Motivation Articles, Essays, Tips and Advice

In May of 1983, Helen Hill, age 95, received her high school diploma. She was absolutely ecstatic. When she finished high school 76 years earlier, she and her five classmates did not receive formal diplomas because the school was so much in debt they could not afford them.

When she received her belated diploma, Mrs. Hill was thrilled. Unfortunately, she was the only surviving member of the Class of 1907, so she could not share her joy and excitement with her former classmates. The message is clear: A disappointment of yesterday can turn into a delight for today. It’s never too late!

Carl Carson, at the tender age of 64, decided to make a career change. At that age, most people think in terms of retirement, which is unfortunate. Many 64-year-olds are still very young and have accumulated experiences on which they can build very exciting and rewarding careers. Mr. Carson had been successful as a car and truck leasing agent.

For his new career, he decided to go into the consulting business. His original plan was to sell his services to ten clients. Like many of us, when he reached his rather modest goal he decided to do more. He began putting out a monthly newspaper, advising twelve hundred paying subscribers. By age 75, Carl was criss-crossing the nation a hundred times a year, speaking at conventions and having a very good time.

The message is absolutely clear: It’s never too late to dream, to learn, or to change. Unfortunately, many people come up with excuses for not reaching their goals. They don’t live in the right place, are too old or too young, or a host of other excuses.

I’m not saying that it’s going to be easy because life is tough, but it can be rewarding! It’s true that you can’t stop the calendar or turn back the clock, but you can still dream, set those positive goals, and use your unique abilities. Buy into that idea and I’ll See You At The Top!
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Zig Ziglar is a teacher and motivator. He offers a newsletter filled with more of his inspiring stories as well as practical ideas to help you in the areas of sales, marketing, customer service, and related topics. You can visit him at www.zigziglar.com

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-I’m a big believer that now is as good a time as any to go after your goals and dreams. Do you agree or disagree? What are you allowing to hold you back? Perhaps you have some ideas that would be helpful to others who are in the pursuit of their goals. Please share your thoughts by leaving  a comment.

We’ve heard it all a million times: the various secrets of how to manifest lives of abundance. Every “Guru” has their own angle; a singular approach to manifesting that we’ve all tried. And yet, in spite of the countless Gurus offering books, programs, products, etc that espouse the “secret to manifesting” we are in the biggest Global economic and well-being crisis since the Great Depression.

What does that say?  That somehow we, as brilliant and intelligent human beings have failed the “secrets” that have been taught to us?  I know this is not true.

And yet, as a Sustainable Success Coach, I have countless talented individuals come to me saying that there must be something seriously wrong with them because they have diligently applied the principles of affirmations, positive thinking, visualization and The Law of Attraction and yet they just can’t get the “truth in manifesting” to work for them. They come to me believing that they haven’t found a way to fix their character flaws or their lower selves in order to “allow” in abundance.

The truth is that everyone already has within them the ability to manifest lives of Sustainable Success.  Sustainable Success is lasting and fulfilling abundance.  “Sustainable Success” is created through applying an equation and not any one singular thing.

There are three key factors that form the basis of the equation:

1. Defining what Abundance and Success is for you. Not adopting some outside opinion or value that isn’t consistent with the core of who you are, but identifying the definition that is representative of your own values.

2. Applying ALL aspects of yourself in the manifestation process that means accepting the totality of who you inherently are as a human being. Each of us is a perfect blend of ingredients that when used together create the perfect recipe for success.  If we only use one or a few of the ingredients in the recipe, the dish doesn’t turn out successfully.

3. Understanding that you cannot have wealth without well-being and well-being without wealth. One without the other will serve to prevent sustainability of any success that you may initially create for yourself.

The definition process in #1 is essential before you can successfully begin to create Sustainable Success.  If you can’t define what success or abundance is, you won’t be able to achieve it.  Too many people think that a definition is a desired tangible object.  One must define success based upon the essence of the thing or things that you want to achieve for yourself.

Some examples of definitions of success as published in a recent magazine and quoted by notably successful entrepreneurs from many industries are as follows:

Question: ‘How Do You Define Success?’

Answer:

* “Earning a living doing what I love doing, whether it be making a film, writing a script or riding a skateboard.”

* “Doing what you love and doing it well.”

* “I define a successful man as a happy man.  A happy man has a family that he loves and work that he enjoys.”

* “Happiness!  If you are happy, then you must be a success!”

* “Being happy in every area of life: business, family, and philanthropy.”

What is your definition?  Take the time to develop your own definition. When using words like: Happiness, be sure to define what that means for you too. Too many of us are in the practice of using words that identify what we want to achieve and we don’t even have definitions for them.

The following Seven mistruths will keep you from being able to accomplish the second key to achieving Sustainable Success:

1. Do what you love and the money will follow.
2. Follow your heart and not your head.
3. Lead with your head and not your heart.
4. There is only now, don’t think about the past because it is already gone or about the future because it hasn’t arrived yet.
5. One must transcend the lower self in order to achieve happiness and success.
6. Letting go of ego is key to manifesting success.
7. “Negative” thoughts are our enemy.

All of us have within us emotional, rational, intellectual and creative bodies.  And, we all seek to achieve security and recognition in our lives.  Thus, to disown any one part or natural expression of ones self is literally to disconnect from ourselves.  If we disconnect and identify any one part as “bad” we are not utilizing all of our divine natural gifts and talents.

We all have areas that we feel we are strongest in; but we can strengthen those other areas with practice and by creating a community around us that supports our journey.  To force ourselves not to have certain thoughts, or to think of any aspect of ourself as “negative parts” that need to be gotten rid of is the ultimate act of self-injury and doesn’t provide the self acceptance that is necessary in manifesting the wealth and well-being that we all desire to achieve.

It is in the acceptance of ourselves as inherently whole and managing a balanced interplay between all components of ourselves that successfully achieves sustainable abundance. Balancing inspiration with perspiration; emotion with reason; being in the now while keeping an eye to the future and having the wisdom to reflect on the past; dreaming up a dream and developing and implementing a plan to make that dream a reality; deciding what wealth and well-being is to you and knowing that wealth is not sustainable or fulfilling without well-being and well-being isn’t possible without wealth; all equals utilizing the sum of all parts of yourself for the achievement of long-term successful and fulfilling outcomes.

In the end, you, as you are right now,  are the Success equation-it is ready to be unleashed and directed for the Sustainable Success that is yours to have.

(c) 2009, Linda Zander.  All rights reserved.
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Linda Zander is an accomplished entrepreneur, sustainable success coach and professional speaker.  She is a natural visionary and intuitive who is dedicated to bringing her personal and business wisdom to the lives of others. Visit her website at www.LindaZander.com

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-What are your thoughts? Do you agree or disagree? Do you have any ideas or thoughts you would like to share on the topic of creating abundance?

During these challenging times what are you thinking? Are you focusing on your dreams or your doubts? Are you moving toward what you want or immobilized in the face of the unknown or uncertainty?

If you are not consciously managing your mind, what you may wind up with (by default) are limiting negative thoughts or beliefs that can lead to the demise of your dreams and your happiness.

How do you manage your mind? By consciously paying attention to what you are thinking and proactively choosing what matters to you.

Your attitudes and beliefs are never neutral. They either move you forward or hold you back. But a lot of us have forgotten that we have the power and ability to choose what we want. Choose to believe in yourself and your dreams.

Why? Because without this practice you open the door to a litany of negative thoughts that sound like, “You’re not good enough, smart enough, and successful enough.” Or another version might be “you’re too old, too young, or inexperienced.” Sound familiar?

Our attitudes and beliefs determine the choices and decisions we make. Negative thoughts usually lead to inertia, procrastination, even self-sabotage. While positive thoughts can lead to the fulfillment of your dreams.

Negative beliefs will hold you back while positive or empowering beliefs will give you the strength to take risks and move forward. So the big question is how do you manage your mind and ultimately build this important muscle?

Think of a time in your life that you didn’t believe something was possible that now you know is. Use this as your new reference point. Manage your mind and you will have a new level of freedom in your life and in achieving your dreams.

But let’s face it. It’s not enough to just think it. You have to prove that you really do believe in yourself and your dreams by taking action.

First, the way to move from a negative thought to a positive one simply requires choice. But for most of that feels like nothing short of a leap of faith. So, for the rest of us I suggest 1) willingness, 2) courage and 3) practice.

The willingness to choose a different thought or belief simply because it matters to you is an empowering and profound way to live.

The courage to act on it to make it real (rather than just a nice idea) and then the practice of doing it again and again until it moves from being a negative belief or thought, to being a positive thought and ultimately through to being transparent or non-existent. This means it’s not even on your radar anymore.

A simple practice you can put into play is what I call “catch yourself in the act.” Pay attention to what you are thinking and if it’s negative or destructive, hit the proverbial pause button. Notice what you were thinking and STOP. Choose another thought and try that on.

Saying it out loud can be powerful. Yes, I am encouraging talking to yourself. We do it all the time but mostly it’s negative. Say something good to yourself about yourself or the situation. Ideally change your behavior or take a small action step to prove to yourself that you believe in yourself.

As you shorten your reaction time you can break this default pattern of negative self-talk and manage your mindset. This will translate into you believing more in yourself, being more positive and taking more risks. I’ve heard some teachers say this is a path to enlightenment. Change your thoughts and behaviors and shorten your response time.

There are dream killers out in the world. You don’t need one more and by the far, the most destructive often lives inside of us. Don’t waste one more precious moment or thought being negative.
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Marcia Wieder is a motivational speaker, specializing in helping people make their dreams real! In addition to her speaking and coaching she is the author of several books, and programs including: Design You Dream Life (4 CD set). Reach her by visiting her website.

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-What were some takeaways you got from the above article? What are some things you can put into action to ensure you’re on the path towards achieving your dreams?

“Vision is the spectacular that inspires us to carry out the mundane.” — Chris Widener

Can achievement be broken down into steps? Well, it isn’t always that clean and easy, but I do know that those who achieve great things usually go through much of the same process, with many of the items listed below as part of that process.

So if you have been struggling with achievement, look through the following and internalize the thoughts presented. Then begin to apply them. You will be on the road to achieving your dream!

1. Dream it - Everything begins in the heart and mind. Every great achievement began in the mind of one person. They dared to dream, to believe that it was possible.

Take some time to allow yourself to ask “What if?” Think big. Don’t let negative thinking discourage you. You want to be a “dreamer.”

Dream of the possibilities for yourself, your family, and for others. If you had a dream that you let grow cold, re-ignite the dream! Fan the flames. Life is too short to let it go.

2. Believe it - Yes, your dream needs to be big. It needs to be something that is seemingly beyond your capabilities. But it also must be believable.

You must be able to say that if certain things take place, if others help, if you work hard enough, though it is a big dream, it can still be done. Good example: A person with no college education can dream that he will build a 50 million-dollar a year company. That is big, but believable.

Bad example: That a 90 year-old woman with arthritis will someday run a marathon in under 3 hours. It is big alright, but also impossible. She should instead focus on building a 50 million-dollar a year business! And she better get a move on!

3. See it - The great achievers have a habit. They “see” things. They picture themselves walking around their CEO office in their new 25 million-dollar corporate headquarters, even while they are sitting on a folding chair in their garage “headquarters.”

Great free-throw shooters in the NBA picture the ball going through the basket. PGA golfers picture the ball going straight down the fairway. World-class speakers picture themselves speaking with energy and emotion.

All of this grooms the mind to control the body to carry out the dream.

4. Tell it - One reason many dreams never go anywhere is because the dreamer keeps it all to himself. It is a quiet dream that only lives inside of his mind. The one who wants to achieve their dream must tell that dream to many people.

One reason: As we continually say it, we begin to believe it more and more. If we are talking about it then it must be possible. Another reason: It holds us accountable.

When we have told others, it spurs us on to actually do it so we don’t look foolish.

5. Plan it - Every dream must take the form of a plan. The old saying that you “get what you plan for” is so true. Your dream won’t just happen.

You need to sit down, on a regular basis, and plan out your strategy for achieving the dream. Think through all of the details.

Break the whole plan down into small, workable parts. Then set a time frame for accomplishing each task on your “dream plan.”

6. Work it - Boy, wouldn’t life be grand if we could quit before this one! Unfortunately the successful are usually the hardest workers. While the rest of the world is sitting on their couch watching re-runs of Gilligan’s Island, achievers are working on their goal – achieving their dream.

I have an equation that I work with: Your short-term tasks, multiplied by time, equal your long-term accomplishments. If you work on it each day, eventually you will achieve your dream. War and Peace was written, in longhand, page by page.

7. Enjoy it - When you have reached your goal and you are living your dream, be sure to enjoy it. In fact, enjoy the trip too. Give yourself some rewards along the way.

Give yourself a huge reward when you get there. Help others enjoy it. Be gracious and generous. Use your dream to better others. Then go back to number 1. And dream a little bigger this time!

Chris Widener
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Chris Widener  is an internationally recognized speaker, and best-selling author. Learn more about the Ultimate Success Series By Chris Widener.

-Is there anything you want to add which would be helpful to others on the path towards achieving their dreams? (use the comments below to share your thoughts)

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I recently was conducting a series of programs on values-based leadership for an organization and, as I always do, talked about our responsibility to eradicate toxic emotional negativity (as reflected in gratuitous complaining, gossiping, and the like). Afterward, someone told me that I was “a Pollyanna.”

I took that as a tremendous compliment. I suggested that this person go back and read the book, or watch the movie. Pollyanna came into a community that was filled with pain, hate, and fractured relationships; she brought healing, love, and reconciliation. And just what, exactly, is wrong with that?

The Bible asks the question why anyone would light a candle and put a basket over it to cover up the light. But we’ve all done it. We are born with this incredible curiosity, with unbridled imaginations and unlimited belief. We are going to climb mountains and fly to the moon.

And then we go to school and get called “apple- polisher” and “curve-wrecker” for wanting to learn. We go to work and get called “brown-noser” and “quota- buster” for wanting to perform at our best. Far from being a compliment, “over-achiever” becomes the put- down that excludes us from the “in-crowd” in the cafeteria.

This week, take the basket off your candle. Polish an apple, wreck a curve, bust a quota, achieve over the top. Be proud to be a Pollyanna. Let the “in-crowd” sit in the cafeteria whining about their problems and gossiping about their neighbors – you’ve got more important work to do.
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Joe Tye is president of Paradox 21 Inc., which provides corporate training and culture change initiatives based on a proprietary curriculum of The Twelve Core Action Values of Personal Leadership Effectiveness. He is also the author of Never Fear, Never Quit: A Story of Courage and Perseverance. Visit www.JoeTye.com

-What are your thoughts? Is there anything you would like to add?

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It is so important to be living in prime time, rather than watching TV in prime time. On your way to success make certain you grow friendships, not just bank and mutual fund accounts.

Life is a collection of memories, not of material things. The Egyptian pharaohs were buried with all their treasures, and were mummified in hopes that they could enjoy their bounty in the next life. But we are only caretakers of possessions.

There is a big difference between standard of living and quality of life. Standard of living is based on income earned. Quality of life is the enjoyment of the millions of minutes in between accomplishments.

Having money is only one aspect of wealth. To the sick person, wealth is health. To the lonely person, wealth is someone to talk to and share with. To the estranged person, wealth is hearing words of love and forgiveness.

Borrowing the free verse style from Brother Jeremiah’s classic poem, I’d Pick More Daisies, here are a few things I’d do, the second time around.

I’d laugh at my misfortunes more. Spend more time counting my blessings than my blemishes. Spend more time playing with my children and grandchildren and less time watching performers in the arena. More time enjoying what I have, less time thinking about the things I don’t have.

If I could live my life again, I’d walk in the rain more without an umbrella and listen less to weather reports. I’d spend more time looking at trees and climbing them, less time flipping through magazines made from dead trees.

I’d spend more time fully involved in the present moment, less time remembering and anticipating. I’d smile more, frown less.

And most of all I’d be more spontaneous and active, less hesitant and subdued. When some spur of the moment idea came up to go hiking, playing Frisbee, coloring Easter eggs, singing in a chorus, going kayaking, or watching an eclipse, I’d be less likely to sit in my chair objecting, “It’s not in our plan.”

I’d be inclined to jump up and run out the door next time and say, “Yes, we can!” Although I can’t live my life again, I’m still going to live the new way every day any way. I’ll never have all the moments I’ve missed, but I do have all the time remaining.

Action Idea – Choose one activity this month that you really want to engage in, but that you have been putting off because it isn’t a priority. Schedule that activity in your planner, as if it were a “must do” business or financial commitment.

When you have done it, while you are still feeling good, schedule one for next month, and do it as long as you live.

– Denis Waitley
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Reproduced with permission from Denis Waitley’s Weekly Ezine. Learn more about The New Dynamics of Goal Setting By Denis Waitley.

What are some ways you go about keeping your personal & professional life balanced?

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Each night before my children go to bed I ask them what their success of the day is.

The idea came from a story I read about the Olympic gymnast, Bart Connor. Turns out 9 months before the 1984 Olympics he tore his bicep muscle.

They said he would never make it back in time to compete in the Olympics. But not only did he make it back, he won two gold medals.

When Charlie Jones, the television broadcaster, was interviewing him, he asked Bart how he did it. Bart thanked his parents.

Charlie Jones said, “Come on Bart, everyone thanks their parents when they win a gold medal.” Bart told Charlie that this was different.

He said, “Every night before bed my parents would ask me what my success was. So I went to bed a success every night of my life. I woke up every morning a success.

When I was injured before the Olympics, I knew I was going to make it back because I was a success every day of my life.” Talk about a confidence booster.

Since engaging in this practice with my children I can attest it works. I also know it works because I share this story in my keynotes and hear great stories from people all the time who are doing this with their children.

I also know it works for adults in businesses, schools, and organizations because when we focus on what people are doing right, they do more things right. It’s the simple, powerful message in the classic book The One Minute Manager and it’s an important part of the work I do with organizations.

Teams and organizations that focus on and celebrate success create more success. Success becomes ingrained in the culture and people naturally look for it, focus on it and expect it.

That’s why certain football coaches and business leaders are always successful. They implement systems and principles that create a culture that celebrates and expects success and this drives behavior and habits that create successful outcomes.

So how do we put this into practice? The ideas are endless but here are few: If you are in sales have a sales meeting each week (in person or by phone) and share success stories.

If you are in management recognize people and their success throughout the year. Not just during annual meetings. Celebrate the small wins as much as the big wins.

Celebrate successful projects and implementations. As a leader you’ll want to praise people and reinforce successes that shine a spotlight on important goals and growth initiatives.

For your own personal growth, keep a daily and weekly success journal. Write down your success of the day. Do this for 30 days and you’ll see amazing results.

What we focus on shows up more in our life. If we look for and celebrate success we’ll see more of it. It works for Olympic athletes, children and us.
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Jon Gordon is a speaker, consultant and author of the international best seller The Energy Bus: 10 Rules to Fuel Your Life, Work and Team with Positive Energy and The No Complaining Rule: Positive Ways to Deal with Negativity at Work, & Training Camp: What the Best do Better than Everyone Else. Visit him at www.JonGordon.com

-What are some ways you celebrate success?

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