Success University 02 (Nov 08 - Jan 09)

[kennynah]

last year, i lost some money to the stock market.... some of my peers who knew about this used to yell out loud in the bar we frequented : "You loser"....and then everyone would finger point at me and laughed haughtily ...i was hurt, i wished i could dig a hole and hide in it... instead, i jumped into a cab and promising the taxi driver a major tip, he sped past all red lights and busted road speed limits for 25 kilometers to my mother's house.

one of the those who empathized with me at the bar, rang my mom while i was wailing all the way home...

by the time, i reached my mother's house...she embraced me....it was so warm, i will never forget that love and comfort....

i said : "they all poked fun and called me a loser"

my mother then said with a very calm voice, "son, wake up !!!! get the f**k back to the bar and kick their asses for calling you names....and then this year, get a whopping 60% annual returns on yoru portfolio and then call them losers by then"... !!!!

[winston]

Will Your Changes Last This Time? by Mike Brescia

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Today's Empowering Quote
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"He that never changes his opinions, never corrects his mistakes, will never be wiser on the morrow than he is today."
--Tryon Edwards

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Today's Empowering Question
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"What are some changes that I should make? How can I make them last?"

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Today's Fast Session
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A few months ago, one of our cats, Rebecca, got out of the house for only the second time in eight years. Since she often spends time sleeping in hidden closet spaces, no one had seen her for a few hours and didn't think much of it.

But after hearing horrible noises outside late that night, my stepdaughter came and enlisted me to find out if Rebecca was outside.

Since she's white, I saw her instantly against the dark background of trees in the back yard. As I got closer, she looked like she had stuck her paw in an electrical socket. Her hair was standing straight up. After a few very nervous moments, I was allowed to get close enough to touch her and then, gently, bring her in the house.

The next day, the Vet shaved a couple spots to reveal some nasty bites from another cat. She was hurting really bad, but pretty soon, she was back to normal...

Well, almost.

Ever since, she has been the most lovey-dovey cat you have ever seen. Every time she's around, which is just about always now, she's rubbing up against us, purring, playing, and wanting to be petted... kind of like a dog except for the purring.

This is a cat that, while never mean, would never even let you pick her up for more than a few seconds. The only time she ever came really close was to meow for treats. I think this new behavior is her way of saying, "Hey, all these years I never truly knew what you guys meant to me. I know now. And I'm not forgetting it."

She's literally like a different kitty. And she's NOT reverting back to her old ways.

When studying the behavior of people, we see that most sudden changes usually don't last because they haven't been "cemented in" through time and repetition. Typically, after a short period, old behaviors come right back strong as ever. Our OLD patterns, our MOST dominant programs...our true beliefs, come back to run our never-ending string of emotions and thus our moment-by-moment actions.

Rebecca's situation, though, was unique in that it was a HIGHLY emotional event. And those kinds of events tend to re-wire us without the requisite time and repetition before our new patterns can take over.

Since most of us have changes we want to make, and don't want to wait around for a high-intensity emotional event to occur, THAT is why it's so important, in the process of changing habits of thought and action, to repeat the ideas and visualize what you want constantly. Without it, change rarely comes or stays around for very long. Today, you never see athletes in any sport who don't do this daily.

That's why these newsletters are structured the way they are. Without making the continual effort to install action-producing, winning beliefs, there is no foundation for new behavior that will last beyond a few days or weeks.

It's vitally important to continuously implant the seeds of greatness on a daily basis...

Or nothing on the outside will change.

And it's SO easy to do.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go play with my cat. She wants some attention.

[winston]

The thoughts that you think will — wanted or not wanted— eventually become manifestation if your vibrational accord is sufficient enough... And so, you could say, as you're launching thoughts of appreciation and things that make you feel good, that you're filling your
Vibrational Escrow full of all kinds of things that are going to please you when you get there.

Excerpted from a workshop in Sacramento, CA on Wednesday, July 27th, 2005

All Is Well

[winston]

The Power of Wellbeing Tip of the Day: Relax
by Gabriela Cora, MD, MBA, the Official Guide to Life Work Balance

Have you ever felt stuck on the computer, frustrated and trying to resolve a software problem for hours? What did you do, keep trying? Instead, what happened when you took a five minute break and relaxed? Where you able to fix the problem in a couple of minutes?

Whether this feeling of rushing is self-imposed or real, the only way you’ll be able to maximize your resilience or ability to bounce back is to find effective ways to relax. While many people include this word in their vacation vocabulary, we all need to relax every single day. In contrast with vacation time, relaxing a bit every day will allow you to feel refreshed as you approach each and every challenge in this hectic world.

These are some tips to relax every day:

1) Physical Exercise: provides for direct health benefits for the body, the mind and the soul. Improved blood flow and oxygenation directly benefits your brain and heart. By increasing endorphin levels, you will also experience a sense of Wellbeing. While some people believe they can exercise, say, three ten-minute segments at a time, we can clearly tell when we get to “the zone” after 15-20 minutes of a repetitive exercise. According to the joint American Heart Association and the American College of Sports Medicine guidelines on physical activity, all healthy adults ages 18-65 should be getting at least 30 minutes of moderate intensity activity five days of the week. Repetitive exercises will facilitate your feeling of relaxation. In addition, some people prefer Yoga, dancing, taichi or qigong.

2) Meditation: Most meditation techniques start with deep breathing exercises. After taking a few deep breaths, you would allow your mind to wander without “forcing” it into any thought or feeling. Instead, all thoughts or feelings would flow naturally. Although it may be tough to get started, as with any other exercise, the more your practice, the easier it becomes. Many suggest you start your day with meditation.

3) Guided Imagery: techniques can also offer effective ways to relax. This technique is also induced by deep breathing and is followed by progressive relaxation exercises. The method varies depending on each facilitator style. I often use this technique in my practice and have developed my own style, incorporating exercises I have found helpful to my clients and patients. The whole process goes like this: the person takes two or three deep, relaxing breaths and is then guided toward relaxing each and every muscle group from head to toes or vice-versa. I then suggest they bring light into their body, adding a deep sense of warmth and Wellbeing.

Additional techniques include focusing on specific energy points and alignment. Guided imagery exercises usually add grounding techniques, helping the person “come back” feeling refreshed, invigorated and with a deep sense of peace. These exercises take about ten to twenty minutes and many people relate the effects to taking an antianxiety pill. Guided imagery exercises offers a wonderful Power Nap in the middle of a hectic day at work.

4) Music: Listening to music or playing music may also help you relax during the day. You may not be able to play your favorite instrument at work but you may be able to take a five minute break and listen to your favorite music. You may also want to listen to music while you take a lunch or snack break at work. Although you may listen to the news while going to work, you may also want to add the company of great music by the Masters while driving. Taking a music break may be very helpful particularly if you feel stuck on an activity. This technique will help you shift your energy and refocus when you come back to what you need to do.

5) Be in the “here and now:” It is vital to concentrate on each activity, one at a time, at the present moment, rather than driving in the car, listening to music, answering to business calls on the cellular phone while writing on a pad, eating a sandwich and punching in numbers to a PDA, all while driving! In essence, the trick is to be in the “here and now,” and nowhere else. It is those people who can be “busy on the outside, calm on the inside” who can truly create an integrated state of Wellbeing.

[winston]

How Could You Be Anything But A Success? by Mike Brescia

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Today's Empowering Quote
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"To men pressed by their wants, all change is ever welcome." -Ben Jonson

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Today's Empowering Question
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"Concerning my thoughts and actions now, am I using my past and present as an excuse for failure or as my motivation for success?"

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Today's Fast Session
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A number of years ago I heard a powerful story about motivation. I don't remember where I heard it or even if it was true story or not, but it perfectly exemplifies the human ability to transcend circumstances.

My memory of it is fuzzy, so here's my version... with a twist.

A reporter decided to follow up on an incredible human interest story after hearing of two brothers, one a vicious, dangerous criminal to be locked up for the next ten years for his latest crime, and the other a highly respected university professor.

After the arrest of brother number one, he told the police about his brother, his closest living relative.

After the police discovered who brother number two was, a reporter was given the tip that this could be an interesting story.

Upon interviewing both men at length, the reporter learned that their father was a brutal man. He was a hard drinker. And his brand of teaching his boys "right from wrong" involved terrible verbal abuse no matter where they happened to be. When they "got out of line," he hit them with belts, his fists, sticks - whatever was handy.

They both told almost identical stories of extreme cruelty. Neither one was exempt from the old man's anger and drunken rage.

While the boys were 19 and 20 respectively, their father died of a massive heart attack. Shortly afterwards, the brothers had a falling out and never saw each other again - brother number one moved out of state and sort of fell off the face of the earth... living his life between jail terms.

Brother number two graduated from college and followed a designed path to living a rewarding life of service to his community, his church and his family.

The thing that practically knocked the reporter over was both brothers' identical answer to the same question.

After getting the background on both individuals, the question was, "How did you get here to this point in your life?"

The two answered the question with this same response...

"With a father like mine, how could I be any different?"

One used his father as an excuse, while the other used him as motivation - as training on what not to do.

You see, it's not what happens to you in life that dictates where you'll go and who you'll be. It's what you do with it.

I'll bet that, right now, you could sit down and list at least a dozen people who have risen up from hellish childhoods, or who are completely different than anyone else in their families in some significant way. You'll discover that, concerning the differences, there are completely different belief systems, different ways of "looking at" the situations, different motivations and reward systems.

So I'm being honest when I tell you there is no reason on the face of the earth why you can't achieve your next big goal. None. I don't care how many times you may have fallen on your face.

Do you want to reach some health milestone after repeated failures? Then decide to.

And stop with the excuses. You've been lying to yourself too long.

Do you need to learn something, to pass some test, to get a degree or license? Then get off your backside, shut off the TV and do it.

Do you see a failure when you look in the mirror? Do you know what to do, but just always decide not to do it? Then turn the volume of the criticism in your head down. Shut off the excuses. Write down on 3x5 cards statements like these:

-Good job, I really tried hard.
-I really have quite a talent there.
-I'm quite a handsome man/beautiful woman
-Boy, when I have a job to do I just tear right in and get it done.

...And read them often.

Write down empowering questions like these:

What is good about me? What could be?
What are the many benefits I will get by doing this or believing that?
Why do I want to achieve (some outcome)?
What is my best character trait?
How can I get (someone) to really truly admire and respect me?

There are thousands more.

And they all make you feel better and more capable.

With this reading as a habit, you will change how you see yourself.

What you're being exposed to now is what I discovered to be the inner differences between the winners and doers in life and the losers and watchers.

And if you think this doesn't work, you couldn't be more wrong.

Think about the two brothers and all the billions, dead and alive, who have risen above their circumstances and their old programming to be, do and have more than it appeared they ever would. You've experienced this. Now it's time to turn it up a notch. Grab yourself a huge goal.

Our Think Right Now! audios are based, in part, on this whole technology.

Go to our site and check out some of the changes people have made using them. It's downright scary.

When you change what goes in, you will change what comes out... IF it goes in regularly and in the right way.

Come on, make today something special.

Make today your day.

No more excuses.

Take your circumstances and all of your past failures and use them as motivation... as the reason for your imminent success.

Be like the professor.

With circumstances like yours, how could you be anything but a raging success?

[winston]

Never mind what-is. Imagine it the way you want it to be so that your vibration is a match to your desire. When your vibration is a match to your desire, all things in your experience will gravitate to meet that match every time.

Excerpted from a workshop in Boca Raton, FL on Sunday, January 12th, 1997

All Is Well

[winston]

Awaken Your Potential by Mark Black

Psychologists performed an experiment where they put a pane of glass in the middle of an aquarium full of water. They then added two fish to the tank. One fish was the natural predator of the other. They put the predator on one side of the glass and the prey on the other. What happened next speaks volumes about the power of the mind.

When the glass was first inserted, the predator would swim quickly towards its prey and then…WHAM it would bang into the glass. After doing this several times, the predator realized it couldn’t catch the little fish. The little fish could swim inches from the mouth of its predator, and the larger fish would do nothing because it realized that every time it tried to catch the small fish, it hurt.

Then the scientists removed the glass from the aquarium so that the fish were free to swim wherever they wished. That’s where things got interesting. The smaller fish began swimming all over the tank often passing directly in front of the larger fish, but the large fish did nothing. Thinking the wall was still there, and not wanting to get hurt, it just floated around doing nothing.

Think about how powerful that is. That fish was hungry, the food was swimming within inches of its mouth, and the fish did nothing! Why? Two reasons: fear of pain and power of perception.

To Avoid Pain
The predator fish is similar to many of us. It was afraid of being hurt. In fact, it was so afraid of pain that its desire to avoid pain outweighed its desire to eat! That’s a pretty serious fear. Fear may not stop us from eating, at least not all of the time, but all too often it stops us from going after what we want.

The fact is no matter how great an opportunity may be if the fear of pain is great enough we’ll pass up the opportunity. It’s a natural reflex. Just think of a baby who touches a hot stove. Do they need to be told to take their hand off the burner once they touch it? Of course not. They take their hand away instantly because it hurts.

It’s a natural instinct to protect us from hurting ourselves and thank God we have it, but when it comes to achieving our potential, our instinct to avoid pain can be very limiting. That’s why in order to achieve what we want, we have to find a way to deal with our fear of pain.

The Power of Perspective
The other reason the big fish wasn’t able to eat its prey was perception. The predator’s perception that the obstacle was still there, even though the glass had been removed, was all it took to prevent the fish from catching its prey.

It doesn’t matter how perfect the conditions are for success, if you perceive that you can’t succeed, you won’t. Our dreams can even walk right past us, and we won’t do a thing. Perception is 9/10 of reality. So if our perception tells us there is an obstacle in our way, it doesn’t really matter if the obstacle is there or not.

So if you feel negatively about yourself, your life situation, or your abilities; work on it. Read books on being positive. Make a list of good things that have happened or are happening in your life. Make a conscious effort to look for the opportunities in your life that may be “swimming” past you at this very moment.

Action Item
You have the ability to do anything. Yes there are limits to what people can do, but few of us reach them because our perception is even more limiting than our abilities. The good news is that your perception is much easier to improve than your abilities. That’s why the biggest favour you can do for yourself is to realize your incredible potential.

Marianne Williamson, a personal development author, sums it up best,

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that frightens us most.

We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and famous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that people won't feel insecure around you.

We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in all of us. And when we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

This week I want you to make this, or some other quote or idea with a similar message, your mantra. Use it as a daily affirmation.

I promise you that after even a day of doing this faithfully, you will feel more confident. If you continue it for the week, you will begin to look at your life and your potential in broader terms and your perception will change. When that happens, and only when that happens, can you begin to realize your full potential.

[millionairemind]

7 Ways to Attract More Money
By Dr. Joe Vitale

The Missing Secret
by Joe Vitale

Do you want to attract more money?

Are you wondering why you haven't attracted more money even when you've done everything you thought you needed to do?

What really works when it comes to attracting more money anyway?

I've been studying the Law of Attraction for more than three decades.

That's how I ended up in the movie The Secret, and then on Larry King’s and Donny Deutsch's TV shows, among others. I've written several books about it and also produced the number one selling Law of Attraction program through Nightingale-Conant called The Missing Secret. I know how the Law of Attraction works and why so many people don't clearly understand it.

When it comes to the Law of Attraction, most people initially want to learn how to use it to attract more money. Then they wonder how to attract romance, cars, homes, and happiness. But money is the starting place for most people.

So, how do you attract more money?

When it comes to attracting anything (money in particular), there are at least seven ways to do it effectively.

Here they are:

1. Give money away.

It sounds counterintuitive, yet the more you give, the more you will receive (unless you block the receiving, which ties in to the next step).

Give openly and freely to wherever you receive spiritual nourishment. Give on a regular basis. The rule of thumb is to give 10% of whatever you receive and give more when you feel inspired to do so.

Remember to give to the person, place, or group that is keeping your spirit alive. Just ask, "Where was I most inspired this past week?" and give freely to that source. Ask the question daily or weekly, as the source will often change.

Here's an inside tip: When most people give money, they do it with a tight fist. They don't give much. Why? It’s because they're afraid. They're holding on. Well, the energy of fear will attract more things to fear. Instead, give money with an open heart and an expectation of return. Give in love.

2. Get clear.

You may push money away with hidden limiting beliefs, such as "money is bad" or "rich people are evil." Those are beliefs, not facts. Get clear of them and money will come to you (as long as you also do the next step).

Getting clear is truly The Missing Secret to making the Law of Attraction work for you all the time. After all, it isn't your conscious intentions that are being manifested in your life – it’s your unconscious counterintentions. I talk about this extensively in my upcoming Nightingale-Conant program called The Secret to Attracting Money being released in early 2009.

For example, when you set a goal on New Year's Day to stop smoking or date more, what happened the next week? You gave up your conscious goal for your unconscious belief that you couldn't do it. You weren't in alignment with your intention. You were not "clear."

Most likely in your unconscious mind you have limiting beliefs about money, such as ...

* "Money is evil."
* "Money will attract problems."
* "Money will make me a selfish person."
* "Wanting money is greedy."
* "Rich people are snobs."

If you have one or more of those limiting beliefs within you, do you really think you'll attract any money? In truth, you'll attract NOT having money. Why? Because your unconscious counterintention ("Money is bad") will veto your conscious intention ("I now attract more money into my life").

Is it any wonder some people say the concept of the movie The Secret, or the Law of Attraction, doesn't work? Obviously, once you clear those hidden blocks/beliefs – nothing will stand in the way of your success. The roadblocks will be gone.

I talk about ways to get clear in my upcoming The Secret to Attracting Money Nightingale-Conant course. One thing you can do right now is simply question your beliefs. Become a belief detective and look for any limiting beliefs about money. When you release your inner blocks, you will attract more money.

3. Take action.

Too many people sit and wait for money to materialize in front of them.

I believe in magic and miracles. And I also believe that your role in the process of attracting money is to actually do something to bring it your way. Act on your ideas right away. "Money likes speed" is my favorite mantra.

If you don't act now, you'll see your idea manifested some day, and somebody else will be attracting money from it. What can you do right now to move toward creating something that will attract more money? Whatever it is, do it now.

When you doubt and second-guess yourself, instead of taking action, you are demonstrating that you aren't clear (see the second tip above) about money and your right to attract it.

Act now and get rich.

4. Support a cause.

You may push money away because you don't feel you deserve it. One way around this (while you still work on getting clear inside yourself) is to want money for a larger purpose. I created Operation YES to end homelessness. Raising hundreds of thousands of dollars (or more) for that cause will remove any remaining prosperity limitations within me. While I won't receive a dime from Operation YES, I will attract money to me in other ways, such as the contacts and goodwill I'll create.

In short, you should want money for a larger reason than your own ego. This is a beautiful way to attract more money without wanting it only for yourself. Realize that when you are wealthy, you are better able to help family, friends, your community, and even the world. A good reason to attract more money is for all the good it can do for others, not just you. Ask yourself what cause would you support (or even create) once you attracted more money?

5. Get support.

One of the wisest things you can do to achieve any goal is create or join a mastermind group devoted to it. A mastermind group is a group of people who get together to work on a specific goal. Bill Hibbler and I wrote a complete book on how to do this, called Meet and Grow Rich.

The idea is to be around people who can keep your energy and inspiration high. While you can make progress on your own, it's so much easier when you have support.

This support can also come in the way of audiotapes, books, and other learning tools. I've been buying audios from Nightingale-Conant for more than 30 years for just that reason. They help me stay focused on constantly growing and improving. Even when I was struggling, I went to the library and borrowed books and tapes to keep me informed and inspired. Today I can afford to buy my own materials because I invested in my education every step along the way.

Again, all of this is support that will help you attract more money.

6. Be grateful.

This is huge. Be thankful for the money you have (which is likely considered true wealth by people starving in third world countries) and you'll begin to attract more money.

Gratitude sends off a signal of appreciation, which brings you more to be thankful for. Show gratitude for anything in this moment that you can be sincerely grateful for.

After I was homeless, and while I was still experiencing poverty, I began this exercise by holding an ordinary pencil and being grateful for it. Once I truly experienced gratitude, it shifted my energy vibe so I could then experience more to be grateful for. Today I have much to be thankful for. I have houses, cars, collectible guitars, and so much more. And it all began with a pencil.

Look around and ask yourself what you are grateful for right now. Then start to feel gratitude for it right away.

7. Do what you love.

There's no sense in working at something you hate. If you are currently at a job you don't like, find a way to enjoy it for the time being as you work toward finding your passion. Following your passion is the greatest secret of all when it comes to attracting wealth.

Everyone from Donny Deutsch to Donald Trump to Bill Gates to me agree that passion (combined with the other steps above) is your ticket to financial freedom. Even when I worked for oil companies back in Houston and didn't like my work, I found ways to do what I loved. I wrote my first book during my lunch hours. I spoke on weekends and sold my book in the back of the room. Over time, doing what I love became my life. And today it's my moment-by-moment wonder.

Ask yourself what you would do even if you were not being paid for it. That's a clue as to what you should be doing and finding a way to be paid for it. You can attract more money from love.

Finally, expect success.

Expect that you are now attracting money and playfully looking around asking, "I wonder how big money will come to me today?" This is the mindset of expectation. It will keep your brain tuned in to seeking and finding opportunities.

And of course, you must take "inspired action" when you see those opportunities.

[winston]

Acknowledge Yourself by Desiree Leigh Thompson

I find it extremely insightful to observe the difficulty some people have in receiving an acknowledgment. A lump swells in their throat, their palms begin to sweat, tension rises in their neck and they become fidgety. They also begin to misread the acknowledger by asking themselves questions. “Are they lying?” “How am I to believe them?” “What do they want?” By giving an acknowledgment the feelings were pretty well the same. The acknowledger doubted what they wanted to say and questioned whether it was appropriate to give the acknowledgment. “They won’t believe me.” “I’ll sound stupid.”

When was the last time you acknowledged or validated yourself? Or acknowledged or validated someone else? Funny thing is many of us seem to believe that this beautiful gift is not important. Why is this so? Because many of us have never experienced many acknowledgments growing up, so it doesn’t come naturally. And because we haven’t experienced many acknowledgments growing up, they sound foreign to us. This leaves us neither knowing how to give nor receive a simple yet powerful tool.

Here’s what others’ acknowledgments and validations can look like:

Having someone endorse you when you are afraid to forge ahead.

Focusing on your strengths when all you see are your weaknesses.

Wanting a better way for you when you find it hopeless.

Holding your vision high when you are down.

And recognizing your talents and accomplishments when you are blind to see them.

These can be something unknown to most of us, yet it is a gift that will move someone into action.

A simple acknowledgment is a way to bring out the best in others. It is a way to shed the light so they can see their true and unlimited potential. And to give them strength and courage as they are cheered on through their endeavors.

As an acknowledger, you are sharing something extremely precious and invaluable. There is not enough gold or diamonds on the planet that will bring that sense of empowerment, warmth and love to someone’s heart as they grow in acceptance towards this gift.

Don’t wait for someone to acknowledge you either. Begin acknowledging your strengths, talents, character, emotions, feelings, attributes, skills and all the things you’ve done in your life to help, encourage, support and love yourself and others.

Also remember to embrace your weaknesses, awkwardness, vulnerabilities, dislikes or disheartened relationships. By embracing your dark side, you begin to heal yourself with the power of love and self-acceptance. You also acknowledge the completeness of who you are. By acknowledging the completeness of who you are, you begin to see yourself as already perfect and whole just the way you are. By doing this you stop the resistance or the “dis-ease”. Ultimately, the resisted and unacknowledged dark side impacts your health in a negative way. You wouldn’t be where you are today without your so-called dark side. Wake up and use your acknowledgment skills. Once they become a well used positive habit, you’ll be amazed how you can help transform the lives of others as well as your own.

“You get the best effort from others not by lighting a fire beneath them, but by building a fire within.” –Bob Nelson

[winston]

Chin Up! Keep Going! by Mike Brescia

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Today's Empowering Quote
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"Press on. Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence." --Ray Kroc

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Today's Empowering Question
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"Am I even a little closer today to my goal than yesterday?"

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Today's Fast Session
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For those of you who don't know Ray Kroc, he's the guy who took McDonald's from a little hamburger stand to the most successful restaurant chain in the world. He's long passed away and the systems that he set up still thrive and dominate today.

He developed and improved on systems of training, making the food, presentation, franchising, and advertising that made a moderately successful joint into a global phenomenon.

Systems and persistence.

Many people thought he was a crazed lunatic, concerning his fanaticism about consistency. But Ray understood that once a system, good or bad, is in place, it's nearly impossible to change it.

And that's how we all are as individuals, too. Once we get a habit, it becomes very hard to break...

Giving up too soon is the saddest thing in the world.

My wife told me a story the other day about a co-worker who has never hit the 'Help' button in any software program she's ever used...and she's used computers every day for years. She thinks it will take too long to find the answer, so she just doesn't even bother.

Don't laugh--you probably have a few of these yourself. Find them and snuff them out.

Do you look at potential goals and get overwhelmed by all the stuff you'd have to do to achieve it and thus never start anything? The right way is to write down all the benefits that you'll get--spiritually, physically,
emotionally, socially... any benefit.

Look far into the future. Write 'em down.

This simple exercise will help you stay motivated to see it through.

If it takes months or even years to get what you want, keeping your eye on the ball will keep you going. If you don't even know why you're doing something, how can you possibly stay passionate about it?

You can't.

Have you given up on a goal recently, where if you attained it, your life would be dramatically improved?

Were you passionate about the goal?

Of course you weren't.

Passionate desire helps create persistence.

Persistence alone will often get you where you want to go. Without it, it doesn't matter how much you know, who you know, who you are, what you've done before, what you look like or how much money you have to throw at a problem.

Persistence, sheer persistence usually will win. Determination will overcome even superior talent.

Even if you never reach the goal that you've worked so hard for, there is a pretty decent ancillary benefit...

Character.

Tomorrow's another day. Your day.