Posted 2/28/2005 by Josh Hinds

"One of the wonderful aspects of the human imagination is its power to break through the barriers of time and space. It can see things not as they are but as the can be." -- Denis Waitley

"The man who has no imagination has no wings." -- Muhammad Ali

"One of the greatest assets you have is your imagination." -– Mark Victor Hansen

If you enjoyed the quotes above be sure to visit our Motivational Quotes section where you'll find over 13,000 more to choose from... To your success, Josh Hinds :-)

Posted 2/25/2005 by Josh Hinds

The Truth About Using Affirmations - Does the practice of saying affirmations really work?
by Jack Roberts

We've all heard about using affirmations as part of our personal growth. But have you ever tried them? Most people who have tried using affirmations have done so with mixed results. Some people have trouble with affirmations because affirmations sometimes "feel like a lie".

And frankly, a lot of people feel that they just don't work at all. But using affirmations is one of those teachings that just doesn't seem to go away. A lot of people still believe in them and many respected speakers still preach the use of them.

But there are still some big questions about using affirmations:

1. If they do work, why don't they work all the time?

2. Is there a proper way to "say" them?

3. How long do I have to wait for what I'm affirming to show up ?

Well, I want to clear away some of the fog about using affirmations.

WHAT'S SO GREAT ABOUT AFFIRMATIONS?
Affirmations can be used to destroy bad habits and create good ones.
Affirmations can help you get clear and stay focused.
Affirmations can help you speed up the progress on your goals.
Affirmations keep you balanced and calm.
Affirmations can help you live the life you want.
Affirmations can change your life.


The key, is that you really need to know how to use them. It is important to first understand what affirmations are really all about.

In a nutshell, affirmations are everything you think, say, believe and feel. So if you've ever recited affirmations that just didn't happen in your life, it's because there is some conflict between what you are saying and who you are.

Once you come to an understanding of what affirmations are, you need to know how they work. I don't have enough room in this article to explain it all, but understand that our affirmations directly relate to our energy. Our energy directly relates to the Universe. The Universe relates back to us. So in other words, our affirmations work based on, (again), who we are.

Are you starting to notice a common thread? You see, the affirmations really have no power in the Universal scheme of things, it is you that has all the power. Affirmations are simply a tool; a tool for influencing you. And you - by way of your energy (or vibrations) and your actions, influence the Universal flow as it relates to your life.

SO WHAT DO AFFIRMATIONS ACTUALLY DO FOR YOU?

Affirmations are truly the key to getting yourself in line with what you want, need and desire in life. You see, affirmations, when used properly, change the way you think. They change the way you look at things; at yourself, your problems, your hopes and dreams. Once you change the way you think, feel and believe - you can then take the appropriate action to manifest your desires. And when you become harmonious with your affirmations - the things you are affirming began to show up.


BUT THERE IS A FLIPSIDE

Affirmations operate in our lives whether we use them or not. If left unchecked, our affirmations are whatever feelings and thoughts are going on inside us. Those feelings and thoughts become our reality. That explains why we wind up with things in our lives that we don't want, and don't always get the things we do want. So whether you believe in the power of affirmations or not - they are already operating in your life. That's why it is wise to learn to understand and use them properly.

In order to really get a full understanding of how these principles work, grab a copy of my e-book, "Affirmative Power!" It's available on our website at www.YourUltimateSelf.com

Now, I'm going to help you understand some very important principles about affirmations, so that you can start using them effectively today.

SIX KEY PRINCIPLES FOR USING AFFIRMATIONS EFFECTIVELY

1. Before using affirmations, take time to study how and why they work. Once you come to an understanding of them, your affirmations will become much more effective.

2. Using affirmations out of a book are fine, but the most effective ones are the ones you write yourself. When you write your own affirmations - they are you, from your heart and soul. Even if you see a really great affirmation in a book, change it somewhat so that it becomes yours.

3. Write your affirmations so that they are stated in a positive, powerful way.

4. Have a special time and place for your affirmations. Recite them with energy and conviction. Recite them on a regular basis - at least twice a day. And if an affirmation feels stale - tweak it, change it, or trash it and start over.

5. Develop a strong faith to support your affirmations. Without a strong faith, your affirmations have little chance of success.

6. Live your affirmations. Remember when I said that "you are your affirmations"? You have to embody them - live them. And your affirmations have to reflect who you are, how you feel and what you believe.

Affirmations are extremely powerful yet, they are one of the most overlooked techniques for personal growth. This is because most people do not understand how they work. Do yourself one of the biggest favors of your life, learn about the power of affirmations, and how to use them properly. Put these principles to work in your life. If you do, you will see your life change in ways that will pleasantly surprise and delight you.

Ultimately Yours,
Jack Roberts

"The Dean of Affirmations"
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Jack Roberts has been a speaker, trainer and author of personal development material for over 15 years. He was a "personal coach" even before the term or the industry existed. Jack is the author of several books including "Affirmative Power!" and "Ultimately You". You can find these books as well as links to other great resources at www.YourUltimateSelf.com

P.S. If you got some good ideas about using affirmations from the article above don't delay on putting them into practice. Remember the saying, "nothing happens without first, Action"... Keep that in mind and starting putting the ideas above to work in your life... To your success, Josh Hinds :-)

Posted 2/23/2005 by Josh Hinds

The Brilliant You, Unreleased!
by Fran Briggs

You're a remarkable person. But, you knew that already. Still, buried among apathy, unbelief and inhibition, is the brilliant "you" waiting to be released. You already knew that, too. A few disappointments here, several temporary defeats there, and POOF! just like that, you settled for being a risk-conscious, opportunity-self-denied, generality. Nobody makes any progress by standing still.

You're not an exception; and you're not alone. In fact, you have plenty of company. But, why settle for a life that looks like just about everyone else's? Do something magnificent with your God-given gifts and boldly distinguish yourself from the masses. Decide-on this day-to connect with your brilliance, within.

Paramount in your quest for brilliance is the personal development and daily utilization of your talents and abilities. As a matter of fact, it's required. It's not necessary to be perfect. Striving for excellence in everything you do is enough to release your brilliance.

Trust me. You were not born to be "mild." So cut it out! There's an entire universe out there starving for your gifts. How long will you continue to wait to take those last four classes needed for your degree? What career have you just been "wishing it were so" about? If all you can see is yourself remaining 16 units short of your degree, how can you possibly prepare for an exciting future? If you can't believe for a meaningful vocation now, will you have the passion to believe for one later?

Challenge yourself. Commit to do just two things this hour that will untap your brilliance. Revamp your resume; make a phone call to your advisor. Even a modest amount of brilliance unreleased, would relay the message to your brain: "Wow, she's serious!"

Ignite your passion. Inhale, then excel. Stand and deliver! See, then be!

Your life matters. Visualize your brilliance totally unreleased. Then boldly, step into the vision.

©2005, All Rights Reserved, Fran Briggs
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Fran Briggs is a "motivational speaker of the inspirational kind" and speaks to men, women and children from all backgrounds. Ms. Briggs is the author of several books including, "You Seeds for Success." She is also the President of The Fran Briggs Companies, a personal development company that delivers dynamic and innovative tools for success and services for their clients including workshops, trainings, books and CDs. Visit the company's website at http://www.franbriggs.com Contact Fran personally at franbriggs@aol.com

Posted 2/21/2005 by Josh Hinds

Your Every Day Habits Are Broadcasting Your Hidden Fears
by Lisa Jimenez, M.Ed.

Loud and Clear

The first step to your breakthrough is to listen to what you say and watch what you do on a daily basis. These habits of behavior are very reflective to what you believe and what you fear.

If you say one thing...
"I want to have an intimate relationship."
"I want to become a director."
"I want to become top sales person."
"I want to lose weight and get fit."

But your behaviors reveal a different message...
"You instigate an argument."
"You lose an important phone number or misplace a file."
"You procrastinate on doing the very things that will ensure your success."
"You consistently hit the snooze button or you find things that must be done instead of hitting the gym."

These self-sabotage behaviors occur when there is a discrepancy between what say you want and what your behaviors prove you want. These behaviors can turn into habits if they are not addressed and stopped. They are a reflection of your fears caused by negative beliefs you have toward your goals.

So, did you think about what fears are keeping you from your goals? Evaluate your behaviors – your daily habits – and notice the connection between sabotage behavior and your hidden fears. How is sabotage keeping you safe from facing and eliminating your fears?

Expose Hidden Fears by Evaluating Sabotage Behavior and Bad Habits!

Have a great day!
Lisa Jimenez M.Ed.
_______________
Lisa Jimenez, M.Ed., has helped thousands of top salespeople shatter their self-limiting beliefs and finally get the breakthrough success they want. When it comes to personal productivity and creating unstoppable momentum—there is no one better for your salespeople than Lisa. Visit Rx-Success.com for business building success resources.

P.S. Take a minute to learn more about my AudioMotivation.com membership site -- and see why one of our members said, "Listening to all these success stories and motivating messages keeps me going from day to day...I really am thrilled with it...even though at this time I'm not what you would call 'financially secure', (YET)... I can't afford to not have membership with your site/service...evening TV is a thing of the past as I putter on the computer and listen...listen...listen...I feel like a huge sponge...but I refuse to be wrung out"... Learn more about AudioMotivation.

-- Here's to your success, Josh Hinds :-)

Posted 2/20/2005 by Josh Hinds

Are You a "Can Do" Person?
by Michael Angier

Sad but true. When it comes to the people who can be counted upon to get a job done--correctly and on time--the numbers are few. In my experience, out of a hundred people, the number of "get-it-done" people are in the single digits.

The good news is that if you resolve to become one of these people, you will easily stand out from the crowd.

Of course there are large numbers of people who manage to hold onto their job simply by doing their job. But I'm talking about working unsupervised. I'm talking about taking initiative--setting a goal or taking on a project--and sticking with it until it's accomplished.

The vast majority of people can show up for a job they dislike but can't seem to set and achieve goals on their own.

And that's what separates the winners from the spectators.

I used to have a plaque that read, "There are three kinds of people: those who make it happen, those who watch it happen and those who wonder WHAT happened."

In terms of getting it done, I think there are FOUR kinds of people:

1. Those who never start.

2. Those who start but give up too quickly.

3. Those who start, work hard and hang in there, but aren't flexible enough with their strategies to complete the project.

4. Those few who start and continue to persist with a willingness to change tactics in order to get it done.

Action Point:

Determine to be one of the few who DO instead of the many who DON'T. Be your word. Do what you resolve to do--every time.

In doing so you'll develop a habit of completion. You will earn a reputation for being someone who can be counted upon to "get it done."
______________
(c) Copyright 1995-2005 Success Networks International. Success Net is a worldwide association committed to helping people become more knowledgeable, productive and effective. Their mission is to inform, inspire and empower people to be their best-personally and professionally. Free subscriptions, memberships, books and SuccessMark Cards. Visit Success Net.

Posted 2/17/2005 by Josh Hinds

Gratitude: The Secret Behind Creativity
by Nancy Marmolejo

When you think of being more creative, what comes to mind? Most people think in terms of artistic skills, but creativity manifests itself in a number of ways beyond the obvious. Picture creativity like a jet stream that flows all around us: when we step up to the flow and dip our hands in, we easily grab wonderful ideas, refreshed insights and innovative actions.

At times, things get in our way and we lose our contact with the creative flow. We consider ourselves in a rut, not creative, unproductive, dull. There is a simple practice that magically ignites the creative juices and brings joy to all parts of life. It takes practice, commitment, and an open mind.

It is gratitude. Giving thanks, appreciating others, acknowledging the wonderful things we have in our lives.

Gratitude is extremely powerful and can’t be activated unless consciously practiced every day of our lives. It can turn a sour mood into a joyous one, make us laugh at our own silly shortcomings, and open our hearts up to increased appreciation of all that surrounds us. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure it out… it just takes willingness.

Do the following ritual acts daily for at least 30 days. After 30 days, you’re free to discontinue and your misery will be gladly refunded. J

1. Make a Gratitude list.

Start reciting the alphabet and fill in a person, place or thing for each letter. (If you're stuck for people's names that start with the letter X, remember Xena the Warrior Princess and my friends Gil and Lily's cool kid Xiarel. He won't mind if you're grateful for him!) Making a Gratitude List is a wonderful way to shift your focus when feeling down.

2. Write thank you notes for everything.

Have a wonderful client? Send her a card. Do you appreciate the service at a neighborhood store? Write a note saying so. Feeling extra artistic? Make your own card and envelope. Be creative.

3. Free e-cards are everywhere on the Internet.

These are easy ways to send a grateful thought to someone.

4. When you go out to eat or patronize a store that gives you exceptional service, ask for the manager.

Tell her what a wonderful time you had and how nice it was to visit.

5. Whenever you write a check, jot the words "Thank You!" in the memo line.

Even though you're parting with your dear cash, think of the goods or services you enjoyed in return. (Some people believe that this practice will attract wealth... you never know unless you try!) When you endorse a check, be sure to write thank you for the abundance.

6. Thank the people in your life who would least expect it.

"Mom, thank you for having me." She'll probably come back at you with a shocked look, but think how dull the world would be without you!

7. Thank a child for something. Children learn from example. Teach your children about gratitude when they’re young.

8. Thank an elder. Our elders have such a wealth of knowledge and experience to offer us. Take a moment to express your gratitude to a special older person in your life.

9. Write a thank you letter to your Higher Power. Express your gratitude for your life and all that is around you.

10. Write a letter of thanks to yourself. What are your special gifts and traits? What makes you uniquely you?

Challenge yourself to practicing these acts of gratitude everyday for the next month. Use your creative gifts to add that unique touch of yours to the way you express thanks.

Your creativity will rise to the occasion at unexpected times. Welcome it and have fun!
______________
Nancy Marmolejo is a life and business coach for creative women and the owner of Comadre Coaching. To contact Nancy, email info@comadrecoaching.com or call 714-777-1216. Sign up for Nancy’s award winning newsletter, The Pocket Comadre, by visitng http://www.ComadreCoaching.com.

Posted 2/16/2005 by Josh Hinds

By Vic Johnson

"Until thought is linked with purpose there is no intelligent accomplishment." (As A Man Thinketh)

In her book, "Unstoppable", Cynthia Kersey writes that a prominent psychologist asked 3,000 people, "What have you to live for?" An amazing 94% answered by saying they had no definite purpose for their lives - 94% percent!! With those kind of results, is it any wonder that there are so many unhappy people in our world today?

James Allen also tells us on this subject that, "They who have no central purpose in their life fall an easy prey to worries, fears, troubles, and self-pity." When I was part of the 94% without a purpose my life was constantly dark with all types of worries, fears and troubles. I was a ship without a rudder floating aimlessly in a raging sea. Nothing in my life seemed to go right.

I believe we were created with a purpose in our heart, and part of our journey here is to discern that purpose and to act on that purpose.

Purpose puts power and excitement in our life. It keeps us from looking at the little picture of "me" and causes us to look at the big picture of "we."

During this time of reflection on the old year and anticipation of the New Year, stop and spend some quality time thinking about your purpose. Refuse to go another year without having a stated purpose and some goals to back it up.

Ralph Marston, who writes The Daily Motivator, says "Your wishes, desires, hopes, dreams, opinions, likes and dislikes, at their very deepest level, revolve around a purpose. You can sense it. It is there. Pay attention to the times you really feel good about yourself. Ask yourself why this is so? Keep asking until you touch a purpose so fundamental it cannot be explained in any other way."

I don't know who Barry Munro is, but I recently read his great quote on the power of purpose. "You are only as strong as your purpose, therefore let us choose reasons to act that are big, bold, righteous and eternal.

And that's worth thinking about.
_____________
Vic Johnson speaker and founder of a host of personal development websites. You can grab your complimentary copy of "As A Man Thinketh" by James Allen's, a timeless success classic here.

Posted 2/08/2005 by Josh Hinds

The following is an excerpt from the book Triumph from Failure
by Alistair McAlpine, Kate Dixey
Published by Thomson; February 2005;$24.95US/$37.95CAN; 1-58799-181-0
Copyright © 2005 Alistair McAlpine, Kate Dixey

Chapter One

Civilization's Cornerstone: Kindness

Kindness is the fuel of civilization, politeness and courtesy its etiquette, its formalities, and dignity its aim. Civilization is about responsibility for your own actions, and it is about tolerating other people's actions. One person trying to accept another's habits is the essence of civilization. Kindness typically reserved for the home and loved ones can be an attitude encompassing your entire life.

Kindness is a gentle, thoughtful, peaceful thing, most effective in its simplicity. Most humans have a tendency towards altruism -- it has been proven in all parts of the world that part of the recovery process of disaster victims is altruistic behaviour. Lord Byron, the famous nineteenth-century English romantic poet, wrote beautifully of kindness, "The drying up a single tear has more of honest fame than shedding seas of gore." There is a gentleness to kindness that is noble.

Kindness gives you not only strength, but also an inner beauty. The American philosopher and poet, Ralph Waldo Emerson, wrote, "There is no beautifier of complexion, or form, or behaviour, like the wish to scatter joy and not pain around us."

Kindness, however, is not just the stuff of poetry and poets; it is also the stuff of sound business sense. You never know to whom you are being kind. Kindness to an unfortunate may result in, and indeed often has turned out, to be repaid 100 times. The twentieth-century French writer, André Gide, had a view of kindness, "True kindness presupposes the faculty of imagining as one's own the suffering and joys of others." What Gide refers to here is, in fact, sensitivity. If you are to succeed in business, you need sensitivity, and sensitivity can be developed. In fact, "Kindness can become its own motive."

It should be easy to express kindness at work as opportunity abounds with typically large groups of people around you. People who show kindness demonstrate strength of character; it is admired and it is contagious. Importantly, kindness to your colleagues shows that you have confidence in your own ability, and shows that you have strength of character. Those around you will notice both of these and admire them. Both of these characteristics, strength of character and confidence, are qualifications for promotion.

Admiration is totally different from popularity in the workplace. Bosses prefer to promote those who people admire and are often suspicious of those who are merely popular. Often it is believed that there is an emotional expense in giving kindness. People often avoid giving kindness in the belief that it makes them feel emotionally drained. These people are mistaken. The truth is, as we have to learn everything else in life, we must learn about giving kindness. Giving in a truly profound way is wonderful. If you really give profoundly, you will feel it in your heart and you will see it reflected in the people around you.

"We are made kind by being kind," wrote Eric Hoffer, the American social philosopher in the 1950s. And in the first century A.D., Publius Syrus, a Roman slave and mime, knew what some biologists and social scientists claim now to have proven, "You can accomplish by kindness what you cannot do by force." Kindness requires patience, an appreciation of the importance of others, a certain diplomacy. Compassion and kindness may sound sentimental but they actually lead to a deeper connection and rapport that create trust, a friendly atmosphere, compassion, and most importantly for business, an enjoyable synchronicity and harmony in the working environment.

The people who are able to create such an environment and display these qualities are people who others trust to become a leader in the business world and the community.

Leadership evolves out of expertise, ambition and luck, but true inspiration comes with a willingness to connect your own vulnerability with somebody else's. So do not pass up the opportunity to remain silent and caring if the need arises. This so-called "soft" management approach is the ability to make yourself open and sensitive to others' feelings. It takes courage to be quiet and listen to someone else's discomfort. This can feel strange within a working framework, but actually it forms a greater professional respect. The art of kindness is not just approaching a market challenge, but meeting the needs of each individual to find a resolution.

Kindness to those around you is important, but perhaps more important is kindness to yourself, the most difficult form of kindness to practice. Reward not only your success but also your effort. Kindness to yourself helps deal with rejection. You may get disheartened, and self-kindness alleviates frustration brought on by an initial lack of success.

Often, other people do not want you to succeed, so self-kindness is not only important, it is necessary. You cannot get it from others. Kindness to those who fail wins appreciation. Kindness to those who win when you fail brings respect. Kindness is a building block of a happy life. Kindness is born in consideration and love. Teach yourself to be considerate, mostly in small matters, and consideration for others in big matters will become second nature.

In relationships of all natures, it is well worth remembering that your perspective of other people will change with the differing situations in which you find yourself. The memory of a life is made up of many small incidents. Even large incidents are made up of small incidents, some details well remembered, some half remembered; some, in the nature of folklore, are distorted fact and embellished fantasy -- details invented that for you have become facts. These incidents, as the dots that comprise a photograph, are the picture of your life and become a complete memory.

When the circumstances of your life change, the pre-eminencies of these small dots rearrange themselves and the picture of your life alters. Your attitude and perception change to issues and people. In extreme cases, heroes become villains and vice versa. In truth, however, they have not changed; merely how you see them has changed.

Kindness must always be meaningful. When you are pivoting in your life, it is easy to be confused about meaningful kindness. Just being lovely to everyone is no solution. Rather, as always, kindness must be carefully considered, directed with as full knowledge of the facts as possible. Haphazard kindness, as exemplified by the comedy routine of the boy scout who took an unwilling old lady far out of her way across a busy road to earn "a good deed for the day," can only cause confusion and distress. As Thomas Fuller, an African slave and mathematician, wrote in 1732, "Unreasonable kindness gets no thanks."

Kindness has its own rewards, for those who have succeeded in developing their instincts and sensitivity can physically experience the sensation of their own kindness around the area of their heart. The sensation is so memorable that it is astonishing. Yet we fear and resist that sensation, perhaps because we simply think that it will feel so good and then disappear, leaving us sad and disappointed, unhappy that this memorable feeling could come and go so easily.

As a sensation, kindness may frighten people. They are scared because they do not trust kindness in themselves or others. These people believe that there must be a catch in being kind. For them kindness is associated with weakness and brutal honesty, which they regard as an admirable quality but is actually unkindness. Often these people see themselves as "saying what they think." More often, they do not take the simple precaution of thinking before their victims hear what they have to say. These types of people believe that you are being kind to them only because you want something from them. They are sad people trapped in a sad suspicious world incapable of coming to terms with even the first building block in the construction of happiness.

Conversely, kindness quite often comes from a totally unexpected source, a person who you do not know well, and certainly did not expect to be kind to you. Even a total stranger can make an act of kindness to you spontaneously, just because they felt like giving more than was required. How wonderful you feel when a total stranger is kind to you; conversely, how wonderful you feel when you are kind to a total stranger. It is an amazing moment, sparked perhaps by an action that can be so small as to pass for good manners. The scale of the kindness does not matter. Kindness has a disproportionate effect on the well being of both the giver and the recipient.

Samuel Johnson, the eighteenth-century English writer and thinker, is quoted in Boswell's Life of Samuel Johnson in 1781 as speaking well of spontaneous kindness. "Always set a high value on spontaneous kindness. He whose inclination prompts him to cultivate your friendship of his own accord will love you more than one whom you have been at pains to attach to you."

Learn to enjoy receiving kindness, learn to enjoy being thanked. It will make the giver of the thanks glow and it may produce a second or two of shyness, so intimate that it will touch the other person deep down inside. Enjoy the acts of giving and receiving, for they are moments of true beauty.

The least expected these moments are, the greater their beauty. How strange it is that we so often receive kindness from the most unexpected sources and unkindness from those who we would most expect to be kind. Kindness over time, however, accumulates into a pile in our psyche and helps us come to terms with times when people are rude or unkind.

Kindness is fundamentally different from a desire to please, which is a deferential activity. Kindness is an instinct, mutual to two people. An instinct evolved in one returned by another in equal measure. Kindness is without doubt at least a layer of building blocks in the construction of happiness. Kindness and how you deal with others are closely intertwined. Do not make that smart remark that is devastating to the ego of others, forget it, put it out of your mind. Even to think of hurtful remarks colors your attitude to others and leaves a stain on your own spirit. Put aside the jibe that leaves even the smallest scar on your relationship with others. Avoid that verbal passage of arms, as the argument that often leads to sensuality is not to be confused with the path to happiness.

Needless to say, it is a lot easier to be kind to someone who is kind to you than to a person who is unkind to you. Kindness is not an abstract quality. To promise kindness and not to fulfill that promise is one of the surest ways to damage a relationship. Trust is suspended by such an action; you are left with a question mark over you in the mind of other people.

Misused kindness, such as giving to take, is again an action that will break down trust, which is a basis for a satisfactory relationship. As Juvenal, a Roman satirist, wrote around the year 100, "Nature, in giving tears to man, confessed that he had a tender heart; this is our noblest quality." There are no dangers in kindness. People say to each other that you can be too kind, but this is untrue. There is no downside to kindness; you cannot lose through practicing kindness.

By being kind you show strength and attract people. People will want to work with you. They will think of you as being fair and confident. Other people will know that because you are kind you are not likely to make judgements based on petty biases and the prejudices of other people. Other people who you work with will know that you are your own person and in their confidence you will find encouragement and feel better about yourself. Even if your kindness is rebuffed and not reciprocated, however shabby the treatment you receive in return, your own kindness will fortify your spirit, enhance your life, and lead you towards happiness. You can never be too kind. Kindness is not a sign of weakness. As Franklin D. Roosevelt said in a radio address on October 13, 1940, "Human kindness has never weakened the stamina or softened the fibre of a free people. A nation does not have to be cruel to be tough."

Copyright © 2005 Alistair McAlpine, Kate Dixey
________________
Sir Robert Alistair McAlpine is the author of many successful books, including The New Machiavelli (1998). In the 1970s and 1980s, he served as Treasurer of the European Democratic Union and Vice President of the European League for Economic Cooperation. He was Deputy Chairman of the Conservative and Unionist Party. McAlpine has also devoted much of his life to the commercial side of the performing and fine arts. He has served on the boards of numerous other charitable organizations and is a member of the House of Lords. He spends his time between France, Italy, America, Australia, and England.

Kate Dixey has had a deliberately varied career, working as a Costume Designer since 1979 with the BBC and ITV Independent Television Companies, Feature Films, numerous Film Production Companies, and Advertising Agencies. Beginning in 1985, Kate worked on commercials designing and styling on major campaigns for companies such as British Airways, AT&T, BP, Midland Bank, and Nestle. During this period, Kate completed her studies in Integrated Chinese Medicine qualifying as an Acupuncturist and runs a private practice in London. Kate has lectured at the Cranfield School of Management, and the London School of Business. Kate resides in London.

Posted 2/02/2005 by Josh Hinds

Awaken the Leader In You: 10 easy steps to developing your leadership skills
By Sharif Khan

"The miracle power that elevates the few is to be found in their industry, application, and perseverance, under the promptings of a brave determined spirit." - Mark Twain

Many motivational experts like to say that leaders are made, not born. I would argue the exact opposite. I believe we are all natural born leaders, but have been deprogrammed along the way. As children, we were natural leaders - curious and humble, always hungry and thirsty for knowledge, with an incredibly vivid imagination; we knew exactly what we wanted, were persistent and determined in getting what we wanted, and had the ability to motivate, inspire, and influence everyone around us to help us in accomplishing our mission. So why is this so difficult to do as adults? What happened?

As children, over time, we got used to hearing, No, Don't, and Can't. No! Don't do this. Don't do that. You can't do this. You can't do that. No! Many of our parents told us to keep quiet and not disturb the adults by asking silly questions. This pattern continued into high school with our teachers telling us what we could do and couldn't do and what was possible. Then many of us got hit with the big one institutionalized formal education known as college or university.

Unfortunately, the traditional educational system doesn't teach students how to become leaders; it teaches students how to become polite order takers for the corporate world. Instead of learning to become creative, independent, self-reliant, and think for themselves, most people learn how to obey and intelligently follow rules to keep the corporate machine humming.

Developing the Leader in you to live your highest life, then, requires a process of unlearning by self-remembering and self-honoring. Being an effective leader again will require you to be brave and unlock the door to your inner attic, where your childhood dreams lie, going inside to the heart. Based on my over ten years research in the area of human development and leadership, here are ten easy steps you can take to awaken the Leader in you and rekindle your passion for greatness.

1. Humility. Leadership starts with humility. To be a highly successful leader, you must first humble yourself like a little child and be willing to serve others. Nobody wants to follow someone who is arrogant. Be humble as a child, always curious, always hungry and thirsty for knowledge. For what is excellence but knowledge plus knowledge plus knowledge - always wanting to better yourself, always improving, always growing.

When you are humble, you become genuinely interested in people because you want to learn from them. And because you want to learn and grow, you will be a far more effective listener, which is the #1 leadership communication tool. When people sense you are genuinely interested in them, and listening to them, they will naturally be interested in you and listen to what you have to say.

2. SWOT Yourself. SWOT is an acronym for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats. Although it's a strategic management tool taught at Stanford and Harvard Business Schools and used by large multinationals, it can just as effectively be used in your own professional development as a leader. This is a useful key to gain access to self-knowledge, self-remembering, and self-honoring. Start by listing all your Strengths including your accomplishments. Then write down all your Weaknesses and what needs to be improved.

Make sure to include any doubts, anxieties, fears, and worries that you may have. These are the demons and dragons guarding the door to your inner attic. By bringing them to conscious awareness you can begin to slay them. Then proceed by listing all the Opportunities you see available to you for using your strengths. Finally, write down all the Threats or obstacles that are currently blocking you or that you think you will encounter along the way to achieving your dreams.

3. Follow Your Bliss. Regardless of how busy you are, always take time to do what you love doing. Being an alive and vital person vitalizes others. When you are pursuing your passions, people around you cannot help but feel impassioned by your presence. This will make you a charismatic leader. Whatever it is that you enjoy doing, be it writing, acting, painting, drawing, photography, sports, reading, dancing, networking, or working on entrepreneurial ventures, set aside time every week, ideally two or three hours a day, to pursue these activities.

Believe me, you'll find the time. If you were to video tape yourself for a day, you would be shocked to see how much time goes to waste!

4. Dream Big. If you want to be larger than life, you need a dream that's larger than life. Small dreams won't serve you or anyone else. It takes the same amount of time to dream small than it does to dream big. So be Big and be Bold! Write down your One Biggest Dream.

The one that excites you the most. Remember, don't be small and realistic; be bold and unrealistic! Go for the Gold, the Pulitzer, the Nobel, the Oscar, the highest you can possibly achieve in your field. After you've written down your dream, list every single reason why you CAN achieve your dream instead of worrying about why you can't.

5. Vision. Without a vision, we perish. If you can't see yourself winning that award and feel the tears of triumph streaming down your face, it's unlikely you will be able to lead yourself or others to victory. Visualize what it would be like accomplishing your dream. See it, smell it, taste it, hear it, feel it in your gut.

6. Perseverance. Victory belongs to those who want it the most and stay in it the longest. Now that you have a dream, make sure you take consistent action every day. I recommend doing at least 5 things every day that will move you closer to your dream.

7. Honor Your Word. Every time you break your word, you lose power. Successful leaders keep their word and their promises. You can accumulate all the toys and riches in the world, but you only have one reputation in life. Your word is gold. Honor it.

8. Get a Mentor. Find yourself a mentor. Preferably someone who has already achieved a high degree of success in your field. Don't be afraid to ask. You've got nothing to lose. Mentors.ca is an excellent mentoring website and a great resource for finding local mentoring programs. They even have a free personal profile you can fill out in order to potentially find you a suitable mentor.

In addition to mentors, take time to study autobiographies of great leaders that you admire. Learn everything you can from their lives and model some of their successful behaviors.

9. Be Yourself. Use your relationships with mentors and your research on great leaders as models or reference points to work from, but never copy or imitate them like a parrot. Everyone has vastly different leadership styles. History books are filled with leaders who are soft-spoken, introverted, and quiet, all the way to the other extreme of being out- spoken, extroverted, and loud, and everything in between.

A quiet and simple Gandhi or a soft-spoken peanut farmer named Jimmy Carter, who became president of the United States and won a Nobel Peace Prize, have been just as effective world leaders as a loud and flamboyant Churchill, or the tough leadership style employed by The Iron Lady, Margaret Thatcher.

I admire Hemingway as a writer. But if I copy Hemingway, I'd be a second or third rate Hemingway, at best, instead of a first rate Sharif. Be yourself, your best self, always competing against yourself and bettering yourself, and you will become a first rate YOU instead of a second rate somebody else.

10. Give. Finally, be a giver. Leaders are givers. By giving, you activate a universal law as sound as gravity life gives to the giver, and takes from the taker. The more you give, the more you get. If you want more love, respect, support, and compassion, give love, give respect, give support, and give compassion. Be a mentor to others. Give back to your community.

As a leader, the only way to get what you want, is by helping enough people get what they want first. As Sir Winston Churchill once said, "We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give."
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Sharif Khan is a professional speaker and author of, Psychology of the Hero Soul, as seen on www.HeroSoul.com and acclaimed by bestselling authors Les Brown (Live Your Dreams), Mark Victor Hansen (The Chicken Soup for the Soul series), Debbie Ford (The Dark Side of the Light Chasers) and many others. You can reach him at sharif@herosoul.com.


P.S. Shrif Khan is one of over 65 (and counting!) success experts and mentors available to learn from at AudioMotivation.com