Wednesday, December 26, 2007

A LITTLE EQUATION THAT CREATES BIG RESULTS by Chris Widener

"The purpose of man is in action not thought." - Thomas Carlyle

Often people will ask me how I get so much done in my life. They
wonder at how I am able to accomplish so many things. The answer is
found not in what a great person I am, but in an equation I came up
with a few years ago and remind myself of on almost a daily basis.
And when I live this equation out, it produces big results. What
people don't seem to grasp is that this equation will work for
anybody! Anyone can see results in their life if they will live it
out!

This little equation, when it is understood, and acted upon, is
perhaps the most powerful equation there is in regard to long-term
achievement and accomplishment. Yet, this is not a complex equation.
In fact, it is rather simple. So what is it?

Your short-term actions multiplied by time equals your long-term
accomplishments.

If you want to see change in your life, see big results, the first
thing you must do is change your current actions. Otherwise the old
saying becomes a reality: "If you always do what you've always done,
you'll always get what you always got!" But if we change our actions,
we will see different results!

Most people want to accomplish a lot in their lives. Yet very few
actually do. Why is this? It is because what they believe will equal
their long-term accomplishments are wrong. Here are some of the
things that people believe will create great accomplishments for
them:

Beliefs
Vision
Big dreams
Ideas
Ideals
Values
Desire
The truth is that while these things are very important, they are not
enough in and of themselves. We need to have the above underlying all
that we do, but we need to actually do something! And this is where
most people stop. We need to take action on our dreams and beliefs
every day.
Here are some examples of how this works.

Who loses weight? The one who knows all about the benefits of
exercise or the one who walks 3 miles a day?
Who retires early? The one who dreams of a house on the beach, or the
one who invests $300 a month?
Who writes books? The one who desires to become a best-selling
author, or the one who gets up early and writes for half an hour a
day?
Who has the best marital relationship? The one who knows how much
spending time with their spouse can improve their relationship, or
the one who sits down and talks with their spouse every night?
Who makes the most sales? The one who believes they can become a
great salesperson, or the one who makes 10 sales calls a day?
I think you get the point. When it all comes down to it, we must act
upon our vision, beliefs, and ideals or we won't see them come to
fruition. I see too many people who know what is right, but don't
ever do anything about it. Imagine what a difference we could make in
our own lives and the lives of others if we would simply begin to act
upon on our beliefs!
When I get to the end of my life, I want to know that I have done all
that I can to make this world a better place and to enhance the lives
of those around me. I want to know that I gave it my best shot. And I
am sure that you do to.

I remember reading an interview with an author who has written
numerous books that have sold in the tens of millions. They asked him
how he did it. His answer was that he got up every morning before
anyone else in his family and wrote, long hand, with a pencil, for an
hour. Then he quit and went about his day. But his short-term actions
piled up. Seven hours a week...30 hours a month...365 hours a year.
After a while, he had lots of books!

Some questions as we leave:

What long-term accomplishments do you want to see come to pass?

What short-term actions will you need to do over time to see them
come to pass?

What will you do today to begin seeing your dreams come true?

What will you do this week to see them come true?

You can have an awesome future, filled with great achievements and
results if you begin today to take action and make it a reality!
One more time, so you can plug it in, memorize it, and live it.

Your short-term actions multiplied by time equals your long-term
accomplishments.

Wednesday, December 19, 2007

LABOR THAT WORKS MIRACLS by Jim Rohn

(Excerpted from The Challenge to Succeed
audio series)

Two thousand years ago on April 15th one of Jesus' disciples came to
him and said it was time to pay taxes (that's how I know it was
around April 15th), but they had no money. In response to his
disciple's statement Jesus said "no problem". Now why could he
say "no problem"? Well, word had it that Jesus was a miracle
worker. If you hand a problem to a miracle worker what they are
inclined to say is "no problem". You've got to hang out with people
like that.

I belong to a small group and we do business around the world. These
guys are all miracle workers. What an incredible group. If you hand
any of them a problem guess what they say, "no problem". How many
books will they read to solve a problem? As many as it takes. If
they need to consult - how much consulting will they do? As much as
it takes. How early will they get up? As early as it takes. "No
problem"... you got to hang out with people like that. You cannot
believe the thrill of being associated with miracle workers, people
who will do whatever it takes to get the job done and perform
miracles.

When asked about paying the taxes Jesus said it was "no problem". In
fact, he said it was going to be easy - he told the disciple to just
go fishing. Now it couldn't have been any easier than that,
especially for this disciple whose name was Peter, because Peter was
a fisherman. Now if you can fish and you should fish and you don't
fish - then that is why you do not get a miracle. But Jesus told his
disciple to go fishing and the first fish that he caught to look in
its mouth. Peter, who was used to strange things happening, agreed.
Well, the first fish Peter catches, he looks in its mouth and finds
coins. Peter then adds up the coins and they are exactly enough to
pay his and Jesus' taxes.

"Wow!", you might say, "That is a miracle!" Here is why we call it a
miracle - simply because we don't quite understand how it works.
That's all. Doesn't mean it doesn't work, it just means we don't
quite understand how it works. Which is true of all miracles. In
fact, for most of us - our whole life is a miracle.

How about this miracle...God says if you plant the seed I will make
the tree. Wow, you can't have a better arrangement than that.
First, it gives God the tough end of the deal. What if you had to
make a tree? That would keep you up late at night trying to figure
out how to make a tree. God says, "No, leave the miracle part to
me. I've got the seed, the soil, the sunshine, the rain and the
seasons. I'm God and all this miracles stuff is easy for me. I have
reserved something very special for you and that is to plant the
seed."

I have found in life that if you want a miracle you first need to do
whatever it is you can do - if that's to plant, then plant; if it is
to read, then read; if it is to change, then change; if it is to
study, then study; if it is to work, then work; whatever you have to
do. And then you will be well on your way of doing the labor that
works miracles.

To Your Success,
Jim Rohn

Tuesday, December 18, 2007

AMBITIOUSLY PURSUING YOUR OWN SELF_DIRECTION by Jim Rohn

(Excerpted from The Power of Ambition series)**
What is the origin of true ambition? There exists really only one
place to find true ambition and that is within you - in every
thought, in every movement, in every motivation. Your ambition is an
expression of who you truly are, your own self-expression.

Self-expression. Isn't self-expression really self-direction? How
you think, how you move, how you motivate yourself. Ambition is a
result of self-direction and self-direction is one of the six key
principles necessary for building ambition. Positive self-direction
says, "I know who I am and I know where I want to go. I'm
accumulating knowledge and experiences and feelings and philosophies
that will help prepare me for opportunities that I know will show up
without notice or any help on my part." Because you know where you
want to go, you have already been working on the parts of your
personality that will make you better. Working on your attitude,
working on your health, working on your time management skills.
Putting it all down on paper. And you constantly see yourself in the
place you want to be, going in the direction you want to go.

Direction determines destination. So here is a question you must ask
yourself, "Are all the disciplines that I'm currently engaged in
taking me where I want to go?" What an important question to ask
yourself at the beginning of the month, the beginning of the week,
the beginning of the day. Because here is what you don't ever want
to do - kid yourself. Kid your neighbor, kid me and kid the
marketplace, but don't kid yourself - fingers crossed - hoping you
will arrive at a good destination when you're not even headed that
way. You have to ask yourself often, AM I? Am I doing the
disciplines that are taking me in the direction I want to go? Don't
neglect to ask these important questions, questions that help
determine your direction, the set of your sail, your destination.

Is this the direction I want for my life?
Is this someone else's direction?
Is this a goal I have been ingrained with since my childhood?
Is this goal my parent's, my spouse's, my boss', my children's or is
it MINE?

Ask yourself these questions and then debate them. After you have
answered these questions within yourself, then take it one step
further and ask, "What am I doing that is working or not working?"
Debate it all. Work with your mind to figure out the best possible
direction for you - your self-direction. And then ambitiously pursue
your own self-direction. Let the power of your own ambition take you
where you want to go, to do what you want to do, to create the life
you want to live!

To Your Success,
Jim Rohn

Monday, December 17, 2007

Love the Opportunity

Somebody said you have to love what you do, but that's not necessarily true. What is true is that you have to love the opportunity. The opportunity to build life, future, health, success and fortune. Knocking on someone's door may not be something you love to do, but you love the opportunity of what might be behind that door.

For example, a guy says, "I'm digging ditches. Should I love digging ditches?" The answer is, "No, you don't have to love digging ditches, but if it is your first entry onto the ladder of success, you say, 'I'm glad somebody gave me the opportunity to dig ditches and I'm going to do it so well, I won't be here long.'"

You can be inspired by having found something; even though you are making mistakes in the beginning and even though it is a little distasteful taking on a new discipline that you haven't learned before. You don't have to love it, you just have to learn to appreciate America, appreciate opportunity and appreciate the person who brought you the good news; that found you.

Appreciate the person who believed in you before you believed in yourself, appreciate the person who said, "Hey, if I can do it, you can do it."

If you will embrace the disciplines associated with the new opportunity you will soon find that your self-confidence starts to grow, that you go from being a skeptic to being a believer. And soon when you go out person to person, talking to people, you will find it to be the most thrilling opportunity in the world. Every person you meet - what could it be? Unlimited! Maybe a friend for life. The next person could be an open door to retiring. The next person could be a colleague for years to come. It's big time stuff. And sometimes in the beginning when we are just getting started we don't always see how big it is.

So, before you are tempted to give up or get discouraged, remember all success is based on long term commitment, faith, discipline, attitude and a few stepping stones along the way. You might not like the stone you are on right now, but it's sure to be one of the stones that lead to great opportunities in the future.

To Your Success, Jim Rohn

Wednesday, December 5, 2007

LIFESTYLE

It,s really not hard to learn the art of living well. Even people
with
modest means can experience the sophisticated lifestyle. They simply
save up some of thier soda money for a bottle of fine wine. They skip
going to the movies and attend the theater. By saving up thier money
all year, they have enough for a trip to Europe or a fine work of art.

Don't spend all of your money a quarter at a time. Save up and buy
something special, something fine, something of lasting value, or
something that will give you rich memories for a lifetime. Remember,
all that candy money can add up to a small fortune. And for a
sophisticated person, quality is far more important than quantity.
Better a few treasures than a house full of junk.
Jim Rohn