerable living cells perform individual actions but they work together to ensure that the body works smoothly. Your heart, for example, beats over one lakh times a day; yet you are probably not aware how effectively it functions. The same goes for the brain, the liver and many other organs. In a larger sense, our body is the perfect example of great teamwork. Similarly, when you use the Power of Action and have a clear goal all your body parts get into a rhythm to achieve the target.

Two Action Steps:

Step 1: Act with positive feelings. Take action in the direction of your goals with courage, confidence and conviction. When you do so, results will start showing up sooner or later. Also, others will start seeing you as a charismatic person.

Step 2: Learn and improve continuously through the Power of Action. You stand here today because this is where your thoughts and education have brought you. To go further you need to bring about a paradigm shift in your thoughts and actions through an investment in self-improvement.

Success Mantra: Do something to improve yourself daily: take a walk and talk to yourself positively, record your voice with positive auto-suggestions, read motivational quotes, or just plan your day and work according to the plan.

©Shishir Srivsatava, Motivational Speaker and Author ‘The Eight Powers within You’
www.shishirsrivastava.org and www.eightpowers.com

What are Goals?
The difference between a dream and a goal is that a goal is clearly defined in writing and has a specific deadline. Dreams are merely wishes or fantasies. Goals help you to increase your focus. They give you momentum by making you fully aware of the direction in which your work is taking you. Therefore, having a written goal statement is much better than having no goal at all.

Goals are written statements that provide a meaningful direction to your life. They help you concentrate your energy on the path of achievement and fulfilment. So it is essential that you define your heart’s desire in specific terms: with a deadline and a written goal statement. This way you will give a clear direction to your life. Goals act like a compass on the ship of your life; without them you will keep floating midway, with nowhere special to go.

Why set Goals?
During my presentations, members of the audience often ask me, ‘Why should I set goals? Can’t I do without them?’ I reply, ‘You certainly can. Not everyone who has achieved great results learnt how to set goals first. But what they achieved in ten to twenty years, you can achieve in five years
or less by the Power of Goal Setting.’

Our mind works best when it is up against challenges that have to be met within a reasonable time frame. For example, if you want to double your income without setting a goal, then with 5 per cent to 10 per cent annual increment you will automatically double it in ten to twenty years. But that will be too long a wait, isn’t it? Especially when it is possible to double your income in three years—by writing it down as a goal statement, taking concrete steps and reviewing your progress on a weekly and monthly basis.

‘Goals are the fuel in the furnace of achievement.’ —Tom Hopkins

Why don’t you set goals in a variety of areas so that you develop a complete personality? Here are a few ideas:

i) Personal: Education, family, friends, personal development (health, nutrition, fitness, skills,
spirituality), home and travel.
ii) Career: Career, business, finance, savings, income and investments.
iii) Contribution to society: Volunteer work focusing on people, environment, etc.

Writing a goal statement
Remember these essential five steps when writing a powerful goal statement:

Step 1: Find your peak energy time. Write the statement during your peak energy hour. It could be the morning or the afternoon. You may want to play your favourite music to lift your spirits.

Step 2: Start writing. Take a pen and a white sheet of paper. Write the date and a list of 10 things that you aspire for.

Step 3: Identify your most important goal. Out of these 10 goals on your list, encircle the one which, if achieved in the next year, will have the biggest positive impact in your life and career. Write down this goal on the other side of the paper too.

Step 4: Decide on a deadline. A goal can be best defined as ‘a realistic dream with a specific deadline’. You must aim to achieve a goal within a time frame that forces you to act fast. To do this, you must ask yourself, ‘What is the approximate time it will take me to accomplish my goal?’ Then, whatever is that time, reduce it by half. If you think it will take you two years to get something, aim to achieve it in one year and write the deadline on top of your most important goal. This will keep reminding you of where you are vis-à-vis where you have to go.

Step 5: Write down your goal statement. It is important to keep three things in mind:

(i) All goal statements start with ‘I’. Remember that the goal statement is yours. When you put ‘I’ at the very start, it becomes personalized.

(ii) Write your goal statement in the present tense. The ‘I’ should be followed by a verb expressed in the present tense. This is because the subconscious mind reads and believes only in the present. If you talk to your brain in the future tense and say ‘I want to’ or ‘I wish to’, it reads these as ‘wanting’ or ‘wishing’ thoughts. Result: your conscious brain cannot do anything about them.

(iii) Your brain will see this work as something to be done in the future. To put real power behind your goals, you must write them down in the future tense.

(iv) Express your goals with positive words. Instead of saying ‘I want to lose 10 kg in three months’, say ‘I will weigh XX kg three months from now.’

Life mostly unfolds the way you expect it to. Stick to your goals with positive expectations and work with passion. This will quicken the process of goal achievement.

Your goal statements should be easy to understand. Even a child should be able to figure out what you are aiming for. Once you have written a clear statement regarding your most important goal, you can jot down statements about other areas of your life. Here are a few examples of goal statements:

i) I, Rita Sharma, am savouring the beautiful view from the window of my new home. Deadline:
ii) I, Ashish Mehra, am enjoying driving my brand new BMW. Deadline:
iii) I, Priya Malhotra, am running a successful business. Deadline:
iv) I, Rahul Gupta, am feeling thrilled at graduating from the Harvard Business School. Deadline:
v) I, Sonia Nigam, love to exercise daily and am enjoying being at my ideal weight of 58 kg. I am
fit and in excellent shape. Deadline:

Someone rightly said, ‘Aim to shoot for the highest stars, in case you miss them you will land on Mars!’
When you set your eyes on a big goal, you work hard and stretch your capabilities to achieve it. But if your goal is not challenging enough, you are unlikely to leave your comfort zone—and the result will be little or no success.

Two Action Steps:

Step 1: Read your goal statements often: Try to read your goal statements at least twice a day. Initially read them just before sleeping and then immediately after getting up. The subconscious brain continues to function even after you fall asleep. It can register your goals and work on them throughout the night. When you get up, you will be more driven to work.

Step 2: Take action daily: To accomplish your goals on time, work on them every day. Sometimes you may not be able to give your best to your work. Still, do what little you can. This way you will move at least one step towards your goal.

Success Mantra: Set your goals in the direction of what you want and love to do the most. Keep the burning desire alive in your heart and act with a calm mind.

©Shishir Srivsatava, Motivational Speaker and Author ‘The Eight Powers within You’
www.shishirsrivastava.org and www.eightpowers.com