Motivation Articles, Essays, Tips and Advice

Often when we get in touch with our most heartfelt and hopeful dreams what may also surface are some of our doubts. There is an important relationship between (what I refer to as) the Dreamer and the Doubter that live inside of us. It is useful and necessary to develop skills for dealing with our doubt; otherwise your dreams could very well get squelched.

The Dreamer inside of us encourages us with thoughts and comments like, “Yes you can. Go for it. You have what it takes.” By contrast, the internal Doubter voice may challenge and confront with comments such as, “What are you thinking? You’re too old (or too young), you don’t know what you are doing, and you don’t have the money or experience.”

If we turn the voice of the Doubter down it becomes the voice of the Realist, the part of us that wants to know what we intend to do. Most often, the Realist wants to know where you will find the time and money, it wants to know your plan, but be careful. Early on, you may not have all the details figured out so if you go to strategic planning too soon, your need to be realistic may have you compromise on your idea before you fully explore what else is possible.

Consider this. If all parts of us carry wisdom, perhaps even the Doubter can provide insight. If you interviewed this part of yourself, literally asked about its concerns and issues around your dreams, you might get some useful information. For example, my own Doubter often offers thought-provoking questions and prudence.

Your Doubter could inform you of potential obstacles related to your dreams. Obstacles come primarily in two forms. They are either limiting beliefs, something that requires internal reflection or that you hold to be true. Alternatively, obstacles can also be something more external that require a plan, such as borrowing money or taking a class.

For example, if your dream is to write a book but you don’t know how, you might seek assistance or learn how to do it yourself. But if what you are feeling is fear of failure that is usually more of a limiting belief, something going on inside of you that only you can change or affect. Of course, once you identify what you’re afraid of a strategy like working with a coach or a daily practice of writing might get you over it. Some obstacles can be both belief and strategy.

Wherever there is an obstacle, you can manage it. But if you don’t know there are obstacles present you may get blind-sided or sabotage your dream. It is incredibly beneficial to hear from your Doubter. Be interested in what it has to say. Pull out a journal or pad of paper and explore what your real, imagined or potential obstacles may be. Knowledge is a powerful thing.

Most people either ignore or get consumed by their doubt. I assure you, once you become aware that there is a Doubter inside of you that is not the enemy, you are much less likely to be stopped by it. Confusion and procrastination are often signs that the Doubter is present but not being acknowledged. How do you feel when you are trying to express and not being heard? I suggest you watch for signs and stop and listen.

Once you are able to learn from your doubt, other people’s doubts will have less impact on you. How might your life change if other people‘s negative comments only deepened your conviction to your dream? Once you deal with your own doubt you will no longer put the beliefs of others over your own. This is a sign of transformation as you become more inner-referenced. This can lead to deeper self-trust, which in turn will enable you to take greater risks and dream bigger dreams!
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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, including: Making Your Dreams Come True. Reach her by visiting her website at www.marciaw.com.

* What are some ways you go about keeping your “doubter” at bay so that you can move forward in the pursuit of your goals and dreams? Share in the comments section below… and remember — it’s your life, LIVE BIG! Josh

Sponsor Message: Order your copy of Josh Hinds’ motivational audio program!

A close friend said’ “If I could only figure this out, I think I could find happiness.” I have heard this before and will hear it again I am sure.

Many people believe that finding happiness is based on finding something else they want. In my experience as a personal coach, no one has ever found long term happiness by achieving another goal. Ultimately, to find happiness is to look within.

In other words, happiness is an inside job. The key to finding happiness is to understand that happiness is a choice and not the result. If happiness can be found as the result of an acquisition, meeting a goal, or having anything, then a person’s happiness will always be subject to something else.

Here is something to remember: one definition of happiness is the absence of an opposite emotion whether it is pain, sadness or something else. If these emotions are never experienced how can happiness be experienced? Bad times allow you to appreciate good times. Hunger allows you to appreciate food. Sadness allows you to appreciate and experience happiness.

We can also define happiness as enjoying, showing, or marked by pleasure, satisfaction or joy.

How often do you hear… “I’ll be happy when”? When I get that job, I’ll be happy. I’ll be happy when I find a life partner. I’d be happy if I had more money.

“If I had” scenarios all follow the same flawed reasoning; that is happiness is based on external circumstances.

If you base your happiness on external circumstances, you will continuously fail to find happiness. Will there not always be another external circumstance? Another dollar, another job, another house, or another partner”?

To break this vicious cycle, we must find our happiness somewhere else. That somewhere else is within. We have been given everything we need to be happy.

Allow yourself to choose happiness. If life was perfect would you be happy? Life is perfect because we create it with our choices. Since we can create life, we can create happiness - and how much better can it get?

Go ahead and accept that life is perfect as it is and that our lives are the sum total of everything that has happened to this instant. Then and only then can we accept the joy and happiness we deserve.

I realize that this concept is very difficult for some to accept. However, the alternative to being happy now is to spend the rest of our lives seeking happiness as if happiness was an item to be bought or found.

It’s not. Just remember the famous saying: Don’t worry - be happy!
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Miami Phillips teaches usable tools and methods for creating happiness and success in business and life. Get the self coaching tools you need to help you find happiness at www.MiamiPhillips.com

* Consider taking a moment to share some of the ways you go about experiencing happiness — you can do so by using the comments section below (it might help someone else). And remember… It’s your life, LIVE BIG! Josh Hinds

When I began searching for the secrets of success many years ago, I discovered an interesting principle: success leaves tracks. A wise man who had studied success for more than 50 years concluded that the greatest success principle of all was, “learn from the experts.”

Learn From the Experts…
If you want to be a big success in any area, find out what other successful people in that area are doing, and do the same things, until you get the same results.

When I studied the interviews, speeches, biographies and autobiographies of successful men and women, I found that they all had one quality in common. They were all described as being “extremely well organized.” They used their time very, very well. They were highly productive and they got vastly more done in the same period of time than the average person.

Be Both Effective and Efficient…
High performing men and women were both effective and efficient. They did the right things, and they did them in the right way. They were constantly looking for ways to improve the quality and quantity of their output. As a result, their contribution to their organizations was vastly higher and therefore much better paid, than the contributions of the average person.

Action Exercises:

Here are two things you can do immediately to put these ideas into action:

First, develop a study plan today to learn from the experts in your field. This can save you years of hard work.

Second, decide what is the most important thing to do, and then decide how to do it.
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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. Be sure to visit the Brian Tracy web site and take advantage of the many resources available there.

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I believe that the great NFL Hall of Fame coach, Vince Lombardi, had it right when he said, “The quality of a person’s life is in direct proportion to their commitment to excellence, regardless of their chosen field of endeavor.”
Do you agree with coach Lombardi or are you the type of person who has difficulty staying focused and keeping commitments? Do you allow the negative influences of fear,
anxiety, self-doubt and worry to dominate your thinking and sabotage your results?

Sadly, most people fail to achieve their goals, not because they’re lazy or lack self-motivation, but because they were never “fully committed” to succeed! I can’t think of a single great achievement that has ever been attained without first a plan of action and then an unshakable commitment to its accomplishment.

Walt Disney was arguably one of the most creative dreamers and determined men of the twentieth century. Walt understood the power of commitment and would frequently tell those around him, “When you believe in a thing, believe in it all the way, implicitly and unquestionably.”

The ancient Greek warriors were both feared and respected by their enemies. In battle, the Greeks established a well-deserved reputation for their unsurpassed bravery and unshakable commitment to victory.

The key to their overwhelming success on the battlefield had far more to do with how the Greek commanders motivated the warriors than it did with issues of tactics or training. The Greeks were master motivators who understood how to use a “dramatic demonstration” to infuse a spirit of commitment into the heart of every warrior.

Once the warriors had been offloaded from their boats onto their enemy’s shore, the Greek commanders would shout out their first order, “burn the boats!” The sight of burning boats removed any notion of retreat from their hearts and any thoughts of surrender from their heads.

Imagine the tremendous psychological impact on the soldiers as they watched their boats being set to the torch. As the boats turned to ash and slipped quietly out of sight into the water, each man understood there was no turning back and the only way home was through victory.

In your sales career your battles are not fought with weapons on foreign shores, but within the confines of your own mind. A truly committed salesperson does not have the luxury or the time for the self-indulgence of negative thinking.

The true underlying motivation for all success is a deep and unwavering commitment to the task at hand. The sales profession is a demanding and challenging career, but it is also personally rewarding and financially lucrative for those who are fully committed to becoming successful.

If you are being pushed around mentally by thoughts of fear, anxiety, self-doubt and worry, it’s time to “burn your boat” and become fully committed to your sales career!

“Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative and creation, there is one elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one’s favor all manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings and material assistance which no man could have dreamed would have come his way. Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Begin it now.” - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

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John Boe presents a wide variety of motivational and sales-oriented keynotes and seminar programs. John is a nationally recognized sales trainer and business motivational speaker with an impeccable track record in the meeting industry. To have John speak at your next event, visit www.johnboe.com or call (877) 725-3750. His Newsletter is available on his website.

* Order your copy of Josh Hinds’ motivational audio program!

At my workshops, I emphasize how critical it is to develop self-trust. When we trust our self, we are more likely to take risks, and this is an essential quality for pursuing your dreams. The converse is also true. If you don’t trust yourself, you won’t act on your big dreams.

We can deepen or increase this quality by putting the proverbial stake in the ground and committing to act on something that matters to us, even when, (perhaps especially when), the outcome is not guaranteed.

Here are a few things I know about beliefs. If you don’t believe in yourself and/or dream, it’s hard for others to. Often there is no evidence that your dream is a good idea. But when you believe in it and act on it, you can make it happen. Our beliefs are never neutral. They either move us forward or hold us back and we choose what we believe.

If you can learn to believe in something simply because it matters to you, even when there are no promises or assurances that it will occur, and then act on what you believe, miracles often show up.

After a life-time of working on myself, I have made a profound discovery. I have become overly self-sufficient.  I trust and believe in myself, but there is something bigger, better and more delicious available and sometimes my need to be overly independent can compromise that. I am suggesting that there is more to life than trusting ourselves.

I have come to realize that life can become easier, more gentle, rewarding and fulfilling when I don’t have to know all the answers or assume I have to do everything myself.

Faith is different than trust and belief and I am newly writing about this as I explore, discover and create a powerful new relationship with this extraordinary ally. Faith is present whether I choose it or not but as I believe in it, miracles occur.  And much like a compassionate parent, faith continues to be present regardless of how I act toward it.

As I open and surrender into a more relaxed state, I sense that I am held and loved by something much bigger and more profound then myself, something ever present. As I get quiet and empty this fact becomes known to me. We are never alone.

That means we don’t have to do it all our self or suffer in silence. It also means we can make significant changes in our life, at any time and at any age. Help is available to those who ask.

The shortcut step to accomplishing any dream is to learn to ask for help. But it’s how you ask that can make all the difference. And this is true whether you are asking someone to make an introduction for you or praying to God for forgiveness.

During a recent visit to the Sistine Chapel in Rome, I was awe struck by the beauty, magnificence and artistic expression that went into creating this masterpiece. But the piece I couldn’t take my eyes off of was the panel of God creating Adam. Both have their arms stretched out, longing for life, awakening and creation.

It is an act of faith when we reach out for what we want. This is why I feel it’s powerful to share your dreams. It’s vulnerable, but as you speak your dream out loud, you are sending a powerful message out about what you desire.

Some say through prayer we ask for what we want and through mediation we can hear the answers to our prayers. As dreamers, no matter what your faith, I invite you to open to a faith practice of asking for what you want.

Whatever form this takes for you, I encourage you to take some time to stop, feel your heart, connect to your longing and use faith as a powerful guide to aid you in taking your important next step.
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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, including: Making Your Dreams Come True. Reach her by visiting her website at www.marciaw.com.

* If you enjoyed the article above be sure to join our free motivational newsletter — Let’s Talk Motivation!

Let’s take a little quiz.  Read the following five questions and answer them as honestly as possible. Ready? Begin…

1.  Do you want a successful career or a close relationship with your family?

2.  Do you want to earn a fortune or do the work you love?

3.  Do you want to enjoy a delicious love life or grow your business?

4.  Do you want to give to your favorite charity or invest in the new car?

5.  Do you want to travel the world or make money?

There’s only one answer to all of these questions. The answer is…

BOTH!

One of the most powerful habits that can bring more abundance in your life is the habit of thinking, “Both”.

Rich people live in a world of abundance.
Poor people live in a world of limitation.

Poor people think there’s not enough to go around in the world. They come from a fear-based mindset.  Their answers are “either/or”, but never “both”.

In a poor person’s mind-set they go for security above love, safety before self-expression and protection over possibility.

What about you?  Are you a possibility theorist or a fear-based thinker?

Rich people live in a world of abundance.
Poor people live in a world of limitation.

Rich people understand that with a little creativity, a willingness to be unconventional, and an open mind, they can have both. When you build your business (and your life) on the “Both” mentality, you will see opportunities that you were once blind to.

I invite you to begin today to alter your mind-set. Get in the habit of saying “Both!” Try it for the next seven days. Anytime you’re asked to decide on two options, say both and then use your creative genius to make it happen.

You’re asked if you want peanut butter or pralines and cream. Say both and then do a double work out that day.

You’re asked if you can write that article or take your daughter to soccer. Say both and then skip TV that night.

You’re asked if you want to spend a week at the lake or a week at the beach. Say both and sign up for a house exchange.

You’re asked if you want to attend Yale or Berkeley. (Ha! This is the question my daughter Auriana poses as I write this article.) I say, “Let’s jump on a plane, tour the
campuses and make a choice. To which my 18-year-old daughter replies, “And whatever college I don’t get my Bachelors from, I’ll attend for my Masters!

Just say, “Both!”

Only you can make the decision to break through the limitations put on life. YOU have the power to change your beliefs about abundance and prove to yourself you really believe in enjoying “both!”

Your first homework assignment this month is to practice saying, “Both” for seven days and notice the changes in your life. Your second homework assignment is to celebrate those changes and all the abundance that you will begin manifesting into your life.
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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 her website for business building success resources by Lisa Jimenez.

*brought to you by Josh Hinds’ GetMotivation.com

You’re going to be rejected in life, heck it happens to me all the time. And if you haven’t experienced much rejection, I’ll bet you’re not taking many risks.

Without taking risks you’ll lead a safe, predictable, and somewhat boring life. So let’s learn how to rock rejection. Read on.

I’ve been rejected zillions of times… such as when I was a 16 year old runaway in New York City. Of course I hadn’t figured out how I’d make a living before dashing out the door.

The only job I’d had was working at a bakery, and pastry-pushing wasn’t going to cover the bills. The only other “skill” I had was what I’d learned in modeling school.

After calling numerous agencies, one finally agreed to see me. Within three minutes I’d been dismissed as “too short” and “ugly.” When I heard those words the first thing I thought was “I can get around that.”

And that’s how I’ve dealt with rejection ever since. Could I have been destroyed by the dissing they dished out? Sure. But I had to eat. I had to find a way to make it in Manhattan. So I decided to rock the rejection. And it worked.

Fast forward several decades later, and here I am getting rejected still. So what? When someone says “no” I say “next.” Somebody out there wants what I have—I simply need to find them.

It’s one thing for me to tell you not to take rejection personally; it’s another to pull it off. The key is to desensitize. The first thing I do when rejected is to practice QTIP:

Quit
Taking
It
Personally

My preferred method of desensitization is to throw a Rejection Party. Yep, you heard it right. Party when you’re rejected and down—it’s the best way to peel yourself up off the floor.

How to Host a Rejection Party: Type A

Gather ten or more people together (more is better). They can be colleagues, friends, members of a networking or Mastermind Group, or even strangers with a desire to learn.

Here are the rules:

1. Each person in the group forms a question for something they want, such as “Will you invest $100,000 in my new company?” or “Will you buy my widget?”

2. Now walk around the room, approaching the other participants one-on-one and asking them your question. They’ll give you a “yes” or “no” answer, and will ask you their question too. You must give a “yes” or “no” answer. See step #3 for the rules on answering.

Keep a silent tally of the number of requests made of you. You can only answer “yes” if the person addressing you is making the ninth request. Say “no” to all others.

Once you’ve said “yes”, start counting again and say “no” to the next nine requests. You can say “no” however you want—apologetically, curtly, kindly—it’s up to you. The goal is to simulate real-world rejection in order to become immune to it.

After repeatedly getting rejected, you’ll find it doesn’t hurt so badly. You come to realize that each rejection gets you closer to acceptance. Remember the Rock Rejection Mantra:

Some will.
Some won’t.
So what?
Someone’s waiting.

Keep asking and eventually you’ll get a “yes”. Thanks to Jack Canfield for teaching me this technique.

How to Host a Rejection Party: Type B

As much as I like Rejection Party Type A I extended it to this new version, which I find mirrors the world more realistically.

The requester must ask for the same thing, but can change his or her pitch, trying on different approaches. For instance, the requester could say “Will you invest $100,000 in my new marketing company?” and the next time he or she could say, “Will you loan $100,000 to my new marketing company at 6% interest and a 10-year payback period?”

The requestee is allowed to say “yes” if he or she finds the request compelling enough. He or she doesn’t actually have to follow through (i.e., fork over that $100,000), but must honestly be intrigued by the request.

I can’t tell you how incredibly effective Rejection Parties are—they’ve help hundreds of my friends and colleagues to desensitize, and to no longer be stymied or stumped by rejection. But the best part, of course, is the less you let rejection throw you, the more risks you’ll take. And risks are what rock our lives, help us find more meaning, help us reinvent ourselves, help us make a difference in the world.

So go ahead. Take risks. Get rejected. You know there’ll be a party afterwards!

For more tips and helpful info on networking, see the Cool Resources section on www.RulesForRenegades.com.
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Christine is author of the best selling book Rules for Renegades: How to Make More Money, Rock Your Career, and Revel in Your Individuality. She’s CEO of Mighty Ventures, an innovation accelerator which helps businesses to massively increase sales, product offerings, and company value.

* If you enjoyed the article above be sure to join our free Motivational Newsletter — Let’s Talk Motivation!

“Dreams are the seedlings of realities.” - As A Man Thinketh

Look slowly around you. All that you see at this moment was one day but someone’s dream - a “seedling of the reality” it was to become. In our lifetime we have benefited greatly from the dreams of so many.

Mandela, Mother Teresa, Einstein, Gandhi, Spielberg, Disney, Gates and the list could go on and on and on — all began with a dream. Who could forget one of the most powerful speeches of all time by Dr. Martin Luther King, “I Have a Dream”. While we haven’t become the color-blind society we should be, go back and read the speech and see how far we’ve come since Dr. King first spoke those “seedlings” into reality.

At the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, Celine Dion performed a song called The Power of the Dream.

“Deep within each heart,
There lies a magic spark,
That lights the fire of our imagination…

Your mind will take you far
The rest is just pure heart,
You’ll find your fate is all your own creation.”

Sounds a lot like James Allen, doesn’t it?

So maybe you don’t see yourself as a Mandela or Mother Teresa. But if you haven’t already discovered it, deep inside you there is a dream. It was put there by the one who created you, as we are told in Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Ralph Marston, who’s Daily Motivator has brightened my day for some time now, writes, “On a regular basis, take time to imagine the very best that life can be. Step aside for a moment from the day-to-day concerns of life. Re-establish contact with your highest goals and most treasured dreams. Remind yourself of the beautiful possibilities that life holds for you. Renew your determination to bring them to fruition.

“Spend some quality time with your dreams. They are real to the extent that you value them. To the extent that you commit to them and work for them, they will come true.”

The final verse of Celine’s song ends with:

“There’s so much strength in all of us,
Every woman, child and man,
It’s the moment that you think you can’t,
You’ll discover that you can.”

And that’s worth thinking about.

* excerpted from Vic Johnson’s book, Day by Day with James Allen.
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Vic Johnson speaker and founder of a host of personal development websites. Take a moment to learn about his powerful program for success and achievement, Claim Your Power Now!

*brought to you by Josh Hinds’ GetMotivation.com

Networking is about creating an extended family. It’s about developing connections, caring about people, increasing the size of your “tribe.” Most of all, networking is not the awkward social ritual many of us think it is—networking is actually FUN!

Here are my top six networking essentials to rock your career and your life.

1. Practice “Palm Up” Networking. When you network, are you giving, or grasping? Palm up networking embodies the spirit of service, of giving and wanting nothing in return. When you network “palm down” you’re grasping for personal gain. Palm up = heart-oriented interaction.

Palm down = greedy grasping. Which attitude results in building relationships, providing value, and ultimately bestows benefits on both parties? You guessed it. The universe has a perfect accounting system. Give to others, it’ll all come back to you in time.

2. Do Daily Appreciation. Appreciate at least one person daily. Sometimes I do this via e-mail so I can be thorough. And often, to my delight, the recipient will tell me that they are saving the message for when they need a pick-me-up. You can also express appreciation over the phone or in person. Simply tell someone how much you appreciate who they are, what they do, whatever about them moves you. They’ll be flattered and you’ll feel great.

3. Equalize Yourself with Others. I believe we all have one unit of worth, no more, no less. No one can add to it, no one can take it away. We’re all equal. Just because someone is powerful, rich, famous doesn’t mean they are better than you. Practice equalizing yourself with others—this will enable you to more comfortably interact with others, and to reach out to people of all walks of life.

4. Rolodex Dip. This is a fun practice when you want to connect with someone but aren’t sure who. Flip through your contact database and pick a name. Then think of all the things you like about them. Now call them up to see how they are doing. They’ll be surprised and delighted.

5. Pick a “Sensei of the Day”: Each day I pick a sensei, a teacher. This is someone who has taught me a lesson or reminded me of something important in life. Your sensei can be a person, a pet, a plant, it doesn’t matter. The important thing is to acknowledge that there is much to learn and you are being offered valuable lessons constantly.

6. Do the Drive-By Schmooze. Parties, conventions, groups of all sorts are great opportunities to network, but sometimes you’ll be tired, not in the mood, or have too many events in one evening (like during holiday season!). This is when you’ll want to use the Drive-By Schmooze. Here’s how:

a. Timebox your networking. Decide that in 30 minutes you’ll do a check-in to determine if you need to stay any longer.

b. Set your goal. Determine the number of new connections you want to establish. Remember, your goal is meaningful connections, not simply contacts.

c. Let your intuition guide you. OK, this may sound flaky, but it works! Stand near the door, in a corner, out of the way. Stop your thoughts. Internally ask to be guided to the people you need to connect with. Then start walking. You’ll be amazed at who you meet.

d. Connect. You’ll always resonate with someone at an event. When you do, ask questions about them, such as: How did you get started in your field? What’s your ideal customer? We all love to talk about ourselves, and these questions will not only help you form a connection with this person, but will also tell you how to help them.

e. Offer help and follow through. If you can provide help, jot down ideas on the back of their business card, commit to follow up, and then do it. If you’ve had a fruitful conversation and want to take it further, offer to meet for lunch or coffee. People say life is 90% about showing up. Nonsense! Life is 90% about following through!

For more tips and helpful info on networking, see the Cool Resources section on www.RulesForRenegades.com.
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Christine is author of the best selling book Rules for Renegades: How to Make More Money, Rock Your Career, and Revel in Your Individuality. She’s CEO of Mighty Ventures, an innovation accelerator which helps businesses to massively increase sales, product offerings, and company value.

* If you enjoyed the article above be sure to join our free Motivational Newsletter — Let’s Talk Motivation!

What will your life be like when you’ve achieved your most deeply held dreams? Let’s take a look at how you can start living your dreams this very day.

Do you have a dream, a vision of the life you wish to live?
How specific is that dream?
How clear is that vision?
How do you intend to reach it?
What obstacles stand in your way?
Are your fears holding you back or are you using them to move you forward?

Your fears can actually lead you to success. Fear is an intense emotion. But that doesn’t mean it has to control you, or even stop you. Fear can prepare you and push you forward just as strongly as it can hold you back. Fear heightens your awareness and increases your physical strength. Fear brings your mind to sharp focus. With all that going for you, does it make sense to just run and hide? Of course not. Fear gets you in shape to take action!

Are you waiting for things to get better before moving ahead? If you’re serious about success; you need to start taking action today. If you’re waiting for things to be perfect, you’ll wait forever and nothing will ever get done.

The way to achieve is to bloom where you’re planted, to do what you can, where you are, with what you have. It’s easy to think up excuses for not taking action. “If only I had more hours in the day. If only I had a better job. If only I could meet the right person.” But excuses won’t bring you anything of value. You’ve got to change your “if only” into an “I will.” “I will make better use of my time. I will work on improving my career. I will create and nurture my relationships.” Take a chance. Have faith in yourself.

Your circumstances will improve when you make the effort to improve them. Start where you are right now. You have everything it takes to reach for whatever you desire. Stop wishing. Use your time, your energy, your thoughts and efforts to make it happen! You’ll be glad you did!
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As a professional speaker and author, Les Brown has risen to national prominence by delivering a high energy message which tells people how to shake off mediocrity and live up to their greatness. Visit his web site at www.LesBrown.com

* Learn more about Les Brown’s best-selling DVD program, Step into Your Greatness.