Entrepreneurship - the Failure Myth

A life spent making mistakes is not only more honourable, but more useful, than a life spent doing nothing.
George Bernard Shaw

According to Global Entrepreneurial Monitor (GEM) fear of failure is the top reason given in Ireland and worldwide by aspiring entrepreneurs for not starting their own businesses.

NESTA - the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts and the UK’s largest early stage investor in innovative and creative businesses – found that almost three quarters of people who said they had what they believed was a good business idea were not acting on it because they were afraid of not succeeding.

Ironically on further examination it is obvious that all would-be entrepreneurs are being paralyzed by something that doesn’t exist.
That’s right. Failure is a myth!

Entrepreneurial Development – Failure brings you Closer to Success!

Thomas Edison, inventor of the light bulb famously said “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”

It took James Dyson, the engineer who reinvented the vacuum cleaner, four and a half years and 5,127 prototypes to refine his design.

“Each failure taught me so much,” he said. “Success teaches you nothing. Failures teach you everything. Making mistakes is the most important thing you can do.”

In an interview with Time Magazine, Larry Page, inventor of Google, said, “Invariably we try ten things that don’t quite work out in order to do one thing that is successful. And we learn a lot in doing the ten things that didn’t quite work.”

Thus every failure brings you a step closer to success and moves you further down the path of entrepreneurship.

Ironically by embracing this truism you mastered your first two major challenges in life – walking and talking.

Remember: As a child, ‘Never say die’, ‘Have no fear’, ‘Try and try again’, ‘Enjoy the moment’, were your working metaphors.

You fixed your eye on the goal, took your first step – wobbled a bit – steadied yourself. Then another step. Then landed on your backside!

What happens then? Did you give up? Did you say to yourself ‘I tried my best and I can’t do it. It hurts. I’m never doing that again!’? Did your ego kick in and start whispering ‘you’re making a fool of yourself. They’re all laughing at you! Better quit while you are ahead.’?

No indeed, as each one of us is born with an innate desire to reach our full potential, so you got up and tried again ultimately succeeding.

Model off your childlike strategies in the future and master the art of entrepreneurship.

About Kevin Kelly

Described as the "coach behind Ireland's Celtic Tiger," Kevin Kelly is one of Europe's and Asia’s leading authorities on motivation, entrepreneurship, leadership, communication, and personal excellence.

...more about Kevin Kelly

Copyright

© Copyright 2008, Kevin Kelly Unlimited. All rights reserved.


This Article is Copyright protected. Republishing & syndication of this article is granted only with permission and due credit, as mentioned, retained in the republished article. Permission to reprint or republish does not waive any copyright. The text, hyperlinks embedded on the article and headers should remain unaltered. This article must not be used in unsolicited mail.

Entrepreneurs go for gut

As they journey on the path of entrepreneurship, many successful businesspeople would identify their intuition or gut instincts as their compass and mentor. Without it, they wouldn’t have achieved the “unachievable.”

“Don’t let the noise of other people drown out your inner voice. And most importantly, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become,” advises Steve Jobs, Apple Computer CEO

So what is intuition or gut? For some it is a feeling in their stomach, for others, a compelling vision, and for more its an inner voice; all of which are promoting with conviction, a course of action.

It works best when there is no emotional connection to its finding.

Follow your Gut – Be an Entrepreneur!

Nurturing your intuition allows you to connect with intelligence far greater than what’s available through your conscious mind. Disregarding it is the equivalent of cutting off your blood supply i.e. cutting off life’s messages in the context of truly reaching your potential in life.
In 1996 with a poor academic record in English, no background in writing and told I would not succeed by two award winning journalists ( not best selling authors), I decided to honour my intuition and commit to writing a Best Selling Book. Similar to many potential entrepreneurs it felt right to follow my gut but it didn’t make much sense and I didn’t have the know how. A few years later, I had sold approximately 15,000 copies.

Recently while reflecting on my time as a marketing consultant, I realised that very few projects whose market feasibility I had to check got the green light. I always found enough reasons why the business shouldn’t start. If I had applied the same level of analysis to the feasibility of the book, I wouldn’t have pursued this avenue either.

In the context of entrepreneurship, too often people disregard their gut in favour of the “practical, left brained approach” more often than not to the detriment of their project.

I now know that there isn’t a dream in the world that you and I couldn’t conjure up enough reasons why we shouldn’t proceed with it. Knowledge always gives you enough reasons not to act which is why I advise at all times to honour your gut in the knowledge that you will always end up in a place you describe and recognize as better than your starting point.

Oftentimes people don’t choose to go for gut because quite simply it doesn’t come with a pension plan. In the context of you reaching your potential and achieving meaning and significance, pain/discomfort will be part of the package. However this is nothing compared to the pleasure you will have at living and working in your own dream business.

Enjoy the trip.

“The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honours the servant and has forgotten the gift.” Einstein


About Kevin Kelly

Described as the "coach behind Ireland's Celtic Tiger," Kevin Kelly is one of Europe's and Asia’s leading authorities on motivation, entrepreneurship, leadership, communication, and personal excellence.

...more about Kevin Kelly

Copyright

© Copyright 2007, Kevin Kelly Unlimited. All rights reserved.


This Article is Copyright protected. Republishing & syndication of this article is granted only with permission and due credit, as mentioned, retained in the republished article. Permission to reprint or republish does not waive any copyright. The text, hyperlinks embedded on the article and headers should remain unaltered. This article must not be used in unsolicited mail.

Why Do We Quit?

I’ve been in my own business for over 2 years. I’m in the business of helping ours. I show them an alternative store to purchase their items. They are less expensive and you receive a check for referring others. It’s a very simple concept. Sometimes so simple it’s hard to understand.

I’ve helped many switch stores and refer others. I give them every advantage possible. I give one-on-one training. I give them all the information I’ve acquired since I started so they may pass the word around. They receive a free website with free marketing training. They have an entire team to help them succeed. That’s the point….for everyone to succeed and make money.

I realize life does get in the way. Things pop up that we have no control. That’s just life. I’ve been able to work around every life situation. That’s why I love this business. It’s very flexible and easy.

Here are the 5 top reasons I think people quit before they even start:

1. They don’t know what to do next…..
2. It is actual work….
3. We have to talk to people…
4. Our friends and family have talked us out of it…..
5. I signed up and no one was there to help……

Here are the answers to those reasons:

1. They don’t know what to do next, so they just sit there. You need to step up and ask what is next. We have a training manual ready and waiting giving you step by step instructions. It’s very simple.

2. Yes, you need to work to make your business succeed. Everything in life is work. Nothing is for free. It’s really simple to make money. You just talk and show others the difference. Easy, right?

3. Yes, we do have to talk to people. It’s just like the commercials on tv. If you don’t know it’s out there how are you supposed to buy it, do it or work it? You are just talking to others, just like you would recommend a good book or restaurant.

4. Friends and family. Boy, they know everything and they have your best interests at heart, right? That’s partly true. When I started my family didn’t give me the support I needed. I got more accusations that it was a scam and it wouldn’t work. I set out to prove them wrong. Now over 2 years later, I’m still here and I’m still making money.

5. I’ve heard people say it didn’t work because when they signed up the person disappeared. I’m not like that. I email, call and set times to get together. Our team sends out a team email everyday to keep everyone in the loop. You have to do your part too. You need to show up to our appointments.

Let me ask you….who do you think will succeed in business out of these 4 people:
- 2 have cancelled without even trying.
- 1 is ready to cancel and has not show up to any of the appointments.
- The last one has been at every team call, talked to others and has taken every step described in the training manual to get her business off the ground.

Which one did you pick? The last one! Correct!!

I admit it, I’ve thought about turning in the towel when life got in the way. But I know I will not get to where I want to be if I quit. I want to succeed in my business. So I’ve stayed, worked harder and I have a great business to show for it.

My question to you is. If you are looking for a home business and you receive one-on-one training, free website, step by step training manual, team training calls, fantastic products everyone uses that are much safer for us and our environment, how could you fail?

I’d like you to read my next article called “How do you pronounce that?”

Making The Most Of Now

“You must live in the present, launch yourself on every wave, find your eternity in each moment. Fools stand on their island of opportunities and look toward another land. There is no other land; there is no other life but this.” --Henry David Thoreau (1817-62) American writer, author, naturalist

How do you actually spend your days? Are you focused and committed to everything you do? If you are, that’s wonderful! But if that’s not you, does this ring a bell? Are you spending a lot of your day thinking about what has happened to you up to this moment? Or are you waiting for something to happen, for the right opportunity to come along, to get some more time, make some more money, meet the right person? Are you dreaming of what might happen next week, next month, next year? STOP!

Each day you are given is a gift. It is time to value every moment. We all have 24 hours a day. No more. No less. The clock is ticking and there will be no second chance. You cannot get time back once it has gone. What do you choose to do with your 24 hours? Are you letting life just happen? Decide to take control. Stop rushing. Savour every moment as it happens. Take note of everything around you. Be in the moment as it happens. Listen to the sounds, observe other people, see the buds on the trees and shrubs, the spring flowers peeping out through the snow. Don’t miss what is happening now in your world.

Act as though this day was your last. What message would you like to leave? Treat everyone you meet with care, kindness and understanding. Communicate clearly. Make every encounter with another person important. Give them respect, admiration and courtesy and you will attract the same. Do what you are doing to the best of your ability. Make only commitments you can deliver. Trust yourself to say and do the right thing. Choose to be excellent in all that you do. Be more, do more, demand and expect more from yourself. Focus on what needs to be done now, on results. Prioritize your time – don’t waste it. See every challenge or problem is a chance to grow.

Live your life on purpose, not by accident. The past – it’s over with and should be nothing but a fading memory. The future – it simply hasn’t happened yet and things you do today, now, are likely to have an impact on that future. Don’t compare your present situation to anything else – accept it for what it is and make the most of it – or decide to take action now if it is not the present you want. Acknowledge that nothing will improve unless you do something about it. Be happy. Don’t wait for events or other people to make you happy. Have some fun! Start enjoying your life – now, today. Start doing things you enjoy or try something different. Keep your sense of humour, your sense of fun. Think ‘This is my day of opportunity!’ – every day! Seize and enjoy every moment. Every morning is a fresh beginning. What are you waiting for?

Keeping A Journal Can Change Your Life!

"Keeping a journal will absolutely change your life in ways you've never imagined." - Oprah Winfrey

Why is it so important to keep a journal?

Here are just a few of the benefits a personal journal will provide you:

* A journal will remind you of your goals and the actions you are taking towards them every day. You are writing down your goals?

* It allows you to factually track your progress as you head closer towards your goals. Here is an example. Suppose you had set a new goal to lose 20 lbs in the next 3 months. Record your weight in your journal each day, you will now be able to see trends in your weight loss that you would not have seen without the journal.

* It provides detailed information such as dietary changes, calorie reductions, fat reduction, and so on.

* It helps build your self-esteem because you are reaffirming the positive benefits you are achieving as you get closer to your goals.

* It helps to paint the picture every day of who you are becoming.

* When you see positive results as they happen, you will become energized with optimism.

Here are a couple of simple journal tips:

Keep a simple, short log, it's easy, and it usually only takes 1 minute of your time. Each day, make short entries into your journal, list such things as your attitude, emotions, diet, weight, responses to situations and conditions in your life.

For example, if having a healthy heart is one of your goals, you will want to keep track of your cholesterol levels, your blood pressure, your weight. (Obviously, all of this data would not be recorded daily, but some entry would be recorded each day)

Try this simple little exercise. Get out a note pad or a sheet of paper and a pencil. Look at your watch. When the second hand hits 12, start timing yourself as you write down the following information:

Fri.- Felt great all day. Weight 135 pounds. Walked briskly for 20 minutes. Had healthy almonds and
nuts for snacks.

More then likely, you completed writing down the information in approximately 1 minute. Yet, in that 1 minute, you created an important snapshot of important data in your life. You now have historical data you can refer to as time goes by, to help you track your progress as you move towards your life goals.

I know how well this works. For the past 6 years, I have kept a simple, yet informative log of every day of my life. I can tell you exactly how I felt on Wed., July 25,2000, or any day since. I can look back and see how I reacted to issues in my life and what helped me overcome an illness, injury or stressful period in my life.

It generally takes me less then two minutes to record the log forany day. It is a habit that has become a part of my life; it is now second nature for me. If you have a computer, I recommend typing just three to four lines of descriptive text into a word processing program each day.

Facing adversity

Is there any person on this earth who has not faced adversity? Life can be good, but adversities are also part of life. How does one face them with equanimity? It is difficult if the extent of adversity is very high. But one has to live through adversities and come back in life to succeed again. A sudden accident can make one lose limbs. A man who makes his living with his hands, will surely feel very bad and devastated if he loses his working hand. How about the effect of the announcement by the doctor that your child has cancer? Can parents take this news calmly? They will most probably faint when they hear it first. Some adversities are such that they shatter lives forever. But strong will and faith can help one face and conquer many adversities. Who has not heard of Helen Keller? Her blindness and deafness could not shatter her indomitable spirit. There are many instances of such people. I had corresponded with families of cancer stricken children. The pain that I saw was enough to shake the bravest heart. I remember a small kid girl, who developed second degree burns as a reaction to her Chemotherapy. Her mother had a guest book and the notes on that site could make anyone weep. The pain that the child was undergoing was tremendous. But the photographs of a capped child smiling and laughing in the laps of her father were heart warming. Somewhere the spirit was alive in the family to fight it out cheerfully. I also remember my conversations with a blind man of 70 years of age. He was secretary of one of the blind help groups. For sometime, during my talk, I realized that something strange was happening. Then suddenly it stuck me that this gentleman was using words such as Oh, I see, etc. without giving a pause. I was amazed with this talk. I knew that he had been a blind man for more than 40 years. I somehow gathered strength and asked him about usage of such words. He told me casually that there was nothing great about that. He could read and write and even type as well as any normal person. Though he had Braille. And he could see the faces with his touch. He had no regrets about his blindness. He had taken it as a fact of life and there was no feeling of having been dealt bad cards by the fate. Such people make us feel that adversities come to strengthen us. They test us. It is surely very tough to overcome them, but a strong will and faith in oneself and one's God can give enough strength to overcome them. Let us look at the life as a moving vehicle. As we move, we pass many scenes. Some good and some dirty. But we sit though the journey peacefully and reach our destination. We mostly remain unmoved because - we are not directly pained by the scenes outside and our focus is more on reaching the destination. In any adversity, at least the second part can be applied. Come what may, our object should be to create a good life and live as an example for others. That should be our destination and that should be our motivation.

I Am Woman, Hear Me Set Off The Airport Security Metal Detector

Copyright 2006 Mary Foley As I write this I'm sitting in Dulles International Airport waiting for a flight that departs so early it should be illegal. At least it's a cheap ticket. And even though I've only had three hours of sleep I was amused when the security guard surprisingly said "No beep?!" after I walked through the metal detector. Kinda sounded like an airport security pick-up line. This time I got off lucky with no additional wand scan or bag check. That's not always the case, and when I'm "wanded" there's always one article of clothing that sets off the monitor and declares "I am woman!" - my underwire bra. Increased airport security has stirred some of my female friends to take action. One gal pal is purposely buying a bra without underwire. Another is ready to offer her design ideas to Victoria's Secret for another type of Miracle Bra - one without metal hooks. For some women it's a practical matter of getting through security as fast as possible. But, for others it's a matter of not being embarrassed by drawing attention to the fact that they have breasts, breasts that often need help to stay put and to postpone the effects of gravity. Bras are considered a necessary item for women, at least for the last 100 years or so. And remember, good girls demonstrate modesty; they would never NOT wear a bra! Actually, I don't think it's really about modesty, particularly since I'm no longer 13. I think it's about being embarrassed that you're a woman, that you've got body parts that are attractive to about 50% of the population, and that it's your fault you can't better manage those parts so you're not setting off metal detectors. Follow that line of thinking and pretty soon you feel bad for taking up space, ta-tas and all. This is one time I'm glad the term bodacious is sometimes associated with ta-tas. Bodacious Women know they have breasts and aren't ashamed. They may wear form-fitting clothing or they may not. They may feel sexy some days because of their breasts or they may find them inconvenient protrusions. No matter the choice, their attitude is the same: no apologies for being a woman. Growing up a tomboy, I had an adversarial relationship with my chest. Basically, I didn't want one. Breasts didn't help with sports and they made it all too clear to the world that I would no longer be mistaken as Daddy's "little fella." The last ten years I've grown to like the fact that I'm female and that includes breasts. I also don’t take them for granted as I know there's a one in four chance of losing one or both to breast cancer. So, while I have them I'll wear the bra of my choice, or none at all. Hmmm…perhaps that's what was behind the security guard's remarks. Well, for him it will remain a mystery. For me, I'm glad to be a woman knowing I have bra-related and other choices. And, that's bodacious!

Your MIND and Its SUPER-Powers Hidden Within

The human mind is an Infinite wonder.

It has the power to transmute your Inner desires into their physical counterparts once focused.

What the mind can conceive, You can achieve, just as long as you have the inner Belief and Will Power to back it.

For example, take the case of where cancer patients were given 'Placebo Pills'.

These pills were just plain old pills that have absolutely NO healing capabilities what-so-ever.

So what, how did they get well?

The healing power came from their thoughts.

They were told that these pills contained the highest amounts of cancer-fighting ingredients which can effectively cure them in just a matter of months.

So the point here is, they naturally assumed in their mind that if they took this pill it would make them better and that their health will be restored.

Do you see how powerful your mind can be?

They simply registered it in their minds that these pills would cure them of their illnesses and in the process, the belief embedded within their subconscious mind became a reality.

This is just one example of the SUPER-Powers hidden within your mind.

So... now that I have your attention your probably asking yourself this question, "How can I use my mind to achieve my dreams?

Well, one of the most effective ways is to use the "as if" principle.

And what I mean by that is, act "as if" YOU are the person you want to be.

Act "as if" You are already possess whatever it is you have longed for.

Simply put, Think, Act and Feel like you've already accomplished what you have dreamed about all your life.

This principle is a very Powerful principle if you simply believe.

And you'll be much closer to your goal if you're constantly intact with your objective(s).

It's okay to be obsessed with your dreams.

It doesn't mean that if you want to be Superman you'll be able to fly out of a window and into outer space.

That would be Crazy!

I'm simply saying, "Do what needs to be done".

Take ACTION on your dreams.

Let your visions Encourage and Motivate you.

The problem with people in todays world is that they are too pre-occupied with Worries, Anxieties and Negative Emotions.

As a result of this, people are adversely affecting their state of health.

White lies unfortunately have become prevalent nowadays in order to ease the burdens or to persuade others to do things that they thought are unattainable.

A famous person once said, "Whenever you think you can or you can't, you're right!"

If you think you are poor, then you are; unless you properly condition your thoughts to a 'Positive Mindset'.

I know it's hard to think "Rich" if your environment is not conducive to such way of thinking.

Use your imagination and 'Visualize' in your head that your house is a mansion and your old car is a Porsche,...

Well, I think you get the picture.

There is absolutely NO limit to what the mind can achieve but You have to combine Belief, Will Power, and ACTION with positive thinking in order to achieve your inner desires.

The Wisdom of Uncertainty

There is really only one certainty in life. Life is uncertain. We often live as though nothing will change, but it does. This continuous battle between wanting things to stay the same and finding that nothing does stay the same creates something inside us. This creation of constant change is a movement, a force of nature, and a guiding path.

This movement within us and outside us is the spirit of living, of which, we all take part in. None of us can predict the future. This creates uncertainty on the human level, yet we all learn to trust and even welcome change in the deepest part of who we are. No one is perfect, we wake up each day with the opportunity to create something different in every moment.

When we come to expect the unexpected, we are beginning to trust in a wisdom greater than knowledge to lead us through each day. Religious communities call this the path of God, science calls this higher consciousness, but for our purposes - let's call this the path we were meant to follow with certainty in uncertainty.

To move toward something we cannot see creates uneasiness. This part of us is our human nature. Our human nature wants things in life to be predictable. At the same time, there are things in human existence that we are also glad to leave behind and in the past.

Have you ever noticed how the heart and the mind feel like they are being pulled forward by a magnetic force when we follow what we cannot see or feel? It is as though our whole body/self is being drawn into an experience. This pathless path is one we all take each day and each moment.

Wonder what would happen if you were to live for these moments and find joy in them? I suspect you would find yourself becoming more and more living in the state of anticipated joy. This does not mean that nothing in the future will be sad, but you can begin to accept each moment with anticipated joy in knowing that the awareness of this anticipated joy will fill you. It will be the filling of your body with the joy of living. The joy of living fully in soul. And, the uncertainty of the future will be met with joyful trust that all will be known when the time is right for us to know.

Such a journey was known to us as a child. Do you remember laying on the ground and finding yourself breathing in the aroma of the ground and grass? As an adult, I suspect you don't have such clarity with your senses. Let us never forget that child inside us that knew how to play all day and never tire. Our creativity was endless and filled with anticipated joy in knowing that what was about to be created next would be fun.

Samuel Oliver, author of, "What the Dying Teach Us: Lessons on Living"

Thoughts On Thinking

Thinking. What does thinking mean? It means reflecting upon and analyzing the different aspects of a situation or a condition or any issue. This needs time. How many of us think? Why should we think? What are the issues about which we should think? If you are a medical professional, do you need to think about politics? If you are a computer professional, do you need to think
about stars? If you are a housewife, do you need to think about the petroleum prices around the world?

Our thinking

What should be our areas of thinking? Do not many of us waste time by thinking about issues that don't touch their life at all? We are all given limited time during a day. We only have 24 hours and we have to manage time in such a way that we get maximum results that help us. Getting results in areas that don't help us, are of no use. Same applies to thinking. The
question- what should I think about needs an answer to - What are my priorities in my life. If this year, my priority is to get a promotion then I need to think about the ways I can get it. If this year, my child is getting into a college, my priority is to know more about college life and think of ways to make him more comfortable in the college and help him get better results. Everyday, we know about our priorities and we have to direct thinking towards that. For example, you may love thinking about astronomy. But if your spouse is in the hospital fighting a bad disease, your priority is to learn more about that disease and think of ways to make your spouse recover faster.

Breaking old patterns

Many of us have developed patterns of thinking and we don't get away from these patterns even when required. This is wrong. We have to think about what we should think. That is our first job. And to know about that, we have to have life goals, divide them in small time frames and achieve them one after another. Our thinking has to help us doing that.

What should we think about?

Thinking about issues that lead to a happier life for us and help us achieve our goals is the correct way of thinking and investing time in that. To invest time thinking about poverty in the world, if we are ourselves running short of money will not help anyone. But if we think about the ways we can make more money, that will help us surely.

Give some thoughts on where you should apply your thinking towards, and be successful in what you do.

Life Advice: A Lost Friend Speaks

When my friend sensed that in a few weeks the light of life was about to be extinguished, and that there was no more hope for him, he called me to his side and said, "If only I had lived my life differently, I might not have felt such an emptiness now. Promise me," he caught my hand, "Promise me that you won't make the same mistake." And when I asked him what mistakes, he asked me to get a pen and paper and to jot down his last words. Here they are in condensed form:

1) Talk less; listen more.

2) Listen to your grandfather's stories about his youth. When he's gone, you will relive the bond through these memories.

3) Invite friend over for a snack or dinner even if the house is a mess.

4) Eat popcorn in the living room even though its messy.

5) Invite the friends who have children home. Don't worry about their children creating a mess.

6) Sit on the grass even though it dirties your pants.

7) Never buy something just because it lasts for a long time or because it is practical.

8) Stay in bed and at home when sick and stop pretending that the world cannot go one without me for a day.

9) Light up the wonderfully crafted candles and let them burn out. Better this than they accumulate dust in the closet.

10) Share life's responsibilities with a partner, not only expenses.

11) (Meant for Women) Instead of waiting for the pregnancy to get over, cherish each moment in your heart. Understand that the life in you is the only chance you will get to help god create magic.

12) Let your children hug and kiss you whenever they wish to. Don't stop them by saying things like: later, go wash your hands first, we have to eat dinner.

13) Say the following two phrases as often as possible: "I love you" and "I am sorry."

14) Stop worrying about who loves or and who doesn't or about what others have or don't have.

15) Cherish all personal human relations.

16) Play with a pet every day. Laugh and run with it and take part in all its antics.

17) Spend more time with the people who love you.

18) Stop sweating because of all the small details and problems of life.

19) Grab every moment, look at it and live it. That moment will never return again.

Her name was Susan, and she had one six year old daughter. Susan taught me these few basic ideals that I have tried to follow in honour of her memory. It has made me a better man, a much nicer husband and in general, a happier person. Even now I can hear her say that God has blessed each and every one of us, and that we should accept these blessings and strive to become stronger both physically, mentally and also emotionally. I will always remember what she said to me the last time we met: "Jack, you are lucky. Don't blow it."

Today is an Opportunity, Hear the Knocking

Copyright 2006 Marshall House

Opportunity is knocking. Opportunity is knocking all the time. All the time. Listen.

Sometimes you may not hear the knocking. Or you may hear, see, or sense it and then ignore or discount it. You may, for example, be preoccupied with the absence of the opportunity you desire. You may think that you are giving your attention to the opportunity you desire, but if you are complaining or feeling sad that it is not present, then you are focused on its absence. Preoccupation with absence, allows absence to expand. Preoccupation with the absence of your heart's desires can be very disempowering.

Desires are an essential part of life. In fact, without desires there is no life. Desires lead you to opportunity and/or help opportunity to find you. When you hold a space for whatever you desire to experience in your life, you invite in the opportunity with your readiness and eagerness. It is helpful that you identify what is an opportunity for you. Remember, what is an opportunity for someone else may not be an opportunity for you. Your own personal empowerment is entirely in your hands.

The more confident and hopeful you are, the more likely you will be able to listen for and hear the knocking of opportunity. Finding ways to be more hopeful about any aspect of life can make you more ready to let in new opportunities.

You might consider preparing yourself and your space in the same way you would prepare your physical space for an honored guest. You can clean your living space and clear your thinking so that you can feel good about opportunity’s presence. If you want to hear the opportunity when it knocks, fine-tune your hearing and other senses. The very best way to recognize the opportunity is to be happy. Happiness is the key to resonating with the opportunity that you have defined as one of your heart's desires.

So, consider, what opportunity are you ready for in your life? Do you know? Is it joy? Is it Peace? Is it Abundance? Is it Friendship? Is it Celebration? Is it livelihood? Is it all of the above? There's no need to limit yourself. Listen for the knocking of opportunity.

Invite in the Peace and Joy and Friendship and anything else you want to experience. Be specific or be general. Be clear about the essence of what you desire, relax, and let it in. Listen, open and receive.

Today is an opportunity. In my view, each moment, each situation, each second, is an opportunity. Listen for the knocking of opportunity.

Teamwork and Jigsaw puzzles

All of us talk of team work. Sports thrive on teams. Every business wants to develop winning teams. Every president or prime minister brings his own team. What is there in teams? A team is needed because a lone person can not handle all the work. So one gathers different experts, creates a team, sits back and hopes that the team will bring in great results in a short time. But many times, the team proves to be a dismal failure. Why?

Let us talk of human psychology for a moment. Ego, that is the first to kill the team spirit. Why should I work under him/her? Why should I give in and accept what you say. What I say is correct and all of you are out of your senses! Ego. This is the first danger in a good team. You must have played with jigsaw puzzles. Unless, every piece fits in, you will never get the whole picture.

Whether the piece is small or big, whether it looks good or bad, it has its place in the picture and you must fit that ugly looking small piece to get the picture right. Are you getting it? One of the team members may be the sharpest and smartest person going around, but unless he/she gets support from other members for whom he/she has no respect, the team will not achieve results. Respect for individuals is the most essential part of a good team. Trying to take care of each other's weaknesses and complementing them with your strengths will bring a balance. Appreciating the smallest achievement and ignoring mistakes will make team happy gathering.

But the first need for a good team is to work towards a common goal. The goal that excites ever member. A goal that everyone wants to achieve. A goal that fires their imagination and a goal that can make them ignore the hardship of work. Goals that will make all of them feel great, when achieved. Goals are the first and the most essential part of a team's success. If a team is not motivated to achieve a goal, that team will fail.

A very good method is to send few motivational ecards to fire the imagination and make a person, a great team leader and member.

Self-Improvement - Something For Everyone (Part 2)

Just about everyone in the world can think of something they want to improve about themselves. With some people they may want to achieve more than one improvement. The best way to approach this is to make a list of what is most important to you. It could be something as simple as reading a book to help you improve the work you do or making time for yourself to indulge in reading of your favorite pastime. Once you commit your deepest desires about improving yourself to paper, it seems more attainable.

Start off with a plan. This means setting a goal for yourself. If you wish, you can even set a time limit, such as "I want to be able to walk five km. a day at the end of the summer." When you start out knowing what it is you want to achieve, then it makes it easier on you to get what you want. There is no point in trying to do everything at once. If you take small steps and reach stages in your self-improvement process in increments, it makes the end result more worthwhile. If you could do it all at once, then it would be too easy and you won't have the same sense of accomplishment as if it were something that you had to work really hard to get.

In some cases, the type of improvement that you want will necessitate spending money. If you want to become more confident at public speaking, for example, you may have to take classes in this. If you admire a friend of yours that can sew or paint really well and you would like to do this as well, there are many opportunities to take classes at night or on weekends. One thing that you do have to keep in mind is the amount of talent that you have for such a project. It is also something in which you have an interest. If you don't like it, then you won't master it.

Of course, self-improvement always involves health, whether it is health of the body or health of the mind. Once you achieve what you set out to do, it improves all of you - your body, mind and soul.

Personal Development Is Where Success Starts - Ask Anyone Who Has It!

Are you living the life you envisioned for yourself when you were a kid? When did you give up on your dreams and decide that you would settle for an average lifestyle? There is a better way out there.

If you ask around, many people will tell you that they're willing to pay the price, that they will do whatever it takes to live a lifestyle of absolute freedom and abundance. Well then why is less than 3% of the poplulation wealthy? It is because there's a huge gap between knowing what to do and actually doing it. That's where many people drop off. For whatever reason, whether they don't believe they could really achieve wealth, or whether they were told that money doesn't grow on trees, or whether they just don't think they deserve a ridiculous lifestyle, people hold onto beliefs that are detrimental to their growth and that hold them back an entire lifetime.

What if i told you about a personal development program that is truly worth it's weight in gold. This course will allow you to shed whatever limiting beliefs you may or may not know you have that have been keeping you back from your full potential. If you're not completely satisfied with the life you've created for yourself, why are you going to live the rest of your life just settling and going through the day-to-day motions?

If you desire different results, you require to start thinking and doing things differently. Why do you believe it is that some people get whatever their heart desires while others choose to struggle? The secrets are in this personal development course and these secrets can truly set you free.

www.millionairemindsets.com

Self-Improvement - Something For Everyone (Part 1)

Self-improvement is something that every person in the world yearns for. It has nothing to do with where you live, your age, occupation or your income. Yes, it is true that many people spend a small fortune each year on trying to improve themselves by hiring life coaches and personal trainers. However, there are many ways you can indulge in self-improvement without going to any extra expense.

Let's take for example, the woman who finds herself gaining a little too much weight. For her, self-improvement is shedding the extra pounds and fitting back into her clothes. She can start by cutting back on the high-calorie food she eats and incorporate a walk into her daily activities. If she doesn't want to spend extra money, then she doesn't have to join a fitness club or a program to help her lose weight, but the option is there if she wants to take it. This applies to anyone that wants to take some action directed toward improving some aspect of his/her life.

Self-improvement can involve anything that you feel will make you feel better about your life. It could be taking a course that would lead to a hobby, if you feel bored during your leisure time. Even taking a trip to a faraway place can be a method of self-improvement because it gives you a chance to see another part of the world, learn about another culture and get some rest and relaxation at the same time.

Self-improvement is such a broad topic that it would take pages to write about all the ways you can learn from it. No matter what form of improvement you choose for your life, it will help to increase your self-image and your confidence. Just knowing that you look good with the weight you've lost adds something to the way you walk. Having someone compliment you on something that you have made or built as a result of a new hobby will fill you with pride. So how do you get to figure how what it is about your life that needs improving?

How Bodacious Women Get Unstuck and Make a Decision

Copyright 2006 Mary Foley

When it comes to making a decision, sometimes we get so wrapped around the axel we’re paralyzed and can’t move forward. You become captive to your fears. Being in this place is no party! At one point in my AOL career, I was debating whether or not to ask my manager for what I wanted: To go part-time. I had recently been accepted to grad school and I quickly determined that continuing to do 60-hour weeks at AOL along with grad school while finalizing my divorce was too much.

I didn’t want to leave AOL altogether, but part-time was an oxymoron at that place! And anyways, we didn’t have a part-time position in my group. Once I voiced my request I wondered if “the powers that be” would think I was pulling back and decide I should leave, like now. I was stuck and afraid. What to do? What to do? What to do?

I was stuck in this quandary. Then a way to get unstuck came to me. You see, Bodacious Women have the courage to figure out what to do in uncomfortable situations. You can use it, too, for those sticky, stucky moments. Here it is:

1. Imagine the worst-case scenario of the decision you’re trying to make or the risk you want to take.

Sit down, tell it to a friend or someone you trust, and paint the complete picture with all the events, people, and especially your feelings. From your cozy chair, experience as much as possible what the worst case would feel like.

2. Ask yourself what you would do if this worse case happened.

What would you do? What would you say? To whom? How might they react? How would you react? If you can answer these kind of questions with some degree of confidence, then you can handle it. It may not be fun, it may not be pretty, but you can handle it. Likely, you’ve handled something at least as intense before. Remember?

3. Ask yourself the likelihood of the worst case happening.

Most of the time, we paint the most horrible picture, and then it doesn’t materialize. It’s a great monument to our imagination. Perhaps more of us should write movie screenplays. So, something between Terrific! and Ugh! is probably reality. Hey, good news! You’ve already determined you can handle that, too. Piece of cake. Make a decision and go for it!

Need A Boost In The Self Improvement Area?

Choosing the right personal development program is going to change your life. If you are ready to take a step in the right direction and make a positive change then you need to start looking into some good self improvement courses. Actually, there are several proven strategies that can be used to help us be successful in our efforts to improve an aspect of our lifestyle.

You can learn everything that you need to know about being all that you can be with a good personal development program. This will teach you how to be a mature and whole person. It is amazing how many of us do not know how to function at our ultimate potential level. We are not taught in school how to really get by in life well. We all deserve to be happy and only a personal development program is going to teach us how to do it.

These kinds of programs will help you to maximize your potential at work and at home. If you are not where you want to be in your career, no matter what that career may be, you need to start progressing. It is common to feel stuck in a rut but you don’t have to be. You can do more with your life all you need is a little push and that is what a personal development program will give you.

Your home life can run smoothly and happily if you know how to keep things on track. Everyone has problems and we could all use a little help dealing with them. If you are not the best person when it comes to your temper, or if you have jealousy issues then a good personal development program can make all of the difference. Life does not have to be hard, it really doesn’t so be open to new concepts and ideas and watch your life change for the better.

Test If You Will Become The Richest Person In World

Money is one of the greatest motivations in the world. Most of us work not only to earn money, but also to become wealthy. Wealth brings many comforts with it. One can have all the luxuries in the world and also get the aura of power. Wealth is power

If a quick survey is conducted to find out if people want to become rich, most of the responses will e in yes. Add one more question - Do you think that you can become the richest person in the world, and you will be surprised with the answers. Most of the answers will be in no. Very few of us believe that we have it in us to become the richest person. We are afraid of the thought and believe that we don't have the capacity to be the richest person. Why? Because we don't believe in our capabilities and also have created mental block that says - How can you, such an ordinary person dream of becoming the richest in the world?

This is our mental block that stops us from thinking creatively. Once we decide in our mind that we can become the richest person and deserve to become, we will find ways to do it. The first need is to break the mental block, the second to find ways to do it. As soon as you decide in your mind that you want to reach that goal and determine that you will reach that goal, find a business plan that will help you reach that goal. This will be tough, but once our mind is asked to find solutions, it gets them.

Test your attitude towards yourself. Test if you have any blocks in your mind. If there are any remove them and repeat to yourself that you deserve to reach the place you have decided. Work towards it and you will reach it one day. Please remember that no rich man /woman ever imagined that they would become so wealthy. Like you they all suffered self-doubts and over came them.

Why You Need to Find a Role Model

Mark Twain once said, “Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you too, can become great.” True role models generate motivation. He or she proved that it could be done. And if he can do it, so can you.

Reading about how someone else achieved success creates beliefs in you that your goal is possible. It energizes you.

Successful people have role models. Here are a few examples:

· Arnold Schwarzenegger found his role model, Reg Park, in a bodybuilding magazine. Reg was the most powerful person at the time, and Arnold dreamed of having huge muscles like Reg's. Arnold learned everything he could about Reg: his training routine, his diet, his lifestyle. The more he learned about Reg and followed his example, the more Arnold realized it was possible for him to become like Reg. (Source: Unstoppable by Cynthia Kersey)

· Pete Sampras. Born in 1971, tennis great Pete Sampras grew up idolizing his role model-the great tennis champ Rod Laver of Australia. Young Pete dreamed how one day he would also play in the U.S. Open.

As a sixteen-year-old qualifier, Pete started getting noticed on the tennis tour in 1988. He played a game called “dangerous.” It took him two years to reach the top ten, and along the way he defeated several of the great tennis legends. He won his first Grand Slam title in 1990 with an unbelievable serve that stunned players like Agassi, Lendl, and McEnroe. At nineteen, Pete was the youngest tennis player ever to win the coveted U.S. Open cup.

Today Pete is one of the most admired all-American tennis players. He is a versatile player who masters any situation. He has integrity in the way he plays and in the way he lives his life. His determination is an inspiration to others, and a motivating force among our youth. (Source: www.rolemodel.net)

· Babe Ruth. Even the greatest slugger of all time-Babe Ruth-had a role model. He said that he would spend hours trying to copy the powerful swing of Joe Jackson, better known as Joe Shoeless Jackson. If even the great Babe Ruth had a role model, I think you and I could use one too!