SUCCESS TIPS AND STRATEGIES.

HOW TO GET THE BEST OUT IF THIS YEAR

2009-04-03T02:01:00.000-07:00

I've been thinking a lot lately of New Year's and the many resolutions that are made and broken, often within a week of making them. Why is it that many of us make the same resolutions every New Year's but seldom keep them? Could it be because we're setting unrealistic goals for ourselves that we can't possibly achieve? This type of goal setting only serves to discourage us from striving for future goals. Instead of planning for success, we're setting ourselves up for failure. When making a resolution or setting a goal, you should follow the S.M.A.R.T. system for maximum success: -Specific-Measurable-Attainable-Realistic-Timely Here are some common BAD New Year's resolutions along with tips about how to turn them around into GOOD resolutions that can bring you astounding results: 1. Losing weight. How many of us make the resolution to "get in shape" or to simply "lose weight?" This isn't a specific goal, nor does it contain any sort of measurable timeline in which to perform the task. -A better solution would be to say, "I want to lose _____ pounds by _____ (date). I will do this by following these steps: (change of diet, exercise plan, etc.)." -A specific goal establishes what you want to accomplish, by what time, identifies requirements and constraints, and lists benefits of reaching that goal. 2. Spending more time with family. Another common New Year's resolution is to spend more time with family and friends. Again, you need to have a plan to do this. Simply stating that you will spend more time with your family won't make it happen. This may not even be a very attainable goal if you live far away from your family or can't give up time at the office. -Look at your schedule, evaluate your priorities, and make the necessary changes to free up the time you'll need to spend the extra hours with your family. -Establish exactly how many extra hours you need to make this happen. What will have to be rearranged? These are decisions you need to make to accomplish your goal. 3. Quitting smoking. The average smoker tries to quit at least 4 times before he actually kicks the habit. Why? Because it's easy to get discouraged when you try one method and it doesn't work. You need to have numerous back-up plans because one product or method doesn’t work for everyone. -Make sure the goals you set are realistic. Don't expect to stop smoking in a week or maybe even a month. You'll only become disheartened if you fail. -Set reasonable goals such as, "By ___ (date) I will only smoke ____ cigarettes a day." Slowly become less dependent on them until you reach your goal. 4. Getting out of debt. This is a resolution that requires much planning and usually involves a change of lifestyle. If you're living in a cycle of debt, you need to plan a strategy to cut your spending dramatically, as well as pay off the debt you already have. -Set specific goals such as "I will have ____ (amount) paid off by _____ (date). I will do this by cutting ____ (amount) from my spending each week." Without a reasonable timeline in place, you'll slip back into your old habits. -If your total amount of debt is large, break the debt down into smaller, more attainable goals. Pay off one credit card at a time and take pride when you get that final statement with a zero balance. Also consider talking to a financial advisor who can help you set a reasonable plan for you to follow. Resolutions take work, there's no denying it! Simply saying that you resolve to do something is not sufficient without having a plan in place to do it. Now that you know the problem, you can stop making the same resolutions year after year! Using the S.M.A.R.T. system as a guide, you can actually attain your goals in the coming year and become a better person for it. We will all succeed.

TIPS FOR SUCCESS

2009-01-17T00:54:00.000-08:00

Some tips to help you reach and achieve success
Mental conditioning for success.. You have to really want it before you can get it.- Start with the intention to become successful.- Create the mental environment that fosters success and build a drive to succeed. What you can do: Look at where you are now and look at where you want to be. Now come up with a plan to get there. Observe your thoughts in the process.. are you in a 'reactive' mode or 'proactive' mode. Ex. "I need to keep working so I can pay my bills" vs. "What are my goals and how can I reach them?" (dependent thinking vs. independent thinking)The first one sets you into a reactive mindset.. an "I cant because my environment dictates my decisions.. " modeIn a proactive mindset... you adopt an "I am responsible" mode. The proactive mindset allows you to become open to the answer you are looking for. It allows your eyes and ears to stay tuned looking and listening for ways to achieve what you want. Like a radar, you are looking for something (consciously or unconsciously) and when you find it you will be ready to take action more quickly and less likely to resist!
Be creative and open to new ideasAlways keep your self open to new ideas and opportunities.. Once in a while 'extract' yourself from the same day to day activities and give yourself the opportunity to look ahead and think BIG! Avoid putting yourself in situations (like financial ones) where you can become 'tied up' from making bigger & better decisions... something that keeps you locked into the 'reactive' mode
Stay focused & energized. Avoid distractions when possible and stay focused. Allow yourself some time to think of where you would like to be years from now and what you need to do to get there. Avoid doing things that do nothing but distract you or drain you of energy and creativity. Find time to stay focused. Find a space to be 'recover' and build up your energy levels. Read books that motivate you. Do things that give you a sense of accomplishment and add to your sense of self worth.
Take calculated risksThis applies to any aspects of life.. Sometimes the biggest risk is not taking any. Imagine all the 'I could haves' when 'I should have'. Dont take foolish risks.. but plan and take calculated ones. Ones that are backed up by your passion to succeed no matter what happens. One that you know even if you failed you would get yourself back up and, learn from your mistakes and keep moving forward. Do not be afraid to take calculated risks.
Failure is a blessing!.. if you run into them.. just reorganize, reprioritize and keep moving forward. Failure is a pre-requisite to success. A person who has never experienced failure likely never experienced success. Failure should not bring you down, it should make you want to succeed even more. Mentally challenge yourself in the mist of failure.
"Taste" Success.. unless you never have the 'feel' for success you may never hunger for it. Getting the taste of success can drive you to keep moving forward and take even bigger steps and making even bigger decisions. You can start small such as a simple transaction, acquiring something, selling something, saving something, accomplishing something, investing in something or just seeing results! Success gives you the feeling of reward and that there is more waiting for you!
"Feel" the feeling of Ownership!Unless you have the feeling of real ownership and control, success would be harder to obtain. Ownership gives you a sense of pride, a sense that you get what you put in. You control how far you want to go and how much you can potentially make..To do this you must take responsibility and look ahead.. and you must take action!
Never slow downThe real world never slows down and neither should you! Constantly look at ways to improve your business, improve what you do.. or improve your own self. Constantly look for new tools to enhance your business.. to challenge your own self.. your co-workers or employees. Think of a water metaphor.. in nature for water to stay fresh, it needs to constantly flow! Keep your ideas flowing and keep building on the knowledge, experience you have and let that momentum keep moving you forward.
We will all succeed.

BE CREATIVE

2008-10-23T03:14:00.000-07:00

I believe that creativity is a natural order of life itself and it provides my life with the purest of energies.
I believe there is an underlying creative force infusing throughout my life.
I believe that when I open my creativity, I am opening the Creator’s creativity.
I believe creativity is part of my destiny and just as important as all living things.
I believe creativity is my Creator’s gift to me. Using my creativity is my gift back to him.
I believe expectation of a fulfilling life attracts with powerful changes when I allow creativity to flow through my beingness.
I believe it is safe for me to discover my own creativity even if it sets new paths not yet discovered.
I believe as I move more towards my creative self, I move towards my own divinity.
I believe I am worth the time it takes to create whatever it is I am to create.
I believe I have the right to have all the creativity I deserve.
I believe that when I allow my creativity to flow throughout my life, I tap into the source of all that there is and all that ever was.
I believe that the time I spend creating is as precious as anything else in life.
I believe that as creativity gives to me, so does she deserve from me all my faith mindfulness and commitment.
I believe in my creative self.
I believe in me.

HOW TO DISCOVER WHAT YOU WANT

2008-08-11T10:47:00.000-07:00

If you have any doubts about what it is that really want, here's a simple method to discover the real truth. You can find the answers to you want easily and in only minutes.In almost every success program or book written there is always a chapter or section about goals and how important they are. It's been repeated thousands of times in as many ways.
You don't need to be reminded about setting goals again. But what about that noise you hear in the background of your mind? How do you sort through all the thoughts you have and find what's important to you?
If you could review the thoughts you had yesterday, you could find hints about what it is that you really want or need. It might be something completely different than that new job, car or home you said you wanted.
There is an easy and simple way to find out if the goals you have made are what you really want.
This will take you only few minutes and you can do this almost anytime you are alone and can relax. You will also need a notepad and pen or pencil that can be within your reach.Step 1 - Relax Your Body and MindFind a comfortable place where you can sit or lie down without being disturbed.
Darken the room to your liking and turn off anything that could distract you such as the radio, television, telephone or computer.
Relax on your favourite chair or couch, loosen any tight clothing and if you prefer, remove your shoes.
Once you have relaxed your body, try to relax your mind by thinking of nothing except perhaps a place that you find comforting. It could be a tropical beach or simply a cozy setting in front of a fireplace.
Breathe slowly and let your mind relax as much as possible.Step 2 - Ask Yourself What You Really WantAfter a few minutes both your body and mind should be in a relaxed state. Quietly, but firmly ask yourself the following question three or more times. "What do I want?"
Repeat this several times and then just stop. Wait quietly and continue to stay relaxed both mentally and physically.
If you are patient and wait a short time you will find that thoughts will enter your mind suddenly. It may be only one thought, a few or even many.
Listen to these thoughts but don't try to analyze them. It may not be what you expect but don't seem surprised at them.
If you have never done anything like this before it may take a few attempts to get any answers.
End you relaxation session by thanking yourself for any answers you received and decide to slowly rise from your chair or couch.Step 3 - Write the Answers DownWhile these thoughts are fresh in your mind, pick up your notepad and pen or pencil and write them down. Try to do this just as you heard them without attempting to analyze them.
These are the thoughts from within that are telling you the real story about what you want or need.
You may want to do this exercise more than once for confirmation or just out of curiosity.What to Do NextTake the notes you just made and compare them to what you have already considered to be your goals. Did you find any differences?
Examine them carefully and you may find you want to change your goals a little or rewrite them entirely. Or it may be that you were exactly right in the first place.
The least you will get out of this exercise is greater confidence that your choice of goals was the best possible.Remember that as you reach your goals you will change and so will what you want. You should repeat this exercise whenever you have any concerns or doubts about what you want.
Isn't it a good idea to ask someone who knows?Ask an expert, ask yourself.

THE POWER OF QUITTING

2008-07-07T05:30:00.000-07:00

I'm a big believer in quitting. I think it's a good thing. You should do more of it.
Yes, I did say quitting and -- yes -- I did say you should do more of it!
Sound odd? I'm not surprised. Maybe it's that neat-o 'survival instinct' of yours kicking in. Or maybe after years and years of hearing the old saw 'A winner never quits and a quitter never wins' you came to believe it. After all, since we were very young, 'quitting' has been defined as something negative. Real life, however, shows us that quitting is very often a positive force in our lives.
Don't believe me? Try quitting a few of these things:
Quit using (or abusing) tobacco, alchohol, caffeine, food.
Quit doing the things that aren't bringing you the results you want.
Quit procrastinating and you find yourself less rushed and harried.
Quit putting up with damaging, abusive, and negative relationships (at home and at work).
Quit jobs and volunteer work that don't truly bring you joy.
Quit being in relationships that are abusive.
Quit feeling miserable for yourself and being miserable about stuff beyond your control.
Quit trying to be everything, to do everything, and to have everything.
If you can quit just one of these things, you'll be creating positive action in your life. But you have to quit first. It's a simple idea most of us overlook: To really be a winner, you have to be able to stop doing stuff that's not good for you!
So quit waiting... and take action!
____
Jim Allen

HOW TO OVERCOME THE FEAR OF SUCCESS

2008-07-03T02:41:00.000-07:00

Is the fear of success real? How could anyone possibly fear such a wonderfully positive thing as success? As strange as it sounds, many people do fear success. This fear holds them back from achieving their goals and dreams. It may sound more reasonable to fear failure, and not to fear success. What is this all about? Here are some reasons people fear success. Think these through and you'll begin to resolve these issues within yourself. 1. Change Itself Is Scary: it's easier to maintain status quo and go along unthinkingly. Life is easier when we can live it on auto-pilot. Change brings us into the unknown with its mix of exciting adventure and scary possibilities.2. People Will Expect You to Succeed Again: there is a new pressure to perform to a level that was not there before. You are aware of people watching and waiting for you to repeat your success.3. The Bar Has Been Raised on Your Performance Levels: your old habits and processes will not work. You have to change familiar and comfortable ways of being for the new.4. You Will Get More Attention From People: if you are a private person, or are not used to having an audience, this will take some adjusting.5. Your Private Life May Suffer: athletes and movie actors who make it big complain that they have privacy no longer and that they must hire security and worry about financial and personal safety issues.6. You Question If You Can Do It Again: you may wonder if the first victory was a fluke the next time you perform, and if you fail, people will say it was an accident. This puts added pressure on this second performance and takes away the value of the first performance should you fail.7. Your Time Demands Will Change: you have less time now because maintaining new levels of performance bring new demands on your time, new details you've never had.8. People Expect You to "Be" a Certain Way Now: famous stars in show business are expected to be big tippers or to sign autographs, and if they don't, are denigrated. People have a set of expectations about how you should behave in your new position.9. It's Harder to Stay at the Top Than to Get There: it was tough succeeding, but repeating it is usually even harder. It takes more time, more planning and with your new distractions and obligations, keeping focus is even more demanding.10. You Make Enemies When You Perform Higher Than Them: you may leave former peers behind, symbolically and literally, when you raise the bar. Many people may be happy for your success and others feel slighted and envious.11. Being a Success Can Limit You: when an actor hits it big in a role, they are forever remembered as that character-and if they don't manage their career well, they will become type-cast. When you do a great job on a project, you might be known as "the one" to do this job for eternity because you are "so good" at it.12. Being a Success Changes Your Self-Image: perhaps you've always wondered if you could succeed at something. You may not have felt worthy of this success. People may have told you, covertly or overtly, that you don't deserve success. You at least know your place as one who is average. When you succeed, people will look to you for advice, leadership, as being a model of virtue and you will forever change how you see yourself.

MAXIMIZING YOUR POTENTIAL

2008-06-11T02:52:00.000-07:00

Maximizing Your Potential: Using Your Brain to ThinkBy Etienne Gibbs

The Chicago Times once printed that Henry Ford was an ignoramus. Mr. Ford sued, challenging the paper to prove it.
The proof was attempted in court. During the trial, Mr. Ford was asked a series of simple, general information questions, such as,
* Could you name the Presidents of the United States? * When was the Civil War?; and so on.

Mr. Ford, who had little formal education, could answer very few. Finally, in exasperation, he replied, "I don't know the answers to these questions, but I could find a man in five minutes who does. I use my brain to think, not to store a lot of useless facts."
A similar story is told of Albert Einstein. Someone once asked him how many feet are there in a mile. "I don't know," he was reported as saying. "Why should I fill my head with things like that when I could look them up in any reference book in two minutes?"
Both of these men, giants in their respective field, knew what every good leader learns sooner or later: that the ability to get information and act on it is what gets things done.
As one business leader recently put it, "I want people around me who can solve problems, not recite facts."
History is filled with many instances where individuals, many without a high school diploma, became successful businesspersons because they knew how to gather information they lacked and they acted on it promptly. They are, whether living or deceased, examples of people who know how to maximize their potential and did. What are you doing about yours?
Remember: When you maximize your potential, everyone wins. When you don't, we all lose.
Etienne A. Gibbs, MSW, Management Consultant and Trainer, conducts seminars, lectures, and writes articles on his theme: ... helping you maximize your potential. He offers a free health survey at http://eagibbs.usana.com; and free state tourism guides at http://www.ExecutiveAndGroupTravel.com. Reach him at eagibbs@ureach.com.

THE SECRET OF GETTING RESULTS WITHOUT STRUGGLE

2008-05-26T01:53:00.000-07:00

One of the misconceptions most people operate under is you get what you want in life by what you DO, or through the actions you take. Most people believe the DOING or action part is what makes things happen. Actually, "doing" causes you to create in reverse.
The reason we put a lot of emphasis on action is because we do not understand the power of our thought. If you analyze it, 90% of most people's actions are spent trying to compensate for inappropriate thought.
The Chinese philosopher Lao-tsu said, "In the practice of the Way, every day something is dropped. Less and less do you need to force things until finally you arrive at "non action." When nothing is done, nothing is left undone." What he is talking about is "doing without doing."
The problem is most of us are preoccupied with "doing". Unfortunately most of our doing usually involves struggle. In the western world we are conditioned to be action-oriented, so we place a tremendous value on doing. We are so busy doing we do not realize that all this "doingness" causes us to create in a reverse fashion.
Most of our actions are out of fear, worry or doubt because we believe nothing will get done unless we DO something. In other words, we are trying to force our desire into manifestation through action.
If your decision to DO is dominant, then you will not focus on what you want to BE in the present moment. This causes you to miscreate because BEING is the first and most important step in the creative process.
Here is the secret to getting results with ease:
It is not your action that makes things happen, it is your intent. You can reduce the need for action to a very minimum by allowing yourself to focus on what you desire until you feel the positive energy begin to move within you. This energy is not based on doubt, fear, anxiety, worry or need. If you focus on what you want instead of what you don't want, you will know when it is time to take action. And when you do, it will be effortless. Doors open and the entire universe will conspire to assist you in your desire.
Put simply, you should take no action on anything until you have visualized your desire and made it real enough in your mind that your next action (step), whatever it is, seems like the most logical step.
How can you know the next logical step? Here is the test that you can give to yourself before taking any action: If you focus on what you desire and still feel overwhelmed or anxious, then you are not ready for any action. You know you are ready when it feels like the next logical step is effortless. There is no effort, no strain, and no pain.
What we want to do is to use the leverage of energy, the same leverage of energy that creates everything in the universe. However, we are so caught up in the reality of WHAT IS, that we feel we must createeverything through physical activity.
Have you ever seen people who seem to have all the wonderful things in their life without much effort? It almost seems like they have an advantage over everyone else. Then you see the people who work the hardest usually have the least. That doesn't seem fair, does it? But that's the way the universe works.
Unfortunately, those who work the hardest usually have the least because they haven't learned the leverage of aligning their energy. They are going about creating their lives the hard way. They are trying to use their actions to create what they want.
We have also been programmed that in order to have what we desire we must work hard. How many times have you heard - "No pain, no gain." The implication is that if you want to make something of yourself, you must work hard. The message is clear - if you are not hurting or struggling, you are not moving forward.
But here is the truth - anytime you are struggling you are miscreating. Anytime you feel pain or struggle, your magnetic point of attraction is directed to that which you do not want, rather than to that which you desire. (Read that again.)
Actions are necessary, but they are the last component of the creation processes. Actions cannot be used effectively to initiate results, because initiation is the function of BEING, then thought, then action.
Remember, the creation of anything is through your vibration. Everything vibrates, and it is by that vibration that we harmonize and attract experiences to ourselves. So before you act or do anything, first ask yourself, how am I vibrating? How do you tell? You tell by how you FEEL. Your feelings show you your vibration. How you feel determines what you attract.
When you use the process of creating by only focusing on what you want instead of what you don't want, you will see that the universe will provide a different set of circumstances for you that requires much less action. This puts you in a state of "doing without doing" or action without effort.
So if you want more results in your life -- and with far less effort, struggle and pain -- try this "not doing" way to success.
You will be successful.

QUOTES ON MONEY

2008-05-14T02:34:00.000-07:00

"Money was never a big motivation for me, except as a way to keep score. The real excitement is playing the game." Donald Trump"Money is usually attracted, not pursued."Jim Rohn"Many speak the truth when they say that they despise riches, but they mean the riches possessed by other men."Charles Caleb Colton"Most people are to busy earning a living to make any money."Unknown"Happiness is not in the mere possession of money; it lies in the joy of achievement, in the thrill of creative effort."Franklin D. RooseveltIf money is your hope for independence you will never have it. The only real security that a man will have in this world is a reserve of knowledge, experience, and ability.Henry Ford.

THE SECRET TO YOUR OWN SUCCESS

2008-05-10T02:38:00.000-07:00

Success is a personal definition. You define your own success. But how do you get there? Your success might be losing 20 pounds, making $5,000.00 a month, finding a loving spouse or living in a mansion. However you define it, the path to achieve it is the same for everyone.
Not all people who achieve success know how they got there. People who have figured out that one little secret can achieve success multiple times; over and over again. They can stop smoking and lose weight at the same time – an almost impossible feat. They can lose millions and go on to make billions (Donald Trump). They are not different from you, they only practice one secret that you don’t know yet.
And yet, you may have the secret and not fully utilize it. Many people talk about, or hear, the secret but don’t put it into practice. The concept is at the heart of many movies, books, radio programs and church services. You can even interpret the secret in some billboards.
Hearing it and ‘knowing’ it are two different things.
Have you ever had an “UH-HUH!” moment; when something you’ve heard for weeks finally makes sense and you understand how it affects your world. Understanding this secret is a lot like that. You’ve probably heard it. You know people who use it. But you don’t know how to put it into practice and even worse, you don’t know that you don’t know.
So, what is that secret? The secret is different for everyone. It is the thing that pushes your buttons. You might not even know what it is yet. You may be working on autopilot like so many people. But once you discover your ‘one thing’ you have the ability to harness all of your collective energy into a powerhouse that will catapult you into whatever success you want.
Is this too pie-in-the-sky for you? Maybe feels new-age? It isn’t. It’s a technique that’s been used for centuries by successful people. It’s taught in every network marketing company. It’s on radio shows, talk shows, church sermons and billboards. It is what motivate you. ‘It’ is personal to you.
Without ‘it’ you won’t complete time management tasks, you won’t learn new strategies to fulfill your destiny, you won’t take risks or learn new techniques. You’ll continue to do what you’ve always done and get the same results you always have.
Knowing ‘it’ empowers you to be a risk-taker. Knowing ‘it’ doesn’t make success instantaneous but it does energize your focused actions and clarifies your future plans. You no longer are adrift in a sea of ideas, possibilities and problems. You are focused on your success and a specific plan to achieve it.
There are tools to help you find your ‘it’. The best and most powerful is to go to a quiet place, without interruption requires physical activity; such as going for a walk. The activity stimulates your brain and the outdoors clears your head.
Now focus, what is it that makes you happiest? What would you change? What do you desperately desire? Talk aloud, there isn’t anyone there. Brainstorm to yourself. These are important concepts and they may not solidify in one or even two walks. But stay with it. When you get home, write it down. Don’t focus on things but on achievements. You don’t want lots of money but specifically to have a million dollars.
Just because it’s simple don’t underestimate the power of your ‘why’. This is what drives you when you stumble, and you will stumble. No one becomes successful without a few bumps in the road and some of those bumps are ditches. Your ‘why’ will bring you through the trials and into success but you have to find it first. That’s why any successful person can articulate their ‘it’. That’s why no amount of education and learning can sustain you when the going gets tough.
Your reason why is personal to you. No one else can find your motivation to work long hours and achieve your success. It comes from you. Learn that simple secret and you are already halfway home.
You will succeed.

VISUALIZE AND AFFIRM YOUR DESIRED OUITCOMES

2008-04-21T02:24:00.000-07:00

You have an awesome power within you that most of us have never been taught to use. Elite athletes use it. The super rich use it. And peak performers in all fields are now starting to use it. That power is called visualization.
The daily practice of visualizing your dreams as already complete can rapidly accelerate your achievement of those dreams. Visualization of your goals and desires accomplishes four very important things.
1. It activates your creative subconscious which will start generating creative ideas to achieve your goal.
2. It programs your brain to more readily perceive and recognize the resources you will need to achieve your dreams.
3. It activates the law of attraction, thereby drawing into your life the people, resources, and circumstances you will need to achieve your goals.
4. It builds your internal motivation to take the necessary actions to achieve your dreams.
Visualization is really quite simple. You sit in a comfortable position, close your eyes and imagine -- in as vivid detail as you can -- what you would be looking at if the dream you have were already realized. Imagine being inside of yourself, looking out through your eyes at the ideal result.
Mental Rehearsal
Athletes call this visualization process "mental rehearsal," and they have been using it since the 1960s when we learned about it from the Russians. All you have to do is set aside a few minutes a day. The best times are when you first wake up, after meditation or prayer, and right before you go to bed. These are the times you are most relaxed. Go through the following three steps:
1. Imagine sitting in a movie theater, the lights dim, and then the movie starts. It is a movie of you doing perfectly whatever it is that you want to do better. See as much detail as you can create, including your clothing, the expression on your face, small body movements, the environment and any other people that might be around. Add in any sounds you would be hearing -- traffic, music, other people talking, cheering. And finally, recreate in your body any feelings you think you would be experiencing as you engage in this activity.
2. Get out of your chair, walk up to the screen, open a door in the screen and enter into the movie. Now experience the whole thing again from inside of yourself, looking out through your eyes. This is called an "embodied image" rather than a "distant image." It will deepen the impact of the experience. Again, see everything in vivid detail, hear the sounds you would hear, and feel the feelings you would feel.
3. Finally, walk back out of the screen that is still showing the picture of you performing perfectly, return to your seat in the theater, reach out and grab the screen and shrink it down to the size of a cracker. Then, bring this miniature screen up to your mouth, chew it up and swallow it. Imagine that each tiny piece -- just like a hologram -- contains the full picture of you performing well. Imagine all these little screens traveling down into your stomach and out through the bloodstream into every cell of your body. Then imagine that every cell of your body is lit up with a movie of you performing perfectly. It's like one of those appliance store windows where 50 televisions are all tuned to the same channel.
When you have finished this process -- it should take less than five minutes -- you can open your eyes and go about your business. If you make this part of your daily routine, you will be amazed at how much improvement you will see in your life.
Create Goal Pictures
Another powerful technique is to create a photograph or picture of yourself with your goal, as if it were already completed. If one of your goals is to own a new car, take your camera down to your local auto dealer and have a picture taken of yourself sitting behind the wheel of your dream car. If your goal is to visit Paris, find a picture or poster of the Eiffel Tower and cut out a picture of yourself and place it into the picture. With today's technology, you could probably make an even more convincing image using your computer.
Create a Visual Picture and an Affirmation for Each Goal
We recommend that you find or create a picture of every aspect of your dream life. Create a picture or a visual representation for every goal you have -- financial, career, recreation, new skills and abilities, things you want to purchase, and so on.
When we were writing the very first Chicken Soup for the Soul® book, we took a copy of the New York Times best seller list, scanned it into our computer, and using the same font as the newspaper, typed Chicken Soup for the Soul into the number one position in the "Paperback Advice, How-To and Miscellaneous" category. We printed several copies and hung them up around the office. Less than two years later, our book was the number one book in that category and stayed there for over a year!
Index Cards
We practice a similar discipline every day. We each have a list of about 30-40 goals we are currently working on. We write each goal on a 3x5 index card and keep those cards near our bed and take them with us when we travel. Each morning and each night we go through the stack of cards, one at a time, read the card, close our eyes, see the completion of that goal in its perfect desired state for about 15 seconds, open our eyes and repeat the process with the next card.
Use Affirmations to Support Your Visualization
An affirmation is a statement that evokes not only a picture, but the experience of already having what you want. Here's an example of an affirmation:
I am happily vacationing 2 months out of the year in a tropical paradise, and working just four days a week owning my own business.
Repeating an affirmation several times a day keeps you focused on your goal, strengthens your motivation, and programs your subconscious by sending an order to your crew to do whatever it takes to make that goal happen.
Expect Results
Through writing down your goals, using the power of visualization and repeating your affirmations, you can achieve amazing results. Visualization and affirmations allow you to change your beliefs, assumptions, and opinions about the most important person in your life -- YOU! They allow you to harness the 18 billion brain cells in your brain and get them all working in a singular and purposeful direction.
Your subconscious will become engaged in a process that transforms you forever. The process is invisible and doesn't take a long time. It just happens over time, as long as you put in the time to visualize and affirm, surround yourself with positive people, read uplifting books and listen to audio programs that flood your mind with positive, life-affirming messages.
Repeat your affirmations every morning and night for a month and they will become an automatic part of your thinking -- they will become woven into the very fabric of your being.
© 2008 Jack Canfield

GARBAGE IN ITS PLACE

2008-04-01T04:55:00.000-07:00

There is nothing worse than seeing garbage blowing down the street of your neighborhood, or finding broken shards of glass at the local swimming hole where children play. Wildlife is just as vulnerable to garbage and many have lost their lives after becoming tangled in waste or mistaking garbage for food. It is up to each of us to make an effort to minimize this unsightly, and sometimes hazardous, problem.
Animals, wind and traffic breezes put legs to loose garbage and are able to distribute it great distances from the original source. The first thing that we can do to prevent this is to ensure trashcan and dumpster lids are secure. Metal and plastic trashcans are more preventative than bags - leaving a bag out over night or even for several hours, is an enticing invitation for stray animals to wreak havoc. When taking a load to the dump, be sure that it is securely covered by tightly tying a tarp over the load with some rope or bungee cords.
Carry plastic shopping bags on your walks to clean up litter that you find along the way. Often, people are rewarded for their efforts by the deposits returned from bottles and cans. Those who have noticed your efforts will begin taking up the same habit once they realize the impact it has.
Report any dumping you witness, whether it was done illegally or accidentally - just get the license number and leave the rest to the officials. Also, report any site where garbage has been left by others. These problems can be reported to the local city, highway, public works or conservation office. Ask them to arrange for it to be cleaned up.
By doing these relatively small actions, we prevent contamination and injuries to people or wildlife in the area. When separating recyclable items, we keep a valuable resource out of the landfill. In addition, we maintain a pristine environment for citizens, tourists and wildlife to enjoy. We can all take pride knowing that by keeping garbage in its place, we are making the world just a little better for everyone.

DO NOT FEAR YOUR OWN SUCCESS

2008-03-19T02:46:00.000-07:00

Noted author and self-worth teacher Eric Butterworth* says, "Poverty is a way of living and thinking, and not just a lack of money or things." When you couple his philosophy with the Eastern mysticism of "what you believe will become your reality" it becomes clear that obstacles to financial and personal success are largely self-created.
We once knew a man who, though hugely successful in business, and hugely contented on a personal level, claimed to be blessed with ignorance. He was ignorant of what he could not accomplish -therefore he accomplished much during his lifetime. This man's potential was not stifled by the abbreviated and misfigured word "can't." It simply did not figure into his thinking.
That's not to say this man did not experience failure. He had no magical Midas touch - his personal life, while appearing to be immensely satisfying for him, included the same trials and tragedies experienced by any other human being. Yet he seemed to regard failure as an educational asset, and adversity as an opportunity for progress.
While this man did not fear failure, he ultimately did not fear success.
To succeed means to be a winner - to be at or at least near the top of the heap. But along with winning comes a profound responsibility. A football team that takes the championship is suddenly saddled with a near crushing responsibility to carry on that level of play. A person who is successful in business is expected to continue being successful. Success carries with it an inherent burden.
Do you fear the burden of success?
Success is only achieved through progress, and progress is only achieved through risk. A mushroom never takes a risk. It hides underground until conditions are perfect, and then emerges for only a short while. It never transmutes - never changing - remaining forever a mushroom.
Humans fear risk because it involves dealing with unknown concepts and quantities. We're not sure what will happen if we take action, and that is a frightening concept in and of itself.
Unfortunately, when we fear the risk of taking action, we relegate ourselves to remaining underground with the mushrooms - to be waiting forever for perfect conditions. We never change. We never progress. We never become anything other than what we already are. We procastinate, and attempt to content ourselves with a "someday I will" philosophy of living.
Do you fear the risk of success?
Now modern psychology, for all its inherent flaws, tells us that most humans suffer to some degree from low self-esteem. Perhaps we're not sure of ourselves, or however subconsciously, do not believe we are worthy of success. We seem to regard other people as better, more deserving, or as having a magical key to a successful life neatly tucked into a secret pocket.
Perhaps we fear to associate in those circles of seemingly successful people - to be seen in the unworthy light that we have falsely cast upon ourselves - a light that no one but us can see.
Do you fear the circles of success?
Success can be measured in a multitude of ways - a successful marriage, a successful career, a successful social life, a successful vegetable garden. Success does not always relate to riches and fame, or the accumulation of material wealth. But you will find that any brand of success you seek will develop only from an attitude of personal courage.
And it has been said that courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the ability to take action in spite of fear. Nothing, absolutely nothing in life is a sure bet, except that a mushroom will always remain a mushroom.
You will be successful.

10 SECRETS OF EFFECTIVE LEADERS

2008-03-06T01:17:00.000-08:00

Did you know that people who lead strategically resemble fine-tuned machines? By focusing on their strategies, leaders see a bigger picture, they understand the reasons why and recognize the worthiness of elusive opportunities.
Effective leaders make strategic use of and add value to every challenge in four important ways:
1) Thinking through the lessons to be learned in each situation;
2) Leveraging the available sources, imports and exports of energy;
3) Boosting weak, diffused signals and messages of meaning;
4) Sharpening the leading edge of innovative efforts - their people.
What are these attributes of strategic leaders? Let's describe those functions by comparing them with common mechanical devices:
=> Engine - converting one energy source into a greater or more focused source of energy;
=> Pump - concentrating and directing a source of energy in such a way as to provide a focal point for the user of that energy;
=> Processor - manipulation of energy in such a way as to make a value, logic or null based decision to channel that original energy source;
=> Channel - a directing of or being a conduit for energy without adding or enhancing that energy source in any appreciable way;
=> Amplifier - the expansion of energy by using methods of analysis in such a way so as to increase or strengthen the original energy source;
=> Filter - maintaining smooth, stable, unpolluted flows of energy through the cleansing, clarifying process of open and honest communications
=> Catalyst - that which encourages and facilitates speedy, significant course changes or positive actions
=> Transformer - the conversion of energy into another form so as to increase or enhance the magnitude of the original energy source;
=> Synthesizer - combining or composing the elements of an energy source in such a way as to create a new or greater whole form of energy;
=> Carburetor - mixing or combining a supply of energy in such a way as to facilitate a more powerful or effective use of that energy source.
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Making skilled use of leadership in these suggested roles could improve, energize and empower the success of your strategic planning process. By being mechanical you could become an instrument which enables energy flows.
Remember energy can not be created and it can not be destroyed. However, energy can be re-directed, converted into new forms or released into the environment and become another form of energy.
You could also think of using these mechanical processes to develop, train and nurture the leadership behaviors, skills and competencies of your people.
"Dreams grow holy put in action; work grows fair through starry dreaming, But where each flows on unmingling, both are fruitless and in vain." - Adelaide Anne Procter
Are you using your planning process to energize and electrify the commitment of your people to imaginatively exploit the opportunities of change? Leaders help transform dreams into holy action and energizing, empowering work products.
Be that strategic leader who empowers others to be proud of and enjoy the fruits of their labors!
You will be successful.

ANOTHER VIEW OF SHYNESS

2008-02-16T00:37:00.000-08:00

We are all born shy, aren't we? When we see little children clinging to their parents, hiding behind Mom or Dad, we are reminded about the shyness of first coming into this World. As this early stage of our life we are not ready to be seen just yet. We want to hide until it feels safe to come out and be visible.
Becoming visible is what Life is all about. Revealing ourselves, showing ourselves and expressing our "inner self" are about becoming visible and declaring ourselves "Ready" to meet the World. Much of the World certainly seems to like the shy person. People want that person to reveal themselves, to display their talents and capabilities. The World can be generous that way. It would seem that "repression" is an aberration to that so-called "Worldy Manner" where we usually invite others to share themselves with us.
This is a good thing, I believe, where we encourage each other to come out and display our wealth of creativity. As a species we are all enriched by these contributions from our shy members. It's like we know at some level that we will benefit from their displays. And perhaps they will teach us something about ourselves, since all of us have some inherent shyness built in.
Here's an interesting fact about shy people, those that still display shyness as adults - they are Creative. Very creative, as a matter of fact. The more shy a person is, the more creative they tend to be. A lot of actors and performers are shy people. Why? Because they are creative. So why do shy, creative people show themselves? Because the joy of giving, of displaying their special abilities far exceeds the limited payoff of staying hidden and allegedly safe. It's a contradiction of course, but it is true nevertheless. Most shy people (not all) are creative, and most creative people would rather give of their talents than hold back.
Are you shy? Are you creative? Then perhaps you are ready to give of yourself too! Wouldn't that be worth pursuing? If you see yourself as a "Shy" person then here's what you can do. You can hold yourself up to the light of day and declare "I am ready to meet the world." And the world will respond. "Welcome" it will say. "Yes indeed, we need you. Please show us your stuff."
And all the shy people of the World will step forward and give of themselves unanimously. Wouldn't that be a big surprise? To see all of us out there, dancing a jig, showing off our stuff, our talents and abilities.
Yes, we can do it, we who are shy. We can show our stuff to the World. Time to come out from behind Mom's skirts, and take a peek around the corner. The World is waiting for you to "Strut Your Stuff." Don't be shy now!
Refuse to be shy and you will be successful.

CHECK THIS OUT

2008-02-01T05:21:00.000-08:00

Take a loook at this image and sincerely believe you can become what is written there.

SUCCESS!!! SUCCESS!!! SUCCESS!!!

To your success

CHECK THIS OUT

2008-02-01T05:16:00.000-08:00

Take a close look at this image and sincerely believe that you can become what is written there.

SUCCESS!!! SUCCESS!!!SUCCESS!!!

To your success

THE IMPORTANCE OF INTEGRITY

2008-02-01T05:06:00.000-08:00

The single most important quality you can ever develop that will enhance every part of your life, is the value of integrity. Integrity is the core quality of a successful and happy life. Having integrity means being totally honest and truthful in every part of your life. By making the commitment to become a totally honest person, you will be doing more to ensure your success and happiness in life than anything else you can ever do.
Integrity is a value, like persistence, courage, and intelligence. It is your choice of values and resolution to live by those values that form your character and personality. And it is integrity that enhances all your other values. The quality of person you are is determined by how well you live up to the values that are most important to you. Integrity is the quality that locks in your values and causes you to live consistent with them.
Integrity is the foundation of character. A person who has integrity also has an unblemished character in every area of his or her life. One of the most important activities you can engage in, is developing your character. And one of the best ways to develop your character is by consistently doing the same things that a thoroughly honest person would do in every area of his or her life.
To be totally honest with others, you first have to be totally honest with yourself. You have to be true to yourself. You have to be true to the very best that is in you. Only a person who is consistently living a life with the highest values and virtues is a person truly living a life of integrity. If you are always honest and true to yourself you cannot be false to anyone else.
The mark of people who have high integrity is, they always do the highest quality of work in everything they do. They are the people who are always totally honest with themselves in everything they do, and strive to excellent work on every occassion. People with high integrity realize that everything they do is a statement about who they are as a person.
The Universal Law of Attraction says that you inevitably attract into your life the people and circumstances that are in harmony with your dominant thoughts and values. This means that everything in your life you have attracted, because of the person you are. If there is anything in your life, your relationships, or your work that you are not happy with, you need to begin changing the person you are, so that you stop attracting those people and situations into your life.
Your integrity is manifested in your willingness to adhere to the values that are most important to your. It's easy to make promises but often very hard to keep them. But every time you keep a promise that you've made, it is an act of integrity, which in turn strengthens your character. As you act with integrity in everything you do, you will find that every part of your life will improve. You will begin to attract the best people and situations into your life. You will become an outstanding person as well as a success in everything you do.
See you at the top.

3 STEPS TO STARTING AFRESH

2008-01-26T02:32:00.000-08:00

Along with the joy and excitement of the New Year’s season, a feeling of sadness often exists side by side. This feeling sometimes grows stronger after the New Year itself has passed. During this period we consciously or unconsciously review the year that has gone by, how it’s met our expectations and the ways in which we have developed or grown.
We also become aware of our disappointments, both in others and in ourselves. The New Year itself can seem daunting to some, challenging to others, filled with excitement or with fear. However, it is important to realize that a new year is new. Just as each breath we take is a fresh one, unless we carry the past with us as heavy baggage, unless we cling to old memories and mistakes, we can begin to live this year in a way that is truly refreshing and healing as well.
Each day, each moment offers us this opportunity, if we know how to enter it truly. Whatever has happened, or hasn’t happened, however the new year appears to you, there are several steps we all can take in starting a truly new chapter, making a beginning that is fresh and new.
Step 1 is to realize that in order for our year to be new, we have to be new. No matter how much we may want to hold onto the old, life itself is a series of changes. When we resist change, we resist life itself. Though difficult at times, change brings new growth, values, goals and understanding. As we say good-bye to plans, hopes, and old ways of being, we can open the door to new experience and fulfillment.
Along with the joy of new growth, growing pains can be common. Don’t be afraid of a little sadness or fear. It is natural, to be expected. Welcome it with open arms in the realization that new life is on the way. Allow yourself to feel what you feel. Then let the feeling go and move straight, directly into the present moment. The present moment is always filled with wonder, freshness and endless possibilities.
Step 2 Go over your past year with fresh eyes. Instead of finding everything wrong that has happened, find everything right that went on. Make a list of the good things that happened to you. Make a list of the ways in which people in your life pleased you, and the ways in which you pleased them as well. Make a list of the things you admire and respect about who you are. (The more you admire and respect yourself, the easier it is to embark and succeed at new goals and dreams). Most of the time we focus upon the negative and in this manner throw ourselves into depression. Change this habit now. By focusing on what went right each day, the year will be truly new.
Step 3 Give thanks. Each day find five things and people to give thanks for. Write this down. Then, actually call or write to at least one of the people on your list and offer them thanks for who they are or what they’ve done. This is a wonderful way of freeing yourself from feelings of deprivation and resentment most of us walk around with each day. It is also a wonderful way of realizing the enormous support available to you for realizing new dreams and accomplishing goals.
The New Year has endless possibilities. You may make resolutions and create many new goals and dreams. However, without a strong, consistent positive focus, in subtle ways we undermine ourselves. Build this new perspective. It’s the best thing you can do for yourself and others all year long.
This year will be a successful year for you.

TOOLS FOR SUCCESS

2008-01-21T02:07:00.000-08:00

Success takes work and good work requires the right tools. No one ever achieved lasting success by accident or luck. Every successful person uses reliable methods of increasing the probability of success in life. You, too, can use those same tools in your life to forge a successful outcome to your endeavors.
Persistence and will power are the most important tools to have. Many of us have come from a disadvantaged background, lack a positive mental attitude, don't have a plan for the future and may be surrounded by negative people, influences and failures.
None of that matters if you use your power of will and persist in improving yourself! Start from where you are with what you have at hand. Do not wait for things to get better. Do not put off making an effort because you lack some part or thing that you think you need. Begin NOW to take action and change your circumstances.
Assume a positive mental attitude. Treat yourself well. Fill your mind with a positive vision of the future. Banish negative, hateful thinking from your mind. Cut out all the negative influences in your life by either avoiding them or removing them altogether. Prevent your mind from being affected by the negative influence of other people.
Make a written plan for success. Pick goals to reach and set a date for reaching them. Read your plan aloud every day. Revise your plan as you reach your intermediate goals. Review your plan and improve it as you grow in confidence and ability. Never abandon your plan. Commit yourself to finishing everything you begin.
Surround yourself with successful, like-minded people. Befriend them and create harmony with them. Find ways of providing good service to them, without thinking of how you will be repaid. Serve willingly and in full. By serving others, you become worthy of being served.
Get excited about your life. True happiness comes from doing what is exciting for you. No one else can tell you what is exciting for you. Dare to dream big dreams and begin now to reach out and grasp those dreams.
Accept every temporary failure as the seed of an equivalent or greater success. Temporary failure may be just what you need to prevent you from following a path or course that will prevent you from reaching true success. Instead of quitting, revise your plans. Take new actions. JUST DON'T QUIT!

THESE WORDS WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE

2008-01-12T00:47:00.000-08:00

1.Money is not a scarce possession,it is only scarce to those who don't want it badly.
2.The things you are thinking about right now becomes your future dream.
3.The moment you stop dreaming is the moment you stop living.
4.You can never attract success by living in the pool of failure.
5.If you want riches you must be rich in your mind by finding the rich.
6.Your quick success will not withstand the tempest storm of endurance.
7.A poor man must leave his environment of poverty to have a chance of becoming rich.
8.The reason why you are not happy is because you evaluate your happiness by external things rather than peace of mind and inner fulfillment.
9.Those who are going to be rich tomorrow are already sowing the seeds of financial investment.
10.Nothing is magic,those who succeed plan and fail,and plan again and succeed.
See you at the top.

RECIPE FOR SUCCESS

2007-12-22T06:01:00.002-08:00

1. Study while others are sleeping.
2.Work while others are loafing.
3. Prepare while others are playing.
4.Dream while others are wishing.

See you at the top.
Olubunmi Filani.

3 KEYS TO ABUNDANT LIVING

2007-12-22T06:01:00.000-08:00

1. Caring about others.
2. Daring for others.
3. Sharing with others.

Olubunmi Filani.

DON'T DOUBT, USE FAITH

2007-12-22T05:47:00.000-08:00

1. Doubt sees the obstacle, Faith sees the way.
2. Doubt sees the darkest night, Faith sees the day.
3. Doubt dreads to take a step, Faith soars on high.
4. Doubt questions "who believes", Faith answers "I".

See you at the top.
Olubunmi Filani.

MANAGE YOUR TIME

2007-11-25T08:37:00.000-08:00

How do you react to deadlines? How would you feel if someone said "Hurry up, the clock is ticking and we've got to get this completed!"? How well do you cope with stress? Isn't it amazing to notice how radically your experience of passing time changes depending on the circumstances, with little correlation to the steady flow of time as shown on a clock.
Have you ever sat in a waiting room with a clock on the wall that went "tick tock, tick tock" over and over and over again, until such time that you either wanted to run out of the room, or throw the clock out the window?
This kind of experience is especially excruciating when you are waiting for something that you really are not looking forward to, like a treatment from your dentist.
In particular, when you are feeling stressed out you experience time distortion. In some instances, like when waiting for your dentist, one minute of clock time seems to take forever. At other times when you are working towards a deadline, time appears to slip away without your knowing where it went, and you are left wondering why you are accomplishing so little.
Waiting for a train that is twenty minutes late, when that train is bringing your loved one back to you, is very different than getting to the train station early with your loved one and waiting twenty minutes for the same train to take your loved one away from you. The train is the same, the station is the same, your loved one is the same, and the time on the clock is the same, but somehow, your emotional experience of "twenty minutes" is quite different.
It is important for each of us to understand how the fixed passage of time as measured by a clock, has little to do with our emotional experience of time. Rather than being under the illusion that time rules our life, we will do well to recognize that it is our emotional experience and our mindset that determines how we relate to the ticking of the clock.
Restrict your breathing and tense your muscles and time invariably will appear to speed up. You relate to time according to your expectations of what will transpire. Expect that you will be successful and the clock on the wall appears to offer you a bit more time. Expect the worst and you will have difficulty keeping up.
What can you do to have a healthier perspective in regard to time?
The first thing you can do is breathe slowly and deeply. When you slow down your body clock, the clock on the wall appears to slow down along with you. The next thing you can do is check in with your body. If you create a feeling of expansion in your body, by aligning your posture and releasing your muscles, time will appear to expand somewhat as well.
Furthermore, you can notice your surroundings and extend your awareness out into the space around you. When you extend your awareness to take in the wide range of sights and sounds taking place in your local environment you will also extend your concept of time.
Lastly, realize that with any luck, you will have tomorrow to accomplish what you were not able to accomplish today. Every new day, brings new opportunities for appreciating your life and the people you care about.
Olubunmi Filani.

WAKE UP AND CREATE SOMETHING

2007-11-25T08:25:00.000-08:00

It's time for the "mainstream" to WAKE UP. The alarm clock is ringing, they keep hitting snooze, and in the meantime, the life they could be living is passing them by.
Day after day, millions of people go through their lives wishing and hoping and dreaming that things could be better, with absolutely no knowledge that it is they themselves that perpetuate their own dissatisfaction.
It is not the "gifted few" who create their realities. It's not just for those in the metaphysical community. It is all of us. Every single one. However, there are a few who have awakened to this knowledge, and make creating their reality a daily event, manifesting whatever it is they want in their life with seemingly no effort!
Meanwhile the rest of the world looks on in wonder and disbelief. They assume that these "fortunate few" are among the cosmically lucky.
To be honest, the whole thing generates some anger in me. The problem is that we are "dumbed down" by society throughout our whole lives under the pretense that we are actually being intellectualized. The "scholarly" tell us that metaphysical topics like reality creation are pure fantasy. Science insists on measurable evidence of everything before it will acknowledge such claims as fact.
However, it's really not that difficult to comprehend. Even the most skeptical people should be able to grasp a few simple concepts like:
Everything in the Universe is composed of Energy, including you and me. Even our thoughts are Energy.
Through Energy, everything in the Universe is connected.
The Universe creates without effort, and in abundance. Just look around you. Trees, rocks, air, planets, etc. all were created without stress, effort, or over-analyzation. The Force you choose to believe initiated the creative process doesn't matter. They are all there and were created effortlessly.
You ARE a part of the Universe and through the power of thought, have the same creative power that manifests everything you see. The only thing that limits your potential is your own belief system!
Everything that occurs in your life is interpreted BY YOU. You add the meaning, you add the emotional response, you add EVERYTHING. It is your thoughts that literally take the energy "data" and transpose it into your reality. What you consider "real" is nothing more than an agreement that you've made with yourself (and no doubt many others in some cases).
This is how our reality has been shaped. This is how we have learned what is possible, and what is impossible. We learned it from OTHER PEOPLE. The problem is, these other people (family and friends perhaps?) have their OWN limiting belief systems which they ALSO consider "real".
So human limitations spread like a virus, and we don't even realize what's happening.
As discouraging as this is, many of us ARE waking up. I personally feel it my sacred duty to shake people out of this "intellectual trance" that limits them and show them what is truly possible.
So what IS the difference between those who cruise through life in a seemingly perpetual state of bliss, with everything they want coming to them with no effort, and the rest of the population working at jobs they hate for the sake of doing the "responsible" thing, hoping that SOME DAY they can live the lives they hope for?
The difference is that these people know their purpose, know WHY they absolutely HAVE to fulfill that purpose, and commit themselves to never stopping until they realize their dream. They may or may not have thrown the accepted definition of "responsibility" out the window. The only thing that matters ultimately is that they now live lives they love, following their passions.
You see it is our PASSIONS in life that tell us precisely what we are to do. When we follow our passions, our life lights up. We give off incredibly powerful energy which attracts our desires to us. That means people, money, objects, careers...whatever we want that is in line with our purpose. The Universe WANTS to provide those things we want most. It is only our own limiting belief systems that stop fulfillment from occurring.
When you create,you become a creator.
Olubunmi Filani.

DISCOVERING YOUR PURPOSE PART 2

2007-11-19T02:47:00.000-08:00

In my previous article, Step 1, your challenge for the month was to research where your passion lies. Based on your research you might have discovered that self investigation can lead us to two places; either we find out our answer or we realize we need to ask more questions to get that answer.
Finding your purpose takes great effort, but can be effortless all at the same time. It seems that once we begin pursuing that in which we were intended, everything falls into place. But the matter we have to realize is that time plays a great role. Sometimes people are over night successes and others have to nurture their purpose for years to come. Keep in mind though, as long as you enjoy what it is you are pursuing and the motivation you have is strong, than that alone will sustain your ambition and provide your passion longevity.
Remember you are making a commitment to yourself. You should treat that commitment the same way you would treat a marriage or devoted friendship. The key is to value yourself the way you value others. Having a good attitude from the very beginning can make the difference and not only affect your career, but the people around you. Self dedication does show and the commitment will be reflected in your professional life and relationships.
Assuming you now have a general idea of what you would like to do, now you need to visualize how to get from Point A, where you are now, to Point B, where you would like to be. Sometimes it is easier to set up a structure for your business if you look at the large picture of your purpose and where you intend to be in the future. Granted your ideas and goals change as you change, but your general purpose will usually remain the same, it just branches out.
Now that you have researched what you want to do, take the time to research what others in your area of interest have already done. Conducting market research will allow you to get a feel for the industry you are entering. It’s important to see what is out there. Look up trade journals and magazines. Really put some effort into getting involved with your career and learning about it. Every career has an abundant amount of resources available and a lot of that information is free. If you see a trade journal or magazine that you like, sign up for their newsletter. This will help keep you updated on industry events and trends.
Reading and researching can be one sided tasks. Sometimes it is easier to learn about your career by actually interacting with others in the field. This can be done on your own time instead of regular business hours thanks to the internet. Now you can find chat groups, users groups, and forums and you are not limited by time zones or borders.
One of my favorite resources is Yahoo Groups at http://groups.yahoo.com/. You can look up any particular subject and find a group where you can discuss some of your career objections. This is an excellent way to network with your peers and experts in the field. It is not uncommon to find a lot of other “newbies” in these groups as well as professionals. The most important thing is to not be afraid to ask questions. If you don’t know what questions to ask then reading over the archives of a group is a great place to start. Groups vary in size and subject so what I suggest is to join a couple to see which ones fit your personal needs.
Another resource you can use is ListServ lists http://www.lsoft.com/catalist.html. Typically you subscribe through your email client to a discussion group within your field of interest. You can also do a search for “listserves” or “user groups” on the internet to pull up a vast amount of sites that list an array of groups. Not all lists are treated equal so again use your own judgment when joining.
I also personally like forum communities. You can often search for “forums” online to find one in your career field. It’s a great opportunity to share your discoveries as well as learn from others. Not to mention you can do several searches within a forum and read old posts. This is a great way to see other member profiles which often reference their personal or business websites. Some forums even have a ‘members’ section that lists all their members profiles. Any profile with a “www” by their name usually has a live link to their site. Be sure to take the time and visit these sites for reference.
When you are visiting other people’s websites in your field, I advise you to check and see if they have a links page. I have found so many great resources through other people’s links pages. Also it helps you get an idea of what sites you can possibly request link exchanges from in the future.
By networking with others and conducting your own market research, you will gain a better sense of direction and get an idea where it is you want to be in the future with your career. If you see a website that you like, bookmark it. Then once you have collected enough information, go back and review your favorites once more. Ask yourself what do you like about it? What information was useful to you? Was the site visually appealing? Was the site easy to navigate? If not, what would you change? What information would you add? Take notes, write your thoughts down and remember… patience plus perseverance, equals purpose.
You will get to the top.
Olubunmi Filani.

DISCOVERING YOUR PURPOSE PART 1

2007-11-19T02:44:00.000-08:00

There is no such thing as a “small” job. Each function within our society aids our detailed technical lifestyles and well being. From a store clerk to a business executive, each position is an intricate part of the matrix of our world. We rely on these functions without even realizing their value or contribution to our daily activity. Each person has their place and each person has their purpose. The key is discovering and taking the time to find out what exactly you are to contribute to the world.
What is even more challenging is that often we are presented with serving multiple roles in our lives besides just our “purpose.” We are parents, workers, spouses, and children. All of which demand time and effort from our daily lives. What is important though is that we balance our time and our roles to nurture our purpose and inner abilities. It takes time and effort to discover your goals and ambitions, but it is a quest that need not go unnoticed.
A common excuse for not nurturing our talents is that we are too busy with other activities. When in actuality perhaps we have over extended our time and resources. Take a moment to sit down and note what in your life takes up your time. And then after you make that list, make a column and mark what is a priority, what really “has” to be done. Be sure to note how much personal time you get outside from all your other responsibilities. Start out small and see if you can allocate at least a half hour or an hour of your time a day devoted to yourself without interruptions. Use this time to evaluate the path of your life. Are you doing what you want to be doing right now? If yes, what could you do to further your progress? If no, what do you want to do?
Use free thinking in your evaluation. Free thinking means there are no limits. You can dream to be anything you want to be. Think about what you would like to do whether you were paid or not. Think about what makes you feel good as a person. Maybe you like the arts or maybe you like to work outside. Compare your aspirations with your current life situation. Are you close to your goals or are you far away?
Once you have addressed your aspirations, make notes in a special notebook dedicated to just you. It is great to see your ideas take formation when they hit the paper and also it is a great way to look at your progress on days where you may feel there is none. Plus you will need a notebook for further steps as well. Feel free to personalize this notebook and make it attractive for yourself.
Don’t feel guilty for taking this special time for yourself. Understand that your commitment to yourself will reflect off onto others. By bettering yourself, you become better in all the roles and commitments you hold. It is when we stop to listen to our true selves and the nature of our lives that we are able to create abundance in our environment and those around us. What you are doing is investing in a personal foundation.
If you only have a half hour or an hour a day, make a list of what you want to accomplish with that time. So once the clock starts ticking you are ready to be productive and work on your goals. Time management is good practice right from the beginning. So when you do figure out what your purpose is, you will be ready to use every minute you get efficiently.
Once you figure out where you want to go or what direction you want to take in your life, then take the time to research… research…research. Research is a crucial element of developing your career strategy. Go to the library or do a search online for the topic you are interested in pursuing. Find out what tools you will need to start your purpose. Will you need additional education or training? Will you need a business loan? Or will you be using your own personal resources for the start up? Don’t let money issues stop your progress. Remember knowledge is the currency here. There are ways to accomplish your purpose on little to no funds.
Remember real life purposes take real life work. Sure some people get lucky, but often others have to really dedicate themselves to their success. Have an open mind during this self evaluation period and the rest will follow. Most importantly, be patient with yourself the same way you would be patient with another person. Secondly, perseverance is essential in the formula for success. You have to be willing to make a serious commitment from day one to yourself. Your ideas may change form along the way, but at least you are continuing to reach towards self fulfillment.
As a summary for this step’s exercise, write it down, take a pen and paper and make a personal inventory of your ambitions or the things that you are good at and enjoy. What do you feel passion about? What would you want to do even if you didn’t get paid for it? Second of all, be honest with yourself. Don’t feel ashamed or guilty to recognize your talents… after all that’s what they are there for, to be recognized. It’s up to you to release them and share them with others. Make your purpose, your business.

HOW TO ATTRACT PROSPERITY

2007-11-19T02:41:00.000-08:00

Did you know that appreciation is one of the most powerful forces in the Universe for manifesting and attracting prosperity? According to teachers like L. Ron Hubbard (father of Dianetics), Abraham-Hicks and Drunvalo Melchizedek, appreciating yourself and your life can literally boost you to the highest vibrations.
If you’re a student of prosperity or manifestation, you probably know that the higher your vibration, the easier it is to attract positive things into your life. Because most of us are so busy and stressed by the pace of life, we find it difficult to get to and stay in a high vibration. Yet, this is where the attraction of prosperity most easily occurs. According to Abraham-Hicks, 17 seconds of pure positive energy (translation: appreciation), is actually worth 2,000 hours of physical work! That means, if you want prosperity in your life and you don’t want to work so hard, then start appreciating as many things as you can.
How do you appreciate? It’s simple. Pick any topic in your life. Start by finding the best thought or feeling you can about it. Then, find the next better thought or feeling about that. Then, the next better one. Keep reaching for the next better thought or feeling, and pretty soon you will be in appreciation!
For instance, let’s say you’re not too fond of your place of work and you feel so stressed there that you have a hard time being appreciative. A good thought you might have about your work is that it pays your bills so you have food, shelter and gainful employment. Next, you might reach for a thought about a co-worker who is your friend, who keeps you laughing. After that, a thought about a good laugh the two of you shared will probably pop into your head. After that, a thought about how much better your current job is than your last one will appear. Next, you might appreciate the amount of vacation time you get. And so on.
The trick is to follow this process through, no matter how artificial it seems at first, until you actually feel a positive shift in your thoughts and feelings. You will feel lighter, brighter, happier, more uplifted and joyful. Many people have followed this process through until they are literally crying with appreciation. Think about how much prosperity that attracts!!
Even though Thanksgiving only comes around once a year, a little appreciation and gratitude (or giving of thanks) on a daily basis will take you far in the journey toward prosperity. Good luck and, most of all, have fun with this!
You will prosper in life.
Olubunmi Filani.

THOUGHTS ARE THIONGS

2007-11-19T02:30:00.000-08:00

You've probably heard this idea at one time or another. You've probably nodded your head in agreement understanding that thoughts are in fact, things. You probably believe this and accept that your thoughts, being things, do in fact have power.
Have you really thought about this? Do you apply this to your day-to-day life? Hopefully you do, because you're every thought and word is contributing to your life experience.
For openers, your thoughts produce your emotions which, in turn, result in how you feel about a particular event occurring in your life. It has always amazed me how people can walk around feeling a particular way and not understand that it is their own thoughts, or more accurately what they are telling themselves that is producing the feeling in the first place. This is why two people can look at the exact same event and have opposite feelings about it.
You are creating your own reality, moment by moment, with the thoughts you choose to think and what you say, both to yourself and others.
Let's explore this a little further. Most people will agree, and science can demonstrate, that everything in our world is a field of energy and therefore has a particular frequency. The chair you're sitting on, your car, your cat, dog, you and everything else including thoughts, have a field of energy or vibration. Recent scientific work has identified particular ranges of frequencies and scientists are able to measure them. Interestingly enough, negative energies, like anger and rage, measure very low on the scale, while positive energies like those given off by prayer and meditation reach the highest measurements.
At this point you may be wondering what this has to do with your thoughts. Bear with me and I promise to connect the dots.
The second part of this equation is the universal law that states "like attracts like". This has been referred to as the law of attraction, law of similar and other names. What we choose to call it is not terribly important, what is important to understanding the part this plays in our lives.
Connecting the Dots:
Let's supposing for a moment you're in a bad mood. You're feeling pretty negative. At that particular moment in time your personal vibration, the energy of your thoughts and words is in the lower frequencies. Let's call this particular mood, "Frequency X."
Now somewhere off in the distant universe, there is another negative experience. Maybe it's a flat tire, whose frequency happens to be "X" as well. By virtue the law of attraction, you will begin attracting that or some other undesirable experience to you. There are no accidents. The universe works on a specific set of principals that do not waiver. Like attracts like, whether we believe it or not.
The good news is that the opposite is also true. If, for example, you are feeling great, having invested time sitting and reading your goals and taking care to monitor your thoughts, intentions, and your internal and external dialog, you are now entering a high energy vibration and are in a place to attract other high vibrations, generally things that you want to have, into your life.
I'm not asking you to accept this blindly only that you begin to observe the world around you and see if this holds true for you. I'm sure you've noticed situations when, in a room full of people, one person seems to be the center of attention. Why do you suppose this is? I'll give you a hint, that's it's probably not her perfume.
Similarly, you probably know people who are always having undesirable experiences in their lives. These are the people who have a lousy time in even the best restaurant. They seem to travel with dark clouds over them and always experience things going wrong in their everyday lives. If you observe and listen to them closely, you will begin to see the connection between what they think and say and what shows up in their lives.
Your exercise for the next few days is to closely monitor your every thought and word. When you catch yourself dwelling in the negative, do something to interrupt your pattern and substitute a positive though in it's place. It has been said that any thought consistently held for about 15 to 20 seconds will begin to attract a similar energy. This is one of the reasons you want to read your life's vision and goals daily. This will hold your attention on thoughts of that which you want and help you bring it toward you.
Your success is within your reach.
Olubunmi Filani

THE SECRET OF ABUNDANCE

2007-11-01T08:56:00.000-07:00

You know it never ceases to amaze me when talking with people regarding living life to the fullest, how the majority of people perceive that it must happen.
When it comes to money, the majority believe that you must work longer, harder, or be luckier than the next person if you are to ever achieve any type of financial security. It is a common belief that "money is hard to come by," or "money doesn’t grow on trees."
Although I have never actually seen a money tree, the concept of wealth creation is much easier than most realize, or can imagine. The reality is that money is only a medium of exchange, that can easily be attracted if one knows the simple laws and principles for doing so.
Obviously money isn’t the only aspect of living an abundant life, although many will disagree.
To live a truly abundant life, there are actually 3 areas that determine a true sense of fulfillment, which must be balanced if one is to really experience and enjoy life to the fullest.
These 3 key areas are Money, Health, and Relationships.
If you had $30,000,000.00 but your health was such that you couldn’t get out of the house to enjoy it, it would have little value. If you had the same amount of money and phenomenal health but no one to share it with, it would be nothing but worthless paper.
By the same token, if you were absolutely broke, but enjoyed healthy relationships and outstanding health, it would be impossible to experience and fully enjoy those things that money can buy, which would allow you to do for yourself and those you love, whatever you would like. Correct?
It’s true that the majority in the world, perceive and experience lack in one or more of the three key areas of life, and true abundance is only enjoyed by the minority.
But why is that?
With respect to money, it has been estimated that if the worlds wealth were divided among the people of the world equally, there would be enough for every single person alive, children included, to live in a 3000 square foot home and have $7,000,000.00 in cash!
Why is it that some seem to have it all, while others scrape by from day to day just to pay the bills and keep food on the table?
Actually, the answer is quite simple, and the simplicity of it will astound you. Many will shun the concept based on the simplicity of the answer.
Do you know what the reason is? It’s called thoughts and emotions. These 2 incredibly powerful aspects of your life are what determines what you have or don’t have. These 2 seemingly simple aspects of mind are the difference between living a life of overflowing abundance or barely getting by.
How can that be? It is our thoughts and emotions that form our beliefs. These beliefs are established, for the most part, when we are just young children and are based on the experiences of our parents, and what they were taught and came to believe as truth in their life.
As life goes on, we accumulate and establish many more beliefs based on the type of church we attend or what our particular religion teaches. We establish these beliefs when something happens in our life that supports what we were taught, regardless of their validity, and they then become our reality. Once this happens it becomes an endless circle of the same results over and over and over again.
Many people believe that the occurrences that happen in their day to day lives happen because that is "Just the way life is", and for them, it’s absolutely true.
What many fail to realize is that the reason that these things happen as they do is because that is what they are attracting to themselves through their belief system.
That is how our universe was created. It has been proven scientifically, and known, experienced and talked about for thousands of years in spiritual circles.
Many man made religions of today teach that you must do certain things or act in certain ways if you are to accomplish or accumulate. Basically, that you must be good.
In many cases, when we hear this sort of thing our conscious mind searches the limitless capacity of the data storehouse, referred to as the subconscious mind, to find a record that has been stored there from as long as several years ago, previously taught to us by well meaning parents or loved ones, which validates this teaching we are now receiving, and reaffirms that information which we establish as truth or belief. It is through these established beliefs which attract the events, conditions and circumstances that manifest in our lives, and makes it our reality.
Many will doubt the validity of what is being shared because it goes against the common belief systems that have been established and been taught to believe as truth.
In an attempt to validate what I am sharing, I’ll use the following example…
Many are familiar with the name, Roger Bannister. For those that aren’t, Mr. Bannister is the man that broke the all time record of running a 4 minute mile, on May 6th 1954.
Until the time that he accomplished that incredible feat, it was believed to be Impossible, and beyond a humans ability to do so. Even psychologists said that it was beyond human comprehension or any humans ability to do so. That was the common belief of that day, and so it was.
That is until Roger Bannister came along, who broke the previous world record, and finished in an amazing 3 minutes 59.4 seconds!
Once it was found that such a thing actually could be accomplished, that record has since been broken many times! The most recent in 2001 in an incredible 3 minutes 43.13 seconds, by Hicham El Guerrouj.
How Is That Possible!? According to the world, even 4 seconds wasn’t possible. It was impossible. According to the most respected psychologists of Bannister’s day, it was Impossible. And so it was. Until someone had established the belief that it could be done, it was impossible.
Until someone had established a strong enough belief that would change history, it was impossible. Since that day in 1954, many have seen that it was possible and had the desire and ability to shed the self limiting belief that held them to that limiting belief. Many since have broken that impossible record!
I could reference hundreds if not thousands of cases in all walks of life that support what is being conveyed, but I don’t have room within this article.
Look at your own life. What self limiting beliefs have you allowed to hold you back from accomplishing your most sought after dreams ands deepest desires? What unfullfilled dreams are you hesitating to act on because the world says that it's impossible?
You don’t have to be a track star to create whatever it is that you desire in your life. You don’t have to be someone else to achieve whatever you desire and enjoy more abundance in your life than you could have ever previously imagined. You don’t have to be anything other than yourself.
So what is the secret of abundance? Great news. There isn’t one. There never has been.
All that is necessary to attract all the abundance you could ever hope for, is for you to shed the self limiting beliefs that you have allowed to be stored as your truth. All that is required is that you develop an awareness of the overflowing abundance and unlimited potential provided to you by the Source of all that is or ever will be.
The only thing required to attract whatever you desire, is that you train the subconscious mind.
All that is needed is for you to change your beliefs about what is possible.
You have the power to choose.
Change your beliefs and you will change your world.
Olubunmi Filani.

OVERCOMING THE BARRIERS OF LIFE

2007-11-01T08:47:00.000-07:00

One of the reasons we do not face our goals is because when we are faced with an unexpected barrier that we're unsure how to deal with, we shut down. We become discouraged, we start making excuses, and we allow ourselves to back off of our original plan. While this is a human and natural tendency, it's not conducive to success.
An important step that you can take to avoid this barrier blunder is that of carefully planning your goal to include backup plans for all those little "what ifs."
"What if I don't pass the prerequisite course?""What if I don't get the loan?""What if I run out of time?""What if the marketing doesn't work?""What if I just don't feel like it?"
These are all very real barriers that keep us from realizing our life dreams. By preplanning for them, we greatly improve our chances of succeeding and experience the power of being unstoppable.
What kind of barriers can you preplan?
Internal Barriers
Internal barriers include the thoughts you have about your goal, success, and yourself that keep you from being successful. They include your personal fears, motivation, self-esteem, and paradigms.
"What if I just don't feel like doing my assignment?"Solution - commit to working on it for at least 15 minutes. Then take a break and come back to it later
"What if my fear of the phone keeps me from following through on my marketing campaign?"Solution - have a friend help me make phone calls. It might not be so bad if I'm not alone.
"What if I find myself procrastinating?"Solution - ask a friend to call me every day to remind me to spend a little time on my goal. Work on my goal first thing in the morning to get it done and over with.
External Barriers
External barriers include barriers such as money, time, other people's reactions, resources, and results. We are not in direct control of them, but we can affect how they work and we can still plan around them.
"What if the client turns down my proposal?"Solution - ask questions to find out why, and resubmit it.
"What if I forget the worksheets?"Solution - fax a copy to the hotel and get new copies made.
"What if the landscaping blocks don't come in on time?"Solution - pad the timeline and notify the client of this possibility in advance. Realign timeline to work on other projects until the blocks come in.
Practice this technique with even your small, short-term goals. It feels great to know that when a brick wall appears in your path, you have the perfect solution for getting around it and getting back on the road to achievement.
You will overcome.
Olubunmi Filani.

12 MOTIVATIONAL TOOLS THAT WILL GUARANTEE YOUR SUCCESS

2007-10-26T06:31:00.001-07:00

The standard for success across the globe is having a vision that compels you to succeed. Motivation is the key in accomplishing all your goals.
No matter how many years you spend in a classroom or from what social class or lifestyle, motivation is the common factor among those who are high achievers.
Finding the tools to put meaning and purpose in your life, developing a vision, and becoming highly motivated can lead you towards a successful and exciting life.
Here are 12 motivational tools that can bring you success:
1. Recognizing obstacles and learning to remove them can make your vision a reality. The individual who is extremely motivated and successful has been motivated by a vision.
2. The quest for freedom is the basis for motivation. Total freedom is not necessarily desirable or possible, but the pursuit of that ideal is what motivates us to succeed.
3. People who develop a vision control their own life and destiny. With no vision, your life and destiny are controlled by outside forces. You must change your thinking habits in order to change your life, and you change your habits by keeping the desired results in sight.
4. Develop a major goal, but take a specified path to get there. You'll have many smaller goals to reach before you get to the final result. By learning to accomplish these smaller goals, you'll be motivated to take on the larger challenges.
5. Get into the habit of finishing what you start. An unfinished project is of no value. Leaving things unfinished is a habit that must be changed.
6. Find support through friends, acquaintances, and co-workers. If you surround yourself with motivated, visionary people you will naturally develop the attributes that helped them get that way. Mutual interests and like-minded associates can be excellent motivational tools.
7. Another motivational tool is failure. Failure teaches us to keep trying until we get it right. No one ever became successful without prior failures. Failure is a by-product of imagination and creativity. It challenges you to take risks and teaches you to keep trying until you get it right.
8. The fear of failure is a common factor among those who procrastinate. If you want to succeed in reaching your goals, you must be willing to take a risk and lose. Many people trade joy, satisfaction, and fulfillment for a job that is considered conventional and safe.
9. The unfulfilling job is not the failure; not pursuing your dreams is the real failure. Developing a vision requires conquering your fears and finding motivation from within.
10. The power of your dreams is the primary factor in becoming motivated. Productivity will be the result of developing habits and attitudes that keep you on the right track.
11. By changing bad habits and focusing on your specific goals, motivation will come to you even when you wish you could quit and times are tough.
12. By identifying the behaviors that you need to change, developing a vision of what you would like to achieve, and striving to attain that goal, you will become a naturally motivated, highly efficient, productive person.
Do not let fear of failure stop you from having the freedom to choose the lifestyle and destiny you desire.
True motivation is not only a learned skill; it is developed due to a need or desire to make our dreams a reality. If you want to find inner motivation, you must identify your goals and set out on an unwavering path to achieve them.
Overcoming procrastination is perhaps one of the most important steps you can take to improve your life and become the motivated, successful person you are capable of being.
You have to let go of your old personality and ways of doing things to change, quit procrastinating and get motivated!
Your success is guaranteed.
Olubunmi Filani.

3 SIMPLE STEPS TO ACHIEVING YOUR HEART'S DESIRES

2007-10-23T01:41:00.000-07:00

One of the very first steps in manifesting your desires is getting clear about what you want. It sounds simple enough, doesn't it? Yet, millions of people around the world still have no idea what they truly want. Are you among them?
If you've spent most of your time taking care of responsibilities or feeling disconnected from your inner self, you have probably not been able to decide what kind of life experiences you desire. You probably won't believe me if I tell you that you do already know what you want. Wouldn't you be aware of such knowledge? Yes and no. I should rephrase that statement to say that a deeper part of you already knows what you want, even if you are not consciously aware of it. Don't worry, you will be soon!
Here are 3 simple steps that can serve as a treasure map on your journey to your heart's desires:
1) Spend quiet time alone regularly. Most of us do not do this often enough, but it can act as a powerful energizer, harmonizer and balancer for our minds, bodies and spirits. Be sure to take advantage of silence as often as possible, because it is only in silence that you will be able to hear your inner voice. That "voice" may not be physically audible, but may instead come through as a faint stirring in your heart, tingly gut feelings, or an instant mental "knowing."
2) Put your thoughts to work. There are two different types of thought processes you should work with. The first is focused brainstorming sessions. Use a notebook to record your ideas about your existing skills and talents, things you've done in the past that you loved, things you do now that you love, and things you've always wanted to do but never did. The other type of thought process is to allow your thoughts to roam freely without trying to direct them anywhere specific. Just think about whatever comes to mind. Very often, a powerful insight will pop up out of nowhere when you simply relax your focus like this.
3) Expand your dreams. Daydreaming about your best life is also a great way to awaken your inner guidance. Think about dreams you had when you were younger, or come up with new dreams you would choose now. Then, make them as big and grand as you can. Keep going until your heart is pounding with excitement! NOW you are on the right track.
These techniques are only a few examples; there are many more ways to figure out what you truly want. Bottom line: the most powerful question you can ask yourself is, "If I had no limitations, what would I want my life to be like?"
The answer you come up with? THAT'S what you REALLY want.
Your heart's desires will surely be granted.
Olubunmi Filani.

10 LAWS FOR CAREER SUCCESS

2007-10-23T01:34:00.000-07:00

The Law of Passion - In terms of work, the happiest people I know are the ones who not only love what they do, they have a strong passion for what they do. Their passion can get them up early in the morning and keep them up late at night, enjoying every moment.
The Law of Do What You Love - Doing what you love is a great way to spend you working hours. If you are not sure what it might be that you would love doing, ask yourself these questions: What is my life's purpose? How would I have to think, speak and act in order to fulfill that purpose? What activities would I pursue? What would get me up early and keep me up late, looking forward to every minute? What would I do for a living if a I new I couldn't fail?
The Law of Love What You Do - While those are good questions to ask on the way to doing what you love, what do you do in the meantime, if you are not doing something you love? How do you learn to love what you do? Find something within the job that you can love, even if it's simply something that prepares you to do something you love later on.
The Law of Your Personal Signature - One way to learn to love what you do is to put your own personal signature on what you do. Barbara Glanz, author of "care Packages for the Workplace" writes about a bagboy with Downs Syndrome who had attended one of her workshops. He had taken to heart her suggestions about putting your own signature on your work. His signature was to slip a "thought for the day" into customers' grocery bags. The idea was so successful that customers would wait in line just to get one of his slips of paper. What personal signature could you put on the work you do?
The Law of Contribution - To realize what you contribute through the work that you do, you may have to "redefine" your job title. For example, a teacher shapes the future, a real estate or car salesperson provides people's dreams, etc.
The Law of Learning- The days of the 30 year career in the same job with a gold watch at the end, are, for the most part, a thing of the past. Most people change jobs several times in a career. The important thing on each job is to learn the things that you will use to your advantage later on in the next job, and then the next, and then the next.
The Law of Initiative - Whatever you do, wherever you do it, few things are as powerful as taking initiative in your job. Don't wait for someone to tell you what to do. If you see something that needs doing, do it.
The Law of Leadership - Whether you are a boss or an employee, you are a leader. People are watching you, and will imitate what you do.
The Law of Self-employment - No matter what your pay stub or tax return may say, we are all self-employed. Even if you work for someone else, you are still working for the betterment of yourself and your family.
The Law of Your Most Important Job - While applying and using these universal laws for our working lives, here’s something that is so very important to remember: no matter how much you like or don’t like what you do for a living, it’s not your most important job. Our most important job is at our home address, with our families.
You will make it.
Olubunmi Filani.

SUCCESS THINKING

2007-10-20T03:48:00.000-07:00

If you think success, success will happen. It sounds like magic, success thinking, but that is exactly how it works! Before anything is realized in our lives, it is preceded by a thought. If you want shoes, you first have to think shoes. If you want to eat, you first think food. Without the thought, no action is taken and nothing is realized. In life, if you want success, you have to learn how to think successfully.
If at some point you have the thought to change a certain area of your life, deciding to create change is just the first step to making a transformation. Falling into the same approach to change that failed in the past will only lead to the same result. In order to get new results you have to change your mental patterns. Learn how to use success thinking and you will create the life you want.
It is said, “We become what we think.” In other words, we are shaped by our thoughts. When you were born, your brain contained over 100 billion cells. Imagine that! Granted, these cells had yet to develop any real circuit connectivity.
Over time, you developed synopses that became the road map to your thoughts resulting from environmental exposure. Everything you have seen and experienced has shaped and defined the patterns of your thoughts. These thoughts drive the engine of your actions.
Learning takes place in the region of the brain called the cerebral cortex. When we are actively learning we are consciously concentrating. Once we have an activity fully understood, our learning passes from the conscious to the unconscious. Think back to when you learned to tie your shoelaces, drive a car, or brush your teeth. These activities once required a great deal of our focus and concentration yet now we are able to perform them with very little or often no thought at all.
Think of all the activities you do without thought. Think about your breathing, your heart, your arms moving, walking. The “automatic brain” performs much of what we do.
Your brain develops automatic activity from every single experience, thought and emotion. The words you speak to yourself will determine your brain patterns. You need to once again become conscious and take an active role in your life.
When we fail, we fail largely because of our own self-limiting thoughts and partly because of our desire to make changes in our circumstances without changing our thinking. There are no magic bullets or magic answer that will solve your situations. There are no magic diets, magic exercise machines or get-rich-quick programs.
Success requires a shift in thinking. Success is not limited to a few arbitrary individuals. Success is only limited to those who learn how to think positively with the genuine belief in their ability to achieve. This means you have to change the way you talk to yourself.
Get actively involved in changing how you are thinking. Take a new mental approach and you will find your life changing as a result. The way to achieve a change in your thinking patterns is to use empowering affirmations. The words you speak are the ideas with which you train yourself and those around you to accept.
The only limitations on your life are the limitations you place on your life by how you think. In Tools-To-Life, the approach to changing your thinking is called “correctional thinking.” This method allows you to substantiate how you should think to achieve your goals and achieve self improvement. The result is success thinking that actualizes your ability to re-create your life and make it what you want it to be.
Olubunmi.Filani.

MANAGE YOUR TIME

2007-10-20T03:44:00.000-07:00

11 START'S AND STOP'S

2007-10-20T03:37:00.000-07:00

Here are 11 start's and stop's that will help you to really live a better life. 1.Stop rigid thinking............Start open mindedness.2.Stop waiting for action........Start making things happen.3.Stop hiding despair...........Start discovering happiness.4.Stop accepting confusion......Start cleaning your mind.5.Stop regretting your past......Start understanding yourself.6.Stop condemning your life......Start living your days.7.Stop accepting everything.....Start examining ideas.8.Stop covering up errors.........Start correcting yourself.9.Stop complicating life.......Start freeing your mind.10.Stop feeling helpless........Start using your potentials.11.Stop being grin........Start enjoying everything.Have a nice day.Olubunmi Filani.

WINNNING THE STRUGGLE WITH MONEY

2007-10-08T08:28:00.001-07:00

I’m going to give you three definitions, and you guess what the word is. Are you ready? #1) to contend or fight violently with an opponent, #2) to make great efforts or attempts; strive; labor, and #3) to make one’s way with difficulty. If you’ve guessed the word “struggle”, you’re correct.
But why would we discuss “struggle” in an article about money? Because, so many people seem to “struggle” with money—they struggle to make it, they struggle to keep it, and some even struggle with having too much.
I too, have “struggled” in my financial life—until I made some changes. Not changes in my techniques of handling money or changes in my income, but instead, I decided to get off the money-worry rollercoaster. In other words, like a person who exits a fight, I stepped out of the ring.
First, I sat down and thought about some of the sayings I’d heard in my own childhood. I quickly realized that I had been conditioned to struggle with money. While growing up, I had been taught that it was noble to struggle. Unless there was blood, sweat and tears involved, things weren’t worth doing. The easy way was the lazy way. After all, I should be “pounding the pavement” or “hitting the books.”
How many times have we heard these sayings, “Money doesn’t grow on trees!” or “Money is the root of all evil!” or “Don’t be money hungry!”
Hear me people—we’ve been conditioned to believe that having money is hard work. That keeping money is hard work. That having too much money is hard work. In short—that money is hard work.
In order to bow out of the “struggle”, I had to first, see that my beliefs were mere conditioning. Next, I just started to accept where I was at financially. Like a dam that gives way and no longer has resistance, things began to flow. The extra energy that I used to expend “struggling” with money worries, I now put into actually making money.
You can do the same. Stop worrying. Stop wrestling in your mind. Just accept where you’re at now and then proceed ahead. Win the struggle with money by eliminating the “struggle”. It doesn’t have “to be hard”, it just has “to be”.
Don’t underestimate two things. First, don’t underestimate the amount of money conditioning you’ve received. It really has shaped your current financial position. Second, don’t underestimate the amount of energy you expend in the “struggle” itself. Remember, the old saying says, “It takes two to tangle.” If you step out of the ring, there is no “struggle”.
Olubunmi Filani.

10 WAYS TO LIVE A SIMPLY LIFE

2007-10-08T08:22:00.000-07:00

So many people embark on projects to make changes in their lives, only to get detoured or bogged down in the numerous other things that are in their lives. These can be physical blocks, such as a cluttered living room or kitchen but they can also be emotional issues, mental clarity or personal relationships. Here is a 10-point guide to simplifying your life of the obstacles that stand between you and fulfillment of your vision.
1. Empty Your Brain - If you’re feeling overwhelmed and stressed out, it can be liberating to empty your brain of your internal “to-do” list and emotional baggage. Hire a coach to verbalize all the things you have to do, haven’t done, and the feelings that go along with all of that.
You can also lighten your mental load by writing down or journaling the stuff that is taking up mindspace. At this point, you don’t have to take any action on it. The objective is to clear it from your head. It frees up your brain so you can then start planning and taking action with more clarity and less negativity.
2. Get Rid of the Human Vampires - Eliminate relationships that are sucking the energy out of you. Even if they are family members that you cannot avoid altogether, take steps to limit your time with them and set boundaries around what activities you allow them to engage you in.
Be honest in your evaluation. Who is helping you and who is dragging you down? Who is eating up your time and giving nothing back? Who makes you feel good, supported and energized? Anyone who adds value to your life stays in and everybody else goes away.
3. Lighten Your Heart - Getting closure on the past and relationships can unburden you of emotional baggage that is weighing down your heart and spirit. Forgive and forget. Let it go. Call that person up or write them a letter you never send, but get over it. Work with a mental health professional if necessary but you can’t move on if you’re stuck in yesterday. Why continue to rob yourself of tomorrow by living in the past?
4. Clean House - A big part of simplifying is to declutter your physical landscape. Start with one small area like the kitchen counter or junk drawer and finish it in one shot. Focus your energy on this one space; don’t think about the messy garage or bedroom closet.
You can even invest extras into your small project such as putting in a drawer liner or organizing tray. This may encourage you to protect it from future clutter. It’s important to come up with a system as you organize and also to take steps to prevent clutter from even coming into your home. You can contact catalog companies and ask to be removed from their mailing lists, enroll in online billing and take other proactive steps to keep the clutter inflow to a minimum.
5. Get a Healthy Body - While you are getting rid of the junk around your house, examine your eating and health habits and start eliminating the junk there, too. Along with limiting caffeine, sugar and alcohol, look at eliminating junk food, tobacco and any other thing that ages, erodes, clogs up or adds weight to your body and puts your health at risk.
It’s also good to update your personal appearance. Are you still sporting an ‘80s haircut or wearing clothes you bought five or ten years ago? It’s time to upgrade!
6. Clear Out Your Debt - Stop impulse buying and start paying off your credit cards. Establish a budget and start living within your means. Can you imagine all of the free time you’ll gain when you are not worrying about money? No more shopping around for credit and transfer balance deals. No more writing out checks or purchasing money orders. No more avoiding phone calls from creditors and lawyers. No more feeling guilty. Talk about freedom!
7. Simplify Your Language - Try to speak honestly and directly with courtesy and kindness. Don’t use whiny and apologetic language to ask for what you want. (“I wonder if I could possibly persuade you to…”) Quit overusing jargon and slang such as “put that baby to bed”, “let’s throw it on the wall and see what sticks”, “out of the loop”, and “lock and load.” Eliminate euphemisms and toss out denials (“Just because he is sleeping with another woman doesn’t mean he doesn’t love me.”).
Get rid of the swear words, hostile comments, and the idea that you must voice your opinion about everything. Throw your judgment of others to the wayside.
8. Learn to say NO - It was probably one of the first words you ever learned so why are you having so much difficulty using it now? Use it! It’s your life, your time, your resources and you have the absolute right to use it as you see fit. Don’t feel you have to explain, excuse or justify saying “no” to office observers, gossips or nosy individuals.
9. Limit Tradition Tradition is wonderful so long as it doesn’t run your life. If a tradition has lost its meaning or purpose and is just a timewaster, then get rid of it. When anyone says “but we’ve always done it this way”, figure out why. If it no longer makes sense, then feel free to walk away or change it.
10. Make Time for You - Time is tight for most of us. Make a decision that you will set aside time that is just for you. Start with 15 minutes a day if that’s all you can find. Lock your door, turn off the phone, or whatever it takes, but it’s important to create a space where you can focus on only you. Meditate, pray, write in a journal or eat an apple. Whatever you want to do with your time, do it.
Olubunmi Filani.

ALWAYS THINK OF SUCCESS

2007-10-04T04:24:00.002-07:00

PROGRAMME YOURSELF FOR SUCCESS

2007-10-04T04:11:00.001-07:00

Imagination builds cities. Imagination makes dreams come true. Imagination will drive a lot of people to success, and you are a part of it. We know that imagination and rationalization don't go well together. When you dream, the right hemisphere of the brain and your subconscious mind are working and usually, you feel peace, you see compelling pictures and you hear beautiful sounds. Success is within your reach. But the problem is that the left hemisphere of the brain is also working and usually tells you "you can't do that" or "it's not for you" "You don't deserve it" "what if I tell my friends and family?" "You are crazy".
The truth is that you are unique and your contribution is important. You can make a difference and have success. High achievers are only what you will become in a few years, aren't they? There are some "tricks" I would say or some proven methods and techniques to program yourself for success. The only and necessary step to do that is to bypass your conscious mind. When done, your subconscious mind takes it over.
You can freely dream, visualize yourself winning the game of life. You turbo charge your mind and you program yourself for success. This is what successful people do and that's what you will do from now! The three components of the programming of your mind are relaxation, visualization and affirmation.
1. Relaxation: the first key to mental programming for success. As we start to relax our brain wave cycles start to slow down and our brain would enter what is called the Alpha State in which the conscious mind has effectively fallen asleep, and our subconscious mind remains in control of our Autonomic Nervous System. During relaxation, the mind relaxes, the body unwinds. It is here where our thoughts slow down until they become so light they begin to float. It is here that we are able to restore, re- energize and empower ourselves and harness the power of the subconscious mind to help create long-lasting change. Alpha state is the gateway, the entry point that leads into the subconscious.
2. Visualization: the second key to mental programming for success. Through relaxation you enter a state of creativity, essential for your success. You can induce new thoughts and new beliefs to your subconscious. And now you hold the image of what you really want and act as if you already possess it. Remember, imagination rules your lives, frightens you, excites you or undermines you. Pictures can make you worry or make you happy. Clear pictures, and rich details of what you really want is one of the critical factors for your success.
3. Affirmations: the third key to mental programming for success. You can induce new thoughts and new beliefs in your subconscious by using affirmations or suggestions. One of the power principles of the subconscious mind is the compliance principle meaning that part of the mind complies to where you direct it to go. In the book, the one minute millionaire" from Robert Allen and Mark Victor Hanson, one of the affirmations they encourage us to say is "I walk like a millionaire, I act like a millionaire, I'm a millionaire". When you add feelings, it doubles or even triples the results. Really believe what you're inducing.
You can program yourself for success. It is all about using the same tools and techniques that high achievers use. Relax, visualize and affirm what you really want out of life. You can win and you deserve to win. It is reserved only for those who really want to go for it.
Are you ready to take your personal and professional life to a whole new level?
See you at the top.
Olubunmi Filani.

WHO DO YOU BELIEVE YOU ARE?

2007-10-02T01:43:00.000-07:00

If I asked you to describe yourself, what image would you paint? Another way to put this is: Who do you believe you are?
Your self-image is exactly what the term says an image consisting of the mosaic of ideas you hold about your own self. In short how you view your capabilities and skills, your body, your mind and your personal potential.
While almost everyone agrees that it’s important to have a good self-image, very few people seem to know how to acquire one or even how they got the self-image they now have.
The History of Your Self ImageYou began to form your self image and sense of “worth” as a very young child. As you interacted with the important people in your life, you received messages from them about yourself their responses to your actions. These messages settled into your impressionable subconscious mind.
As these messages collect, they seem to take on a life all their own creating what will become your self image.
Then "belief" moves in, and sets those messages into mental cement. In short we come to BELIEVE that we actually ARE that subconscious collection of other people’s impressions of us.
This process has continued even to this day in your life but largely as a reinforcement of what you already believe about your self.
Wow. Think about that for a moment. The interesting thing about “beliefs” is that they are usually NOT open to question or reason. We just BELIEVE them to be so.
So if you BELIEVE that you lack self-confidence, are a poor public speaker, don’t know how to lead others, will never be successful, don’t have the capability to create a good relationship, and so on guess what. You will defend that belief even to yourself!
This occurs because the intense emotional component attached to a belief automatically causes our brain to resist any attempt to question it with “reason.”
And in the meantime your subconscious mind, which has a photographic memory of every event that went into the making of your self-concept beliefs, will make SURE your actions reflect your beliefs.
How to Overhaul Your Self-ImageYour self image determines what you will (and will not) achieve in your life. So if you are not who you want to be, or are not living the life you want to live, the place to start is with an overhaul of your self image. Anything else will just create more of the same.
After over 30 years in the field of psychology, there is one thing I can absolutely guarantee to you. That one this is this: YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY *NOT* WHO YOU THINK YOU ARE!
Your self image does not mirror who you really are today.
You are NOT that collection of painful or limiting memories. You are not that kid who was always told to speak only when spoken to. You are not that “clumsy” Girl who fell a lot only because she needed corrective glasses.
You are not “stupid” because you had more interest in drawing than reading and math. You are not “a failure” because your first lemonade stand (or MLM business) was a total bust.
You are none of those things. You are *not* your past history. So stop *believing* that old stuff and stop acting as though it were true
Here’s a reminder of what you REALLY are:
1. You are Totally UniqueThere is literally no one else like you. No one else thinks like you, has your ideas, or does things the way you do things. No one else has your unique set of talents and abilities. Your brain is as unique as your fingerprints. No one has your mind and memories. No one!
You are NOT “ordinary.” Actually no one is! Stand up and carry yourself with dignity, because this IS your life. You and only you live in your skin and it is your unique right to decide how to best do that.
2. Your “Limits” are Not RealIt is today an accepted truth that we really create our own reality. You have a choice to simply REACT to what is happening to and around you or you can choose to RESPOND.
There’s a big difference between reacting and responding. Reacting is an automatic knee-jerk response to life while responding involves a conscious choice.
You can respond to your desire for a better self-image by taking conscious action to replace those old beliefs. Simply begin to challenge those old “beliefs” about yourself. Drag them out of your dark subconscious into the sunlight of conscious examination.
3. You Have Unlimited Personal PowerHere’s something else I can guarantee: Most of those old limiting beliefs about you will NOT hold up under conscious examination! And once you begin to challenge this old stuff, you will discover that what you thought were your “limits” do not exist.
The greatest personal power you have is the power to choose your own thoughts.
Read that sentence again!
The late Earl Nightingale said: “You become what you think.” The truth of this is to powerful it is almost overwhelming.
You and you alone decide what you will think -- and what you will believe your limits and potentials are. And you and you alone will decide what to do with this awesome power.
The fact is: YOU can recreate your self, and build and strengthen virtually any aspect of your being or area of your life. Just choose to consciously BUILD YOUR OWN BELIEFS and take action!
What I like to say is this: Just stand up and roar like a lion!
Olubunmi Filani.

SPEAK OUT AND INCREASE YOUR SELF WORTH

2007-10-02T01:30:00.000-07:00

Have you ever wished that you had the CONFIDENCE TO SPEAK OUT about something you disapprove of or disagree with? Maybe you'd like to tell your boss that there's a better way to do something, or that you don't like being treated in a certain way. Maybe you're sick of people taking you for granted, or hurting your feelings without even caring to assess the damage they're doing to your self-esteem.
If you struggle to speak out, it's probably for one or more of these reasons:
* You're afraid that people may like you less if you say something they find controversial or disagreeable
* You're afraid that someone, whom you perceive to be more powerful than you, may try to take revenge on you if you dare to speak out and challenge his or her behaviour
* You're afraid that someone smarter than you will point out the errors in your argument and make you look foolish
But, even if you can relate to all three reasons, ask yourself this: is suffering in silence really more satisfying than speaking out and dealing with the consequences?
When you choose silence, there's a voice inside your head that judges you. And, no matter how hard you try, you can't seem to shut it up, can you? It's your own chatterbox, and it tells you "you are powerless and weak. Your opinions are worth far less than other people's. I don't think you deserve to like yourself very much today."
Do YOU have a chatterbox inside your head that drives you mad?
Each day that you choose to stay silent, the voice becomes more smug. Your self-esteem drifts downwards as if falling into a deep, dark hole. You start to lose belief that you will ever be able to climb out again, to hold your head up high in the sunshine to fill you with warmth and the joy of living.
Of course, none of us can expect to feel as if the sun is shining on us every day, but hiding your thoughts from the world is one of the surest ways to guarantee a pretty dull life.
So from now on, whenever you have something you want to say, whether it's to your friends, your colleagues, family members, or a group of strangers, remember these four powerful and foolproof steps. They will almost guarantee that you get your point across effectively.
1. straighten out your thoughts
Wherever possible, think through what you want to say in advance. That way you stand far less chance of tripping yourself up with logical inconsistencies. And, the best way to get your thoughts straight is to WRITE THEM DOWN!
2. stabilise your emotions
Get control of your emotions - one of the easiest ways to get your opinions ignored is to express them with either too much or too little "heat". Acting too apologetically or sheepishly, raising your voice, crying, or becoming too upset will seldom (if ever) help your cause.
3. strengthen your motivation
Make yourself a commitment, before you speak out about something, that the ONLY thing that will cause you to concede is if the audience to whom you are talking provides you with new and sound evidence to show that you are in fact wrong!
4. JUST speak out!
Yes, all that's left is to take the initiative and speak out, often! Bear in mind also that you cannot "lose" or look foolish if you make an honest point calmly, rationally, and with a motivation to achieve an outcome that is right for those involved.
You will definitely make it.
Olubunmi Filani

YOU CAN DO IT

2007-10-02T01:25:00.000-07:00

Never underestimate yourself. If you have been thinking about starting a new business or job and then catch yourself thinking, oh I don't know how to do this or that to make this work. Don't give up. You can always learn something new. Never tell yourself that you cannot go further in life just because you do not at this time have all the skills to do it.
If you are sick of working at the same job that you hate every day, you can get a new one even if you need to learn something new. You are never too old to learn. Write down everything you need to know how to do in order to start that new business or get that job and then mark off the things you already know how to do. This will just leave what you want to learn. You can do it never give up.
Your success is certain.
Olubunmi Filani

CREATIVITY AND SELF ESTEEM

2007-09-29T04:39:00.000-07:00

Creativity and self-esteem go hand-in-hand. Everything that you create has a small part of your fundamental nature woven into it and because of this no two creations will ever be the same. Increasing your self-esteem can help bring a more substantial flow of creative stimulation to your life.
You always bring your personal perspective and life experiences into whatever it is you are creating. How you view who you truly are will most definitely be reflected in the works that you create.
Having poor self-esteem will likely cause you to feel that there isn't any point in trying to create something because you probably couldn't do it properly anyway, so why bother. Even if you did produce something magnificent you would not see it as such and would more than likely obsess over it's faults and dismiss any compliments you received from others about your creation.
Having a healthy dose of self-esteem, on the other hand, allows you to focus more on the pleasure of being creative. You wouldn't worry about getting it just right and would revel in your finished creation. Any compliments others give you would be well received and you would feel good about what you accomplished.
Use the three simple ways below to help increase your self-esteem so that your creativity gets a chance to shine through you.
1.Celebrate your individuality. Have you noticed how hard everyone tries to fit in? You may have even recognized this within yourself. Instead of spending so much time trying to be like everyone, spend time every day celebrating and honoring the uniqueness of who you are. Use this uniqueness in everything you do, from washing dishes to a work project to an artistic creation.
2.Focus on the process rather than the outcome. By becoming completely involved with whatever it is you are doing you are letting yourself become tuned into your inborn creative insight. Let go of worrying about what anyone else may think of you or your creative endeavors. Take pleasure in every second you engage in the act of creating. You won't enjoy the final destination if you don't allow yourself to enjoy the journey along the way.
3.Embrace the knowledge that you deserve YOU time. Often when you are struggling with low self-esteem or when your life gets crazy busy, the first thing you'll give up are creative activities. You might feel guilty taking time to do something you truly enjoy as you might view it as an unnecessary activity. You need to know that allowing yourself to take the time to do something you enjoy everyday is as essential to your well being as eating or sleeping.
Creativity and self-esteem truly do go hand-in-hand. Self-esteem can increase your creativity and allowing yourself to express your creativity can bolster your self-esteem! Engaging in creative activities has a way of helping you connect with your inner self in deep and positive ways. The more you take the time to get away from all the routine tasks in your life, the more your life will transform into something beautiful as well
You will reach your goal.
Olubunmi Filani.

3 SIMPLE WAYS TO GUARANTEE YOUR SUCCESS

2007-09-29T03:59:00.000-07:00

Want to know how you can guarantee success in your life?
Here are three simple yet powerful ways that the most successful people rely on.
1. If What You Are Doing Is Not Working Change Your Approach
Things do not change until you change. Doing nothing is not an option in case you actually think it is. The trend will continue and reach its natural conclusion until you change the trend.
What will happen if you do not change your approach? Year after year you will become more and more frustrated and bitter.
You could easily adopt the world view that nothing ever works out for you and before long you will spend most of your time with other negative people.
Decide to change and look for answers. The clock is ticking. And the time to begin is now.
2. Learn From People Who Get Results
It is easy to get advice when you have a problem. Everyone has an opinion! However, unless that person has proven expertise in that area be careful about following his advice.
On the other hand when you want to become better at something all you really need to do is to open your eyes. Who do you know who excels at that activity? Who has already solved that problem in their own life?
Recently I was walking around town with a friend who invests in property. Now a lot of people own their own home and even a second home. This man is different.
He owns several million dollars worth of residential property and a hotel. Maybe he would be a good person to talk to if you want to learn how to make money in property!
As we walked around I asked him lots and lots of questions. He is very patient with me! I was amazed how much I could learn in minutes just by asking the right questions of someone with the right answers.
Remember this...
A helpful mentor can save you years of trial and error.
3. Invest In Your Future
I have always been fascinated at how quickly life can change once you discover and use new distinctions. Think about it.
The only thing stopping you from succeeding in any area of life is a lack of knowledge. And if you commit to learning you can bridge that gap.
Let us say your goal is to be the CEO of the largest company in your town or city.
What is stopping you?
A lack of knowledge and skills.
And these can be learned. You can acquire the knowledge and mental skills, the people skills and the ability to handle pressure.
Obviously you will choose a goal that will make you happy and avoid occupations that you are not suited to. You will naturally favor goals that build on your interests and aptitudes.
How are you going to quickly acquire the skills you need to move ahead in your life? The fastest way is to invest money in courses and books that reveal the strategies you need. Consider how much money you spend each year to service your car. The cost of oil changes, new tires and other repairs. Not to mention insurance.
Do you spend this much on servicing and upgrading your skills?
The first time I attended a huge three day personal development seminar it was with several thousand people. And I learned a lot in the car park! I noticed at 3 A.M. when the first day ended that the car park was full of very expensive luxury cars. Porsche, Rolls Royce, Jaguar, Bentley and Ferrari.
It was then that I understood what separates the most successful people from everyone else. A lifetime commitment to learning and a willingness to invest in their own development.
Do you want to step up and join those at the top of your field? It is easier than you think because most people prefer to do nothing and hope that things will somehow get better.
As long as you can sustain your motivation to succeed over the long term your ultimate achievment is virtually assured. Take action and invest today in a bright new future.
To your success,
Olubunmi Filani.

5 DANGEROUS GOAL-INHIBITORS TO DEAL WITH

2007-09-28T03:22:00.000-07:00

Sometimes we are our own worst enemy.
We aren't born that way nor do we mean to be that way, but it can often come about because of our past experiences,what someone may have told us, what we've read in the papers… and then without realising, we develop these inner enemies. How many of them can you identify with?
(1) The Confused Indecision-makerYou will often hear the Confused Indecision-Maker complaining about the way things are, and how much better it would be if things were different. It's often "someone else's" fault too. But if you stopped them and asked, "What do you want then?" they usually find it hard to give you an answer. They know what they don't want, but they don't know what they do want. As a result, they don't make decisions that will take them closer to what they want, nor do they recognise it when what they want is staring them between the eyes.
(2) The HistorianThere are three aspects to the Historian. The first is that historians think that because it hasn't happened in the past or that they haven't made it happen in the past, that it won't happen in the future. The second aspect is that they keep on thinking with the same mindset as in the past, and so never begin to see things with a new perspective or come up with new ideas. And the third is that they are continually bemoaning how wonderful things were in "the good old days" that they fail to notice what's good about today.
(3) The Doubting ThomasOne of the favourite utterances of the Doubting Thomas is, "See! I told you so!" The Doubting Thomas is the person who either thinks that it can't be done or that they can't do it. So they don't put any effort into getting what they want, and then, when it doesn't happen, they get to be right! At other times, the Doubting Thomas may well put effort into getting what they want, but then spend their time worrying about it and wondering if it will ever happen. This causes them to feel stressed and tired.
(4) The Scaredy CatPart of the "price" for achieving our goals is to move outside of our comfort zone and to do some new things that we may not have undertaken before. The reward is that this helps us to grow as a person. It takes us to new heights, while also enabling us to experience adventure and fun. The Scaredy Cat though, will prefer to stand on the sidelines, watching others do what they do and marvel at how courageous and clever other people are. Often, Scaredy Cats are great at cheering others on, and they may "excuse" themselves for not venturing out of their comfort zones by being "modest". But deep down, they may secretly wish that they were brave enough themselves too… if only they could overcome their fear of failure.
(5) The Scatterbrain"Roll up, roll up! This is the latest and the greatest!" So the Scattergun diverts their attention yet again to the latest good idea and that becomes their new goal. The trouble is that they haven't allowed sufficient time for their earlier ideas to germinate and to take root, not to mention taking appropriate action, before they are off again, chasing the next rainbow.
So, be willing to meet your enemies face to face! Greet them! Thank them for having been there in the past, but now be courageous enough to bid them good-bye. And in their place, embrace the person you want to become.
Olubunmi Filani.

10 CREATIVE WAYS TO ATTRACT WEALTH

2007-09-28T03:18:00.000-07:00

Many creative people have a bad attitude about making money. When it comes to talking about wealth and prosperity, they look at you like you’re from Mars.
Well, I’ll let you in on a little secret.
The purpose of creative art is..to inspire. Wrong. The purpose of all creativity is to make money.
Oh, I can hear some of you cringe at the thought. And that’s just it. Your thoughts about money are, well let me put it this way they’re not bringing in much dough. Most importantly, your thoughts about suffering for your art are not allowing you to develop the full measure of your gifts.
I’m not saying that art should not be inspiring. All great art is. Just that it has to bring in a good income. An inspiring income.
Why not admit right now that having money, and I mean a lot of money, eliminates all worries and stress. No more energy wasted on how you’re going to pay those bills. No more creative energy gone down the drain as you stress out about your debts.
Here are ten ways to attract wealth.
1. First and foremost: Accept the possibility of wealth in your life. This is a big step towards manifesting riches.
2. Figure out what you would do for nothing. All successful people are receiving compensation for doing things that they’d do for nothing. They are getting paid for doing something they truly enjoy. Now that is success.
3. Eliminate self-doubt and criticism. Change the channels, turn down the volume and switch to your inner voice of supreme confidence. Make it play the tune you want to hear.
4. Accept an initial large workload. Don’t quit your current job. Allow it to finance your new road to wealth. You might be burning the midnight oil initially, but that’s just to get you off the ground and running.
5. Bury the hatchet of guilt. Deal with all unresolved emotional hangovers. Bury them and never look back. Otherwise they will drain your valuable creative juices.
6. Simplify your external stimuli. Silence your TV and radio to the point that all they are used for is to enhance your creative life.
7. Slow down. You’ll be far more efficient when you stop rushing around like most people. Your mind won’t be on overload so it can reclaimed and used to envision your new life.
8. Get rid of all your beliefs. Beliefs keep you from experiencing life. They are a blind acceptance of someone else’s experience. Only you can decide what works and what doesn’t. No belief in the world can do this for you.
9. Interrupt all thoughts of fear. They will silence your visions of success. Instead, see that everything is possible. Abundance is infinite. It’s not monopolized. A life of wealth is yours for the taking.
10. Imagine a life where all your needs are fulfilled. Can you feel the result of such a life? In fact, the more you see yourself living fully, the likelier the possibility is of that happening.
It’s the joy and freedom of wealth that we are all seeking. So, never for a moment think that you’re not one of the chosen ones. Break your poverty mentality. That’s all history.
Begin today in your mind’s eye picturing yourself as wealthy. There’s no turning back.
“You must put the whole power of your great soul into every act, however small and commonplace, and so reveal to your family, your friends, and neighbors what you really are.” Wallace D. Wattles.
So, find the one thing you just love to do and pay exclusive attention to it. Keep all distractions at bay. Never waver from your love. Your beautiful life is intricately dependent on your careful attention to this one thing.
You will be successful.
Olubunmi Filani

BE THANKFUL

2007-09-27T04:04:00.000-07:00

Be thankful that you don't already have everything you desire.If you did, what would there be to look forward to?Be thankful when you don't know something,for it gives you the opportunity to learn.
Be thankful for the difficult times.During those times you grow.Be thankful for your limitations,because they give you opportunities for improvement.Be thankful for each new challenge,because it will build your strength and character.
Be thankful for your mistakes. They will teach you valuable lessons.Be thankful when you're tired and weary,because it means you've made a difference.
It's easy to be thankful for the good things.A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who are also thankful for the setbacks.Gratitude can turn a negative into a positive.Find a way to be thankful for your troubles,and they can become your blessings.
It shall be well with you.
See you!!!
Olubunmi.Filani

DON'T QUIT,THINGS WILL BE ALRIGHT

2007-09-27T03:56:00.000-07:00

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,when the road you're trudging seems all uphill,when the funds are low and the debts are high,and you want to smile but you have to sigh,when care is pressing you down a bit - rest if you must,but don't you quit.
Life is queer with its twists and turns.As everyone of us sometimes learns.And many a fellow turns about when he might have won had he stuck it out.Don't give up though the pace seems slow - you may succeed with another blow.
Often the goal is nearer than it seems to a faint and faltering man;often the struggler has given up when he might have captured the victor's cup;and he learned too late when the night came down,how close he was to the golden crown.
Success is failure turned inside out - the silver tint of the clouds of doubt,and when you never can tell how close you are,it may be near when it seems afar;so stick to the fight when you're hardest hit - it's when things seem worst,you must not quit.
No matter what happens,don't quit because success is just by the corner.
See you at the top.
Olubunmi Filani

A GUIDE TO LIVING A GOOD LIFE

2007-09-27T03:52:00.000-07:00

Life is an opportunity, benefit from it.
Life is beauty, admire it.
Life is a dream, realize it.
Life is a challenge, meet it.
Life is a duty, complete it.
Life is a game, play it.
Life is a promise, fulfill it.
Life is sorrow, overcome it.
Life is a song, sing it.
Life is a struggle, accept it.
Life is a tragedy, confront it.
Life is an adventure, dare it.
Life is luck, make it.
Life is too precious, do not destroy it.
Life is life, fight for it.

I hope this guide will be useful for somebody.

Olubunmi Filani

success quotes for you

2007-09-27T02:24:00.000-07:00

"Treat others as if they were what they ought to be and you help them to become what they are capable of being."

*We must be the epitome-the embodiment-of success. We must radiate success before it will come to us. We must first become mentally, from an attitude standpoint, the people we wish to become."
George Herbert Allen
"Eighty percent of success is showing up."
Woody Allen
"If I feel depressed I will sing. If I feel sad I will laugh. If I feel ill I will double my labor. If I feel fear I will plunge ahead. If I feel inferior I will wear new garments. If I feel uncertain I will raise my voice. If I feel poverty I will think of wealth to come. If I feel incompetent I will think of past success. If I feel insignificant I will remember my goals. Today I will be the master of my emotions."
Og Mandino
Success Quotes
"If you want to succeed you should strike out on new paths rather than travel the worn paths of accepted success."
John D. Rockefeller
"Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent."
Calvin Coolidge
Success Quotes
"I have learned this at least by my experience: that if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours."
Henry David Thoreau
"You never achieve real success unless you like what you are doing."
Dale Carnegie
"If you envy successful people, you create a negative force field of attraction that repels you from ever doing the things that you need to do to be successful. If you admire successful people, you create a positive force field of attraction that draws you toward becoming more and more like the kinds of people that you want to be like."
Brian Tracy
Success Quotes
"The most successful men in the end are those whose success is the result of steady accretion... It is the man who carefully advances step by step, with his mind becoming wider and wider - and progressively better able to grasp any theme or situation - persevering in what he knows to be practical, and concentrating his thought upon it, who is bound to succeed in the greatest degree."
Alexander Graham Bell
"All that is necessary to break the spell of inertia and frustration is this: Act as if it were impossible to fail. That is the talisman, the formula, the command of right about face which turns us from failure to success."
Dorthea Bragg
"If one asks for success and prepares for failure, he will get the situation he has prepared for."
Florence Scovel Shinn
"When I was younger, I thought that the key to success was just hard work. But the real foundation is faith. Faith -- the idea that "I can do it -- is the opposite of fear ("What if I fail?"). And faith creates motivation which in turn leads to commitment, hard work, preparation ... and eventually success."
Howard Twilley
Success Quotes
"Success seems to be largely a matter of hanging on after others have let go."
William Feather
"The victory of success is half won when one gains the habit of setting goals and achieving them. Even the most tedious chore will become endurable as you parade through each day convinced that every task, no matter how menial or boring, brings you closer to fulfilling your dreams."
Og Mandino
"Believe in yourself! Have faith in your abilities! Without a humble but reasonable confidence in your own powers you cannot be successful or happy."
Norman Vincent Peale
"When you see a thing clearly in your mind, your creative 'success mechanism' within you takes over and does the job much better than you could do it by conscious effort or 'willpower.'"
Maxwell Maltz
"Hold a picture of yourself long and steadily enough in your mind's eye and you will be drawn toward it. Picture yourself vividly as winning and that alone will contribute immeasurably to success. Great living starts with a picture, held in your imagination, of what you would like to do or be."
Dr. Harry Emerson Fosdick
Success Quotes
"Loser's visualize the penalties of failure. Winners visualize the rewards of success."
Dr. Rob Gilbert
"Any fact facing us is not as important as our attitude toward it, for that determines our success or failure. The way you think about a fact may defeat you before you ever do anything about it. You are overcome by the fact because you think you are."
Norman Vincent Peale
Success Quotes
"The common idea that success spoils people by making them vain, egotistic, and self-complacent is erroneous. On the contrary, it makes them, for the most part, humble, tolerant, and kind. Failure makes people bitter and cruel."
Somerset Maugham
"Failure: A few errors in judgment repeated every day. Success: A few simple disciplines practiced every day."
James Rohn
"Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up."
Thomas Edison
"The first step toward success is taken when you refuse to be a captive of the environment in which you first find yourself."
Mark Caine

Use and enjoy the following success quotes for your overall success.

Olubunmi Filani.

Welcome Message

2007-09-27T02:16:00.000-07:00

Hello, This blog is alive and it is dedicated to bring out the best success tips and strategies that will make you successful in life.
Make sure you visit this blog often as wonderful tips and strategies for success will be posted.
Bye and God bless you.

Olubunmi.O.Filani.