Should You Master Mind?

Should You Master Mind? In 1938 Napoleon Hill's "Think and Grow Rich" popularized the concept of a Master Mind. Not a character in an Austin Powers movie, but the true path to success for anybody who wants it. According to Hill, a Master Mind is "the coordination of knowledge and effort, in a spirit of harmony, between two or more people, for the attainment of a definite purpose." It gets better. "No two minds ever come together without thereby creating a third, invisible, intangible force, which may be likened to a third mind". And better. With PERSISTENCE and intelligence, and use discrimination in the selection of your "Master Mind" group, your objective will have been half-way reached, even before you begin to recognize it. Did he say half-way reached? Networking and collaboration are like a task on a To-Do list. If you want more, a Master Mind is how you get it.

How to Dream BIG

How to Dream BIG Do you still dream of what you will be when you grow up? Do those visions keep popping into your head? If that’s the case, what’s your BIG, AWESOME, MOTIVATING, MISSION? BAM! What dreams excite you and give you a feeling of happiness? BAM! What scares you - and excites you? BAM! What makes you smile and say, “If I could only get myself to…” BAM! Take a few minutes and figure out your BAM! Then stand up, take a step, and repeat! Keep going until you get what you want. Oh - there’s no need to wait. Now would be a good time to start. :)

How To Stay Focused on What You Want

How To Stay Focused on What You Want As a child, the most important thing on my mind was heading out the door for an endless adventure. It usually ended in a game of Hide-And-Seek. As we grow into adults, we tend to have other important items that distract us and our days. Eat, sleep, pay bills, feed the dog, take care of the kids, mow the lawn. We stay busy until we realize - Since when did day-to-day tasks become more important than life-long dreams? Steven Covey reminded us of the power of focusing on what's most important in our life. When things get busy, get it done, and get back to focusing on what you want. I wonder if it’s time to put yourself, your dreams, and your future back on the important list?

Release Stress With Structure

Release Stress With Structure Would you like to have less stress in your life and more fun? Of course, you would. But how is that possible in today’s world? In my life, I’ve encountered two approaches to managing stress that always appear: 1) Many people blow off stress by acting spontaneously and doing something crazy. 2) Others create a constant routine and build a predictable structure into their lives. Studies support the effectiveness of choosing either. When you combine both is where the fun happens. When you take the time to tame the craziness in your life and create a structured day-to-day approach, you will find yourself with more time for spontaneous activity. And you will do it without having the stress of what think you should be doing. Structure your life for peace of mind. Feed your soul with spontaneity.

Are You Blocking Your Happiness?

Are You Blocking Your Happiness? Is there something in your life that you are resisting? The old saying, "What you resist will persist" is always at play. It is a potent force in both enhancing and debilitating ways. In my life, I have learned the root cause of anything I resist is either fear of change or misdirected focus. Others say, “I haven't learned my lesson." In any case, the solution has always been: 1) Identify the unwanted issue that is persisting. 2) Identify what the desire instead of the problem issue. 3) Summon the courage to stop resisting. Accept that you have learned the lesson. Commit to learning a new one. What you resist will persist. Sometimes the only way to win the fight is to give up the fight.

How To Figure Out What You Want

How To Figure Out What You Want What if there was a magic formula for figuring out what to do next? I prefer to think of it as resetting your mind and re-discovering yourself. Most people are living in a continual state of craziness. 20 years later, they realize they have no idea what makes them happy. Worse, they have no idea how to get off the carousel and reset. If that’s you, try this: 1) Slow down and make space. The secret to finding YOU is spending time with YOU. 2) Take care of yourself and allow the buzz to drain from your daily experience. Claim if for yourself that extra space for yourself. 3) As your mind clears, you may find that you want to rush back to the craziness. Please don’t do it. Focus instead on remembering the things you most enjoy. 4) Explore the possibilities that pop into your mind. Try them on for size. Keep what you like. Toss those you don’t. 5) Finally. Never lock yourself into a commitment or no timeline for figuring things out. You can do that aft...

Transformation Happens in Stages

Transformation Happens in Stages Is there something you would like to transform about your life? These days you are not alone. Stop smoking, lose weight, get a better job - or another job? Transformation always follows the same predictable stages: Stage 1: Pre-contemplation. This stage appears when an idea pops into your head for the first time. Stage 2: Contemplation. This middle ground is where most folks get stuck. It can go on for a lifetime. Stage 3: Determination. Moving past contemplation, you make up your mind, dig in your heals, and make your plan. Stage 4: Action. There is no turning back until you get what you want. Stage 5: Maintenance. This stage is all about keeping what you have acquired - no matter what. This stage may also last your entire life.

Are You Growing or Dying?

Are You Growing or Dying? Every minute of the day, your body, mind, and spirit are in a continual state of growing or dying. You are either expanding or contracting. On the surface, there are two choices: 1) You choose to expand and make your life and world-view bigger, brighter, and better. You decide to grow wiser, more content, and happier. 2) You choose or accept and contract. Everything gets smaller, dimmer, and less satisfying. If you dig deeper, you will find your choice is more of a combination of the two. In turbulent times and good times. The secret is to get rid of anything that doesn’t serve you and replace it with everything that does - at the same time. Yin and Yang. Open your eyes. Explore the good possibilities in life. Ignore everything that is holding you back. Go for your dreams.

Choosing To Thrive

Choosing To Thrive Thriving in chaos is something we hear a lot about these days. Few words hold power to ignite fear, excite hope, and get you to click a link like thrive and chaos. It's time to release yourself from all of that external drama. As a human, you have something magical inside. It will allow you to ground yourself, stay steady, and move forward. You can choose how you feel, chart your path, and take any action you desire. When you were born, you were hard wired to go beyond surviving. You were pre-programmed with the desire to thrive - no matter what is going on around you. Is it time to break from dramatic distractions and release yourself? Have you made the decision not to settle for less than your dreams? Are you ready to empower yourself, breakthrough any obstacle, and create your reality? Listen to yourself, trust your thoughts, and take massive imperfect action. Happiness is yours for the taking.

Plugging Into Simple

Plugging Into Simple A couple of days ago, I called a friend in Connecticut. I wanted to catch up and see if we could solve the problems of the world over the course of a phone call. When he picked up the phone, I asked what he was doing to save the world? Yes, I was somewhat joking, but his answer didn’t surprise me. “I only watch 20-minutes of news a day - enough to stay in touch. I write, get my work done, and help my kids with school. In general, I’m doing everything I can to stay grounded. You’re lucky I picked up the phone. How about you?” I told him that he was lucky that I decided to call in the first place. I’m doing the same - except that I’m playing with my dogs and not kids. I refuse to get on the crazy carousel that most folks are riding right now. I don’t think we saved the world, but we are saving ourselves and each other. In this crazy plugged in and agenda-driven world, make sure that you plug into the simple joys of life. It’s good for you.