Posted 7/30/2002 by Josh Hinds

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For a limited time, I have permission to offer this $30 ebook free to my visitors. If you want to take advantage of this do so now, I'm not sure how long it will last (note: at the time I posted this, it was still offered -- hopefully by the time you read this, it still will be)... Click here!

Posted 7/30/2002 by Josh Hinds

Be Consistent!
by Gary Ryan Blair

Consistency - the absence of contradictions - is one of the hallmarks of success. While variety may be the spice of life, consistency is one of the keys to the successful achievement of ANY goal.

Let's have a look at Merriam-Webster's definition of "consistency":

con·sis·ten·cy - agreement or harmony of parts or features to one another or a whole: correspondence; specifically: ability to be asserted together without contradiction.

The agreement and harmony of your goal setting activities can indeed create synergy making "the whole greater than the sum of its parts."

Consistency will not only save you time by helping you simplify and focus your efforts but, more importantly, it will help you set and routinely meet the expectations you have of yourself. And that equates to a positive impact on your bottom line results.

Whether we want to admit it or not, as creatures of habit, we all like, expect and appreciate consistency. When we learn or experience something new, we expect to be able to apply that knowledge on a consistent basis.

Ask any American to name the three colors used on a traffic light and they will without a doubt say; red, yellow and green. Ask any American to name the color of a UPS truck and they will in unison say; brown. How about the color of a Tiffany's box? Robin's egg blue!

The next time you read a newspaper or magazine, take a good look at the fonts, color schemes, and margins. Then, look through and examine each section. What makes each section different but also the same? Where are the cross word puzzles? Where are the feature stories? How do you know that the weather is on the back page or that the lottery numbers are on page 2? How do you know that the letters to the editor are in the front of your favorite magazine or that editorials are in the back of your favorite newspaper?

One word - Consistency

It follows that good engineers, designers, and architects believe in the importance of consistency. The streets in American cities are good examples of both consistency and conservation of knowledge. Anywhere in America, yield and stop signs look exactly the same. Traffic lights use red, yellow, and green to mean precisely the same things regardless of the street, city or zip code you may be in, thus making them clearly identifiable anywhere.

It becomes difficult for people and society when their knowledge of things breaks down, hence the introduction of inconsistency. An American, visiting a country with different street signs other than their own will inevitability make mistakes until they learn the new signs, which in fact are consistent to the people of that country.

Even subtle variances and inconsistencies like the difference between kilometers and miles per hour can and will cause American drivers to make mistakes.

Here's a few examples of how a consistent approach can maximize your performance and accelerate the rate with which you achieve any goal.

* Consistently show up on time;
* Consistently tell the truth and do the right thing;
* Consistently honor your commitments;
* Consistently go the extra mile for your customers;
* Consistently take action and avoid excuses and procrastination;
* Consistently deliver excellent work;
* Consistently work out and eat the right foods;
* Consistently meet or exceed quota;
* Consistently pursue your passion and purpose;
* Consistently invest your money wisely;
* Consistently honor God;
* Consistently make everything you say, think and do count.

Consistency is wonderful when used appropriately because it improves the experience for both yourself and the beneficiaries of your efforts.

When Is Consistency Bad?

"A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds..." ? Ralph Waldo Emerson

But is consistency all there is to the successful achievement of ANY goal? We may be perfectly consistent with respect to our behaviors, moral principles and values, yet our behaviors are unhealthy, our principles may be incorrect and our values misplaced.

We may even be consistent in treating others as we treat ourselves, but this kind of consistency would hardly be the mark of a good life if we happen to treat ourselves poorly. We might say that while consistency is surely not sufficient for success, it is absolutely necessary for success!

Success requires that there be consistency among our behaviors and in how we apply these behaviors. Success in any endeavor also requires a consistency between our standards and our actions, as well as among our inner desires. Finally, success requires that there be consistency between how we treat ourselves and how we treat others.

In some cases, consistency can become a self-perpetuating monster: It has to be used for a purpose. A foolish consistency is one that serves no benefit for the end user or their beneficiaries such as:

* Consistently being late for meetings;
* Consistently lying and cheating;
* Consistently disregarding commitments;
* Consistently procrastinating;
* Consistently avoiding responsibility by making excuses;
* Etc...

Why Is Consistency Good? Consistency is great because people like predictable things. Family, friends, co-workers and customers feel comfortable when they can rely on you to do exactly what they think you will do and have done in the past.

This appears to be almost like a law of human nature. We have a strong preference for consistency in our lives. We want things to work the same way every time they happen. When we wake up in the morning we want to find the floor under our feet, the sun above our heads, and coffee in our cups. And just as we expect these kinds of physical consistency, we also expect psychological consistency. If we had marriages, families, and jobs yesterday, we expect to find them today in pretty much the same condition.

Thus, we have "mental worlds" of our expectancies about the world, the people in them, and our relationships with the world and other people. And the glue that holds all these mental relationships together is consistency. Why should we expect our spouses to love us tomorrow? Because it is consistent. Consistency becomes like a form of human gravity. It holds everything down and together. It helps us to understand the world and our place in it.

Be consistent. The overall personal and collective win of consistent behavior patterns far outweighs any possible value of inconsistency.

And now for my consistent close;

Everything Counts!
Gary Ryan Blair
__________

Written by Gary Ryan Blair - The GoalsGuy is your online goal setting and personal leadership coach. Check-out My Personal Strategic Plan and learn how to achieve more in the next year than most people do in a lifetime. See why best selling author Brian Tracy said, "This is the most remarkable, simple, and practical guide for ANYONE who wants to create the ideal life!" To learn more click here!

Posted 7/25/2002 by Josh Hinds

My buddy (and personal development radio show host ) Mike Litman has done it again! This time he brings you a power packed interview with motivational powerhouse & success coach Tony Robbins! Click here to have a listen (requires the free realplayer)... Get ready for two very high energy people! I'm certain you'll love this interview :-)

Posted 7/20/2002 by Josh Hinds

Dream Big Dreams
By Andrew Wood

When Walt Disney sought financial backing to open a theme park in Orange County, California, no one was interested in lending him money. They thought he was crazy. "Mickey Mouse!" Are you kidding?

You can bet that IBM didn?t feel threatened when Stephen Jobs, of Apple Computer, began to compete with them, working in his garage.

Ross Perot started a billion dollar company with $1,000.

Richard Branson developed Virgin Airways and a global media empire in just ten years, starting with under $10,000.

Ray Kroc was a paper cup salesman when he decided, aged 54, to buy a hamburger stand owned by the MacDonald brothers.

Everybody laughed at Fred Smith when he founded a company called Federal Express that would deliver letters and packages overnight.

The moral for any leader, salesman, manager, executive, or entrepreneur is clear. It?s not the money, it?s not the age, and it?s certainly not what others think can happen. The foundation for leadership success, be it in sports, business, or life in general is dreaming big dreams and turning those dreams into a vision. As Walt Disney said, "If you can dream it you can do it."

When a business starts without big dreams and a vision to go with them, it has no direction, no vitality, and none of the driving force needed to achieve success in the marketplace. Just as when a business achieves success and then fails to dream bigger dreams, it soon becomes bogged down in mediocrity. Legendary Leaders are by nature big dreamers, goals setters, planners and action-oriented.

They take their dream, find their message and boil it down to its essence so it?s easy to repeat, comprehend and get others to buy into. Because of this, they act with a sense of destiny that helps build some of the other factors necessary for Legendary, including confidence and decisiveness. This in turn contributes to their communication skills, charisma and trust.
_____________
The Millionaires Library author, Andrew Wood, is recognized worldwide as a business, marketing, leadership, and personal development expert. He is the author of The Millionaires Library, which delivers you the essence of knowledge from over 1000 business, sales, marketing, leadership, and personal development books in a single powerful set. To learn more visit through the following link!

Posted 7/17/2002 by Josh Hinds

THE MASTER OF "GOODSPEAK"
by Bob Burg

Have you ever known of someone who sets an example you can learn from, emulate, and utilize for the rest of your life? Such a person is my Dad. Dad's ability isn't only finding the good in everyone, but also verbalizing it. He's mastered building people both directly and to others. Most people gossip. Dad finds and speaks the good. When he must correct, it's always with tact and kindness.

Most people relate to others the bad spoken of them, creating conflict. Dad always relates the good someone said about them, bringing people closer together.

Have you ever heard husbands, when speaking to others, make unkind remarks about their wives? It's one of those "macho" things. Sure, they're "only kidding," but words matter. Examples, good and bad, are set, especially for children. Dad ALWAYS speaks of Mom in the most complimentary, glowing terms. As does she of him. They began poor and built a successful business. Although Dad was the one in the public eye and Mom more comfortable behind the scenes, Dad always made sure everyone knew who he considered to be the true driving force behind the business.

My favorite "Dad story" took place when I was 12. We were having carpet installed in our home. The crew boss was one of those stereotypical beer-guzzlin', hard-livin' guys, who would have probably belonged to Ralph Kramden's Raccoon Lodge from the old Honeymooner's TV show (nothing wrong with that - just painting a picture:-)).

For lunch, my folks bought pizza for the crew. Dad went to talk with the boss about the job. I was around the corner listening.

The boss said, "This is an expensive job. Women will really spend your money, won't they?"

Dad responded, "Well, I'll tell you, when they were right there with you before you had any money, it's a pleasure to do anything for them you possibly can."

This wasn't the answer he expected. He was looking for negative talk about wives which, to him, was natural. He tried again, "But, gee, they'll really play off that and spend all they can, won't they?"

Dad replied, as I knew he would, "Hey, when they're the reason you're successful, you want them to do the things they enjoy. There's no greater pleasure." Strike two.

The crew boss tried one more time, "And they'll take that as far as they can, huh?" Dad responded, "She's the best thing that ever happened to me. I'd do anything to make her happy."

I was trying not to laugh. I knew he wanted Dad to give in just a little bit and say, "Yeah, I guess that's true." But I knew that wouldn't happen...not in a million years!

Finally, the boss gave up. Maybe he learned something about respecting one's spouse. Maybe not. But it taught a young boy a lot about the power of respect and edification.

Mom and Dad recently celebrated their 43rd wedding anniversary. They still hold hands, and are more in love than ever. Would there be any doubt?
_______________
JUST RELEASED: Own Bob's ebook, "Winning Without Intimidation"! Greatly expanded version of original. Get *what* you want, *when* you want it, and from *whom* you want it... with class, style and grace. From better relationships with your spouse and children, to handling your boss, the bureaucrat, the difficult neighbor, and even avoiding traffic tickets, this ebook has it all. To learn more visit through the following link!

Posted 7/16/2002 by Josh Hinds

THE DREAM FORMULA - Get Clear & Take Action
By Marcia Wieder - America's Dream Coach

Often we are so mired in reality, living from our clocks and calendars, that dreaming can seem frivolous. But without our dreams, all we have is reality. My formula for Making Your Dreams Come True is simple and applies not only to personal dreams, but to the mission and vision for your business as well.

First, get clear about what you want. Second, remove the obstacles to achieving it, especially your limiting beliefs. Third, share your dream and build DreamTeams. The word "dream" has long been misinterpreted. Don't confuse this with a fantasy like winning the lottery.

The difference is, in a fantasy, you can not design a strategy to attain it. Making Your Dreams Come True is planning how to get what you want. Your dream can be anything from spending more time with the family to doubling your business. Start with Step One, clarifying what you want. Put the essence of what you're committed to having into a single sentence. Write down what you want. And the shortcut technique is to share your dream with others.

You can develop an action plan for Making Your Dreams Come True by deciding now what you want and what you are willing to do about it. Here's a simple technique. Split a piece of paper in half. On the top half define your vision. With as much detail as possible, clarify your dream. On the bottom half, spell out your reality about your dream.

Where are you as opposed to where you want to be? Include any doubts or concerns as part of your reality. Now, here's the defining moment. Which one are you more committed to, your dream or your reality? The evidence will be in the action you are or are not taking on a daily basis. Demonstrate that your dream matters and that you believe in it, by acting on it today.
___________
Marcia Wieder is a San Francisco-based motivational speaker, specializing in goal setting, visionary thinking and team building. Her clients include Lucent, AT&T, American Express and the Young Presidents Organization. She is the author of four books, and is currently featured in her own PBS television special called Making Your Dreams Come True and is the founder of Dream University(R), her week-long program on igniting passion and discovering your purpose. Reach her at 415-433-9552 or by visiting her website.

Posted 7/03/2002 by Josh Hinds

The Perception Into The Deception
by Paul Bauer

What if you knew that there was a conspiracy...

A conspiracy so widespread that it infects every one of us (even when we least suspect it). This conspiracy has caused major disease, created sleepless nights, caused every war that has ever been fought and countless amounts of pain to millions of people across our planet.

This conspiracy has kept millions from living their lives with any real purpose - so instead, they live their lives following other's directives, working for "corporate cults" (more about these nasty groups later) and allowing ourselves to be enslaved in an age of "freedom". This conspiracy carries on from generation to generation - mostly hidden from our conscious awareness.

This conspiracy has prevented great authors, great singers, great inventors, and budding new talents from ever tapping their hidden genius.

Q. "How could such a conspiracy continue in such a free world, Paul?"

Ahh, your question begins the search... and is the first step in awareness...

All we need to do is look around... and notice how often it rears its ugly head. This conspiracy prevents us from knowing who we really are, and what our true purpose is in this lifetime.

Tell me more...

Q. "What can I do about this conspiracy?"

Good question...

First we need to become aware that it's even happening.

Look... watch... be curious... observe... notice... Watch and listen for clues. (and use your powerful intuition). When you sense conflict, stress, anger, or anguish... your taking the first step towards solving this age-old deception.

"The Perfect Crime?"

As you notice the conflict or stress... Just notice it...

But... DO NOT REACT or OPPOSE IT - IF You do, you'll only energize the very conflict that you're trying to "get rid of" - even further. Instead, play "detective" - like
the TV cop Columbo, who always new the guilty party, but just quietly and patiently waited for him to "slip up" or make a mistake. (All while the culprit grew cockier
and cockier that he'd never be caught - after all, the culprit thought he had designed the "perfect crime", right?

So, what insidious force is wreaking all this havoc? Is it some government institution? Is it some corporation? Is it some alien race?...

It would be so easy to blame this conspiracy on some "outside" force, but the mystery lies within... Within every one of us. Are you curious to uncover the identity of this
dangerous little critter?

The Culprit Is Revealed... This mysterious force is known as the Ego. The Ego?
Yes, that Freudian concept (often forgotten after Psychology 101 as a "factoid"). The part of each of us that is both our undoing and acts as the "mailman" who delivers our greatest lessons in life.

So what can we do to release ourselves from this "Prison of the Ego Effect"? Step back from conflict... from fear, from pain...

Really Breathe... whenever you feel pressured... Close your eyes and get back in touch with the REAL you. Whenever any feeling that is unwanted begins to surface, just accept the feeling. Don't judge it or try to "figure it out". It (the feeling) is only trying to teach you a valuable lesson... So, if we run from our fears, instead of asking them for the true lesson they have to teach us, we'll be doomed to repeat the same pain and suffering that we've been experiencing in our past.

It's Time To Awaken From The Conspiracy we all deserve to move beyond the Ego's trap. You deserve (today) to feel more Joy, more Love, more Spirit than your Ego wants to allow... But, you now know the secret... deep within you.

As you go forward today and into your week, just become aware of your feelings, and notice your breathing. If something in your life causes you stress or unrest, You NOW know that it's just trying to teach to how to rise above it...

The more you just notice and observe the ego as it tries to overtake you, the more you sense the real perception into the deception - the deception of the Ego. And the return of the REAL you - Your True Self- Your Spirit.

B r e a t h e deeply now... and allow your wisdom to unfold today from within you
my friend...
_____________
Paul Bauer is the creator of Dream-Minder, software that "Frees Your Mind and Lifts Your Spirit." If you would like to learn about software that helps you live the wisdom that you've just read, Click here for your Free Dream-Minder Trial.

Posted 7/01/2002 by Josh Hinds

The Definition Of Wealth
by Brian Tracy

If you want to be wealthy, you must understand what wealth is. Here is the best definition of wealth you will ever find. Wealth is "Cash flow from other sources."

MAKE YOUR MONEY WORK FOR YOU - What this means is that, you are not wealthy just because you earn a lot of money. You are only wealthy when your money works for you. To become wealthy, your main job is to acquire money and then put it to work making more money for you.

ADD VALUE CONTINUALLY - The key to creating wealth is simple. It is called "adding value." Successful people are those who are always looking for ways to add value in some way to a person, a company, a product or a service.

DO IT FASTER - Here is an example of adding value: Domino's Pizza. The founders of Domino's Pizza took a common food, offered by thousands of little restaurants and added a value to the pizza by delivering it more rapidly than anyone else. The added value of speed enabled Domino's to create a billion dollar empire and made the founder of Domino's, Tom Monahan, one of the richest men in the world.

BUY IT CHEAPER SOMEWHERE ELSE - Another way to add value is to buy something in one place at one price and then make it available in another place for another price. For example, buying a product or service manufactured in Europe or Asia, importing it to the United States and making it available to people to whom it was not available before, is a way of adding value for which you can charge a higher price.

IMPROVE THE LIFE OR WORK OF OTHERS - All manufacturing and marketing is based on this principle of added value. All importation and distribution aims to add value. Performing a service that enhances the life or work of another person adds value. A dentist who takes away pain is adding value. An accountant who saves a client money on taxes is adding or actually creating value. A salesperson who introduces a new product or service to a customer that helps that customer in some way is adding value. All financial success, especially business success, is based on adding value. It is based on the old saying, "Find a need and fill it."

COMBINE AND RECOMBINE THE ELEMENTS OF VALUE - All successful business is based on someone bringing together the factors of production, such as labor, capital, raw materials and management, and creating a product or service that a customer will pay a price for that is in excess of the cost of producing it.

HOW FORTUNES ARE MADE - Adding value is the way that all fortunes are made. Whenever you see an opportunity to give people what they want at a price greater than it costs you to produce that product or service, you see an opportunity to make a profit, build a business and begin moving toward financial success. Almost any business or occupation can make you financially independent if you can find a way to add enough value.

ACTION EXERCISES - Now, here are two actions you can take immediately to add more value to your time and activities:

First, take the time to be absolutely clear about what it is that people want and need to improve their lives and work. The more clear you are about their real needs, the easier it is for you to satisfy them at a higher level.

Second, look for ways to add value to what you are doing every day in every way. Never be satisfied with the status quo. One small idea to add value can be the starting point of a great fortune.
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Brian Tracy is one of the world's leading authorities on personal and business success. His fast-moving talks and seminars are loaded with powerful, proven ideas and strategies that you can apply immediately to get better results in every area. Visit Brian's web site and take advantage of his FREE audio program offer - 21 Success Secrets Of Self Made Millionaires, or 21 Great Ways To Manage Your Time And Double Your Productivity.