Three Steps to Instant Success

A note from: peter@thewealthyattitude.com for Tuesday April 15 2008

Welcome to Tuesday.

I seriously fell of my chair laughing yesterday. Wanna know why? O.K. I’ll tell you.

One of our long time subscribers is a teacher/instructor at a fairly well known business school. I’d just love to tell you which one, but I can’t. If I mentioned even the town it’s in, you’d know the school. Anyway, our subscriber friend sent me a “911” e-mail.

What happened was, yesterday he was checking out The Wealthy Attitude website on his laptop, in his class, during his lunch break. His next class were to see a video presentation he had on his laptop, so it was attached to a projector.

Right before the class he was called away for a phone call and he left his laptop open. The class arrived to no teacher, so, being responsible students they clicked the laptop into action, started the projector, and lo and behold, The Wealthy Attitude.

As he had been watching last week’s video, My Stroke of Insight, he was on the Take 5 and Relax Video page. Well, the intrepid students started to click on some video links in the page. When he arrived back his class were deeply into the Tony Robbins video, up on the screen for all to see and hear.

Needless to say, and as he described in his note to me, he had to spend the entire class explaining The Wealthy Attitude website, and here’s the rub, his class want more of it in their class. I’ve even had a number of his students subscribe already to the “Daily Reader”.

Now, why the “911”? He’s asking me to take part in a tele-class for his students to talk about The Wealthy Attitude. What a hoot! Me, the home-based business advocate, in a tele-class with students in a renowned traditional business school. Somebody hold me down! J J

I’ll keep you informed.

Up and on with today’s offering. I go back to our friend Philip today to draw on something that will assist some folks who wrote to me over the weekend. I’m very sure it will also assist you.

Three Steps To Instant Success

This week I reviewed some notes I took at a Seminar with Jim Rohn several years ago, and one of Jim's many amazing insights jumped out at me. Jim has helped thousands of people reach their goals and I want to share just one of the KEY pieces that impressed me.

I was reminded that success is based on a simple 3-step process:

1. What We See

I'm told that the average North American sees over 3000 marketing messages every day. They are everywhere! Fortunately, we have learned to ignore the vast majority of them.

In the same way, at this very moment you are breathing, you are sitting on a chair, and a there are a thousand things going on around you that your brain automatically filters out to let you concentrate. Our ability to "filter" allows us to survive! If we couldn't do that, we would be over-whelmed and unable to function.

Out of all that "data" around us, we select a few things to notice and care about. We respond to a baby's cry. We answer a ringing telephone. We focus on our bank statement, our bills, a lover's touch and so forth, and this is important - high achievers focus on ("see") things differently than failures!

High achievers literally do not "see" the television programs others find captivating! High achievers "see" opportunities others miss. They "see" solutions others ignore.

What you "see" or focus on determines your destiny.

2. How We Interpret What We See

Shakespeare observed that nothing is "good or bad, but thinking makes it so." Most people know the story about the glass that is either "half-full" or "half-empty." Everything we "see" is interpreted and the only difference is that winners constantly interpret life in ways that work to their advantage.

Where one person interprets a slumping economy as threatening their business, another finds an opportunity for growth. Where one person sees a problem, another seizes opportunity.

Winners view things differently. They grasp solutions, seize opportunities and find reasons for optimism.

3. What We DO About What We See

Everything comes down to action. Peak performers actually DO get up a bit earlier, stay a bit later, and work harder (and smarter) than other people. In the end, our lives are not created by our intentions but by the results of our daily activities.

Now, it is true that our actions are shaped by many things! Of course painful experiences and mis-fortune and bad luck play a part. Let's not kid ourselves. But the most important influences on our daily actions are (1) what we see, (2) how we interpret what we see, and (3) how we respond.

The steps to success begin by surrounding ourselves with things that move us forward. Read great books! Listen to great audio programs! Get around smart, talented, creative people! If you see stress and trouble every day, you will be influenced by it. If you see opportunity and optimism, if you see determination and courage and hope, you will inevitably be shaped by these things.

Here are two practical applications of these truths:

1. I no longer subscribe to a daily newspaper. For many years I was addicted to it, but then I noticed that starting my day with 20 minutes of trouble and controversy was not creating the life I wanted. So I took action, canceled our subscription and now I read something more useful.

2. Every week, I work with a coach who reminds me of my values and goals. Every year, I attend at least two personal development seminars. I hang out where the GOOD stuff and the GREAT people are!

Invest in your future. Get where the GOOD stuff is!

How to Survive and Thrive on Chaos

A note from: peter@thewealthyattitude.com for Monday April 14th 2008

welcome to the start of another week of opportunity.

My sincere thanks to all who shared over the weekend about the impact that the video “My Stroke of Insight” had on you. Some truly amazing awareness’s where were revealed.

This week we are going to be witnessing some of the impact that the economic conditions that prevail currently on the continent are going to have. The news on the weekend does not bode well for some business sectors.

However, as is always the case, some entrepreneurial souls will find some very creative ways to advance their businesses during this chaotic time. Our friend Philip offers us a perspective that is highly worth your attention.

How to Survive and Thrive on Chaos

By Philip Humbert

This is a time of chaos. In the past two weeks one airline has canceled 3000 flights (yikes!) and three airlines declared bankruptcy. We all know about the mortgage crisis and problems in the housing market. And of course, it's an election year. Chaos reigns! And winners will find a way to thrive on it.

The most effective people in the new century will be those who thrive in a world of chaos. They do not believe the world is actually "chaotic" because the laws of cause-and-effect still apply. You still get results based on intelligent action and focused effort. But they understand we live in a world that "seems" chaotic and they thrive on it.

Peak performers in the 21st century will be comfortable with ambiguity. They know they will never have enough information. They know the rules are constantly changing, and yet they play "flat-out" because they expect to win. They know that action and calm, purposeful effort in the midst of the storm are still the keys to success.

I'm intrigued by how easily disrupted our lives are. I was in an airport this week, and the variety of responses was mind-blowing. Thousands of people were upset, angry, tense or confused. But here and there, little clusters of people were getting work done. Sure they were tired and sometimes hungry, but they were on their computers or cell phones. Or they were taking naps, reading, playing cards or talking with other stranded travelers.

In the midst of chaos, winners do not fall into over-whelm and dysfunction. They get things done. As the old cliché says, When life gives them lemons, they make lemonade.

Several things are necessary to thrive in the midst of chaos:

1. Exceptional boundaries. Winners structure their own lives and refuse to get caught up in other people's drama. They know how to close their doors and ignore disruptions. They know where they are going and they tolerate few, if any, distractions.

2. Exceptional vision. They know their priorities and their desired outcomes. They know what they want and they can see, taste, smell and even touch their results in advance. They have goals rather than mere hopes or dreams.

3. Exceptional self-direction. Winners are in charge of their lives and chaos around them is merely someone else's drama swirling nearby. They maintain their inner calm. They are not easily lost or confused. They know their priorities and their direction, even when their flight is canceled.

4. Exceptional optimism. They see chaos as opportunity. Chaos "stirs the pot" and opens doors. Rather than annoying or frustrating them, they love it! On a wild and windy day, a rainbow may appear at any moment and they welcome it.

5. Exceptional Reserves. They take care of themselves. They eat well, rest often, save and invest wisely and when opportunity knocks, they are waiting to answer the door. They operate from strength and stability, while a chaotic world wreaks havoc on the competition.

6. Exceptional response-ability. Rather than reacting from anger or anxiety, they see an ever-changing world and thoughtfully respond to opportunities that present themselves. Most people react; winners respond.

John Lennon observed that "life is what happens while you were making other plans." Life will not wait until we are ready or until we catch our breath. Winners thrive on chaos. They'll see and seize opportunities, and they'll love the wild ride.

In a world swirling with change and chaos, they invest in themselves and they get things done.

My Stroke of Insight

A note from peter@thewealthyattitude.com for Friday11th April 2008

Say hello to the typical week's end.

It has been an outstanding week here. Tone of feedback from subscribers about every subject we ever cover. Thank you all for your notes, and I congratulate each and every one of you that is taking this magnificent thing called your life, and owning every part of it.

We end the week with another incredible video presentation. I wanted to send it along the minute I saw it myself, but restrained until I could deliver it to you for the weekend.

It's a touch longer than we normally send you at 20 minutes, and I wrestled with sending it for all of about 6 seconds. I believe that once you have seen this piece, you'll be very glad you spent the time giving yourself this gift. Share this one around.

Neuroanatomist Jill Bolte Taylor had an opportunity few brain scientists would wish for: One morning, she realized she was having a massive stroke. As it happened -- as she felt her brain functions slip away one by one, speech, movement, understanding -- she studied and remembered every moment. This is a powerful story about how our brains define us and connect us to the world and to one another. (Ray, this one is for you my dear friend).

Enjoy Jill's Presentation Here!

Have an awesome weekend and I'll see you on Monday.

Pulling Against the Leash

A note for: peter@thewealthyattitude.com forThursday 9th April 2008

Welcome to Thursday.

We are having such an amazing week here at this desk. Communications with subscribers is wonderful and highly enlightening. Some folks have realized that to gain control of their financial life, they have to be in control of what it is they do to generate finances.

Also, I’m reminded yet again that many North Americans do not really know what it means to struggle. For the most part, many of today’s baby boomers and younger, have never lived in abject fear and poverty. Many of the immigrants who now call this amazing continent home, clearly are aware of what it means to eke out an existence day-to-day, and they set examples everyone could learn from.

I know I get strange reactions when I talk about the upcoming economic corrections ahead of us, as many, many people continue to take the “ostrich” approach to their financial future. But folks, I’m going to continue to drive the point, the J.O.B. world holds absolutely no security, and that home-based entrepreneurship is going to the saving of many people.

Today’s offering proposes something that is worth some of your time.

Pulling Against the Leash

By Joyce Shafer

Ah...to live a dog's life.

While in the park, I saw a young girl walking her miniature dog. Something caught its eye that I couldn't see yet because shrubs blocked my view. The dog would surge forward, barking non-stop at the top of its miniature voice, and the leash would pull it back. I watched this surge/pulled-back action repeat over and over, and thought that life is sometimes like that. Then, I saw what was causing the behavior when a man came around the point with a very large dog on a leash. Whether wise or not, the little dog was fearless in the presence of the bigger dog. That little dog believed in itself. It was 100-percent into its dogness. It was authentic.

We talk about how nice it would be to live a dog's life. We mean that in terms of how dogs have their needs met and are lavished with affection, sleep when they need to, and are always ready to play. If we think about this, we could create a "dog's life" for ourselves. Emphasis on the COULD. And we could note that in our human lives, we aren't always so fearless about taking on challenges, no matter the size. Nor are we always as passionate about them as the little dog was.

Sometimes we surge forward and are pulled back. Are we as willing to aim to gain even a few "inches" if that's what we can do at that moment? The little dog was focused on a target and was willing to continue moving forward until it reached it.

The little dog's target may have been an inappropriate one. I don't know what its expected outcome was, but had the bigger dog been in a bad mood, the outcome might not have been a desired one. And let's not ignore that there was a protective control factor at work here since both people monitored what was going on so they could prevent a negative result.

When we are aware of our connection to the larger consciousness and how we participate with it, know and trust that it operates on our behalf; we see it functions like the people, the caregivers, who held the leashes. When we focus on targets that are inappropriate for us and may actually create negative or unpleasant outcomes, we should appreciate the "fail-safe" that is in place. The little dog was forced to abandon its target because it was on the end of a leash. It did not focus on the inappropriateness of straining to hit a target it shouldn't. We, however, are able to pay attention and recognize that a particular target is not the right one for us. Perhaps, it actually led us to a different target, the one we should aim at.

We can consider and choose, reassess, change our target at will, take aim, and reach it. We may recognize that aspects of a dog's life are ones we'd like to have, and as I said earlier, we COULD create for ourselves; but we also have the option to decide, mindfully, what is truly appropriate for us.

Also, consider how a dog owner must appear to the dog. We probably appear as quite powerful to them. We'd benefit if we thought of ourselves the way our pets do. And another thing we can borrow from a dog is to choose to "wag our tails" in joy and play more often.

A dog is always willing to make the most of every moment.

Life is what we make it.

Sure-Fire Mental Strategies to Fight Stress

A note from: peter@thewealthyattitude.com

Say hello to the midweek point.

My mailbox yesterday contained a few notes from subscribers who were dealing with some quite stressful issues. Most of them had to do with money. And yes my American friends, the “R” word is now in everyday conversation.

I have long been an advocate of every single “salaried” having a home-based business. Apart from the obvious tax incentives, having a community of like-minded folks to work and play with helps incredibly with taking the typical “stresses” away from the day.

North Americans are in for an economic bumpy ride, (and no Mike Y, it’s not my opinion) and many should be setting their sail in a whole new direction.

Today’s offering by Karla Brandau will help quell the “stressors”.

For our subscribers who want to see another economic option, go check out: www.outstandinghomebusiness.com

Sure-Fire Mental Strategies to Fight Stress
By Karla Brandau

I distinctly remember my first experience with a tiger at the zoo. The tiger was a gorgeous creature. It moved with subtle power. The fur was radiant and I had an urge to cuddle up and stoke that soft coat like I would cuddle and pet our precious family kitten, Mollie.

Then the zookeeper came to feed the tiger and I stood in amazement as it grabbed a 30-pound steak and--without any manners--wolfed it down in two bites.

Satisfied with its meal, the huge feline opened its mouth and roared. The sound was deafening and I took four steps backwards with astonishment to make sure I was well out of harm's way. The strong steel fence separating us suddenly looked frail!

Stress can be as seductive as this tiger at the zoo. There is a very flimsy fence that separates us from the good stress that moves us into action (the fulfilling kind of stress called 'eustress' or urgency) and the bad stress that cripples productivity (that we experience as 'distress'). For instance, when we are seduced by a personal "pity party" - the magnificence of the tiger - we elicit unwarranted sympathy from others while excusing ourselves from taking action. We are figuratively stroking a fierce tiger that has the power to devour us in two bites.

Science has proven that distress affects your body in a myriad of ways from headaches to backaches. So figuratively speaking, the fierce tiger of distress eats at your body. How long has it been since you were still for a moment and "listened" to the tension in your body? Does your body have to ROAR like the tiger to get you to slow down and reduce your distress levels? Or can it whisper to you and have you take action?

Just last week I picked up a book I had not opened for years, The Road Less Traveled by M. Scott Peck. Again I read the first paragraph: "Life is difficult. Once you accept that, it no longer matters." I was inspired to reevaluate my stress levels and stop stroking the stress tiger but rather, strengthen my stress fence.

Your stress fence, or the wall between you and the tigers of life, helps you accept the things you cannot change. This, in turn, helps you find life wonderful, even though it is definitely not perfect.

Five strategies to help you stop stroking the stress tiger are:

1. Understand what you can and cannot control. Taxes, God, the weather, and whether your kid parts his hair on the right side of his head, are things you cannot control. When you stop and realize that you can't control something, this step alone puts you closer to mental health. You can stop banging your head against the wall trying to control events and people performing out of sync with your preferences. Once you accept the fact that you can't control an event or a person, you can take direct action by applying coping skills.

2. Use your power of choice. Your mind is a phenomenal organ: it has the ability to make choices. Once you realize that you have a choice between stress or distress, or that you can see obstacles as opportunities, you have developed the ability to choose healthy alternatives to distress. You can choose to re-label events, see other viewpoints, and let go...

3 Re-label events. Your mind labels everything that happens to you, assigning each event as 'good', 'bad', 'terrible', 'wonderful', etc. If you don't like the stress the assigned label is causing inside of you, use the mental technique of re-labeling. For example, imagine with me that you made a mistake at work, which was then dutifully brought to your attention by a co-worker. Your mind will probably quickly label this as a 'bad' experience. To re-label this event, consciously label it as a 'learning' experience.

4. See other viewpoints. If your car battery dies - a bad thing - you take the attitude of gratitude that it happened at home, not at the grocery store or the edge of a major freeway.

5. Learn to let go. Perhaps the hardest of all the skills discussed here, this may be the most difficult because, to a certain extent, we love our individual pity parties that enable us to feel sorry for ourselves. We wrongly think that no one else in the world has pain like our pain. One easy way to let go is to take a look around, observe someone else experiencing distress, step out of your world and step into theirs, and then help them. It is amazing how much better you will feel.

Karla Brandau, CSP, is an expert in change, leadership and team building in the flat world. She offers keynotes and workshops to move your organization forward. Sign up for her monthly newsletter, From the Desk of Karla Brandau by going to Karla Brandau.com.

Building Momentum

A note from: peter@thewealthyattitude.com for Tuesday 8th April

Welcome to this wonderful Tuesday.

I have to say that I’m celebrating today as I have heard from a whole bunch of people who are venturing into the entrepreneurial world for the first time. The economic conditions that prevail in North America are urging some folks to take complete responsibility for their financial experience.

To best serve this courageous group, today’s offering is a leg up, and for your veteran’s it might be just what you need to see.

Building Momentum

By Michelle Paquette

Congratulations! You've signed the dotted line and you're officially a business owner. Now what? The good news is that you've managed to conquer the initial step of getting started. What typically follows is pondering, "What do I do next?"

There is so much to do and it can feel overwhelming to filter through all of it. It is quite common to feel stuck and paralyzed during this start-up stage. Since you have successfully sought out the right people to help you lay the foundation, the next phase is to develop your business.

Most business owners are eager to get going with their new venture. Excitement permeates the air. Oftentimes, you are telling everyone you know (a great marketing tool, by the way, so stick with spreading the word). You may ask, "If I'm so enthusiastic, why don't I know what to do next?" Think back to your first job. You probably had some training and support from your boss and other colleagues. As a business owner, you may feel alone, since this is your company and you don't have anyone to lean on for support.

The good news is that you have a skill set, which is what led you to start a business in the first place. Building upon your strengths is key to running a successful business. Know what you're good at and outsource what you're not. Trying to do it all isn't always best.

There is a learning curve with starting up and part of the trials and tribulations stems from the growing pains of figuring out what works and doesn't work for your particular business needs. There are, however, some helpful tools that all business owners should consider. To begin, here are a couple of helpful hints:

BALANCE...
By allowing yourself to operate at a slower pace, you avoid the pitfall of burnout, which is experienced by many business owners. Deciding to start your own company perhaps was led by a decision to get out of the rat race of the corporate world, yet you're finding yourself working 60+ hours a week without any downtime. This scenario is quite typical, so you're not alone. Some simple ideas to consider:

1. Take a lunch break. Step away from your desk. Research shows that going out to eat and taking a break helps your flow of productivity. You'll actually help to replenish both your physical and mental well being. As a result, you'll actually become more productive.

2. Instead of squeezing another hour of your day into a business lunchtime meeting, schedule a lunch date with a friend. Balancing your personal and professional life helps your overall productivity, too.

3. Use your lunch break to take a walk, enroll in a yoga class, or go to the gym. Mid-day exercise is a great way to clear the mind, release endorphins and increase energy.

FOCUS...
Now that you've given yourself permission to take a break and rejuvenate, you're probably ready to conquer the world (or, at least the next item on that things to do list). Some simple ideas to consider:

4. Change your perception and direction. Instead of having 10 items to finish in a day, reduce that number in half. You'll realize that you're actually crossing off more, therefore, feeling more motivated to take on the next day and the rest of the week.

5. Re-adjust the instant gratification setting. Instead of immediately responding to e-mails and answering every incoming call, choose to set aside an hour or so during the day to return calls and respond to e-mails.

6. Get some assistance. Paperwork can be a drag for business owners. If you're a small company, you may not have the budget to hire a full-time Administrative Assistant. One option that has become increasingly popular is a Virtual Assistant. Your VA is hired on an hourly basis and can help out with a variety of tasks, including sending out e-mail blasts or data entry. The VA works remotely, so he/she doesn't take up extra office space and the contract is typically on an as needed basis
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With balance and focus, you will be able to reduce burnout and build momentum. Each goal you finish is another stepping stone on the path toward developing your business. Take time to give yourself kudos for your hard work and dedication. It may sound simple enough, but taking stock of where you were helps you gain perspective on where you're headed.

Be mindful that during your first year of business operation, there will be many peaks and valleys, ups and downs. It may feel a bit tumultuous, but if you're aware of what to expect then taking the ride can be quite fulfilling and rewarding.

Michelle Paquette, MA, is the founder/owner of All Ways Consulting in Agoura Hills, CA. She offers life, career and business coaching services and strategies for entrepreneurs and business owners.

Getting the Right Stuff Done

A note from: peter@thewealthyattitude.com

Welcome to a brand spanking new amazing week.

With all of the feedback from Friday’s video offering, it appears that everyone certainly chose “Love”. I’m grateful to all who shared your “choice”. Thank you.

Choosing love over fear is undoubtedly the choice of leaders. Still, many folks get sucked into fear based reactions simply because they have neglected some practices locked into place.

Our friend and regular contributor, Philip Humbert, gets us underway in this new week with some very sage advice.

Getting the Right Stuff Done

By Philip Humbert

A while back the news program, "60 Minutes," did a segment on Americans working "24/7." They showed a couple where the wife has the "bare minimum" of two cell phones, and the husband multi-tasks all day long, talking with several people, working on his computer and exchanging emails, all at once.

Like most people, I want to get more done, and as a coach I love helping my clients achieve more, earn more, and live better. It's all in a day's work, and it's fun! But too often the strategy people use to "get there" is to work more or harder and, unfortunately, it almost never works. How can such an ineffective strategy be so seductive? Why do we live this way?

Whatever happened to the vision of "leisure time?" Whatever happened to the day when "labor saving devices" would do our work for us? What in the world happened?!

Far too many of us consider a 60, 70, or even 80 hour work week to be the expected standard. Whatever happened to the 40-hour week our parents and grandparents fought for? Read the statistics. Most of us are sleep-deprived. Most of us are in debt. Most of us have high blood pressure, headaches, ulcers or other stress-related discomfort. Diabetes, associated with life-style choices, is becoming epidemic. How did this happen?

How can we change it?

There are no easy answers. We value the income that we think will only come with hard work, long days, and busy lives. That's such a tempting path! But, I think we can manage our lives much better, and some steps in that direction are actually easy and fun. Here are a few suggestions:

1. Learn to say no. Too often we think we "must" explore every invitation or opportunity that comes our way, and that's a mistake. We get endless invitations! You can stay out all night, work all day, travel, do good and important things every hour of the day. But is that how you really want to live your life? Learn to say no, even to good and wonderful things.

2. Spend less than you make. Remember the old saying, "time is money?" It works the other way around, too. If you spend less, you'll immediately be less busy and less stressed. When money is not a "problem," time management gets easier, too.

3. Live your values. Every day, review the things that are vital to you. Re-write your vision or purpose statement, talk it over with your spouse, make a recording describing the life you truly want (NOT just the stuff you'd like to own!), then listen to it every morning.

4. Have a plan. Every morning review your schedule, make a list, write stuff down. Then cross off a few items. They aren't that important, you won't get them done anyway, and you'll have more fun. Be honest. Plan wisely. Do the things you want to do, with very few "have to's." Life's better that way.

5. Have more fun. Meditate or dance every day. Laugh out loud. Leave love notes or send a text message to your kids. Be sure to hug and kiss and tease and play with the people you love. It'll remind you what you're working for.

6. Use time management. Practice "single handling." Work standing up. Put time limits on meetings, calls and activities. Close your office door so you can concentrate. At least twice a year read a book or take a seminar to remind yourself of the life you want. Get very, very GOOD at this!

This is your life. Don't blow it!

It's been said that time is the only resource any of us truly has, and once it's gone, it's gone forever. Work as hard and as much as you choose, then quit! Work can be rewarding and delightful, but don't let it be an addiction.

Earning money, building our businesses and "getting ahead" are things we DO, not something we ARE.

Remember the distinction.