Success Keys Transform Unsuccessful Attitudes, Conditioning, Belief Systems and Habits into Life-Changing SUCCESS CONSCIOUSNESS SUCCESS KEYS are concise, proven and POWERFUL Success Principles, Strategies and Mastery Moves for you to implement into your daily mental programming. SUCCESS KEYS are the fundamentals, and as you work these SUCCESS KEYS into your Thought processes, you will begin to bring about the necessary internal transformation to attain SUCCESS CONSCIOUSNESS. SUCCESS KEYS are directly based on the teachings and works of the great Masters of Success; in order to achieve Success, we must think like and model ourselves after Successful people. Successful people, particularly financially Successful individuals, think - as they must - differently than unsuccessful people. Successful individuals think Successful thoughts. And financially Successful individuals think financially Successful thoughts. Successful thinking, in turn, brings about Successful attitude, belief systems, behavior and action. This is known as "SUCCESS CONSCIOUSNESS," and without it, no matter how hard one tries to change his or her results, Success will prove elusive. When one adopts and implements SUCCESS CONSCIOUSNESS, it only follows, in scientific fashion, which financial Success will follow with as much certainty as night follows day and day follows night.
If it is change that you seek, if it is control over your life that you desire, if financial Success is your goal, you MUST shift internal paradigms, break unsuccessful habits, conditioning and thinking, and adopt a complete surrender to purposeful, Successful Thought. You MUST begin with SUCCESS CONSCIOUSNESS. It is impossible to achieve real Success otherwise.
The consistent practice and integration of the SUCCESS KEYS is highly effective and a proven methodology for making the everlasting change to transform ordinary thinking into Successful Thinking. Now is the time! Begin YOUR transformation now. As the late Jim Rohn stated, "Success is not to be pursued; it is to be attracted by the person you become." ____________________________________________________________
The SUCCESS MANUAL SUCCESS KEYS
Success Key No. 1: Image Making "We act, behave, and feel according to what we consider our SELF IMAGE to be and we do not deviate from this pattern." Dr. Maxwell Maltz Ponder the above statement by Dr. Maxwell Maltz for a few minutes. Then ponder it again, and for the sake of your own Success, accept it as true. Think: What are the implications of this axiom: that we live our lives according to our Self Image and we do not deviate from that Image? Depending on where you are on your Success Journey, this concept is either congruent with your thinking or it makes you a bit nervous. It's true - we do live our lives according to our Self Image. We hold within the deep, deep recesses of our Conscious and Subconscious Minds an Image of ourselves and we live our lives according to that Image. Dr. Maltz also explained that the Image that we hold of ourselves is a premise, a base, a foundation upon which our entire personalities are created, built and established. However, our Self Image not only controls our behavior, but it also controls our circumstances - as it must. It therefore necessarily follows that in order to create change - effective everlasting change - we must first and foremost change our Self Image. This principle is known as "Image Making," and it is a core technique to achieving Success on any level or in any endeavor. Image Making may be the single most powerful Success Key in your Success Strategies arsenal. Simply - it works. Guaranteed. As Bob Proctor, my personal coach, once noted: "Most people live and die and never fully understand the power of Image-Making." That is a tragedy, for the entire time they hold the Keys of Success within their hands, but they never seek to use them. When it comes to personal change, and make no doubt that Image Making is all about personal change, most people would rather take a back seat and let other people, events or circumstances drive their lives. Ouch. "Of what use to make heroic vows of amendment, if the same old lawbreaker is to keep them." Ralph Waldo Emerson Why is it that most - in fact, almost all - New Years resolutions are broken, sometimes even before the resolutionist even begins? Because people are attempting to change the results in their lives without changing their Self Image. It will NOT work. It is bound to fail every time. SUCCESS KEY: Begin to adopt a new Self Image: one of personal prosperity and abundance. Add as much detail as possible to the Image and make it as clear as possible in your Mind's eye. Hold the Image at all times, regardless of what is going on around you. Do not let your present results dictate the Image that you hold in your mind, and regardless of how tough things may get, you must continue to hold an Image
of personal property, abundance and Success. Persistence is key with Image Making. Continue to hold the Image of personal prosperity and understand that what is happening to you must happen to you in order to prepare you to receive the good that you desire. As a living example of someone who practices Image Making of enormous financial success on a daily basis, consider Donald Trump. Do you think he holds a Self Image of poverty and lack and limitation? Do you think his personal perspective on life is one of failure and "I can't do that"? Do you think he sees himself in his Self Image as destitute, homeless and of no net worth? Of course not. In fact, I am sure that you will agree that if Donald Trump were to lose his billions - for whatever reason (he has lost most of it before) - in five years he would have it all right back again. Why? Because of his Self Image. His Self Image guides his thinking, which guides his actions and behavior, which creates circumstances and events, which concludes with Successful results. Do you want to be as Successful as Donald Trump? Then create a Self Image like that of Donald Trump, act like Donald Trump and do the same things as Donald Trump. Live, think, behave and act as Donald Trump would live, think, behave and act, and I promise that you will achieve Success like Donald Trump. It all begins with Image Making, so begin now.
Success Key No. 2: Image Making – Autosuggestion Image Making (or Autosuggestion) is the agency of communication between that part of the mind where conscious thought takes place and that which serves as the seat of action for the subconscious mind. The dominating thoughts which one permits to remain in the conscious mind - whether these thoughts be negative or positive is immaterial - will reach and influence the subconscious mind. Based on the Law of Autosuggestion from Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill In probably the greatest Success classic of all time, Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill, the principle of Image Making is discussed at length as a critical Success Key. Hill does not refer to the concept of Image Making by its name, but, in the language of the times, Hill has termed it "Autosuggestion." Image Making and Autosuggestion are essentially one in the same. We must guard our conscious thoughts and reject those that do not empower us towards achieving our Success. Image Making, or Autosuggestion, may be summarized as follows, based on the teachings of Hill in Think and Grow Rich (Chapter 3 of Think and Grow Rich is entitled "Autosuggestion"), which I have embellished with my own spin: The dominating thoughts which one permits to remain in the conscious mind - whether these thoughts be negative or positive is immaterial - will reach and influence the subconscious mind through the "Law of Autosuggestion" or Image Making. All sense impressions which are perceived through the five senses are captured and processed by the conscious thinking mind, and unless they are rejected by the conscious thinking mind, are passed automatically to and impressed upon the subconscious mind, which has NO ability to reject any thought impression and MUST accept - as true - all such thoughts passed to it by the conscious mind. This is a major Success Key. Notice the words which have been emphasized in the above paragraph: "permits" and "reach and influence." We must guard our conscious thoughts and reject those that do not empower us towards achieving our Success. Our conscious mind is indeed the gatekeeper of the garden of the subconscious mind. We reap what we sow, and if we harbor (sow) thoughts of lack, limitation, poverty, doubt and fear - which may or may not be premised on present circumstances - then we must reap that which has planted. As Hill further states in Think and Grow Rich: "Autosuggestion is the agency of control through which an individual may voluntarily feed his or her subconscious mind on
thoughts of a creative nature, or, by neglect, permit thoughts of a destructive nature to find their way into this rich garden of the mind." [emphasis supplied] What are you feeding your subconscious garden? What seeds are being planted deep within your powerful emotional mind? What are you sowing? What do you permit your mind to harbor - thoughts of a creative nature or thoughts of a destructive nature? It is your mind; you have the ability to control what you think. You MUST accept this principle as true if you are ever to achieve real, honest and everlasting Success in your life. It is your mind; you have the ability to control what you think. You MUST accept this principle as true if you are ever to achieve real, honest and everlasting Success. Success can only be achieved through Successful Thought. Successful Thought begins with one thought at a time. Begin - at once - to persist in Successful Thinking, for the thoughts you entertain are the seeds of tomorrow's garden. You have the Godgiven ability to accept or reject any thought. Reject immediately any thoughts of lack, limitation, poverty, despair, fear and doubt and entertain only those thoughts of abundance, riches, happiness and Success and you will be well on your way to creating a Self Image of Success.
Success Key No. 3: Final Thoughts for 2009 "It's time to decide. You can be a victim or you can be rich, but you can't be both. Listen up! Every time, and I mean every time, you blame, justify, or complain, you are slitting your financial throat . . . It's time to take back your power and acknowledge that you create everything that is in your life and everything that is not in it. Realize that you create your wealth, your non-wealth, and every level in between." - T. Harv Eker from his book, Secrets of the Millionaire Mind
Barred Spiral Galaxy NGC 6217 What a wild ride it has been. The year 2008 ended in upheaval. In 2009, the drama grew even more dramatic. From the headlines of various media - if one were so inclined to pay attention and emotionalize what they say - it would seem that present times could not be any more hopeless and that as long as man has inhabited the Earth, we are in the midst of the worst suffering man has experienced since the dawn of time. WRONG-O. There has never been greater opportunity to achieve financial Success than there is right now! You heard me right. Times of turmoil, chaos and massive shifts of wealth create more - not less - Opportunity. Each day, I see more and more Opportunity, despite persistent gloomy headlines and general negativity. No, I am not in denial, and this is not futile "rah-rah" pep talk. What I am talking about is real Opportunity that wasn't available a few scant years ago. The Opportunity is there, it is real and it is for the asking. The key is to open our Creative Minds to the possibilities, be willing to Believe, instill Faith and take action regardless of circumstances.
Now, I know many will disagree with my statements, and I can certainly appreciate that especially for those who are in dire circumstances and who are truly suffering. My heart goes out to all. But to those who disagree, I would also suggest this: you are allowing outside circumstances - as others have labeled those circumstances - to affect and control your thoughts, emotions and actions. When one allows the world without to control the world within - our thoughts, emotions and actions (behavior) - one becomes a victim, a Victim with a capital "V." When we blame, justify, complain, we voluntarily surrender control over ourselves to other people, events and circumstances. That is true "victim consciousness." Now, why on God's green earth would anyone do that? Would not it make sense, especially in these so-called "bad times," to hold onto and maintain control, rather than give it away to fortuitous events and circumstances? Would not it make sense to be in charge of ourselves, our lives and our circumstances so that we may take action and do something about it? We create our own personal circumstances, and regardless of whether we label "times" as "good" or "bad," guess what - either way, we are RIGHT. As Napoleon stated long ago, "Circumstances? To hell with circumstances. I make my own circumstances." Regardless of your opinion of Napoleon, he was dead on. If 2009 was a "bad" year, now is the time to let go of all negative thinking, emotions and behavior. Have Faith. Believe. Take control. Open your Minds to what can be, impress that Image in your Mind, and COMMIT to make it happen - no matter what. What we think and believe, we can achieve. I wanted to close 2009 with with some exceptional quotes to consider as we look forward to a New Year. I thought I would start with this little ditty from T. Harv Eker: "It's time to take back your power and acknowledge that you create everything that is in your life and everything that is not in it." How true. Let's keep this in the forefront of our Minds as we enter a New Year. Best wishes for warm, prosperous, successful and fulfilling 2010. May God Bless you with Abundance and Success! *****
"Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them." Mark 1:24
"Strange and marvelous things will happen with constant regularity as you alter your life and begin living in harmony with the laws of the universe." Earl Nightingale, 1951 *****
"Success is the progressive realization of a worthy ideal." Earl Nightingale ***** "The only thing that will grow is the thing we give energy to." Emerson ***** "Until thought is linked with purpose there is no intelligent accomplishment." James Allen, As a Man Thinketh, 1903 ***** "It is not your part to guide or supervise the creative process. All you have to do with that is to retain your vision, stick to your purpose, and maintain your faith and gratitude." Wallace D. Wattles ***** "The Divine operation is always for expansion and fuller expression." Thomas Troward ***** "When I've gathered enough information to make a decision, I don't take a vote, I make a decision." Ronald Regan ***** "To ignore the power of paradigms to influence your judgment is to put yourself at significant risk when exploring the future. To be able to shape your future, you have to be ready and able to change your paradigm." Joel Barker ***** "Nothing is good or bad, except our thinking makes it so." Ralph Waldo Trine ***** "Any idea that's held in the mind, emphasized, feared or revered, begins at once to clothe itself in the most convenient and appropriate physical form that's available." Andrew Carnegie *****
"Are you in earnest? Seize this very minute; what you can do, or dream you can do, begin it! Boldness has genius, power and magic in it; only engage and the mind grows heated; begin and the work will be completed." Goethe ***** "If a person advances confidently in the direction of their dream and endeavors to live the life they have imagined, they will meet with success unexpected in common hours." Thoreau ***** "If we clearly realize that the creative power in ourselves is unlimited, then there is no reason for limiting the extent to which we may enjoy what we can create by means of it. Where we are drawing from the Infinite, we need never be afraid of taking more than our share." Thomas Troward ***** "Faith is the ability to see the invisible; to believe in the incredible. That is what enables you to receive what the masses think is impossible." Clarence Smithison
Success Key No. 4: A Burning DESIRE A BURNING DESIRE TO BE AND TO DO is the starting point from which the dreamer must depart into Action. Wishing will not bring riches. But, desiring riches with a state of mind that becomes an obsession, then planning definite ways and means to acquire riches, and backing those plans with persistence, which does not recognize failure, will bring riches. ____________________________________________________________
Undercast Sunset from the Summit of Mount Washington, Presidential Range of the White Mountains, New Hampshire. January 2007. Photo by Alan Metcalf.
Success Key No. 4: A Burning DESIRE, Planning and Definiteness of Purpose
Without doubt, Desire, and in particular, burning Desire, is the starting point for all the achievement of all Success - including the attainment of wealth, prosperity and riches. This is incontrovertible fact and a principle that the budding Success student must not only accept as true, but execute and implement into his or her life if Success, wealth, prosperity and riches are to be gained. Without a burning Desire, the balance of the Success Formula is useless. A lack of a burning Desire is tantamount to the inclusion of "zero" in the tried and true Success Formula, which, by mathematical law, must result in failure or lack of Success. One million multiplied by zero is still zero. "Only those who become "money-conscious" ever accumulate great riches. Moneyconsciousness means that the mind has become so thoroughly saturated with the DESIRE for money that one can see one's self already in possession of it." - Napoleon Hill, "Think and Grow Rich" Through the ages, Success teachers, writers, sages, speakers, authors and Success Masters have understood the importance of beginning any quest with Desire and have thoroughly discussed that Success Formula element in their teachings and writings. The element of Desire is nothing new. Indeed, in his classic, Think and Grow Rich, Napoleon Hill devoted an entire chapter - Chapter 1, in fact - to DESIRE. The fact that the entire First Chapter of this Success masterpiece is solely on the subject of Desire underscores its importance. Do you have a burning Desire for that which you seek or are you merely wishing? The answer to that question is an indicator of whether you are traveling on the path to Success. So, how does the element of Desire actually impact the attainment of Success, wealth, prosperity and riches? In today's Success Key, we turn directly to Mr. Hill who provides a phenomenal explanation in Chapter 1 of his timeless Success Manual, Think and Grow Rich (coming soon as a FREE Ebook Download to the Success Manual Strategist). Wishing will not bring riches. But desiring riches with a state of mind that becomes an obsession, then planning definite ways and means to acquire riches, and backing those plans with persistence which does not recognize failure, will bring riches. The method by which DESIRE for riches can be transmuted into its financial equivalent consists of six definite, practical steps: FIRST: Fix in your mind the exact amount of money you desire. It is not sufficient merely to say “I want plenty of money.” Be definite as to the amount. (There is a psychological reason for definiteness which will be described in a subsequent chapter). SECOND: Determine exactly what you intend to give in return for the money you desire. (There is no such reality as “something for nothing.)
THIRD: Establish a definite date when you intend to possess the money you desire. FOURTH: Create a definite plan for carrying out your desire, and begin at once, whether you are ready or not, to put this plan into action. FIFTH: Write out a clear, concise statement of the amount of money you intend to acquire, name the time limit for its acquisition, state what you intend to give in return for the money, and describe clearly the plan through which you intend to accumulate it. SIXTH: Read your written statement aloud, twice daily, once just before retiring at night, and once after arising in the morning. AS YOU READ – SEE AND FEEL AND BELIEVE YOURSELF ALREADY IN POSSESSION OF THE MONEY. ****** It is important that you follow the instructions described in these six steps. It is especially important that you observe, and follow the instructions in the sixth paragraph. You may complain that it is impossible for you to “see yourself in possession of money” before you actually have it. Here is where a BURNING DESIRE will come to your aid. If you truly DESIRE money so keenly that your desire is an obsession, you will have no difficulty in convincing yourself that you will acquire it. The object is to want money, and to become so determined to have it that you CONVINCE yourself you will have it.
Success Key 5: Embrace Obstacles, the Stepping Stones to Success The very struggle to overcome the obstacles in our way is what develops our Power to carry ourselves step-by-step towards Success. Adverse circumstances spur a determined individual to Success. ____________________________________________________________
Success KEY: Embrace Obstacles, the Stepping Stones to Success Obstacles in the path to Success are truly in the eye of the beholder. They can be our stepping stones and spur a determined and persistent soul to Success. Or, if our will to Succeed is not strong, they can easily transform a temporary defeat into ultimate failure. Despite our inherent nature to focus on the depth and breadth of the obstacle as an indicator of whether or not we may achieve our goal, a critical characteristic of all obstacles is that their divisive effect on one's attempts to attain Success is not at all inherent in the obstacle itself. Whether or not an obstacle defeats our attempts to achieve Prosperity, Wealth and Success has nothing to do with the nature, level or extent of the obstacle. Rather, it is our perception of the obstacle and how we handle it that determines whether or not we Succeed. To a determined and persistent individual, with a strong desire and a fiercely developed will, obstacles are nothing more than mere stepping stones that must be traversed and overcome in order to reach the goal. The very struggle to overcome the obstacles in our path actually develops the power that carries us step-by-step towards our goal. Adverse circumstances do not deter a determined and persistent individual to Success; adverse circumstances spur a determined and persistent individual to Success. The degree in which a man sees insurmountable obstacles and impossible situations in his path will measure his Success ability. Robert Collier, "The Secret of the Ages." As Robert Collier notes in The Secret of the Ages: The man who waits for favorable conditions and favorable circumstances will find that success in any field is never a walkover. It is the man who wins in spite of circumstances, in spite of adverse circumstances, the man who wins when other people say he cannot, the man who does the "impossible," the man who rides over obstacles, who gets on in this world. And why? Because the very struggle to overcome obstacles in his way develops the power that carries him step by step."
Think of it this way. Suppose a goal is to hike to the top of a small mountain. There are several paths by which the mountain may be climbed. Each path, although unique in its own way - with various grades of steepness, rockiness and other hindrances that must be overcome in the quest to the top - are all identical in one respect: each path leads to and ends at the top of the mountain. Each path ends at the same elevation above sea level. Each path leads to and ends at the same goal. In that respect, all paths are identical. Now, to attain the goal and reach the top of the mountain, no matter which path is chosen, the climber must necessarily climb the same number of feet in elevation and, necessarily (for purposes of this demonstration), encounter the same general obstacles along the hiking path (no ropes, anchors, or 'biners required for this climb!), all of which MUST be overcome to reach the top of the mountain - the goal. That is, in order to reach the goal, you MUST encounter and overcome a certain number of obstacles on the path, regardless of which path you take. The obstacles are part and parcel of the journey; you cannot have the goal without the adverse conditions. They go together and it is impossible to separate the two - for how can one reach the peak of a mountain without enduring the climb? Without the sides of the mountain (wherein the obstacles are embodied), there is no top. In fact, there is no mountain! Taking this line of reasoning, therefore, there is only but one undisputed conclusion: "Without obstacles, there can be no Success!" "Every adversity brings with it the seed of an equivalent advantage." Napoleon Hill, "Think and Grow Rich" The obstacles that we encounter along our path to achieving Success are not to be avoided. They are to be embraced! For each time we overcome one more obstacle, one more adverse circumstance, we are one more step along the climb to the top. Avoiding the obstacles (classic "terror barrier") means one thing: no Growth, no Success. So, the next time you see the inevitable and unavoidable obstacle coming down the pike - don't run away from it. Run towards it! It is an Opportunity to be embraced, for it means Growth and one more step towards your Goal. See obstacles as your friends, for they are guides along the way on the Path to Success.
Success Key 6: Play to WIN – Don’t Play to “Not Lose” "Rich people play the money game to Win. Poor people play the money game to NOT lose. Let me ask you: If you were to play any sport or any game strictly on defense, what are the chances of your winning that game? Most people would agree, slim and none. The goal of truly rich people is to have massive wealth and abundance." T. Harv Ecker from "Secrets of the Millionaire Mind - Mastering the Inner Game of Wealth" ____________________________________________________________
Success KEY: Play to WIN - Don't Play to "Not Lose" I have been a New York Giants football fan for most of my life. I have seen Big Blue at their best and I have seen them play at their absolute worst. They have won three Super Bowl championships and they have failed miserably - as they did this year when they lost 8 of their last 11 games and failed to make the playoffs after starting the season by winning their first 5 games. Over the years, while watching my beloved G-Men win and lose, I - like my football aficionados - have closely studied their game strategies. True lovers of professional football who watch the games and study the offensive and defensive plans and game strategies will come to see two diametrically opposed plans of attack: some teams clearly play to WIN, while other teams simply play to "not lose." While both strategies seemingly may get you to the same place (winning the game), and in the short NFL season, a win is a win is a win, and all teams will take a win however it may come, the game plan of "playing to WIN" is very, very different than the game plan of "playing to not lose." Both strategic approaches apply to the Game of Success, and the plan that you implement in your game may well determine whether you Succeed. When you play to "not lose," at best you are merely playing to SURVIVE. When you play to WIN, however, you put everything on the line and play to THRIVE. "Surviving" and "thriving" are different animals. What is the game plan of playing to "not lose?" It is an extremely conservative strategy. It involves taking no risks and no chances. It is playing from the vantage point of your comfort zone. It is non-committal. It is premised on FEAR and LACK OF CONFIDENCE in your own abilities to Succeed, regardless of the circumstances. It is defensive, not offensive. It allows for numerous exits for retreat "just in case."
Consider. When the Giants play "not to lose," it is usually when they hold a slight lead in a tough game and the game is in the 4th quarter. Rather than continue to push hard and aggressively move the ball and play to score (isn't that the object: scoring points?), they settle back, hold onto the ball, and try to work down the clock. Why? Because they essentially lack the confidence in themselves. By implementing a "play not to lose" mentality, the coaching staff effectively telegraphs to the team that they lack confidence in their ability to move the ball, that if they push hard they are apt to make a costly mistake, and that if they fall behind, they will be unable to stage a comeback and beat the opposition. If that isn't a defeatist attitude, I don't know what is. When you play to "not lose" in the game of Success it is no different. Instead of playing with abandon and commitment, you play merely to hold onto what you already have. You play to survive. You play to "get by." You play to have "just enough" and make a "comfortable living." When you play to "not lose," you are not pushing to WIN, you are not seeking to SCORE. The object of the game - whether football or Success - is to put POINTS ON THE BOARD. In his master Success Classic, Think and Grow Rich, Napoleon Hill explains the concept skillfully, using brilliant real life analogies. When a would be associate of inventor Thomas A. Edison showed up at Edison's door - with the goal of becoming a partner of Edison - Edwin C. Barnes left himself no safety valve, no option for retreat. He either had to do whatever it took to eventually become a partner of Edison's or he had to die trying. As Hill states: [Barnes] did not say, "I will keep my eyes open for another opportunity in case I fail to get what I want in the Edison organization." He said, "There is but ONE thing in the world that I am determined to have, and that is a business association with Thomas A. Edison. I will burn all bridges behind me and stake my ENTIRE FUTURE on my ability to get what I want." He left himself no possible way of retreat. He had to win or perish! In yet another tale from Think and Grow Rich, Hill tells the story of a great warrior from long ago whose army was greatly outnumbered by the enemy. The warrior loaded his soldiers onto a boat, sailed to the enemy's country, unloaded soldiers and equipment and then ordered his men to burn their ships - and they did! Addressing his troops before the battle while they watched their ships going up in smoke, the warrior told them, "We cannot leave these shores alive unless we win. We now have no choice. We either win - or we perish!" They won. Those who would win and achieve Success - in any endeavor - must be willing to "burn their ships," cut all sources of retreat and commit without recourse. Only by so doing can you maintain that state of mind necessary to Succeed. It is really a matter of Desire and Intention. When you play to "not lose," your Desire and Intention are woefully insufficient and lack the requisite strength and power to carry you to that which you merely wish ("wishing" and "desiring" are very different states of mind). Playing to
"not lose" is only playing the game to "survive" long enough until the clock hits zero, with the hope that what you have is enough. Well, when you only play to survive, that is all that you will get. On the other hand, when you play to WIN - and play it the way it should be played - your level of Desire, Intention and Commitment are strong, your Will is empowered and you either WIN or perish in the cause. With so much at stake, there is really only one possible outcome: Success. What is your game strategy?
Success Key No. 7: All Wealth Begins with Thought If we accept the Law of Cause and Effect as the premise for all that we achieve and all that we fail to achieve, then logically, financial gain and riches must be an effect. The cause? Our Thoughts - in the form of Ideas. The Law of Supply states that the nature, level and extent of the Thought Idea shall determine, in precise proportionality, the nature, level and extent of the Riches realized. Wealth, therefore, is not in money, as money is merely the effect. Rather, true Wealth is in the Idea, in Thought, the true cause of the effect . . . The essence of the Law of Supply is that you must think abundance, see abundance, feel abundance, believe abundance. Let no thought of limitation enter your Mind. ____________________________________________________________
Success Key No. 7: All Wealth Begins as Thought The Universal Law of Cause and Effect has been called the "Law of Laws" by Emerson. It is completely independent in nature; it stands on its own, and from it, all other Laws depend. Everything in nature - visible and invisible, tangible and intangible is but a reflection, an effect, of a cause. The circumstances of our lives are but mere effects of prior Thought, the originating, primal cause of our world. In his superb, classic, As A Man Thinketh, James Allen delves deeply, but concisely, into this Universal Law and how it shapes everything about us and our lives. In science and religion, the Law of Cause and Effect is unconditionally recognized. If we accept the Law of Cause and Effect as the premise for all that we achieve and all that we fail to achieve, then logically, financial gain and riches must be an effect. The cause? Our Thoughts - in the form of Ideas. The nature, level and extent of the Thought Idea shall determine, in precise proportionality, the nature, level and extent of the Riches realized. Wealth, therefore, is not in money, as money is merely the effect. Rather, true Wealth is in the Idea, in Thought, the true cause of the effect. This particular application of the "Law of Law" is nothing new. It has been given many names, including the "Law of Supply," the "Spirit of Opulence," the "Principle of Abundance," "Prosperity Consciousness," among many. Regardless of the terminology, the Principle is a fundamental tenet to attaining Financial Success. Let us examine what some of the great Success writers and Masters have told us about the Law of Supply.
In The Secret of the Ages, Robert Collier writes: All riches have their origin in Mind. Wealth is in Ideas - not money. Money is merely the material medium of exchange for Ideas. The paper money in your pockets is in itself worth no more than so many pieces of paper. It is the Idea behind it that gives it value. One might question, however, exactly how and what type of Thought can give rise to Riches? We have examined that inquiry here before: in order to attain financial gain and riches on the outside, one must first - as a necessary starting point - engage in Purposeful, Wealthy and Right Thought. Purposeful Thought invokes Thought Attraction, whereupon the necessary elements are set into motion - within and without. Collier continues, "So don't go out seeking wealth. Look within you for ideas! 'The Kingdom of God is within you.' Use it - purposefully! Use it to THINK constructively. Don't say you are thinking when all you are doing is exercising your faculty of memory." As Theron Q. Dumont (occasional pseudonym for William Walker Atkinson) states in his classic, The Master Mind: They are simply allowing the stream of memory to flow through their field of consciousness, while the Ego stands on the banks and idly watches the passing waters of memory flow by. They call this "thinking," while in reality there is no process of Thought under way. Quoting another writer, Dumont continues: When I use the word "thinking," I mean thinking with a purpose, with an end in view, thinking to solve a problem. As Collier further notes, it is constructive Thought that translates into Riches: [Y]ou have to seek it. You have to do more than ponder. You have to think - to think constructively - to seek how you may discover new worlds, new methods, new needs. The greatest discoveries . . . have arisen out of things that everybody had seen, but only one individual had NOTICED. The biggest fortunes have been made out of opportunities that many had, but only one GRASPED. ****** Why is it that so many millions of men and women go through life in poverty and misery, in sickness and despair? Primarily because they make a reality of poverty through their fear of it. They visualize poverty and misery, and thus, bring them into being. And, secondly, they cannot demonstrate the Law of Supply . . . The solution is simple - but they have never been shown the method. They do not understand the Law.
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SUCCESS KEY: We will conclude with a final passage from Collier as a Success Key to implement and incorporate into our daily Thought - don't just read it; DO IT: The essence of the Law of Supply is that you must think abundance, see abundance, feel abundance, believe abundance. Let no thought of limitation enter your Mind. There is no lawful Desire of yours for which, as far as Mind is concerned, there is not Abundant satisfaction. And, if you can visualize it in Mind, you can realize it in your daily world.
Success Key No. 8: Definiteness of Purpose and Plan SUCCESSFUL people are those who have a Definite Purpose and a Plan for attaining it. To be Successful, you must at this moment decide exactly what your Goal is and lay out the steps by which you intend to reach it. If you want to achieve Success, make today the day you stop drifting. Decide upon a definite Goal. Write it down. Commit it to memory. Decide exactly how you plan to achieve it. Then begin by putting the Plan into action immediately. The person who acts with Definiteness of Purpose and a Plan for attaining it attracts opportunities. ____________________________________________________________
Success Key No. 8: Incorporate Definiteness of Purpose and Plan and then Commit to Achieve Definiteness of Purpose and Definiteness of Plan are two Key Success principles extensively instructed by the great Success and Riches master, Napoleon Hill, and featured in many of his writings. In our last post here, Success Key No. 4: Desire, Planning and Definiteness of Purpose, we delved head first into the subject. We continue today with a practical method of incorporating Definiteness of Purpose and Plan into your daily life. Without it, as Hill states in the following essay he wrote, you are merely "drifting" - as is 98% of the population - and no one drifts to Success. Read Hill's essay and the Commit to incorporating the simple and proven Success Strategy after the essay, which is based directly on the principles disclosed in Hill's article. ____________________________________________________________ "No One Drifts to Success" by Napoleon Hill You don’t have to be a futurist or a fortune-teller to be able to predict someone’s future. You can do so by asking him or her one simple question: “What is your one definite purpose in life – and what plans have you made to attain it?” If you ask a hundred people that question, ninety-eight of them will answer with something like, “I’d like to make a good living and become as successful as I can.” While the answer sounds good on the surface, if you dig a little deeper, you will find a drifter who will never get anything out of life except the leftovers of truly successful people – those who have a definite purpose and a plan for attaining it. To be successful, you must at this moment decide exactly what your goal is and lay out the steps by which you intend to reach it.
Successful people are those who have a definite purpose and a plan for attaining it. To be successful, you must at this moment decide exactly what your goal is and lay out the steps by which you intend to reach it. Years ago I worked with a fellow named Stuart Austin Wier of Dallas. He was a contributor to a magazine I edited and was just getting by financially. He would probably have remained a starving writer if a story he was writing about an inventor hadn’t suddenly inspired him to change his life. Much to the surprise of those who knew him, he announced that he was giving up journalism and going back to school to become a patent attorney. He wasn’t going to be just any patent attorney; he was going to become “the top patent attorney in the United States.” He put his plan into action with such fervor that he completed law school in record time. When he began his practice, he deliberately sought out the toughest cases. Soon his reputation spread throughout the country and his services were in such high demand that even though his fees reached astronomical levels, he was turning away more clients than he accepted. The person who acts with purpose and a plan attracts opportunities. How can life give you anything if you don’t know what you want yourself? How can others help you to succeed if you haven’t decided how to get there yourself? Only with definiteness of purpose will you be able to overcome the defeats and adversities that will stand in your way. One of America’s earliest and most successful franchisers was Lee Maranz, a man who knew what he wanted and how to get it. A mechanical engineer, Maranz invented an automatic ice cream freezer that made soft ice cream. He envisioned a chain of ice cream stores from coast to coast and worked out a plan to make his dream become a reality. He, like many others since, built his own success by helping others achieve theirs. He helped people set up ice cream shops by furnishing construction and design plans, a revolutionary idea at the time. He sold the ice cream machines at cost and made his profit from the sale of the ice cream mix. The result? That chain of stores Maranz was determined to create across the country. “If you have a strong belief in yourself, in what you are doing, and what you want to do, no adversity is too difficult to overcome,” he said. If you want to achieve success, make today the day you stop drifting. Decide upon a definite goal. Write it down. Commit it to memory. Decide exactly how you plan to achieve it. Then begin by putting the plan into action immediately. Your future is what you make it. Decide NOW what it shall be.
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SUCCESS KEY: DEFINITENESS OF PURPOSE AND PLAN If you want to achieve success, make today the day you stop drifting: 1. Decide upon a Definite Goal (Definite of Purpose) 2. Write it down (Commitment). 3. Commit it to memory (further Commitment). 4. Decide exactly how you plan to Achieve it (Definiteness of Plan). 5. Then begin by putting the plan into action immediately (taking Action). It doesn't get any simpler than that.
The Golden Rule – A Lost Success Key? Posted by Richard Catalina, Jr. • March 3, 2010 • Printer-friendly
For more than four thousand years men have been preaching the Golden Rule as a suitable rule of conduct among men, but unfortunately the world bas accepted the letter while totally missing the spirit of this Universal Injunction. We have accepted the Golden Rule philosophy merely as a sound rule of ethical conduct but we have failed to understand the law upon which it is based. - Napoleon Hill, Lesson 15, "The Golden Rule," from "The Law of Success" ____________________________________________________________
Success Key: The Golden Rule Growing up, I often heard the expression that we must all live according to the "Golden Rule," but not once did anyone explain to me - as far as I can remember - the Rule and how to practice it. As I matured into a young man and beyond, occasionally I would read a reference to the "Golden Rule," or hear it mentioned, but again, although we all should live by it, rarely is it ever explained. Somewhere along the line, I gained the impression that the Rule essentially encompassed the principle that we should treat others as we would want to be treated right from the Ten Commandments. I cannot tell you how, when or where I came to that understanding. Now being a Student of Success, I have come to notice that the "Golden Rule" is closely associated with some of the writings of Napoleon Hill. Indeed, "The Law of Success," Hill's immense, 15-lesson tome of his life's work, ends with the concluding Lesson (chapter) appropriately entitled "The Golden Rule." Included within that Lesson is the following passage which concisely and succinctly explains the rule and why it is important.
Observing the Undercast from the Summit of Mt. Washington of the Presidential Range, White Mountains, New Hampshire. February 23, 2010.
I think this passage is critical to any serious mission to Succeed. I come to that opinion because it seems that, among many important moral and ethical rules of humankind, many of us have forgotten the Golden Rule. Sometimes, it is good to be reminded again that, regardless of circumstances and events, deep inside we would all like to be treated kindly and with respect; as such, we should treat others as we would want them to treat us. Enjoy. ____________________________________________________________ Mount Washington image with permission from the Mount Washington Observatory. Thanks, Crew! ____________________________________________________________
The Golden Rule by Napoleon Hill For more than four thousand years men have been preaching the Golden Rule as a suitable rule of conduct among men, but unfortunately the world bas accepted the letter while totally missing the spirit of this Universal Injunction. We have accepted the Golden Rule philosophy merely as a sound rule of ethical conduct but we have failed to understand the law upon which it is based. I have heard the Golden Rule quoted scores of times, but I do not recall having ever heard an explanation of the law upon which it is based, and not until recent years did I understand that law, from which I am led to believe that those who quoted it did not understand it. The Golden Rule means, substantially, to do unto others as you would wish them to do unto you if your positions were reversed. But why? What is the real reason for this kindly consideration of others? The real reason is this: There is an eternal law through the operation of which we reap that which we sow. When you select the rule of conduct by which you guide yourself in your transactions with others, you will be fair and just, very likely, if you know that you are setting into motion, by that selection, a power that will run its course for weal or woe in the lives of others, returning, finally, to help or to hinder you, according to its nature. “Whatsoever a man soweth that shall be also reap!” It is your privilege to deal unjustly with others, but, if you understand the law upon which the Golden Rule is based, you must know that your unjust dealings will “come home to roost.” If you fully understood the principles described in Lesson Ten, on accurate thought, it will be quite easy for you to understand the law upon which the Golden Rule is based. You cannot pervert or change the course of this law, but you can adapt yourself to its nature and thereby use it as an irresistible power that will carry you to heights of achievement which could not be attained without its aid. This law does not stop by merely flinging back upon you your acts of injustice and unkindness toward others; it goes further than this – much further – and returns to you the results of every thought that you release.
Therefore, not alone is it advisable to “do unto others as you wish them to do unto you,” but to avail yourself fully of the benefits of this great Universal Law you must “think of others as you wish them to think of you.” The law upon which the Golden Rule is based begins affecting you, either for good or evil, the moment you release a thought. It has amounted almost to a world-wide tragedy that people have not generally understood this law. Despite the simplicity of the law it is practically all there is to be learned that is of enduring value to man, for it is the medium through which we become the masters of our own destiny.
Success Key: Some Succeed, Others Fail . . . Why? Posted by Richard Catalina, Jr. • March 20, 2010 • Printer-friendly “Some succeed, others fail . . . why?” This question has mystified people since humans first became dissatisfied with cave dwellings and tried to find some way to make life more comfortable. Perhaps the following comparisons between the characteristics of a failure and a successful person will help answer the question. ____________________________________________________________
Some Succeed, Others Fail . . . Why? What a beautiful Saturday morning here in the greater New York City metro area. It is the first day of Spring, the sun is shining brightly, and temperatures will be around 75 degrees today. Not bad for March, particularly after a very cold and snowy winter, which ended so abruptly just a few short weeks ago. Today's Success Key post comes directly from the great Success Master, Napoleon Hill. The following article first appeared in Hill's Success Unlimited magazine long ago. But, the principles laid out are as solid today as when first published. Read this essay carefully and consider to which person you more readily identify. This will provide you with an immediate Success barometer reading and whether some changes need to be made immediately. Thanks, all, for supporting our site. The Success Manual Team ____________________________________________________________
Spring in North Conway, New Hampshire, near the Presidential Range of the White Mountains. Photo by Jill Dorval Winitzer on May 25, 2008. ____________________________________________________________ Some Succeed, Others Fail. . . Why? Napoleon Hill “Some succeed, others fail . . . why?” This question has mystified people since humans first became dissatisfied with cave dwellings and tried to find some way to make life more comfortable. Perhaps the following comparisons between the characteristics of a failure and a successful person will help answer the question. The successful person knows precisely what she desires, has a plan for getting it, believes in her ability to get it, and devotes a major portion of her time to acquiring it. The failure has no definite purpose in life, believes that all success is the result of “luck,” and moves on her own initiative only when forced to do so. The success is a master salesperson who has learned the art of influencing others to cooperate in a friendly spirit to carry out her plans and purposes. The failure finds fault with people. She goes out of her way to let them know about her critical attitude.
The successful person thinks before she speaks. She weighs her words carefully. And she emphasizes her likes concerning people, minimizing her dislikes or not mentioning them at all. The unsuccessful person does just the opposite. She speaks first, thinks later. Her words bring only regret and embarrassment and cost her irretrievable benefits because of the resentment they engender. The successful person expresses opinions only after having informed herself so she can do so intelligently. The failure expresses opinions on subjects about which she has little or no knowledge. The successful person budgets time, income and expenditures. She lives within her means. The failure squanders time and income with a contemptuous disregard for their value. The successful person takes a keen interest in people, especially those with whom she has something in common, and cultivates a bond of friendship with them. The failure cultivates only those from whom she wants something. The successful person is open-minded and tolerant on all subjects, toward all people. The failure has a closed mind, steeped in intolerance, which shuts her off from the recognition of favorable opportunities and the friendly cooperation of others. The successful person keeps abreast of the times and makes it an important responsibility to know what is going on, not only in her own business, profession or community but throughout the entire world. The failure concerns herself only with her immediate needs, acquiring them by whatever means are available – fair or foul. The successful person keeps her mind and outlook on life positive at all times. She recognizes that the space she occupies in the world and the success she enjoys depend upon the quality and quantity of service she renders. She makes it a habit to render more service than she promises. The failure looks for “something for nothing,” or something under the table which she did not earn. And when she fails to get it, she blames the greed of others. The successful person has a keen respect for her Creator and expresses it frequently through prayers and deeds of helpfulness to others. The failure believes in nothing but her own desire for food and shelter and seeks those at the expense of others when and where she can. All in all, there is a big difference in both the words and the deeds of the successful person and the failure. But each person is where she is and what she is because of her own mental attitude toward herself and others.
Success Key No. 11: Strength Grows Out of Struggle Posted by Richard Catalina, Jr. • March 26, 2010 • Printer-friendly Struggle similarly toughens the human spirit. Most people try to go through life following the path of least resistance. They fail to recognize that this philosophy is what makes rivers crooked – and sometimes does the same for human beings. Without the strength of character that grows out of struggle, we would be mightily tempted to flow through life with little purpose or plan.
Success Key: Strength Grows Out of Struggle Today's Success Key is short and sweet - but don't let that fool you as to the Power of this Key. It is axiomatic that achievement of any significance requires effort and struggle. Nothing worthwhile in life comes without struggle. Otherwise, it would be easy and everyone would be able to accomplish it. Think about it.
Glen Boulder Trail View in the Presidential Range of the White Mountains, New Hampshire. Photo by Pascal Lespacrance-Daoust on March 09, 2007. Consider Donald Trump, who most of us would agree has accomplished Success of an enormous magnitude. Did Mr. Trump just "step in it?" Was it easy for him to get where he is today? Was his path to Success a "piece of cake?" Of course not. Trump's rise to a multi-billionaire was fraught and filled with effort and struggle of the kind that most in this world simply would not be able to endure. Most 99.99% - would simply give up in face of the struggles that Trump has had to overcome to get where he is now. I know that for a fact. How? Because if I was wrong, that 99.99% would be just as rich and wealthy as Trump. Moreover, Trump has stated as much, repeatedly, over the years - that his journey has been very, very difficult. Indeed, Trump still struggles. Presently, he is embroiled in a bitter battle with mogul Carl Ichan in the U.S. Bankruptcy Courts as to the value of Trump's New Jersey casino business. How many of us have the stomach for such nasty litigation - of which bankruptcy adversary proceedings universally are. Most, the vast majority, could not stand strong in the face of such struggle and would readily give up. Yet, all who do Succeed will tell you that it is out of the struggle itself that the will to Succeed grows. Strength grows out of struggle, and Strength is a foundation to Success. Behind every legitimate Success story is a seed of equivalent worth as to the Struggle to get there. Napoleon Hill wrote about Strength, Struggle and Success years before he wrote Think and Grow Rich based on his exhaustive study of the world's most Successful individuals. The following is our Success Manual Strategist edition of one such article, Strength Grows Out of Success. It is a great pearl of Wisdom; heed it closely. ____________________________________________________________ Struggle is a clever device through which Nature compels humanity to develop, expand and progress. It is either an ordeal or a magnificent experience, depending on one’s attitude toward it. Success is impossible – unthinkable even – without it. Life, from birth to death, is literally an unbroken chain of ever-increasing, unavoidable struggle. The education we receive from the struggles we face is cumulative – we get it a little at a time from every experience we encounter. “Do the thing,” said Emerson, “and you shall have the power.” Meet struggle and master it, says Nature, and you shall have the strength and wisdom sufficient for all your needs.
Indeed, the strongest trees in the forest aren’t those most protected; they are those that must struggle against all elements and other trees – and surmount them – to survive. The scattered oak trees standing in the open fields where they were exposed to the full force of the blazing sun and blasts of wind are those that grow the strongest. These trees strained against Nature – they struggled – and, thus, are far stronger and tougher than the protected oaks deep in the forest. It was timber from the trees that had struggled that the wagon builder uses for building wagon wheels, bending them into arcshaped segments, without fear that they would break. Because they had struggled, they had grown strong enough to bear the heaviest loads. Struggle similarly toughens the human spirit. Most people try to go through life following the path of least resistance. They fail to recognize that this philosophy is what makes rivers crooked – and sometimes does the same for human beings. Without the strength of character that grows out of struggle, we would be mightily tempted to flow through life with little purpose or plan. Once we understand the broad purpose of life, we become reconciled to the circumstances that force us to struggle. As a result, we accept struggle for what it is – opportunity. Struggle forces us to move when we would otherwise stand .still. And it leads us eventually to the full realization that success comes only through struggle. Nothing worthwhile in life is ever achieved without a struggle. If it were easy, everyone would do it. Wherever you find a successful person, you will find a person who has struggled in his or her life. Life is a struggle and the rewards go to those who meet difficulty face to face, overcome it, and move on to the next challenge. By running to embrace struggle, rather than trying to avoid it, you, too, can use it to help you learn, grow – and succeed.
Success Key No. 12: Discipline Yourself for Success Posted by Richard Catalina, Jr. • March 31, 2010 • Printer-friendly All too often people quit when the going gets tough, often when just one more step would have carried them triumphantly to victory. There is one unbeatable rule for the mastery of sorrows and disappointments, and that is transmutation of those emotional frustrations through definite planning. It is a rule that has no equal. ____________________________________________________________
Success Key: Discipline Yourself for Success Your thought habits are subject to your control and self-discipline. By Napoleon Hill and Richard A. Catalina, Jr., Esq. When the going was the hardest, Benjamin Disraeli, on of England’s greatest prime ministers, drew on his willpower to its greatest capacity. It sustained him through the emergencies of temporary defeat and brought him through to victory. In summarizing his achievements in one short sentence, he said: “The secret of success is constancy of purpose!” All too often people quit when the going gets tough, often when just one more step would have carried them triumphantly to victory. There is one unbeatable rule for the mastery of sorrows and disappointments, and that is transmutation of those emotional frustrations through definite planning. It is a rule that has no equal. ____________________________________________________________
The Presidential Range of the White Mountains of New Hampshire, viewed from South Twin. Photo by Bob Andrews, March 24, 2007. ____________________________________________________________ Your thought habits are subject to your control and self-discipline. They are the only circumstances of your life over which you have complete control. This privilege carries with it a heavy responsibility because it is the one privilege that determines, more than any other, the position in life you shall occupy. If this privilege is neglected by your failure to voluntarily form habits designed to lead to the attainment of definite ends, then the circumstances of life which are beyond your control will do the job for you, and what an extremely poor job it often becomes! If you make your thought habits to order, they will carry you to the attainment of any desired goal within your reach. Or you can allow the uncontrollable circumstances of your life to make your thought habits for you, and they will carry you inexorably to failure’s shore on the great river of life. Turn on the full powers of your will and take complete control of your life. Your mind was given to you as a servant to carry out your desires. No one may enter it or influence it in the slightest degree without your consent and cooperation. Harness its power and use it to serve your needs. Freedom of body and mind, independence and economic security are the results of personal initiative expressed through self-discipline. By no other means may these universal desires be assured.
REMEMBER: You are where you are and what you are because of your habits of thought! Change your thought habits (cause) and you change the circumstances of your life (effect) - it is that simple.
Nature’s Success Story: Flying Penguins Posted by Richard Catalina, Jr. • April 2, 2010 • Printer-friendly All the processes of Nature are Successful. Nature knows no failures. She never plans for anything but Success. She aims at results in every form and manner. To Succeed in the best and fullest sense of the term, we must, with Nature as our model, copy her methods. In her principles and laws we shall discover all the secrets of Success. - Raymond Holliwell, "Working with the Law" ____________________________________________________________
Success Key: Use Nature As Our Guide How often I have either read the above statement by Raymond Holliwell in his Master Classic, Working with the Law, or heard it read by Master Success Teacher, Bob Proctor, while I studied under his direction in a personal coaching program during 20082009. Some of Bob's most profound lessons were those in which he worked with Holliwell's Classic.
Newly discovered flying penguins taking flight in Antarctica. ____________________________________________________________ Taking this lesson to heart, it was recently discovered by a BBC team doing scientific work in Antarctica that there IS a certain breed of penguins - previously unknown - that can actually FLY. Nature never plans to fail; nature only plans for Success, and these flying penguins embody that principle perfectly. If penguins can fly, so can you - so get off your duff, stop complaining, and MAKE IT HAPPEN.
Success Key No. 14: Success is an Effect Posted by Richard Catalina, Jr. • April 14, 2010 • Printer-friendly Getting what you want is success; and success is an effect, coming from the application of a cause. Success is essentially the same in all cases; the difference is in the things the successful people want, but not in the success. It is, therefore, mathematically certain that you can succeed if you will find out the cause of success, and develop it to sufficient strength, and apply it properly to your work; for the application of a sufficient cause can not fail to produce a given effect. ____________________________________________________________
Success Key: Success is an Effect The beauty of having a Success Library is that all of the works previously read remain ready, willing and able to offer their timeless Wisdom on a moment's notice. I don't know how many times I have read some of the Success Manuals in my Library. Yes, I have my favorites. However, even the less-than-favorites (they are all great in their own right) hold great Success secrets, and perhaps because they are read less often, they sometimes seem to reveal deeper meaning after significant time has lapsed since their last reading. Of course, my mentor, Bob Proctor, would say that we don't read or understand new material in subsequent readings of books; rather, we have grown, and therefore are now capable of understanding what was always there. He's absolutely right.
Late season snow covers Mt. Washington of the Presidential Range of the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Photo by Peter Crane on May 6, 2007. ____________________________________________________________
In any event, because it is one of the most downloaded Success Manual's on this site, I started reading "How to Get What You Want," a short - but highly powerful - manual written by Wallace D. Wattles. Despite having read it at least a half-dozen times before, it hit me as though I was reading it for the first time. "How to Get What You Want" is extremely empowering. To celebrate my new found interest in one of the greatest - in my opinion - Success Manual's, over the next five days we will be posting a chapter each day. Today is Chapter 1, which I have entitled "Success is an Effect." Read it (and all of the subsequent chapters to be posted) carefully - its magnificence is in its simplicity! To your Health, Wealth, Prosperity and Success, The Success Manual Team
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Success is an Effect Getting what you want is success; and success is an effect, coming from the application of a cause. Success is essentially the same in all cases; the difference is in the things the successful people want, but not in the success. Success is essentially the same, whether it results in the attainment of health, wealth, development or position; success is attainment, without regard to the things attained. And it is a law in nature that like causes always produce like effects; therefore, since success is the same in all cases, the cause of success must be the same in all cases. The cause of success is always in the person who succeeds; you will see that this must be true, because if the cause of success were in nature, outside the person, then all persons similarly situated would succeed. The cause of success is not in the environment of the individual, because if it were, all persons within a given radius would be successful, and success would be wholly a matter of neighborhood; and we see that people whose environments are practically the same, and who live in the same neighborhood show us all degrees of success and failure; therefore, we know that the cause of success must be in the individual, and nowhere else. It is, therefore, mathematically certain that you can succeed if you will find out the cause of success, and develop it to sufficient strength, and apply it properly to your work; for the application of a sufficient cause can not fail to produce a given effect. If there is a failure anywhere, of any kind, it is because the cause was either not sufficient or was not properly applied. The cause of success is some power within you; you have the power to develop any power to a limitless extent; for there is no end to mental growth; you can increase the strength of this power indefinitely, and so you can make it strong enough to do what you want to do, and to get what you want to get; when it is strong enough you can learn how to apply it to the work, and therefore, you can certainly succeed. All you have to learn is what is the cause of success, and how it must be applied. The development of the special faculties to be used in your work is essential. We do not expect any one to succeed as a musician without developing the musical faculty; and it would be absurd to expect a machinist to succeed without developing the mechanical faculty, a clergyman to succeed without developing spiritual understanding and the use of words, or a banker to succeed without developing the faculty of finance. And in choosing a business, you should choose the one which will call for the use of your strongest faculties. If you have good mechanical ability, and are not spiritually minded and have no command of language, do not try to preach; and if you have the taste and talent to combine colors and fabrics into beautiful creation in millinery and dress, do not learn typewriting or stenography; get into a business which will use your strongest
faculties, and develop these faculties all you can; and even this is not enough to insure success. There are people with fine musical talent who fail as musicians; with good mechanical ability who fail as carpenters, blacksmiths and machinists; with deep spirituality and fluent use of language who fail as clergymen; with keen and logical minds who fail as lawyers, and so on; the special faculties used in your work are the tools you use, but success does not depend alone on having good tools; it depends more on the power which uses and applies the tools. Be sure that your tools are the best and kept in the best condition; you can cultivate any faculty to any desired extent. The application of the musical faculty causes success in music; that of the mechanical faculty causes success in mechanical pursuits; that of the financial faculty causes success in banking, and so on; and the something which applies these faculties, or causes them to be applied is the cause of success. The faculties are tools; the user of the tools is you, yourself; that in you which can cause you to use the tools in the right way, at the right time and in the right place is the cause of success. What is this something in the person which causes him to use his faculties successfully? What it is and how to develop it will be fully explained in the next section; but before taking that up you should read this section over several times, so as to fix upon your mind the impregnable logic of the statement that you can succeed. You can; and if you study the foregoing argument well, you will be convinced that you can; and to become convinced that you can succeed is the first requisite to success.
Success Key No. 15: Active Power Consciousness Posted by Richard Catalina, Jr. • April 15, 2010 • Printer-friendly The faculties of the human mind are the tools with which success is attained, and the right application of these tools to your work or business will do it successfully and get what you want. A few people succeed because they use their faculties successfully, and the majorities, who have equally good faculties, fail because they use them unsuccessfully. There is something in the man who succeeds which enables him to use his faculties successfully, and this something must be cultivated by all who succeed. This "something" is Active Power Consciousness. ____________________________________________________________
Success Key No. 15: Active Power Consciousness - Your Powerful Success Faculty Today's post is the Chapter 2 of "How to Get What You Want" by Success and Law of Attraction master, Wallace D. Wattles. Yesterday, we posted Chapter 1, "Success Is An Effect," and in the next few days we will continue the series by posting the remaining three chapters of this 5-chapter power-packed Success Manual.
Climbers ascend the Left Gully and the Chute from the Bowl in Tuckerman's Ravine adjacent to Mt. Washington of the Presidential Range of the White Mountains, New Hampshire. Photo by David T. Palreiro on May 8, 2007. ____________________________________________________________
Today's lesson includes an empowering autosuggestion (affirmation) that Wattles instructs to practice consistently for a month "with persistence." As stated by the author "Practice the . . . autosuggestion for a month with persistence, and you will begin to KNOW that you have within you that which CAN do what you want to do; and then you will be ready for the next section which will tell you how to proceed in doing what you want to do. But remember, that it is absolutely essential that you should first impress upon the subconscious mind the knowledge that you CAN." As has so often been stated by many Success Masters and Teachers, "the man who can is the man who thinks he can." Read what Mr. Wattles has to say about the subject - it may surprise you! Happy readings . . . and studying . . . and practicing . . . To your Health, Wealth, Prosperity and Success,
The Success Manual Team ____________________________________________________________
Active Power Consciousness The faculties of the human mind are the tools with which success is attained, and the right application of these tools to your work or business will do it successfully and get what you want. A few people succeed because they use their faculties successfully, and the majority, who have equally good faculties, fail because they use them unsuccessfully. There is something in the man who succeeds which enables him to use his faculties successfully, and this something must be cultivated by all who succeed; the question is, What is it? It is hard to find a word which shall express it, and not be misleading. This something is Poise; and poise is peace and power combined; but it is more than poise, for poise is a condition, and this something is an action as well as a condition. This Something is Faith; but it is more than faith, as faith is commonly understood: As commonly understood, faith consists in the action of believing things which cannot be proved; and the Something which causes success is more than that. It is Conscious Power in Action. It is ACTIVE POWERCONSCIOUSNESS. Power-Consciousness is what you feel when you know that you can do a thing; and you know HOW to do the thing. If I can cause you to KNOW that you can succeed, and to know that you know HOW to succeed, I have placed success within your grasp; for if you know that you can do a thing and know that you know how to do it, it is impossible that you should fail to do it, if you really try. When you are in full Power-Consciousness, you will approach the task in an absolutely successful frame of mind. Every thought will be a successful thought, every action a successful action; and if every thought and action is successful, the sum-total of all your actions cannot be failure. What I have to do in these lessons, then, is to teach you how to create PowerConsciousness in yourself, so that you will know that you can do what you want to do and then to teach you how to do what you want to do. Read again the preceding section; it proves by unanswerable logic that you CAN succeed. It shows that all that is in any mind is in your mind; the difference, if any, being in development. It is a fact in nature that the undeveloped is always capable of development; we see then that the cause of success is in you, and is capable of full development. Having read this you must believe that it is possible for you to succeed; but it is not enough for you to believe that you can; you must know that you can; and the sub-conscious mind must know it as well as the objective mind. People have a way of saying, “he can who thinks he can”; but this is not true. It is not even true that he can who knows he can, if only the objective mind is spoken of; for the sub-conscious mind will often completely set aside and
overcome what is positively known by the objective mind. It is a true statement, however, that he can whose sub-conscious mind knows that he can; and it is especially true if his objective mind has been trained to do the work. People fail because they think, objectively, that they can do things, but do not know, subconsciously, that they can do them. It is more than likely that your subconscious mind is even now impressed with doubts of your ability to succeed; and these must be removed, or it will withhold its power when you need it most. The sub-conscious mind is the source from which power comes in the action of any faculty; and a doubt will cause this power to be withheld, and the action will be weak; therefore, your first step must be to impress your sub-conscious mind with that fact that you CAN. This must be done by repeated suggestions. Practice the following mental exercise several times a day, and especially just before going to sleep; think quietly about the sub-conscious mentality, which permeates your whole body as water permeates a sponge; as you think of this mind, try to feel it; you will soon be able to become conscious of it. Hold this consciousness, and say with deep, earnest feeling: “I CAN succeed! All that is possible to any one is possible to me. I AM successful. I do succeed, for I am full of the Power of Success.” This is the simple truth. Realize that it is true, and repeat it over and over until your mentality is saturated through and through with the knowledge that YOU CAN DO WHAT YOU WANT TO DO. You can; other people have, and you can do more than any one has ever done, for no one has ever yet used all the power that is capable of being used. It is within your power to make a greater success in your business than any one has ever made before you. Practice the above autosuggestion for a month with persistence, and you will begin to KNOW that you have within you that which CAN do what you want to do; and then you will be ready for the next section which will tell you how to proceed in doing what you want to do. But remember that it is absolutely essential that you should first impress upon the sub-conscious mind the knowledge that you CAN.
Success Key No. 16: The Law of Constructive Action Posted by Richard Catalina, Jr. • April 16, 2010 • Printer-friendly To get more, you must make constructive use of what you have. You cannot use what you have not; therefore, your problem is how to make the most constructive use of what you already have. Do not waste any time considering how you would use certain things if you had them; consider, simply, how to use what you have. It is also certain that you will progress more rapidly if you make the most perfect use of what you have. In fact, the degree of rapidity with which you attain what you want will depend upon the perfection with which you use what you have. Many people are at a standstill, or find things coming their way very slowly because they are making only partial use of present means, power and opportunities. - Wallace D. Wattles, "How to Get What You Want" ____________________________________________________________
Success Key No. 16: Take Constructive Action by Doing Perfectly What You Can NOW Continuing with our 5-part Success Series from "How to Get What You Want" by Wallace D. Wattles, today's post is chapter 3, which we have entitled "Construction Action." Taking Constructive Action is a basic tenet to achieving Success. In essence, the Law of Constructive Action states that we must do NOW all that we can in a perfect and Successful manner in order to advance and Succeed. By doing little things Successfully, we attain Success. It is all in the details. Moreover, our present circumstances may be such that we are not doing or working our "ideal" job or profession. Under the Law of Constructive Action, before we may advance into that more ideal or perfect job or profession (or whatever else it may be that we want to do), we must first perfect our present situation. Only when we do so, do we outgrow our present circumstance and are therefore entitled to advance to a higher level. In essence, we must earn our advancement by perfecting what we can NOW. This comports with our earlier post on The Law of Attraction and Taking Action.
Mt. Jefferson of the Presidential Range of the White Mountains of New Hampshire as viewed from the Auto Road that transcends Mt. Washington. Photo by Bryce Santoro on May 12, 2007. ____________________________________________________________
I have experienced application of this Law personally over and over in my life. Like all true Laws, it works perfectly every time. As Stephen Hawking noted in The Universe in a Nutshell, "A law is not a law if it only holds sometimes." Get going - there are NO excuses as to why you cannot implement the Law of Constructive Action immediately into your life. Make every act you do absolutely perfect. Others may not notice, but YOU will notice, the UNIVERSE will notice and, most importantly, GOD will notice. And, that is all that counts. To your Health, Wealth, Prosperity and Success, The Success Manual Team ____________________________________________________________
Constructive Action Having filled your mentality, conscious and sub-conscious, with the faith that you CAN get what you want, the next question is one of the methods. You know that you can do it if you proceed in the right way; but which is the right way? This much is certain; to get more, you must make constructive use of what you have. You cannot use what you have not; therefore, your problem is how to make the most constructive use of what you already have. Do not waste any time considering how you would use certain things if you had them; consider, simply, how to use what you have. It is also certain that you will progress more rapidly if you make the most perfect use of what you have. In fact, the degree of rapidity with which you attain what you want will depend upon the perfection with which you use what you have. Many people are at a standstill, or find things coming their way very slowly because they are making only partial use of present means, power and opportunities. You may see this point more plainly by considering an analogy in nature. In the process of evolution, the squirrels developed their leaping power to its fullest extent; then a continuous effort to advance brought forth the flying squirrel, which has a membrane uniting the legs in such a way as to form a parachute and enable the animal to sail some distance beyond an ordinary leap. A little extension of the parachute jump of the flying squirrel produced the bat, which as membranous wings and can fly; and continuous flight produced the bird with feathered wings. The transition from one plane to another was accomplished simply by perfecting and extending functions. If the squirrels had not kept leaping further and further, there would have been no flying squirrel, and no power of flight. Making constructive use of the leaping power produced flight. If you are only jumping half as far as you can, you will never fly. In nature, we see that life advances from one plane to another by perfecting function on the lower plane. Whenever an organism contains more life than it can express by functioning perfectly on its own plane, it begins to perform the functions of the next higher, or larger plane. The first squirrel which began to develop the parachute membrane must have been a very perfect leaper. This is the fundamental principle of evolution, and of all attainment. In accordance with this principle, then, you can advance only by more than filling your present place. You must do, perfectly, all that you can do now; and it is the law that by doing perfectly all that you can do now you will become able to do later things which you cannot do now. The doing to perfection of one thing invariably provides us with the equipment for doing the next larger thing, because it is a principle inherent in nature that life continuously advances. Every person who does one thing perfect is instantly presented with an opportunity to
begin doing the next larger thing. This is the universal law of all life, and is unfailing. First, do perfectly all that you can do now; keep on doing it perfectly until the doing of it becomes so easy that you have surplus power left after doing it; then by this surplus power you will get a hold on the work of a higher plane, and begin to extend your correspondence with environment. Get into a business which will use your strongest faculties, even if you must commence at the bottom; then develop those faculties to the utmost. Cultivate power-consciousness, so that you can apply your faculties successfully, and apply them in doing perfectly everything you can do now, where you are now. Do not wait for a change of environment; it may never come. Your only way of reaching a better environment is by making constructive use of your present environment. Only the most complete use of your present environment will place you in a more desirable one. If you wish to extend your present business, remember that you can only do it by doing in the most perfect manner the business you already have. When you put life enough into your business to more than fill it, the surplus will get you more business. Do not reach out after more until you have life to spare after doing perfectly all that you have to do now. It is of no advantage to have more work or more business than you have life to do perfectly; if that is the case, increase your vital power first. And remember, it is the perfection with which you do what you have to do now that extends your field and brings you in touch with a larger environment. Bear in mind that the motive force which gets you what you want is life; and that what you want, in the last analysis, is only an opportunity to live more; and that, therefore, you can get what you want only through the operation of that universal law by which all life advances continuously into fuller expression. That law is that whenever an organism has more life than can find expression by functioning perfectly on a given plane, its surplus life lifts it to the next higher plane. When you put enough of yourself into your present work to do it perfectly, your surplus power will extend your work into a larger field. It is also essential that you should have in mind what you want, so that your surplus power may be turned in the right direction. Form a clear conception of what you seek to accomplish, but do not let what you seek to accomplish interfere with doing perfectly what you have to do now. Your concept of what you want is a guide to your energies, and an inspiration to cause you to apply them to the utmost to your present work. Live for the future now. Suppose that your desire is to have a department store, and you have only capital enough to start a peanut stand. Do not try to start a department store today, on a peanut stand capital; but start the peanut stand in the full faith and confidence that you will be able to develop it into a department store. Look upon the peanut stand merely as the beginning of the department store, and make it grow; you can.
Get more business by using constructively the business you have now; get more friends by using constructively the friends you already have; get a better position by using constructively the one you now have; get more domestic happiness by the constructive use of the love that already exists in your home.
Apollo 13: One of the Greatest Success Stories Posted by Richard Catalina, Jr. • April 17, 2010 • Printer-friendly "Failure is not an option." - Gene Krantz, Apollo 13 Flight Director
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Apollo 13: One of the Greatest Success Stories of Human Achievement and Triumph I was planning to post today Part 4 of the 5-part series on the phenomenal Success Manual by Wallace D. Wattles, "How to Get What You Want." As it turns out, however, today marks the 40th anniversary of the return to Earth of the crew of the Apollo 13 lunar mission. I am going to change the schedule a bit.
The Apollo 13 Lunar Mission launches with the lift-off the immense and powerful Saturn V rocket from the Kennedy Space Center, Florida. ____________________________________________________________
In my humble opinion, Apollo 13 is one of the greatest Success stories of all time. I can think of no other true, real life accounting of the triumph of the human will and Spirit to overcome such adversity, with so much at stake (human lives). The story of Apollo 13 is the ultimate Success; it was a true MIRACLE.
The damaged Apollo 13 Service Module as seen from the Command Module after separation shortly before the Apollo 13 Crew re-entered the Earth's atmosphere. As can be seen, the explosion caused severe damage, ripping open the Service Module. ____________________________________________________________
Whether you are familiar with the Apollo 13 story or not, I strongly urge you to see the 1995 movie by Ron Howard, Apollo 13, starring Tom Hanks, Kevin Bacon and Ed Harris, among other brilliant actors. Yes, the movie is a product of Hollywood and obvious "artistic liberty" has been taken to further dramatize this cinematic version of the real life story. But, the story is nonetheless true and this well produced movie is incredibly inspiring.
I remember Apollo 13 quite well. The world stood still, watched and prayed for the safe return of the astronauts. Overcoming all odds, they did return - and in most remarkable fashion.
Members of the ground crew of Mission Control in Houston, Texas, gather to discuss the disaster-plagued Apollo 13 spacecraft and returning the flight crew safely to Earth. ____________________________________________________________ Why did Apollo 13 Succeed? When every indication was that the fate of the stranded astronauts should have ended in worse case disaster, how was it that they were able to return to Earth safely? Books could be written (and have been written) on the subject. For what it is worth, let me throw in a few very brief "two cents" of my own observations. 1. The Flight Crew. The Apollo 13 crew, led by Commander Jim Lovell, refused to give-up, remained cool under fire, worked together as a team, and only considered one ultimate outcome: returning to Earth safely. With each disaster - indeed, Apollo 13 was not just one disaster, but a series of "cause and effect" disasters, each one building on the previous - the crew remained remarkably calm, analyzed the situation, communicated with the ground crew, and took Action. They refused to fall into "victim consciousness" and allow the external events and circumstances take control of their thoughts and emotions. It is impossible to Succeed while under the controlling spell of "victim consciousness."
2. The Ground Crew - Mission Control (Houston) . Similarly, Houston worked well as a team, analyzing the series of problems and working together to arrive at Definiteness of Purpose and Plan. A major difficulty with the entire Apollo 13 disaster was that at the time, nobody - flight or ground crew - knew exactly what had happened and how to fix it (assuming that it could be fixed). The flight crew, while being at the event, could not see the results of the initial explosion. They were in the dark. Houston was not in much better position. However, the ground crew did have telemetry from spacecraft instrumentation. While not understanding the cause of the problems, Houston did know how dire the situation was and it was only deteriorating - quickly. In the end, what "broke" on the Apollo 13 service module was never fixed. Instead, the ground crew came together and developed a Plan of Action with only ONE Purpose: safely return the Apollo 13 crew to Earth. Teamwork, teamwork, teamwork. 3. Gene Krantz, Apollo 13 Flight Director . In the movie Apollo 13, Gene's character was played by the colorful Ed Harris, who portrays the flight director brilliantly. It was Gene's refusal to even consider failure as a possibility and to LEAD his NASA ground team that may have been the single most significant factor resulting in Apollo 13's safe return to Earth. While yet addressing the multitude of complex, compounding issues and problems facing the safe rescue of the flight crew, Gene had perfect Vision: seeing things not as they were, but as they will be. His attitude and consciousness was perfect "Success Consciousness" and he would not allow any of his team members to engage in negative thinking or "victim consciousness." Gene is known for the following two quotes, which I have adopted and use frequently when confronted with my own obstacles: "Failure is NOT an option" and "We've never lost an American in space; we sure as hell aren't going to lose one on my watch." True Leadership, true Vision. 4. Prayer. Yes, prayer. The entire world - from the United States to communist China - watched in real time as the disaster and subsequent events unfolded. In response, humanity banded together in Thought and Prayer. Focused Thought and focused Prayer joined with the Universal Consciousness of our Creator. The power of Prayer is immense; when the entire world joins together in Prayer for a united cause, there is only but one outcome: MIRACLE. The safe return to Earth of the Apollo 13 crew under these facts and circumstances was nothing short of a true, real life MIRACLE. There is no other explanation.
The crew of Apollo 13 on board the USS Iwo Jima after safely returning to Earth. ____________________________________________________________ The Success story of Apollo 13 should serve as a reminder to us all that ANYTHING is possible. ANYTHING.
Success Key No. 18: Put Life into Every Action Posted by Richard Catalina, Jr. • April 19, 2010 • Printer-friendly Put into every relation, business, domestic or social, more than enough life to fill that relation; have faith, which is Power-Consciousness; know what you want in the future, but have today the very best that can be obtained today . . . Follow out these principles of action and you cannot fail to get what you want; for the universe is so constructed that all things must work together for your good. Wallace D. Wattles, "How to Get What You Want" ____________________________________________________________
Super Success Key: Put LIFE into Every Action TODAY to Attain Success Tomorrow Today's Success Key post is Part 4 of a 5-Part Series from "How to Get What You Want" by Success Master, Wallace D. Wattles. In Part 2, Success Key No. 15: Active Power-Consciousness, we were introduced to the concept of "Power Consciousness." Today, we learn that by using it in the present moment - today - we can achieve the results that we seek - tomorrow.
Mt. Washington of the Presidential Range of the White Mountains, New Hampshire, stands strong in the background above rock piles as viewed from the Davis Path. Photo by Milton Darides on May 12, 2007. ____________________________________________________________
"Power Consciousness" is defined by Wattles as: Power-Consciousness is what you feel when you know that you can do a thing; and you know HOW to do the thing. If I can cause you to KNOW that you can succeed, and to know that you know HOW to succeed, I have placed success within your grasp; for if you know that you can do a thing and know that you know how to do it, it is impossible that you should fail to do it, if you really try. When you are in full Power-Consciousness, you will approach the task in an absolutely successful frame of mind. Every thought will be a successful thought, every action a successful action; and if every thought and action is successful, the sum-total of all your actions cannot be failure. So, fellow Success Students - read on and fire-up your Power Consciousness NOW. Taking Control by Thought and Action is Activating your Power-Consciousness. KNOW that anything is possible and that you are capable of achieving anything you strongly Desire. To your Health, Wealth, Prosperity and Success, The Success Manual Team ____________________________________________________________
Put Life into Every Action You can obtain what you want only by applying your faculties to your work and your environment; you become able to apply your faculties successfully by acquiring Power-Consciousness; and you go forward by a concentration on today’s work, and by doing perfectly everything that can be done at the present time. You can get what you want in the future only by concentrating all your energies upon the constructive use of whatever you are in relation with today. An indifferent or half-hearted use of the elements in today’s environment will be fatal to tomorrow’s attainment. Do not desire for today what is beyond your ability to get today; but be sure you get today the very best that can be had. Never take less than the very best that can be had at the present time; but do not waste energy by desiring what cannot be had at the present time. If you always have the best that can be had, you will continue to have better and better things, because it is a fundamental principle in
the universe that life shall continually advance into more life, and into the use of more and better things; this is the principle which causes evolution. But if you are satisfied with less than the best that can be had, you will cease to move forward. Ever transaction and relation of today whether it be business, domestic or social, must be made a stepping stone to what you want in the future; and to accomplish this you must put into each more than enough life to fill it. There must be surplus power in everything you do. It is this surplus power which causes advancement and gets you what you want; where there is no surplus power there is no advancement and no attainment. It is the surplus of life above and beyond the functions of present environment which causes evolution; and evolution is advancing into more life, or getting what you want. Suppose, for instance, you are in trade or a profession, and wish to increase your business; it will not do, when you sell goods or service to make the matter a merely perfunctory transaction, taking the customer’s money, giving him good value, and letting him go away feeling that you had no interest in the matter beyond giving him a fair deal and profiting thereby. Unless he feels that you have a personal interest in him and his needs, and that you are honestly desirous to increase his welfare, you have made a failure and are losing ground. When you can make every customer feel that you are really trying to advance his interests as well as your own, your business will grow. It is not necessary to give premiums, or heavier weights or better values than others give to accomplish this; it is done by putting life and interest into every transaction, however small. If you desire to change your avocation, make your present business a steppingstone to the one you want. As long as you are in your present business, fill it with life; the surplus will tend toward what you want. Take a live interest in every man, woman and child you meet in either a business or social way, and sincerely desire the best for them; they will soon begin to feel that your advancement is a matter of interest to them and they will unite their thoughts for your good. This will form a battery of power in your favor and will open ways of advancement for you. If you are an employee and desire promotion, put life into everything you do; put in more than enough life and interest to fill each piece of work. But do not be servile; never be a flunkey; and above all things avoid the intellectual prostitution which is the vice of our times in many trades and most professions. I mean by this the being a mere hired apologist for and defender of immorality, graft, dishonesty, or vice in any form. The intellectual prostitute may rise in the service, but he is a lost soul. Respect yourself; be absolutely just to all; put LIFE into every act and thought and fix Power-Conscious thought upon the fact that you are entitled to promotion; it will come as soon as you can more than fill your present place in every day. If it does not come from you present employer it will come from another; it is the law that whosoever more than fills his present place
must be advanced. But for this law there could be no evolution, and no progress; but mark well what follows. It is not enough that you should merely put surplus life into your business relations. You will not advance far if you are a good business man or employee, but a bad husband, an unjust father, or, an untrustworthy friend. Your failure in these respects will make you incapable of using your success for the advancement of life, and so you will not come under the operation of the constructive law. Many a man who fulfills the law in business is prevented from progressing because he is unkind to his wife, or deficient in some other relation of life. To come under the operation of the evolutionary force you must more than fill EVERY present relation. A telegraph operator desired to get away from the key, and get onto a small farm; and he began to move in that direction by being “good” to his wife. He “courted” her, without any reference to his desire; and from being half indifferent she became interested and eager to help; soon they had a little piece of ground in the edge of the town, and she raised poultry and superintended a garden while he “pounded the key”; now they have a farm and he has obtained his desire. You can secure the co-operation, not only of your wife but of all the people around you by putting life and interest into all your relations with them. Put into every relation, business, domestic or social, more than enough life to fill that relation; have faith, which is Power-Consciousness; know what you want in the future, but have today the very best that can be obtained today; never be satisfied at any time with less than the best that can be had at that time, but never waste energy in desiring what is not to be had now; use all things for the advancement of life for yourself and for all with whom you are related in any way. Follow out these principles of action and you cannot fail to get what you want; for the universe is so constructed that all things must work together for your good.
Success Key No. 19: The Impression of Increase Posted by Richard Catalina, Jr. • April 20, 2010 • Printer-friendly Form a clear mental picture of what you want; hold the purpose to get it; do everything perfectly, not in a servile spirit, but because you are a master mind; keep unwavering faith in your ultimate attainment of your goal, and you cannot fail to move forward. - Wallace D. Wattles, "How to Get What You Want" ____________________________________________________________
Success Key: Using the Impression of Increase to Master the Present to Conquer Your Goal Today is the fifth and final part of the 5-Part series on the all-time Success Manual, "How to Get What You Want," by Wallace D. Wattles. I have entitled this chapter, "The Impression of Increase" (if you are familiar with Wattle's most popular work, "The Science of Getting Rich," then you already know about the Impression of Increase). The Impression of Increase is another Universal Law. As we recounted in Part 1 of this series, Success is an effect, a product of working in effective compliance with Universal Laws. If one applies and works the Laws precisely as those who Succeed, then Success will likewise be attained. Like causes produce like effects, every time. In Part 3 of this series, we learned of the Law of Constructive Action, again another Universal Law. Under the Law of Constructive Action, before we may advance into that more ideal or perfect job or profession (or whatever else it may be that we want to do), we must first perfect our present situation. Only when we do so, do we outgrow our present circumstance and are therefore entitled to advance to a higher level. In essence, we must earn our advancement; we must earn our Success.
Melting snow and advancing spring are evident in Tuckerman Ravine of Mt. Washington of the Presidential Range of the White Mountains of New Hampshire as viewed from Boott Spur Lookout. Photo by Milton Darides on May 12, 2007. ____________________________________________________________
Like all true Laws, the Law of the Impression of Increase works perfectly every time. As Stephen Hawking noted in The Universe in a Nutshell, "A law is not a law if it only holds sometimes." The Law of the Impression of Increase is based on the concepts of prosperity, abundance and increase. As Wattles states in "How to Get What You Want: "To make every act and thought constructive, every one must convey the idea of increase. Steadily hold in mind the thought of advancement for yourself; know that you are advancing toward what you want, and act and speak in this faith. Then every word and act will convey the idea of advancement and increase to others, and they will be drawn to you. Always remember that what all people are seeking for is increase." Simply, we will not experience "increase," an effect, if we first don't think, feel and live "increase," the causes of the effect. Always THINK of the ideas of advancement and increase; fix them as mind habit. Always FEEL the ideas of advancement and increase; fix them in the subconscious mind and emotionalize those concepts - positively! Always LIVE the ideas of advancement and increase; act "As If." Finally, always CONVEY the ideas of advancement and increase to others, the Universe and God. Do all of this, and you are working the Law of the Impression of Increase as effectively as it can be
worked. Take ACTION towards your goal, and now you are fully, effectively, and positively working the Law of Attraction to all that you Desire. This is working the Laws. Follow with precision, and the Laws will answer every time. Perfectly. Remember, "A law is not a law if it only holds sometimes." To your Health, Wealth, Prosperity and Success, The Success Manual Team ____________________________________________________________
The Impression of Increase Wealth-culture consists in making constructive use of the people and things in your environment. First, get a clear mental picture of what you want. If your present business or profession is not the one most suitable to your talents and tastes, decide upon the one which is most suitable; and determine to get into that business or profession, and to achieve the very greatest success in it. Get a clear idea of what you want to do, and get a mental concept of the utmost success in that business or profession; and determine that you will attain to that. Give a great deal of time to forming this concept or mental picture; the more clear and definite it is, the easier will be your work. The man who is not quite sure what he wants to build will put up a wobbling and shaky structure. Get a clear idea of what you want to do, and get a mental concept of the utmost success in that business or profession; and determine that you will attain to that. Give a great deal of time to forming this concept or mental picture; the more clear and definite it is, the easier will be your work. The man who is not quite sure what he wants to build will put up a wobbling and shaky structure. Know what you want, and keep the picture of it in the background of your mind night and day; let it be like a picture on the wall of your room, always in your consciousness, night and day. And then begin to move toward it. Remember that if you have not the fully developed talent now, you can develop it as you go along; you can surely do what you want to do. It is quite likely that at present you cannot do the thing you want to do because you are not in the right environment, and have not the necessary capital; but this does not hinder you from the beginning to move toward the right environment, and from beginning to acquire capital. Remember that you move forward only by doing what you can in your present environment. Suppose that you have only capital enough to operate a newsstand, and your great desire is to own a department store; do not get the
idea that there is some magical method by which you can successfully operate a department store on a newsstand capital. There is, however, a mental science method by which you can so operate a newsstand as to certainly cause it to grow into a department store. Consider that your newsstand is one department of the store you are going to have; fix your mind on the department store, and begin to assimilate the rest of it. You will get it, if you make every act and thought constructive. To make every act and thought constructive, every one must convey the idea of increase. Steadily hold in mind the thought of advancement for yourself; know that you are advancing toward what you want, and act and speak in this faith. Then every word and act will convey the idea of advancement and increase to others, and they will be drawn to you. Always remember that what all people are seeking for is increase. First, study over the facts in regard to the great abundance until you know that there is wealth for you, and that you do not have to take this wealth from any one else. Avoid the competitive spirit. You can readily see that if there is limitless abundance there is enough for you, without robbing any one else. Then, knowing that it is the purpose of nature that you should have what you want, reflect upon the fact that you can get it only by acting. Consider that you can act only upon your present environment; and do not try to act now upon environment of the future. Then remember that in acting upon your present environment, you must make every act a success in itself; and that in doing this you must hold the purpose to get what you want. You can hold this purpose only as you get a clear mental picture of what you want; be sure that you have that. Also, remember that your actions will not have dynamic moving power unless you have an unwavering faith that you get what you want. Form a clear mental picture of what you want; hold the purpose to get it; do everything perfectly, not in a servile spirit, but because you are a master mind; keep unwavering faith in your ultimate attainment of your goal, and you cannot fail to move forward.
Success Key No. 20: The Power of Desire by Wallace D. Wattles (NEW!) Posted by Richard Catalina, Jr. • May 3, 2010 • Printer-friendly SUCCESS IS a progressive evolution of the faculties of the successful man. To understand this, remember that success is becoming what you want to be; becoming what you want to be consists in satisfying your desires, and desire is the effort of a faculty to come into action. The man who can use the most of his faculties is the man who can; and because he is the man who can, he is the successful man. - Wallace D. Wattles from "How to Promote Yourself," previously published as "Making the Man Who Can" ____________________________________________________________
Success Key: The Power of Desire The Success Manual Team is soooo excited, we can barely contain ourselves!
Wallace D. Wattles - The Wattles Prosperity Bible: A Five-Volume Compilation of the Works of Wallace D. Wattles The Success Manual project originated as a vague concept in early 2008 - about 2 years ago. Since that time, we have been searching the world over for the greatest Success Classics, acquiring them (often for a cost), compiling, editing (only when absolutely necessary and certainly so as to not change the spirit and intent of the
author's written word) and publishing the works on this site. It has been, and continues to be, a labor of love. We only started creating this site in November 2009 - in piece-meal fashion, choosing WordPress as our platform for ease of use and flexibility. We never "officially" launched the site and technically are still in "beta" as we work to complete the unfinished sections. It will always be - as it should - a work in progress. Our model is built around providing many works for free and we have taken great strides towards that objective. However, a further objective of The Success Manual site is to offer products (among other initiatives). And - we are virtually there! We are very, very excited to announce our first PRODUCT LAUNCH: On Tuesday, May 18, 2010, The Success Manual - working with our sister site ProsperityBible.com - and Princeton Cambridge Publishing Group (publisher of the content on this site, including the downloads) is launching . . . THE WATTLES PROSPERITY BIBLE - A Five-Volume Compilation of the Works of Wallace D. Wattles! We have compiled ALL of the works of Mr. Wattles and have packaged it into a brilliant, well-appointed, five-volume DIGITAL DOWNLOAD set comprising:
THE WATTLES PROSPERITY BIBLE - 5-VOLUME SET!
Volume I: The Science of Living Series
Volume II: The Power of Mind Series
Volume III: The Power of Living Series
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Volume V: The Selected Works Series
EVERYTHING by the Law of Attraction Master himself!
And, all who decided to purchase THE WATTLES PROSPERITY BIBLE during the promotion period will receive - absolutely FREE - the five-volume compilation . . . THE LAW OF ATTRACTION PROSPERITY BIBLE. This work comprises MORE THAN 4,000 PAGES of the all-time greatest LAW OF ATTRACTION books, including EVERY work featured in the book and movie, The Secret! In addition to those works already available for free on this site, THE LAW OF ATTRACTION PROSPERITY BIBLE includes The Secret of the Ages by Robert Collier, Prosperity by Charles Fillmore, Mental Chemistry by Charles F. Haanel, Thoughts Are Things by Prentice Mulford . . . and much, much more!
"The Science of Getting Rich" by Wallace D. Wattles, featured in Volume I: The Science of Living Series, of "The Wattles Prosperity Bible: A Five Volume Compilation of the Works of Wallace D. Wattles" If you are acquainted with our site, you know that we are not big on hype. We choose substance over style; content over fluff. We choose not to insult the intelligence of our readers by bombarding visitors with links to irrelevant (and useless) sites, ads for teeth whitening, acai berries, rip-off diets and more, robot scripts, and other "junk" that depreciates site credibility, turning it into another yet site with very little useful content and designed to make quick pennies on click-throughs. You will NEVER find that on The Success Manual - not now, not in the future. THAT IS OUR PLEDGE. You WILL find, however, amazing products at very reasonable - perhaps too reasonable - prices so that this site and the people behind it can support themselves and continue their mission of providing INFORMATION, KNOWLEDGE and TEACHINGS to increase YOUR Level of Awareness so as to improve YOUR life and achieve the Success that you rightfully Desire and Deserve. We don't profess to be Master Success Teachers - we are only Students of Success and we pass along what we find useful in our journey and hope and pray that it may be of value to YOU. So, when we create and launch a PRODUCT, you can be assured that we have put in many, many hours of our own personal service to bring you something that we truly believe will enhance the quality of YOUR Life. THE WATTLES PROSPERITY BIBLE and THE LAW OF ATTRACTION PROSPERITY BIBLE are products that we are proud enough of to place our name on and sell to You. We wouldn't have it any other way. Both Five-Volume sets represent enormous value and are deserving of being our first Product launch. ____________________________________________________________ This is the very first mention of the five-volume series of THE WATTLES PROSPERITY BIBLE and the five-volume set of THE LAW OF ATTRACTION PROSPERITY BIBLE. You are the very first to read about it. But, in the coming days, we will continue to
promote this great product - designed to assist you on your Success journey - and we trust that you will keep your eyes and ears opened and take advantage of this beautiful work - trust me, it IS nice! In the meantime, today's Success Key post is Chapter 2, "What You Desire," from "How to Promote Yourself" by Wallace D. Wattles (previously published as "Making the Man Who Can"). Yes, "How to Promote Yourself" IS included in THE WATTLES PROSPERITY BIBLE and will be featured in Volume III: The Power of Living Series. As always, we thank you for visiting our site and supporting us to make this all happen!
What You Desire by Wallace D. Wattles Success is becoming what you want to be, and is obtained by applying your energies to your work; and you will apply your energies in exact proportion to the intensity of your desire, and to your faith in your ability to become what you want to be. The intensity of your desire will depend on the clearness with which you picture to yourself what you want to be. Vague and indefinite longings will never call out your best effort. Form a mental picture of what you want to be, and of all that you want in person, property and environment; dwell upon it until it is clear and definite to you, and hold it until it arouses intense desire. Think about this picture until you are always conscious of it, no matter what you may be doing, so that it is always in the background of your consciousness. But even though you have strong desire you will not put forth your best effort without confidence; you will have to think you can before you can. And you cannot think you can unless you feel that you can; and so you need to have demonstrated to you the fact that you cannot feel that you can unless you have within you the power that can. In other words, if you strongly desire to do a thing, it is certain proof that you have the power to do it. Desire is the result of feeling, and the feeling which results in desire is a faculty seeking expression. The desire to sing or play music is the musical faculty seeking expression, and if there were no faculty, or power, there could be no desire. We cannot desire things which do not harmonize with the forces within, for a thing which does not harmonize with the forces within is repulsive to us. Things only harmonize with
those of the same essential nature; therefore, if you desire a thing it is because that thing is essentially and potentially within you. What is within you essentially must be within you potentially. When we see a generous and sympathetic man we desire to be like him because the sight arouses generosity and sympathy within us; and the power to be, seeking expression, causes the desire to be. When we hear a great oration or a beautiful song, we desire to execute a similar performance because the faculties of oratory or music respond to the stimulus and seek expression. Desire is a power seeking expression. You cannot desire what is not potentially within you; and therefore, you can be what you want to be. The fact that you want to be is proof that you can be. First, form a clear conception of what you want to be in person, property and environment; and then understand that in so far as your desires are not contrary to Eternal Justice it is absolutely certain that you can be what you want to be.
Success Key: Conditioning – What You Need to KNOW – NOW! Posted by Richard Catalina, Jr. • May 8, 2010 • Printer-friendly Your conditioning controls you, and thus, the actions, results and consequences of your life. You are where you are today as a result of your conditioning – period. It controls your emotions, feelings, actions and decisions. It is YOUR central programming. ____________________________________________________________
Success Key No. 21: "Conditioning" - What it is and why it is Critical to Your Success The term “conditioning” is definitely a buzz word these days in the arena of personal development, self-improvement and Success achievement – perhaps as much as the popular – and related – word “paradigm.” But, how much do we really understand about our “conditioning?” And, why is it so important?
Mt. Washington of the Presidential Range, White Mountains, New Hampshire, from Tuckerman Ravine Cut Off. Photo by David T. Palreiro on May 21, 2004. ____________________________________________________________
First, let me assure you that the state of your conditioning is absolutely critical to the state of your life and it is the most important factor – out of the many factors and elements – in whether or not you will achieve the life that you Desire. No matter how much or what you study, or what actions you take (or fail to take), if your conditioning is “faulty,” you will not achieve your Desires. Indeed, the Law of Attraction – as well as the other Universal Laws – is absolutely useless if you have, and engage in, faulty conditioning. I liken “conditioning” to what I call “the rules of life.” It is actually more than that name implies, however, but it is an analogy that works well for me. Perhaps a better fit would be to think of conditioning as your “internal programming” and it resides deep in the recesses of your subconscious mind. Your conditioning controls you, and thus, the actions, results and consequences of your life. You are where you are today as a result of your conditioning – period. It controls your emotions, feelings, actions and decisions. It is YOUR central programming.
Your conditioning controls you, and thus, the actions, results and consequences of your life. You are where you are today as a result of your conditioning – period. It controls your emotions, feelings, actions and decisions. It is YOUR central programming. In “Awaken the Giant Within,” Anthony Robbins refers to conditioning as “your internal system for making decisions.” And, Anthony further notes that “The scary thing is that most people never consciously set this system up.” [emphasis original] Ouch! But he is dead-on right! As my personal mentor Bob Proctor used to yell when discussing where our conditioning originates: “You inherited it!” That is true. Our subconscious mind – as powerful as it is – has absolutely NO ability to think for itself and decide whether the input that it receives from the conscious mind is good or bad data. It ONLY accepts what it is told – from whatever source – as true. Unless you perform a manual, conscious override, your subconscious default mode is to accept all input – regardless of source and regardless of substance – as true. Once recorded in your subconscious, this “data” becomes your “life rules” and you will live according to what the subconscious has accepted. Our subconscious mind – as powerful as it is – as NO ability to think for itself and decide whether the input that it receives from the conscious mind is good or bad data. It ONLY accepts what it is told – from whatever source – as true. So, where does the input originate? Anywhere and everywhere. As Anthony Robbins states, “[I]t’s been installed through the years by sources as diverse as parents, peers, teachers, television, advertisers, and the culture at large.” We are bombarded with data every moment of our waking life from all angles. And, the more influential the source of the data, the greater meaning we give to it and the more likely that particular data will be recorded. What’s worse, we develop our conditioning very subtly, failing to see the faulty input data as it is being recorded by our subconscious. Let’s take a quick look at conditioning in action. Notice how subtle it is, yet the powerful and damaging effects that result when we accept corrupt data. Television is a powerful conditioning tool. When we “watch” television, we tend to turn off our conscious thinking and become absorbed into the “programming” that we are watching (no pun intended; television “programming” “programs” our subconscious very, very effectively!). It is as though we have taken a USB cable and connected our subconscious hard drive directly to the television programming (input source), bypassing our conscious filters (anti-virus software). Why don’t we just hook-up an IV of mind-altering drugs or alcohol? In our example, suppose a commercial advertisement is observed and it features a welltoned woman wearing a bikini. The individual observing the commercial advertisement is a woman who is less than satisfied with her physical appearance, and in particular her “figure” and weight. Without even thinking, this is what she tells herself:
“I wish I had a body like that. I am never going to have a body like that. Some people are just born that way and I am not one of them. I’m fat. I am always going to be fat, no matter what I do. It’s no use. Why even bother? There’s no justice in this world.” The images of the woman in the commercial advertisement, the message of the commercial, the values that society and our culture places on individuals who are “thin,” Hollywood and celebritism, and, most importantly, what the woman watching television just told herself have all been programmed into her subconscious mind and ACCEPTED AS TRUE. The programming has now become part of the woman’s conditioning. Unless she makes the necessary changes to override that conditioning, she will forever continue to live her life according to that programming. And, she didn’t even know what just happened! Major damage was inflicted and our subject is totally unaware. Conditioning – Regardless of the kind and regardless to what extent we are actively involved as to the nature, level and extent of the content – takes place all day long, each day. We continue to condition ourselves, whether we know it or not, whether we like it or not. Conditioning – Regardless of the kind and regardless to what extent we are actively involved as to the nature, level and extent of the content – takes place all day long, each day. We continue to condition ourselves, whether we know it or not, whether we like it or not. And, the worst part about it is that 99% of the input data is NOT TRUE. Yes, that’s right – it’s NOT TRUE! We make it up, assign meaning to it, and then live by it. Nothing is really “true” unless we say it is! Henry Ford once said something along the lines of “Regardless of whether we believe something is true or not, either way we are right.” Now that, my friends, is something that is true! In his excellent book, “Mach II with Your Hair on Fire,” Richard Bliss Brooke poignantly notes that since we make it all up anyways, we don’t we make it good instead of bad? That brings us back to Anthony Robbins, who advises that not all is lost – regardless of our age and regardless of the nature, level and extent of past conditioning: “The good news is that we can override this system [conditioning] by making conscious decisions at any moment in our lives. We don’t have to allow the programming of our past to control our present and future.” [From Awaken the Giant Within (emphasis original)] We are going to end on that note. Start thinking about your conditioning NOW. In upcoming Success Keys, we are going to continue this discussion and begin exploring
actual methods for changing your conditioning. YOUR conditioning is critical to YOUR life and YOUR Success. Until then, Namaste!
Success Key No. 22: The Law of Prosperity by Ralph Waldo Trine Posted by Richard Catalina, Jr. • May 14, 2010 • Printer-friendly Opulence is the law of the universe, an abundant supply for every need if nothing is put in the way of its coming. The natural and the normal life for us is this, – To have such a fullness of life and power by living so continually in the realization of our oneness with the Infinite Life and Power that we find ourselves in the constant possession of an abundant supply of all things needed. - Ralph Waldo Trine, "In Tune with the Infinite" ____________________________________________________________
Success Key No. 22: The Law of Prosperity Today's post is a bit lengthy and comes from contributing author, Ralph Waldo Trine. The article is titled "The Law of Prosperity" and is actually Chapter 9 from Trine's major work, "In Tune with the Infinite." "In Tune with the Infinite" is not available as a download from the Success Manual Free Download Library - but, it WILL be available as part of the FREE 5-Volume BONUS Package, THE LAW OF ATTRACTION PROSPERITY BIBLE, to our soon-to-be-released Success Manual Product, THE WATTLES PROSPERITY BIBLE, a Five-Volume Compilation of the Works of Wallace D. Wattles. Stay tuned, more on that later . . .
Ralph Waldo Trine, author of "In Tune with the Infinite" and "Character Building Through Thought Power," among many powerful Success Manuals. ____________________________________________________________
I had a bit of a dilemma with today's article, The Law of Prosperity, as to which category to post this great feature. Really, it is too long for our Success Manual KEYS Category, and it also is not quite a right fit for our Success STRATEGIES Category. Ultimately, I decided to post it as Success Key No. 22 under the premise of "it doesn't really matter, and besides, who really cares?" The end goal is simply to make it available and that is what we have done. If you like what you read, keep in mind that this is just one chapter from a great work, In Tune with the Infinite, which appears in Volume One of THE LAW OF ATTRACTION PROSPERITY BIBLE. As always, Peace Out, and - NAMASTE!
To your Health, Wealth, Prosperity and Success, The Success Manual Team ____________________________________________________________
The Law of Prosperity
Ralph Waldo Trine This is the Spirit of Infinite Plenty, the Power that has brought, that is continually bringing, all things into expression in material form. He who lives in the realization of his oneness with this Infinite Power becomes a magnet to attract to himself a continual supply of whatsoever things he desires. If one holds himself in the thought of poverty, he will be poor, and the chances are that he will remain in poverty. If one holds himself, whatever present conditions may be, continually in the thought of prosperity, he sets into operation forces that will sooner or later bring him into prosperous conditions. The law of attraction works unceasingly throughout the universe, and the one great and never changing fact in connection with it is, as we have found, that like attracts like. If we are one with this Infinite Power, this source of all things, then in the degree that we live in the realization of this oneness, in that degree do we actualize in ourselves a power that will bring to us an abundance of all things that it is desirable for us to have. In this way we come into possession of a power whereby we can actualize at all times those conditions that we desire. As all truth exists now, and awaits simply our perception of it, so all things necessary for present needs exist now, and await simply the power in us to appropriate them. God holds all things in His hands. His constant word is, My child, acknowledge me in all your ways, and in the degree that you do this, in the degree that you live this, then what is mine is yours. Jehovah-jireh – the Lord will provide. “He giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not.” He giveth liberally to all men who put themselves in the right attitude to receive from Him. He forces no good things upon anyone. The old and somewhat prevalent idea of godliness and poverty has absolutely no basis for its existence, and the sooner we get away from it the better. It had its birth in the same way that the idea of asceticism came into existence, when the idea prevailed that there was necessarily a warfare between the flesh and the spirit. It had its origin therefore in the minds of those who had a distorted, a onesided view of life. True godliness is in a sense the same as true wisdom. The one who is truly wise, and who uses the forces and powers with which they are endowed, to them the great universe always opens her treasure house. The
supply is always equal to the demand – equal to the demand when the demand is rightly, wisely made. When one comes into the realization of these higher laws, then the fear of want ceases to tyrannize over them. Are you out of a situation? Let the fear that you will not get another take hold of and dominate you, and the chances are that it may be a long time before you will get another, or the one that you do get may be a very poor one indeed. Whatever the circumstances, you must realize that you have within you forces and powers that you can set into operation that will triumph over any and all apparent or temporary losses. Set these forces into operation and you will then be placing a magnet that will draw to you a situation that may be far better than the one you have lost, and the time may soon come when you will be even thankful that you lost the old one. Recognize, working in and through you, the same Infinite Power that creates and governs all things in the universe, the same Infinite Power that governs the endless systems of worlds in space. Send out your thought – thought is a force, and it has power of unknown proportions when rightly used and wisely directed – send out your thought that the right situation or the right work will come to you at the right time, in the right way, and that you will recognize it when it comes. Hold to this thought, never allow it to weaken, hold to it, and continually water it with firm expectation. You in this way put your advertisement into a psychical, a spiritual newspaper, a paper that has not a limited circulation, but one that will make its way not only to the utmost bounds of the earth, but of the very universe itself. It is an advertisement, moreover, which if rightly placed on your part, will be far more effective than any advertisement you could possibly put into any printed sheet, no matter what claims are made in regard to its being “the great advertising medium”. In the degree that you come into this realization and live in harmony with the higher laws and forces, in that degree will you be able to do this effectively. If you wish to look through the “want” columns of the newspapers, then do not do it in the ordinary way. Put the higher forces into operation and thus place it on a higher basis. As you take up the paper, take this attitude of mind: If there is here an advertisement that it will be well for me to reply to, the moment I come to it I will recognize it. Affirm this, believe it, expect it. If you do this in full faith, you will somehow feel the intuition the moment you come to the right one, and this intuition will be nothing more nor less than your own soul speaking to you. When it speaks then act at once. If you get the situation and it does not prove to be exactly what you want, if you feel that you are capable of filling a better one, then the moment you enter upon it take the attitude of mind that this situation is the stepping-stone that will lead you to one that will be still better. Hold this thought steadily, affirm it, believe it, expect it, and all the time be faithful, absolutely faithful to the situation in which you are at present placed. If you are not faithful to it then the chances are that it
will not be the stepping-stone to something better, but to something poorer. If you are faithful to it, the time may soon come when you will be glad and thankful, when you will rejoice that you lost your old position. This is the law of prosperity: When apparent adversity comes, be not cast down by it, but make the best of it, and always look forward for better things, for conditions more prosperous. To hold yourself in this attitude of mind is to set into operation subtle, silent, and irresistible forces that sooner or later will actualize in material form that which is today merely an idea. But ideas have power, and ideas, when rightly planted and rightly tended, are the seeds that actualize material conditions. Never give a moment to complaint, but utilize the time that would otherwise be spent in this way in looking forward and actualizing the conditions you desire. Suggest prosperity to yourself. See yourself in a prosperous condition. Affirm that you will before be in a prosperous condition. Affirm it calmly and quietly, but strongly and confidently. Believe it, believe it absolutely. Expect it, – keep it continually watered with expectation. You thus make yourself a magnet to attract the things that you desire. Don’t be afraid to suggest, to affirm these things, for by so doing you put forth an ideal which will begin to clothe itself in material form. In this way you are utilizing agents among the most subtle and powerful in the universe. If you are particularly desirous for anything that you feel it is good and right for you to have, something that will broaden your life or that will increase your usefulness to others, simply hold the thought that at the right time, in the right way, and through the right instrumentality, there will come to you or there will open up for you the way whereby you can attain what you desire. I know of a young lady who a short time ago wanted some money very badly. She wanted it for a good purpose; she saw no reason why she shouldn’t have it. She is one who has come into an understanding of the power of the interior forces. She took and held herself in the attitude of mind we have just pointed out. In the morning she entered into the silence for a few moments. In this way she brought herself into a more complete harmony with the higher powers. Before the day closed a gentleman called, a member of a family with which she was acquainted. He asked her if she would do for the family some work that they wanted done. She was a little surprised that they should ask her to do this particular kind of work, but she said to herself, “Here is a call. I will respond and see what it will lead to.” She undertook the work. She did it well. When she had completed it there was put into her hands an amount of money far beyond what she had expected. She felt that it was an amount too large for the work she had done. She protested. They replied, “No; you have done us a service that transcends in value the amount we offer to pay you.” The sum thus received was more than sufficient for the work she wished to accomplish. This is but one of many instances in connection with the wise and effective use of the higher powers. It also carries a lesson – Don’t fold your hands and expect to
see things drop into your lap, but set into operation the higher forces and then take hold of the first thing that offers itself. Do what your hands find to do, and do it well. If this work is not thoroughly satisfactory to you, then affirm, believe, and expect that it is the agency that will lead you to something better. “The basis for attracting the best of all the world can give to you is first to surround, own, and live in these things in mind, or what is falsely called imagination. All socalled imaginings are realities and forces of unseen element. Live in mind in a palace and gradually palatial surroundings will gravitate to you. But so living is not pining, or longing, or complainingly wishing. It is when you are ‘down in the world,’ calmly and persistently seeing yourself as up. It is when you are now compelled to eat from a tin plate, regarding that tin plate as only the certain step to one of silver. It is not envying and growling at other people who have silver plate. That growling is just so much capital stock taken from the bank account of mental force.” A friend who knows the power of the interior forces, and whose life is guided in every detail by them, has given a suggestion in this form. When you are in the arms of the bear, even though he is hugging you, look him in the face and laugh, but all the time keep your eye on the bull. If you allow all of your attention to be given to the work of the bear, the bull may get entirely out of your sight. In other words, if you yield to adversity the chances are that it will master you, but if you recognize in yourself the powers of mastery over conditions then adversity will yield to you, and will be changed into prosperity. If when it comes you calmly and quietly recognize it, and use the time that might otherwise be spent in regrets, and fears, and forebodings, in setting into operation the powerful forces within you, it will soon take its leave. Faith, absolute dogmatic faith, is the only law of true success. When we recognize the fact that a man carries their success or failure with him, and that it does not depend upon outside conditions, we shall come into the possession of powers that will quickly change outside conditions into agencies that make for success. When we come into this higher realization and bring our lives into complete harmony with the higher laws, we shall then be able so to focus and direct the awakened interior forces, that they will go out and return laden with that for which they are sent. We shall then be great enough to attract success, and it will not always be apparently just a little way ahead. We can then establish in ourselves a center so strong that instead of running hither and thither for this or that, we can stay at home and draw to us the conditions we desire. If we firmly establish and hold to this center, things will seem continually to come our way. The majority of people of the modern world are looking for things that are practical and that can be utilized in everyday life. The more carefully we examine into the laws underlying the great truths we are considering, the more we shall find that they are not only eminently practical, but in a sense, and in the deepest and truest sense, they are the only practical things there are.
There are people who continually pride themselves upon being exceedingly “practical;” but many times those who of themselves think nothing about this are the most practical people the world knows. And, on the other hand, those who take great pride in speaking of their own practicality are often the least practical. Or again, in some ways they may be practical, but so far as life in its totality is concerned, they are absurdly impractical. What profit, for example, can there be for the man who, materially speaking, though they have gained the whole world, have never yet become acquainted with his own soul? There are multitudes of men all about us who are entirely missing the real life, people who have not learned even the A, B, C of true living. Slaves they are, abject slaves to their temporary material accumulations. Men who, thinking they possess their wealth, are on the contrary completely possessed by it. Men whose lives are comparatively barren in service to those about them and to the world at large. Men who when they can no longer hold the body – the agency by means of which they are related to the material world – will go out poor indeed, pitiably poor. Unable to take even the smallest particle of their accumulations with them, they will enter upon the other form of life naked and destitute. The kindly deeds, the developed traits of character, the realized powers of the soul, the real riches of the inner life and unfoldment, all those things that become our real and eternal possessions, have been given no place in their lives, and so of the real things of life they are destitute. Nay, many times worse than destitute. We must not suppose that habits once formed are any more easily broken off in the other form of life than they are in this. If one voluntarily grows a certain mania here, we must not suppose that the mere dropping of the body makes all conditions perfect. All is law, all is cause and effect. As we sow, so shall we also reap, not only in this life but in all lives. He who is enslaved with the sole desire for material possessions here will continue to be enslaved even after he can no longer retain his body. Then, moreover, he will have not even the means of gratifying his desires. Dominated by this habit, he will be unable to set his affections, for a time at least, upon other things, and the desire, without the means of gratifying it, will be doubly torturing to him. Perchance this torture may be increased by his seeing the accumulations he thought were his now being scattered and wasted by spend thrifts. He wills his property, as we say, to others, but he can have no word as to its use. How foolish, then, for us to think that any material possessions are ours. How absurd, for example, for one to fence off a number of acres of God’s earth and say they are his. Nothing is ours that we cannot retain. The things that come into our hands come not for the purpose of being possessed, as we say, much less for the purpose of being hoarded. They come into our hands to be used, to be used wisely. We are stewards merely, and as stewards we shall be held accountable for the way we use whatever is entrusted to us. That great law of
compensation that runs through all life is wonderfully exact in its workings, although we may not always fully comprehend it, or even recognize it when it operates in connection with us. The one who has come into the realization of the higher life no longer has a desire for the accumulation of enormous wealth, any more than he has a desire for any other excess. In the degree that he comes into the recognition of the fact that he is wealthy within, external wealth becomes less important in his estimation. When he comes into the realization of the fact that there is a source within from which he can put forth a power to call to him, and actualize in his hands at any time, a sufficient supply for all his needs, he no longer burdens himself with vast material accumulations that require his constant care and attention, and thus takes his time and his thought from the real things of life. In other words, he first finds the kingdom, and he realizes that when he has found this all other things follow in full measure. It is as hard for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of heaven, said the Master – He who having nothing had everything – as it is for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle. In other words, if a man give all his time to the accumulation, the hoarding of outward material possessions far beyond what he can possibly ever use, what time has he for the finding of that wonderful kingdom which, when found, brings all else with it. Which is better, to have millions and to have the burden of taking care of it all – for the one always involves the other – or to come into the knowledge of such laws and forces that every need will be supplied in good time, to know that no good thing shall be withheld, to know that we have it in our power to make the supply always equal to the demand? The one who enters into the realm of this higher knowledge never cares to bring upon himself the species of insanity that has such a firm hold upon so many in the world today. He avoids it as he would avoid any loathsome disease of the body. When we come into the realization of the higher powers, we will then be able to give more attention to the real life, instead of giving so much to the piling up of vast possessions that hamper rather than help it. It is the medium ground that brings the true solution here, as it is in all phases of life. Wealth beyond a certain amount cannot be used, and when it cannot be used, it then becomes a hindrance rather than an aid, a curse rather than a blessing. All about us are persons with lives now stunted and dwarfed which might be made rich and beautiful, filled with a perennial joy, if they would begin wisely to use that which they have spent the greater portion of their lives in accumulating. The man who accumulates during their entire life, and who even leaves all when they go out for “benevolent purposes,” comes far short of the ideal life. It is but a poor excuse of a life. It is not especially commendable in me to give a pair of old, worn-out shoes that I shall never use again to another who is in need of shoes. But it is commendable, if indeed doing anything we ought to do can be spoken of
as being commendable, it is commendable for me to give a good pair of strong shoes to the man who in the midst of a severe winter is practically shoeless, the man who is exerting every effort to earn an honest living and thereby take care of his family’s needs. And if in giving the shoes I also give myself, he then has a double gift, and I a double blessing. There is no wiser use that those who have great accumulations can make of them than wisely to put them into life, into character, day by day while they live. In this way their lives will be continually enriched and increased. The time will come when it will be regarded as a disgrace for a man to die and leave vast accumulations behind him. Many a person is living in a palace today who in the real life is poorer than many a one who has not even a roof to cover him. A man may own and live in a palace, but the palace for him may be a poorhouse still. Moth and rust are nature’s wise provisions – God’s methods – for disintegrating and scattering, in this way getting ready for use in new forms that which is hoarded and consequently serving no use. There is also a great law continually operating the effects of which are to dwarf and deaden the powers of true enjoyment, as well as all the higher faculties, of the one who hoards. Multitudes of people are continually keeping away from them higher and better things because they are forever clinging on to the old. If they would use and pass on the old, room would be made for new things to come. Hoarding always brings loss in one form or another. Using, wisely using, brings an ever renewing gain. If the tree should as ignorantly and as greedily hold on to this year’s leaves when they have served their purpose, where would be the full and beautiful new life that will be put forth in the spring? Gradual decay and finally death would be the result. If the tree is already dead, then it may perhaps be well enough for it to cling on to the old, for no new leaves will come. But as long as the life in the tree is active, it is necessary that it rid itself of the old ones so that room may be made for the new. Opulence is the law of the universe, an abundant supply for every need if nothing is put in the way of its coming. The natural and the normal life for us is this, – To have such a fullness of life and power by living so continually in the realization of our oneness with the Infinite Life and Power that we find ourselves in the constant possession of an abundant supply of all things needed. Then not by hoarding, but by wisely using and ridding ourselves of things as they come, an ever renewing supply will be ours, a supply far better adapted to present needs than the old could possibly be. In this way we not only come into
possession of the richest treasures of the Infinite Good ourselves, but we also become open channels through which they can flow to others.
New Prosperity Paradigm: God Will Pay Your Debts Posted by Richard Catalina, Jr. • May 16, 2010 • Printer-friendly Debt is a contradiction of the universal equilibrium, and there is no such thing as lack of equilibrium in the entire universe. Therefore, in Spirit and in Truth, there is no debt. However, men hold on to a thought of debt, and this thought is responsible for a great deal of sorrow and hardship . . . Debts exist in the mind, and in the mind is the proper place to begin liquidating them. These thought entities must be abolished in mind before their outer manifestations will pass away and stay away. - Charles Fillmore, "Prosperity" ____________________________________________________________
Success Key No. 23. A New Prosperity Paradigm: God Will Pay Your Debts This past week we added to our Success Manual Download Library an excellent Success Manual, "Prosperity" by Charles Fillmore. In our post for that download, we included Lesson Six from the 12-Lesson work and I promised to post Lesson Eight the next day. However, having also just completed Ralph Waldo Trine's beautiful work, "In Tune with the Infinite" (for our soon-to-be-released five-volume Bonus Set, THE LAW OF ATTRACTION PROSPERITY BIBLE), I felt it necessary to post a most compelling and timely chapter from that book, "The Law of Prosperity," and thus, that was the subject of yesterday's post. Confused? Me, too - it was a long, hard week. But, I am now making good on my word by posting yet another compelling, timely and extremely relevant piece from Fillmore's "Prosperity" - Lesson Eight, "God Will Pay Your Debts."
Charles Fillmore, author of "Prosperity," "Teach Us to Pray" and "Christian Healing: The Science of Being," among many powerful Success and Prosperity Manuals. ____________________________________________________________
I don't need to tell you anything about debt. You are likely either in debt, personally, or concerned about the debt of the various levels of government in this country (U.S.), or have read about the alarming debt of other countries. Debt, and significant amounts of it, are everywhere and permeate budgets from households to businesses to governments of every level - municipal, state, federal and international. Even if you don't carry personal debt, the alarming levels of global debt likely affect you in some capacity. Debt is everywhere and a quick perusal of the New York Times online will reveal scores of articles, letters and Op-Ed pieces on debt. The effects of debt are inescapable and "debt consciousness" is worldwide. Debt has a profound, negative impact wherever it exists and allowed to fester. The external world without, according to media and other accounts, is in "debt crises."
Debt has a profound, negative impact wherever it exists and allowed to fester. The external world without, according to media and other accounts, is in "debt crises." All of this talk and worry of debt - regardless of the source or the nature, level and extent of the debt at issue - is a powerful impetus to creating (if we allow it) "Debt Consciousness." All of this talk and worry of debt - regardless of the source or the nature, level and extent of the debt at issue - is a powerful impetus to creating (if we allow it) "Debt Consciousness." "Debt consciousness" is highly toxic. First, it is impossible for Debt Consciousness and Prosperity Consciousness to co-exist. You cannot develop and maintain a healthy Prosperity Consciousness if you are focused on debt. Debt, by its nature, is characterized and defined by concepts of lack and limitation - the exact opposite of what defines Prosperity Consciousness: Prosperity, Abundance and Wealth. If self-inflicted precepts of lack and limitation impede your stream of consciousness, you will not be able to develop Prosperity Consciousness. It is simply not possible to live in such a house divided. Debt Consciousness and Prosperity Consciousness are polar opposites. You cannot develop and maintain a healthy Prosperity Consciousness if you are focused on debt. Debt, by its nature, is characterized and defined by concepts of lack and limitation - the exact opposite of what defines Prosperity Consciousness: Prosperity, Abundance and Wealth. Debt Consciousness and Prosperity Consciousness are polar opposites. Yet, Prosperity Consciousness is KEY to achieving Success and attaining honest and lasting Wealth. The good news is that it IS possible to build Prosperity Consciousness even if you have debt issues that require resolution. Pivotal to achieving Prosperity Consciousness when the world without is awash in red, and admittedly not an easy task, is to keep your debt challenges IN the external world, i.e., the world without, not let those obstacles become the focus of your internal attention, and maintain your focal point on Prosperity and Abundance. In other words, keep the debt challenge outside the door to your mind, while you execute proper financial housekeeping on the inside. While perhaps not the easiest of tasks, like any worthwhile objective, it can be accomplished with diligence, vigilance, concentrated effort and commitment. Moreover, and of major significance, Prosperity Consciousness MUST be properly attained if one is to escape debt with finality. Prosperity Consciousness MUST be properly attained if one is to escape debt with finality. Otherwise, debt will continue in a self-perpetuating cycle until the necessary intervention required to reprogram the faulty conditioning to that of true Prosperity Consciousness is effectuated. It is that simple.
Simply paying off a debt does not - by itself - rectify faulty conditioning concerning debt. That programming must be erased and replaced with proper programming that produces Health, Wealth, Prosperity and Success. The first step in eliminating faulty conditioning that gives rise to bad financial habits is to first rise above the Debt Consciousness that produced the debt in the first instance. If bad financial conditioning is not corrected and replaced with solid conditioning founded on concepts of Prosperity, Abundance and Wealth, be assured that debt WILL return again - and again, and again . . . until the bad programming is eradicated and replaced with right conditioning. In his phenomenal book, Secrets of the Millionaire Mind, T. Harv Ecker calls your economic conditioning your "financial blueprint," and you will ALWAYS live according to it, whether it be good or bad. If positive financial change is what you seek, i.e., Wealth, you absolutely, positively MUST adopt and implement the right financial blueprint. Otherwise, debt will continue in a self-perpetuating cycle until the necessary intervention required to reprogram the faulty conditioning to that of true Prosperity Consciousness is effectuated. It is that simple. Let's face it: debt stinks. Nobody wants to carry debt. If you have debt, you MUST starting right now - STOP focusing and obsessing on that debt. It will only bring more debt, deteriorate your emotional, physical and spiritual health, and make your life miserable. Despite the outer world circumstances of "debt," you must build an inner world of Prosperity. The sooner you do so, the sooner you will escape Debt Consciousness and break the vicious debt cycle. If you have debt, you MUST - starting right now - STOP focusing and obsessing on that debt. It will only bring more debt, deteriorate your emotional, physical and spiritual health, and make your life miserable. This may well be one of the most challenging issues in developing a solid, keenly established Prosperity Consciousness: attempting to do so while carrying personal debt. How can one make that paradigm shift - from lack and limitation to Abundance and Prosperity - when current income seemingly is not enough to reduce and eliminate debt? How's this for an answer: GOD WILL PAY YOUR DEBTS. Before your write (or laugh) this one off, I urge you to read what Charles Fillmore has to say. You don't have anything to lose, except, of course, your debt. Losing debt is a good thing. We don't receive many comments to our posts, but on this issue, I would love to hear what you have to say on this subject. Please leave a comment and let's open this topic up for some discussion. Since debt is such a problem and an extremely negative emotional hot-button, your thoughts, comments, concerns and questions on this subject are greatly welcomed and appreciated.
Thank you for visiting our site. We appreciate the support that we have been receiving and hope that the information, content and material that we work hard to make available proves to be of service to you. As always, Peace Out, and - NAMASTE! To your Health, Wealth, Prosperity and Success, The Success Manual Team ____________________________________________________________
God Will Pay Your Debts
Charles Fillmore “Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.” In these words Jesus expressed an infallible law of mind, the law that one idea must be dissolved before another can take its place. If you have in your mind any thought that someone has wronged you, you cannot let in the cleansing power of Spirit and the richness of spiritual substance until you have cast out the thought of the wrong, have forgiven it fully. You may be wondering why you have failed to get spiritual illumination or to find the consciousness of spiritual substance. Perhaps the reason is here: a lack of room for the true thoughts because other thoughts fill your mind. If you are not receiving the spiritual understanding you feel you should have, you should search your mind carefully for unforgiving thoughts. “Thoughts are things” and occupy space in the mind realm. They have substance and form and may easily be taken as permanent by one not endowed with spiritual discernment. They bring forth fruit according to the seed planted in the mind, but they are not enduring unless founded in Spirit. Thoughts are alive and are endowed by the thinker with a secondary thinking power; that is, the thought entity that the I AM forms assumes an ego and begins to think on its own account. Thoughts also think but only with the power you give to them. Tell me what kind of thoughts you are holding about yourself and your neighbors, and I can tell you just what you may expect in the way of health, finances, and harmony in your home. Are you suspicious of your neighbors? You cannot love and trust in God if you hate and distrust men. The two ideas love and hate, or trust and mistrust, simply cannot both be present in your mind at one time, and when you are entertaining one, you may be sure the other is absent. Trust other people and use the power that you accumulate from that act to trust God. There is magic in it: it works wonders; love and trust are dynamic, vital powers. Are you accusing men of being thieves, and fear that they are going to take away from you something that is your own? With such a thought generating fear and
even terror in your mind and filling your consciousness with darkness, where is there room for the Father’s light of protection? Rather build walls of love and substance around yourself. Send out swift, invisible messengers of love and trust for your protection. They are better guards than policemen or detectives. Do not judge others as regards their guilt or innocence. Consider yourself and how you stand in the sight of the Father for having thoughts about another’s guilt. Begin your reform with yourself. That means much to one who enjoys an understanding of mind and its laws, though it may mean little to the ordinary individual. He who knows himself superficially, just his external personality, thinks he has reformed when he has conformed to the moral and governmental laws. He may even be filled with his own self-righteousness and daily lift up his voice to praise God that he is not as other men are, that he has forgiven men their transgressions. He looks on all men who do not conform to his ideas of morality and religion as being sinners and transgressors and thanks God for his own insight and keenness. But he is not at peace. Something seems lacking. God does not talk to him “face to face,” because the mind, where God and man meet, is darkened by the murky thought that other men are sinners. Our first work in any demonstration is to contact God; therefore, we must forgive all men their transgressions. Through this forgiveness we cleanse our mind so that the Father can forgive us our own transgressions. The world cannot be free from the bondage of debt and interest until men start to work in their minds to erase those things from consciousness. Our forgiving “all men” includes ourselves. You must also forgive yourself. Let the finger of denial erase every sin or “falling short” that you have charged up against yourself. Pay your debt by saying to that part of yourself which you think has fallen short: “Thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing befall thee.” Then “loose him, and let him go.” Treat sin as a mental transgression, instead of considering it as a moral deflection. Deny in thought all tendency to the error way and hold yourself firmly to the Christ Spirit, which is your divine self. Part company forever with “accusing conscience.” Those who have resolved to sin no more have nothing in common with guilt. “Shall I be in debt as long as I hold debts against others?” We find this to be the law of mind: a thought of debt will produce debt. So long as you believe in debt you will go into debt and accumulate the burdens that follow that thought. Whoever has not forgiven all men their debts is likely to fall into debt himself. Does this mean that you should give receipted bills to all those who owe you? No. That would not be erasing the thought of debt from your mind. First deny in mind that any man or woman owes you anything. If necessary, go over your list of names separately and sincerely forgive the thought of debt which you have been attaching to each person named. More bills may be collected in this way than in any other, for many of these people will pay what they owe when you send them this forgiving thought.
Debt is a contradiction of the universal equilibrium, and there is no such thing as lack of equilibrium in the entire universe. Therefore, in Spirit and in Truth, there is no debt. However, men hold on to a thought of debt, and this thought is responsible for a great deal of sorrow and hardship. The true disciple realizes his supply in the consciousness of omnipresent, universally possessed abundance. Spirit substance is impartial and owned in common, and no thought of debt can enter into it. Debts exist in the mind, and in the mind is the proper place to begin liquidating them. These thought entities must be abolished in mind before their outer manifestations will pass away and stay away. The world can never be free from the bondage of financial obligations until men erase from their minds the thoughts of “mine and thine” that generates debts and interest. Analyze the thought of debt and you will see that it involves a thought of lack. Debt is a thought of lack with absence at both ends; the creditor thinks he lacks what is owed him and the debtor thinks he lacks what is necessary to pay it, else he would discharge the obligation rather than continue it. There is error at both ends of the proposition and nothing in the middle. This being true, it should be easy to dissolve the whole thought that anyone owes us or that we owe anyone anything. We should fill our mind with thoughts of all-sufficiency, and where there is no lack there can be no debts. Thus, we find that the way to pay our debts is by filling our mind with the substance of ideas that are the direct opposite of the thoughts of lack that caused the debts. Ideas of abundance will more quickly and surely bring what is yours to you than any thoughts you can hold about debtors discharging their obligations to you. See substance everywhere and affirm it, not only for yourself but for everyone else. Especially affirm abundance for those whom you have held in the thought of owing you. Thus you will help them pay their debts more easily than if you merely erased their names from your book of accounts receivable. Help pay the other fellow’s debts by forgiving him his debts and declaring for him the abundance that is his already in Spirit. The idea of abundance will also bring its fruits into your own life. Let the law of plenty work itself out in you and in your affairs. This is the way the Father forgives your debts: not by canceling them on His books but by erasing them from His mind. He remembers them no more against you when you deny their reality. The Father is the everywhere present Spirit in which all that appears has its origin. God’s love sees you always well, happy, and abundantly provided for; but God’s wisdom demands that order and right relation exist in your mind before it may become manifest in your affairs as abundance. His love would give you your every desire, but His wisdom ordains that you forgive your debtors before your debts are forgiven. To remedy any state of limited finances or ill-health that has been brought about by worry one must begin by eliminating the worry that is the original cause. One must free one’s mind from the burden of debt before the debt can be paid. Many people have found that the statement “I owe no man anything but love” has helped them greatly to counteract this thought of debt. As they used the words their minds were opened to an inflow of divine love and they faithfully co-
operated with the divine law of forgiveness in thought, word, and deed. They built up such a strong consciousness of the healing and enriching power of God’s love that they could live and work peacefully and profitably with their associates. Thus renewed constantly in health, in faith, and in integrity, they were able to meet every obligation that came to them. The statement “I owe no man anything but love” does not mean that we can disclaim owing our creditors money or try to evade the payment of obligations we have incurred. The thing denied is the burdensome thought of debt or of lack. The work of paying debts is an inner work having nothing to do with the debts already owed but with the wrong thoughts that produced them. When one holds to the right ideas, burdensome debts will not be contracted. Debts are produced by thoughts of lack, impatient desire, and covetousness. When these thoughts are overcome, debts are overcome, forgiven, and paid in full, and we are free from them for all time. Your thoughts should at all times be worthy of your highest self, your fellow man, and God. The thoughts that most frequently work ill to you and your associates are thoughts of criticism and condemnation. Free your mind of them by holding the thought “There is now no condemnation in Christ Jesus.” Fill your mind with thoughts of divine love, justice, peace, and forgiveness. This will pay your debts of love, which are the only debts you really owe. Then see how quickly and easily and naturally all your outer debts will be paid and all inharmonies of mind, body, and affairs smoothed out at the same time. Nothing will so quickly enrich your mind and free it from every thought of lack as the realization of divine love. Divine love will quickly and perfectly free you from the burden of debt and heal you of your physical infirmities, often caused by depression, worry, and financial fear. Love will bring your own to you, adjust all misunderstandings, and make your life and affairs healthy, happy, harmonious, and free, as they should be. Love indeed is the “fulfillment of the law.” The way is now open for you to pay your debts. Surrender them to God along with all your doubts and fears. Follow the light that is flooding into your mind. God’s power, love, and wisdom, are here, for His kingdom is within you. Give Him full dominion in your life and affairs. Give Him your business, your family affairs, your finances, and let Him pay your debts. He is even now doing it, for it is His righteous desire to free you from every burden, and He is leading you out of the burden of debt, whether of owing or being owed. Meet every insidious thought, such as “I can’t,” “I don’t know how,” “I can’t see the way,” with the declaration “Jehovah is my shepherd; I shall not want.” You “shall not want” the wisdom, the courage to do, or the substance to do with when you have once fully realized the scope of the vast truth that Almightiness is leading you into “green pastures . . . beside still waters.” In the kingdom of Truth and reality ideas are the coin of the realm. You can use the new ideas that divine wisdom is now quickening in your mind and start this
very moment to pay your debts. Begin by thanking God for your freedom from the debt-burden thought. This is an important step in breaking the shackles of debt. The funds to pay all your bills may not suddenly appear in a lump sum; but as you watch and work and pray, holding yourself in the consciousness of God’s leadership and His abundance, you will notice your funds beginning to grow “here a little, there a little,” and increasing more and more rapidly as your faith increases and your anxious thoughts are stilled. For with the increase will come added good judgment and wisdom in the management of your affairs. Debt is soon vanquished when wisdom and good judgment are in control. Do not yield to the temptation of “easy-payment plans.” Any payment that drains your pay envelope before you receive it is not an “easy payment.” Do not allow false pride to tempt you to put on a thousand-dollar front on a hundred-dollar salary. There may be times when you are tempted to miss paying a bill in order to indulge a desire for some thing. This easily leads one into the habit of putting off paying, which fastens the incubus of debt on people before they realize it. It is the innocent-appearing forerunner of the debt habit and debt thought that may rob you of peace, contentment, freedom, integrity, and prosperity for years to come. The Divine Mind within you is much stronger than this desire mind of the body. Turn to it in a time like this, and affirm: “Jehovah is my shepherd; I shall not want” this thing until it comes to me in divine order. Bless your creditors with the thought of abundance as you begin to accumulate the wherewithal to pay off your obligations. Keep the faith they had in you by including them in your prayer for increase. Begin to free yourself at once by doing all that is possible with the means you have and as you proceed in this spirit the way will open for you to do more; for through the avenues of Spirit more means will come to you and every obligation will be met. If you are a creditor, be careful of the kind of thoughts you hold over your debtor. Avoid the thought that he is unwilling to pay you or that he is unable to pay you. One thought holds him in dishonesty, and the other holds him subject to lack, and either of them tends to close the door to the possibility of his paying you soon. Think well and speak well of all those who owe you. If you talk about them to others avoid calling them names that you would not apply to yourself. Cultivate a genuine feeling of love for them and respect their integrity in spite of all appearances. Declare abundant supply for them and thus help them to prosper. Pray and work for their good as well as for your own, for yours is inseparable from theirs. You owe your debtor quite as much as he owes you and yours is a debt of love. Pay your debt to him and he will pay his to you. This rule of action never fails. Far-seeing Christians look forward to an early resumption of the economic system inaugurated by the early followers of Jesus. They had all things in common, and no man lacked anything. But before we can have a truly Christian community founded on a spiritual basis we must be educated into a right way of
thinking about finances. If we should all get together and divide all our possessions, it would be but a short time until those who have the prevailing financial ideas would manipulate our finances, and plethora on one hand and lack on the other would again be established. The world cannot be free from the bondage of debt and interest until men start to work in their minds to erase those things from consciousness. If the United States forgave the nations of Europe all their debts and wiped the slate clean, the law would not necessarily be fulfilled; for there would probably remain a thought that they still owed us and that we had made a sacrifice in canceling the obligations. We should not feel very friendly about it and would not truly forgive them, and in that case the error thought would be carried on. We must first forgive the error thought that they owe us money and that we would be losing money by canceling the debts. The man who is forced to forgive a debt does not forgive it. Above all we should fill our mind with the consciousness of that divine abundance which is so manifest everywhere in the world today. There is as much substance as there ever was, but its free flow has been interfered with through selfishness. We must rid our mind of the selfish acquisitiveness that is so dominant in the race thought, and in that way do our part in the great work of freeing the world from avarice. It is the duty of every Christian metaphysician to help in the solution of this problem by affirming that the universal Spirit of supply is now becoming manifest as a distributing energy the world over; that all storedup, hoarded, vicious thoughts are being dissolved; that all people have things in common; that no one anywhere lacks anything; and that the divine law of distribution of infinite supply that Jesus demonstrated is now being made manifest throughout the world. “The earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof.” There is a legitimate commerce that is carried on by means of what is called credit. Credit is a convenience to be used by those who appreciate its value and are careful not to abuse it, for to do so would be to ruin it. However, many persons are not equipped to use the credit system to advantage and are likely to abuse it. In the first place, few individuals are familiar with the intricacies of sound credit systems and often assume obligations without being certain of their ability to meet them, especially should some unforeseen complication arise. Frequently, an individual loses all that he invests and finds himself involved in a burden of debt in addition. Such things are not in divine order and are largely responsible for retarding prosperity. No one should assume an obligation unless he is prepared to meet it promptly and willingly when it comes due. No one should assume an obligation unless he is prepared to meet it promptly and willingly when it comes due.
One who knows God as his unfailing resource can be assured of his supply when it is needed. Then why should he plunge into debt when he is confident of his daily supply without debt? There are no creditors or debtors in God’s kingdom. If you are in that kingdom, you need no longer be burdened with the thought of debt either as debtor or creditor. Under divine law there is no reaching out for things that are beyond one’s present means. There is an ever-increasing richness of consciousness coming from the certain knowledge that God is infinite and unfailing supply. Outer things conform to the inner pattern, and riches are attracted to the one who lives close to the unselfish heart of God. His environment is made beautiful by the glory of the Presence, and there is satisfying and lasting prosperity in his affairs. There is but one way to be free from debt. That is the desire to be free, followed by the realization that debt has no legitimate place in God’s kingdom and that you are determined to erase it entirely from your mind. As you work toward your freedom you will find it helpful to have daily periods for meditation and prayer. Do not concentrate on debts or spoil your prayers by constantly thinking of debts. Think of that which you want to demonstrate, not that from which you seek freedom. When you pray, thank the Father for His care and guidance, for His provision and plenty, for His love and wisdom, for His infinite abundance and your privilege to enjoy it. Here are a few prosperity prayers that may help establish you in the truth of plenty and erase the error thought of debt. They are offered as suggestions for forming your own prayers but may be used as given with excellent results. I am no longer anxious about finances; Thou art my all-sufficiency in all things. The Spirit of honesty, promptness, efficiency, and order is now expressed in me and in all that I do. I am free from all limitations of mortal thought about quantities and values. The superabundance of riches of the Christ Mind are now mine, and I am prospered in all my ways.
Success Key: S.M.A.R.T Goal Achievement Method – Part 1 Posted by Richard Catalina, Jr. • June 22, 2010 • Printer-friendly Precision is the difference between true Desire and idle, meaningless “wishing” or “hoping.” If an individual’s Goal is to make “lotsa money” or “get rich someday” that is nothing more than wasteful wishing, dreaming or hoping. The result: the Goal will never be achieved. It just isn’t going to happen unless the Goal is made more – much more – specific. ____________________________________________________________
Success Key: S.M.A.R.T Goal Achievement Method – Part 1: SPECIFICITY Several years ago during a teleseminar with Vic Johnson I was introduced to a great Goal achievement method: S.M.A.R.T. I had never it heard of SMART, although it had been apparently been around for a few years. Vic proclaimed that it is basic, easy to follow, and is so effective that he and his business team consistently use it every time that they set Goal, whether large or small. If you have never heard of SMART, I think you will find it incredibly helpful, despite its simplicity. For those of you who have heard of SMART, perhaps a bit of a refresher is in order. Simply stated, SMART is a method to use whenever you establish a Goal that significantly assists you in the process of attaining your Goal, thereby increasing your likelihood of Success. ____________________________________________________________ Okay, you already figured out that SMART is an acronym. Let’s get down to what it means. S – Specific M – Measurable A – Achievable R – Realistic
T – Time (specific time; certain day) Simple enough, right? Now let’s apply the method to a Goal. For our example, being that yesterday was the Summer Solstice in the Northern Hemisphere of our home planet, I thought it might be nice to use an example that is a little different – not the usual “X amount of money by next month” hypothetical example. On Sunday, as a Father’s Day event, my wife and I took the kids to a neat little place near the New Jersey waterfront called the Tuckerton Seaport. A walking, village type of museum, the Tuckerton Seaport brings you back a hundred years or so to life on the bays – when “baymen” made their living harvesting clams, waterfowl and other natural resources using hand made wooden boats and bird decoys (the decoy shows and exhibits in this part of the East Coast are phenomenal). As we scampered about, the kids got a blast out of a little wooden boat that looked like something that could be readily built with some detailed plans, rightful knowledge and appropriate tools. Our Goal: Build a 12-foot wooden boat to row around a small farm pond. Now, let’s apply SMART to our Goal.
Part 1: Specificity All Goals must be specific – very specific. In Think and Grow Rich, Napoleon Hill repeated extols the serious requirements of Definiteness of Purpose and Definiteness of Plan. You need to know exactly what it is that you are shooting for and definite means for attaining it.
The Success Manual Boat. To build your boat, you need to have a Specific Image of the Goal. Take away: The more SPECIFIC your Goal, the more likely that you will attain it. Get Specific NOW. ____________________________________________________________
Precision is the difference between true Desire and idle, meaningless “wishing” or “hoping.” If an individual’s Goal is to make “lotsa money” or “get rich someday” that is nothing more than wasteful wishing, dreaming or hoping. The result: the Goal will NEVER be achieved. It just isn’t going to happen unless the Goal is made more – much more – specific. Why? First, if all you want is “lotsa money,” how in the world are you going to know when you have arrived? I would surmise that, if you are an inhabitant of the US or other areas of the world, by standards compared to third world, impoverished countries, you likely would already be considered wealthy. “Lotsa money” is not only vague and nonspecific, but it is 100% subjective. “Lotsa money” means something very different among Donald Trump, the average middle-income resident of this country and a homeless, earthquake-stricken family of Port au Prince, Haiti. The Goal should be specific enough that it means the exact same thing to any observer, i.e., 100% objective, not subjective. Second, while God certainly reads your heart, if you are not specific enough with your prayers, affirmations, visualizations, etc., God and His abundant Universe are not going to know how to respond. Tell God exactly what you want. Otherwise, as with our “lotsa money” example, you are merely sending out vague, static-filled and ambiguous messages. Here is another example of looking at the issue of specific requests: When ordering dinner at a fine restaurant, what would your waiter better understand: 1) if you merely asked for a delicious meal high in protein, or 2) if you ordered the roasted duck with wild mushrooms, cranberries, water cress and pine nuts in a wine reduction demiglace served with roasted herb-crusted exotic Peruvian root vegetables (of course, the special for the evening). The answer is obvious. By being specific, the wait service fully understands and is able to deliver that which you Desire. Take away: The more SPECIFIC your Goal, the more likely that you will attain it. Get Specific NOW. Applying this principle to our boat project, we need to be as specific as possible. We already decided on a wood boat, 12 feet in length, that can be rowed (as opposed to a sail boat or other type of surface craft) on a small farm point. Nothing fancy, nothing big, nothing that needs to be sea-worthy, i.e., is able to handle heavy weather and water conditions. Seems pretty specific, but is it?
If you had to start right now, what would you do? Chances are, if you had a pile of wood, tools, some hardware such as nails, screws, etc., you could walk out to the garage right this instant and start building your boat. But why would you? If you did, with no further precision as to your boat, how realistic is it that you would Succeed with something water worthy and that would last? Probably not too good. So, let’s get specific – real specific – with our boat. I would recommend that we jump on the computer and start doing some research on boat building. Or, perhaps, find a great book of actual boat plans. Ah, yes . . . plans. Definiteness of Purpose; Definiteness of Plans. We need bona fide, legitimate plans that lay out, step by step, how to build the precise boat that we Desire. As such, you continue your search on the computer and eventually find the definitive small boat-building website, and lo, there it is – the perfect little wood boat – something that you already imagined. Wisely, you spend the $25.00 to buy the detailed, engineer-quality plans on how to build the boat, download them to your computer, print them up and give them a heavy review. We now have a Specific Goal. The Goal has been defined with precision and specificity, as the plans contain each and every detail necessary to build the boat that you have been dreaming about. There is nothing subjective about the Goal - anyone from anywhere would be able to determine whether or not you built the boat (achieved the goal) based on pictures of the boat as per the plans. The Goal has been objectified, a critical step in the process. And, even better, you now have a very precise picture of the ultimate outcome: images of the boat which – whether you realize it or not – are being imprinted upon your conscious and subconscious mind. The more you focus on these images, and the process of building the boat according to the detailed plans, the greater the likelihood that you will realize your Desire. But wait – there’s more. The more you focus on the idea of the boat, and the more that you fall in love with that little boat (e.g., you play mental videos of you and your children out in the boat, having fun, teaching them to row, etc. – all good, pleasurable images), building the boat is more than a Desire – it now also becomes an Ideal! Ideals are Ideas in which you fall in love. If you are in love with the building the boat and what it represents and means to you and your children, again - the greater your likelihood of Success. Finishing the boat becomes less a matter of Will Power and more of a matter of Want Power. Want Power is stronger and highly more effective. From our little boat example, the importance of a Specific Goal should be obvious. The more Specific YOUR Goal, the more likely that you will Succeed in achieving it. So there you have it: S – SPECIFIC.
Of course, there is more to the formula. A Specific Goal is an absolute crucial first step, but that it is still a first step. In our next Success Key Post, Part 2 will address the M – Measurable.
Success Key: S.M.A.R.T. Goal Achievement Method – Part 2 Posted by Richard Catalina, Jr. • July 1, 2010 • Printer-friendly With respect to any particular Goal, at any point in time (and regardless of the number, nature and extent of all Goals, for we all have many) you are either moving towards your Goal or away from it. There is no in between. Standing still doesn’t count, for if you are not progressing forward, then you are moving backwards. As such, if you truly Desire to attain the Goal, it is highly critical to know whether you are progressing forward in the right direction or whether you are merely moving backwards. If you are NOT moving towards your Goal, then you MUST know that fact AND you MUST find out why. __________________________________________________
Success Key: S.M.A.R.T. Goal Achievement Method – Part 2: MEASURABILITY Last week, we opened a discussion on the SMART Goal Achievement Method – a precise and highly effective system that significantly assists you in the process of working towards a Goal, thereby greatly increasing your likelihood of ultimate Success. As you may recall, SMART is an acronym for: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time. In last week’s post we addressed in detail the first element of the SMART Method: “S” or Specificity. Today, we will take a close look at the “M” or Measurability. __________________________________________________ On its surface, there probably doesn’t seem much to say about Measurability. Your initial response may have been, “okay, the Goal must be measurable,” or “progress towards the Goal must be measurable.” But it is more than that. And, when we examine why progress must be measurable, we come to a greater understanding of the Goal and Success attainment process, thereby increasing our levels of awareness and increasing the likelihood that we will Succeed. Measurability is really a four-fold element. Measurability means that: 1) you must be capable of measuring your progress as you work towards your Goal (i.e., your Goal must be Specific enough (the “S”) so that at any point in time anyone may objectively determine whether or not the Goal has been achieved), 2) you implement a system capable of periodically measuring your progress towards your Goal, 3) you actually use your system of measuring your progress towards your Goal, thereby collecting valuable
information of your progress and, if you are not progressing towards the Goal, why not, and 4) in response to the information collected through your progress measuring system, you take appropriate remedial or corrective action that will bring you closer to achieving your Goal, with the action comprising both speed/efficiency and/or direction towards the Goal. Now this may all seem like quite a bit of work, but in practical reality, it truly isn’t. In fact, using your Goal progress system – whatever it may be – will save you untold amounts of time in the long run, and may even be the saving grace that keeps ultimate failure at bay. With respect to any particular Goal, at any point in time (and regardless of the number, nature and extent of all Goals, for we all have many) you are either moving towards your Goal or away from it. There is no in between. Standing still doesn’t count, for if you are not progressing forward, then you are moving backwards. As such, if you truly Desire to attain the Goal, it is highly critical to know whether you are progressing forward in the right direction or whether you are merely moving backwards. If you are NOT moving towards your Goal, then you MUST know that fact AND you MUST find out why. A well established Goal progress system will answer both questions. It will allow you to evaluate – in an objective fashion – your progress, and if you not making progress, why not. Why is this so critical? Because if you determine that you are not moving towards your Goal and you have objectively identified why not, then you are in position to take remedial, corrective ACTION to get you back on track. That is how ALL Success is attained and ALL Goals achieved. Through this evaluation process, the individual is able to determine whether or not they are moving towards the Goal, and if not, then why not, and in response, the appropriate corrective ACTION may be taken. It is the only way. The best laid plans (Definiteness of Plan) at the beginning of any venture rarely will bring you directly to your destination. You must modify your trip along the way. It is HOW Success is Realized!
Measuring Progress. A well established Goal progress system MUST answer two questions: 1) Whether you are moving towards your Goal, and 2) If not, why? __________________________________________________
There’s more to Measurability and we will continue this discussion in our next Success Key post on the subject of SMART. But, there are some great take-aways from this discussion which you may adopt and implement immediately. First, take an inventory of ALL of your Goals. Okay, I know you have many. But, in each case, to what extent have you implemented “Measurability?” Again, Measurability means: 1. You must be capable of measuring your progress as you work towards your Goal (i.e., your Goal must be Specific enough (the “S”) so that at any point in time anyone may objectively determine whether or not the Goal has been achieved), 2. You implement a system capable of periodically measuring your progress towards your Goal, 3. You actually use your system of measuring your progress towards your Goal, thereby collecting valuable information as to your progress and, if you are not progressing towards the Goal, WHY NOT, and 4. In response to the information collected through your progress measuring system, you take appropriate remedial or corrective ACTION (or, as Anthony Robbins would say, "MASSIVE ACTION") that will bring you closer to achieving your Goal, with the ACTION comprising both speed/efficiency and/or direction towards the Goal.
If you do not have a progress measurement system in place, no matter how “primitive” it may be, you will not be able to determine if you are moving towards your Goal or away from it. And, as pointed out last week, if your Goal lacks Specificity (the “S” in SMART), then you will not even be able to implement the “M.” So, if you haven’t done last week’s homework and refined any non-specific, vague or ambiguous Goals (they must be objectified so that any third party can determine when the Goal is achieved), get going on that so that you can move onto the “M.” This is very important stuff.
Success Key: S.M.A.R.T. Goal Achievement Method – Part 3 Posted by Richard Catalina, Jr. • July 3, 2010 • Printer-friendly Thomas Edison tested more than 6,000 materials in his quest to find a workable filament for an incandescent light bulb before “succeeding” with one that worked! After Edison had “failed” more than 1,000 times, when he was asked about it, he purportedly said, “I have not failed 1,000 times. I have successfully discovered 1,000 ways to NOT make a light bulb.” Whether or not Edison actually made this statement is irrelevant. What is relevant is the point that failure occurs not with unsuccessful attempts no matter how many; failure occurs when one abandons the cause and quits. __________________________________________________
Success Key: S.M.A.R.T. Goal Achievement Method – Part 3: MEASURABILITY (continued) In our last post, we examined the “M” element – MEASURABILITY – of the SMART Goal Achievement Method. Today, we are going to continue the discussion of Measurability, as this step in the process is highly critical in being able to take responsive and decisive Action towards achieving the desired Goal. As a quick refresher, Measurability means: 1. Being capable of measuring your progress as you work towards your Goal (i.e., your Goal must be Specific enough – the “S” – so that at any point in time anyone may objectively determine whether or not the Goal has been achieved), 2. Implementing a system capable of periodically measuring your progress towards your Goal, 3. Effectively using your system of measuring your progress towards your Goal, thereby collecting valuable information as to your progress and, if you are not progressing towards the Goal, WHY NOT, and 4. In response to the information collected through your progress measuring system, taking appropriate remedial or corrective ACTION (or, as Anthony Robbins would say, “MASSIVE ACTION”) that will bring you closer to achieving your Goal, with the ACTION comprising both speed/efficiency and/or direction towards the Goal.
In other words, by implementing and using an effective progress measurement system, you obtain the necessary and crucial FEEDBACK that advises you as to whether you or on course to reaching your goal, and if not, why not. Monitoring and evaluating progress feedback is absolutely necessary if you are to reach your Goal, no matter how simple or how sophisticated (or grand) your Goal may be. Whether your realize it or not, you likely engage in such a process – called “cybernetics” by Maxwell Maltz all of the time in common daily life. It is one of the processes that separates human life from lower animal life, as it involves the use of our higher intellectual faculties; yet, it often works on a subconscious level. (This is a subject for a whole separate post, perhaps several posts!) Let’s look at a few examples of a Progress Monitoring System in action. Consider a commercial airline flying non-stop from New York to San Francisco (an example used extensively by Anthony Robbins, so I cannot take credit). I don’t know the precise figures, but for about 99% of the flight, the aircraft is technically, but actually, “off course.” Flying around thunderstorms, avoiding turbulence, being buffeted by a strong head jet stream, heavy air traffic, etc. all influences the flight path. Even with no obstacles, such as storms, traffic, etc., the craft constantly veers off course. As a result, the craft’s onboard computers are continuously monitoring its path and redirecting it back in the proper direction. This process continues throughout the entire flight; in fact, the only time that we know for sure that the craft is precisely on target is when its landing gear make contact with the landing strip. Also consider a water craft, such as a 21-foot boat, in a 3 foot chop heading towards a landmark tower 3 miles distance. If you have piloted a boat in such conditions, you know exactly to what I am referring. The medium in which the craft travels is water: fluid and highly dynamic. Moreover, there are the strong influences of wind, wave, current and tidal forces. It is nearly impossible to keep the boat pointed directly at the landmark; the landmark is an ever moving target. In response to your internal progress measurement system, one must take the appropriate remedial action by turning the wheel – in almost constant fashion – back and forth to keep the boat moving in an overall proper general direction. These are simple examples, but they do make the point.
Thomas Edison's First Incandescent Light Bulb - More than 6,000 attempts until he made a filament that worked. Let’s look at an example that is perhaps a little more meaningful: Thomas Edison’s quest to find a workable filament for his incandescent light bulb idea. Edison tested more than 6,000 materials for his filament before “succeeding” with one that worked! Which raises THREE significant points: First, how many people would have “quit” after 100 attempts? Or, perhaps 500 attempts? Or, 1,000? 2,000? How many would have continued testing materials until they reached their Goal of a working filament capable of lasting over time and providing maximum luminosity? I would guess that out of the entire world at that time, there was only one and his name was Thomas Alva Edison. Second, do you think Edison would have stopped at 6,500 if he had not found the right filament? Or, that he would have stopped at 7,000 test materials? 10,000? We know the answer: he would have NEVER stopped until he reached his Goal! He was 100% committed and abandoned all avenues of escape! He HAD to Succeed – and, he KNEW he would! Third, consider the nature and extent of Edison’s Goal Progress Measurement System. Now, I haven’t read his lab notebooks, but I have a pretty good feeling that this genius was highly methodical in his approach to attaining Success and inventing the world’s first workable incandescent light bulb. I think everyone would agree that he didn’t engage in this process in a willy-nilly fashion by haphazardly testing materials without regard to results from past tests. Edison MUST have utilized a sound progress system to zero in what would eventually prove to be the right material for his filament. Had he not measured his progress and analyzed his results is to suggest that Edison employed
some random lottery system. Had that been his system, it is doubtful as to whether Edison ever would have attained Success in his quest to invent the light bulb. As an aside, the following quote is attributable to Edison with regard to his quest to invent the world’s first working incandescent light bulb. The story goes that after Edison had “failed” more than 1,000 times in attempting to find a working filament for his light bulb idea, when he was asked about it, he purportedly said, “I have not failed 1,000 times. I have successfully discovered 1,000 ways to NOT make a light bulb.” [For more on Edison and his amazing quest to invent the light bulb, Click Here for the Franklin Institute]. Whether or not Edison actually made this statement is irrelevant. What is relevant is the point that failure occurs not with unsuccessful attempts no matter how many; failure occurs when one abandons the cause and quits. That is true definition of “failure.” What can be gained from this discussion on Measurability is this: The ability to measure your progress towards a Goal is what leads to Success. If you cannot – or do not – monitor, measure and evaluate your progress AND take corrective, remedial ACTION as required, you will not Succeed and achieve your Goal. Measurability is that important. One final, important note worth mentioning. There is a difference between proper Goal progress measurement and obsessive pulse-taking that provides so much information as to render it meaningless. This can be a TRAP, as the means become the ends – the monitoring becomes your Action. Consider that you have just been diagnosed with high blood pressure and it is your doctor’s professional opinion that medication is not warranted, and thus, she places you on a strict regimen of diet and exercise. You vow to start that very day on your quest to lower your blood pressure (good). But, you also implement a Goal Progress Measurement System of monitoring your blood pressure by taking it every ½ hour (not good). While monitoring your BP is absolutely necessary for many reasons – including as your Goal Progress Measurement System – the sheer volume of data accumulated by taking your BP every ½ hour will render that information meaningless. You need to implement your doctor’s orders and see what happens over time in order to properly evaluate the effectiveness of the plan. Perhaps it will work, perhaps more is required. But, time is required to properly evaluate the plan’s effectiveness. Indeed, such obsessive monitoring may actually work against you! The importance of the Measurability factor in Goal Achievement cannot be overstated. While all of the SMART elements are important and interdependent on each other, Measurability is that element that provides the critical information to make the right decisions as you work towards your Goal. Without it, you would simply proceed on an inflexible, rigid path – and if that path leads in the wrong direction, you will never reach
the Goal. If you’re like the aircraft or the boat discussed in the examples, you will be offcourse 99% of the time, so the ability to make decisions to correct your path is 100% mission critical to Success. In our next part of this series, we will examine the “A” – ACHEIVABLE.
Success Key: “Transformation” – A Look Back Posted by Richard Catalina, Jr. • July 12, 2010 • Printer-friendly Our lives are a compilation of our experiences of events, circumstances, conditions and the people around us. We have been endowed by our Creator with the ability to choose HOW we experience each of those experiences. Therefore, at every moment, we have the ability and freedom - known as “free will” - to CHOOSE how we experience this grand thing called LIFE. Nobody decides our experience for us, unless, of course, we choose to voluntarily give them control (victim consciousness). That, my friends, is the Real Power of TRANSFORMATION. _______________________________________
Success Key: "Transformation" - A Look Back at The est Seminar Training of 1980 [Note: The following post initially started as the introduction to the download post for “The Human Machine” by Arnold Bennett. However, in due course, it took on a life of its own and I decided that it had real worth as a separate piece. The download post for “The Human Machine” will appear tomorrow in The Success Manual.] _______________________________________
Once upon a time – long, long ago – in a not so far away place, I, along with a group of close buddies from high school decided to enroll in a seminar program called “est.” It was in the spring of 1980, and by then, we had all moved on to college. The est Seminar Training (est being an acronym for “Erhard Seminar Training,” named after founder Werner Erhard) was one of, if not the very, first of its kind: an ambitious, high-cost, personal growth seminar program – something quite ubiquitous in 2010, but a freakish anomaly in 1980. I don’t recall much as to how I was introduced to est, other than the fact that two of my fellow buds had already taken the seminar and urged that it would be a great thing for us all to do. (Later, I would learn that the est organization aggressively pushed its training program graduates to recruit more participants).
I remember reading, over and over again, a well-appointed, peaceful-conveying est promotional brochure, in pastel colors featuring pretty flowers and other decorative elements, and extolling the benefits of the training, including, its coveted centerpiece feature: “transformation” – or in the parlance of the time, “getting it.” I also remember the incessant phone calls from est sales staff doing their best to enroll me in the training program. Being 20 years of age and living at home with my parents while attending college, the “rents” did not appreciate the aggressive marketing calls (if either parent answered an est call, they would advise that I was not home, request not to call again, and hang up. Of course, the calls kept coming).
The Lake of the Clouds and the Appalachian Trail atop the ridgeline of the Presidential Range as viewed from the summit of Mount Washington. Photo by Richard A. Catalina, Jr., August 1984.
The cost of the est seminar training, which included two consecutive weekends and the three consecutive Wednesday evenings immediately before, during and after the main weekend trainings, was somewhere in the neighborhood of $1,000 or so, if my memory serves me right. Given that it was near the end of the college spring semester, I was flat broke and didn’t have the required “tuition” funds to enroll in the training program. Asking Mom and Pop was out of the question, as they were totally convinced that est was a “cult” and that “those people” merely wanted my money (and possibly my mind).
However, one of my friends who had already taken the training was so sure of the value of my would-be “transformation,” that he voluntarily dished out the entire tuition without me even asking for it – what a guy! (Thanks, Bebs!) The fact that he was willing to put a grand of his own hard-earned money on the line told me that there must be something to this training. Why, in the world, would someone do that? (I paid him back when working over the summer, but looking back, what a gesture on his part). And take the seminar training we all did – the twelve of us all enrolled in the very same training program. We also all went in on a single double-bed room at the nearby hotel for the two Saturday night sleep over portions – that is, if the est trainers would let us out of the training to actually get sleep on those Saturday nights. That’s right – one room for 12 college guys. As the first Saturday morning of day one of the training approached, our anticipation and excitement grew to a feverish pitch. You see, we were going to be “TRANSFORMED!” We had no idea what that really meant, other than some vague notion that after the est training we would somehow be different than before the training program – enlightened, changed – transformed. My parents, on the other hand, were concerned, and now being a parent myself, I can hardly blame them. At worst, I would be brainwashed into joining a “cult.” At the least, I was throwing away a thousand dollars which could be used to pay for my continued college education. After all, this was 1980, and a thousand dollars was a ton of money at that time to a kid paying his way through college. But, let me go they did, putting their trust in my instincts that I would not run away with some “cult.” I have to hand it to them – given my propensity for getting into trouble in my youth, that was a bold move for them. I don’t think I realized that until now. _______________________________________ Well, let me say this (and I said it back then): the est training program was an absolute blast. I had the time of my life and believe that my friends all did as well. And, yes . . . I was TRANSFORMED! We were all TRANSFORMED! Everyone who attended the training was TRANSFORMED! _______________________________________ Transformed into what? What did “transform” and “transformation” mean? What happened to us? How were we changed? Were the bolts of lightning and did we hear God’s voice call down from heaven? Well, . . . not exactly. But, there was a transformation nonetheless. We were all “transformed” in the sense of having now “experienced” the “experience of the training.” That was “it.” That was the “getting it.” So, if you participate in the training and make it to the end, it is impossible not to “get it.” Everyone who attends the
training therefore “gets it.” “It” is the experience of having participated in the training, and the “transformation” may be summarized thusly: before the training, an individual has not experienced the training – and all that it brings – while after taking the training, that same individual has now experienced the training. The training, or more appropriately, an individual’s experience of the training (not just the training, but what one experiences inside), is the transforming event. I can hear the skeptics already. I am not done. Now, since it is highly unlikely that I will spoil anyone’s intended enrollment to take the 1980s version of the est Seminar Training program, I can tell you that learning this fact was the climax of the program near the end of the final day. Three hundred of us sat through this grueling, and at times quite difficult, program, with its strict rules such as limited bathroom breaks, no medication allowed, not being able to sit next to anyone you know, no watches allowed, etc. etc. etc. (cell phones didn’t exist) waiting and waiting and waiting for that “moment” when we would all “get it” and be “transformed.” That moment came late Sunday night of the second weekend – around 10:00 pm – with a trainer screaming “Don’t you get it! This is ‘IT!’ It’s the end of the training and the training was ‘IT!’” Now, prior to that, as the appointed moment draws near, various individuals began to grasp what was happening. These people “got it.” One by one, they started to laugh, some with tears of joy. The trainer would stop and turn to each such person and ask “Did you get it?” and they would respond something like, “Yes, I got it! I got it!” And others nearby would ask in whispered tones, “What’s it like? How does it feel?” I was one of the fortunate few who “got it” earlier than most. In fact, other than my two friends who had already taken the training and knew what to expect, I was the first of my other friends to “get it.” I was an early Transformee! To this day, I can recall with clarity the trainer spouting about how we are all “machines” – “human machines” – when it dawned on me that she was absolutely right. We really are “human machines,” programmable, with buttons for people and/or events to push, etc. We think we exercise free will most of the time, but in reality, we are mainly creatures of habit – including emotionally and intellectually. We are conditioned machines. And, then I realized that the experience of the training program itself was what the training program was all about. There was no “right” or “wrong” way to experience the program, other than your experience is your experience. Your life is your life. And, your experience of your life IS your life. That, in all its glory, is it – and how you choose to experience your life, your est seminar training, your transformation, is your life, training and transformation. But, oh – the power and ability to CHANGE your experience at any moment! Therein lies the real transformation. That each one of us has the power and ability to transform
our lives, the experiences of our lives, each and every moment. We don’t have to be human machines after all! Our lives are a compilation of our experiences. We have been endowed by our Creator with the God-given ability (and free will) to choose how we experience each of those experiences. Therefore, we can choose how we experience our life. I started laughing uncontrollably. “Oh, boy, is this great!” I thought (taking a line from the movie Animal House, released only a few years prior). The trainer looked directly at me and said, “It looks like somebody else just got!” and I shook my ahead affirmatively. She smiled back. Eventually, the training program came to end. It was over. Fin. Time to go home. There was nothing more to say, the trainers had done their job and now it was time for us to all hug each other, say good-bye, wish each other well and go out into life a TRANSFORMED est graduate! There was one minor problem, however. Perhaps 1 out of 5 students in the training program apparently didn’t “get it.” According to them, they had not been transformed. Jaws hung in disbelief. Some cried. A few grew angry and started yelling, demanding that they too receive their “transformation.” After all, they had paid for it. Others bellowed about wasting “all that money.” One or two threatened a lawsuit. I even recall one grown woman standing, sobbing uncontrollably, and demanding like a young girl “I didn’t get my ‘it!’ Give it to me! I want my ‘it!’ I want my ‘it!’” These people could not accept that the seminar training was the seminar training and their experience of “it” was “it” – just like in life. After some time, however, they all came to accept – begrudgingly – that the seminar training program had come to an end and that there was nothing more to it. However, most eventually came to positively realize “it” – perhaps a day or two later – as they excitedly claimed at the final post-training Wednesday evening re-cap meeting. The remainder who still didn’t “get it,” which perhaps numbered less than five individuals, were at least no longer seething in anger, but they still felt that they had been “ripped off.” In life, there will always be that percentage who feels that they have been “ripped off.” _______________________________________ Doing the est Seminar Training was one of the best things I have done in my life and my experience of attending that program – with 12 great friends – remains a life highlight. There was immense value in that program, more than I can actually remember, but it left its mark: the way we choose to think about and experience the people, circumstances and events of our life is what defines our life. Think about it. It’s true. And, this really is “it.” This is Life, the real show . . . “it ain’t no dress rehearsal.”
And, what’s more important is this: at every moment, we have the ability and freedom (known as “free will”) to CHOOSE how we experience life. Nobody decides our experience, unless, of course, we choose to voluntarily give them that control (victim consciousness). That, my friends, is the Real Power of TRANSFORMATION. Little did I know at that time, or even in the years immediately following, that the est Seminar Training is what opened the door to my current passion with personal development, self improvement, personal growth and Success. I became a student of Life and continue to attend class. Am I a Master? Not even close! But, at least I know enough to know that I don’t know enough and that I need to attend class the rest of my life and work at it if I want to continue to progress forward. I have much to learn. Much. _______________________________________
A bit about Werner Erhard Werner Erhard introduced the breakthrough notion of “transformation” to the American public. His thinking gave rise to the idea that people could transform their lives in a short time, yielding powerful and long-lasting results. In 1971, he created The est Training and formed the company Erhard Seminars Training, Inc. Attended by approximately a million people, est was an extremely popular personal , growth seminar. Erhard co-founded independent, non-profit charitable enterprises, including the Breakthrough Foundation, the Hunger Project, the Holiday Project, the Werner Erhard Foundation, and the Education Network. He lectured for a wide variety of prestigious institutions and professional associations around the world, including Stanford University and the American Psychiatric Association.
Erhard Quotes • •
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Create your future from your future, not your past. You and I want our lives to matter. We want our lives to make a real difference— to be of genuine consequence in the world. We know that there is no satisfaction in merely going through the motions, even if those motions make us successful, or even if we have arranged to make those motions pleasant. We want to know we have made some impact on the world. In fact, you and I want to contribute to the quality of life. We want to make the world work. Life is a game. In order to have a game, something has to be more important than something else. If what already is, is more important than what isn’t, the game is over. So, life is a game in which what isn’t, is more important than what is. Let the good times roll. Happiness is a function of accepting what is. Love is a function of communication. Health is a function of participation. Self Expression is a function of responsibility. You don’t have to go looking for love when it’s where you come from. _______________________________________
Well, this is certainly not our usual type of Success Key post; this one is a true personal story. Thank you for allowing me to share it with you (no pun intended; for those of you who did take the est seminar training, you may well remember the oft-repeated statement used throughout the training: "thank you for sharing that with us.").
Success Key 28: Bob Proctor’s First Speaking Engagement – Don’t QUIT! Posted by Richard Catalina, Jr. • July 14, 2010 • Printer-friendly Sometimes no matter how bleak it may look, the best alternative is to stay the course. One must evaluate the alternatives and make the best decision based on the facts. Yet, one must also keep in mind that the greatest successes, the biggest wins, do NOT come easy. There must be sacrifice, and the more ambitious the goal, the greater the sacrifice. That is why most people quit along the way. That is why not everyone is incredibly wealthy – it simply takes too much commitment and sacrifice to achieve that level of Success. _______________________________________
Success Key 28: Bob Proctor's First Speaking Engagement - Don't QUIT! (Even when you have EVERY right and reason to give up) quit: verb: 1) give up or retire from a position; (2) turn away from; give up; (3) go away or leave; (4) put an end to a state or an activity (“Quit teasing your little brother”); (5) give up in the face of defeat or lacking hope; admit defeat. Any way you slice it, the definition of the word “quit” conveys misery. Especially the fifth part in the above definition: “give up in the face of defeat or lacking hope; admit defeat.” Ouch. That one actually inflicts physical pain. But, does it not sometimes make sense to quit? reasonable, right thing to do?
Isn’t quitting sometimes the
Er . . . . no. Sometimes we need to stop, reflect and change game plans. And, perhaps in certain instances, the game plan may so dramatically change – based on a thorough, logical evaluation of the facts and circumstances – that it may appear to the uninformed as though the one has “quit.” For example, if your business was burning a million a day in cash, with no decent revenue in site in the foreseeable future, perhaps it might make sense to close operations to stop the hemorrhaging and refocus efforts. I don’t see that as “quitting;” it would be absurd to continue under those circumstances IF there was no turnaround in site. God gave us a brain. Let’s use it to the best of our abilities.
The old adage is true: A Winner never quits, and a quitter never Wins. _______________________________________ But, sometimes no matter how bleak it may look, the best alternative is to stay the course. In those situations, closing operations doesn’t make sense, and to follow that course would be to abandon the cause, to quit. One must evaluate the alternatives and make the best business decision. Yet, one must also keep in mind that the greatest successes, the biggest wins, do NOT come easy. There must be sacrifice, and the more ambitious the goal, the greater the sacrifice. That is why most people quit along the way. That is why not everyone is incredibly wealthy – it simply takes too much commitment and sacrifice to achieve that level of success. When I am in doubt, I refer back to a great story that Paul Martinelli tells about Bob Proctor’s first speaking engagement. Sometimes it takes a story – a parable, if you will – to help us comprehend the distinction. Parables are so effective, that is why the Great Master told them so often to his followers. Just in case you have never heard of Bob Proctor, he is perhaps one of the greatest success speakers of our time. These days, he commands audiences in the tens of thousands around the world (albeit, he has been recovering from heart surgery earlier this year). And, he commands just as much for his speaking fees. It wasn’t always that way. Like everyone, Bob, too, had to start at the bottom. And, his first speaking engagement could not have been more of a disaster. When Bob was ready to make the giant leap from studying Success materials to speaking on the subject, he rented an auditorium in Toronto, Canada for his first gig. He used his own personal funds and did his own marketing.
On the night of the event, a grand total of FIVE people showed up to hear him speak. FIVE. The auditorium held about 2,000 seats and only FIVE of those seats had a warm body sitting in it. To make matters worse, those five people did not come together – they didn’t even know each other. Obviously, then, they did not sit all together. One sat up in this section, another back there in that section, one over on the side in that section . . . . I am sure you can picture it. What did Bob do? He gave his speech as though the theater was filled. That was his goal and he was not about to quit before he started. But here is where it gets really interesting. As Paul relates the story, in light of the outcome of that first speaking engagement, Bob had every right and every reason to quit. Friends and family urged it: “You gave it your best, Bob. You tried, you really did. It’s okay, it just wasn’t meant to be. It’s all right, it’s okay to walk away.” Bob would have none of that. He continued working towards his goal, despite circumstances that probably would have stopped about 99% of the population. He had nothing to lose – nothing, that is, unless he quit. Bob refused to let the circumstances of that first speaking engagement dictate his passion and goal to be a Successful Success Speaker. I think we can all agree that Bob DID have every right and reason to quit after that first speaking engagement. He really did. But, successful people don’t quit – they simply find another way. And, that is exactly what Bob Proctor did. Bob went back to the drawing board, worked on his material, changed his approach, and did a million other things. But the one thing that Bob didn’t do was QUIT: “give up in the face of defeat or lacking hope; admit defeat.” Next time you feel like quitting, especially when you think that you have every right and every reason to do so, stop and think about Bob’s first speech. You’ll know what to do.
Success Key: S.M.A.R.T. Goal Achievement Method – Part 4 Posted by Richard Catalina, Jr. • July 23, 2010 • Printer-friendly It is almost impossible to plan the precise route from start to finish. Often, vital information is needed, and that information will not be obtained until you are well on the way. What is important is that you do your best to draft your definite Plan and then just START! And, your plan must be flexible. As you gather information along the path to the Goal, your plan must be able to accommodate the changes, revisions and detours that are inevitable. Don’t make your plan rigid, for if it is off the mark, you will miss your Goal. __________________________________________________
Success Key: S.M.A.R.T. Goal Achievement Method – Part 4: ATTAINABLE In our last post on the S.M.A.R.T Goal Achievement Method, we concluded our examination of the “M” element – MEASURABILITY. As a quick refresher, Measurability means: 1. Being capable of measuring your progress as you work towards your Goal (i.e., your Goal must be Specific enough – the “S” – so that at any point in time anyone may objectively determine whether or not the Goal has been achieved), 2. Implementing a system capable of periodically measuring your progress towards your Goal, 3. Effectively using your system of measuring your progress towards your Goal, thereby collecting valuable information as to your progress and, if you are not progressing towards the Goal, WHY NOT, and 4. In response to the information collected through your progress measuring system, taking appropriate remedial or corrective ACTION (or, as Anthony Robbins would say, “MASSIVE ACTION”) that will bring you closer to achieving your Goal, with the ACTION comprising both speed/efficiency and/or direction towards the Goal. In other words, by implementing and using an effective progress measurement system, you obtain the necessary and crucial FEEDBACK that advises you as to whether you or on course to reaching your goal, and if not, why not. In order to reach your Goal – whatever it may be – you absolutely must be able to measure your progress and
determine what remedial measures must be taken to keep you on track to attaining your objective. Today, we will take up discussion of the “A” element of S.M.A.R.T: ATTAINABILITY. Actually, in my opinion, the “A” element of the SMART acronym is a bit of a misnomer. As we explained in our first SMART post, SMART stands for: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Specific Measurable Attainable Realistic Timely
At first blush, it would seem that “Attainable” and “Realistic” would mean the same thing (or at least I thought so). That is, according to the acronym, the Goal must be Attainable and it must be Realistic. What’s the difference? The difference is this: Attainable, in this sense, means that you have (or will develop) the attitudes, abilities and definite plans for attaining your Goal. The emphasis here, however, is on the “definite plan” portion. You cannot attain a Goal or achieve Success without Definiteness of Purpose and Definiteness of Plan.
Attainability: Plan, Execute, Evaluate, Adjust, Achieve. __________________________________________________ In Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill, the element of Definiteness of Plan is emphasized consistently throughout the book. In fact, a whole chapter is devoted to it: Organized Planning. In that chapter, Hill states the following as to the planning process
(yes, it is a continuous PROCESS throughout the entire Goal pursuit period. Plans are not rigid; they must be flexible, malleable and adjustable based on the feedback received from your Goal progress measurement system): If the first plan which you adopt does not work successfully, replace it with a new plan, if this new plan fails to work, replace it, in turn with still another, and so on, until you find a plan which does work. Right here is the point at which the majority of men meet with failure, because of their lack of Persistence in creating new plans to take the place of those which fail. The most intelligent man living cannot succeed in accumulating money – nor in any other under-taking without plans that are practical and workable. Just keep this fact in mind, and remember when your plans fail, that temporary defeat is not permanent failure. It may only mean that your plans have not been sound. Build other plans. Start all over again. Thomas A. Edison “failed” ten thousand times before he perfected the incandescent electric light bulb. That is – he met with temporary defeat ten thousand times, before his efforts were crowned with Success. Temporary defeat should mean only one thing, the certain knowledge that there is something wrong with your plan. Millions of men go through life in misery and poverty, because they lack a sound plan through which to accumulate a fortune. And, then, Hill offers this advice: Your achievement can be no greater than your Plans are sound. That may seem to be an axiomatic statement, but it is true. And, no man is ever whipped, until he Quits – in his own mind. But, how do we form our Plan? Answer: In the Creative Imagination. Returning once again to Think and Grow Rich, Hill states the following in the chapter titled Imagination: Read the entire book through, then come back to this chapter, and begin at once to put your imagination to work on the building of a plan, or plans, for the transformation of your Desire into money. Detailed instructions for the building of plans have been given in almost every chapter. Carry out the instructions best suited to your needs, reduce your plan to writing, if you have not already done so. The moment you complete this, you will have Definitely given concrete form to the intangible Desire. Read the preceding sentence once more. Read it aloud, very slowly, and as you do so, remember that the moment you reduce the statement of your desire, and a plan for its realization, to writing, you have actually taken the first of a series of steps, which will enable you to convert the thought into its physical counterpart.
What is highly critical to the planning process is to keep in mind the following: 1. It is almost impossible to plan the precise route from start to finish. Often, vital information is needed, and that information will not be obtained until you are well on the way. What is important is that you do your best to draft your definite Plan and then just START! 2. Your plan must be flexible. As you gather information along the path to the Goal, your plan must be able to accommodate the changes, revisions and detours that are inevitable. Don’t make your plan rigid, for if it is off the mark, you will miss your Goal. Many times, we just need to start without the precise plan. What? Did I just contradict myself? No. Sometimes it takes IMMEDIATE MASSIVE ACTION to get matters in motion so that we can acquire the knowledge, awareness and understanding to seed our Creative Intelligence with starting points to develop. Whatever the case may be, NEVER let the “HOW” stop you. In the parlance of mentoring under Bob Proctor, this was known as surrendering your “Y” for the “HOW.” In other words, we live in an “X” world, but we come up with a new, out-of-the-box “Y” idea – an ambitious Goal beyond what we have ever achieved before. Yet, we have no idea “how” to achieve the “Y.” We lack the requisite knowledge, awareness and understanding to achieve “Y.” This is where the vast majority of people stop. They want “Y” (for example, to earn a million dollars in one year), but they don’t know HOW to do it, so they stop before they even try. Well, guess what? If they KNEW how to do “Y,” they would have already achieved it! In these cases, the most important thing is to just start. You don’t have to know HOW you are going to earn that million dollars this year. The main point is to make the “Y” your passionate Desire and get going. Use your God-give abilities to start thinking. Take in all that you learn, develop that specialized knowledge, open the Creative juices, and connect with God – the all powerful, Infinite Creative Intelligence. Ideas will begin t formulate. Study them. Present them to your Master Mind Group. Revise. Adjust. Keep going. And, don’t dictate to God; let God bring forth to and through you. And, don’t Quit.
Success Key: S.M.A.R.T. Goal Achievement Method – Part 5 Posted by Richard Catalina, Jr. • August 8, 2010 • Printer-friendly Whether or not your Goal is attainable is a direct function of variables that depend on YOU. Whether or not your Goal is realistic, on the other hand, does not necessarily depend on you, but rather, whether or not your Goal can be achieved in accordance with Universal Laws. Whether a Goal is realistic is simply another way of stating whether the Goal is possible as a matter of Universal or God's Laws. If it is NOT possible as a matter of Universal Law, then it is NOT realistic. All things must comply with God’s Laws. The Universe must comply with God’s Laws. _______________________________________
Success Key: S.M.A.R.T. Goal Achievement Method – Part 5: REALISTIC In our last post on the S.M.A.R.T Goal Achievement Method, we discussed the “A” element – “Attainable” – and distinguished between “Attainable” and “Realistic,” which, at first glance, seemingly mean the same thing. As we pointed out, in this sense, Attainable means that you have (or will develop) the attitudes, abilities and definite plans for attaining your Goal. The emphasis here is on the “definite plan” portion. You cannot attain a Goal or achieve Success without Definiteness of Purpose and Definiteness of Plan. Today, we will take up discussion of the “R” element of S.M.A.R.T: “Realistic.” In case you don’t remember, with regard to the S.M.A.R.T Goal Achievement Method, SMART stands for: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Specific (See POST) Measurable (See POSTS: Part 1 and Part 2) Attainable (See POST) Realistic Timely
The Realistic element of SMART may be the easiest to explain and comprehend. However, it is also critically important in the SMART Goal Achievement process – as
much so as the other elements – since, as they say, a chain is only as strong as its weakest link. The key here, obviously, is that your Goal must be “realistic” – realistic in the sense that it can be achieved. This, as we pointed out last time, is different than the inquiry as to whether it is attainable. For whether or not your Goal is attainable is a direct function of variables that depend on YOU. Whether or not your Goal is realistic, on the other hand, does not necessarily depend on you, but rather, whether or not your Goal can be achieved in accordance with Universal Laws. Let’s exaggerate a hypothetical fact pattern to demonstrate our point. In this example, suppose that you have three young children and live in a home with a large backyard, but there is nothing in the backyard for the kids to play with. Your Goal is to build a tire swing on a long rope hanging from a large tree for your children to play with – just like you had when you were young. In fact, vivid images of a tire swing hanging from the sturdy limb of a 40 foot oak tree in the middle of your childhood backyard are impressed in your memory. It seems like only yesterday . . . How nice it would be for your children to experience something similar!
The Success Manual Tire Swing: How Realistic?
The problem is that there is no 40 foot oak tree in your present back yard. So, you decide to grow one. You find an acorn and plant it in the middle of the backyard in good organic garden soil and water it. In the morning – you decide – you will have your 40 foot oak tree and then you can attach a swing to it for your children. You have even drawn plans for building the swing, purchased rope and other supplies, and secured an old, but sturdy, truck tire. The weather forecast is exceptional and you have set aside
the entire day for the project. You will go to bed early, get a good night’s sleep and eat a healthy breakfast in the early morning. Everything is all set. Realistic? Of course not. As much as you Desire the result, it probably isn’t going to happen. And, it isn’t going to happen because you are not working with God’s Laws. Indeed, you are working against Universal Laws (or at least attempting to), the most obvious of which is the Law of Gestation: every seed – whether that of a biological species or an idea (in this case, both) – has a period of gestation in accordance with the Universal Law of Gestation. That acorn simply will not grow into a 40 foot oak tree overnight – no matter how strong your Desire. It is not realistic. Whether a Goal is realistic is simply another way of stating whether the Goal is possible as a matter of Universal Law. If it is NOT possible as a matter of Universal Law, then it is NOT realistic. All things must comply with God’s Laws. The Universe must comply with God’s Laws. (As to the element of “Faith” and its impact on attempting to grow a 40 foot oak tree overnight, we’ll leave that topic for another day :-D) Additionally, whether or not a Goal is realistic, i.e., whether it can be achieved as a matter of Universal Law, is usually not as obvious as our oak tree example. By and large, the issue is significantly more subtle, thereby requiring focused discernment. Moreover, caution is required so as to not confuse “realistic” with “possible.” Often times, the lines blur. For example, suppose you are registered to run the New York City Marathon (26+ miles). The problem is that you have never run a marathon in your life. In fact, you have never run a race in your life and you have only been training 3 weeks and the race is tomorrow. Is it realistic for you to expect to finish the race? Is it possible for you to finish the race? What’s the difference? The answers to each question are likely different for each person. The bottom line is that whether or not you are able to finish the race will depend on whether or not it is realistic in your specific circumstance. For some – a very, very select few I would imagine – it may be realistic. For most, I would suspect, it probably is not realistic that they will finish the race under these circumstances – unless they walk most of the course. I think we would all agree that finishing the race without any assistance for a one-year old child just learning to take her first steps is not realistic. A goal may be realistic, but it is up to YOU to make it possible. Going back to our 40 foot oak tree, if your Goal is to have a tire swing for your grandchildren, planting an acorn today to grow a suitable tree that will be ready 25 years from now may well be realistic. Whether or not it is possible depends on a number of factors, the most basic of which is whether or not you actually take action and plant the acorn. If you do, then “possibility” is greatly enhanced. All Goals MUST be realistic if you expect to achieve them. Ask yourself, “Can this Goal be achieved in accordance with God’s Laws?” If the answer is “yes,” then the Goal is Realistic.
Now, it’s up to you to make it possible. Possibility is a State of Mind. Happy planting.
Success Key: State of Mind – The MOST Powerful Success Strategy Posted by Richard Catalina, Jr. • August 11, 2010 • Printer-friendly The Secret, you ask? It is this: In order to attain that which you Desire, you MUST assume the proper STATE OF MIND in order to receive it. The emphasis here is the three words “STATE OF MIND.” State of Mind is EVERYTHING. Period. It is the fundamental foundation to living the Life that you Desire. That is what Napoleon Hill meant: Learn to control your State of Mind, and you learn to control your Destiny. That is the Secret. _______________________________________
Success Key: State of Mind – The MOST Powerful Success Strategy [Ed. Note: Today’s Post is on the lengthy side. However, it is our firm belief that this may be our most important Post – ever. Read it. Read all of it.] In our last issue of The Success Beacon Newsletter, I discussed Napoleon Hill’s “Money-Making Secret” of Think and Grow Rich. Specifically, in the Preface, Napoleon Hill makes continued mention of the “Money-Making Secret” that appears throughout the book at least once in every chapter, and he further states that the secret is mentioned no fewer than 100 times throughout the book. However, Hill intentionally does not specifically disclose the Secret, stating the following: “The secret to which I refer has been mentioned no fewer than a hundred times, throughout this book. It has not been directly named, for it seems to work more successfully when it is merely uncovered and left in sight, where those who are ready, and searching for it, may pick it up. That is why Mr. Carnegie tossed it to me so quietly, without giving me its specific name. “If you are ready to put it to use, you will recognize this secret at least once in every chapter. I wish I might feel privileged to tell you how you will know if you are ready, but that would deprive you of much of the benefit you will receive when you make the discovery in your own way. “A peculiar thing about this secret is that those who once acquire it and use it, find themselves literally swept on to success, with but little effort, and they never again submit to failure!
“The secret to which I refer cannot be had without a price, although the price is far less than its value. It cannot be had at any price by those who are not intentionally searching for it. It cannot be given away, it cannot be purchased for money, for the reason that it comes in two parts. One part is already in possession of those who are ready for it.” I stated in the Newsletter that I had discovered the Secret and asked our readers if they knew it as well and invited email on the subject. I received numerous responses, but interestingly, everyone had a different answer! And, they were all different from what I had concluded as Mr. Hill’s “secret” Secret. As a result, I went back to Think and Grow Rich and undertook a hard re-examination of Hill’s work. I am convinced, more than ever, I have the SECRET. And, I agree with Napoleon Hill as to the significance of the Secret: If you cannot master the Success Power Strategy embodied in this Secret, you will NOT Succeed. It is that Powerful. The Secret – at first glance – appears quite simple. That is because it is simple. It may also appear obvious. Well, it is obvious. The challenge – and Key (as all challenges are nothing more than Keys in disguise) – is that while the Secret may be simple and obvious, it is by no means easy to implement and perfect in our lives, which is why, I believe, that we tend to overlook this Secret and its significance. It requires hard mental work – the type that most people shirk away. I firmly believe that if we do not, or cannot, successfully incorporate the Secret into our lives, our chances of obtaining our Desires – whether they be financial, emotional, spiritual, physical – are greatly diminished. In fact, almost non-existent.
The spectacular Nebula IRAS 05437+2502 defies Imagination. Yet, we can create our world by assuming a State of Mind that allows our Creator to work to and through us.
The SECRET, you ask? It is this:
In order to attain that which you Desire, you MUST assume the proper STATE OF MIND in order to receive it. The emphasis here is the three words “STATE OF MIND.” State of Mind is EVERYTHING. Period. It is the fundamental foundation to living the Life that you Desire. If you go back and read Think and Grow Rich (click here for the FREE Success Manual Strategist 2010 Edition) with this Secret in Mind, the Secret will literally begin to materialize in the pages throughout the book. It permeates Hills’ work, even though he never expressly states that “State of Mind” is the Secret. Let’s look at some of the evidence. First, the concept of “The Man Who Can is the Man Who Thinks He Can” is brought out in more than one instance in Think and Grow Rich. In other words, if you BELIEVE that you can do something, than you CAN do it. But, what is “Belief,” other than a State of Mind?
Further, Hill makes the following important statement: “Without doubt, the most common weakness of all human beings is the habit of leaving their minds open to the negative influence of other people.” In other words, according to Hill, if you don’t affirmatively guard what enters your Mind, you are leaving the gate open for the negative thinking and influence of others to enter your Mind, thereby creating a Negative STATE OF MIND. What is the likelihood of attaining a Goal or achieving Success if you are consistently and habitually in a Negative State of Mind? Zero? Probably. And, Hill is right – this is the most common weakness of all human beings. Most “negative influence” by others is very subtle; we may not even notice it. The fact remains, however, that we MUST always stand guard as the Gatekeeper of our Mind and maintain TOTAL CONTROL of our Mind, our Thoughts and our Feelings. Don’t ever – ever, ever, ever – allow ANYONE to control YOUR Thoughts, Emotions and Behavior. You – and ONLY you – assume, establish and control YOUR State of Mind. If you are under the impression that external events, circumstances or people are “making” you feel and/or think a certain way, i.e., the events, circumstances or people are causing or establishing YOUR State of Mind, it is ONLY because YOU are allowing that to happen. Stop it – IMMEDIATELY! Regardless of what is transpiring in the external world, i.e., the events, circumstances and behavior of people, you are the ONLY one responsible for YOUR State of Mind. The events, circumstances and people of the external world have absolutely NO CONTROL over your State of Mind. I believe that this is what Hill meant: Learn to control your State of Mind, and you learn to control your Destiny. That is the Secret. Let’s see what more Think and Grow Rich has to say. In the epilogue, the final chapter on the Six Ghosts of Fear, Hill addresses the “Fear of Poverty,” which is nothing more than a State of Mind and how one must control one’s State of Mind if one is ever to attain Riches. The following are excerpts from this section of the chapter, which I STRONGLY URGE you to read in their entirety. Yes, it is a bit lengthy, but IT IS THAT IMPORTANT! As you read the excerpts, you will note certain language that ties directly in with what Hill states in the Preface about the Secret; you will also come to the conclusion, I believe, of the Power of State of Mind: "Before you can put any portion of this philosophy [of Think and Grow Rich] into successful use, your mind must be prepared to receive it. The preparation is not difficult. It begins with study, analysis, and understanding of three enemies which you shall have to clear out. These are Indecision, Doubt and Fear! .... "The remainder of this chapter describes an end which must be attained before the philosophy [of Think and Grow Rich], as a whole, can be put into practical use. It also analyzes a condition which has, but lately, reduced huge numbers of
people to poverty, and it states a truth which must be understood by all who accumulate riches, whether measured in terms of money or a state of mind of far greater value than money. The purpose of this chapter is to turn the spotlight of attention upon the cause and the cure of the six basic fears. Before we can master an enemy, we must know its name, its habits, and its place of abode. "Fears are nothing more than states of mind. One’s state of mind is subject to control and direction. "Man can create nothing which he does not first conceive in the form of an impulse of thought. Following this statement, comes another of still greater importance, namely, man’s Thought Impulses begin immediately to translate themselves into their physical equivalent, whether those Thoughts are voluntary or involuntary. .... "We are here laying the foundation for the presentation of a fact of great importance to the person who does not understand why some people appear to be “lucky” while others of equal or greater ability, training, experience, and brain capacity, seem destined to ride with misfortune. This fact may be explained by the statement that every human being has the ability to completely control his own mind, and with this control, obviously, every person may open his mind to the tramp thought impulses which are being released by other brains, or close the doors tightly and admit only thought impulses of his own choice. "Nature has endowed man with absolute control over but one thing, and that is Thought. This fact, coupled with the additional fact that everything which man creates, begins in the form of a thought, leads one very near to the principle by which Fear may be mastered. .... "There can be no compromise between Poverty and Riches! The two roads that lead to Poverty and Riches travel in opposite directions. If you want Riches, you must refuse to accept any circumstance that leads toward Poverty. (The word “Riches” is here used in its broadest sense, meaning financial, spiritual, mental and material estates). ..... "Here, then, is the place to give yourself a challenge which will definitely determine how much of this philosophy you have absorbed. Here is the point at which you can turn prophet and foretell, accurately, what the future holds in store for you. If, after reading this chapter, you are willing to accept Poverty, you may
as well make up your mind to receive Poverty. This is one decision you cannot avoid. "If you demand Riches, determine what form, and how much will be required to satisfy you. You know the road that leads to riches. You have been given a road map which, if followed, will keep you on that road. If you neglect to make the start, or stop before you arrive, no one will be to blame, but YOU. This responsibility is yours. No alibi will save you from accepting the responsibility if you now fail or refuse to demand riches of Life, because the acceptance calls for but one thing – incidentally, the only thing you can control – and that is a State of Mind. A State of Mind is something that one assumes. It cannot be purchased, it must be created. "Fear of Poverty is a State of Mind, nothing else! " _______________________________________ Decide today – right here, right now – to assume a State of Mind that demands Success and Riches and is not willing to accept Poverty or Failure in any amount or at any level. Decide today – right here, right now – to assume a State of Mind of which YOU have total and absolute control and that YOU will not allow or permit YOUR State of Mind to be influenced or controlled by any person, event or circumstance. Continue to reaffirm these Declarations periodically throughout the day, every day, until these principles have been engrained into your thinking. Don’t stop, don’t give up – keep working it until it is thought habit. It’s YOUR Mind – take responsibility for it! We have more to come on this subject in the near future. Do not let the fact that you have been told the Secret, as opposed to discovering it yourself, diminish the Power of the Secret. I honestly and sincerely believe that this Secret is by far THE MOST POWERFUL SUCCESS KEY AND STRATEGY IN THE WORLD. Use it! Keep studying it! Work it! Don’t squander this information – as Napoleon Hill states, it is PRICELESS! The State of Mind to Health, Wealth, Prosperity and Success cannot be purchased – it MUST be created! To be continued . . . .
Success Key 32: “The Master Mind” by Napoleon Hill Posted by Richard Catalina, Jr. • September 11, 2010 • Printer-friendly Out of organized effort comes power, and the process of organization begins, always, in the mind of some one individual - an individual who organizes the faculties of his or her own mind and then gathers other minds around and teaches them how to organize themselves and how to do team work. What remarkable strength is shown by the person who can lay aside personal prejudices and work without friction with a group of individuals with whom he or she is not in accord on many subjects. _______________________________________
Success Key: "The Master Mind" by Napoleon Hill In the all-time Success Manual classic, Think and Grow Rich, Success-Master Napoleon Hill devotes an entire chapter to the concept of The Master Mind - the Ninth Step toward Riches. The chapter opens with the following: Power is essential for success in the accumulation of money. Plans are inert and useless, without sufficient Power to translate them into Action. This chapter will describe the method by which an individual may attain and apply Power. Power may be defined as “organized and intelligently directed Knowledge.” Power, as the term is here used, refers to Organized effort, sufficient to enable an individual to transmute Desire into its monetary equivalent. Organized effort is produced through the coordination of effort of two or more people, who work toward a Definite end, in a spirit of harmony. And so, we are introduced to the amazing Power of The Master Mind - the bringing together of two or more individuals (minds) to work toward a Definite end (individually or collectively) in a Spirit of Harmony. Master Mind Groups - properly formed with dedicated Minds seeking to work in Harmony and Service for each individual Mind - are truly phenomenal, powerful devices. Indeed, Andrew Carnegie attributes his enormous financial success not to his individual efforts, but to the people of which he surrounded himself.
Filtered rays of sunlight radiate from the warmth glow of a setting sun above the Presidential Range of the White Mountains in New Hampshire. Photo by KD Talbot on July 26, 2008.
And so, in light of the upcoming Success Manual Master Mind program commencing October 1, 2010 (details and information to be posted soon - make sure to subscribe to The Success Beacon Newsletter to stay apprised!), today's Success Key Post is the article titled "The Master Mind" by Napoleon Hill, which first appeared in the March 1922 issue of Napoleon Hill's Magazine. Stay tuned, folks . . . a Success Manual Master Mind (SM3) Group is in YOUR Future! Peace Out, and - Namasté! To your Health, Wealth, Prosperity and Success, The Success Manual Team _______________________________________
The Master Mind by Napoleon Hill Through organized effort comes power. If you would attain financial success, you must get a firm hold on this principle of organized, cooperative effort. Fourteen years ago Andrew Carnegie made a statement that I did not hear until ten years later. During a newspaper interview with the great steel magnate, I asked him to what he attributed his success. He replied by asking me to define the term success. When I told him I had reference to his money, he said: “Well, if you want to know how I got my money, I will refer you to these men here on my staff; they got it for me. We have here in this business a master mind. It is not my mind, and it is not the mind of any other man on my staff, but the sum total of all these minds that I have gathered around me that constitute a master mind in the steel business. I have been many years gathering these men around me and building this mind. Each man contributes an important part to the building of this mind. I do not always agree with all the men on my staff, on all matters, nor do they always agree with me. Perhaps some of us do not like each other from a personal viewpoint, but I know that I need these men and they know that they need me in the maintenance of this master mind that is necessary in carrying on this steel business.” For years afterward I wondered just what Carnegie meant by “master mind.” In the light of more mature years, it began to dawn on me that he had stated a whole life’s philosophy in a few words. Carnegie knew the value of organized effort. He knew that no one man could accomplish very much without the coordinated effort of other minds. He knew the value of cooperation. He had on his staff men who did not always agree with him. He had men whom he did not always admire in every respect, and who, perhaps, did not always admire him, but each knew that he needed the others, therefore they harmonized their efforts toward a common end, with the result that all profited. I wonder if there is not a great lesson for the remainder of us in the history of Carnegie’s accumulation of one of the greatest fortunes this country has ever seen? I wonder if his plan of making use of organized effort could not be applied to all walks of life? Following in Mr. Carnegie’s footsteps, and making use of exactly the same philosophy, Mr. Chas. M. Schwab is rapidly duplicating Carnegie’s success. Is it not possible for anyone else to apply the same principle in any legitimate business undertaking with equal success?
What remarkable strength is shown by the man who can lay aside personal prejudices and work without friction with a group of men with whom he is not in accord on many subjects. What remarkable genius it shows when a man can exercise sufficient self-control, as did Carnegie and as Mr. Schwab is now doing, in working side by side with men of different racial and religious viewpoints, with never a thought of friction, with never a sign of intolerance. I would give a considerable sum if I could purchase from Mr. Schwab the privilege of working with him for a few months for the purpose of studying his simple procedure in applying this principle of organized effort that has raised him from the work of humble coachman to the head of one of America’s greatest industries, employing thousands of men. Out of organized effort comes power, and the process of organization begins, always, in the mind of some one man who organizes the faculties of his own mind and then gathers other minds around him and teaches them how to organize themselves and how to do team work. Oh, to be such a genius, with the selfcontrol and the spirit of tolerance to work with others toward a definite goal, without selfishness or haughtiness.
Success Strategy: Leave Your Comfort Zone Behind and Do It Afraid Posted by Richard Catalina, Jr. • September 28, 2010 • Printer-friendly Why do most people fail to achieve their Goals? Why do most people fail to attain Success? Why do most people fail to acquire Wealth? There are many reasons, but one reason stands out ahead of the others. Indeed, it is obvious: The main reason most people Fail is because – they QUIT! The real reason people Quit – and, therefore, fail to Succeed – is FEAR. If you want to Grow, and thus Succeed, you MUST be willing to experience a significant and proportionate amount of discomfort, i.e., Fear. Fear and Growth go hand in hand. You cannot separate the two. _________________________________________________
Success Strategy: Abandon Your Comfort Zone, Face the Fear and Do It Afraid [Publisher's Note: Recently, we featured a guest Post by Myles Miller entitled, Success Strategy: The Power of Conquering FEAR! Today's Post is a great follow-up to Myles' article, as we examine this thing called our "Comfort Zone," why we use it, how it prevents us from Advancement, Growth and Success, and how we can face down the irrational Fear that keeps us locked in the self-imposed prison of the Comfort Zone. I look forward to any Comments, so please feel free to chime in and add your two cents worth!] _______________
1.
Why We Fail
Why do most people fail to achieve their Goals? Why do most people fail to attain Success? Why do most people fail to acquire Wealth? There are many reasons, but one reason stands out ahead of the others. Indeed, it is obvious: The main reason most people Fail is because – they QUIT! I have said it many times before and I will note it again: If attaining Success was easy, many more would Succeed; if acquiring Wealth was easy, many more would be Wealthy. The fact of the matter is that many who wish for Success or Wealth either never really get off the ground trying in sincere effort or they simply Quit – usually shortly after beginning their quest.
Persistence, a necessary ingredient to attain Success or acquire Wealth, may be defined as “sustained effort in the face of all odds or adversity.” Of Persistence, Napoleon Hill states in his classic Success Manual, Think and Grow Rich, that it “is an essential factor in the procedure of transmuting Desire into its monetary equivalent.” (See page 312 of Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill (1937 Version) Success Manual Strategist Edition 2010). If one is truly Persistent, as the above definition points out, Quitting is NOT an option. Yet, how often do we see people – ourselves included – embark on a journey to achieve Success or attain a Goal and then Fail? Thousands and thousands of times. I am not referring to temporary defeat, which even the most ardent Successful experience – as they necessarily must – in order to Succeed. ALL Success requires a certain level of temporary defeat, set backs and obstacles that must be overcome. (See Post: Success Key No. 5: Embrace Obstacles, the Stepping Stones to Success). I am referring to FAILURE. Failure (Quitting) is fundamentally different than temporary defeat. No one really Fails unless and until one Quits. Consider how many individuals make so-called “New Year’s Resolutions,” only to “break” the resolutions within months, weeks, days or even hours after the start of the New Year. Initially, there is great Enthusiasm – usually before the New Year begins – but because of flawed internal programming, the resolution cannot be kept. And, so, in an effort to save face, fool themselves and fool others, a litany of excuses is developed to justify Quitting. Quitting the pursuit of one’s honest and sincere Desire is never justified; you are only Quitting on yourself. Temporary defeat and even retreat, on the other hand, is sometimes necessary (or even unavoidable) as sound strategy. But, this all still begs the question – why, then, do people Quit?
2.
The Real Reason: FEAR
The real reason people Quit – and, therefore, fail to Succeed – is FEAR. I am not referring to the natural “fight or flight” form of Fear which God instilled in the human species as an involuntary system of survival. Rather, the type of Fear to which I refer is the subtle, irrational Fear that keeps us stuck, prevents us from Growing, and thus, thwarts any meaningful attempts at attaining Achievement, Success or Prosperity. By way of example, if you narrowly escaped a potentially fatal car accident, or awoke one night to find an intruder in your home, or jumped at the sound of an alarm because your office building was on fire, you better have Fear. For it is this type of Fear that provides your mind and body with the adrenaline, hormones, corticosteroids and other body chemicals critical to your survival. Without these nature helpers, your ability to
overcome the danger you face would be lessened and your chances of survival greatly diminished. Fear, produced by these substances is a good thing. This type of Fear keeps you alive. But there is another kind of Fear that lurks within our conscious and subconscious minds that is not natural; and, worse, in the long run, it does us harm. This form of Fear is not a product of involuntary and instantaneous gland production and it does not immediately transform us into super-human survival mode. This type of Fear is selfinduced, pernicious and irrational. It works in stealth mode and its objective is simple: to keep Change and Growth at bay and keep you locked in your “Comfort Zone.” This type of Fear causes a slow, painful death. Understanding the abnormal form of Fear is critical to Advancement, Growth, and ultimately, Success.
3.
The Comfort Zone
The so-called “Comfort Zone” is a hazard to your well-being. Yes, you heard that right. You see, your Comfort Zone loves you more than you love it. It wants you to stay, make yourself at home and never leave. And, it achieves this objective by making your internal intellectual, emotional and spiritual home nice and comfy cozy. Ironically, while natural Fear fosters survival, unnatural, abnormal Fear inhibits survival! The latter, therefore, cannot be an expression of Nature or of our Universal Creator, for Nature always seeks further and fuller expression of itself, i.e., Growth. And, the source of this insidious form of Fear? US – we do it to ourselves.
Our Comfort Zones: The internal hiding places that imprison us and prevent us from Growth, Advancement and Success. When we venture outside of our Comfort Zone, we must expect to experience a respectful level of discomfort as we embark into unchartered territories.
It wasn’t always this way. We were all born with a God-given, natural ability to wander (and wonder) out of our personal Comfort Zone. Watch young children play and you will immediately see this as fact. They don’t know what is and what is not “dangerous,” and therefore act as little danger magnets, taking risks that take our breath away. They explore their world with reckless abandon, absorbing every experience into their little minds. They have no self-imposed limiting beliefs of themselves. They just are. They are true little Zen masters. But, what happens as they grow and begin to form beliefs about their world – particularly on emotional issues and matters? They learn to become irrationally “afraid.” My youngest son is almost four years old. When he was two, he was Mr. Fearless. The dark, being alone, climbing stairs and ladders – whatever – he did and he wasn’t afraid. Fast forward two years later, and he is now afraid of certain things that previously he didn’t even know existed. What happened? His mind developed, and with it, the ability to scare himself – irrationally – through selfimposed beliefs (of course, he doesn’t know that). The dark two years ago is the same dark as today. The events themselves did not change – he changed. The way he
interprets his world changed, and in accordance, his behavior followed suit. As a result, his fear of the dark now prevents him from doing (being, doing and having more) what previously was a “no brainer” (no pun intended). As adults, we have created so many abnormal, unnatural and irrational fears in our head that the only safe haven left is our Comfort Zone. Most people “don’t want any problems” and prefer to just “punch the clock and make a living.” They just want to wait out their lives in a nice easy fashion with no risk of any kind. In other words, they never, ever venture outside of their Comfort Zone – for any reason. Bob Proctor would say “Well, why are they here?”
4.
Growth and Advancement Require Abandonment of the Comfort Zone
If you are ever going to advance in life and seek to be, do and have more, you must – necessarily – leave the cozy confines of your Comfort Zone. There is no other way. Period. Think about it. If your goal is to achieve something that you have never accomplished in life, for example, a very ambitious financial Goal, you must venture into uncharted territory. You don’t have a choice. Why? Because that is where the Goal is. If there is one place where the Goal is not, it is in your Comfort Zone. If it was, guess what? You would already have it. As Jim Rohn once stated, “If you want more of what you’ve been getting, keep doing what you’ve been doing.” If you want something different – especially if it is a big something different – then you must do things differently – very differently. In other words, you must be prepared to change and indeed change by taking the appropriate internal and external Action – Action that you have never taken before. This can be very unsettling. This is what holds people back. This is why most people Quit. If you have sincerely set your sights on an ambitious Goal in new territory, this will require that you do things unfamiliar. Examples may include (but are certainly not limited to) meeting new people, doing new things, writing proposals, speaking to groups, researching, planning, meeting, adopting a solid work ethic, working twice as much as you do now, getting up early, going to bed late, organizing, concentrating, imposing selfdiscipline, acquiring self-confidence, giving up certain recreations and STOP WATCHING TELEVISION EVERY NIGHT. If you have not been doing these things and such activities are new to you, this will require you to step outside of your Comfort Zone.
WARNING: Your Comfort Zone doesn’t like these things and will use every trick in the playbook to keep you in place! The loftier your Goal, then the greater the distance you must expect to travel from your Comfort Zone. Just as the size of your Success is in direct proportion to the size of your Belief, the size of your Success is in direct proportion to the distance you must travel from your Comfort Zone. Everyone’s Comfort Zone is different, so the roads and distances to travel are different for everyone. Regardless of your point of origin, however, be assured that higher intellectual faculties must come to bear. You must raise your creative levels higher than you have ever pushed before. This isn’t easy; the easy way is to retreat back to your Comfort Zone, plop on the sofa and turn on “The Real Housewives of New Jersey” (or whatever). Humans, generally speaking, do not like change, particularly any change that requires us to leave our Comfort Zones. When required to do so, we act like a dog whose master has rearranged the furniture in the room. The poor creature lost its favorite comfy spots and doesn’t know what to do. Somebody messed with its Comfort Zone! Leaving your Comfort Zone increases anxiety and doubt, both of which induce Fear – the bad kind of Fear.
5.
The Bad News: Enthusiasm is NOT Enough
Simple garden variety Enthusiasm is not enough to overtake and subdue the gravitational effects of the Comfort Zone. Yes, Enthusiasm is a great attitude (state of mind), but standing alone, it is simply insufficient. Consider again the New Year’s Resolution scenario. The vast majority of individuals who engage in the annual tradition of making such resolutions usually do so with unbridled Enthusiasm – a good thing, agreed. They get “pumped” and soundly resolve that this is the year to do (or refrain from doing, depending on your perspective) this, that and the other thing (to steal a chapter title from How to Grow Success, The Success Manual’s latest addition to The Success Manual Free Download Library). And, they mean it, they really mean it. But, Enthusiasm is all they have in their arsenal. Being an attitude, a state of mind, Enthusiasm can come and go like the wind on a moment’s notice. Without the proper mental conditioning, Enthusiasm can dissipate faster than a sinking soufflé. I can hear it now – pssssssssss . . . . So, what happened? Whence cometh and goeth Enthusiasm? Doubt, worry, anxiety . . . all of the psychological trappings used by your Comfort Zone made an appearance and Enthusiasm bolted out the back door.
Often, all it takes is until the next morning before doubt creeps in: “I don’t know . . .” “I can’t do that . . .” “Who am I kidding . . .” “I’ll start tomorrow instead . . .” “Maybe I’ll start next week . . .” “Maybe next month, when the weather is warmer . . .” “Maybe next year, when . . .” And the excuse parade is in full swing. Nothing has changed, except the individual’s resolve. Circumstances have not changed. The individual has not changed. In fact, the individual has remained steadfastly the same. The demons of old conditioning, habit and thinking – as embodied in the resolver’s personal Comfort Zone – have exerted their gravitational pull to keep the person from experiencing the uncomfortable emotions of doubt, anxiety, and thus, Fear. In order to quell those uneasy feelings, retreat is made to the Comfort Zone. Just the thought of postponing the start date of the resolution by one month brings immediate relief. Whew! Nothing ventured, nothing gained. As noted by Ralph Waldo Emerson, “Of what use to make heroic vows of amendment, if the same old lawbreaker is to keep them?” Dr. Maxwell Maltz stated that “We act, behave and feel according to what we consider our Self-Image to be and we do not deviate from this pattern.” Well, the same analogy can be made with our Comfort Zone: “We act, behave and feel according to what we have established as our Comfort Zone and we do not deviate from this pattern.” But, what are we really afraid of? The answer may be startling: Fear of GROWTH. If you want to Grow, and thus Succeed, you MUST be willing to experience a significant and proportionate amount of discomfort, i.e., Fear. Fear and Growth go hand in hand. You cannot separate the two.
6.
The Good News: You Are NOT Your Comfort Zone
Unfortunately, over time we begin to identify our Comfort Zone as ourselves. “I am shy, I could never do that.” Or, “I am not good with people.” Or, “I get tired easy and need to sleep 18 hours a day.” Not only are these self-imposed beliefs extremely limiting, but worse, we use them to define who we ARE, thereby creating a false Self-Image. And then, as Dr. Maltz points out, we do not deviate from that pattern. The strangest aspect of this process is that we tend to complain about what we have or don’t have, but yet, we undertake no effort to deviate from the pattern of our selfimposed Self-Image, as defined by the limitations of our Comfort Zone – a Comfort
Zone that we created. Where is the logic in that? Yet, this is how the vast majority of people live their lives! The fact of the matter is that you can be, do and have anything YOU DESIRE. You are not defined by your Comfort Zone unless you allow yourself to be so defined. God certainly does not identify and define you by your self-imposed beliefs of personal lack and limitation, so why do you? At most, your Comfort Zone is only a hiding PLACE that you use to prevent yourself from venturing out – from Growing. Like any physical place, you can leave the mental and emotional location of the Comfort Zone anytime you choose. God gave you Free Will; use it. As Bob Proctor has repeated many times, “It’s your movie, you can make it any way you want.” So, remember these critical FACTS: • • • •
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7.
You are not your Comfort Zone. At best, your Comfort Zone is merely a place. Because it is a place, you can choose to leave your Comfort Zone anytime you Desire. You will leave your Comfort Zone – and thus, experience the Growth that God intended you to experience – when your Desire to Grow, Advance and Succeed is GREATER than your Desire to remain in the cushy, comfy confines of the Comfort Zone (Fear avoidance). Universal Law: As long as you stay in your Comfort Zone, NOTHING will ever change. Period. It’s IMPOSSIBLE.
Success Strategy
So, what can be done to defeat the death-pull of the Comfort Zone? How does one defeat the irrational, abnormal Fear that accompanies the journey out? Actually, quite a bit and we can write volumes on the subject. One particular action is more powerful than any other and cognitive behavioral psychologists have been using this method for decades. But, first it is always important to examine – and understand – the “Fear Factor.” Understand that Fear – the bad kind of Fear – is almost always the result of ignorance. Yes, that’s right – ignorance. For if you had the knowledge, understanding and requisite levels of awareness of what is to be gained, what is required, and the true levels of risk of venturing out of the Comfort Zone, there would be no hesitation to leave immediately. We hold ourselves captive through our own ignorance.
When you find yourself trapped in your Comfort Zone, ask yourself – and be real, real honest – what is the absolute worst that could happen if I pursue this new Ideal (Goal, Objective, etc.)? Seek the Truth, for it shall set you free. Let’s use a simple example for demonstration (and a scenario that many of us have experienced in life): Boy likes girl (Desire). Boy wants to go out with girl (Desire). As a result, boy wants to ask girl out (Aspiration). Boy thinks about asking girl out (continued Aspiration), but that would mean he actually must take Action and ask her (leaving Comfort Zone). Boy is afraid (Fear induced merely by the thought of leaving Comfort Zone). Boy doesn’t ask girl out (retreat to Comfort Zone). But, boy really, really likes girl. (Desire increases). Boy is still afraid (Fear), but realizes that if he doesn’t ask girl out (stays in Comfort Zone), he will never go out with girl (excellent observation). On the other hand, he could ask girl out and she could say “no” (worst case scenario). Or she could say “yes” (icing on the cake, for the real goal here is asking her out, although boy probably doesn’t see it that way). Rightly realizing that he has nothing to lose (overcoming ignorance and increasing level of awareness), boy asks out girl (takes Action, overcomes Fear). The boy’s Desire to go out with the girl was greater than his Desire to remain “safe” in his Comfort Zone. So, here we have a young gentleman totally stricken and immobilized by Fear just over the thought of asking a girl out. How absurd! Yet, how many of us have actually lived this same experience. Be honest. We’ve all been there in some capacity, probably many times. Yet, what does the worst case scenario represent in this example? Nothing more than a temporary defeat – that’s all. If she says “no,” it’s not the end of the world, not the end of his life, not the end of anything. To the extent that he takes a denial and extrapolates and interprets that as meaning anything more than the simple fact she said no, then he is doing it to himself. But that is another story for another day. Now, let’s go back to that single most powerful Action step to overcome Fear. It was actually mentioned in our example above. Did you catch it? It is so obvious, you might have missed it. All the boy needed to do in order to overcome this particular Fear of asking the girl out was to simply go ahead and ask her out. That’s it. Once he asks, regardless of the outcome, the Fear is gone. He stepped out of his Comfort Zone and he defeated Fear, and he accomplished this by increasing his level of awareness, overcoming his Fearbased ignorance and understanding that he had nothing to lose. There was, after all, no downside to asking her out. And, while he may not realize it, the real goal here was taking Action and asking out the girl. Why? If she says “yes,” then he gets to have his cake and eat it too. If she says “no,” he has still conquered his Fear and the next time he wants to ask out a girl (or
even the same one), it will be easier. He already ventured out of his Comfort Zone into unchartered territory. The second time out, it will not be so unfamiliar. As the Nike Company would say, “Just do it.” Or, as Paul Martinelli would say, “Do it afraid.” Nothing is more powerful to overtake the insidiousness nature of the Comfort Zone and instill self-confidence than to march forward and face the enemy – in this case, irrational Fear – until it dissipates and completely dissolves away.
If you want to Grow, and thus Succeed, you MUST be willing to experience a significant and proportionate amount of discomfort, i.e., Fear. Fear and Growth go hand in hand. You cannot separate the two. In order to overcome Fear - DO IT AFRAID.
Sometimes, you need to “fake it until you make it,” and when it comes to the irrational Fear that prevents you from leaving your Comfort Zone, faking it is incredibly powerful. (See Success Manual POST: Key Success Strategy: Image Making – Acting “AS IF”). Shakespeare stated, “Assume a virtue if you have it not.” And, in The Secret of the Ages (Volume I of The Law of Attraction Prosperity Bible by Princeton Cambridge Publishing Group), Robert Collier states, “Look the part.
Dress the part. Be successful in your own thought first. It won’t be long before you will be successful before the world as well.” In his book Applied Psychology and Scientific Living, David V. Bush says “It is just as easy to think in terms of abundance, opulence and prosperity as it is to think in terms of lack, limitation and poverty.” Reframing this concept to the issue at hand, “It is just as easy to think in terms of doubt, worry, anxiety and fear as it is to think in terms of courage, self-confidence, strength and Success.” That being the case, let’s always think in terms of courage, self-confidence, strength and Success. Assume the virtue if you have it not. Always remember that abnormal, unnatural and irrational Fear is a product of ignorance. Come to understand the Truth of venturing outside of your Comfort Zone, and you can face and conquer the enemy. Leaving the safe confines of your Comfort Zone will almost always produce some level of discomfort, but keep in mind: No Fear, No Growth; No Growth, No Fear.
8.
Take-Aways
You hold the Key. Unlock the shackles of your Comfort Zone and GROW. Do it tired. Do it sick. Do it afraid. Just do it. No excuses. NO FEAR! Grow, Baby, Grow! _______________ Until next time . . . . Peace Out, and - Namasté! To your Health, Wealth, Prosperity and Success,
The Success Manual Team And remember - DO IT AFRAID.
Success Passage: The Power of Principle Over Precedent and the Law of Attraction Posted by Richard Catalina, Jr. • October 12, 2010 • Printer-friendly Everyone visualizes, whether he knows it or not. Visualizing is the great secret of success. The conscious use of this great power attracts to you multiplied resources, intensifies your wisdom, and enables you to make use of advantages which you formerly failed to recognize. - Genevieve Behrend, "Your Invisible Power" _________________________________________________
Success Passage: The Power of Principle Over Precedent and the Law of Attraction Yesterday, we added the Classic Success Manual The Law and the Word by Thomas Troward to The Success Manual Free Download Library. In the accompanying post, we mentioned that Genevieve Behrend, a New Thought author in her own right, was the only personal student of Judge Troward. Given the heady writing of Judge Troward, Ms. Behrend's writings - which are de facto Troward teachings - are refreshingly less difficult to read and understand. Your Invisible Power is probably Ms. Behrend's most popular book and is included in The Success Manual Free Download Library. I have found certain passages in this work by Ms. Behrend as truly capturing the sum and substance of Troward, most notably, the concept of "Principle Over Precedent." In sum, Principle Over Precedent means that the past has absolutely no bearing, no relevance on what you can accomplish today and tomorrow UNLESS you allow it. You have the POWER to take Action today, make Decisions (real Decisions) and implement sincere, lasting and positive change in your Life.
Galaxy NGC 2683, an island universe within the Universe. Expand your thinking, understanding and awareness through the Power of Principle Over Precedent.
Following below are those Success Passages from Your Invisible Power which I have highlighted, underscored and written many notes on in my personal copy of Ms. Behrend's book. In these Success Passages, Genevieve Behrend focuses on Visualization, the Law of Attraction and the Power of Principle Over Precedent. I think you will agree this is good stuff. Until next time . . . . Peace Out, and - Namasté! To your Health, Wealth, Prosperity and Success, The Success Manual Team _________________________________________________
Success Passage: Principle Over Precedent and the Law of Attraction Excerpts from Your Invisible Power by Genevieve Behrend The exercise of the visualizing faculty keeps your mind in order, and attracts to you the things you need to make life more enjoyable in an orderly way. If you train yourself in the practice of deliberately picturing your desire and carefully examining your picture, you will soon find that your thoughts and desires
proceed in a more orderly procession than ever before. Having reached a state of ordered mentality, you are no longer in a constant state of mental hurry. Hurry is Fear, and consequently destructive. In other words, when your understanding grasps the power to visualize your heart’s desire and hold it with your will, it attracts to you all things requisite to the fulfillment of that picture by the harmonious vibrations of the law of attraction. You realize that since Order is Heaven’s first law, and visualization places things in their natural order, then it must be a heavenly thing to visualize. Everyone visualizes, whether he knows it or not. Visualizing is the great secret of success. The conscious use of this great power attracts to you multiplied resources, intensifies your wisdom, and enables you to make use of advantages which you formerly failed to recognize. * * * * * * * We now fly through the air, not because anyone has been able to change the laws of Nature, but because the inventor of the flying machine learned how to apply Nature’s laws and, by making orderly use of them, produced the desired result. So far as the natural forces are concerned, nothing has changed since the beginning. There were no airplanes in “the Year One,” because those of that generation could not conceive the idea as a practical, working possibility. “It has not yet been done,” was the argument, “and it cannot be done.” Yet the laws and materials for practical flying machines existed then as now. Troward tells us that the great lesson he learned from the airplane and wireless telegraphy is the triumph of principle over precedent, the working out of an idea to its logical conclusion in spite of accumulated contrary testimony of all past experience. * * * * * * * With such an example before you, you must realize that there are still greater secrets to be disclosed. Also, “That you hold the key within yourself, with which to unlock the secret chamber that contains your heart’s desire. All that is necessary in order that you may use this key and make your life exactly what you wish it to be, is a careful inquiry into the unseen causes which stand back of every external and visible condition. Then bring these unseen causes into harmony with your conception, and you will find that you can make practical working realities of possibilities which at present seem but fantastic dreams.” * * * * * * * In visualizing, or making a mental picture, you are not endeavoring to change the laws of Nature. You are fulfilling them. Your object in visualizing is to bring
things into regular order, both mentally and physically. When you realize that this method of employing the Creative Power brings your desires, one after another, into practical, material accomplishment, your confidence in the mysterious but unfailing law of attraction, which has its central power station in the very heart of your word-picture, becomes supreme. Nothing can shake it. You never feel that it is necessary to take anything from anybody else. You have learned that asking and seeking have, as their correlatives, receiving and finding. * * * * * * * When you first begin to visualize seriously, you may feel, as many others do, that someone else may be forming the same picture you are, and that, naturally, would not suit your purpose. Do not give yourself any concern about this. Simply try to realize that your picture is an orderly exercise of the Universal Creative Power specifically applied. Then you may be sure that no one can work in opposition to you. The universal law of harmony prevents that. Endeavor to bear in mind that your mental picture is Universal Mind specifically exercising its inherent powers of initiative and selection. God, or Universal Mind, made man for the special purpose of differentiating Himself through him. * * * * * * * Nothing can prevent your picture from coming into concrete form except the same power which gave it birth – yourself. * * * * * * * We all possess more power and greater possibilities than we realize, and visualizing is one of the greatest of these powers, it brings other Possibilities to our observation. Your personal advance in evolution depends on your right use of the power of visualizing, and your use of it depends on whether you recognize that you, yourself, are a particular center through and in which the Originating Spirit is finding ever new expression for potentialities already existing within Itself. This is evolution; the continual unfolding of existing through outwardly invisible things. * * * * * * * The seventh and great thing to remember in visualizing is that you are making a mental picture for the purpose of determining the quality you are giving to the previously undifferentiated substance and energy, rather than to arrange the specific circumstances for its manifestation. That is the work of Creative Power
itself. It will build its own forms of expression quite naturally, if you will allow it, and save you a great deal of needless anxiety. What you really want is expansion in a certain direction, whether of health, wealth or what not, and so long as you get it – as you surely will, if you confidently hold to your picture – what does it matter whether it reaches by some channel which you thought you could count upon, or through some other of whose existence you had no idea. You are concentrating energy of a particular kind for a particular purpose. Keep this in mind and let specific details take care of themselves, and never mention what you are doing to anyone. * * * * * * * Never forget that every physical thing, whether for you or against you, was a sustained thought before it was a thing. Thought, as thought, is neither good nor bad; it is Creative Action and always takes physical form. Therefore, the thoughts you dwell upon become the things you possess or do not possess. * * * * * * * This first concrete fruition of my study of Mental Science as expounded by Troward’s book had come by a careful following of the methods he had outlined. In this connection, therefore, I can offer to the reader no better gift than to quote Troward’s book, “The Edinburgh Lectures,” from which may be derived a complete idea of the line of action I was endeavoring to follow. In the chapter on Causes and Conditions he says: “To get good results we must properly understand our relation to the great impersonal power we are using. It is intelligent, and we are intelligent, and the two intelligences must co-operate. “We must not fly in the face of the law expecting it to do for us what it can only do through us; and we must therefore use our intelligence with the knowledge that it is acting as the instrument of a greater intelligence; and because we have this knowledge we may and should cease from all anxiety as to the final result. “In actual practice we must first form the ideal conception of our object with the definite intention of impressing it upon the Universal Mind – it is this thought that takes such thought out of the region of mere casual fancies – and then affirm that our knowledge of the Law is sufficient reason for a calm expectation of a corresponding result, and that therefore all necessary conditions will come to us in due order . . . * * * * * * *
You may feel the necessity for improvement in your finances, and wonder how this increase is to be brought about, when there seems suddenly to come from within the idea itself, the realization that everything – even money – had its birth in thought, and your thoughts turn their course. You simply hold to the statement or affirmation that the best, and all there is, is yours. Since you are able to capture ideas from the Infinite through the instrument of your intuition, you let your mind rest upon that thought, knowing full well that this very thought will respond to itself. Your inhibition of all doubt and anxiety enables the reassuring ideas to establish themselves and attract to themselves “I can” and “I will” ideas, which gradually grow into the physical form of the desire in your mind. In the conscious uses of the Universal Power to reproduce your desires in physical form, three facts should be borne in mind: First – All space is filled with a Creative Power. Second – This Creative Power is amenable to suggestion. Third – It can only work by deductive methods. As Troward tells us, this last is an exceedingly important point, for it implies that the action of the ever-present Creative Power is in no way limited by precedent. It works according to the essence of the spirit of the principle. In other words, this Universal Power takes its creative direction from the word you give it. Once man realizes this great truth, the character with which this sensitive, reproductive power is invested becomes the most important of all his considerations. It is the unvarying law of Creative Life Principle that “As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.” If you realize the truth that the Creative Power can be to you only what you feel and think it to be, it is willing and able to meet your demands. Troward says, “If you think your thought is Powerful, your Thought is Powerful.” “As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he” is the law of life, and the Creative Power can no more change this law than an ordinary mirror can reflect back to you a different image than the object you hold before it.
Success Key: Drop the “Blame Game” Posted by Richard Catalina, Jr. • October 15, 2010 • Printer-friendly Playing the “Blame Game,” on the other hand, is destructive and disEmpowering. Every time you seek to unjustly assess blame where it doesn’t belong, you effectively hand over Control to outside factors. You relinquish Control and become a slave to that which you blame. The “blameworthy” person, event or circumstance now owns you – at the very least, in YOUR Mind! You are not in Control. Now, why would you do that? _________________________________________________
Success Key No. 35: Drop the "Blame Game" and Empower Yourself to Succeed We all do it – some more than others – but assessing “blame” is a common human reaction when matters don’t turn out the way we want. No wonder. In this complicated modern world, it is easy to blame others for many of the conditions and strife we encounter. We blame the government, politics, our parents, our children, religion, foreign countries, our superiors, Republicans, Democrats, the Supreme Court, liberals, conservatives, criminals, the wealthy, the poor, Wall Street, insurance companies . . . . . I could go on, but I am sure you get the point. It seems that everyone at all levels these days is engaging in a constant Game of Blame. “It is everyone else’s fault – NOT mine!” Guilty as charged, Your Honor. Playing the “Blame Game,” i.e., assessing blame against others where: 1) the subject of our blame is truly not at fault and/or responsible and/or 2) the real responsibility lies within ourselves, is an absolute death knell to attaining Success and Growth. I am only a Student of Success, but this much I have learned: As long as I engage in the Blame Game, by assessing blame on other individuals and/or external events, I am not progressing towards Success. Nor am I building Character and Leadership – two ecumenical traits to the attainment of extraordinary levels of Success.
True Leaders do not blame. And, the greatest Leaders are those who have the ability to attain the highest levels of Success, for they have the ability to motivate others towards the attainment of their goal. But, what is “blame?” And, how is assessing “blame” different from there being a legitimate “reason,” the latter of which is the cause of an effect? And, what is an “excuse?” Understanding the differences is crucial. Let’s use a simple hypothetical to demonstrate the differences between “blame,” “reason” and “excuse.” The weather predictions for yesterday and today in the Northeast U.S. have been dire, with heavy rain and high wind. In fact, we are told by the weather experts that we are having our first Nor’easter of the new season. If predictions hold true (but already it appears that the weather event has been oversold – at least in the State of New Jersey), we may even experience some creek and stream flooding, particularly because the water saturation levels in the ground are already high from recent rainfall. And, so, in our example, it rains. And, it rains very hard, causing some flooding. The Assumpink River rises above flood stage, and water pours into the basements of some homes located along the river. This is a classic case of pure “cause and effect.” Heavy rains cause the river to flood, which, in turn, cause flood waters to flow into the basements. This is a simple fact and no human interpretation is required to understand what is happening. The “reason” for the water in the basement is because the swollen Assumpink River has flooded after a record-setting 6 inches of rain in 12 hours. Notice that in this example we are dealing with simple observed “cause and effect” facts. The “reason” for the effect (flooded basement) is a cause (6 inches of rain causing the river to rise above its banks). There is no “blame” here; only a “cause and effect” reason for the basement flooding. Now, there is absolutely nothing wrong with noting a factual reason (cause: flooding rains and river) for the occurrence of an event (effect: flooded basements). In fact, science and human logic depends on it. If we were not able to make such “cause and effect” observations, we would not have been able to advance as a civilized species. The key here is to understand that there is no shifting of fault, responsibility, etc. It just is. Not, let’s continue with this same hypothetical, but now bringing some of the “Blame Game” into the picture.
I am an avid outdoorsman. I LOVE to hike, hunt, fish, camp, ski (or used to, anyways) . . . anything outdoors, ever since I was a young boy. It so happens that I made plans to take my son on his first small game hunting expedition this weekend, but the rain is now a variable that I must take into account. After all, it will be rainy and cold – raw – and that’s not fun for a young fellow out on his first hunt. Besides, animals dislike bad weather as much as humans and will most certainly be hunkered down and out of sight. So, we end up not going hunting, and in offering my “explanation” to my son, I “blame” the weather for ruining the weekend. My son is upset, too, and because – like father, like son – he also blames the weather for ruining our plans. We have been looking forward to this day for weeks and the weather is at fault for ruining what would have been a great experience. Really? Who ruined what? The weather is just the weather. Unlike the first scenario, where the flooded river and flooded basements were a direct causal effect of the heavy rain – a natural, factual causal relationship – our not going hunting is not. In truth, I DECIDED not to go hunting. The fact of the matter is that we still could have gone hunting – rain or not. As such, the true responsibility for the fact that we did not go hunting is because I made that decision. The rain didn’t. By assessing fault on the rain and not accepting personal responsibility for the decision that I made, I have laid blame on the weather. That, in a very simple hypothetical, is playing the Blame Game.
True Leaders do not blame. And, the greatest Leaders are those who have the ability to attain the highest levels of Success, for they have the ability to motivate others towards the attainment of their goal.
If I was honest about it, I would tell my son that the REASON we are not going is because I don’t want to go hunting in the cold rain and I am fearful that he might not like it under such adverse conditions. (He would probably respond, “So what, Dad, let’s go anyways!). With that approach, I state the REASON as to why we are not going on our planned trip. There is no blame. I accept responsibility for my Decision and Actions. And, who knows – we may still go and he may have the best time just being with Dad. Remember, blaming is shifting responsibility from you (where it rightly belongs) to a third party or event. I could blame the weather or I could accept responsibility for MY Decision. Yes, the weather may have been a consideration in my Decision, but it is still my Decision nonetheless. The above hunting example may seem like splitting hairs. And, to some degree we are, for the differences in how I respond to the adverse weather conditions and our planned hunting trip are subtle. Indeed, the end result may be the same: in either case, we do not go on our planned trip. But, understand that the mindset between both approaches is profoundly different and over time would have a significant impact on how we accept responsibility for our Decisions and Actions, shape our lives, and achieve our Goals and attain Success. We need to be mindful at all times and guard the portal of our conscious thought processes. That means, even in the most “innocuous” situations – perhaps like the hunting weekend example – we must not play the “Blame Game.” So, why do we blame? First, it’s easy. It is human nature to not want to accept responsibility for Decisions and Actions that may be unpopular with others – or even ourselves. Second, when we can “blame” a third party or external event or circumstance, it makes us right and the other (person, group, entity or event) wrong (blameworthy). Again, it is human nature to want to be right – and usually all of the time. Self righteousness is very powerful and deep-rooted. Third, similar to number two, blaming justifies negative feelings, thoughts and emotions. Being angry or upset is “justified” when somebody else is to blame. We’ve been wronged, darn it, and we have every right to feel miserable. Fourth, assessing blame can quickly resolve individual indecision. Don’t know what to do in a particular situation? Make a “decision,” but blame your decision (and the predicament “causing” your indecision) on someone or something else. Assessing blame gives you an easy out – especially if you made the wrong decision. True Leaders never play the Blame Game. True Leaders accept responsibility for ALL of their decisions and for the decisions and actions of those under their command (a private reprimand may be in order, however).
Take a great football coach. In the post game press conference after his team has suffered a brutal loss, a true Leader coach will never blame any particular player or players. Instead, we hear such phrases as “we failed to establish our ground game,” or “we could not contain our opponent’s pass rush,” or “we committed too many turnovers and failed to convert when in the red zone.” No blame; just simple “cause and effect” facts, i.e., reasons why the team lost the game (shortcomings that will no doubt be addressed in the upcoming week’s practice). A true Leader coach will further accept FULL responsibility for these shortcomings by his team. After all, he is the coach, the leader of the team, and it is his job to coach the team to victories. A true Leader will also not offer excuses. Excuses? What are excuses? Excuses are assessments of blame that are “dressed up” to look and sound like “cause and effect” reasons. But, they’re really not. How can you tell when someone is feeding you an excuse (or you are using one, yourself)? Listen for the word “but.” “I’m sorry I am late, BUT . . .” (The other person’ doesn’t care WHY you are late. All that matters is that you showed up an hour late for an appointment and greatly inconvenienced the other person. Accept responsibility for your shortcoming. Don’t attempt to assess blame on some other factor.) “I would love to help, BUT . . .” (Nobody wants to hear how much you would LOVE to help them, only to be told “but.” If you have another commitment, just say so. If it is a situation where you don’t WANT to help, then maybe you need to ask yourself WHY. If you cannot provide a truthful response on the spot, advise the other person that you have other considerations and that you will get back to them promptly – and do it. But, don’t feed BS excuses). All of this does not mean that you cannot properly assess fault against or responsibility with another human being. If I sneak up behind you and hit you in the back of the head, you would be darn proper to say “That guy just smacked me in the back of the head.” That is because it is a true cause and effect event. Just don’t blame me as the “reason” when you arrive home mad and take your anger out on your spouse and children. What does all of this have to do with achieving Goals and attaining Success? Everything. If you truly, honestly and sincerely Desire to achieve your Goals, attain Success and generate Wealth, you will not be able to do so as long as you engage in Blame Game antics. It is a simple matter of accepting responsibility for YOUR Actions, Decisions, Feelings and Thoughts and not seeking to find fault, i.e., “blameworthiness,” in other individuals or events or circumstances for what rightly belongs to you.
Accepting full Responsibility for your present results is profoundly Empowering. You take Control of your Life and become the Director of your future. Nobody else is to blame or is responsible – only you. How Powerful! Playing the “Blame Game,” on the other hand, is destructive and dis-Empowering. Every time you seek to unjustly assess blame where it doesn’t belong, you effectively hand over Control to outside factors. You relinquish Control and become a slave to that which you blame. The “blameworthy” person, event or circumstance now owns you – at the very least, in YOUR Mind! You are not in Control. Now, why would you do that? Successful individuals don’t blame. They accept responsibility for their Thoughts, Feelings, Decisions and Actions. If they make a mistake and are wrong – they own it, learn from it, and move on. There is huge Power in that – Power that can propel you to Success. Blame cannot help you achieve Success. It can only hurt and dis-Empower you from attaining the Success that you Desire and deserve. Until next time . . . .
Success Strategy: The Ten (10) Steps to Universal Problem Solving Posted by Richard Catalina, Jr. • October 29, 2010 • Printer-friendly We must understand that the undesirable events, conditions and circumstances, which we refer to as "problems," are EXTERNAL to us; the identification of those events, conditions and circumstances as a “problem,” on the other hand, is INTERNAL – a product of our thinking, beliefs and conditioned habits. The latter is a creature of our Mind; the former is simply a set of facts without any inherent meaning – they just are. The only meaning of those external events, conditions and circumstances is the meaning that we ascribe to these facts internally in our Mind. _________________________________________________
Success Strategy: The Ten (10) Step Technique to Universal Problem Solving How to Solve ANY Problem Are you presently facing a “problem” that appears to have no solution? Yes? Good. This Post may be just what you need. Throughout Life, we all face what we commonly refer to as “problems.” In fact, many individuals view Life itself as a series of problems – one after another – some large, some small, but all problems just the same. Some unfortunate Souls actually perceive Life itself as one giant “problem.” How sad! People “struggle” with “problems.” And, that is quite unfortunate, because it really doesn’t have to be that way. In fact, I would suggest that there are no such things as “problems,” and that there doesn’t have to be any “struggling.” “Problems,” in and of themselves, are nothing more than mere creatures of the mind; they have no existence on their own, and to the extent that we “struggle” with them, that is of our own doing. Stay with me here . . . Of course, if you presently face a significant challenge in your life (notice that I did not use the word “problem,” thereby already changing the meaning and significance of the
undesirable and unwanted set of circumstances that most would refer to as a “problem”), you may find little comfort in such Wisdom. After all, these few simple words will likely not provide the resolution or solution you seek. It is, however, a start. Indeed, there is a magical, surefire way to solve or eliminate ANY “problem” that may be plaguing you. Follow these Ten (10) Steps – honestly and diligently – and I assure you that you will realize one of the following three (3) outcomes: 1) You will solve your “problem,” 2) The problem will resolve itself, or 3) You will simply no longer view the “problem” as a “problem” – it will simply seek to exist. Regardless of which of the three outcomes you experience, the result is the same: Freedom from the “problem.” It is really quite simple and the beauty of it is that – IT WORKS! I personally use this technique consistently and it has never, ever failed me. It has been thoroughly developed, re-tooled and time-tested, and it is powerfully effective.
Step One: Every Problem Has a Solution Every “problem” has a Solution. Not some, not most – ALL. All “problems” have Solutions and are resolvable. In fact, there are likely many possible resolutions to a particular undesired set of facts and circumstances. More than one possible solution may even be optimal. The First Step in resolving any “problem” is to know, understand and believe that there IS a solution, there is an answer. To realize the ultimate Solution, all that is required is that you increase your personal Level of Awareness to discover the possible Solutions and then implement the one that provides the greatest benefit towards your Desired outcome. You MUST understand and accept this fact – that every “problem” has a Solution – as TRUE. If you do not accept this proposition as the Truth, the likelihood that you will realize the Solution is highly unlikely. Think about it: if you do not believe that there is a Solution to your dilemma, what are the chances that you will attempt to realize it? You won’t. And, your “problem” will remain unresolved and continue to fester. The simple fact is that, at present, you simply do not see the Solution. For if you did, then the “problem” would no longer exist; it would be resolved. Simply start with the unconditional Believe and Faith that your “problem” has a solution – many solutions – and all that is needed is for you to discover it.
Step Two: De-Personalize the “Problem” Having accepted the Truth that there is a Solution to your so-called “problem,” the next step is to “de-personalize the problem.”
What does that mean and why is it important? What it means is that YOU are NOT your “problem” (okay, sometimes we are our own worst enemies, but you get the point). You are separate from your “problem” – it exists entirely outside of you. Wait a minute – didn’t I just say earlier that “problems,” in and of themselves, are nothing more than mere creatures of the mind; they have no existence on their own, and to the extent that we “struggle” with them, that is of our own doing? Yes, I did. To avoid undue confusion, let’s immediately reconcile these concepts. First, we must define what we mean when we use the term “problem.” After all, “problem” has many meanings (e.g., “Did you finish your math problems in your homework assignment?”) Essentially, what we all commonly refer to as “problems” are mere UNDESIRABLE conditions and/or circumstances. “Undesirable” to whom? The person who claims them to be a “problem.” What may be one person’s “problem” may be another persons’ joy. In other words, the nature, level and extent of a particular “problem” are in the eye of the beholder. As such, we must understand that the undesirable events, conditions and circumstances are EXTERNAL to us; the identification of those events, conditions and circumstances as a “problem,” on the other hand, is INTERNAL – a product of our thinking, beliefs and conditioned habits. The latter is a creature of our Mind; the former is simply a set of facts without any inherent meaning – they just are. The only meaning of those external events, conditions and circumstances is the meaning that we ascribe to these facts internally in our Mind. And that is where we need to draw the line and depersonalize the “problem.” The undesirable events, conditions and circumstances are external facts. They are not us – they just are. So, as part of the Second Step, we need to distinguish and understand that the nature of the “problem” is something outside of ourselves; how we perceive a problem, contrarily, is internal and a function of Mind – something over which we may assert control and change. We must depersonalize the “problem” and personalize the Solution. The “problem” lies without; the Solution will be realized within.
Step Three: Open Your Creative Mind Some “problems” may be resolved through simple, deductive reasoning (e.g., 2+2=4). Other “problems” are not that easy – there are too many intangible variables – and, therefore, more is required. Most so-called “problems” require something more than deductive reasoning, for if it were that simple (relatively speaking, of course), then “problems” wouldn’t (or shouldn’t)
linger on without resolution – assuming that one is making bona fide attempts to resolve the “problem.” So, how do we resolve “problems” that elude conscious analyzation? The answer is to open your Creative Mind, your Subconscious, to the Infiniteness of Universe and all that is possible. We have already accepted the fact that every “problem” has a Solution (Step One). And, we have depersonalized the “problem,” and have further accepted as Truth that the Solution must come from within (Step Two). If you don’t have the Solution now, and you have been working on resolving your “problem” for some time, from whence shall the Solution come? When you open your Creative Mind to what is possible, you allow the answer to come to you. Let’s face it: our Conscious Mind is not always the best “problem” solver; in fact, it probably gets us into “problems” more than it gets us out of them.
The Wright Brothers had a firm belief that they could build a flying-machine. The ability to build a “flying machine” – today a fact not even questioned – has been in existence as long as the Universe, and the Wright Brothers knew that. It (the Principle of Flight) merely required that man finally achieve the requisite Level of Awareness where the principle of fixed wing flight could be realized. Think of the Wright Brothers and their firm belief that they could build a flying-machine. People at that time thought the Wrights were crazy. Moreover, their own father, a minister, harshly admonished them, claiming that they would burn in hell merely for suggesting the idea! Yet, the ability to build a “flying machine” – today a fact not even questioned – has been in existence as long as the Universe, and the Wright Brothers
knew that. It (the Principle of Flight) merely required that man finally achieve the requisite Level of Awareness where the principle of fixed wing flight could be realized. Nonetheless, the Principle of Flight, and the scientific laws governing that principle, always existed. In fact, every law and principle of what may be possible in the future already exists here and now – simply waiting to be discovered. Think of it: a unified theory of the Universe, from the grand to the subatomic, which has eluded scientists since the time of Einstein already exists. We just don’t know it – yet. As a race (human race), our Level of Awareness requires greater Understanding. The same holds true for the Solution to your “problem.” You just don’t know it yet and the way you will discover it is to open your Creative Mind.
Step Four: Remove Obstructions to Overcome Obstacles So, how does one open his or her Creative Mind? The crucial first step is to remove all Obstructions. You will not realize the proper Solution to your “problem” if your Mind is clogged with needless, destructive clutter Obstructions. What are “Obstructions?” Fear. Doubt. Worry. Anxiety. Negative thinking. These are all States of Mind (mental states) that not only will fail to resolve your “problem,” but will actively and affirmatively work against realizing a Solution. As long as you harbor Obstructions, the likelihood that you will solve your “problem” is very, very slim. Obstructions such as Fear, Doubt, Worry, Anxiety and Negative Thinking literally clog the channels of your Creative Mind. You cannot think in a constructive, creative fashion when you are focused on the negative and gripped with Fear and Worry. It is simply not possible. Moreover, Obstructions are just that: Obstructions. They block the flow of Creative Spirit through your Conscious and Subconscious Minds. If you were so ensconced with Fear and Anxiety – to the point of paralysis – do you think you would hear God whispering the answer to you? God rarely shouts, and outside of Biblical accounts, I don’t know of anyone to whom God appeared or spoke accompanied by bolts of lighting and fire. God speaks to our Heart and the way to hear God in this fashion is to quiet the Mind. Obstructions are anything but quiet and can produce compulsive thought and action. In Step One we accepted the incontrovertible Truth that all “problems” have Solutions. Truly knowing that – with unconditional Faith and Believe – is usually sufficient to instill a Peace of Heart that clears the Obstructions. If you find yourself still hindered by these negative States of Mind, work (but don’t struggle) to remove the blockage.
Step Five: Understand that Obstructions Are a Result of Ignorance So, how do we remove Obstructions with Peace and without struggling? Through Understanding, Knowledge and Awareness. We must increase our Level of Awareness, gain Knowledge and Understand the causes of Fear, Doubt, Worry, Anxiety and Negative Thinking. While tomes may be (and are) written on the subject, it is critical to UNDERSTAND that such destructive Mental States are caused by or a result of Ignorance. Ignorance of what? First, not knowing WHERE the answer or solution lies. Consider. A young couple is deeply in debt and they both lost their jobs. With each passing month, they sink deeper and deeper into debt. Their levels of Fear, Doubt and Worry increase. Negative Thinking persists. They see no way out. Therein lays the problem: They see no way out. Suppose I had a bona fide magic crystal ball and could convince the young couple that the crystal ball really could show the future. Taken a step further, I consult my crystal ball and show them the winning multimillion dollar lottery numbers for the following week. All they would need to do is play that winning combination of numbers on the right day and they become instant winners of $50 million. What do you think would happen to their Doubt, Worry, Anxiety, Fear and Negative Thinking (at least with respect to their debt and unemployment “problem”)? It would immediately vanish into thin air! Why? Because they now see their Solution! When we see the Solutions to our “problems” – even if those answers are not immediately available – the levels of our Obstructions immediately drop, if not completely dissipate. As such, it is the Ignorance as to the Solution that gives rise to the Obstructions. We fail to see from where the Good that we Desire is going to come and that fuels our Obstructive Mental States. If we can begin to truly and honestly Understand that there IS a Solution (or multiple solutions) to our “problem,” and all that is required is that we raise our Level of Awareness to realize the Solution, an immediate effect is that we begin to overcome the Ignorance giving rise to our Obstructions. Just knowing that there IS a solution already begins to bring Peace, which, in turn, opens our Creative Mind to receive the answer! As long as we remained locked in the Negative, we will not see the Positive. We need to clean the House of our Minds, and like a skilled surgeon who removes blockage from diseased arteries, we must remove the Obstructions of our Creative Mind and allow Life to flow freely.
Step Six: Reframe the “Problem” All along, I have been using the word “problem” to describe and define the undesired set of conditions and circumstances. Step Six is to “reframe” the nature of “problem,” including the very word “problem.” We may start by no longer using the word “problem” as the definition or indicia of the undesired conditions and circumstances. The term “problem” immediately delivers a negative connotation – almost signifying a situation to which there is no Solution. That is why I have been using quotes with the word throughout this article – to establish the significance (or, more appropriately, the insignificance) of the actual word. Instead of the word “problem,” use either the terms “Challenge” or “Obstacle.” Immediately your perspective changes towards the undesired conditions and circumstances, for both words convey a more positive meaning and both inherently suggest that there exist solutions or answers. Think about it: who likes “problems?” In fact, we try to avoid “problems.” It is human nature to run from “problems” (who awakes in the morning thinking “Boy, I can’t wait to deal with the scourge of my problems today!”) “Challenges,” on the other hand, are an invitation for Action! (Some definitions for the word “challenge” include: “an invitation to someone to compete or fight, especially in a sport; to invite someone to compete or fight; used in the names of competitions, especially sports competitions; to test someone's skill and abilities”). Who can turn down a legitimate Challenge – whether from someone else or ourselves? Really, reframing the term “problem” to “Challenge” or “Obstacle” should be done as soon as one begins thinking that he or she has a “problem.” In terms of actual timing, therefore, Step Six should be tackled right along with Step One. Thinking of your undesired conditions or circumstances as a Challenge or mere Obstacle ab initio will do wonders for your Mental State and accelerate your progress in realizing your optimum Solution. Next, it is highly important to understand – and further reframe the undesired conditions and circumstances that we now call a Challenge or Obstacle – that ALL Challenges or Obstacles are invitations to Growth. Yes, indeed! When faced with a Challenge or Obstacle, your present inability to solve or find the Solution stems from your present Level of Awareness. In Step Five, we explored how this Ignorance gives rise to fatalthinking Obstructions and how they must be eliminated. This MUST be true, for if your present Level of Awareness was sufficient, you would already have the Solution. As such, to realize the Solution, you must Grow your current Level of Awareness. The fact that you don’t have the Solution is evidence that you must increase your present Level of Awareness.
Understand that reasons for Growth are usually irrelevant, for Growth is inherently Good. Nature is always seeking further Expansion, Expression and Growth. By Growing – whether intellectually, Spiritually, emotionally, physically – you are fulfilling one of the greatest of our human duties. We were born to Grow and it is God’s calling that we all Grow and live to our full Potential. Face it: We were not born to spend our lives on the sofa watching television. It is therefore critical to Understand that whatever your Challenge or Obstacle, it is an invitation to GROW. And, in some strange fashion which we may not readily comprehend, it may be a Divine mandate to do so. When you realize the Solution to your Challenge or Obstacle, you will necessarily be at a higher Level of Awareness. And, if the nature of your Challenge or Obstacle was most difficult – perhaps oppressive – your Level of Awareness will be even higher. You may have even developed Character along the way, one of the greatest of all personality traits. Lastly, keep in mind that all Obstacles are mere stepping stones to achieving a greater Good – a certain Goal or Success. In order to achieve any objective, you must necessarily face and overcome the Obstacles or Challenges along the way requisite to attaining that Success.
Step Seven: Take Action Step Seven is simple: Take Action. What kind of Action? Any Action. The key here is that you need not necessarily know precisely what to do to – just begin. If you knew the precise set of Action Steps to realize the Solution, you would have already taken that course and the Obstacle resolved. What is important is that you begin solving the Obstacle by taking any Action – as long as it is not impulsive and based on irrational emotion or Obstruction. Action is Empowering. Opportunity.
Action increases Levels of Awareness.
Action creates
Once you have taken that first Action step, you are on the path to finally addressing the undesired conditions and circumstances. Even if those first Action steps are just tiny steps, you are nonetheless on the way and knowledge of the simple fact is quite empowering. It is important to note that, while the initial Action Steps may not lead you in the right direction, valuable information – in the form of feedback – is always gained. At the very least, you will discover what doesn’t work – and you may move on to Plan B. No Action
taken ever results in failure; valuable information is always obtained. The key is to keep trying, keep moving, and keep taking Action. You will find the way! Sometimes taking Action is 50% of the process towards realizing the Solution. You may think that attaining the resolution will take much time and effort, but then after taking that first Action step, you come to realize that the Challenge is not as substantial as you previously thought – perhaps it is even easy. I cannot tell you how many times that the “bark” that I feared was actually worse than the “bite.” The so-called “problem” turned out to be an easy, no-brainer and I regretted the fact that I had not taken Action earlier – it would have saved me significant time, energy and resources. You will usually discover as you take Action that what you perceived to be insurmountable isn’t, and that solving the situation will not be the effort that you imagined. You will not come to that realization, however, unless and until Action is actually taken. Roll up your sleeves and get started.
Step Eight: Time and the Law of Gestation Everything has its season and the Universe works in cyclic, rhythmic fashion. If your present Challenge is to find a way to feed your family today, the solution is not planting corn. There is the Law of Gestation: after planting, the corn seed must geminate, sprout, grow (and grow and grow and grow) and bear fruit. The fruit, the ears of corn (really a grain) must properly mature and then you must harvest it. All of this will take a certain amount of time over which you have very little control. All seeds – including Seeds of Thought and Greatness – have a gestation period. There is a Law of Cause and Effect, but there also is the Law of Gestation, which states that the Effects of the Cause will take the time that the Universe (Nature, through our Infinite Creator) requires. Depending on your particular Challenge or Obstacle, and the Action steps that you take – and the ultimate Solution desired – there will be the factor of time as determined by the applicable Law of Gestation. Often, we don’t know how long it may take for fruit to bear, but as long as we remain steadfast and true to realizing the Desired result, there will be fruit. This is also another reason why it is important to be consistent – and persistent – with our Action steps. With continued Action, Persistence and Perseverance, it is possible to accelerate the process of realizing our Solution within the confines of the Law of Gestation. For example, suppose that realizing the Solution to a particular Challenge by a particular individual necessarily must require a total of fifty (50) hours of bona fide,
consistent Action (by application of the Law of Gestation). If the individual only dedicates one (1) hour per day towards that objective, it will take fifty (50) days before she finally realizes the ultimate Solution . However, by devoting two (2) hours of bona fide, consistent Action per day (instead of only one hour), she can accelerate the process and realize the ultimate Solution in half the time: twenty-five (25) days. Now, if she was really motivated and determined, in theory, she may dedicate ten (10) hours of bona fide, consistent Action per day towards overcoming her Challenge. Assuming that fatigue, Obstructions, and other inhibiting factors are kept at bay, she can further accelerate the process and realize her ultimate Solution in a mere five (5) days! So while the Law of Gestation may establish certain time constraints over which we have no or little control, we may accelerate the overall process by more continuous, consistent and persistent Action. Another insight to understanding the Law of Gestation is a quote from Anthony Robbins: “God’s delays are not God’s denials.” In other words, God works on a different calendar and clock than we do. Why is this so important? Because when many individuals fail to realize the Solution to their Challenge or Obstacle immediately, they simply quit. Give up. Abandon ship. When that happens, one thing is for certain: they will NOT solve the Challenge. Quitting is “game over.” Failure. If you do not immediately realize your Solution, keep trying, keep taking Action steps, keep working these Ten Steps. You WILL realize the solution. Chances are that the mess you are in didn’t happen overnight, so it may be unreasonable to think or expect that it may be cleaned up overnight. Time itself may be just another aspect or feature of the Challenge that you face, so view it as such. Reframe the nature of the Challenge or Obstacle to further include the time variable. Don’t make the issue of time another, separate “problem.” Patience may be required and that virtue is yet another characteristic of Growth. Persevere. Persist. Work it.
Step Nine: Have Faith The importance of Faith – Faith in yourself and Faith in God – cannot be overstated. We could write volumes on the significance of Faith to finding a Solution to your Challenge or Obstacle; time and space do not permit that here. Napoleon Hill has stated many times, “The man who can is the man who thinks he can.” If you already accepted the notion that every Challenge or Obstacle has a Solution (Step One), then why not accept the Faith and Belief that you will realize that Solution?
“Ya gotta believe, baby, ya gotta believe.” If you do not Believe or have no Faith that you will realize a Solution, will you honestly pursue the Solution? If you answered this question in the affirmative, then you must fancy in chasing ghosts.
Step Ten: The Attitude of Gratitude Finally, as Step Ten, despite the nature, level and extent of your Challenge or Obstacle, remain Grateful for all that you have. Seek the Good in your Life and by doing so, the significance of the Challenge or Obstacle will diminish. Relinquish resentment. Drop jealousy and envy. Adopt the Attitude of Gratitude. Studies have shown that patients with the most severe illnesses fair best in treatment when they are grateful for the Good in their lives – despite the illness – and they reject negative attitudes such as resentment, anger, jealously or envy. Such mental states are nothing more than Obstructions, discussed in Steps Four and Five. They not only block your Creative Mind, but they stain your Spirit and become a focal point of your concentration. This eventually leads to self-absorbed self-pity – and there is no way you will overcome your Challenge or Obstacle if you are engaged in that game. Be grateful. Rejoice in the Good all around you! If you focus on the Good, more Good will come; contrarily, if you focus on the Negative, then you will receive more of the Negative. This is the Law of Attraction, pure and simple. If you have trouble seeing the Good and finding Gratitude, grab a notebook and pen and find a quiet, comfortable place to sit by yourself for an hour or so and begin writing all that for which you are grateful. It may take a little time to get started, but once the juices start flowing, you will be astounded at how much you have written – how much there is in your life for which you should be Grateful. By the time this exercise is done, you will feel profoundly different and view your Challenge or Obstacle in an entirely different light. When I feel overwhelmed by a Challenge or Obstacle and see myself starting to slide in a negative fashion, I work my “Gratitudes” by stopping whatever I am doing and spending some time with my children. An hour of building blocks, reading or just playing with them – and seeing the unconditional Love and excitement of Life in their eyes – has an amazing impact. Problem? What Problem? Adopting the Attitude of Gratitude with honesty and sincerity is the quickest way to jump start out of a “stuck” position. It works – every time. But, you need to actually work it, and if that requires some quiet time in isolation with your thoughts and a notebook, then do it.
Conclusion That’s it. The Ten Steps to Universal Problem Solving. With continued practice and patience, you will find these Ten Steps will work Miracles in your Life. Believe.
Thanksgiving and the Art of Gratitude The Thanksgiving holiday is grounded in deep tradition, originating hundreds of years ago when early settlers of this country, escaping from religious persecution in their European homelands, gathered with native Americans to partake in their annual rites of feast and celebration to “give thanks” after bountiful harvests of grains, vegetables and fish. The symbolism is as profound and meaningful today as it was in the 1600s. We gather together, family and friends, to enjoy the abundance in our lives and to give thanks. It is as simple as that. ___________________________________________
Success Key: Thanksgiving and the Art of Gratitude Here in the United States, Americans gathered with family and friends yesterday, and, indeed for this entire four-day weekend, to celebrate the most cherished of our country recognized holidays: Thanksgiving. The Thanksgiving holiday is grounded in deep tradition, originating hundreds of years ago when early settlers of this country, escaping from religious persecution in their European homelands, gathered with native Americans to partake in their annual rites of feast and celebration to “give thanks” after bountiful harvests of grains, vegetables and fish. The symbolism is as profound and meaningful today as it was in the 1600s. We gather together, family and friends, to enjoy the abundance in our lives and to give thanks. It is as simple as that. The heart of Thanksgiving – a true recognition of the abundance of which we have been blessed and to give thanks to our Creator for all of the good in our lives – is a powerful mental and spiritual attitude. Much has been written on the “attitude of gratitude” on this site and elsewhere. Being grateful for all that is good in our lives, despite the fact that there may simultaneously exist undesirable circumstances and events, is immensely powerful and empowering. When we focus – and give thanks – for that which is good, we shift our paradigm from that which is “bad” (or, more accurately, from that which we perceive as “bad,” for, as Shakespeare stated, what makes something good or bad is only our saying so), to the “good.”
Seeing (and being grateful for) the good in life is a major paradigm shift. We are all aware of the oft-repeated adage that we may either look at the “glass half empty” or the “glass half full.” And so, on Thanksgiving Day, Americans from all walks of life gather together, refrain from looking at the glass “half empty,” and express, to the best of our abilities, true gratitude for all that we have been blessed. Thanksgiving is a beautiful holiday.
"Frosty Morning." A frosty chill greets the sunrise in the White Mountains of New Hampshire on a mid November morning. The Presidential Range drapes the horizon, with Mount Washington taking center stage. Photo by Jim Salge on November 22, 2009. But, how many of us return to our old ways after the holiday? Indeed, the day after Thanksgiving has been named “Black Friday,” in reference to the mad, insane shopping and sales phenomena that takes place on that day in anticipation of the Christmas holy day yet a month away (Thanksgiving always takes place on the fourth Thursday of November, so the following day – Black Friday – is always on a Friday). Black Friday is insane. Stores open at 3:00 and 4:00 am. In fact, one famous department store chain opened at midnight! Traffic is a mess, as a significant portion of the population takes to the roads to hit their favorite stores looking for bargains.
Customers begin lining up at 2:00 or 3:00 in the morning – some never even taking time to rest or sleep after their Thanksgiving feast! Patience in many tends to run short. Tempers occasionally flare when customers compete for limited stock (or at least at the bargain prices). Other than the dinner leftovers in the refrigerators, Thanksgiving is already forgotten within the following 24 hours. Don’t get me wrong – I love the excitement of the entire weekend and the anticipation of the Christmas holy season, too. Even the insanity of Black Friday has a certain appeal, as we are now into the “official Christmas holiday (commercial) season.” In fact, many of my family members partake in the annual Black Friday shopping ritual because, in addition to obtaining great bargains on items that may not be available in a couple of weeks, they simply find it fun. They enjoy the madness, “go with the flow,” and don’t take the extravaganza too seriously. Yet, I question what happens to our so-called “Attitude of Gratitude” from the previous day. We need to maintain, and strengthen, our Gratitude EVERY day. It is easy for just about everyone to find it in their hearts to give thanks and express some level of Gratitude on Thanksgiving Day. It comes easy, it comes naturally. It is an annual tradition and ritual, and consciously or not, we prepare for it emotionally and spiritually. When Thanksgiving Day arrives, we have been so conditioned over the years, that it is simply natural to put aside or trials, tribulations and differences, gather with family and friends, feast and give thanks. Can we cultivate that natural flow of unconditional expression of Gratitude every day? Yes. Do we? Not really. But, what if we did . . . ? Honest and sincere Gratitude, like many character virtues – most obvious being Patience – MUST be practiced in order for us to become Grateful. The only way to become a Patient person is to practice Patience, particularly when the events and circumstances in our lives seemingly compel anything but Patience. The only way to become a Peaceful and Serene individual is to practice Peacefulness and Serenity, particularly when the events and circumstances in our lives seemingly compel anything but Peacefulness and Serenity. The only way to become a Kind and Loving person is to practice Kindness and to Love, particularly when the events and circumstances in our lives seemingly compel anything but being Kind and giving Love. And so on and so forth. Gratitude is more than an “Attitude.” It is an Art. Attitudes can come and go; they are fleeting. But, when practiced, we may transform that which changes like the weather into that which is stable and lasting. Maintaining a true and lasting state of honest and sincere Gratitude is an Art to be practiced and cultivated if we are ever to reap the fruit.
I urge you to practice and develop the Art of Gratitude. It takes time, effort, and of course, Patience. Take time, as much as possible, to reflect and meditate (usually in solitude, if only for a few minutes at a time) on that for which you really are Grateful. Read Success Manuals that teach and expound upon the Power of Gratitude. Write your “Gratitudes” in your personal Success Manual Journal – often (daily, if you can). When you find yourself overwhelmed with negativity of any kind, you must find time to stop and reflect and “break that funk.” Repetition, repetition, repetition. That is how the Art is developed. Live in Thanksgiving everyday, for everyday that we live, we must be Thankful. Thanksgiving should not be a one-day annual event. The true Student of Success will come to understand and realize the miraculous Power and Art of Gratitude and the amazing impact an inner State of Gratitude has on the external events and circumstances of our lives. Do you seek Success in your Life? Start by being Grateful for that which you have been blessed. Abundance, Prosperity and Success abound, but you will fail to see, realize and experience the bounty if you cannot, or will not, work with the Law of Gratitude. The Power of Gratitude cannot be overstated. Live the Art of Gratitude. Happy Thanksgiving to everyone – in the U.S. and all around the world. Until next time . . . .
Simple Success Key: W.I.N. – What’s Important NOW? Posted by Richard Catalina, Jr. • December 8, 2010 • Printer-friendly In order to achieve Success in any endeavor, keeping FOCUS is an enormous challenge. Think about it. We are bombarded constantly by people, events, circumstances and things that easily distract us, causing us to waste precious time, attention and resources. That is where “W.I.N.” comes in: "What’s Important Now?" Does what I am doing NOW move me closer to what I want, faster than whatever else I could be doing? The more honest you can be in answering this question, the faster you will achieve your Goals and attain the Success you seek. It really is that simple. The difficulty lies in 1) Actually engaging in this self-analysis, and 2) Being brutally honest with ourselves. If what we WANT is that important, we can overcome this perceived “difficulty.” ___________________________________________
Simple Success Key: W.I.N. – What’s Important NOW? Most of my Success Key posts tend to be on the lengthy side. I am a lawyer by training, specializing in Intellectual Property Law, and have been practicing law since 1989. That’s a long time. Being an effective lawyer in just about any practice area requires the ability to write with clarity. Whether drafting briefs in support of an important motion to argue in court, crafting last wills, trusts and estate documents, constructing complex contracts (such as, in my case, licensing agreements that may comprise more than 50-70 pages), drafting patent claims – whatever – the objective of the lawyer is to achieve precision and clarity in the written word so as to convey the intended meaning of the message. Clarity removes ambiguity. And, in the world of legal work product, ambiguity is bad – very bad. Yet, as a whole, lawyers are often awful when it comes to a competing goal: brevity. Hence, once I jump on a topic, I tend to say too much. Just like I am doing now . . .
So, to the point (after this lengthy introduction), this Success Key will be brief. Or, at least I will try. Today’s Success Key is “W.I.N. – What’s Important Now.” In order to achieve Success in any endeavor, whether financial, losing weight, getting into physical shape, being a better parent or spouse, etc., keeping FOCUS is an enormous challenge.
Distracted and Unfocused. Does what I am doing NOW move me closer to what I want, faster than whatever else I could be doing? Making paper airplanes is a sure way to Succeed! ;-) ___________________________________________ Think about it. We are bombarded constantly by people, events, circumstances and things that easily distract us, causing us to waste precious time, attention and resources. There is television, other items screaming for our attention, our children and our parents, house projects, texting, messaging, telephone calls to family and friends (to talk about nothing), and, of course, the Grand Master of Distraction: The Internet. How much time do we waste on the computer? Whether Facebook or Twitter, shopping or perusing, jumping from one insignificant site to another (or worse), we all are guilty of spending excessive amounts of time online doing things that do nothing to further us in reaching our Goals. I am not saying that any of this is not important; there is a time and place for everything. But, if you are spending 4 hours a day on Facebook conversing with friends
under the pretense of building your Social Network for your online business, you may just be kidding yourself. That is where “W.I.N.” comes in. What’s Important Now? The more honest you can be in answering this question, the faster you will achieve your Goals and attain the Success you seek. Really. We must always pay attention to what we are paying attention to. That is how we can stay Focused. There are plenty of free Success EBooks on this site that fully address the importance of maintaining a proper Focus and that is not the import of this post. But, if you think there isn’t a relationship between staying Focused and attaining Success or achieving a Goal, then you better go back and re-read that material. An online colleague, Paul Myer, who has the best darn Internet Marketing Newsletter (in my humble opinion) offers the following idea. On our monitors – or wherever else we need to see it – we should post the following note:
“W.I.N. – WHAT’S IMPORTANT NOW? Does what I am doing NOW move me closer to what I WANT, faster than WHATEVER ELSE I could be doing??” If we can honestly answer “yes,” than we are on Focus and should continue the activity.
Working Hard or Hardly Working? Staying focused on the most important task at hand is a major key to attaining Success and achieving your Goals. Make it a habit and you will attain Success and Prosperity faster than you can imagine! If, on the other hand, our honest answer is “no,” then we need to stop what we are doing and shift gears. We have lost Focus and we need to redirect our attention to WHAT’S IMPORTANT NOW. It really is that simple. The difficulty lies in 1) Actually engaging in this self-analysis, and 2) Being brutally honest with ourselves. If what we WANT is that important, we can overcome this perceived “difficulty.” Make W.I.N. a Habit. If you do – and it really is not that difficult – you are well on your way to attaining Success and achieving your Goal. Start immediately. [PS - As a shining example, you would not believe how distracted I allowed myself to become in trying to track down suitable images for this post!] Thank you for supporting our site!
Until next time . . . .
Success Key: The Most Wonderful (Stressful) Time of the Year Posted by Richard Catalina, Jr. • December 16, 2010 • Printer-friendly We create our stress. The External Factors, which we blame as the cause of our stress, are NOT our stress, nor do they create our stress. The Factors just are – they are merely external events and circumstances. ___________________________________________
Success Key: The Most Wonderful Time of the Year - A Stress-Free Holiday Season Well, it’s that most wonderful – and stressful – time of the year. People around the world, and in particular, here in the United States, are in full swing of preparing for the most Holy of Days, Christmas. While a Christian Holy Day celebrating the birth of Christ, Christmas has evolved into a commercial holiday (of almost comical proportions) celebrated by Christians and non-Christians alike, depending on applicable customs and cultures. While we often hear “‘tis the season to be jolly,” the fact is that many of us don’t experience a “wonderful” Christmas season; we experience a stressful Christmas season. In fact, the number of individuals who experience unhealthy levels of stress, anxiety and depression reach epic highs during the Christmas season. It doesn’t have to be that way. Bob Proctor once stated that “Stress is a state of Mind.” He is absolutely right.
All Stressed Out? It doesn’t have to be that way. "Stress" is only a Mental State, having no existence outside of your Mind! Think about it. What is “stress?” It doesn’t exist outside of the Mind or your Being. You cannot point to it; it doesn’t have a color or size. It is not a tangible, inanimate object. Some may say that stress is caused by an increase in the collective influence of external events, circumstances and other human behavior that causes us to feel overwhelmed, helpless and fearful. That is only part right. The part that is right concerns the increase in the nature, level and extent of events, circumstances and other “undesirable” human behavior that we come in contact with during the Christmas season. During the Christmas season, the nature, level and extent of items on our respective plates does increase. There are more events and activities taking place. Time is precious. And, we are more likely to encounter other human behavior that we may perceive as undesirable, such as increased traffic, competitive shoppers, and other (like ourselves) irritable individuals. But, those are all external events and circumstances. They just are (although some, perhaps most, of many of the external events and circumstances are within our direct control although we may deny it). Let’s call these collective external events, circumstances and behaviors “External Factors.” Some may say that stress is caused by an increase in the collective influence of external events, circumstances and other human behavior that causes us to feel overwhelmed, helpless and fearful. That is only part right. Stress is nothing more than our internal response to those External Factors – how we perceive them, what we say about them internally, how we respond (or react) emotionally, our behavior towards them, and, of course, our physical (bodily) response to those External Factors. We create our stress. The External Factors, which we blame as the cause of our stress, are NOT our stress, nor do they create our stress. The Factors just are – they are merely external events and circumstances. As such, in order to reduce and/or eliminate our experience of stress, we MUST start (and end) with ourselves: our own Mental State. As Mary Morrissey teaches, we must “pay attention to what we are paying attention to.” If our internal thinking and responses to these External Factors are along the lines of “This is awful . . . I will never get all my shopping done . . . . I really cannot afford to be buying all of these gifts . . . I shouldn’t be doing this . . . . I simply don’t have time for all
of this . . . [etc.],” we necessarily increase our State of Stress. Of course with that kind of thinking we are going to feel overwhelmed. In fact, this is precisely HOW we create our own stress. What happens when we think and respond in such fearful, negative fashion? Besides broadcasting such negativity (negative thoughts) into the Universe – which has its own repercussions – our brain and bodies release harmful stress hormones, corticosteroids and other chemicals into our physical being. These chemicals are great for a real “fight or flight” situation. But, this is not that. This is everyday life. And the result is that continued exposure to these chemicals does awful damage to our bodies. We become “stressed out.” Moreover, such negative, anxious thinking not only causes us to experience the Emotional and Mental State of stress, but it further manifests itself in physical symptoms. Such as, you ask? Symptoms like headaches, neck aches, indigestion, other digestive problems, heart palpitations, fatigue, irritability, insomnia . . . and in rare cases, stroke, heart attack and death. Stress can kill. Over the long term, constant exposure to high levels of “stress chemicals” eats away at your body and eventually it can kill you. Since all stress originates in the Mind and is nothing more than a Mental State, the obvious recourse is to take Personal Action and reduce and/or eliminate it. As I said, it doesn’t have to be this way. So, what are the immediate Action items that you can take to reduce and/or eliminate your Stress starting RIGHT NOW? Here is a great starting (and not all-inclusive) list: 1. Immediately start “paying attention to what you are paying attention to.” Remember, stress has no existence in and of itself, and certainly no external existence outside of your Mind. You create your stress by your thoughts and emotions. When you catch yourself engaging in such “stressful” thinking – STOP! 2. Put a limit on planned activities. You can’t do everything; there must be some limitations. Remember, work continues, routine family obligations continue, life goes on. Without the holidays you are already busy and your schedule is packed. Now, you need to find even more time for shopping, parties, decorating, etc. There is only so much you can do without your rain barrel overflowing, so recognize that fact and put limits on that to which you will (and can) commit. 3. Don’t engage in behavior and activities that are incongruent with your Core Principles. What does that mean? As an example (and an example only), if you are already deeply in debt, and it is already an issue in your life, don’t go deeper into debt with the shopping simply because you feel you “have to.” Tell friends
and family that you are cutting back on spending this year. They will understand. And, if they don’t – that is their problem, NOT yours. Remember, Christmas is not about spending the most (you already know that), so don’t engage in spending behavior that is going to create additional problems for you down the road. Overburdened with things on your “to do” list? Put some of the items away – for now. A psychologist friend of mine long ago taught me the “storage shelf” technique. When we have too much on our plate – more than we can possibly handle at any one time and we feel overwhelmed – we need to prioritize as to what is MOST Important Now (
Success Key: Take Annual Inventory of Yourself Posted by Richard Catalina, Jr. • January 3, 2011 • Printer-friendly "It is one thing to want – everyone wants more – but it is something entirely different to be Worth more! Many people mistake their “wants” for their “just dues.” Your financial requirements or wants have nothing whatever to do with your Worth. Your value is established entirely by your ability to render useful service or your capacity to induce others to render such service." - Napoleon Hill, "Think and Grow Rich" ___________________________________________
Success Key: Take Annual Inventory of Yourself - 28 Questions You Should Answer [Editor's Note: I promised a "don't miss" post for New Years Eve on "Resentment and Forgiveness," which I did not post after all. For several reasons, which will be disclosed in the post when it is published, I decided to wait until a later date. I trust that you will find it in your heart to forgive me - please! When the article does post, I think you will find it worthwhile ;-)] Happy New Year to everyone! Thank you for joining us and for making 2010 a GREAT year for The Success Manual! Today's post is a Success Passage (and Success Key) taken directly from Napoleon Hill's Think and Grow Rich. The Passage is from the Chapter on Organized Planning and consists of a 28-question Self-Analysis Questionnaire for Personal Inventory. Okay, I realize it would have been best to post this Self-Analysis Questionnaire last week, but better late than never and let us remember - each day is a new start. There is, as I have often stated here, nothing magical about the start of a new calendar year. We get a chance each and every day to begin our lives anew and when better to start than right now.
The Annual Self-Analysis Questionnaire for Personal Inventory: How well do you score? Take Napoleon Hill's Personal Inventory Survey and find out! A critical point to be made about this Self-Analysis Questionnaire is to undertake it with total, absolute and brutal honesty - something that is always difficult when it comes to ourselves. Let's face it - it is easy to see the faults of others (the splinter in their eye) and not our own personal defects (the beam in our eye). The Ego detests being wrong and considers itself the center of the Universe (or so I have been told or read somewhere). In order for this Personal Inventory to be effective - and why do it if you don't want results - it is imperative that we lay aside our personal biases and dig deep real, real deep. The Truth will set you Free. So, suck it up for some brief pain in order to obtain an honest assessment that will enable you to make real, substantial positive gains in your journey to Succeed. "Your annual self-analysis should be made at the end of each year, so you can include in your New Year’s Resolutions any improvements which the analysis indicates should be made. Take this inventory by asking yourself the following questions, and by checking your answers with the aid of someone who will not permit you to deceive yourself as to their accuracy." - Napoleon Hill, "Think and Grow Rich" Lastly, while Napoleon Hill's Self Inventory Questionnaire is geared towards "Personal Services" (as a means for determining your "market value"), the analysis is not limited to that purpose; it may be used for measuring any aspect of Personal Development, Self Improvement and Success Achievement. Use it wise, grasshopper . . . .
We have a TON planned for 2011, so hold on tight. This is going to be a GREAT YEAR and we hope you join us for the ride. Fasten your seatbelts, it promises to be a wild ride ... Until next time. Peace Out, and - Namasté! To your Health, Wealth, Prosperity and Success, Richard ___________________________________________
Take Inventory of Yourself: 28 Questions You Should Answer It is one thing to want – everyone wants more – but it is something entirely different to be Worth more! Many people mistake their “wants” for their “just dues.” Your financial requirements or wants have nothing whatever to do with your Worth. Your value is established entirely by your ability to render useful service or your capacity to induce others to render such service. Annual self-analysis is an essential in the effective marketing of personal services, as is annual inventory in merchandising. Moreover, the yearly analysis should disclose a decrease in faults, and an increase in Virtues. One goes ahead, stands still, or goes backward in life. One’s object should be, of course, to go ahead. Annual self analysis will disclose whether advancement has been made, and if so, how much. It will also disclose any backward steps one may have made. The effective marketing of personal services requires one to move forward even if the progress is slow. Your annual self-analysis should be made at the end of each year, so you can include in your New Year’s Resolutions any improvements which the analysis indicates should be made. Take this inventory by asking yourself the following questions, and by checking your answers with the aid of someone who will not permit you to deceive yourself as to their accuracy.
Self-Analysis Questionnaire for Personal Inventory 1. Have I attained the goal which I established as my objective for this year? (You should work with a definite yearly objective to be attained as a part of your major life objective). 2. Have I delivered Service of the best possible Quality of which I was capable, or could I have improved any part of this service?
3. Have I delivered Service in the greatest possible Quantity of which I was capable? 4. Has the Spirit of my conduct been Harmonious, and Cooperative at all times? 5. Have I permitted the Habit of Procrastination to decrease my efficiency, and if so, to what extent? 6. Have I improved my Personality, and if so, in what ways? 7. Have I been Persistent in following my plans through to completion? 8. Have I reached Decisions Promptly and Definitely on all occasions? 9. Have I permitted any one or more of the “Six Basic Fears” to decrease my efficiency? 10. Have I been either “over-cautious,” or “under-cautious?” 11. Has my relationship with my associates in work been pleasant, or unpleasant? If it has been unpleasant, has the fault been partly, or wholly mine? 12. Have I dissipated any of my energy through lack of Concentration of effort? 13. Have I been open minded and tolerant in connection with all subjects? 14. In what way have I improved my ability to render Service? 15. Have I been intemperate in any of my Habits? 16. Have I expressed, either openly or secretly, any form of Egotism? 17. Has my conduct toward my associates been such that it has induced them to Respect me? 18. Have my opinions and Decisions been based upon guesswork, or accuracy of analysis and Thought? 19. Have I followed the Habit of budgeting my time, my expenses, and my income, and have I been conservative in these budgets? 20. How much time have I devoted to unprofitable effort which I might have used to better advantage? 21. How may I re-budget my time, and change my habits so I will be more efficient during the coming year? 22. Have I been guilty of any conduct which was not approved by my conscience? 23. In what ways have I rendered more Service and better Service than I was paid to render? 24. Have I been unfair to anyone, and if so, in what way? 25. If I had been the purchaser of my own services for the year, would I be satisfied with my purchase? 26. Am I in the right vocation, and if not, why not? 27. Has the purchaser of my Services been satisfied with the Service I have rendered, and if not, why not? 28. What is my present rating on the fundamental Principles of Success? (Make this rating fairly, and frankly, and have it checked by someone who is courageous enough to do it accurately).
Success Strategy and Mastery Move: Working with the Law of Cause and Effect Posted by Richard Catalina, Jr. • January 25, 2011 • Printer-friendly Too often, we become so deeply ensconced in the daily busy-ness of our lives that we fail to realize the immense powerful impact that the Law of Cause and Effect plays in the results that we achieve (or fail to achieve). Make no mistake, however – the Law is always at work. Whether we consciously work it to our benefit, or whether we neglect it in its entirety, the Law of Cause and Effect operates to shape the Results of our lives. We can choose, therefore, to work with the Law, or we can choose to ignore it. Either way, the Law’s force and impact on our lives is still the same. ___________________________________________
Success Strategy and Mastery Move: Working with the Law of Cause and Effect We live in a world of “cause and effect.” Understand and apply the Law of Cause and Effect in your daily actions, and your life will change – dramatically. Worked correctly, the Law of Cause and Effect can markedly alter the course of your life in the direction that you Desire. This is a Law that CAN be worked tremendously to your advantage. Too often, we become so deeply ensconced in the daily busy-ness of our lives that we fail to realize the immense powerful impact that the Law of Cause and Effect plays in the results that we achieve (or fail to achieve). Make no mistake, however – the Law is always at work. Whether we consciously work it to our benefit, or whether we neglect it in its entirety, the Law of Cause and Effect operates to shape the Results of our lives. We can choose, therefore, to work with the Law, or we can choose to ignore it. Either way, the Law’s force and impact on our lives is still the same.
So, it might be a good idea to revisit this important Success Key. And, perhaps, rediscover a few refresher points along the way.
"Boott Spur from Wildcat." A dramatic winter scene in the Presidential Range of the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Photo by Al Lambert on January 6, 2010. Copyright Mount Washington Observatory at www.mountwashington.org. Thanks, Crew!
Cause and Effect Refresher The Law of Cause and Effect simply embodies the principle that every state (circumstance) that exists in the Universe is an effect created by an originating cause. Or, stated conversely, every action is a cause that creates a resulting effect. Consider the following fact pattern to demonstrate the Law of Cause and Effect (for those well-versed in this Law, please bear with me): 1. I saw or chop a tree (cause) and it falls down (effect). 2. I continue to saw the fallen tree (cause) and I create logs (effect). 3. I split the logs (cause) and I create firewood (effect).
4. I stack the firewood (cause) and I create a firewood pile (effect). 5. I leave the firewood pile sitting outside for one year (cause) and it becomes seasoned firewood (effect). 6. I take a piece of seasoned firewood and throw it into a fire in the fireplace (cause) and it burns (effect). 7. The firewood burns (cause) and the fire produces byproducts of ash, water, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and other gases (effects), which spew forth from the chimney (further effect). 8. The combustion byproducts of my burning firewood (cause) increase the level of CO2 in the atmosphere (effect); the increased level of CO2 in the atmosphere (cause) creates an increase in the “green house” effect (effect); the increased “green house” effect (cause) results in warmer surface water temperatures in the Arctic Ocean (effect); warmer surface water temperatures in the Arctic Ocean (cause) result in less ice in the winter months (effect); less ice in the Arctic Ocean during the winter months (cause) means that the resident polar bears are unable to complete their migration, which requires a frozen Arctic Ocean (effect) . . . etc. The cycle goes on and on and on. The Law of Cause and Effect underlies our human ability to understand and manipulate our environment; the very nature of science and scientific experimentation depends on it. All scientific theory is proven or disproven through application of the Law of Cause and Effect. Under scientific experimentation, a particular theory is tested and results (effects) are obtained. If the theory holds true, under the Law of Cause and Effect, its results (effects) may be reproduced again and again under identical causes (test controls). The Law of Gravity has been well established under Cause and Effect. So has Newtown’s Third Law of Motion, which may be stated thusly: for every action (cause), there is an equal and opposite reaction (effect).
The Law of Cause and Effect in Our Lives Human logic is founded on understanding the Law of Cause and Effect. So are the circumstances that we presently experience. In fact, where we are – right now – in our lives is the aggregate effect of all past causes. As such, the world that we currently experience – our present circumstances – is merely an amalgamation of effects. In his book, Awaken the Giant Within, Anthony Robbins explains this phenomena as follows: . . . the most powerful way to shape our lives is to get ourselves to take action. The difference in the results that people produce comes down to what they’ve done differently from others in the same situations. Different actions produce
different results. Why? Because any action is a set cause in motion, and its effect builds on past effects to move us in a definite direction. Every direction leads to an ultimate destination: our destiny. If we Desire a different world tomorrow (effects), then we must change and reestablish the proper course of causes today. If we Desire to Succeed tomorrow, then all we must do is implement the proper Success Causes today. Sound simple. It is. On a conceptual basis, the fundamentals of the Law are really quite elementary. On a practical basis, however, the Law takes on much greater sophistication. Why? First, it is not always possible to establish a bright line nexus (connection) between all of our causes and all of our effects. As a result, we cannot conclude with certainty today what our Actions will produce as tomorrow’s Results. Yes, sometimes it is easy – as in the firewood example, above, when I cut the tree with a saw, the tree WILL fall down. However, much of what we do, and what we fail to do – while all causes of future effects – are not easy to predict with precision. In fact, our lives encompass such an intricate web of countless causes and effects – simple and multiple – with intervening variables that most of the time it is virtually impossible to connect a single effect back to a specific single cause. In our fact pattern scenario, for example, it is hard to see how burning firewood may result in migration issues for polar bears. (Okay, perhaps today we see a cause and effect, but surely nobody connected the dots one hundred years ago). In fact, a cause may have many effects. And, an effect may be the result of multiple causes, each contributing in its own way to the ultimate Result. And, as Anthony Robbins aptly notes, effects can be causes for further effects. It does get complicated. Because we cannot conclude with precision how today’s Actions impact and determine tomorrow’s Results, we must work indirectly and in a general sense. For example, if we KNEW exactly what Actions today would result – with 100% precision – in a specific financial Success one year from now, well . . . we would do it . . . right? So, attempting to establish an Action-Result nexus in a Cause and Effect context is a difficult proposition – assuming that it can be accomplished. Second, and what most do not realize, is that it is not just our Actions that are the causes of our Results.
Indeed, our Thoughts are also causes, and attempts to establish the connection between a particular line of thinking and the results that we experience in our lives as a direct result thereof (Thought-Result nexus) is even more difficult than attempting to establish an Action-Result nexus. But, as sure as the sun rises tomorrow, our Thoughts shape our lives. As the Success Manual’s web site tagline succinctly states above: “Achieving Success One Thought at a Time!” In his Success Manual classic, As A Man Thinketh, James Allen states it perfectly. The following quotes from Chapter 2, Effect of Thought on Circumstance, are on point: Man’s mind may be likened to a garden, which may be intelligently cultivated or allowed to run wild; but whether cultivated or neglected, it must, and will, bring forth. If no useful seeds are put into it, then an abundance of useless weed-seeds will fall therein, and will continue to produce their kind. That circumstances grow out of thought every man knows who has for any length of time practiced self-control and self-purification, for he will have noticed that the alteration in his circumstances has been in exact ratio with his altered mental condition. The outer world of circumstance shapes itself to the inner world of thought, and both pleasant and unpleasant external conditions are factors, which make for the ultimate good of the individual. As the reaper of his own harvest, man learns both by suffering and bliss. Circumstance does not make the man; it reveals him to himself. Men do not attract that which they want, but that which they are. Men are anxious to improve their circumstances, but are unwilling to improve themselves; they therefore remain bound. Good thoughts and actions can never produce bad results; bad thoughts actions can never produce good results. This is but saying that nothing come from corn but corn, nothing from nettles but nettles. Men understand law in the natural world, and work with it; but few understand it in the mental moral world (though its operation there is just as simple and undeviating), they, therefore, do not cooperate with it.
and can this and and
Let a man radically alter his thoughts, and he will be astonished at the rapid transformation it will effect in the material conditions of his life. A particular train of thought persisted in, be it good or bad, cannot fail to produce its results on the character and circumstances. A man cannot directly choose his circumstances, but he can choose his thoughts, and so indirectly, yet surely, shape his circumstances.
Re-read that last paragraph again: “A particular train of thought persisted in, be it good or bad, cannot fail to produce its results on the character and circumstances. A man cannot directly choose his circumstances, but he can choose his thoughts, and so indirectly, yet surely, shape his circumstances.” That really sums it up – while we cannot directly chose tomorrow’s circumstances, we can choose our thoughts today, and today’s thoughts shape tomorrow’s circumstances. This statement accurately summarizes the nature of the Law of Cause and Effect and how best to use it to our advantage.
The Law of Cause and Effect by Another Name The Law of Attraction is based entirely on the Law of Cause and Effect. And, Emerson has called the Law of Cause and Effect the “Law of Laws.” It has also been called “Heaven’s First Law.” We have all heard of “Karma.” As I understand it, Karma, in Indian religions, is the concept of “action” or “deed,” understood as that which causes the entire cycle of cause and effect (i.e., the cycle called samsãra) originating in ancient India and treated in Hindu, Jain, Buddhist and Sikh philosophies. (Anybody care to add some comments here?) So, what does this all mean and what points can we take away from this discussion to assist us on our Path to Success? Plenty.
Success Is an Effect Success is an effect. Understand and execute the cause(s), and you, too, will Succeed. In his Success Manual Classic, How to Get What You Want (or, as I like to call it, How to Succeed in Anything), Wallace D. Wattles states the following: Getting what you want is success; and success is an effect, coming from the application of a cause. Success is essentially the same in all cases; the difference is in the things the successful people want, but not in the success. Success is essentially the same, whether it results in the attainment of health, wealth, development or position; success is attainment, without regard to the things attained. And it is a law in nature that like causes always produce like effects; therefore, since success is the same in all cases, the cause of success must be the same in all cases.
The cause of success is always in the person who succeeds; you will see that this must be true, because if the cause of success were in nature, outside the person, then all persons similarly situated would succeed . . . It is, therefore, mathematically certain that you can succeed if you will find out the cause of success, and develop it to sufficient strength, and apply it properly to your work; for the application of a sufficient cause can not fail to produce a given effect. If there is a failure anywhere, of any kind, it is because the cause was either not sufficient or was not properly applied. The cause of success is some power within you; you have the power to develop any power to a limitless extent; for there is no end to mental growth; you can increase the strength of this power indefinitely, and so you can make it strong enough to do what you want to do, and to get what you want to get; when it is strong enough you can learn how to apply it to the work, and therefore, you can certainly succeed. All you have to learn is what is the cause of success, and how it must be applied. Because Success is an effect, in order to Succeed tomorrow, we MUST execute the right causes today that produce Successful results tomorrow. So, where do we begin?
The Causes of Success What are the primary causes of the effect of Success? Well, that is what this site is all about. That is what each of the books available in our Success Manual Free Download Library is about. It all begins with Thought – the original Cause of the Effect of Success. What kind of Thought (cause) results in Success (effect)? We can start with what Wattles calls “Active Power Consciousness” in his book, How to Get What You Want. Or, as Anthony Robbins explores in Awaken the Giant Within, “the Power of Decision.” Or, as Napoleon Hill asserts throughout Think and Grow Rich, the proper “State of Mind.” In each case, it is Thought. Sow the right Thoughts – Thoughts of Success – and you will reap Success. What we Think, we become. As an excellent starting point, we MUST act as the gatekeeper of our Mind, and bar (and refuse to entertain) thoughts of fear, doubt, worry, failure, negativity, resentment,
jealousy, and the like. Our Mind, as James Allen points out, is like a garden and we are the gardener. If we don’t plant – in affirmative fashion – Successful Thoughts, then whatever seeds do happen to fall in (random thoughts) will grab hold and overtake our garden. Regardless of whether, and to what extent, that we tend the Garden of our Mind, it will bring forth, it will produce. It is only a matter of whether it is useful fruit or useless weeds. Random gardening is no way to cultivate and harvest a bountiful crop. Similarly, random thinking is no way to Succeed. Why leave your Garden to chance? Tend it carefully! I strongly urge that you read James Allen's A Man Thinketh and Wallace D. Wattles' How to Get What You Want every day for the next thirty (30) days. This is a surefire way to tend your Success Garden well and initiate the proper root causes today in order to achieve the effects of Success tomorrow. Happy Gardening! Until next time . . .
Success Key: The Law of Compensation, Part I Posted by Richard Catalina, Jr. • February 8, 2011 • Printer-friendly "The law is this: We reap what we sow. When you select a rule of conduct which you use to guide yourself in your transactions with others, you will be fair and just if you know that you are setting in motion a power that will run its course (for good or bad) in the lives of others, returning finally to help or hinder you according to its nature." - Napoleon Hill ___________________________________________
Success Key: The Law of Compensation, Part I [Ed. Note: Today’s Post is Part I of III on the highly crucial Law of Compensation. Part I of this essay defines the Law, Part II examines the nature of the Law in greater detail, and Part III explores how we may implement the Law in our daily lives to our advantage and benefit].
The Law of Compensation, Part I
The Law of Compensation: Defined In the Success Post that accompanies “The Law of Success – Lesson Nine: The Habit of Doing More Than Paid For” by Napoleon Hill (Posted in The Success Manual Free Download Library and The Napoleon Hill Success Library on January 22, 2011), we discussed, among other matters, The Law of Compensation. Interestingly, after that Post was published, I came across several references to The Law of Compensation, which provided me with the Opportunity to further reflect upon the Law – what it is, how it works and how we may better invoke it to our benefit. That reflection and study is embodied in this Post and the two to follow. The Law of Compensation is such a simple law; yet, it works with amazing precision in our Lives – each and every day. What exactly is the Law of Compensation?
Quite simply, it is that principle that “we reap what we sow.” As St. Paul stated approximately two thousand years ago: “Whatsoever a man sows, that shall he also reap.” Gal. 6:7. In this case, the sowing concerns the Garden of Thought, Emotion and Action. What we think, how we feel and how we act all determines what is returned to us – with mathematical precision. In his master classic, Working with the Law, Raymond Holliwell defines it thusly: “Compensation means equal returns for that which is given; it means a balance of that quality or service that is extended to another . . . You can only build on that which you create.” It is also known as Karma and “what goes around, comes around.”
The cover to The Beatles' 1969 album, Abbey Road. Image the property of the respective copyright owner. All rights reserved. For educational purposes only. Or, as two, young Brits in the 1960s lyrically penned it, “And in the end, the Love you take is equal to the Love you make.” Perfectly stated. (“The End” is a song by The Beatles composed by Paul McCartney (credited to Lennon/McCartney) for the album Abbey Road. It was the last song recorded collectively by all four of the Beatles, and is the final song of a 16-minute medley that dominates side two of the LP version of the album.) Throughout his illustrious career as a preeminent Success Teacher, Napoleon Hill often referred to the Law of Compensation as “the Golden Rule” (he also referred to it, as noted in Lesson Nine of The of Success in Sixteen Lessons, as The Law of Compensation). In an article in Hill’s Success Unlimited magazine, Napoleon Hill explained it thusly: “Inherent in the principle of applied faith is the sustained application of the Golden Rule in your daily life. For more than four thousand years, men have
been preaching the Golden Rule as a suitable rule of conduct, but, unfortunately, the world has accepted the letter while totally missing the spirit of this universal injunction. We have accepted the Golden Rule merely as a sound rule of ethical conduct but we have failed to understand the law upon which it is based. “The law is this: We reap what we sow. When you select a rule of conduct which you use to guide yourself in your transactions with others, you will be fair and just if you know that you are setting in motion a power that will run its course (for good or bad) in the lives of others, returning finally to help or hinder you according to its nature. “It is your privilege to deal unjustly with others, but if you understand the basis for the Golden Rule, you must know that your unjust dealings will come home to roost. The law does not mean merely the flinging back upon you your acts of injustice and unkindness toward others; it goes much further and returns to you the results of every thought you release. “Therefore, not only is it advisable to 'do unto others as you wish them to do unto you,' but you must 'think of others as you wish them to think of you,' to avail yourself fully of the benefits of this great universal law.” [See also Post, Success Key: The Golden Rule - A Lost Success Key?, March 3, 2010]. Similarly, Holliwell further notes that, “Sooner or later we must come face to face with this Law of Compensation, and inevitably, our own comes to us – and only what is our own.” Because the Law of Compensation works to equally balance our “reaping” with our “sowing,” the Law may be invoked with accuracy and precision. As Raymond Holliwell again profoundly instructs in Working with the Law: “The Law that we reap what we sow is mathematically accurate. Each experience through which we pass operates ultimately for our good. If we attract the unpleasant, it is often because some dormant or neglected phase of our nature needs to be awakened and developed; also, we learn from the experience to create something better. Hence the degree of contentment and satisfaction attained in whatever sphere of life we may dwell is largely dependent upon our ability to use constructively the experiences of life; for, in every case, the Law of Attraction will only bring what may serve us in our upward development. To interpret this Law in a simple form, it should be stated that whatever we attract, we require and whatever we need is always good. This is a correct attitude to adopt, because all experience is for our good and we must be able to see it in that light.”
Consider the last two sentences of this passage from Holliwell again: “To interpret this Law in a simple form, it should be stated that whatever we attract, we require and whatever we need is always good. This is a correct attitude to adopt, because all experience is for our good and we must be able to see it in that light.” If we can truly comprehend the full meaning and import of what Holliwell states here, the magnificence of the Law of Compensation cannot be overstated. Whatever we attract, we require. Whatever we require (need) is Good. Therefore, ALL experience (what we attract) is for our Good. God seeks to draw out the Good in us through each and every experience – the Desirable and the Undesirable. As such, under the Law of Compensation, every experience is not only a manifestation (Effect) of what we have sowed (Cause) in the past (Result), every experience is a Divine Opportunity for us to GROW and PROSPER - Spiritually, Emotionally, Intellectually, Physically and Financially. In fact, I would take this a step further and submit that every experience is a Divine-Mandated Opportunity to GROW and PROSPER. In that sense, the Law of Compensation is more than just “what goes around, comes around.” The Law of Compensation is our Infinite Creator providing us with what we need. “We must be able to see it in that light.” ___________________________________________ Have a beautiful day . . . come back soon for Part II - it promises to be good! Until next time, dear Friend . . .
Success Strategy: The Ten (10) Steps to Universal Problem Solving Posted by Richard Catalina, Jr. • October 29, 2010 • Printer-friendly We must understand that the undesirable events, conditions and circumstances, which we refer to as "problems," are EXTERNAL to us; the identification of those events, conditions and circumstances as a “problem,” on the other hand, is INTERNAL – a product of our thinking, beliefs and conditioned habits. The latter is a creature of our Mind; the former is simply a set of facts without any inherent meaning – they just are. The only meaning of those external events, conditions and circumstances is the meaning that we ascribe to these facts internally in our Mind. _________________________________________________
Success Strategy: The Ten (10) Step Technique to Universal Problem Solving How to Solve ANY Problem Are you presently facing a “problem” that appears to have no solution? Yes? Good. This Post may be just what you need. Throughout Life, we all face what we commonly refer to as “problems.” In fact, many individuals view Life itself as a series of problems – one after another – some large, some small, but all problems just the same. Some unfortunate Souls actually perceive Life itself as one giant “problem.” How sad! People “struggle” with “problems.” And, that is quite unfortunate, because it really doesn’t have to be that way. In fact, I would suggest that there are no such things as “problems,” and that there doesn’t have to be any “struggling.” “Problems,” in and of themselves, are nothing more than mere creatures of the mind; they have no existence on their own, and to the extent that we “struggle” with them, that is of our own doing. Stay with me here . . . Of course, if you presently face a significant challenge in your life (notice that I did not use the word “problem,” thereby already changing the meaning and significance of the
undesirable and unwanted set of circumstances that most would refer to as a “problem”), you may find little comfort in such Wisdom. After all, these few simple words will likely not provide the resolution or solution you seek. It is, however, a start. Indeed, there is a magical, surefire way to solve or eliminate ANY “problem” that may be plaguing you. Follow these Ten (10) Steps – honestly and diligently – and I assure you that you will realize one of the following three (3) outcomes: 1) You will solve your “problem,” 2) The problem will resolve itself, or 3) You will simply no longer view the “problem” as a “problem” – it will simply seek to exist. Regardless of which of the three outcomes you experience, the result is the same: Freedom from the “problem.” It is really quite simple and the beauty of it is that – IT WORKS! I personally use this technique consistently and it has never, ever failed me. It has been thoroughly developed, re-tooled and time-tested, and it is powerfully effective.
Step One: Every Problem Has a Solution Every “problem” has a Solution. Not some, not most – ALL. All “problems” have Solutions and are resolvable. In fact, there are likely many possible resolutions to a particular undesired set of facts and circumstances. More than one possible solution may even be optimal. The First Step in resolving any “problem” is to know, understand and believe that there IS a solution, there is an answer. To realize the ultimate Solution, all that is required is that you increase your personal Level of Awareness to discover the possible Solutions and then implement the one that provides the greatest benefit towards your Desired outcome. You MUST understand and accept this fact – that every “problem” has a Solution – as TRUE. If you do not accept this proposition as the Truth, the likelihood that you will realize the Solution is highly unlikely. Think about it: if you do not believe that there is a Solution to your dilemma, what are the chances that you will attempt to realize it? You won’t. And, your “problem” will remain unresolved and continue to fester. The simple fact is that, at present, you simply do not see the Solution. For if you did, then the “problem” would no longer exist; it would be resolved. Simply start with the unconditional Believe and Faith that your “problem” has a solution – many solutions – and all that is needed is for you to discover it.
Step Two: De-Personalize the “Problem” Having accepted the Truth that there is a Solution to your so-called “problem,” the next step is to “de-personalize the problem.”
What does that mean and why is it important? What it means is that YOU are NOT your “problem” (okay, sometimes we are our own worst enemies, but you get the point). You are separate from your “problem” – it exists entirely outside of you. Wait a minute – didn’t I just say earlier that “problems,” in and of themselves, are nothing more than mere creatures of the mind; they have no existence on their own, and to the extent that we “struggle” with them, that is of our own doing? Yes, I did. To avoid undue confusion, let’s immediately reconcile these concepts. First, we must define what we mean when we use the term “problem.” After all, “problem” has many meanings (e.g., “Did you finish your math problems in your homework assignment?”) Essentially, what we all commonly refer to as “problems” are mere UNDESIRABLE conditions and/or circumstances. “Undesirable” to whom? The person who claims them to be a “problem.” What may be one person’s “problem” may be another persons’ joy. In other words, the nature, level and extent of a particular “problem” are in the eye of the beholder. As such, we must understand that the undesirable events, conditions and circumstances are EXTERNAL to us; the identification of those events, conditions and circumstances as a “problem,” on the other hand, is INTERNAL – a product of our thinking, beliefs and conditioned habits. The latter is a creature of our Mind; the former is simply a set of facts without any inherent meaning – they just are. The only meaning of those external events, conditions and circumstances is the meaning that we ascribe to these facts internally in our Mind. And that is where we need to draw the line and depersonalize the “problem.” The undesirable events, conditions and circumstances are external facts. They are not us – they just are. So, as part of the Second Step, we need to distinguish and understand that the nature of the “problem” is something outside of ourselves; how we perceive a problem, contrarily, is internal and a function of Mind – something over which we may assert control and change. We must depersonalize the “problem” and personalize the Solution. The “problem” lies without; the Solution will be realized within.
Step Three: Open Your Creative Mind Some “problems” may be resolved through simple, deductive reasoning (e.g., 2+2=4). Other “problems” are not that easy – there are too many intangible variables – and, therefore, more is required. Most so-called “problems” require something more than deductive reasoning, for if it were that simple (relatively speaking, of course), then “problems” wouldn’t (or shouldn’t)
linger on without resolution – assuming that one is making bona fide attempts to resolve the “problem.” So, how do we resolve “problems” that elude conscious analyzation? The answer is to open your Creative Mind, your Subconscious, to the Infiniteness of Universe and all that is possible. We have already accepted the fact that every “problem” has a Solution (Step One). And, we have depersonalized the “problem,” and have further accepted as Truth that the Solution must come from within (Step Two). If you don’t have the Solution now, and you have been working on resolving your “problem” for some time, from whence shall the Solution come? When you open your Creative Mind to what is possible, you allow the answer to come to you. Let’s face it: our Conscious Mind is not always the best “problem” solver; in fact, it probably gets us into “problems” more than it gets us out of them.
The Wright Brothers had a firm belief that they could build a flying-machine. The ability to build a “flying machine” – today a fact not even questioned – has been in existence as long as the Universe, and the Wright Brothers knew that. It (the Principle of Flight) merely required that man finally achieve the requisite Level of Awareness where the principle of fixed wing flight could be realized. Think of the Wright Brothers and their firm belief that they could build a flying-machine. People at that time thought the Wrights were crazy. Moreover, their own father, a minister, harshly admonished them, claiming that they would burn in hell merely for suggesting the idea! Yet, the ability to build a “flying machine” – today a fact not even questioned – has been in existence as long as the Universe, and the Wright Brothers
knew that. It (the Principle of Flight) merely required that man finally achieve the requisite Level of Awareness where the principle of fixed wing flight could be realized. Nonetheless, the Principle of Flight, and the scientific laws governing that principle, always existed. In fact, every law and principle of what may be possible in the future already exists here and now – simply waiting to be discovered. Think of it: a unified theory of the Universe, from the grand to the subatomic, which has eluded scientists since the time of Einstein already exists. We just don’t know it – yet. As a race (human race), our Level of Awareness requires greater Understanding. The same holds true for the Solution to your “problem.” You just don’t know it yet and the way you will discover it is to open your Creative Mind.
Step Four: Remove Obstructions to Overcome Obstacles So, how does one open his or her Creative Mind? The crucial first step is to remove all Obstructions. You will not realize the proper Solution to your “problem” if your Mind is clogged with needless, destructive clutter Obstructions. What are “Obstructions?” Fear. Doubt. Worry. Anxiety. Negative thinking. These are all States of Mind (mental states) that not only will fail to resolve your “problem,” but will actively and affirmatively work against realizing a Solution. As long as you harbor Obstructions, the likelihood that you will solve your “problem” is very, very slim. Obstructions such as Fear, Doubt, Worry, Anxiety and Negative Thinking literally clog the channels of your Creative Mind. You cannot think in a constructive, creative fashion when you are focused on the negative and gripped with Fear and Worry. It is simply not possible. Moreover, Obstructions are just that: Obstructions. They block the flow of Creative Spirit through your Conscious and Subconscious Minds. If you were so ensconced with Fear and Anxiety – to the point of paralysis – do you think you would hear God whispering the answer to you? God rarely shouts, and outside of Biblical accounts, I don’t know of anyone to whom God appeared or spoke accompanied by bolts of lighting and fire. God speaks to our Heart and the way to hear God in this fashion is to quiet the Mind. Obstructions are anything but quiet and can produce compulsive thought and action. In Step One we accepted the uncontroverted Truth that all “problems” have Solutions. Truly knowing that – with unconditional Faith and Believe – is usually sufficient to instill a Peace of Heart that clears the Obstructions. If you find yourself still hindered by these negative States of Mind, work (but don’t struggle) to remove the blockage.
Step Five: Understand that Obstructions Are a Result of Ignorance So, how do we remove Obstructions with Peace and without struggling? Through Understanding, Knowledge and Awareness. We must increase our Level of Awareness, gain Knowledge and Understand the causes of Fear, Doubt, Worry, Anxiety and Negative Thinking. While tomes may be (and are) written on the subject, it is critical to UNDERSTAND that such destructive Mental States are caused by or a result of Ignorance. Ignorance of what? First, not knowing WHERE the answer or solution lies. Consider. A young couple is deeply in debt and they both lost their jobs. With each passing month, they sink deeper and deeper into debt. Their levels of Fear, Doubt and Worry increase. Negative Thinking persists. They see no way out. Therein lays the problem: They see no way out. Suppose I had a bona fide magic crystal ball and could convince the young couple that the crystal ball really could show the future. Taken a step further, I consult my crystal ball and show them the winning multimillion dollar lottery numbers for the following week. All they would need to do is play that winning combination of numbers on the right day and they become instant winners of $50 million. What do you think would happen to their Doubt, Worry, Anxiety, Fear and Negative Thinking (at least with respect to their debt and unemployment “problem”)? It would immediately vanish into thin air! Why? Because they now see their Solution! When we see the Solutions to our “problems” – even if those answers are not immediately available – the levels of our Obstructions immediately drop, if not completely dissipate. As such, it is the Ignorance as to the Solution that gives rise to the Obstructions. We fail to see from where the Good that we Desire is going to come and that fuels our Obstructive Mental States. If we can begin to truly and honestly Understand that there IS a Solution (or multiple solutions) to our “problem,” and all that is required is that we raise our Level of Awareness to realize the Solution, an immediate effect is that we begin to overcome the Ignorance giving rise to our Obstructions. Just knowing that there IS a solution already begins to bring Peace, which, in turn, opens our Creative Mind to receive the answer! As long as we remained locked in the Negative, we will not see the Positive. We need to clean the House of our Minds, and like a skilled surgeon who removes blockage from diseased arteries, we must remove the Obstructions of our Creative Mind and allow Life to flow freely.
Step Six: Reframe the “Problem” All along, I have been using the word “problem” to describe and define the undesired set of conditions and circumstances. Step Six is to “reframe” the nature of “problem,” including the very word “problem.” We may start by no longer using the word “problem” as the definition or indicia of the undesired conditions and circumstances. The term “problem” immediately delivers a negative connotation – almost signifying a situation to which there is no Solution. That is why I have been using quotes with the word throughout this article – to establish the significance (or, more appropriately, the insignificance) of the actual word. Instead of the word “problem,” use either the terms “Challenge” or “Obstacle.” Immediately your perspective changes towards the undesired conditions and circumstances, for both words convey a more positive meaning and both inherently suggest that there exist solutions or answers. Think about it: who likes “problems?” In fact, we try to avoid “problems.” It is human nature to run from “problems” (who awakes in the morning thinking “Boy, I can’t wait to deal with the scourge of my problems today!”) “Challenges,” on the other hand, are an invitation for Action! (Some definitions for the word “challenge” include: “an invitation to someone to compete or fight, especially in a sport; to invite someone to compete or fight; used in the names of competitions, especially sports competitions; to test someone's skill and abilities”). Who can turn down a legitimate Challenge – whether from someone else or ourselves? Really, reframing the term “problem” to “Challenge” or “Obstacle” should be done as soon as one begins thinking that he or she has a “problem.” In terms of actual timing, therefore, Step Six should be tackled right along with Step One. Thinking of your undesired conditions or circumstances as a Challenge or mere Obstacle ab initio will do wonders for your Mental State and accelerate your progress in realizing your optimum Solution. Next, it is highly important to understand – and further reframe the undesired conditions and circumstances that we now call a Challenge or Obstacle – that ALL Challenges or Obstacles are invitations to Growth. Yes, indeed! When faced with a Challenge or Obstacle, your present inability to solve or find the Solution stems from your present Level of Awareness. In Step Five, we explored how this Ignorance gives rise to fatalthinking Obstructions and how they must be eliminated. This MUST be true, for if your present Level of Awareness was sufficient, you would already have the Solution. As such, to realize the Solution, you must Grow your current Level of Awareness. The fact that you don’t have the Solution is evidence that you must increase your present Level of Awareness.
Understand that reasons for Growth are usually irrelevant, for Growth is inherently Good. Nature is always seeking further Expansion, Expression and Growth. By Growing – whether intellectually, Spiritually, emotionally, physically – you are fulfilling one of the greatest of our human duties. We were born to Grow and it is God’s calling that we all Grow and live to our full Potential. Face it: We were not born to spend our lives on the sofa watching television. It is therefore critical to Understand that whatever your Challenge or Obstacle, it is an invitation to GROW. And, in some strange fashion which we may not readily comprehend, it may be a Divine mandate to do so. When you realize the Solution to your Challenge or Obstacle, you will necessarily be at a higher Level of Awareness. And, if the nature of your Challenge or Obstacle was most difficult – perhaps oppressive – your Level of Awareness will be even higher. You may have even developed Character along the way, one of the greatest of all personality traits. Lastly, keep in mind that all Obstacles are mere stepping stones to achieving a greater Good – a certain Goal or Success. In order to achieve any objective, you must necessarily face and overcome the Obstacles or Challenges along the way requisite to attaining that Success. (See Posts, "Success Strategy: Converting Obstacles to Stepping Stones: The Key to Victory," March 7, 2010, and "Success Key 5: Embrace Obstacles, the Stepping Stones to Success," January 23, 2010).
Step Seven: Take Action Step Seven is simple: Take Action. What kind of Action? Any Action. The key here is that you need not necessarily know precisely what to do to – just begin. If you knew the precise set of Action Steps to realize the Solution, you would have already taken that course and the Obstacle resolved. What is important is that you begin solving the Obstacle by taking any Action – as long as it is not impulsive and based on irrational emotion or Obstruction. Action is Empowering. Opportunity.
Action increases Levels of Awareness.
Action creates
Once you have taken that first Action step, you are on the path to finally addressing the undesired conditions and circumstances. Even if those first Action steps are just tiny steps, you are nonetheless on the way and knowledge of the simple fact is quite empowering. It is important to note that, while the initial Action Steps may not lead you in the right direction, valuable information – in the form of feedback – is always gained. At the very
least, you will discover what doesn’t work – and you may move on to Plan B. No Action taken ever results in failure; valuable information is always obtained. The key is to keep trying, keep moving, and keep taking Action. You will find the way! Sometimes taking Action is 50% of the process towards realizing the Solution. You may think that attaining the resolution will take much time and effort, but then after taking that first Action step, you come to realize that the Challenge is not as substantial as you previously thought – perhaps it is even easy. I cannot tell you how many times that the “bark” that I feared was actually worse than the “bite.” The so-called “problem” turned out to be an easy, no-brainer and I regretted the fact that I had not taken Action earlier – it would have saved me significant time, energy and resources. You will usually discover as you take Action that what you perceived to be insurmountable isn’t, and that solving the situation will not be the effort that you imagined. You will not come to that realization, however, unless and until Action is actually taken. Roll up your sleeves and get started.
Step Eight: Time and the Law of Gestation Everything has its season and the Universe works in cyclic, rhythmic fashion. If your present Challenge is to find a way to feed your family today, the solution is not planting corn. There is the Law of Gestation: after planting, the corn seed must geminate, sprout, grow (and grow and grow and grow) and bear fruit. The fruit, the ears of corn (really a grain) must properly mature and then you must harvest it. All of this will take a certain amount of time over which you have very little control. All seeds – including Seeds of Thought and Greatness – have a gestation period. There is a Law of Cause and Effect, but there also is the Law of Gestation, which states that the Effects of the Cause will take the time that the Universe (Nature, through our Infinite Creator) requires. Depending on your particular Challenge or Obstacle, and the Action steps that you take – and the ultimate Solution desired – there will be the factor of time as determined by the applicable Law of Gestation. Often, we don’t know how long it may take for fruit to bear, but as long as we remain steadfast and true to realizing the Desired result, there will be fruit. This is also another reason why it is important to be consistent – and persistent – with our Action steps. With continued Action, Persistence and Perseverance, it is possible to accelerate the process of realizing our Solution within the confines of the Law of Gestation.
For example, suppose that realizing the Solution to a particular Challenge by a particular individual necessarily must require a total of fifty (50) hours of bona fide, consistent Action (by application of the Law of Gestation). If the individual only dedicates one (1) hour per day towards that objective, it will take fifty (50) days before she finally realizes the ultimate Solution . However, by devoting two (2) hours of bona fide, consistent Action per day (instead of only one hour), she can accelerate the process and realize the ultimate Solution in half the time: twenty-five (25) days. Now, if she was really motivated and determined, in theory, she may dedicate ten (10) hours of bona fide, consistent Action per day towards overcoming her Challenge. Assuming that fatigue, Obstructions, and other inhibiting factors are kept at bay, she can further accelerate the process and realize her ultimate Solution in a mere five (5) days! So while the Law of Gestation may establish certain time constraints over which we have no or little control, we may accelerate the overall process by more continuous, consistent and persistent Action. Another insight to understanding the Law of Gestation is a quote from Anthony Robbins: “God’s delays are not God’s denials.” In other words, God works on a different calendar and clock than we do. Why is this so important? Because when many individuals fail to realize the Solution to their Challenge or Obstacle immediately, they simply quit. Give up. Abandon ship. When that happens, one thing is for certain: they will NOT solve the Challenge. Quitting is “game over.” Failure. If you do not immediately realize your Solution, keep trying, keep taking Action steps, keep working these Ten Steps. You WILL realize the solution. Chances are that the mess you are in didn’t happen overnight, so it may be unreasonable to think or expect that it may be cleaned up overnight. Time itself may be just another aspect or feature of the Challenge that you face, so view it as such. Reframe the nature of the Challenge or Obstacle to further include the time variable. Don’t make the issue of time another, separate “problem.” Patience may be required and that virtue is yet another characteristic of Growth. Persevere. Persist. Work it.
Step Nine: Have Faith The importance of Faith – Faith in yourself and Faith in God – cannot be overstated. We could write volumes on the significance of Faith to finding a Solution to your Challenge or Obstacle; time and space do not permit that here. Napoleon Hill has stated many times, “The man who can is the man who thinks he can.”
If you already accepted the notion that every Challenge or Obstacle has a Solution (Step One), then why not accept the Faith and Belief that you will realize that Solution? “Ya gotta believe, baby, ya gotta believe.” If you do not Believe or have no Faith that you will realize a Solution, will you honestly pursue the Solution? If you answered this question in the affirmative, then you must fancy in chasing ghosts.
Step Ten: The Attitude of Gratitude Finally, as Step Ten, despite the nature, level and extent of your Challenge or Obstacle, remain Grateful for all that you have. Seek the Good in your Life and by doing so, the significance of the Challenge or Obstacle will diminish. Relinquish resentment. Drop jealousy and envy. Adopt the Attitude of Gratitude. Studies have shown that patients with the most severe illnesses fair best in treatment when they are grateful for the Good in their lives – despite the illness – and they reject negative attitudes such as resentment, anger, jealously or envy. Such mental states are nothing more than Obstructions, discussed in Steps Four and Five. They not only block your Creative Mind, but they stain your Spirit and become a focal point of your concentration. This eventually leads to self-absorbed self-pity – and there is no way you will overcome your Challenge or Obstacle if you are engaged in that game. Be grateful. Rejoice in the Good all around you! If you focus on the Good, more Good will come; contrarily, if you focus on the Negative, then you will receive more of the Negative. This is the Law of Attraction, pure and simple. If you have trouble seeing the Good and finding Gratitude, grab a notebook and pen and find a quiet, comfortable place to sit by yourself for an hour or so and begin writing all that for which you are grateful. It may take a little time to get started, but once the juices start flowing, you will be astounded at how much you have written – how much there is in your life for which you should be Grateful. By the time this exercise is done, you will feel profoundly different and view your Challenge or Obstacle in an entirely different light. When I feel overwhelmed by a Challenge or Obstacle and see myself starting to slide in a negative fashion, I work my “Gratitudes” by stopping whatever I am doing and spending some time with my children. An hour of building blocks, reading or just playing with them – and seeing the unconditional Love and excitement of Life in their eyes – has an amazing impact. Problem? What Problem? Adopting the Attitude of Gratitude with honesty and sincerity is the quickest way to jump start out of a “stuck” position. It works – every time. But, you need to actually work it,
and if that requires some quiet time in isolation with your thoughts and a notebook, then do it.
Conclusion That’s it. The Ten Steps to Universal Problem Solving. With continued practice and patience, you will find these Ten Steps will work Miracles in your Life. Believe.
Success Strategies: Escape Victim Consciousness – The 30-Day Challenge! Posted by Richard Catalina, Jr. • April 29, 2010 • Printer-friendly “We who lived in concentration camps can remember the men who walked through the huts comforting others, giving away their last piece of bread. They may have been few in number, but they offer sufficient proof that everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms – to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one's own way.” - Viktor Frankl, Holocaust and concentration camp survivor, author of "Man's Search for Meaning" ____________________________________________________________
Accept My 30-Day Challenge: Shift Your Paradigm from Victim to Prosperity Consciousness - Your Life Will Never Be the Same! Publisher's Note: Today's post is a bit different. A version of this essay appeared in the last issue of The Success Beacon newsletter and is also available as a whitepaper download from the Success Manual Articles Download section. However, the importance of the message is, I believe, so important I felt it necessary to convey it yet again - and to take it up a few notches. To all that take the time to read this critical post - I challenge you, right here, right now, to VOW never, ever again to engage in "victim consiousness" and to shift your perspective of your world to "prosperity consciousness." The process is not easy; but it is simple. It requies total commiment on your part, but the results will astound you. Start TODAY and see where you are thirty (30) days from now. Then, email me your story. We will compile all bona fide stories received into a free publication for our viewers, members and subscibers. I am so confident of the results that you will experience, because I know - first hand and personally - the dramatic changes that you will experience. It all starts within, and this is a great way to jump start your Success journey if you are stuck or struggling. Change the world within; change the world without. It doesn't get any simpler than that. By the way, if you really don't understand the meaning of "victim consciousness," I strongly urge you to read on. After years of study, I thought I knew what that term meant, but I really did not understand until it was explained to me by Bob Proctor. After that, I hit the ground running, taking no time to ever look back.
To your Health, Wealth, Prosperity and Success, The Success Manual Team ____________________________________________________________
Morning View from the Summit of Mt. Washington of the Presidential Range, White Mountains, New Hampshire on April 26, 2010.
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Eliminate "Victim Consciousness" and Transform Your Life Forever! The terms “prosperity consciousness” and “victim consciousness” – and other similar and/or analogous terms – are frequently used within the context of personal development, self improvement and achieving Success. But, what do both terms really mean? And, why are they so often linked together in the same discussion? Let’s first briefly address the second question. As we then proceed to address the first question, the relationship between the two terms will make even greater sense. “Prosperity consciousness” and “victim consciousness” are often linked together, because they represent polar opposites of viewing our external world. We generally tend to see our world either with prosperity consciousness or victim consciousness (or somewhere in between, perhaps), but never both simultaneously. It is impossible to possess prosperity consciousness and victim consciousness at the same time, in as much as it is impossible to define a volume as comprising a vacuum and having dense mass simultaneously. As such, we tend to view our world from one vantage point or the other – but not from both. As a result, when discussing prosperity consciousness, it is difficult not to further mention victim consciousness, for if one completely lacks prosperity consciousness, then the life perspective of that individual is that of victim consciousness. Likewise, when discussing victim consciousness – a destructive state of mind – the objective in overcoming victim consciousness is to attain prosperity consciousness – a constructive state of mind. Victim consciousness and prosperity consciousness are merely two mutually exclusive, opposite ways that all individuals tend to view themselves, the world and their relationship with the world – including people, events and circumstances. As such, it would be difficult to discuss either victim consciousness or prosperity consciousness without necessarily requiring discussion of the other. But, what exactly is “victim consciousness?” consciousness?”
And, what exactly is “prosperity
Let’s stop for a second. This is REALLY important, so let’s give this some thought. It may change your life. It did for me (albeit, I must work at it every day). For quite some time, I did not understand the true meaning of victim consciousness. And, worse yet, I was absolutely sure that it did not apply to me.
In time, as I came to understand the true meaning of victim consciousness, I came to see that I did indeed view the world with victim mentality, thereby inhibiting – if not stifling – my own spiritual, intellectual, emotional, physical and financial growth! That is why this is so important! My erroneous understanding of victim consciousness was a grossly exaggerated one. I thought that victim consciousness meant a state of being wherein other individuals take advantage of us, abuse us, and/or inflict emotional or physical violence against us, and that we openly and passively allow that destructive behavior against our persons, taking no action to bring such behavior to a halt. My understanding of victim consciousness was that it represented a very extreme state of life, usually involving abuse or violence. Now, that may be true. Victim consciousness certainly would cover such an awful situation. But, victim consciousness is much, much more than that – and it is usually very subtle. Most individuals who perceive the world with victim consciousness don’t even realize it! Simply, victim consciousness means living in a state of being wherein we view ourselves, the world and our relationship with it from the perspective that “things happen to us.” That, in all of its glory, is what victim consciousness means. It doesn’t require abuse or violence. It doesn’t require manipulation by other people. It is not overt and aggressive. But, it is destructive. “Prosperity consciousness,” on the other hand, generally means living in a state of being wherein we view ourselves, the world and our relationship with it NOT from the perspective that “things happen to us,” but rather, from the perspective that that we have control in our lives. Things do not happen to us; things happen because of us. WE create what happens in our lives – starting with our thoughts, feelings and emotions! From those, actions – and then RESULTS – follow! Simply stated, therefore, we tend to see the world from one of two perspectives: 1) we have no control, and thus, our lives are at the mercy of other people, events and circumstances (victim consciousness, a destructive state of being), or 2) we are in control of our lives by virtue of having control of our thoughts, feelings, actions, behavior, and, as a consequence, of the results and experiences of our lives (prosperity consciousness, a constructive state of being). That’s it. If you can understand this and make the “paradigm shift” from victim to prosperity consciousness, you are making a HUGE step in your life towards the better. Let’s look at a couple of examples of victim consciousness in action. “She gets me so mad.” “I hate my boss – he is making my life miserable!” “If I don’t get that promotion, I’m going to jump off a cliff!” “This economy is destroying my business”
“I hate the winter – it is so depressing” “My kids are going to kill me – I can’t take it anymore!” “It started raining during my golf game – my weekend was ruined!” I could go on, but hopefully, you see the point. In each example, the speaker’s life experience was being controlled by external events and circumstances. Successful individuals NEVER think this way. NEVER! Let’s look at the first example: “She gets me so mad.” How absurd! Yet, how many think this way? “She” isn’t “making” anyone mad. It’s impossible! “She” is just doing whatever she is doing – the speaker is the one who is getting mad, in a destructive reaction to whatever it is that “she” is doing. The fact is, the speaker can choose any number of emotions or responses to whatever it is that the other individual is or is not doing. Does the rest of the world care what “she” is doing? Is the rest of the world getting mad? Did “she” hold a gun to the speaker’s head and force him or her to “get mad” or she would use deadly violence? NO! In the book, Man’s Search for Meaning, holocaust victim and concentration camp survivor Viktor Frankl details his accounts of life in the camps run by the Nazis. I don’t need to tell you what that may have been like, other than to say it really is beyond my imagination. Yet, Frankl is living proof that nobody can make anybody think or feel anything if they don’t want to. As Frankl states in Man’s Search for Meaning: “We who lived in concentration camps can remember the men who walked through the huts comforting others, giving away their last piece of bread. They may have been few in number, but they offer sufficient proof that everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms – to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one's own way.” Now I may seem to be contradicting myself here. I stated earlier that with victim consciousness, one tends to generally view the world from the perspective that “things happen to us.” I can hear some of you already: “Are we supposed to believe that concentration camp victims brought the holocaust upon themselves? Didn’t the Nazis do this to the Jews, i.e., it happened to them?” You have a point. But, let me explain. Yes, “sh*t happens” and a concentration camp is about the worst of humanity turning upon itself. People do commit awful acts and atrocities against their fellow brethren. I cannot explain why and will not attempt to do so.
But, I can offer this: in every life event, we still have the ability to choose how we experience it, how we think about it, and how we think and feel in general. As Viktor Frankl stated, NO Nazi could make him think something he didn’t want to. No matter what they did to him, he REFUSED to become a victim in his mind and he maintained control over his mind and dignity. When I first started studying under Bob Proctor in 2008, I recall the very first conference call lesson. Bob was incredibly animate: “From this point forward, let no person, no event, nor circumstance in life dictate how you think and feel.” Bob’s words hit me like a nuclear explosion. I vowed that I would heed his advice. And, I did. Yet, what I discovered was that with almost 50 years of conditioning to the contrary, my paradigm would not change overnight. But, I was determined, and change it would (one must continue maintenance, however, to avoid shifting back to the paradigm of victim consciousness). About three or so months after that first call, I noticed one day something truly amazing. While still an emotional person, I was not getting angry as much as or to the extent as previously. Doubt and worry, while always trying to surface, were no longer controlling me. I was gaining control. My paradigm of life had shifted out of victim consciousness. Wow. I could literally feel the freedom. Unlock the shackles! Don’t get me wrong – things were not all happy and gravy. There were (and remain) many areas of my life of which I am not satisfied and have discontent. But, I now realize that those areas are not happening to me. They happened or are happening because of me – because of my past thoughts, feelings, emotions, behavior and actions. And, that is something that I can change. Moreover, I have the control over how I think and feel about what I don’t like. And, I have the POWER to make DECISIONS and implement CHANGE. powerful!
Very
We create the richness – or lack thereof – in our lives. We are in control of our personal life experiences. Tomorrow’s weather will be whatever it will be; and whatever it is, one thing is for certain: tomorrow’s weather has absolutely NO control over you. Only YOU decide how you will respond – or react – to tomorrow’s weather. It is your choice. You can be a victim and have a miserable day because it rained on your golf game. Or, you can look at the weather with prosperity consciousness and choose how you will experience the day. It’s your movie – you can make it anyway you want. It’s up to you.
I am going to ask you to vow – right now – that you will NEVER again let the events, circumstances and people of and in your life dictate your thoughts, feelings and emotions. Your thoughts, feelings and emotions are YOURS. If you let the external world control the way you think and feel, you have submitted and surrendered yourself to the whims of forces that are beyond your immediate control. Don’t be a victim! From firsthand personal experience, I cannot tell you how empowering it is to make this paradigm shift. Once we realize that WE have the control, our view of life changes immediately to prosperity consciousness and we have taken the best first step towards honest, sincere and lasting Success. I challenge you to take the 30 Day Challenge. Make the commitment – right now – that for the next 30 days, you will make every effort to shift your paradigm from victim consciousness to prosperity consciousness. It is not easy, but you can do it! It is often said that it takes 22 days of continuous, consistent action to create a habit. Well, this is one habit that you want. If you make a bona fide effort in the 30 Day Challenge to shift from victim consciousness to prosperity consciousness, I assure you that your life will never be the same. In fact, I GUARANTEE it!
Success Strategy: The Power of Conquering Fear Posted by Richard Catalina, Jr. • September 7, 2010 • Printer-friendly "Success is active. Action dispels fear. If you sit still, fear has the time to paralyze your abilities and efforts, ultimately causing you to fail. Continue to move toward your goals with great diligence and great courage!" - Myles W. Miller, "The Power of Conquering Fear" _________________________________________________
Success Strategy: The Power of Conquering FEAR! We all know the devasting effects Fear can impart on any worthy Ideal, Goal or Success endeavor. Fear, born of ignorance and lack of awareness, will stop you dead in your tracks if you are not equipped to whip it and whip it good. Indeed, Fear also known as "The Terror Barrier."
In order to attain Success and achieve Goals, inhibiting Fear MUST be eliminated from your conscious and subconscious mind. Today's Success Strategy post comes from a good friend who has written a book entitled, "The Power of Conquering Fear." Myles W. Miller has been studying human achievement and how to overcome and conquer Fear to attain Success and achieve Goals for many years. Recently, I
read one of his articles and loved it so much, I BEGGED for permission to reproduce it here. He finally said yes - today (after making me twitch a bit) - and I could not wait to share it with you. Originally published in 2004, The Power of Conquering Fear is a powerful, compelling book. Following the article, below, is contact information on Myles, along with a link to Amazon to purchase his book (no commissions here). I am proud to publish this article on behalf of Myles - he is the Success Manual's very first Guest Contributor! Thanks, Myles! Until next time . . . . Peace Out, and - Namasté! To your Health, Wealth, Prosperity and Success, The Success Manual Team _________________________________________________
The Power of Conquering Fear by Myles W. Miller “You must do the thing that you fear until the fear of that thing becomes no more.” - Brian Tracy One day, not too long ago, I was in the middle of a 5 day fast. I was looking for spiritual answers to some situations that I was facing. On the third day, I got hit with the truth: my attention that my life and motives had been based on fear. I had feared that people would not love me if I stood up for myself. I had feared that people would not understand me when I needed them to. I had feared that failure would always overtake my efforts in life no matter how well I performed. Ultimately, I feared being a complete and total failure in life. It was very shocking for me to come to this realization. I had always felt that I had a natural zest for life, but there was always a “glass ceiling” that I just could not seem to break through. I could always “see” what I could be, but actually becoming that person often eluded me. Fear is a great paralyzer. It lulls one into believing that gloom and doom are always “inevitable.” Fear causes great people to accept mediocrity. It also causes death and destruction to lives and dreams of most people. Where there is overwhelming procrastination, there is fear. Where there is great anger, there is fear. Where there is extreme hatred, there is fear. Where there is complacency, there is fear. Where there was failure, ultimately, fear was there. That brought me back to something else that I never consciously realized; that fear is a mind-set. Thus, anything that is set in your mind got there from a thought or set of thoughts. However, thoughts can be corrected by consciously choosing to think better thoughts. If you constantly
fear that you are going to be “sick,” you are going to be “sick.” So to correct your “sickness” before it happens, start consciously choosing “healthy” thoughts. This ideology holds true in most walks of life. Henry Ford, world-renowned industrialist and automotive pioneer, once stated, “Whether you think that you can or you can’t, you’re right.” Ford often successfully overcame fear. You see, he only had a sixth grade education. By most standards, he would have been considered illiterate and ignorant. Mr. Ford was so “ignorant,” that he committed himself to the “outrageous” dream of building automobiles with little formal education. Ford was so “ignorant,” that he pioneered the “V” shaped engine, something that his “smart” engineers said “couldn’t” be done. In essence, Ford was so “ignorant,” until he forgot to “fear” things that most people with his set of “limitations” were supposed to. I’m pretty sure that there is somebody out there right now driving their family vehicle to a job that is murdering their dreams of greatness. These people are probably 1000 times “smarter” than Henry Ford was. So “smart” that they think “security” is going to come by working for someone else the rest of their lives. I sincerely believe and teach people to be bold in their journey through life. Boldness breaks the bondage of fear. Boldness is defined as the willingness to face risk fearlessly. What do you have dreams of doing or being? What is holding you back? For the first question, I know some people will answer things becoming a singer, writing a book, starting a new business, buying a new car, and etc. However, for the second question, I know that tons of fear-based excuses will come up. Things like, “I’m too old,” “I’m too young,” “I’m a woman,” “I’m Black,” “I don’t have a lot of money,” and the like. In this article, I have been spiritually led to tell you the truth. Your boldness will lead you to the result of question one, and defeat the untruths of question two. World-renowned writer, speaker, and pastor, Joyce Meyer, describes fear as “False Evidence Appearing Real.” The truth of the matter is that success knows no such boundaries as race, sex, age, gender, creed, or religious preference. Thus there is no reason for fear to keep you in bondage anymore. The following are five steps to unleashing your power over F.E.A.R.
5 Steps to Unleashing Your Power over Fear • • • • •
Become “ignorant” to fear Don’t let fear have time to think Always speak faith and belief Create and maintain a positive outlook of yourself Continue to execute the thing(s) that you fear until fear disappears
Become “Ignorant” to Fear: Fear appears in many different forms. It can come from negative self (i.e. “I can’t do this,” “I’m not good at this,” etc.). It can come from negative media forecasts (i.e., bad predictions of the economy, bad weather reports, reports of murder, etc.). Remember the story of Henry Ford? He could have been nothing in this lifetime because of what he could not do, but his fears took a back seat to his ability to ignore any ideas that were not in congruence with his dream.
Therefore, you must mute the voice of fear by limiting (or completely eliminating) your contact with fear-causing entities.
Don’t Let Fear Have Time to Think: Thoughts are powerful. A single thought can be responsible for life or death in this world. And anything that you think about long enough will find its way into the physical realm. Therefore, if you were to spend time thinking about the things that you want out of life (I mean conscious concentrate), you begin to see them. Conversely, the same is true for the things that you don’t want in life. Commit your time to faith and believing, not fear and doubt.
Always Speak Faith and Belief: To frame your own world free of debilitating fear, always think, act, and speak positively in faith and belief. Be bold and say things as you want them to be in your life. If it is a new house you want, say it! If it is a new car you want, say it! If it is a successful family life you want, say it! If it is a better job that you want, say it!
Create and Maintain a Positive Outlook of Yourself: I have a motto that goes like this: “If I know who and what I am, no one can tell me who and what I am not!” No matter what the world has decided to think about me, I have decided to think great thoughts about myself. Therefore, I am free of world’s often limiting belief system. I don’t worry about things like weather reports, poor economic forecasts, what celebrity just went to jail, and who does not believe in my dreams, because if God is for me, who or what can be against me (Romans 8:31)? Decide who and what you are right now and do not be moved negativity.
Continue to Execute the Thing(s) That You Fear Until Fear Disappears: Success is active. Action dispels fear. If you sit still, fear has the time to paralyze your abilities and efforts, ultimately causing you to fail. Continue to move toward your goals with great diligence and great courage! Good luck and may Success embrace you! © 2004 Myles W. Miller for Lion Heart Enterprises
