I was teaching Bethany this morning what Jesus said about servanthood.
While flipping the NT to look for the passage where Jesus washed His disciples' feet (which I finally found in John 13), I was impressed with a sense of how radical and confronting Jesus must have been to the Jews, how He challenged everything they thought they knew about God, and how they tried hard to resist accepting what He said.
I laughed at the parts when the Jews repeatedly said to Jesus, "Tell us plainly if you are the Christ!" and Jesus in exasperation said (as He might have in Singlish), "Tell you already you don't believe, so what for you still ask?"
Isn't that like us too when we refuse to accept what is before us, because to do so would mean giving up cherished beliefs?
Had I been a traditional Jew in the time of Jesus, and had I been brought up to believe the Messiah was still to come, I too might have had difficulty accepting that this miracle maker going around healing the blind and lame and mingling with tax collectors and prostitutes was the Son of God that He claimed to be.
Likewise if someone were to come up to me today and declare himself the Messiah.
What makes someone willing to take another at their word, to the extent of accepting their authority, acknowledging their superior status and being willing to stand or fall with them?
To extrapolate further, how do people come to their respective faiths?
Because of the families and communities they were brought up in, or in spite of them?
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Back To School by Will Craig
The kids are back in school. Are you?
We live in a knowledge-powered economy and if we're not continually upgrading our capabilities we become obsolete. The good news is the educational choices we make at 18 don't need to be hard and fast choices we're stuck with for a lifetime.
You can choose to look at lifelong learning as the homework assignment that never goes away. Or, you can choose to look at it as an essential strategy for living long and living well.
I'm not suggesting you must go to college to gain the necessary knowledge. What college did do for me was make me recognize that organized learning, whether in traditional schools or through condensed courses and teleclasses, would significantly shorten my learning curve.
"Don't let your schooling interfere with your education."- Mark Twain
Had I to do it all over again I might choose a succession of bite-sized learning opportunities in the specific areas of my interest (recognizing those change over time). Short-term, condensed educational programs have become more available and recognized as an efficient way to gain specific expertise in less time without spending your life's savings on a long program.
Learning does not take place in a box we call a classroom or in a hotel conference room. We learn more, we learn better, and we learn faster by doing and being actively involved. How are you upgrading your knowledge and abilities?
Will Craig is President of Coach Training Alliance and co-author of the #1 best-selling coaching self-study course, the Coach Training Accelerator.
We live in a knowledge-powered economy and if we're not continually upgrading our capabilities we become obsolete. The good news is the educational choices we make at 18 don't need to be hard and fast choices we're stuck with for a lifetime.
You can choose to look at lifelong learning as the homework assignment that never goes away. Or, you can choose to look at it as an essential strategy for living long and living well.
I'm not suggesting you must go to college to gain the necessary knowledge. What college did do for me was make me recognize that organized learning, whether in traditional schools or through condensed courses and teleclasses, would significantly shorten my learning curve.
"Don't let your schooling interfere with your education."- Mark Twain
Had I to do it all over again I might choose a succession of bite-sized learning opportunities in the specific areas of my interest (recognizing those change over time). Short-term, condensed educational programs have become more available and recognized as an efficient way to gain specific expertise in less time without spending your life's savings on a long program.
Learning does not take place in a box we call a classroom or in a hotel conference room. We learn more, we learn better, and we learn faster by doing and being actively involved. How are you upgrading your knowledge and abilities?
Will Craig is President of Coach Training Alliance and co-author of the #1 best-selling coaching self-study course, the Coach Training Accelerator.
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Take Care of Yourself
Keeping the Balance
"Sometimes the most important thing in a whole day is the rest we take between two deep breaths" (Etty Hillesum).
It isn't easy to juggle the demands of a career and personal life. For most people, it's an ongoing challenge to reduce stress and maintain harmony in key areas of their life. Here are some ideas to help you find the balance that's best for you (and a good suggestion for your clients):
§ Manage your time. Organise household tasks efficiently. Doing one or two loads of laundry every day rather than saving it all for your day off, and running errands in batches rather than going back and forth several times are good places to begin. A weekly familiar calendar of important dates and a daily list of to-dos will help you avoid deadline panic. If your employer offers a course in time management, ! sign up for it.
§ Rethink your cleaning standards. An unmade bed or sink of dirty dishes won't impact the quality of your life. Do what needs to be done and let the rest go. If you can afford it, pay someone else to clean your house.
§ Communicate clearly. Limit time-consuming misunderstandings by communicating clearly and listening carefully. Take notes if it helps.
§ Nurture yourself. Set aside time each day for an activity that you enjoy, such as walking, working out or listening to music.
§ Unwind after a hectic workday by reading, practicing yoga or taking a bubble bath. Sitting down and watching the news is NOT recommended for relaxation or unwinding as many studies advise the news creates an upward shift in anxiety and stress levels.
§ Get enough sleep. There's nothing as stressful and potentially dangerous as working when you're sleep-deprived. Not only is your productivity affected, but you can also make costly mistakes. You may then have to work even more hours to make up for those mistakes.
§ Bolster your support system. Give yourself the gift of a trusted friend or co-worker to talk with during times of stress and hardship. If you're part of a religious community, take advantage of the support your religious leader can provide. Ensure you have trusted friends and relatives who can assist you when you need to work overtime or travel on your job.
Balance doesn't mean doing everything. Examine your priorities and set boundaries. Be firm in what you can and cannot do. Only you can restore harmony to your lifestyle.
"Sometimes the most important thing in a whole day is the rest we take between two deep breaths" (Etty Hillesum).
It isn't easy to juggle the demands of a career and personal life. For most people, it's an ongoing challenge to reduce stress and maintain harmony in key areas of their life. Here are some ideas to help you find the balance that's best for you (and a good suggestion for your clients):
§ Manage your time. Organise household tasks efficiently. Doing one or two loads of laundry every day rather than saving it all for your day off, and running errands in batches rather than going back and forth several times are good places to begin. A weekly familiar calendar of important dates and a daily list of to-dos will help you avoid deadline panic. If your employer offers a course in time management, ! sign up for it.
§ Rethink your cleaning standards. An unmade bed or sink of dirty dishes won't impact the quality of your life. Do what needs to be done and let the rest go. If you can afford it, pay someone else to clean your house.
§ Communicate clearly. Limit time-consuming misunderstandings by communicating clearly and listening carefully. Take notes if it helps.
§ Nurture yourself. Set aside time each day for an activity that you enjoy, such as walking, working out or listening to music.
§ Unwind after a hectic workday by reading, practicing yoga or taking a bubble bath. Sitting down and watching the news is NOT recommended for relaxation or unwinding as many studies advise the news creates an upward shift in anxiety and stress levels.
§ Get enough sleep. There's nothing as stressful and potentially dangerous as working when you're sleep-deprived. Not only is your productivity affected, but you can also make costly mistakes. You may then have to work even more hours to make up for those mistakes.
§ Bolster your support system. Give yourself the gift of a trusted friend or co-worker to talk with during times of stress and hardship. If you're part of a religious community, take advantage of the support your religious leader can provide. Ensure you have trusted friends and relatives who can assist you when you need to work overtime or travel on your job.
Balance doesn't mean doing everything. Examine your priorities and set boundaries. Be firm in what you can and cannot do. Only you can restore harmony to your lifestyle.
Friday, August 24, 2007
Music School For Equipping Church Musicians
From Sep 05 to Apr 06, I spent one day a week at Believer Music learning how to be a better worship musician.
Sure I can play the keyboard, but having a formal qualification is no guarantee that one is able to play sensitively during worship time.
After one semester with Believer Music, I signed up without hesitation for another. And another. I was actually looking forward to cell group meetings again, because I had something new to offer. I was excited about playing the keyboard again, because I was approaching the instrument with new skills, a new way of playing, a new mindset. I couldn't wait to share the fruit of my practice sessions with my cell group members and congregation.
The training was fantastic, and it helped to have the same instructor move on with me as I advanced through the levels. My instructor had the sort of competence that commanded instant respect, a passion for teaching, patience for people who found the keyboard a challenge (the class caters to complete beginners, people who have no formal music background), and an attitude of reverence for what we were trying to achieve: a closer walk with God through music.
I'm not alone in my opinion of Believer Music and what it can do for church musicians who aspire to a higher level of excellence. Here are testimonials from others who've passed through their doors.
Sure I can play the keyboard, but having a formal qualification is no guarantee that one is able to play sensitively during worship time.
After one semester with Believer Music, I signed up without hesitation for another. And another. I was actually looking forward to cell group meetings again, because I had something new to offer. I was excited about playing the keyboard again, because I was approaching the instrument with new skills, a new way of playing, a new mindset. I couldn't wait to share the fruit of my practice sessions with my cell group members and congregation.
The training was fantastic, and it helped to have the same instructor move on with me as I advanced through the levels. My instructor had the sort of competence that commanded instant respect, a passion for teaching, patience for people who found the keyboard a challenge (the class caters to complete beginners, people who have no formal music background), and an attitude of reverence for what we were trying to achieve: a closer walk with God through music.
I'm not alone in my opinion of Believer Music and what it can do for church musicians who aspire to a higher level of excellence. Here are testimonials from others who've passed through their doors.
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Luck - Not A Matter of Chance
From mX News, 20 Aug 2007
Visiting UK psychologist Richard Wiseman has a scientific explanation for why some people are luckier.
It all comes down to a positive mindset.
Wiseman, author of The Luck Factor and professor at the Uni of Hertfordshire, studied 1000 people who rated themselves exceptionally lucky or unlucky over 8 years.
He found that for the most part, people were making their own luck by the way they were behaving.
Being lucky came down to four principles:
Visiting UK psychologist Richard Wiseman has a scientific explanation for why some people are luckier.
It all comes down to a positive mindset.
Wiseman, author of The Luck Factor and professor at the Uni of Hertfordshire, studied 1000 people who rated themselves exceptionally lucky or unlucky over 8 years.
He found that for the most part, people were making their own luck by the way they were behaving.
Being lucky came down to four principles:
- Lucky people create opportunities
- They listen to hunches
- They expect good fortune
- They cope with bad luck
Note:
None of this will be new to supporters of James Allen's As A Man Thinketh, So Is He school of thought. Ditto for fans of The Secret and other Law of Attraction philosophies. Even the New Testament speaks frequently of the importance of faith and self-belief.
Underneath all these teachings is a recognition of a universal law at work, one that rewards you according to what is foremost in your mind.
The Dawkins Delusion
Richard Dawkins is a New Atheist and author of The God Delusion, in which he describes God as "the most unpleasant character in all fiction: jealous and proud of it; a petty, unjust, unforgiving control-freak; a vindictive, bloodthirsty ethnic cleanser; a misogynistic, homophobic, racist, infanticidal, genocidal, filicidal, pestilential, megalomaniacal, sadomasochistic, capriciously malevolent bully".
He has given several interviews on YouTube.
In response, someone has come up with a humorous rejoinder, saying there is no such person as Richard Dawkins and that Dawkins himself is a delusion.
Go here for the "interview" with Dr. Terry Tommyrot.
He has given several interviews on YouTube.
In response, someone has come up with a humorous rejoinder, saying there is no such person as Richard Dawkins and that Dawkins himself is a delusion.
Go here for the "interview" with Dr. Terry Tommyrot.
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Is a work-from-home business for you?
If working from home is something you've been thinking about, you're not alone.
According to a recent poll, more than 7 in 10 American households are thinking about starting a home-based business.
Chances are, the figures are pretty similar all over the world.
Why do people start a home-based business?
For some, it represents the best of both worlds: bringing in an income while being available for the family.
For others, it's the perfect way to explore a side business while keeping the day job, until you get to the stage where you can dump the day job, fire your boss and stay home.
Whatever your motivation, know that a home-based business is not for everyone.
You have to have a pretty accurate idea of yourself, what you're capable of, where your areas of weakness are, to know if a home-based business would suit you.
Some people need to be around others. For them, the strain of isolation that comes with staying home may just not be worth it.
Some people need to be accountable to an authority figure, or they lapse into ill-discipline and unproductive work habits.
Moms, are you looking for a way to work from home?
This is not about paid surveys, data processing or envelope stuffing.
Neither is it a Get Rich Quick scam.
This is about leveraging the awesome power of the Internet to turn what you know and love doing into a side income.
This is an opportunity that could potentially free you from the constant anxiety about having enough time and money to do the things you love and be with the people you love.
You've nothing to lose and everything to gain.
Why not investigate further, weigh the facts for yourself and see if this is what you've been looking for?
Monday, August 20, 2007
Careers Quiz: Are You Sabotaging Your Career?
ARE YOU SABOTAGING YOUR CAREER?
A QUINTESSENTIAL CAREERS QUIZ
by Randall S. Hansen, Ph.D.
We all know someone like my father. A great man with good intentions -- maybe even a star contributor, someone who takes on extra work and even ventures to the office on the weekend to test out some new ideas -- someone who can definitely list many revenue-enhancing accomplishments on his resume.
Yet, even with all these positives, you know something is not quite right because it's the other folks in your office who get the promotions, big bonuses, or high-profile assignments while you sit by quietly (or not so quietly) steaming.
What gives? An easy target is your boss - maybe s/he is envious of your successes, or maybe s/he is just a bad boss.
Maybe it's your co-workers. Perhaps they are envious ofyou and stabbing you in the back -- or perhaps you have a bit too inflated view of yourself.
The solution?
Take a step backwards away from the situation.
Is it really your boss or co-workers -- or are you sabotaging your own career?
Take our Quintessential Careers Quiz at http://www.quintcareers.com/sabotaging_career_quiz.html and find out!
A QUINTESSENTIAL CAREERS QUIZ
by Randall S. Hansen, Ph.D.
We all know someone like my father. A great man with good intentions -- maybe even a star contributor, someone who takes on extra work and even ventures to the office on the weekend to test out some new ideas -- someone who can definitely list many revenue-enhancing accomplishments on his resume.
Yet, even with all these positives, you know something is not quite right because it's the other folks in your office who get the promotions, big bonuses, or high-profile assignments while you sit by quietly (or not so quietly) steaming.
What gives? An easy target is your boss - maybe s/he is envious of your successes, or maybe s/he is just a bad boss.
Maybe it's your co-workers. Perhaps they are envious ofyou and stabbing you in the back -- or perhaps you have a bit too inflated view of yourself.
The solution?
Take a step backwards away from the situation.
Is it really your boss or co-workers -- or are you sabotaging your own career?
Take our Quintessential Careers Quiz at http://www.quintcareers.com/sabotaging_career_quiz.html and find out!
Volunteer Your Way To A New Career
VOLUNTEERING CAN OPEN DOORS TO A NEW CAREER
by Sharon Reed Abboud
www.QuintCareers.com
Are you considering a career change to a job in the non-profit sector?
Consider volunteering for a non-profit organization as your first step.Volunteering enables the job-seeker to gain valuable professional experience and establish contacts in the new job field. It is an excellent way to make a difference while advancing your own career objectives.
"It is a win-win situation," said Lynn Berger, a NYC-based careercoach,and author of The Savvy Part-Time Professional, How to Land, Create, or Negotiate the Part-time Job of Your Dreams. "You feel good by volunteering and learn about yourself at the same time."
Career changers, recent college grads, and stay-at-home parents transitioning back into a paid career may want to consider volunteeringas a job-search strategy. Volunteering enables you to test out job environments without making a long-term commitment.
Learn more in our full article at:http://www.quintcareers.com/volunteering_to_new_career.html
by Sharon Reed Abboud
www.QuintCareers.com
Are you considering a career change to a job in the non-profit sector?
Consider volunteering for a non-profit organization as your first step.Volunteering enables the job-seeker to gain valuable professional experience and establish contacts in the new job field. It is an excellent way to make a difference while advancing your own career objectives.
"It is a win-win situation," said Lynn Berger, a NYC-based careercoach,and author of The Savvy Part-Time Professional, How to Land, Create, or Negotiate the Part-time Job of Your Dreams. "You feel good by volunteering and learn about yourself at the same time."
Career changers, recent college grads, and stay-at-home parents transitioning back into a paid career may want to consider volunteeringas a job-search strategy. Volunteering enables you to test out job environments without making a long-term commitment.
Learn more in our full article at:http://www.quintcareers.com/volunteering_to_new_career.html
Making A Lateral Career Move: Pros and Cons
FEATURE ARTICLE:
MAKING A LATERAL CAREER MOVE: THE PROS AND CONS
by Randall S. Hansen, Ph.D.
QuintZine
You have been working hard, tracking your accomplishments, and promoting your personal brand within your organization -- all the right moves to obtaining that promotion you know you deserve.
Instead of the promotion, however, your boss calls you in for a chat and tells you that you are being talked about for a lateral positionthatjust opened up, a position with the same or similar title and paygrade but in a different part of the organization.
Or, perhaps it's you who has decided that for whatever reason you will not get promoted within your department -- but you love the organization -- so you are considering a lateral move with what you hope will be more opportunities down the line.
Whatever the reasons for considering a lateral move within your current organization, take a moment to read our full article athttp://www.quintcareers.com/lateral_career_pros-cons.html-- and then take much longer to weigh the pros and cons of applying for or accepting the lateral move.
MAKING A LATERAL CAREER MOVE: THE PROS AND CONS
by Randall S. Hansen, Ph.D.
QuintZine
You have been working hard, tracking your accomplishments, and promoting your personal brand within your organization -- all the right moves to obtaining that promotion you know you deserve.
Instead of the promotion, however, your boss calls you in for a chat and tells you that you are being talked about for a lateral positionthatjust opened up, a position with the same or similar title and paygrade but in a different part of the organization.
Or, perhaps it's you who has decided that for whatever reason you will not get promoted within your department -- but you love the organization -- so you are considering a lateral move with what you hope will be more opportunities down the line.
Whatever the reasons for considering a lateral move within your current organization, take a moment to read our full article athttp://www.quintcareers.com/lateral_career_pros-cons.html-- and then take much longer to weigh the pros and cons of applying for or accepting the lateral move.
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
How To Make Decisions Quickly and Easily
I get stressed every time I have to make a decision.
It doesn't matter how mundane or major the decision is. As long as I have to choose, as long as saying yes to A means saying no to B, I'm in trouble.
What should J wear to church today?
What's for dinner?
Should I send Beth to an expensive Christian school or the nearest state school?
Should we live in Suburb A or Suburb B?
Should we buy House A, B or C?
I almost wish I could outsource the whole decision making process. (But then, where would be the fun?)
So I'm pleased someone's designed a decision making tool for indecisive folks like me.
This tool - software actually - lets you do all these things:
1. Ask the right question (very important!)
2. List the possible answers
3. List up to 10 relevant factors that need to be considered
4. Attach a weight to each factor
Result: A bar graph that shows you exactly which answer "won".
You have complete control of the process and can go back and change the input any time until you're 100% satisfied.
I love how simple and effective it is. I love how it "forces" me to decide, just by the exercise of assigning a weight to a factor. I've used it on choice of suburb and choice of house so far.
You can try it out yourself here.
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
My Idea of Happiness
Happiness is
A mug of hot coffee
Peace and quiet
Sunlight streaming through cobwebby glass on a winter's morning
Time to read
Time to be still
The dog grooming himself outside
Weeds waving merrily in the wind
Peace and quiet
Me and my computer
Alone, facing each other
Words poised to spill onto blank pages
Peace and quiet
Before the kids wake
Before another hectic day begins
A mug of hot coffee
Peace and quiet
Sunlight streaming through cobwebby glass on a winter's morning
Time to read
Time to be still
The dog grooming himself outside
Weeds waving merrily in the wind
Peace and quiet
Me and my computer
Alone, facing each other
Words poised to spill onto blank pages
Peace and quiet
Before the kids wake
Before another hectic day begins
Thursday, July 05, 2007
Turning Our Ears From Truths to Myths
"...be prepared in season and out of season...For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths." (2 Tim. 4:2-4)
I have to ask myself: are the resources and references I have been consulting in my quest for personal growth and financial freedom leading me towards Christlikeness or away? Do I hear only what I want to hear? Have I turned from the truth in pursuit of the world's lies? Freedom. Wealth. Time for the family. Time to do what I love. A channel for my creativity. A desire to help and empower other women. Is Christ in these desires or is it all about me, me, me? Because it's not about me. I'm not here to please myself but to do His will. How can I be sure that what my heart pulls me towards is within His will for me? That it's okay to want success and financial freedom? Is there such a thing as financial freedom and success for those who desire to please Him?
Perhaps it's not either/or. Perhaps I'm looking at these issues with the wrong lens. It is Christ above all and in all, financially free or not, successful or not. King Solomon in the Book of Ecclesiastes wrote, "when God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work - this is a gift of God. He seldom reflects on the days of his life, because God keeps him occupied with gladness of heart." (Eccl. 5:19-20)
It is God who gives wealth and possessions.
It is God who enables the recipient to enjoy them. (One can be rich and miserable. Who would choose that for themselves?)
It is God who enables the recipient to accept his lot and be happy in his work. (God gives contentment, peace and joy. What is the point of being rich but miserable?)
It is God who so fills the recipient's heart with gladness that he has no time to sit and reflect on the how's and why's and what's-in-the-future. He is too busy being glad. (Isn't that a wonderful way to live?)
It is all about God.
So then it is human and natural to desire and to seek better things for ourselves and our families. But in doing so, we must subject these desires to Him, remembering that it is not about us. If He grants our desires, we must acknowledge with gratitude His providence and use the gifts not only for our own good but the good of those within our circles of influence. And if He chooses to withhold, as a loving and wise Father sometimes must, we must submit humbly and trust that He knows better. And whatever our circumstances, we must give thanks, because all good things come from Him, and He has divinely placed us in this situation at this time for a reason and a season.
I have to ask myself: are the resources and references I have been consulting in my quest for personal growth and financial freedom leading me towards Christlikeness or away? Do I hear only what I want to hear? Have I turned from the truth in pursuit of the world's lies? Freedom. Wealth. Time for the family. Time to do what I love. A channel for my creativity. A desire to help and empower other women. Is Christ in these desires or is it all about me, me, me? Because it's not about me. I'm not here to please myself but to do His will. How can I be sure that what my heart pulls me towards is within His will for me? That it's okay to want success and financial freedom? Is there such a thing as financial freedom and success for those who desire to please Him?
Perhaps it's not either/or. Perhaps I'm looking at these issues with the wrong lens. It is Christ above all and in all, financially free or not, successful or not. King Solomon in the Book of Ecclesiastes wrote, "when God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work - this is a gift of God. He seldom reflects on the days of his life, because God keeps him occupied with gladness of heart." (Eccl. 5:19-20)
It is God who gives wealth and possessions.
It is God who enables the recipient to enjoy them. (One can be rich and miserable. Who would choose that for themselves?)
It is God who enables the recipient to accept his lot and be happy in his work. (God gives contentment, peace and joy. What is the point of being rich but miserable?)
It is God who so fills the recipient's heart with gladness that he has no time to sit and reflect on the how's and why's and what's-in-the-future. He is too busy being glad. (Isn't that a wonderful way to live?)
It is all about God.
So then it is human and natural to desire and to seek better things for ourselves and our families. But in doing so, we must subject these desires to Him, remembering that it is not about us. If He grants our desires, we must acknowledge with gratitude His providence and use the gifts not only for our own good but the good of those within our circles of influence. And if He chooses to withhold, as a loving and wise Father sometimes must, we must submit humbly and trust that He knows better. And whatever our circumstances, we must give thanks, because all good things come from Him, and He has divinely placed us in this situation at this time for a reason and a season.
Tuesday, July 03, 2007
Common Job Hunting Mistake: Are You Guilty?
Extracted from an article in QuintZine:
Todd Bermont, author of 10 Insider Secrets to a Winning Job Search: Everything You Need to Get the Job You Want in 24 hours or Less, Career Press, and 10 Insider Secrets Career Transition Workshop: Your Complete Guide to Discovering Your Ideal Self, 10 Step Publications, says the No. 1 mistake he sees is that people do not know what they really want to do for a living. "That comes across loud and clear in job interviews," Bermont said. "The competition is fierce, and job-hunters will be competing against people that know exactly what they want and are passionate about it."
"Before embarking on a job hunt, you must determine your ideal job and go for it," Bermont explained. "Otherwise it is like going on a vacation without deciding where you want to go before you start driving. If you don't know your destination, how can you map out a route?"
Debra Davenport, PhD, CEO of Davenport/Folio, a career consulting firm based in Los Angeles and Phoenix, AZ, agreed. Davenport said that the No. 1 job-hunting mistake that she sees is people who are "pursuing jobs for which the applicant has no interest or passion. Most people I counsel have never really taken the time to discover their right livelihood, and that is the most critically important thing that everyone should do. You really should love your work."
So what are all these experts saying?
That many of us flip through the job classifieds hoping to find something - anything - that looks doable. Instead, we should be approaching the job hunt as the hunter. First determining what we most love doing and what we're great at doing, and then going out to hunt for a job that meets those criteria.
How do we avoid the lack of clarity that can sink an interview?
Or put another way, how can we persuade the interviewer that we're the right fit for the vacancy?
And finally, is it possible to find a job that's the right match for us?
Clarity Comes From Passion
We need to be passionate about wanting the job. This means we must want the job with a fierce intensity that is immediately noticeable. To do that, we need clarity. We need to be clear and certain that we want THIS job.
Would you be passionate about a community welfare worker position if you don't have a heart for helping disadvantaged persons?
Would you be passionate about being a customer service officer if you hate dealing with people?
Even if you could somehow fake the enthusiasm and get the job, how long would you last before throwing in the towel?
So interviewing success depends on passion, and passion flows from doing something that feels right for you. That is you.
Wanting The Job For The Right Reasons
I would venture to add that passion is critical, but it is not all. Your reasons for wanting the job must also be sound.
What is a sound reason?
If your primary reason for applying is because the job pays well, or that it will look good on your CV down the road, or that it was the best you could find, it may not be a compelling enough reason. The interviewer can tell right away that you're a taker, not a giver.
Remember: it's not about you.
It's about what you can do for the company.
It's about the company having a problem that needs fixing.
Are you The One, and are you absolutely confident that you're The One? You have to be able to do more and be more than your competitors. You have to convince the interviewer that you can contribute more value to the company than your competitors. And deliver all this with strong self-belief and conviction. If you can't, why would you expect to be offered the job?
The Starting Point: Self-Awareness
Above all, you must know what you love and what you are good at. The ideal job is one that enables you to channel your best talents into what you best love doing. While that seems like a simple and obvious truth, it's not easy to implement. It requires work. Perhaps that is why most of us prefer to compromise and settle for something that is halfway acceptable, rather than take the less trodden path to find out what kind of job would most make us happy, where our passions and strengths lie, and then strategizing the best way to find a job that meets all these criteria.
Remember: Nothing worth doing is ever easy. If you want 50% job satisfaction, you don't need this info. But if you're tired of mediocrity and want more, there's no shortcut. You have to invest the time and effort to get to know yourself. Self-awareness is the first step to finding a job you can love and enjoy doing for a long long time.
Action Exercise
Here are some questions to ask yourself:
What do I most love doing and what are my strengths?
Is my current career choice allowing me to express my passion and to use my strengths?
If not, what can I do about it?
Todd Bermont, author of 10 Insider Secrets to a Winning Job Search: Everything You Need to Get the Job You Want in 24 hours or Less, Career Press, and 10 Insider Secrets Career Transition Workshop: Your Complete Guide to Discovering Your Ideal Self, 10 Step Publications, says the No. 1 mistake he sees is that people do not know what they really want to do for a living. "That comes across loud and clear in job interviews," Bermont said. "The competition is fierce, and job-hunters will be competing against people that know exactly what they want and are passionate about it."
"Before embarking on a job hunt, you must determine your ideal job and go for it," Bermont explained. "Otherwise it is like going on a vacation without deciding where you want to go before you start driving. If you don't know your destination, how can you map out a route?"
Debra Davenport, PhD, CEO of Davenport/Folio, a career consulting firm based in Los Angeles and Phoenix, AZ, agreed. Davenport said that the No. 1 job-hunting mistake that she sees is people who are "pursuing jobs for which the applicant has no interest or passion. Most people I counsel have never really taken the time to discover their right livelihood, and that is the most critically important thing that everyone should do. You really should love your work."
So what are all these experts saying?
That many of us flip through the job classifieds hoping to find something - anything - that looks doable. Instead, we should be approaching the job hunt as the hunter. First determining what we most love doing and what we're great at doing, and then going out to hunt for a job that meets those criteria.
How do we avoid the lack of clarity that can sink an interview?
Or put another way, how can we persuade the interviewer that we're the right fit for the vacancy?
And finally, is it possible to find a job that's the right match for us?
Clarity Comes From Passion
We need to be passionate about wanting the job. This means we must want the job with a fierce intensity that is immediately noticeable. To do that, we need clarity. We need to be clear and certain that we want THIS job.
Would you be passionate about a community welfare worker position if you don't have a heart for helping disadvantaged persons?
Would you be passionate about being a customer service officer if you hate dealing with people?
Even if you could somehow fake the enthusiasm and get the job, how long would you last before throwing in the towel?
So interviewing success depends on passion, and passion flows from doing something that feels right for you. That is you.
Wanting The Job For The Right Reasons
I would venture to add that passion is critical, but it is not all. Your reasons for wanting the job must also be sound.
What is a sound reason?
If your primary reason for applying is because the job pays well, or that it will look good on your CV down the road, or that it was the best you could find, it may not be a compelling enough reason. The interviewer can tell right away that you're a taker, not a giver.
Remember: it's not about you.
It's about what you can do for the company.
It's about the company having a problem that needs fixing.
Are you The One, and are you absolutely confident that you're The One? You have to be able to do more and be more than your competitors. You have to convince the interviewer that you can contribute more value to the company than your competitors. And deliver all this with strong self-belief and conviction. If you can't, why would you expect to be offered the job?
The Starting Point: Self-Awareness
Above all, you must know what you love and what you are good at. The ideal job is one that enables you to channel your best talents into what you best love doing. While that seems like a simple and obvious truth, it's not easy to implement. It requires work. Perhaps that is why most of us prefer to compromise and settle for something that is halfway acceptable, rather than take the less trodden path to find out what kind of job would most make us happy, where our passions and strengths lie, and then strategizing the best way to find a job that meets all these criteria.
Remember: Nothing worth doing is ever easy. If you want 50% job satisfaction, you don't need this info. But if you're tired of mediocrity and want more, there's no shortcut. You have to invest the time and effort to get to know yourself. Self-awareness is the first step to finding a job you can love and enjoy doing for a long long time.
Action Exercise
Here are some questions to ask yourself:
What do I most love doing and what are my strengths?
Is my current career choice allowing me to express my passion and to use my strengths?
If not, what can I do about it?
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Success = Vision x Decision x Action
SUCCESS = Vision x Decision x Action
I don't have to get it right, I just have to get it going!
I love this signature I saw on an investors forum.
We know success is not just about having a vision of what we can achieve. But how many of us persist long enough at doing the necessary mundane little actions each day that bring us closer to a place of success?
I know I struggle with this, especially the Decision bit (should I? what if? let me think about it a bit more) and the Action bit (I don't feel like working today; let's do something more interesting).
Some random thoughts...
Vision is an idea of what could be. The starting point. The thing that gets you all fired up, that obliges you to sit up all night scribbling all the fantastic stuff going through your mind. It's probably the easiest thing to have because we all love to dream.
Decision is pointing yourself in a particular direction that gels with that Vision. Choosing Path A over B and C. For the risk averse, this is where one can potentially fail because it's hard to say yes to something, when that yes could turn out to be a costly mistake. We'd like to have it all.
I don't have to get it right, I just have to get it going!
I love this signature I saw on an investors forum.
We know success is not just about having a vision of what we can achieve. But how many of us persist long enough at doing the necessary mundane little actions each day that bring us closer to a place of success?
I know I struggle with this, especially the Decision bit (should I? what if? let me think about it a bit more) and the Action bit (I don't feel like working today; let's do something more interesting).
Some random thoughts...
Vision is an idea of what could be. The starting point. The thing that gets you all fired up, that obliges you to sit up all night scribbling all the fantastic stuff going through your mind. It's probably the easiest thing to have because we all love to dream.
Decision is pointing yourself in a particular direction that gels with that Vision. Choosing Path A over B and C. For the risk averse, this is where one can potentially fail because it's hard to say yes to something, when that yes could turn out to be a costly mistake. We'd like to have it all.
Action is the tedious legwork that keeps you moving towards Success. Discipline. Hard work. Effort. Research. Doing your due diligence. Boring stuff.
Action Exercises To Maximize Your Chances of Success
- Keep your Vision in front of you, in a place you can see. Make it real. Use aids: visual/auditory/tangible, whatever works best for you. This keeps you focussed.
- Making a decision, even a wrong one, is better than doing nothing. You can correct yourself later. But if you make no decision at all for fear of taking a risk, you'll definitely stay in one place and stagnate. Don't be a slave to analysis paralysis. It's easy to deceive ourselves that we're doing real work when we're just inventing excuses not to make a decision.
- Take little steps each day that move you towards the place you want to be. The idea is to keep going. Momentum only comes when you've been doing something long enough. You can't build momentum by trying a new strategy for 1 week and then giving up before you see results.
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
What's A Good Goal To Set?
According to Joe Vitale, a good goal should SCARE you a little, and EXCITE you a lot!
Let's look at his formula more closely.
A goal should excite because, well, if you're not going to be excited enough to want to pour your heart and soul into it, what's the point? If you're not excited about something, you're hardly likely to succeed, are you?
Second point. A goal should scare you a little. It should be just out of reach, yet not impossible. Something that will stretch your resources, your imagination, your energy, your faith. A goal that scares you a little is a BIG goal, not an ordinary one. It's one that will take you outside your comfort zone. It will require more of you than you are now investing. It requires you to Think Big and Act Big.
Action Exercise:
Set yourself a Good Goal this week.
Then every day for a month, take time to imagine this goal fulfilled.
How would your life be different?
What would your day be like?
How would you spend your time?
Who would you be meeting?
What work would you be doing?
Where would you be living?
Let's look at his formula more closely.
A goal should excite because, well, if you're not going to be excited enough to want to pour your heart and soul into it, what's the point? If you're not excited about something, you're hardly likely to succeed, are you?
Second point. A goal should scare you a little. It should be just out of reach, yet not impossible. Something that will stretch your resources, your imagination, your energy, your faith. A goal that scares you a little is a BIG goal, not an ordinary one. It's one that will take you outside your comfort zone. It will require more of you than you are now investing. It requires you to Think Big and Act Big.
Action Exercise:
Set yourself a Good Goal this week.
Then every day for a month, take time to imagine this goal fulfilled.
How would your life be different?
What would your day be like?
How would you spend your time?
Who would you be meeting?
What work would you be doing?
Where would you be living?
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Unshakeable Peace
I was listening to an audio broadcast of a sermon by Dr. Adrian Rogers on Crosswalk.com on Sunday.
Dr. Rogers used the story of Jesus calming the storm and walking on the water to His terrified disciples to illustrate the meaning of peace.
True peace is not the absence of anxiety or stress or trouble. It is being able to remain confident despite anxiety or stress or trouble. The secret is to look at Jesus, not at the waves.
We can use the letters of the word PEACE to remind us of the following truths:
P = Providence. Nothing surprises God. He is over all things. When you are caught in a storm, say to yourself: "His purpose brought me here."
E = Entreating. Jesus prays for us when we are troubled, and we know that God always hears Jesus' prayers. Say to yourself: "His prayers protect me here."
A = Assurance. Jesus' presence is more real to me when I'm in the midst of a storm, than when things are going well. Psalm 46 says: God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. "His presence comes to me here."
C = Comfort. Comforting someone doesn't mean saying "there, there" and uttering soothing words. The word 'comfort' is derived from Come + Fort. Fort means to Build Up, to Give Strength. That is what God does. "His power sustains me here."
E = Expectation. I can expect God to take care of the problem. How He chooses to do it is none of my business. Remember: Peter sank for a while, BUT HE DIDN'T DROWN. Likewise, we can trust God to keep our heads above water. "His promise assures me here."
May the peace of GOD, the peace that surpasses all understanding, be always with you.
Dr. Rogers used the story of Jesus calming the storm and walking on the water to His terrified disciples to illustrate the meaning of peace.
True peace is not the absence of anxiety or stress or trouble. It is being able to remain confident despite anxiety or stress or trouble. The secret is to look at Jesus, not at the waves.
We can use the letters of the word PEACE to remind us of the following truths:
P = Providence. Nothing surprises God. He is over all things. When you are caught in a storm, say to yourself: "His purpose brought me here."
E = Entreating. Jesus prays for us when we are troubled, and we know that God always hears Jesus' prayers. Say to yourself: "His prayers protect me here."
A = Assurance. Jesus' presence is more real to me when I'm in the midst of a storm, than when things are going well. Psalm 46 says: God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. "His presence comes to me here."
C = Comfort. Comforting someone doesn't mean saying "there, there" and uttering soothing words. The word 'comfort' is derived from Come + Fort. Fort means to Build Up, to Give Strength. That is what God does. "His power sustains me here."
E = Expectation. I can expect God to take care of the problem. How He chooses to do it is none of my business. Remember: Peter sank for a while, BUT HE DIDN'T DROWN. Likewise, we can trust God to keep our heads above water. "His promise assures me here."
May the peace of GOD, the peace that surpasses all understanding, be always with you.
Wednesday, June 06, 2007
Thoughts Become Things
Much has been said online about The Secret and the Law of Attraction.
For those who have not heard of the Law of Attraction, it states that everything that's coming into your life, you are attracting into your life. Put another way, you are what you think.
Think "How will I ever get out of debt?" and you create more debt for yourself. Think "I want to have absolute financial freedom" and your mind will go to work dreaming up creative solutions to your present situation.
Sounds simple doesn't it?
If it's so simple, why are so many people still living in debt, not living to their fullest potential, or unhappy with their lives?
That's because we have allowed ourselves to be stuck in our current reality. We think that the problems we're facing now are all there is for us. Instead of thinking what COULD BE, we think only of what IS.
But what is can change, can't it? Why can't things dramatically improve tomorrow? We've all read of people who suddenly come into great wealth or a promotion or pay raise, or find a job they love, or have the child they've yearned for for years. Why shouldn't something wonderful happen in your life and mine too?
The key to the Law of Attraction is that if you're not happy with the way things are now, CHANGE THEM. It's not up to other people, it's not the fault of systems or the establishment or "that's just the way things are". You and I have the power to change our lives simply by changing our thoughts.
Want more abundance? Think abundance.
Want more love? Think loving thoughts.
Want more harmonious relationships? Think of the good in others and focus on creating harmony yourself.
This is The Secret:
THOUGHT + EMOTION = ATTRACTION
When your thoughts dwell on something/someone a lot of the time, you start to develop feelings about that something/someone. Those feelings fuel your thoughts and start the process of bringing what you want into your life.
Try this experiment.
Think of something you want very much. Maybe a new house with 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms and a huge rear yard for the kids and family pet to run around in.
How does that make you feel: excited? happy? Can you see yourself moving around the house? Can you picture yourself walking into each room? What do you see? What does your bedroom look like? What does the kitchen look like? What's the view from the living room? Perhaps it opens out onto the garden, or views of the lake?
How are you feeling as you visualize your dream home? Do you believe you can own a home like that someday? Maybe even in 5 years?
You might well find your mind throwing up exciting possibilities. You might think,"Maybe if I save $100 more a month, I could have a really healthy deposit in 5 years. Now, how would I do that? Could we eat out less? Buy fewer snacks?".
And so on. And because your mind is on the path of thinking what is POSSIBLE and what COULD BE, that is what you attract - all the good stuff. The stuff of dreams.
For those who have not heard of the Law of Attraction, it states that everything that's coming into your life, you are attracting into your life. Put another way, you are what you think.
Think "How will I ever get out of debt?" and you create more debt for yourself. Think "I want to have absolute financial freedom" and your mind will go to work dreaming up creative solutions to your present situation.
Sounds simple doesn't it?
If it's so simple, why are so many people still living in debt, not living to their fullest potential, or unhappy with their lives?
That's because we have allowed ourselves to be stuck in our current reality. We think that the problems we're facing now are all there is for us. Instead of thinking what COULD BE, we think only of what IS.
But what is can change, can't it? Why can't things dramatically improve tomorrow? We've all read of people who suddenly come into great wealth or a promotion or pay raise, or find a job they love, or have the child they've yearned for for years. Why shouldn't something wonderful happen in your life and mine too?
The key to the Law of Attraction is that if you're not happy with the way things are now, CHANGE THEM. It's not up to other people, it's not the fault of systems or the establishment or "that's just the way things are". You and I have the power to change our lives simply by changing our thoughts.
Want more abundance? Think abundance.
Want more love? Think loving thoughts.
Want more harmonious relationships? Think of the good in others and focus on creating harmony yourself.
This is The Secret:
THOUGHT + EMOTION = ATTRACTION
When your thoughts dwell on something/someone a lot of the time, you start to develop feelings about that something/someone. Those feelings fuel your thoughts and start the process of bringing what you want into your life.
Try this experiment.
Think of something you want very much. Maybe a new house with 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms and a huge rear yard for the kids and family pet to run around in.
How does that make you feel: excited? happy? Can you see yourself moving around the house? Can you picture yourself walking into each room? What do you see? What does your bedroom look like? What does the kitchen look like? What's the view from the living room? Perhaps it opens out onto the garden, or views of the lake?
How are you feeling as you visualize your dream home? Do you believe you can own a home like that someday? Maybe even in 5 years?
You might well find your mind throwing up exciting possibilities. You might think,"Maybe if I save $100 more a month, I could have a really healthy deposit in 5 years. Now, how would I do that? Could we eat out less? Buy fewer snacks?".
And so on. And because your mind is on the path of thinking what is POSSIBLE and what COULD BE, that is what you attract - all the good stuff. The stuff of dreams.
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
The Slight Edge
When you were a tiny child, you made your way around the room on your hands and knees, crawling. Everyone around you was walking and one day you decided to give it a try so, little by little, you worked on developing the skills necessary for you to learn to walk. You grabbed onto something above you and pulled yourself upright. You stood up holding onto the table or chair. Wobbling and unsure, you let go, fell down and tried again and again, until you stood up by yourself. Then you took your first step. All alone, all by yourself, hopefully to the cheers and applause of your family.
Baby steps, one at a time and you were walking. In the process of learning to walk you probably spent more time falling than you did succeeding. But did you ever think about quitting? Did you ever tell yourself that you weren't cut out for walking: "guess what; I'm going to crawl for the rest of my life"? No, of course you didn't. So why do you do that now? Why don't you do what you did when you were one or two years old?
The answer is alarming yet simple. Somewhere along the way, you became unwilling to take baby steps. You lost faith in the universal truth that simple disciplines practiced every single day, create success. You forgot the most proven, powerful success philosophy on earth. "The Slight Edge". Winning is always a matter of "The Slight Edge".
If you were to improve by just 0.003 each day that's only 3/10ths of 1%, a very slight edge but if you kept it up for the next five years, here's what would happen to you. The first year you would improve by 100% (you would be twice what you are today in just one year!). In the second year, you would improve by 200% and in the third by 400%. In the fourth year you would improve by 800%! By the end of the fifth year, you would have increased your value, skills and results by 1600%. That's 32 times more than what you are today. Just 3/10ths of 1% per day and that's not compounded! Just adding on three tenths of 1% each day. That's the incredible power of "The Slight Edge".
Remember that "The Slight Edge" is always operating either for you or against you. What you choose to do with it is up to you. "The Slight Edge" is based on the principle that what is easy to do is just as easy not to do. It's easy to get up and go to the gym every morning but it's just as easy to stay in bed and sleep in a little longer. But it's the little disciplines done over time that add up to the biggest accomplishments. The problem is that all those things, reading a book, exercising, eating the right foods, which are easy to do, are just as easy not to do.
Why is something easy not to do? Because if you don't do it, it won't kill you today. But that seemingly simply insignificant error in judgement repeated over time will kill you, destroy you, ruin your chances of success and demolish your dreams....guaranteed. For instance, if you eat a hamburger, it won't kill you today. But if you eat a hamburger everyday, that simple error in judgement compounded over time will ruin the quality of your life and will eventually take your life for ever. Either way "the Slight Edge" is at work.
You've got to choose which way you will go. If it's easy to do, it's also easy not to do. Which way will you choose? Did you know that only 5% of people succeed and 95% of people fail? No matter what realm of life or work you're looking at. It's true. Just one out of 20 people will achieve their goals in life. That's what the numbers say.
Back in the early 50s the Hartford Insurance Company did a survey of 100 college graduates, all approximately 25 years of age. They asked them all one question. "Will you achieve your financial goals within your working life?" They all said yes. Forty years later, in the 1990s Hartford followed up the 100 subjects, who were now 65 years old and found that:· 1 was wealthy· 4 were financially secure· 6 were still working· 35 were dead· 54 were broke having $200 or less to spend each month after they had paid their bills.
Out of the 100 subjects, only 5 had written down their goals. You can guess who they were! Five out of 100 were successful. That's 1 in 20. Why? The answer had to do with the pull of gravity. The downward pull of life. Ask yourself "Where is the expectation and the structure to support me in being a success in my life and work?"
The alarming fact is that outside our formal system of education, which most experts suggest is flawed anyway, there is no expectation or structure for your success - none. We get what we expect and only 5% of us ever expect to win and keep expecting that. Plus we have no structure and no system to support us in succeeding in life.
The predominant force in life is gravity and it's always pulling us down. It pulls 19 out of 20 down. But anyone can break free from the downward pull...........by doing what it's just as easy not to do. Write down your goals, read books, plan, build knowledge. Attend training, seminars then read some more, plan some more, set more goals and so on. Read 20 pages of an inspiring book everyday. Study success, study motivation, study network marketing, and read biographies of people that inspire you. But know that if it's easy to do its also easy not to do.
The choice is up to you. Your future is up to you. Life is not a spectator sport. Lead, follow or get out of the way. Life is a continual process...of growth or decay. Grow and then grow some more. Commit to growth. Learning to learn is committing to the process of growth. Choose to read 20 pages every day and you will have to make that choice every day. Choose to model yourself after the people you admire and who have succeeded in areas where you want to succeed.
Remember that failure will never overtake you if your desire to succeed is strong enough.
Baby steps, one at a time and you were walking. In the process of learning to walk you probably spent more time falling than you did succeeding. But did you ever think about quitting? Did you ever tell yourself that you weren't cut out for walking: "guess what; I'm going to crawl for the rest of my life"? No, of course you didn't. So why do you do that now? Why don't you do what you did when you were one or two years old?
The answer is alarming yet simple. Somewhere along the way, you became unwilling to take baby steps. You lost faith in the universal truth that simple disciplines practiced every single day, create success. You forgot the most proven, powerful success philosophy on earth. "The Slight Edge". Winning is always a matter of "The Slight Edge".
If you were to improve by just 0.003 each day that's only 3/10ths of 1%, a very slight edge but if you kept it up for the next five years, here's what would happen to you. The first year you would improve by 100% (you would be twice what you are today in just one year!). In the second year, you would improve by 200% and in the third by 400%. In the fourth year you would improve by 800%! By the end of the fifth year, you would have increased your value, skills and results by 1600%. That's 32 times more than what you are today. Just 3/10ths of 1% per day and that's not compounded! Just adding on three tenths of 1% each day. That's the incredible power of "The Slight Edge".
Remember that "The Slight Edge" is always operating either for you or against you. What you choose to do with it is up to you. "The Slight Edge" is based on the principle that what is easy to do is just as easy not to do. It's easy to get up and go to the gym every morning but it's just as easy to stay in bed and sleep in a little longer. But it's the little disciplines done over time that add up to the biggest accomplishments. The problem is that all those things, reading a book, exercising, eating the right foods, which are easy to do, are just as easy not to do.
Why is something easy not to do? Because if you don't do it, it won't kill you today. But that seemingly simply insignificant error in judgement repeated over time will kill you, destroy you, ruin your chances of success and demolish your dreams....guaranteed. For instance, if you eat a hamburger, it won't kill you today. But if you eat a hamburger everyday, that simple error in judgement compounded over time will ruin the quality of your life and will eventually take your life for ever. Either way "the Slight Edge" is at work.
You've got to choose which way you will go. If it's easy to do, it's also easy not to do. Which way will you choose? Did you know that only 5% of people succeed and 95% of people fail? No matter what realm of life or work you're looking at. It's true. Just one out of 20 people will achieve their goals in life. That's what the numbers say.
Back in the early 50s the Hartford Insurance Company did a survey of 100 college graduates, all approximately 25 years of age. They asked them all one question. "Will you achieve your financial goals within your working life?" They all said yes. Forty years later, in the 1990s Hartford followed up the 100 subjects, who were now 65 years old and found that:· 1 was wealthy· 4 were financially secure· 6 were still working· 35 were dead· 54 were broke having $200 or less to spend each month after they had paid their bills.
Out of the 100 subjects, only 5 had written down their goals. You can guess who they were! Five out of 100 were successful. That's 1 in 20. Why? The answer had to do with the pull of gravity. The downward pull of life. Ask yourself "Where is the expectation and the structure to support me in being a success in my life and work?"
The alarming fact is that outside our formal system of education, which most experts suggest is flawed anyway, there is no expectation or structure for your success - none. We get what we expect and only 5% of us ever expect to win and keep expecting that. Plus we have no structure and no system to support us in succeeding in life.
The predominant force in life is gravity and it's always pulling us down. It pulls 19 out of 20 down. But anyone can break free from the downward pull...........by doing what it's just as easy not to do. Write down your goals, read books, plan, build knowledge. Attend training, seminars then read some more, plan some more, set more goals and so on. Read 20 pages of an inspiring book everyday. Study success, study motivation, study network marketing, and read biographies of people that inspire you. But know that if it's easy to do its also easy not to do.
The choice is up to you. Your future is up to you. Life is not a spectator sport. Lead, follow or get out of the way. Life is a continual process...of growth or decay. Grow and then grow some more. Commit to growth. Learning to learn is committing to the process of growth. Choose to read 20 pages every day and you will have to make that choice every day. Choose to model yourself after the people you admire and who have succeeded in areas where you want to succeed.
Remember that failure will never overtake you if your desire to succeed is strong enough.
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