Have Grit — Persistence over the long haul is key
Know Exactly How Far You Have Left to Go — Monitor your progress
Get Specific — Have a crystal-clear idea of exactly what success will look like
Seize the Moment to Act on Your Goals — Know in advance what you will do, and when and where you will do it
Focus on What You Will Do, Not What You Won’t Do — Instead of focusing on bad habits, it’s more effective to replace them with better ones.
Build your Willpower Muscle — If you don’t have enough willpower, you can get more using it.
Focus on Getting Better, Rather than Being Good — Think about your goals as opportunities to improve, rather than to prove yourself
Be a Realistic Optimist — Visualize how you will make success happen by overcoming obstacles
Don’t Tempt Fate — No one has willpower all the time, so don’t push your luck

Read the full blog post here.

- Robert Schuller, American televangelist, pastor, speaker, motivator and author.

“The positive thinker sees the invisible, feels the intangible and achieves the impossible.”

-Anonymous

These two quotes when read in succession gives an idea that impossible is nothing. By reconditioning your mind to think in a positive manner, you can see impossible in the light of I M Possible.

Let us illustrate this with the help of an example, a real story that happened between the customer of General Motors and its Customer-Care Executive.

General Motors’ Pontiac Division received a customer complaint as follows:

This is the second time I am writing to you, and I don’t blame you for not answering me, because I sounded crazy, but it is a fact that we have a tradition in our family of Ice- Cream for dessert after dinner each night.

But the kind of ice cream varies every night. So, after we are done with our dinner, the family votes on which kind of ice cream to have. I drive down to the store to buy it.

It’s also a fact that I have recently purchased a new Pontiac and since then my trips to the store have created a problem. You see, every time I buy a vanilla ice-cream, when I start back from the store, my car won’t start. If I get any other kind of ice cream, the car starts just fine. I want you to know and I’m serious about this!

My question may sound silly but “What is there about a Pontiac that makes it not start when I get a vanilla ice cream, and easy to start whenever I get any other kind?”

After reading the letter, the president at The Pontiac division was understandably skeptical about the complaint. Despite his disbelief, he still sent an engineer to look into the matter.

“In order to attain the impossible, one must attempt the absurd.” - Miguel de Cervantes

When the engineer met the customer, he was surprised to see a well-educated man at the outset. He met him after the dinnertime so that he could accompany the customer to the ice cream store. That night was the vanilla ice cream night and as said in the letter, the car wouldn’t start after they bought it.

The engineer came back again for three subsequent nights to understand the issue. The first time they got chocolate ice cream and the car started. The second night it was strawberry and the car started again. The third night was vanilla and the car failed to start.

Being an engineer, the man believed in logic and couldn’t bring himself to believe that the car was allergic to vanilla ice cream. Therefore, he continued his visits with the man to the ice cream parlor as he was determined to solve the problem no matter how long it would take.

“It’s kind of fun to do the impossible.” - Walt Disney

He started to make notes, of all sorts, the time of day, and type of gas used, time to drive back and forth etc. Very shortly, he got his clue. The engineer analyzed that the man took considerably less time to get the vanilla flavor as it was stored in the front of the store, being a popular pick. All other flavors were stored at the back of the store at a different counter and hence it took a relatively longer time to get those flavors.

Now, the engineer was surfaced with the question, why the car wouldn’t start when it took less time. Here it was, now time became the problem and not the vanilla ice cream. Soon enough, the engineer realized that the issue pertains to “vapor lock”.

The problem was happening each night however the extra time to get other flavors let the engine the needed space to cool down sufficiently to start. Since the vanilla ice cream was bought fast, the engine did not get the time to cool and the vapor lock did not dissipate.

See, how crazy looking problems are sometimes real and how all problems seem simple only when we find the solution with a cool thinking.

“To achieve the impossible; it is precisely the unthinkable that must be thought.”
– Tom Robbins, an American author

It is easy to say impossible but hard to put sincere efforts and make the task possible. It is your attitude and your perception that really matters.

“It is impossible to win the race unless you venture to run, impossible to win the victory unless you dare to battle.” Richard M. DeVos, co-author of the book Believe!

In my case, I always believed in the power of positive thinking, but never practiced it when in difficult situations. Like me, there are several people who learn the important lessons of life the hard way.

Few years ago, when I was diagnosed with a rare skin disorder, which had no cure, I went into a self-imposed exile. As the disorder was progressing with each day, I shunned the world out of the fear of isolation and antagonism from the society. Although, I knew stress and negative thinking was weighing down the treatment results, I couldn’t stop myself from imagining me in a rotten state. This mental breakdown perhaps made my family introduce me to this life changing book named, As a Man Thinketh.

Mind is the Master power that moulds and makes,
And Man is Mind, and evermore he takes
The tool of Thought, and, shaping what he wills,
Brings forth a thousand joys, a thousand ills: —
He thinks in secret, and it comes to pass:
Environment is but his looking-glass.

For me, these inspiring first lines by James Allen set the tone of a book that could literally change my destiny. The book tells us that our thoughts control our actions and make us what we are. If our thoughts are pure and generous, our actions would be so and if our thoughts are loaded with greed, we would come across as a selfish and paranoid person.

“As a man thinketh in his heart so is he,” not only embraces the whole of a man’s being, but is so comprehensive as to reach out to every condition and circumstance of his life. A man is literally what he thinks, his character being the complete sum of all his thoughts.”

Consider the case of a plant. Without a seed, a plant would not come into life. Similarly, the seeds of your thoughts are responsible for any act you do. Even the unplanned or spontaneous acts are a mirror to your thoughts.

“As the plant springs from, and could not be without, the seed, so every act of a man springs from the hidden seeds of thought, and could not have appeared without them. This applies equally to those acts called “spontaneous” and “unpremeditated” as to those, which are deliberately executed.”

James Allen’s practical way towards life has inspired several millions of people to attain success in their endeavors. As a Man Thinketh is a book that stresses the power that each individual has towards shaping his/her own character and living with peace and happiness.

“As a being of Power, Intelligence, and Love, and the lord of his own thoughts, man holds the key to every situation, and contains within himself that transforming and regenerative agency by which he may make himself what he wills.”

In short, all of us possess the power and wisdom within us to transform ourselves to what we aim to. Luck or destiny is not what determines your life, it your thoughts that has brought you to this state and in future also it will guide you to what you visualize.

“Good thoughts and actions can never produce bad results; bad thoughts and actions can never produce good results. This is but saying that nothing can come from corn but corn, nothing from nettles but nettles. Men understand this law in the natural world, and work with it; but few understand it in the mental and moral world (though its operation there is just as simple and undeviating), and they, therefore, do not co-operate with it.”

As you sow, so shall you reap… if you can understand this, your life would change overnight. It has certainly for me. Whenever you feel like you are stuck, re-visit the book and learn your lesson. After all, you are what you think of yourself…winners swear by this phrase As a Man Thinketh…

Let me give you an example.

When I first got into the rental real estate business, I had no knowledge of how it works. But I did have a basic understanding of real estate, having bought and sold properties before.

So I did two things.

First, I bought some “how-to” books and spent, maybe, 40 hours studying them.

I zipped through them pretty quickly, because most of what they taught were fundamentals. And that’s not what I was looking for. I knew I would pick up the basics on my own, just by buying my first few properties.

I was looking for secrets — inside information that could get me into profitability faster. So, more important than studying the books, I talked to knowledgeable people — lots of them — who had made millions in real estate. (I spoke to one guy at a party who had reportedly made billions.)

That’s what I do whenever I am interested in a new business. I search out pros in the field and ask as many questions as they will tolerate. I am always probing for the same things:

• What are the most common mistakes I’m likely to make?
• What is the fastest and safest way to get started?

It took about three months of this sort of research before I felt “ready” to buy.

I bought three small houses in my town. All three seemed good on paper. In reality, they were a mixed bag. I made several big mistakes in assessing their value that I won’t make again. I also quickly learned things I’ll never forget about how to write a contract and how to screen rental applications.

What I gleaned from the books and conversations was enough to get me started. It helped me avoid the worst mistakes. It put me on the right path.

But what I learned from the experience of doing it was the good stuff — the true inside information that helped me eventually establish a decamillion-dollar portfolio.

I’ve said this before, but it bears repeating: The most important knowledge about any business is invisible to outsiders. You can pick it up only when you are actively involved in the business on a day-to-day basis. You can’t know it any other way.

That kind of knowledge will determine your ultimate success — whether you keep going and become rich or stop at the starting gate and do no more.

Where are you with your great moneymaking idea? Are you “ready” to take action on it?

If not, take a few months to acquire the knowledge you need. Spend some money to educate yourself. But buy how-to books and programs only from people with proven success in the field, not from those who make money only by selling advice.

Then “fire”! The sooner you get going, the sooner you’ll succeed.

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 Michael Masterson.

When you do not act, it is probably because of some FEAR. Fear is the inability to face someone or something. When you cannot face an issue, it causes complexity and stress.

For example, if you cannot easily discuss money, you have money problems. Whenever you need to take financial action, you freeze. You end with less money.

If you are an employer and avoid staff problems, production statistics decline. Work becomes serious. Since no one resolves the staff problems, the problems persist while your business suffers.

Avoiding topics with your spouse is the most common reason for marriage problems. Hiding, withholding or suppressing your feelings and thoughts from your spouse is a giant leap toward divorce.

When fears control your life, L. Ron Hubbard points out you are controlled by shadows. If you reach out and take action despite your fears, you will discover how thin and weak the fears really are!

To illustrate this point, Ron wrote, “On Lake Tanganyika* the natives have a very interesting way of catching fish. There on the equator the sun shines straight down through the clear water. The natives take blocks of wood and string them along a long rope. They stretch this rope between two canoes and with these abreast begin to paddle towards the shoal** water. By the time they have reached the shoals, schools of fish are piled and crowded into the rocks and onto the beach. The blocks of wood on the rope make shadows which go all the way down to the bottom of the lake and the fish, seeing the approach of these shadows and the apparent solid bars which they form in the water, swim fearfully away from them and so are caught.” (*Lake Tanganyika is located in east-central Africa.)(** Shoal: shallow.)

There are several ways you can blow away the shadows that stop you from succeeding.

One effective method is role playing or drilling. Once you identify the area you have difficulty confronting, you pretend to confront the situation in a role-playing exercise. Drilling allows you to discover which parts of the problem are really problems and which are simply shadows.

For example, you need to ask your boss for a raise. Before talking to him you practice the conversation with your friend. You work out some details, change your approach and work out your best possible presentation. Because you are prepared for the meeting, you are not as nervous.

Another method of reducing fear is to approach the problem with gradient steps. You cut the problem into small bites. You successfully deal with the small parts and thus reach a full resolution.

For example, you need to fill out your tax forms. You’ve done your own taxes before, but this year is more complicated. You earned money in new ways this year and also bought a house. Instead of trying to take on the entire task in one day, you spend one day just working out how to report the new income. You spend another day just figuring out how to deduct the house-buying costs. Pretty soon, you’re down to the routine tax work you’ve done before and finish off the job.

Simply talking about the fear can reduce the effects of fear. After you openly discuss it with someone who listens, the problem often feels less difficult.

For example, you are afraid of flying in an airplane. Your spouse agrees to listen to you and you spill your guts. You describe everything about flying that scares you. After a while, you decide you can fly.

L. Ron Hubbard discovered that talking and listening is a powerful form of therapy when done correctly. He spent years developing an entire technology for one-on-one communication that removes fears for good. See link below.

In many cases, the best approach to dealing with a fear is to close your eyes and jump in. You face the fear without any regard for your feelings and emotions. You might get nervous or even terrified, but once you take the leap, you discover the walls are merely shadows.

Confronting a fear can be tough, but the reward is enormous. Confronting just a small part of a fear is an accomplishment.

Succeeding despite a fear means you have done something you could not do before. And that is real success.

Click here for more information on resolving fear, watch Dianetics: A Visual Guidebook to the Mind

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

Recently, I read in one of the “Ask” columns published in the Los Angeles Times. A woman was looking for a neighborly way to resolve her issue of a neighbor’s cigar smoke floating into her townhouse. Unfortunately, the guidance the author of this “Ask” column offered was flawed. The columnist offered some data about the hazards of second-hand smoke and a recommendation to the woman to ask the cigar smoker to smoke somewhere, other than the smoker’s own patio. Sure thing, like that’s going to happen.

Outside for Solutions

Why do you suppose this woman needed to consult the “Ask” columnist about her challenge? Could it be, as John Grey stated in his book, Men are from Mars and Women are from Venus that women tend to solve problems by committee and she needed several opinions? Or could it be that this woman was not confident enough in herself to chat with her neighbor about the problem? After all, she did ask for a “neighborly” solution—leading one to believe that she was not an extremist on the issue. But, why does this woman think she needs a referee to help her?

I find it both interesting and disturbing that so many people believe they have to seek outside guidance for simple problems like the above. What ever happened to sincere communication? When did we quit talking to one another?

The other day I heard a Trader Joe’s radio commercial that made a pungent point. The announcer stated that, unlike their competition, Trader Joe’s does not have big screen monitors in their stores. Rather, the announcer stated that one would only find customers engaged in lively conversation with other customers and crew members at their stores. I thought about this when I visited my local bank branch later that day as there was a huge screen with some sort of programming on it. I guess it was to keep me occupied so I would not talk to other bank customers about how long the line was and why they did not have more help scheduled for the afternoon?

Talking is Good

In contrast to what we all learned in school, talking is good. Listening to another person’s point of view and experiencing their window on the world eliminates distrust, misunderstanding, and encourages possibilities. What happened to sincere communication with others? In the above cigar smoke challenge, the woman could have acknowledged the cigar smoker’s right to enjoy a cigar on his own patio while also explaining the challenge she was having with his smoke ending up in her house. On this subject, I firmly believe that two people can have a reasonable discussion leading to resolution.

Since smoking a cigar is generally a 30-90 minute activity, she could have nicely asked the cigar smoker to give her a quick shout or phone call before he lit up so she could close her window until he had finished his cigar—each compromising a bit and offering the other a concession. Now how difficult is that? But instead, the “Ask” columnist suggested an in-your-face un-solution. The columnist’s un-solution will only lead to escalated conflict. Like the smoker is really going to go somewhere else and smoke his cigar after his neighbor get’s in his face? Sure, that’s really going to happen!

Eruption of Conflict

I have been a professional speaker and consultant in the area of business relationships for over two decades and it never ceases to amaze me just how many problems, in both the workplace and in personal lives, are caused from poor communication. This ugly problem seems to rear its head at an ever increasing pace. Workplace communication is frequently misunderstood.

What does this mean to you? In communicating with others, you have to be clear on the end result you are seeking. Only then can you make a request of another. Also, if you want something, you’ve got to ask for it—and not through a referee. Ask in a way that urges, motivates, and makes the other person feel good about giving you what you want. The woman that was seeking to eliminate the cigar smoke in her townhouse could have easily done this. How much more difficult would it of been for the woman to have had a conversation with her smoking neighbor, than taking the time to write to an “Ask” columnist? In the end, she received faulty counsel.

Reluctant to Communicate

Talk to one another; take a moment to be courteous and you’ll be amazed with your results. Don’t be afraid to stick your neck out, just a little bit, by asking questions. Use questions that allow you to take the temperature of another person’s feelings and attitude. Then utilize the age old adage; listen twice before speaking once. Ask a question and then be quiet and listen. Let the other talk. Please do not try to verbally over power the person to whom you’re speaking—I see this all the time. Rather try to understand what the other wants and needs. Make an effort to help them get what they want and they will be more willing to help you in return. And, please—be careful of receiving advice form newspaper “Ask” columnists.

Copyright © 2010 Ed Rigsbee http://www.rigsbee.com. All rights reserved. Grateful acknowledgment is made to Ed Rigsbee for permission to reproduce selections from the copyrighted works of Ed Rigsbee

This simple formula eliminates self-criticism, fear and stress. It is applicable to any situation and works
every time. You can use it repeatedly without limitation.

L. Ron Hubbard discovered the KRC
Triangle in 1960.

"THE K-R-C TRIANGLE"

"The points are K for
KNOWLEDGE, R for RESPONSIBILITY and C for CONTROL."

"It is difficult to be
responsible for something or control something unless you have KNOWLEDGE
of it."

"It is folly to try to control
something or even know something without RESPONSIBILITY."

"It is hard to fully know
something or be responsible for something over which you have no
CONTROL, otherwise the result can be an overwhelm."

"Little by little one can make
anything go right by

"INCREASING KNOWLEDGE . . .
,"

"INCREASING RESPONSIBILITY . .
. ,"

"INCREASING CONTROL . . .
."

"If one sorts out any
situation one finds oneself in on this basis, he will generally
succeed."

"By inching up each corner of
the KRC triangle bit by bit, ignoring the losses and making the wins
firm, a being at length discovers his power and command of life." —
L. Ron Hubbard

KRC Triangle Application Recommendations

Select a problem and write it down or
type it into your computer. Then write or type the answers for each of
these five steps.

1. Raise the Knowledge corner.

How can you increase your knowledge about
the problem? What do you need to learn about it? What should you study
to better understand the problem?

2. Raise the Responsibility corner.

How can you take more ownership for the
problem? What parts of the problem are you responsible for? Can you
accept responsibility for the parts you did not cause?

3. Raise the Control corner.

What part of the problem can you control?
How could you take a little more control for the other parts?

4. Ignore the losses.

If you focus on losses or failures, they
get bigger and more overwhelming. You then pull in even more losses. So
find ways to ignore these losses.

If ignoring losses is difficult, try
writing them down on a sheet of paper and then destroy the paper. Shift
your attention. Stop talking or thinking about them. Avoid people who
bring them up. Move on.

If you catch yourself dwelling on losses,
knock it off. Put your attention elsewhere. Stop talking about losses.
And learn to ignore the failures of others as well.

5. Make the wins firm.

What can you do to make your successes
firm? How can you solidify them?

Maybe you can write them down or put them
on a wall. Keep a record of your wins. Talk about them to everyone you
can. Celebrate them.

Also, make a habit of finding and
focusing on the wins of others. The more attention you put on success,
the more success you get.

Some of your answers to these questions
are easy, enjoyable steps. Do those right now! You will see a sudden
improvement in the problem.

Then do the tougher steps you wrote. Once
you start on them you will find they are not so tough after all.

If following these five steps does not
completely solve the problem, repeat the steps until the problem is gone
forever.

As well as solving problems for you,
these steps will start to bring out the best in you. You will discover a
new sense of command over life that you have always had, but never used.

Use the KRC Triangle to release the real
powerhouse you know that you are.

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

In this article, I will make you understand on why and how to develop strong leadership skills.

Why?
Successful management is not just about assigning tasks to the team but, to achieve them as well. It’s more about inspiring your team members and help them achieve their potential. And you can only inspire them if they respect you. And to be respected, you must develop good leadership skills.

How?

1. Ask for feedback: don’t just blindly think that you’re a good leader. At all intervals, ask for feedback. Doing so will help you in a big way. Based on feedback from others, you can understand your skills better and you will know what changes to be made.

2. Pay attention: there is a vast difference between hearing and listening. Always listen carefully to what your team members are saying. Whether it’s their problems or suggestions think of them as your own and listen. And then accordingly give your empathies or suggestions to them.

3. Communicate: a good leader must know to communicate well. Make sure that you are heard well. It is important that you’re tone of speaking is positive and motivating.

4. Respect your team members: a fundamental part of developing leadership skills is to learn to respect your team’s potential. Give them a chance to take decisions on certain issues. And when you trust them, do it completely.

5. Mean what you say: here’s a simple example; if you stress a lot on punctuality to your team members, then make sure that you’re punctual yourself first, when it comes to deadines or any other important thing. Don’t just preach, rather practice it as well.

6. Allocate leadership: leadership should not be all about you. Make sure that you distribute tasks evenly among your team members. Give them also a chance to explore and learn by themselves. There is no way better than involving more people in the leadership process.

7. Evaluate your success with that of the team: when in a team, success is not all about you. You should be responsible enough to ensure that along with you, your team is also developing. Help them in building their skills as this will enhance motivation and team performance.

Article contributed by Namrata More.

Given below is a list of self development tips that will help you achieve success:

1. Assess yourself
First, start by examining yourself. Everyone is in need of self development. So, don’t ever think you don’t . Rather, think about the areas you need to work on. Once you do that, decide on how to go about it.

2. List your goals
When you decide to work on self development, it’s very important to have a clear set of goals. So, make a list of goals you want to achieve and remember to monitor those on a regular basis so that you keep yourself focused.

3. Accept change
If you keep whining about, why good things aren’t happening to you, then you need to press the stop button at the earliest. It’s only because sometimes we just aren’t ready to accept changes. Whether good or bad, the world around us is constantly evolving with changes. So, why should you be waiting?

4. Forget the past
All of us have a past that just makes us feel uncomfortable. But constantly looking into the past and getting depressed about it will simply stub our growth. Instead look ahead at what you can do now.

5. Take hobby classes.
Life is a continuous learning process. Don’t think of age as a barrier. Instead take hobby classes to develop a new talent.

6. Identify your weaknesses
Nobody is perfect. Everyone is born with weaknesses. And we can only live a successful life, if we identify and work towards overcoming them.

7. Challenge yourself

Think of impossible goals as a challenge. Because when you work hard towards achieving them, you will understand the meaning of achievement better. Don’t settle for something easier, as you will never learn anything new.

8. Don’t stop.
There is no such end to self development. With learning, comes development. And both are a lifelong process. So, don’t you ever stop and enjoy developing yourself.

Article contributed by Namrata More.

As a 27 year old self made millionaire and entrepreneur, Jordan’s success started far earlier than most, beginning in business before he was even 10 years old. Following his passion, Jordan started his first company, an aircraft brokerage at 14 years old, and sold it by the time he was 18, while at the same time earning his commercial pilot’s license. Now a serial entrepreneur and aerobatic air-show pilot, Jordan Wirsz has dedicated his life to the enrichment of people’s lives around the globe. In 2010, Jordan will be speaking in more than 8 countries, and 2011 is already slated for 14 countries.

The Las Vegas Sun wrote “Tony Robbins, check directly behind you. You might see a motivational speaker from Las Vegas…” Jordan is taking his lifelong dedication to the art of being a “mentalist” and using it to help people transform their lives. “Most people don’t know that I I help more than the Rich and Famous” Wirsz Said. “While I have mentored Fortune 500 CEOs, multi-billionaires and Hollywood celebrities, I also work with drug addicts and people afflicted with all kinds of addictions.” Little known, Jordan Wirsz has helped over a half-dozen people get off of of Meth, one of the world’s most powerful drugs, relapse FREE. How? Find out with an interview of this up and coming personal development superstar.

To learn more about Jordan’s incredible story, please contact Rachael Campbell, Director of Public Relations for Jordan Wirsz International, or Youtube/Google Jordan Wirsz

E-mail: Rachael(at)JordanWirsz(dot)com or call 702-465-4861.
Rachael Campbell
Director of Public Relations
702 465 4861
www.JordanWirsz.com
www.BecomeIncredible.com