Karma Baby!

You could argue that Karma doesnt actually exist, or that their are some people that seem to step on others daily with no immediate consequence, but I do believe it exists. I like to believe that life has a funny way of giving you what you deserve regardless of your status.
Karma is the greatest equalizer of men.
I say this because, I have recently been witness to some fantastic equalizing events, and one particularly close to home. You see, if you are a person of Good Principles, of Integrity, of Genuine Human care, then you will naturally attract similar people, which will bring acts of kindness and generosity in return. They will bring you success and prosperity to you and yours.
On the other hand if you are an arrogant 'you know what' then you too will attract similar people, and eventually you too will be at the end of your own worst actions. These people will get whats coming to them, life will do that to you! Its a beautiful thing, and it inspires me knowing that they have to sleep with themselves every night. Those who are greedy will soon be old! Those who are cons, will soon be conned, those who betray, will be fools!
The great equaliser-Karma.
So, to the arrogant '%*&!#' who fooled my wife!
The sweetest revenge has come to me! It was just a matter of time!
Karma Baby!

"The miracle is this — the more we share, the more we have."
Leonard Nimoy

How to Develop a Personal Vision!

Are you a visionary? Or do you prefer to spend your time in the here and now, solving problems and getting on with things? Achieving a balance between 'dreaming' about a desired future state and living in the current state is difficult. Many of us have a strong inclination towards one or the other...very few of us are able to achieve and sustain a balance between the two.
A Tug-of-War

There is a constant tug-of-war going on between dealing with 'current reality' and developing a lofty vision of who we want to be, what we want to do and what we want to have. This short exercise affords you the opportunity to achieve such a balance. We sincerely hope that you find it of lasting value.
Get relaxed

Find a quiet spot where you will not be interrupted. Gather a pad of paper and a pencil. Get seated comfortably. Close your eyes. Take a few deep breaths and let go of all your tensions.
Choose a starting point

If you are the type that likes to live in current reality then start there. Ask yourself the question: What about my current reality do I have control over and would like to change? Keep asking this question about all aspects of your life:

a. Family

b. Career/Job

c. Health and Fitness

d. Home/Location

e. Financialf. Possessions

g. Hobbies and Interests

h. Spiritual

i. Relationships

j. Life Purpose
To better understand yourself, try using a validated instrument or tool, such as the MBTI (Myers-Briggs Type Indicator) or True Colors

If you prefer to take the visionary approach, project yourself forward five years from the current date, and picture a perfect day in your life where all of the above aspects are working in harmony. Picture as you arise in the morning, how all of these aspects come together gradually throughout the day, and as you retire for the night how grateful and at peace you feel for having all of these aspects work for you. Picture it as though you were living it right now, and use words in the present tense to describe it.

Now, without further ado start writing! If you prefer to draw, then do that as well, but try to capture your vision or current reality in words.
Prioritize

Whether you are dealing with current reality and trying to change it, or visioning a brand new future, you need to set priorities. For each aspect, compare it in turn with each of the other aspects and make a choice. Is A more important than B? C? D? etc. Go through all of these and come up with a list of prioritized areas. If an area is low on the priority list it does not mean that it gets tossed out. Instead it receives attention later rather than sooner.
Plan and Take Action

Take the first item on your list and develop a plan around it. If it is Financial, talk with a financial advisor. If it is a Career issue, talk with a trusted friend or someone who understands your career goals. In any case, talk it through with a coach, mentor or expert in the area. Search out books, educational programs etc and study them. Whatever you do, get started. As you develop and implement your plan, you will notice that the other aspects of your life will become involved. Don't worry about this. As you draw in these other aspects, you will continue to maintain a focus on your prioritized areas. This is as it should be.
Review and Revise

Review your plan regularly, gradually weaving in to it all of the other aspects of your life. Your plan and the actions taken as a result will become interwoven over time, reflecting the many faceted aspects of your life. At least once yearly, review your plan in its entirety and adjust your priorities. As you do this you will achieve a greater focus in your life, while at the same time acknowledging the complexities of this world.
Final Thoughts

Most dreams remain just that...dreams. Setting some tangible goals and getting going translates the dream into reality. It was once said that 'a goal is a dream taken seriously.' Realizing your personal vision takes uncommon persistence and determination to achieve your goals, and with that thought we leave you with the following quote by Calvin Coolidge:

"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; un-rewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent."--Calvin Coolidge

Article by Brian Ward

http://www.afinitymc.com

Success By Association.

The company you keep will determine how successful you will become! Oh yes it will! There is alot to be said about Success By Association, or No Success By Association for that matter, but the truth is you are a product of your surroundings.

To put it bluntly, if you surround yourself with losers, then the likelihood of you being a loser is...Hmm...Pretty high! I'm not trying to be funny or insult anyone, what I am trying to do is maybe shock a few people into taking the time to analyze the group of friends they keep. If your friends are drinking everynight, complaining about not having money then having a few more rounds, driving that same beat up old car, then you most likely lead a similar life.
Now don't get me wrong-If your happy with that sort of lifestyle then that's great, but you wouldn't still be reading this article if you were! I'm not criticizing the lifestyle, I'm just stating that if you want to have more, be more, then you will have to change your circle of friends.

It sounds pretty harsh, and it is, but you only have one life. I'm not telling you to go and dump your friends, but I am saying that you need to find other, new friends that are already doing or thinking like you are. If your friends are true friends, then they too will want to be more, or at least they will understand that you want to learn from others, and that you want to develop and succeed at life! There is no shame in wanting more, there is in pretending you don't.

Once you know who you want to be you can find people that are similar to spend your time with. Listen to them, watch them, ask them questions. People who are succeeding will be flattered that you ask. If you want to achieve even greater heights then find a mentor! Someone who is at the pinnacle of your ambitions, and try to spend some time with them. Write a letter or ask them to spend an hour of their time with you, be polite but professional, and explain your reasons. Then listen, watch and learn!

Raise your standards and be who you really want to be!

"Never stand begging for what you have the power to earn.”

Miguel de Cervantes

What's your "Why"?

Why did you do that? Why didn't you do that? What is it that motivates us to achieve the goals that we have set? How come some people can stay focused and motivated despite the obstacles? How do they continue to get up everyday, and still go forward with their goal?

They have a big enough reason, a big enough "why"!

We all have goals and push towards achieving them, but the secret to truly maintaining the consistent pressure required to achieve, the secret to having relentless motivational drive, is to have such a big "why" that any other outcome would be catastrophic! "I want to be wealthy because I want to have a Ferrari and look cool!" Thats great but do you think that is going to motivate you? not likely! I mean maybe for a rare few the desire to have a Ferrari is so intense that they find their drive. However, to truly be driven you need to search your heart and soul and discover what really moves you. Is it your Children, is it your wife, is it giving back to your parents? Only you know the answer. I want to be wealthy! Why? Because I want to be able to provide a good life for my children, I want to be able to buy my mom the house she has always dreamt of, to be able to afford to bring my family together regularly, To have more time to spend with the ones I love! To be a success!
That is my "why"! Hey, nice things are great, but this is the real reason, this is my inspiration!
Now, turn this on its head! Think about what would happen if you dont' achieve your goals, imagine the opposite! Everytime you lose concentration or focus, think about this.
"I need to stay motivated, If I dont I will not be able to provide the best things for my children, my mother and father will continue to struggle, and work untill very old, I will not see them in their later years because I can't afford the travel, I will not enjoy holidays with my family, I will not be able to look after them as they have me, I will not be a success, I will not be a good father!"
It hurts me thinking about it, and that is why I must stay focused!I start getting physically sick when I think about not reaching my goal. This has power to me! It drives me!

Its up to you to look deep inside and understand what you value the most. Then visualise those things being taken away, visualise the hurt, the pain. Then do what it takes!
Do whatever it takes to succeed. The future is yours and your alone! Live how you decide!

"First say to yourself what you would be;and then do what you have to do."

Epictetus

Live Your Dreams

My dad has always been a runner. Every morning at 4 A.M., he would quietly leave the house for his morning jog. It was his time to think, plan for the day, and figure out how he could save the world… all before breakfast.I always admired my dad and wanted to be like him, but there was no way I could run as far as he did. Each morning as we would run together, he encouraged me and would take my mind off the distance by teaching me about setting goals and living my dreams.We ran a lot of small races together over the years. Each time without fail, my dad would finish well ahead of me, yet he would always return to the last mile marker so we could cross the finish line together. It was finally time to run our first half marathon. I had always dreamt of running a big race, but even with my dad’s confidence in me, I was nervous and unsure. When I received the news that he had to travel out of town on the race day, I was devastated. I had never run that far by myself and felt very discouraged. My dad reminded me, “Living your dreams can only begin by placing one foot in front of the other. You can do this. I believe in you.” It just wasn’t the same.When I hit mile 11, I was ready to quit. I had barely enough energy to make it one more mile. I knew, unless something changed, that I would have to walk the rest of the way. It was just too hard. As I approached mile 12, I was struggling. In the distance, I thought I saw a familiar face. I rubbed my eyes and hoped I wasn’t hallucinating, but it looked like my dad! It was! He had changed his plans to drive 4 hours so he could meet me at the last mile… just like always.I could barely hold back the tears as we crossed that finish line together. I learned how to live my dreams because, through his example, my dad showed me how.
Taken from http://www.forbetterlife.org

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

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

The Power of Goals!

It is Phenomenal, the power that goals , and goal setting have on the outcome of your Life!
Without goals their is no success! As a matter of fact, I am going to stretch the boundries and say that without goals their is no consistent Happiness in life!, Yes, thats right no goals, no happy! The reason I say this is because it is the pursuit of goals that truly makes us smile, it is the getting closer that excites and invigorates us. So, in essence it is not the obtaining of goals that makes us happy but the pursuit, the challanges , the intermitent rewards that really gets those happy bugs a buzzin!

Lets take successful Athletes, or Business men- why do they keep wanting more once they have achieved? Why try to run faster than the fastest, why build higher than the highest, why make 10 million, when your goal was 1 million? Its the chase, not the finish! Of course their is a climatic eruption of Happiness once you achieve your goals, but then you want something else. Such is life! Miserable are those with no goals, aims, aspirations- they are doomed. A poor man with a passionate vision will be happy- and probably will succeed as well.

Now when I say Goals, I do mean Dreams, Ambitions, Wishes, however because we have begun to understand how language directly affects our motivation then we dont want to use these words. Dreams and Wishes are perceived as non- attainable, fantasy like. When people use 'Dreams' they dont actually believe they can achieve them. " My Dream is to live in a beautiful Villa by the sea and drive a Sports car" Yeah- but really its just a dream.
Now say it like this - " My goal is to develop a business, earn 10 000 extra per year, in 2 years I will buy my Sports Car and in 5 I will buy my Villa!
Sounds possible now! It is!

Set small goals, and reward yourself when you achieve them. Set large goals, put a plan together, and enjoy the journey. Smile and share the Happiness of the chase, the rush of achievement! Why settle for mediocrity, when you can live a fullfilling, happy, extraordinary life!
What are you waiting for? Go set some goals!

"If you don't know where you are going, you'll probably end up somewhere else."

Lewis Carroll

Today will be a great day! Golf anyone?

Another day of life! How precious it is! How will I make this day count, knowing that once it is gone I can never get it back?
I will live it, and got to bed tonight satisfied that I have edged forward with my goals, that I have smiled and laughed, that I have touched some body’s soul, and that I dared to be better than yesterday!
I have written a short affirmation that I use in the mornings to put me in the right state of mind to make the most of my day. I say it to myself in the mirror when I first go to the washroom, and I say it out loud as I shower. I am a terrible morning person, so this is a vital part of my routine. Saying it in the shower really invigorates me, and gets me psyched up for whatever the day shall bring. You can use this or come up with your own. It might feel weird at first but do it and you will be amazed.

Today is a new day.
Today will be a great day!
I will be the best I can be today!
I will live passionately today!
I am confident, I am intelligent, and I am Persistent!
Today is my day!
Today I will choose a positive attitude, and encourage the same in others.
I am excited about today!
Today is a new day!
Today will be a great day!

Send me your affirmations, and if you are new at this -remember the following tips.
Make it relevant to you.
Make it positive, ex. I will be confident or I am confident instead of I will not be shy, or I wont be intimidated.
Make it short so that you can memorise it.
Say it to yourself but also say it out loud! There is power in the sound!
Say it with conviction-Believe it and it will be!

Bring on the new day!

"When you know what you want, and you want it badly enough, you'll find a way to get it"

Jim Rohn

No Excuses!

Have you ever stopped to listen to people who always seem to have bad luck, or people who are going no where fast? Some people always seem to be stuck in a rut! Why do you think that is? Its simple, the language you use both externally and internally directly determines how you deal with a situation and how it will affect you.

Over the years we have trained our subconsious to speak the language that it does. Poor training results in poor inner language which translates into poor results in the outside world. Let me give you an example.
I know a girl who had the worst luck. It seemed she could never do anything right. She was taking driving lessons to get her drivers licence, and everytime she would get back from a lesson she would break down in tears and say- "I will never learn to drive, Im horrible." She took her exam, and failed because she thought she had parked badly and then started crying and saying -"I failed I knew It", and then she speed around the course and really did fail. The point of the story is she was actually a pretty good driver, I have seen much worse pass with flying colors, but the language she used affected her outcome.

We saw her as unlucky, only because she eventually convinced us over the years by using self defeating language. We always heard her say-"I have such bad luck", "It always happens to me"- that we actually began to believe it, and unkowingly re-enforce it. Now, she has changed her language, not just to us, but her internal dialogue is positive and empowering. I taught her to use a simple technique, one that anyone can use. First it involves Self Awareness, you have to listen to yourself and focus on how you think in different situations. Then, everytime your inner lingo says- I cant do that! or Thats to hard? or I dont have the time? or Im just not that lucky?or Its no use? all you have to do is pinch yourself in the arm really hard so it hurts! and immediately turn the phrase around-I can do that if I try! or its easier than I think! or I can find the time! or I can be lucky! or I will do it! or I can do anything!
Try it! The next time you hear the little voices saying "Im just not good enough" pinch yourself, raise your head high and change your thought " I am good enough" . This is not positive thinking its positive training, Its preparing your mind to look for solutions and not quit in the face of challange.

"He that is good for making excuses, is seldom good for anything else"

Benjamin Franklin

How to succeed at Life!

I am going to tell you the basic formula of how to get everything you have ever dreamed of and I am going to do it free!Thats right, Im not going to charge you an astronomical amount to buy my book, Im not even going to ask you to make 3 easy payments over a period of time for my CD's. In fact I will tell you the secret to success in the next few sentences. There is however only one catch, are you ready for it? You must believe with all your heart and soul- you have to believe with all the essence of your being that you will be successful! That's it, that is my price, or should I say -our price. Its not much to ask for, but in order to carry on and truly become a success it is absolutely necessary. Without this, their can be no success, no growth! Without belief there is nothing. Think about where we would be now as a human race if Einstein didnt believe he could invent the lightbulb? What if the allies didnt think they could win the war? Ok Ok, Im not saying belief is enough, but what I am saying is that without it success is impossible. So now that you have the pre-requisite to success I am going to tell you how to succeed. Here it comes...
Take Persistent, Effective Action!
Thats it! Take Persistent Effective Action!
I know what some of you are thinking, thats crap- I want the secret!
Well my friends that is it! If you believe in a project down to your bones, and you take Persistent Effective Action you will Succeed! It is proven time and time again by the great men and women of our time. That is all that every successful person has done! that is the formula! Sure, there are a few lazy bastards that got picked out of a queue and made famous- but that is the exception and not the rule. If you do this you will succeed-it is so simple!
Is it? The trick is training yourself to be persistent, despite the bad results and the obstacles! If it were easy to take Persistent Effective Action then we would all be rich and successful, but it is all that is required.

I am challenging people to take on this Success Project along with me. I am going to prove that if you follow the secret you can be a success. I will post my progress and I will pass on any techniques I have used to overcome any obstacles, Mental or otherwise. I also ask that if you are a success that you share your story and relate it to this article. This site will be dedicated to passing on techniques and information to help you apply Persistent Effective Action! I will succeed!

"Success seems to be connected with action. Successful men keep moving. They make mistakes, but they dont quit."

Conrad Hilton