Become Happy: Learn to Live Like Noahs Ark

Become Happy: Learn to Live Like Noahs Ark

Word Count:
262

Summary:
Noahs Ark teaches us ten lesson on how to lead a happy and successful life, and you can read it here.

Keywords:
happiness,motivation,lifestyle,new age,coaching,creativity,self improvement,goal setting

Article Body:
Though the bible has been sometimes discredited by those who do not believe, it is one of the good and reliable sources for finding out how to live happily. Here, I have outlined some of the lessons I have picked up from the story of the flood and Noahs Ark in a slightly humouristic tone.

1) Whatever you do, pay attention that you do not miss the boat.

2) Remember that you are not alone because everyone is in the same boat with you.

3) You need to look into the future and plan for it. Remember that when Noah started building the ark, it had not started raining.

4) Keep healthy and fit because even when you have reached the golden age of six-hundred years, someone might approach you and ask you to perform something really big, grand and important.

5) Ignore those that criticise you and instead just keep your eye on the job that you need to get done.

6) Build your future on a very high ground.

7) If you wish to be safe, alsways travel in pairs.

8) Though you might think that speed is a great advantage, it is not necessarily so because on Noahs Ark the cheetahs were on the same boat with the snails.

9) Feeling stressed out? Float around for a while.

10) (This is really funny!) Note that while the Ark was built by an amateur, the Titanic was built by professionals.

To sum up, I recommend you lead a good and happy life by doing what you like, while not harming others and while looking to your interests in the future.

 

Are you struggling in life ?

Are you struggling in life ?

Word Count:
497

Summary:
article about self help and the manifestation of life

Keywords:
Self-help, manifestation, problem solving, meditation, awareness, spiritual

Article Body:
Do you recognise the following.
You've a partner,  a lovely child and most things aren't running smoothly these days. You're not feeling down or depressed but you're quickly irritated, a bit tensed and anxious. Your spouse feels that situation and talks with you about it.
You wave the problems away telling they don't exists.
 
At work you're having a busy period. Several major decision are made for you and you're about to tell some employees that they might lose their job.
It isn't your call but yet you're feeling uncomfortable with the whole situation.
Time comes closer for those bad-news-conversations.

You're wondering if you should have done something to prevent the lose of jobs.
You think you did the best you could but in your mind there still are doubts. You over look the whole situation again. You talk at home about it and you even consult some friends. They tell you that you shouldn't worry to much. Easier said then done.

At home things are running smoothly. There are no problems between you and your spouse. You are able to keep work and private situation separated from each other.
In the mean time days, weeks run by and D-days approaches. You are starting to feel worser and worser.
You know this most been done, it's for the benefit of the company. But still ……..

The whole situation reminds you of a period a few years ago. You also weren't feeling well, but you couldn't relate it to a specific moment.
The not-so-feeling-good period didn't last a long time.
You went on with your life as thing improved by themselves.

Just now you think of that period again and wonder what you did then to find more peace at mind.
You can't exactly recall the moment but someone spook to you about meditation.
You didn't think that it was something for you. So you didn't inquire or did some reach about it.
 
After the confronting conversations with the employees life goes on.
The company is running fine. You're keeping track and at home things come in smoother water. Life looks nicer these days. You don't have that much sorrow and pain in your neck-shoulder area then within the troubled period.

In the meantime your spouse has without your knowledge been talking to several people about the situation.She talks to a colleague and he gives the advice that you should read a book about self-awareness.

Just tonight you both talk about the situation and you hear the advice giving by that colleague.
You're thinking of reading books about meditation, selfhypnosis. All this for selfgrowth and personal development.

You sit behind your computer and type the words self-awareness, development , manifestation of life into the search query and hit the ENTER button.

Want to find a way to help you with the struggle of life.

Are You Programmed For Success...Or Failure?

Are You Programmed For Success...Or Failure?

Word Count:
1065

Summary:
Have you ever wondered why some people just have it all? It's got NOTHING to do with luck and everything to do with the way you were raised. Find out if YOU were programmed for success...or failure.

Keywords:
definition of success

Article Body:
Have you ever wondered why some people just have it all? They're well liked by everyone they meet, financially set and attractive…but what stands out most is their beaming sense of self-confidence when they enter a room.

It's almost as if they have a certain "presence" that gives off positive vibes.

Not everyone is this fortunate, however. There are people who are faced with low self worth, they struggle to maintain positive relationships and often feel resentful towards people who are better off than they are.

So what's the difference? How can one person be so incredibly successful while another person constantly struggles just to get by?

The answer lies in what I call your "Invisible Lifestyle."  Your Invisible Lifestyle is what made you into the person you are today. You were literally "programmed" with the habits and beliefs that you follow today (or refuse to follow). 

So who were the programmers?

Look no further than your very own parents or guardians.

It's true. Your parents unknowingly "programmed" you to become the person you are today. The reason I say 'unknowingly' is because your parents raised you the best they could based on how their parents raised THEM.
Because of the "brain wiring" of your original programmers (your parents), as an adult, you are duplicating the way they lived when you were young.
 
For example, let's say you were raised in a household where both of your parents were always there for you. They took an interest and encouraged you in everything you pursued.

You grew up seeing your parents work hard every day, take interest in you and treat each other with respect. As a result, you grew up to have a successful career and a happy marriage because you worked hard and treated your spouse with respect…just like your parents.

Now let's look at another scenario…

Imagine a life where you grew up in a neglectful household. Your parents never encouraged you or took an interest in anything you did…EVER.

Your father had a negative outlook on life because of HIS traumatic childhood so all he knew how to do was raise YOU the same way that his father raised HIM.

As a result, you grew up with a negative outlook on life (just like your dad), and you have low self esteem because nobody took the time to encourage you and take an interest in you as a child.

Is this YOUR fault? NO! Of course not!

You did not ask to be "dropped" into your parents' household. That is the "hand" you were dealt in life and now, as an adult, you're living out the consequences.

In these two scenarios, you're living out what I call "Invisible Lifestyle A".

A stands for "ALWAYS"

"What you didn't notice your parents doing as a child, you are faithfully reproducing today, and you don't have a clue you're doing it."

But there IS one exception to this phenomenon…

Let's say you grew up in a bad neighborhood with an alcoholic father. Everywhere you looked, you saw poverty, crime and hopelessness. As a child, you couldn't wait to move out of the house. You saw your parents' lifestyle and were DETERMINED to not only be successful, but be NOTHING LIKE YOUR PARENTS.

While you were growing up, you took the necessary steps to put yourself through school and as an adult; you have a positive self image and do everything within your power to remain financially stable.

This is known as Invisible Lifestyle B. 
B stands for "BUCKING"

"What you couldn't stand your parents doing when you grew up; you won't stand for in your relationships today."

Those who embrace the "B" Lifestyle, do so in defiance of their family's values.  The B Lifestyle can create the "black sheep of the family" and that goes for highly troubled families or very successful ones.

Invisible Lifestyle B has taken place when an inner city boy or girl goes on to pursue a successful career as a lawyer while each of their siblings end up in jail. On the other hand, a child from a wealthy family could go against his parents' values by recklessly spending and eventually filing for bankruptcy as an adult. 

Now I'm not telling you to place BLAME on your parents. Your parents raised you based on everything they knew at the time. It's ALL they knew. It's not their fault…it's NOBODY'S "FAULT".

The key is to understand and accept the fact that the negative values you absorbed from your parents (i.e., fear of failure, low self worth, jealousy) are programs literally "wired" into your brain.

And if you have enough discontent with these, it is very possible to change that programming in your adult life.

But simply knowing this is not enough.

You must find these programs and learn how to "decommission" them. In other words, you need to know what to do and how to do it, especially if these programs seem to dictate your behavior.

Do you do things over and over that other people might call "self sabotage"?

Are you attracted to a certain type of person you know you shouldn't be around, yet you can't help but feel attracted to?

The source of this behavior is one or two negative programs from your childhood.

These programs will prevent you (or your loved ones) from a better life.

If your parents' programmed you with some negative values that are causing you problems in your life today…it's NOT your fault…but it IS your responsibility to do something about it.

You can start by thinking about how each situation in your life today is directly affected by your Invisible Lifestyle. 

The more you discuss your childhood memories of the way things were, the more you become consciously aware of them and the easier they will be to "decommission".

Over an entire lifetime, most people will not make the connection between their behavior as an adult and how their parents lived during their childhood. 

They will accept their parent's values without questioning anything, never knowing the REAL reason they continue to make the same mistakes over and over again.

But now YOU know better than that. Don't live your life with a blindfold on. Create a better future by first identifying and then eliminating the values from your parents that are causing you trouble today.

 

Are you homeless? Does your Soul have a Home?

Title:
Are you homeless? Does your Soul have a Home?

Word Count:
1289

Summary:
How do you feel when you see homeless people on the street? Many of us feel disgusted when we look at them and others do not even acknowledge their existence as if they're worthless and irrelevant. Some of us even consider them as being nothing but drunks and junkies. We all have different ways of interpreting the lives of these people, but in the end, we all believe that they are less fortunate than ourselves.

Keywords:
Homeless, soul, personal growth soul growth, relationships

Article Body:
Are you homeless?
Does your Soul have a Home? – By Joseph Ghabi

How do you feel when you see homeless people on the street? Many of us feel disgusted when we look at them and others do not even acknowledge their existence as if they're worthless and irrelevant. Some of us even consider them as being nothing but drunks and junkies. We all have different ways of interpreting the lives of these people, but in the end, we all believe that they are less fortunate than ourselves.

Some of us already understand that perhaps something in a homeless person's life went wrong and forced them to be where they are. Some people might even say that a homeless person became that way because the pressures of living in society drove them to it. Perhaps they felt misunderstood because they were too 'open' and in touch with their deeper soul essence, when unfortunately our limited society is yet unable to recognize philosophies and life ideas from the nature of a soul perspective. Those people likely ended up lost and feeling 'out of place' wandering around with a feeling that nothing in their lives really matters in terms of their understanding from a higher level. It can be very difficult to survive in a world where the 'mundane' seems to matter most.  

It has even been discovered that some of the homeless are rich! So it is not always the case that they are less fortunate than us in a financial sense. I recall a situation that happened some time ago, a homeless man was discovered dead and they found out he had over 3 million dollars stashed away in his bank! In the end, whether they are rich or poor, these people are still homeless right now and why?

I checked the internet for the definition of the word 'home' and I found this interesting definition "An environment providing security and happiness". So there are many of us in the world who have a roof over our head, yet we neither feel secure or happy. Do we think we are any more fortunate than the people living on the streets who do not have a building to live in? Are we any more human in essence than those people because we claim to own a few slabs of concrete? Tell me, don't we still have many issues to deal with even though we have a place to live in, probably even more issues to deal with than those people who do not have the  responsibility of maintaining a 'home establishment'.  As an example, what is the difference between a homeless person drinking alcohol to compensate for his or her problems and doing the same thing in the comfort of our own dwelling? If you ask me there is no difference at all, it is only a matter of status!

How do we define someone who is homeless? A homeless person is simply a person without a place to live. The number of homeless people is growing rapidly all over the world and what are we doing about it? Nothing really! It seems to be more important to us to go to the moon or mars and creates bombs worth millions of dollars! What the hell, if we can't solve any of our problems then let's just blow ourselves away!

In terms of the rest of us who consider ourselves fortunate for having a roof over our head, would you ever think of yourself as being homeless? I bet most of you are now saying "NO, HELL NO! What are you talking about? I have a home, two cars, a home theatre, a Nintendo machine or an Xbox, many games. I go out every week and have fun!" Let's now consider the definition of the word 'home' once again 'An environment providing security and happiness'. Now with that in mind, let me clarify my question again. With all that you have materially and aesthetically in your life today, are you sincerely happy in your life? How many times per day are you aware of a deep sense of loneliness? Do you ever feel an inner emptiness and as though there is something missing in life, yet you do not know what it is?

Most of us do feel this way on a regular basis, but are unable to determine what the problem is. We keep buying more and more stuff; we keep ourselves busy eating, drinking, smoking, entertaining and getting wasted on alcohol and drugs in order to avoid dealing with life. We can deny it for as long as we like, but in the end it is us who suffers and regardless of how we try to suppress things, that feeling that we are lonely, unhappy and that we are missing something will not go away. How many of us have bought stuff, yet in reality we don't really have space for any more stuff in our life? How many of us are bored with life?  How many of us feel a prevailing sense of lack of purpose?

The reason we came to this plane in the first place was because our Soul made the decision to do so. Then we were born. On the other hand, had your soul decided not to come to spend a life in this plane, you would not be here today. So if your soul decided to come here for a purpose and you are not living up to that and carrying out your souls task, then you will always feel you are missing something in your life. You will always feel that inexplicable void and loneliness deep inside of you; you might not feel truly happy.

What is it that prevents us from fulfilling our Souls task? It is quite simply our human limitations, our stubbornness, our fear of experiencing humility, our pride, our ego and our resistance to change that prevents us. When you try to fulfill your life with material things as a substitute for connecting to your Soul, this will never substitute for the need to look more deeply into your life and its purpose.

Making yourself appear happy on the outside in front of everyone, yet when you are alone you are as miserable as can be, serves no purpose at all. After all, is it just about appearances?? Who is getting hurt in reality? Living superficially will never bring harmony into your life for a simple reason, you are contradicting yourself. The funny part here is that many of us are somehow aware that we are living in this way, yet we still keep on doing it! My question is just how long are you prepared to keep it up? Will it be until the day you die and leave this earth life without accomplishing much of what your soul had intended in the first place? That is a waste of a lifetime.

My questions to you now are very simple. Are you homeless? Does your Soul have a home? Take a deeper look at your self, into your own being and take a good look at what you are doing with your life. Is this the life you really want to live and the path you desire to continue walking on? In reality, life is simple, yet on most occasions, we make things more complicated than necessary. From now on, just set yourself free and begin doing things for yourself and for the right reasons and always with a pure intention. Try to discover what is good for your soul and then do it! Most of all, always remember you are never ever alone!
Copyright © Joseph Ghabi

 

Are you homeless? Does your Soul have a Home?

Are you homeless? Does your Soul have a Home?

Word Count:
1289

Summary:
How do you feel when you see homeless people on the street? Many of us feel disgusted when we look at them and others do not even acknowledge their existence as if they're worthless and irrelevant. Some of us even consider them as being nothing but drunks and junkies. We all have different ways of interpreting the lives of these people, but in the end, we all believe that they are less fortunate than ourselves.

Keywords:
Homeless, soul, personal growth soul growth, relationships

Article Body:
Are you homeless?
Does your Soul have a Home? – By Joseph Ghabi

How do you feel when you see homeless people on the street? Many of us feel disgusted when we look at them and others do not even acknowledge their existence as if they're worthless and irrelevant. Some of us even consider them as being nothing but drunks and junkies. We all have different ways of interpreting the lives of these people, but in the end, we all believe that they are less fortunate than ourselves.

Some of us already understand that perhaps something in a homeless person's life went wrong and forced them to be where they are. Some people might even say that a homeless person became that way because the pressures of living in society drove them to it. Perhaps they felt misunderstood because they were too 'open' and in touch with their deeper soul essence, when unfortunately our limited society is yet unable to recognize philosophies and life ideas from the nature of a soul perspective. Those people likely ended up lost and feeling 'out of place' wandering around with a feeling that nothing in their lives really matters in terms of their understanding from a higher level. It can be very difficult to survive in a world where the 'mundane' seems to matter most.  

It has even been discovered that some of the homeless are rich! So it is not always the case that they are less fortunate than us in a financial sense. I recall a situation that happened some time ago, a homeless man was discovered dead and they found out he had over 3 million dollars stashed away in his bank! In the end, whether they are rich or poor, these people are still homeless right now and why?

I checked the internet for the definition of the word 'home' and I found this interesting definition "An environment providing security and happiness". So there are many of us in the world who have a roof over our head, yet we neither feel secure or happy. Do we think we are any more fortunate than the people living on the streets who do not have a building to live in? Are we any more human in essence than those people because we claim to own a few slabs of concrete? Tell me, don't we still have many issues to deal with even though we have a place to live in, probably even more issues to deal with than those people who do not have the  responsibility of maintaining a 'home establishment'.  As an example, what is the difference between a homeless person drinking alcohol to compensate for his or her problems and doing the same thing in the comfort of our own dwelling? If you ask me there is no difference at all, it is only a matter of status!

How do we define someone who is homeless? A homeless person is simply a person without a place to live. The number of homeless people is growing rapidly all over the world and what are we doing about it? Nothing really! It seems to be more important to us to go to the moon or mars and creates bombs worth millions of dollars! What the hell, if we can't solve any of our problems then let's just blow ourselves away!

In terms of the rest of us who consider ourselves fortunate for having a roof over our head, would you ever think of yourself as being homeless? I bet most of you are now saying "NO, HELL NO! What are you talking about? I have a home, two cars, a home theatre, a Nintendo machine or an Xbox, many games. I go out every week and have fun!" Let's now consider the definition of the word 'home' once again 'An environment providing security and happiness'. Now with that in mind, let me clarify my question again. With all that you have materially and aesthetically in your life today, are you sincerely happy in your life? How many times per day are you aware of a deep sense of loneliness? Do you ever feel an inner emptiness and as though there is something missing in life, yet you do not know what it is?

Most of us do feel this way on a regular basis, but are unable to determine what the problem is. We keep buying more and more stuff; we keep ourselves busy eating, drinking, smoking, entertaining and getting wasted on alcohol and drugs in order to avoid dealing with life. We can deny it for as long as we like, but in the end it is us who suffers and regardless of how we try to suppress things, that feeling that we are lonely, unhappy and that we are missing something will not go away. How many of us have bought stuff, yet in reality we don't really have space for any more stuff in our life? How many of us are bored with life?  How many of us feel a prevailing sense of lack of purpose?

The reason we came to this plane in the first place was because our Soul made the decision to do so. Then we were born. On the other hand, had your soul decided not to come to spend a life in this plane, you would not be here today. So if your soul decided to come here for a purpose and you are not living up to that and carrying out your souls task, then you will always feel you are missing something in your life. You will always feel that inexplicable void and loneliness deep inside of you; you might not feel truly happy.

What is it that prevents us from fulfilling our Souls task? It is quite simply our human limitations, our stubbornness, our fear of experiencing humility, our pride, our ego and our resistance to change that prevents us. When you try to fulfill your life with material things as a substitute for connecting to your Soul, this will never substitute for the need to look more deeply into your life and its purpose.

Making yourself appear happy on the outside in front of everyone, yet when you are alone you are as miserable as can be, serves no purpose at all. After all, is it just about appearances?? Who is getting hurt in reality? Living superficially will never bring harmony into your life for a simple reason, you are contradicting yourself. The funny part here is that many of us are somehow aware that we are living in this way, yet we still keep on doing it! My question is just how long are you prepared to keep it up? Will it be until the day you die and leave this earth life without accomplishing much of what your soul had intended in the first place? That is a waste of a lifetime.

My questions to you now are very simple. Are you homeless? Does your Soul have a home? Take a deeper look at your self, into your own being and take a good look at what you are doing with your life. Is this the life you really want to live and the path you desire to continue walking on? In reality, life is simple, yet on most occasions, we make things more complicated than necessary. From now on, just set yourself free and begin doing things for yourself and for the right reasons and always with a pure intention. Try to discover what is good for your soul and then do it! Most of all, always remember you are never ever alone!
Copyright © Joseph Ghabi

 

ARE YOU FAMOUS OR FOCUSED?

ARE YOU FAMOUS OR FOCUSED?

Word Count:
427

Summary:
Be focused on your dreams…be focused on providing for your family…be focused on building a huge team…be focused on Finding Your Why!  Let's commit today to become focused and start changing people's lives.

Keywords:
Focus, Changing lives, Live your dreams.

Article Body:
ARE YOU FAMOUS OR FOCUSED?
 
 Are you famous or are you focused?  Let's start with "famous".  When people look at you, what do they say that you are famous for?  Are you famous for procrastination…negative words…poor time management…What are you famous for?  Let me share with you what I am famous for.  I am famous for consistent, structured, focused daily strategies and techniques to live a victorious life.  I know…that is a pretty strong statement!  You see, I would rather be "focused" than famous. 
 I am focused on success.  I am focused on assisting you in achieving you dream and discover the greatness that is inside all of you!  Forget about being famous, let's be focused.  Be focused on your dreams…be focused on providing for your family…be focused on building a huge team…be focused on Finding Your Why!  Let's commit today to become focused and start changing people's lives. 
Millions of people world wide watch shows like "Who wants to be a Millionaire" or "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous".  The interesting thing is that everyone sitting on the couch with a bag of popcorn watching these shows are broke.  Why?  Because they are famous for sitting back and watching shows on other people being famous.  How about we flick the switch in life from famous to focused.  Stop dreaming of other people being famous and start being focused on your own destiny!  You must laser-focus in on your success and demolish procrastination and create action.  Demolish resolutions and create results!  Let's demolish fear and create faith!  How is this all possible by simply being focused.  How do people become gold medalist, super bowl champions, etc?  They take charge of their lives, hire a coach and become focused. 
What are you?  Who are you?  Where are you going?  How are you going to get there?  More importantly, why are you not focused?  Those that know their "Why" are very focused.  I am focused on my Why of changing lives of Champions worldwide through my coaching, mentoring, seminars and success library and creating massive success in those Champions lives!   Do not allow famous to get in your way of being focused.  Make a commitment today to forget fame and become laser-focused!  Let's get focused and know your Why!  Let's go out and impact the world one heart at a time.  Focus creates success and Fame creates problems.  It's your decision…become focused and live your dream!!!

Find Your Why & Fly!

John Di Lemme

 

Are You an Achiever or are You an EXCUSIOLOGIST?

Are You an Achiever or are You an EXCUSIOLOGIST?

Word Count:
1318

Summary:
Heraclitus, the Greek philosopher said, as far back as the sixth Century BC, "It is in changing that things find purpose." Do you want to change or do you want to keep driving a Volkswagen and pretending it is a Porsche? You are the only person who can make it happen. Read on...

Keywords:
excuses,excusiologist,knowledge,self-esteem,motivation,self-help,positive thinking,self-improvement,excusiology,Failure 101

Article Body:
It would be a fairly safe bet that if you are reading this article then you are on the lookout for something more in your life than what you already have.

Whether you are searching for a new business, a new opportunity, a part-time income or even a lotto system it all stems from one source - dissatisfaction of present circumstances.

Now you might already be quite successful at what you do, so you might be coming from a position of boredom. Nevertheless, what you are seeking is change. Let me tell you a little secret...

There will be NO change in your life until there is a change in YOU.

Heraclitus, the Greek philosopher said, as far back as the sixth Century BC, "It is in changing that things find purpose."

Do you want to change or do you want to keep driving a Volkswagen and pretending it is a Porsche? You are the only person who can make it happen.

Basically, if you want more out of life you have to put more into life. A fundamental way to do this is to start educating yourself.

How can you expect more in the ensuing years when the operating system in your brain is the same one that you left school with?

Everything changes all the time.

Maybe you need to change also. Re-invent yourself. Start a new exciting phase in your life. Time waits for nobody.

There are many people who I speak with who have never read a single book or attended any sort of learning experience since they left school. I actually think that's rather sad but some of them are even proud of it. Yet when the conversation continues out pours all their problems, all their hard luck and "woe-is-me" stories.

If you're still with me I want to ask you three questions but I would like you to think a little bit before you answer. It will probably take you a short while to answer the first question with a degree of accuracy.

So here it is, the first question: "How much time did you spend last week feeding your stomach?" Your answer doesn't have to be exact but you should be able to work out some sort of reasonably accurate figure. Jot the answer down somewhere.

Second question: "How much time did you spend feeding your brain?" Most people will not need anywhere near as long to answer this question. Unfortunately, for many, the answer to question two will be ZERO.

So here is my third question and it's a pretty simple one. "Why? Why do you spend so much time feeding your stomach and so little time feeding your brain?"

These questions are not meant to belittle anybody. Rather, I just want you to think about the issue.

Thinking intensely about things will often lead to action and when action is taken your world can change. That is what you want, isnt it?

Non-achievers are the excusers of society. By default they become excusiologists. They spend a lot of time and effort making excuses for poor performance. The crazy thing is that all that time and effort which was wasted on achieving nothing could easily have been used doing something positive.

You can easily recognise an excusiologist by their language.

"I'm not smart enough!" Rubbish. You don't have to be a genius to achieve. You just have to be willing to learn. Are you willing to learn?

"Nobody in my family has ever been successful." Great. Here's a chance to show them something new. Break the family trend.

"I've never had any luck." Really? Maybe God thinks you don't need it. The harder you work the luckier you will get.

Be careful about what comes out of your mouth. What do most people say when you ask them how they are?

Question - "How are you?" Answer - "Not bad." When you think about it, isn't such a reply rather negative and silly? Not bad compared to what? It's trash. Get rid of it. Try something innovative. Try this: "Outrageously well. Thanks so much for asking!" That will surely raise a few eyebrows.

So, getting back to what this article is all about. How much longer are you going to waste the most precious commodity you have? - TIME.

Stop making excuses and start taking action. Do something. Do it now. You could easily start educating yourself.

Good knowledge will give you potential power. Acting on good knowledge gives you power.

Try reading some good books. They can really make a change. Not sure where to start? Easy. Try try your local bookstore. Look in the "motivation - self help - personal development - success" area. There you will find dozens of books literally packed with good earthy, positive information. Most of them will contain references for even more information on these subjects. You could even enrol in a course.

After undertaking these measures there will be no excuse for being an excusiologist. I have just offered you some suggestions which will allow you to change.

Of course, you can always stay as you are. That's your choice. But if there is dissatisfaction in your life and you want to make improvements, for heaven's sake, do something about it!

You only get one chance at the life you are living. Make it grand. You don't have to accept what has gone before as the template for what is to come.

Change your operating system. Gather knowledge. Expose yourself to new ideas and ways of thinking and doing things.

You have probably heard this before but it is so pertinent I will put it before you again...

There are basically three types of people in this wonderful world of ours.

1 - There are people who make things happen.

2 - There are people who watch things happen.

3 - There are people who say "what happened?"

If you have traditionally placed yourself in groups 2 or 3 by not being willing to learn new techniques and obtain the knowledge that successful people seek, then there is a very simple remedy. But you have to be prepared to do three things:

1 - invest in yourself

2 - learn some new knowledge

3 - apply that knowledge

You can make a decision today to better yourself or you can ignore my advice. It's your choice.

Remember, there is nothing so important in your life than investing in yourself. Even if a book or seminar can teach you only one thing out of the hundreds of ideas and special pieces of information they present, it will be worth it for you. Don't you think so? That one thing might be just the piece of knowledge that can make such a huge difference to your future.

Are you worth investing in?

If, in the past you have been prone to making excuses you have the opportunity right now to do something about it.

If you read the newspapers, watch the TV and listen to the radio you will see how much negative permeates our senses. We are flooded by it every minute of every day. Studying success principles has the power to block all that negative out of your life. It can teach you how to concentrate only on what you want.

When you learn how to shield yourself from negative you will then be free to concentrate on all the good that can come into your life.

Just look around you - this world is in desperate need of more achievers. Heaven knows we have enough negative thinkers and excusiologists. They are everywhere. My advice to you is "don't add to their growing number."

Join the achievers who have success thinking as their power base.

Excusiology is a chapter you will find in a subject called Failure 101. Make the decision today to become an achiever.

Whatever you decide I wish you all the best for your future.

 

An Attitude of Gratitude

An Attitude of Gratitude

Word Count:
666

Summary:
Well, it's Thanksgiving again for the Canadians, and here in Germany we have celebrated our Erntedankfest, but anytime of the year is a good time to practice an attitude of gratitude.

William James said, "The greatest discovery of my generation is that human beings can alter their lives by altering their attitudes of mind. "

Keywords:
attitude, gratitude, thanksgiving, attitudes, thankfulness, positive thinking, contentment, thankful, peace, positive attitude, negative thinking,

Article Body:
Well, it's Thanksgiving again for the Canadians, and here in Germany we have celebrated our Erntedankfest, but anytime of the year is a good time to practice an attitude of gratitude.

William James said, "The greatest discovery of my generation is that human beings can alter their lives by altering their attitudes of mind. "

So many times people become discontent with their lives and surroundings and is it any wonder?  There is a whole industry set up to make us feel inadequate.  We are not thin enough, or not rich enough, or not hip enough because we are not buying the latest products on the market. The message rings loud and clear: We are not good enough!!! .

How many times have you found yourself saying, "If only _________  then I could be happy "  The problem is that if we get caught up in this way of thinking we will never be happy because there is always something more we will think we need to complete our lives.

Paul Reid said, "Poverty is a state of mind often brought on by the neighbours new car" In other words, when we see our friends and neighbours acquiring things, we often feel poor because we cannot afford these luxuries.  But, in reality we are not poverty stricken, we only think we are poor.  This state of mind is purely relative to whom you are comparing yourself to.  If you were to change your thinking and look at the homeless, then you would realize how truly rich you are.  You have a roof over your head, and food on the table. Okay, so maybe it's not your dream house and maybe you are eating peanut butter sandwiches and not caviar, but you are sheltered and fed.  Believe it or not, some people do not even have these basics.

Most people do not realize the benefits of gratitude. When we sit and think about all the things we want but don't have we set ourselves up in a downward spiral of disappointment and negative thinking which can lead to overwork, and depression. Gratitude, on the other hand, lifts our spirits and gives us a clearer focus on life as it really is.  We will be content with what we have and therefore our attitude will bring us a spirit of peace and contentment.

You may say to yourself, but I don't have much!  Well then be thankful for the little things you do have.  Do you have a roof over your head?  Do you have someone who loves you?  Do you have someone you love?  Do you have food on your table? Do you have your health?  Do you have a job? Do you have a pillow to sleep on?...a blanket to keep warm? Do you have your sanity?  These are little things but even the smallest things we can be thankful for. 

Someone once said, "If you haven't all the things you want, at least be grateful for the things you don't have that you wouldn't want."

There is always something we can find to be grateful for.

I know this sounds simplistic and I know that there are always things that many of us truly need…but if we start changing our attitudes and develop an attitude of gratitude then we will be in a better position to allow our positive thoughts to direct us in a way in which we can achieve more.

Gratitude is the first step in achieving the things you want to achieve in life.  Viki King said, "You won't be happy with more until you're happy with what you've got." 

Let us make every effort to get rid of these negative thoughts that hinder our life's journey and learn to develop positive thoughts that will help us achieve our goals. 

Don't wait until Thanksgiving rolls around each year to be thankful.  Make it a point to develop in your daily life an attitude of Gratitude.

 

Allow Time For Germination

Allow Time For Germination

Word Count:
464

Summary:
New ideas can take time to get used to. When we first hear the idea we may not be ready for it. That is fine. When you are ready the idea will sprout and grow and be there for you.

Keywords:
Life coach, coach, coaching, change, self help, goals, goal setting, success, succeed, inspiration

Article Body:
There is a concept in coaching called seed planting. It means that it takes time for new ideas and suggestions to be embraced. There are clients that take hold of a new idea and run with it, some take a little more time to allow the idea to grow while others can take years before the idea sprouts. Still some clients will never grasp the idea. It will simply lay dormant. It doesn't really matter what the client does with the idea. The purpose is to plant the seed and the client can do with it what they will. Sometimes the idea just needs time to germinate.

A counselor once told me that not to make a decision is a decision. She said not to choose was a choice. I thought she was nuts and went on with my life. It was five years later when I was in the middle of a situation where I was avoiding a decision that her words hit me like a ton of bricks. I literally said out loud, "I get it." It took years for that seed to germinate in my brain until one day it sprouted and grew into a concept I understood. I was finally ready to get it. I wasn't able to hear it before, but with time, I had evolved enough so the concept made sense. New ideas can take time to get used to. When we first hear the idea we may not be ready for it. That is fine. When you are ready the idea will sprout and grow and be there for you.

The other side of this is not to force your ideas and suggestions onto other people. By all means share them, but leave it at that. Seed planting isn't an aggressive act; it is gentle and done with love and compassion. All you can do is plant the idea. What happens to it is up to the individual and what they are ready to hear at that very moment. The idea may sprout right away or it may take years. That isn't your concern. Your job is to plant the seed and move on.

Everyone is at different places in their lives. Sometimes you will understand the new idea right away and perhaps even take action on it in the moment. At other times it will take a while. Don't beat yourself up when you don't get something right away. It just means the idea is in germination. When you are ready the idea will sprout and grow and be right there to support you. Until then don't worry about it and go on with the ideas you are ready for. There will be plenty of idea seeds sprouting at any given time to keep you busy.

 

All Faith Needs Feet

Title:
All Faith Needs Feet

Word Count:
677

Summary:
Faith is a wonderful thing - and very necessary. There are, however, approaches that may look like faith but lead us in risky directions.

Keywords:
positive thinking, action, faith, success, affirmations, affirm

Article Body:
<b>A subscriber recently wrote to me: A friend of mine is on a fixed income and has maxed out his credit cards (nearing $10,000). He has started a new business, but currently has no customers or prospects.

He is affirming that he is already successful and debt-free. What is the best way for him? Should he write checks to pay his bills as they arrive, even though the money may not be in his account at the moment? Wouldn't these concrete actions demonstrate his faith? My Answer: Faith is a wonderful thing - and very necessary. There are, however, approaches that may look like faith but lead us in risky directions.

Please tell your friend that he needs to pay close attention to "real" actions and concentrate on learning to provide a service to other people that they want. (Note the emphasis is on what "they" want.)

Paying bills with rubber checks isn't an act of faith. It's desperate gambling. I know from hard experience that it's nearly impossible to get the right mindset for real faith or confidence when you're circling the drain.

Your friend needs to get his feet firmly under himself with real money -- even if he has to go tend bar or wash dishes for the extra income for a bit. Honest, it's no disgrace (unless he stays there).

Remember that all faith needs feet. If you're in an airplane on its way down in a power dive, you put on your parachute first. And THEN you do affirmations.

The old biblical phrase "faith without works is dead" means just that - belief needs to be connected organically with action. Productive action. If it's not, then it's not true belief, it's only an attempt to con yourself and the gods.

Too many people hope that they can do affirmations or pray or ASSERT, and this will save them from having to make a decision and take action. But that's not the way it works. Action and affirmations must be bonded together as a single unit and support each other like two legs. Neither faith nor action can stand alone.

So you might want to tell your friend that positive thinking is good (and absolutely necessary), but positive action is also an essential ingredient.

Simply put, he'll never pray himself up a hill.

When he's willing to take action, with all the stops out, his faith will bring the lucky breaks, the synchronicities, and the chance meetings with just the right people at the right times to help move him forward. But it's the action that anchors all that potentiality into reality. ACTION.

Otherwise, it's all vapor.

"Willing to take action with all the stops out" ... some folks call that enthusiasm, others call it commitment. But it sure boosts the octane.

It's often hard to get people to see that taking a detour on the way to their goals is not a "wrong turn." It's just another way of getting where they're going. Whatever it takes.

Just remember that you don't have to give up on your dreams and goals when some little thing comes along (or not so little). The goal is what's important, not every little step it takes to get there (as long as we remember to TAKE the steps).

I'd guess that the old gremlin of impatience has killed more dreams than any other single influence. It's so common to think, "If I'm not getting there RIGHT NOW, then that's it; I'll never make it."

It might help to think of your vision of your future as a very penetrating stare. It penetrates anything that may seem to block your path. As long as you keep seeing what's in your future, you won't become stalled by the stuff that crops up in front of you today.

This may all sound trite, but it's true, every bit of it. And I learned it all the absolutely hardest way. I lived through it over and over and over and...

But eventually, even a super-dense guy like me can learn, proving that anybody on earth can do it.

 

Advantages of Being Confident

Advantages of Being Confident

Word Count:
704

Summary:
Almost all successes and attainments in life come from your ability to feel certain that you can accomplish what you set out to achieve. Confidence is the gateway to success; to the life that you wish to lead and to the dreams that you desire to live.

With confidence you can boldly progress towards your ambitions and aspirations. With confidence you can rise up and handle life's demands and challenges. You can tackle any hurdle and obstruction, and move on to the next step of your journey to fulfilment and achievement

Keywords:
self-confidence, confidence, anxiety, inner peace, success, gain confidence, confident, improve your self confidence, personal growth, self improvement, self development, personal power, achieve, accomplish, success, successful, unlimited confidence,

Article Body:
Almost all successes and attainments in life come from your ability to feel certain that you can accomplish what you set out to achieve. Confidence is the gateway to success; to the life that you wish to lead and to the dreams that you desire to live.

With confidence you can boldly progress towards your ambitions and aspirations. With confidence you can rise up and handle life's demands and challenges. You can tackle any hurdle and obstruction, and move on to the next step of your journey to fulfilment and achievement.

One of the principle requirements to anything you want to do in your life is confidence. Confidence is an indispensable part of your development, betterment, progress and success, both at a personal and professional level. With confidence you can forge ahead to fulfil your potential and perform at your peak level.

Having confidence is the crux that allows you to achieve your true potential in whatever situation; in your relationships, your work or career, your finances and your self-image.

When you experience a lack of confidence, it may stop you from striving for what you want. This feeling of lack of confidence can be the root of many complications and hardships that block you from achieving your desires. It can be like a large thorn that continually bursts the bubble of desire.

There may have been times when you have felt a level of confidence when you were engaged in an activity that you were good at; such as driving a car, being a parent or managing your team. At those times you would have displayed a high level of certainty, which is a form of confidence.

However, there may have been other circumstances where you found that you felt less confident. On these occasions, you would achieve a fraction of what is truly possible for you. With determination and focus to pursue and gain confidence, you can develop the strength and fortitude to climb out of the depths of any circumstances, and take advantage of the opportunities and successes that lay ahead of you.

In the same way that you have learned to lack confidence, you can also learn to have unlimited confidence. And the simplest and quickest way to kick-start the engines of your brain, is to know and accept that confidence can be an acquired process; it can be learned and formatted to suit all moments.

As your confidence increases, you can take a front row seat in mastering many areas of your life. You will find that you become more and more comfortable and confident in multiple areas, including:
• Moving ahead in your career
• Starting your own business
• Embracing the risks of every day life
• Refusing to be held back by fear
• Creating circumstances rather than waiting for them
• Smiling more and enjoying life
• Dramatically improving your health

Successful and dynamic people have gained mastery on how to feel courageous and confident. When you develop and build on your own confidence skills, you, too, will feel and become a different person. You will feel much more enthusiastic, motivated and determined in every aspect of your life.

Once you improve on the way you think and feel about yourself, your beliefs and your actions will follow. You will confidently overcome the challenges that life thrusts upon you and you will manage them with new-found belief and faith in your capability to do so.

As you become more confident you abandon worry, hesitation and, more importantly, you side-step fear. The focus here is on your whole being, every part of you; your thoughts, the images in your mind, your emotions, and ultimately your behaviour and the actual outcomes in your life.

Bear in mind that as you focus on change, change does begin to happen. It is fun, motivating and very rewarding to feel and see yourself growing and improving and becoming more confident and effective day-by-day and week-by-week.

There is great power in believing that you can succeed in your quest for greater confidence. With awareness and consistency, this is attainable. Your confidence can stretch beyond any measurable scale and further still, knowing no boundaries.

Just think what you can do with all the confidence that you can have!

 

Action Speaks Louder

Action Speaks Louder

Word Count:
862

Summary:
This Article looks at how fear prevents us from making decisions when appropriate. It explains how you can give yourself power by taking action, rather than putting yourself at the mercy of your circumstances.

Keywords:
Take action, master life, live without fear, procrastination, make a decision

Article Body:
We've all been in that place. You have a pretty good idea what must be done, but you can't do it. You know it is the appropriate thing to do, but you just can't act. You are stuck. You mull the circumstances over and over in your head, but still you don't really do anything about it. You wait…wait for life to come along and work it out for you. Then you accept the outcome. There are times when this approach might be okay, perhaps even the best choice; but most of the time we just don't have the courage to make a decision.

That's what it boils down to, you know…courage. Well, I know that's the case for me anyway. I have taken to examining myself at such times when I find it difficult to decide what best to do. My discovery is that, even when it is abundantly clear that one action is for the greater good, fear stops me from acting of my own will. I look at the "possible" consequences and I can't bear to move forward. What about the other action? Well, the fallout of that might also be unbearable, so I don't take that action either. I can't stay where I am. I must do one of the other. Repeatedly I return back to the same fork in the road, and I don't act on either one, hoping that the next time I return there would be more clarity. Sadly, clarity hardly comes. Eventually, when I do act, a lot more damage has been done than was necessary...damage that could have been avoided if I only had the courage to act sooner.

Well, more damage isn't always done, one could argue. It's true. Still, at the very least, you take away your control of the situation by becoming a victim. Surely that's wrong, you say. What if you rush into a decision that you later come to regret? Wouldn't it be better to consider things fully before you do something stupid? Once again, that's correct. However, for most people, the consideration goes on for way longer than it should. If there is something else that should happen first, then that's fine; but this is not the case either, for most people. It's just that they don't want to do what is necessary.

Making decisions is a key activity in taking control of your life. It's a skill in itself. Some people seem to have the ability to do it better than others. For these people, it seems to be an innate ability. For others, well it requires development. You have to practice. You have to flex those "decision-making" muscles. You can't afford to wait around for things to happen. You have to confront your fear...fear of failure and of missed opportunities.

In order to develop the ability to act when the situation demands it, it's ironic that the best ally is a more "passive" resource. It's acceptance. When you can learn to accept life, then you are able to do more without being paralyzed by fear. Think about it. You can't control everything. This is a fact. You can't see the future (unless you are psychic or something, in which case skip this); another fact. You will make mistakes in life; but you can recover and move on. Accept all of this and you're well on your way to being able to make tough decisions.

Acceptance is not so difficult. You do it all the time. Do you drive? Well, if you do, you have to take it for granted that the driver coming from the opposite direction is not a lunatic who is going to run into you. If you've ever crossed the street at a Traffic Light, or gotten in a car with someone else driving, then you're doing a lot of accepting. How do you do it? Well, you don't have a choice. You have to get to where you're going. You wouldn't get there if you refuse to get in a car because you are afraid you might crash. It's a risk you have to take because you are convinced that it there is almost no choice. Well, how about applying that acceptance to your decision? There are no guarantees in life (generally speaking). You might have made a mistake, but at least you had the courage to choose. And who's to say you wouldn't have gotten struck by lightning if you had taken the other path. You just can't know that it would have been better if you hadn't acted as you did. Accept this as well. It will give you confidence.  Trust me, with confidence; you are already half-way to your destination.
 
So step up to the plate. Choose. Don't be a victim of circumstance. You can do so much more knowing that you are responsible for the choices that have delivered you to where you are in life.

 

A World of Infinite Opportunities

A World of Infinite Opportunities

Word Count:
478

Summary:
There is enough opportunity for everyone. This should be your mantra: Observe your competition, learn from their mistakes, and when possible, copy their success.

Keywords:
health, healthy, fitness, motivation, self improvement, improve, opprtunity, opportunities, opportune, motivate

Article Body:
Many people feel that there is a limited amount of abundance, wealth, or chances to succeed in life.  Furthermore, there is a solid belief that if one person succeeds, another must fail. 
 
This might be true, in some cases, such as in a small company or school, where opportunity is limited by management.  However, the world is a big place, and there are opportunities created from ideas that help people, and no one gets hurt in the process.
 
Below are two examples of success that have not taken anything away from anyone:
 
Danny Thomas: With his promise, prayers, and vision, for St. Jude's Hospital, he received the help of friends in the Arab-American community to build a fantastic charity.  Some of us also believe he received divine help – I know, I do. 
 
There is much more to this story, but what did this hospital or charity take away from anyone?  Aren't the children who recover from cancer living proof that this idea, and prosperity, is for the pure benefit of mankind?  There is no one who is hurt by this, and Marlo Thomas has picked up where her father left off.
 
Yoga teachers: Many unfulfilled members of the workforce have left their jobs to teach the benefits of Yoga to the masses.  They teach their students to enjoy life, deal with stress, breathe properly, improve their posture, become aware of their bodies, and many more benefits.
 
Most Yoga teachers believe that all of the great Yoga jobs are in health clubs, ashrams, and Yoga studios.  Not so, in my book "How to Grow Your Own Successful Yoga Business," I mention 16 ways to start up with little or no overhead. 
 
Within the first chapter, there are Yoga teaching opportunities that currently exist with little, or no, competition.  Yoga teachers who have taken this advice have become successful and prosperous.
 
Do these jobs take food away from anyone?  When someone starts a business, do they take food away from another competitor?  If you believe your competition is your problem, it will be.  This is limited thinking, and you have to learn to think "outside the box," in order to be successful in life. 
 
Don't waste time on bad thoughts.  You can easily co-exist in harmony with them, become friends, and learn from them.  There is enough opportunity for everyone.  This should be your mantra: Observe your competition, learn from their mistakes, and when possible, copy their success.  
 
 
This is why you need to take a mandatory vacation and get fresh ideas.  This is why you should take a notebook with you.  I still prefer the "old fashioned," spiral bound notebook, with a pen in hand.
 
Everyone has a niche, make sure you cultivate yours, and develop your own identity, in life.  Always remember, the sky is the limit, and you are only restrained by your own thoughts.

 

A Starter Guide To Self Improvement

A Starter Guide To Self Improvement

Word Count:
879

Summary:
Negative influences are all around and can have a dramatic effect on your self esteem. Don't let unchecked people and circumstances pull you down. Here are 6 tips on how to minimize your exposure and how to concentrate on positive influences and as a starter guide for self improvement.

Keywords:
building self esteem, behaviour, self help, self improvement

Article Body:
Staying calm, composed and maintaining strong self esteem in today's tough environment can be difficult but is not impossible if you follow a few simple guidelines. Here are 6 tips you can use as a starter guide to self improvement.

Everything and everyone else around you can affect your self esteem. Other people can deliberately or inadvertently damage your self image. Unchecked people and circumstances can ultimately destroy your self esteem and pull you down in ways you won't even notice. Don't let these influences get the best of you. But what should you avoid?

1 : A Negative Work Environment

Beware of a "dog eat dog" environment where everyone else is fighting just to get ahead. This is where non-appreciative people usually thrive and working extra is expected and not rewarded. In this environment no one will appreciate your contributions even if you miss lunch, dinner, and stay at work late into the night. Unless you are very fortunate most of the time you will work too hard with no help from others around you. This type of atmosphere will ruin your self esteem. This is not just healthy competition, at its worst it is brutal and very damaging.

2: Other Peoples Behaviour

Bulldozers, brown nosers, gossipmongers, whiners, backstabbers, snipers, people walking wounded, controllers, naggers, complainers, exploders, patronizers, sluffers - whatever you want to call them, all have one thing in common - an overriding desire to prosper at the expense of others. Avoid them and do not be tempted to join them. They may get some short term advantage with their behaviour but deep down most are very insecure, unhappy and ashamed of their behaviour. For most their self esteem disappeared a long time ago. Seeing someone like this prosper is sickening but do not join them - you are better than that!

3: A Changing Environment

In today's fast moving society it is difficult if not impossible to avoid change. Changes challenge our paradigms and tests our flexibility, adaptability and alter the way we think. Changes can make your life difficult and may cause stress but, if it's inevitable, you must accept it, don't fight it and in time find ways to improve your life. Try to manage change and try to avoid multiple changes at the same time. If a particular change can't be avoided welcome it.  Change will be with us forever, we must learn to live with it.

4: Past Experience

We all carry "baggage" - past experiences which have moulded us to who we are today, but some people live in their past experiences - usually something that hurt and still hurts. It's okay to cry out when you experience pain but don't let pain dominate your life as it will transform itself into fears and phobias. If something painful happens, or has happened to you, find a way to minimise the effects. Discuss it with a friend, a family member or a professional if necessary and move on. Don't let it continue to dominate your life and dictate your future actions. Because something bad has happened doesn't mean it will happen again. Learn what you can from any bad experience and move on.

5: Negative World View

The television news is full of doom and gloom and it is true that around the world there are many people suffering war, famine or other natural or man-made disasters. Whilst I do not suggest you should not care and do nothing, remember that there are many beautiful positive things happening too. Don't wrap yourself up with all the negative aspects around the world. Learn to look for beauty too for, in building self esteem, we must learn how to be positive in a negative world.

6: Determination Theory

Are we a product of our biological inherited characteristics (nature) or a result of the influences we absorb throughout out lives (nurture)? I believe how we are is due to a mixture of both nurture and nature and as a result our behavioural traits are not fixed. Whilst it is true that some things are dictated by genetics (for example race, color and many inherited conditions) your environment and the people in your life have a major effect on your behaviour. You are your own person, you have your own identity and make your own choices. The characteristics your mother or father display are not your destiny. Learn from other people's experience, so you don't suffer the same mistakes.

Are some people are born leaders or positive thinkers? I don't believe so. Being positive, and staying positive is a choice. Building self esteem and drawing on positive experiences for self improvement is a choice, not a rule or a talent. No-one will come to you and give you permission to build your self esteem and improve your self. It is in your control.

It can be hard to keep positive, especially when others and circumstances seem to be conspiring to pull you down. You need to protect yourself and give yourself a chance to stay positive. Improving your self esteem gives you that protection.

One way to stay positive is to minimise your exposure to harmful influences while using affirmations to boost the positive influences in your life. Constantly reminding yourself of the good things in your life will keep the impact of negative influences to a minimum.

 

A Short Guide to Stop Smoking

Title:
A Short Guide to Stop Smoking

Word Count:
344

Summary:
If you are a long-time smoker and wish to stop smoking, the following guidelines may be of use in quitting the habit. Smoking has long-term health hazards, as reported in news clips and reports. The habit however is a personal decision, and it all depends on how determined a person is, and what level of abstinence can be practiced in order to stop smoking.

Keywords:
Smoking, stop smoking, habits, drugs, self-help, motivation, cigarettes, self-improvement

Article Body:
If you are a long-time smoker and wish to stop smoking, the following guidelines may be of use in quitting the habit. Smoking has long-term health hazards, as reported in news clips and reports. The habit however is a personal decision, and it all depends on how determined a person is, and what level of abstinence can be practiced in order to stop smoking.

People take to smoking for various reasons. It could be the sheer charm of smoking, joining a group, beating stress, soothing and calming nerves, and so on. The reasons for quitting are commonly health related.

There does not seem to be a trick in quitting a habit. It is easy to fall back and start all over again. Perhaps a slow and steady approach can do the trick when more severe methods have failed.

Here are a few words to guide and reaffirm your determination to quit smoking if you wish to do so:
1. If you keep failing, have faith in yourself. You can do it, if others have done it before.
2. It is important to remind yourself of the reasons you want to quit smoking. Write them down and read them regularly.
3. Seek help from others around, the ones you trust, in talking to you about quitting. When others persuade us, it may work better for some.
4. There are medical substitutes available that help people climb down on the amounts.
5. Setting a deadline by the end of which one must quit can help in some cases.
6. Find out which plan works best for you – an immediate stop, a gradual pulling out, or some combination.
7. Knowing and talking to people who have quit smoking can boost your morale.
8. Smoking could be related to poor health and regimen. Change your regimen and see if it can substitute for the need to smoke.
9. Visualize the lifestyle of a non-smoker, and find out why it is positive and good. This will increase the attraction toward the goal.

 

 

A Sample Test to Test Your Positive Thinking

A Sample Test to Test Your Positive Thinking

Word Count:
307

Summary:
Test your positive thinking is a simple format developed for self-analysis of your personality, your outlook and the attitude. Please be honest in answering question and find out How Positive You Are

Keywords:
hypnosis, hypnotic, hypnotism, hypnosis techniques, hypnosis training, self-hypnosis, learn hypnosis, hypnotic mistress, hypnotic submission, mind control, hypnotisim, hypnotic suggestion, nlphypnosis

Article Body:
To find out how positive you are, answer the following questions as honestly as you can using this scoring system:

Answers Points

Always or almost always 5

Usually 4

Sometimes 3

Rarely 2

Never 1

Put your score in the block on the right:

When something unexpected forces you to change your plans, and you are quick to spot a hidden advantage in this new situation? [ ]

Do you like most of the people you meet? [ ]

When you think about next year, do you tend to think that you will be better off than you are now? [ ]

Do you often stop to admire the things of beauty? [ ]

When someone finds fault with you or with something you have done, can you tell the difference between useful criticism and 'sour grapes', which is better ignored? [ ]

Do you praise your spouse / best friend / lover more often than you criticize him or her? [ ]
 
Do you believe that the human race will survive well into the twenty first century [ ]

Are you surprised when a friend lets you down? [ ]

Do you think you are happy? [ ]

Do you feel comfortable making yourself the target of your own jokes? [ ]

Do you believe that, overall, your state of mind has had a positive effect on your physical health? []

If you made a list of your 10 favorite people, would name be there on it too? [ ]

When you think back over the past few months, do you tend to remember your success before your setbacks and failures? [ ]

Total Points [ ]

Scoring:

If the sum of all the scores is:

Above 55: Consider yourself a superstar – someone whose optimism is a powerful
healing force.

50 – 55: Excellent. You are a genuine positive thinker

45 – 50: Good. You are a positive thinker, sometimes

40 – 45: Fair. Your positive side and your negative side are about evenly matched

Below 40: You tend to be pessimistic. Think of ways to improve your pessimistic
Approach to life.

 

A Plan Of Action

A Plan Of Action

Word Count:
599

Summary:
A simple equation for a plan of action.  Starting the process of attaining a successful life.  What you need to know to make positive life altering changes.

Keywords:
Plan, desire, action,

Article Body:
You have finally made the decision that it is time to make some changes in your life.  You know that the only way things are going to get better for you financially, spiritually and physically is if you sit up and take action.  You know you have to put forth the effort in order to reap the rewards. 

So how exactly are you going to implement these changes?  You are going to have a "plan of action".

A plan of action is crucial to your success.  Without a plan it is merely a thought.  When you add your thoughts to paper coupled with a desire to see them become realities and proceed to do everything possible to fulfill that desire you have a template for success.

A simple equation to use when creating a plan of action from your template is:  Desire + Effort = Results.

Your first step is to write down what exactly it is you desire.  Albeit wealth, personal development or whatever you so strongly yearn for that you simply can no longer go without, write it down.  Make your desires realistic.  For example, if your desire is to lose 20 pounds, it is unrealistic to believe you can lose 20 pounds in 3 days.   However, it is possible to lose 20 pounds in 3 months with a proper plan of action.  It is important to note that there should be a time frame with regards to your plan.  These time frames are the milestones to marking your achievements.

Now that you know what your specific desire is, list the ways in which you plan on achieving optimum results.  How do I plan to lose these 20 pounds?  What do I have to do each day in order to achieve my goal?  What do I personally need to do to see this plan come to fruition?

Set up a schedule outlining each step that needs to be taken daily to achieve weekly goals.  Be specific.  Create a daily "to do" list.  At the end of the week you will be able to see how much you were able to accomplish.  Congratulate yourself for each accomplishment.

Make a commitment to yourself to "Work the Plan".  Stay focused on the positive.  List all the reasons why you will be able to achieve your objective. Utilize the strengths you possess that will help you to complete your plan.

Know your weaknesses and make a concerted effort to overcome them.  Incorporate both your strengths and weakness into your plan of action.  Know what you are capable of and know what your shortcomings are. 

Have your own personal reward system in place.  Know what each reward will be for each accomplishment that you have fulfilled throughout your plan.  With every desired result you achieve there should be a reward for having done so.  An incentive plan customized to your wants.

Do not let yourself get disheartened.  If you have a temporary lapse or deviation from the plan acknowledge it and continue to move forward with your plan.  Keep the pedal to the metal or your nose to the grindstone, just keep on taking action.  Remember, this is not a race to the finish line.  Your plan is your future.  Take the time to nurture and understand it.

We've all heard the adage "Rome was not built in a day".  Your success regarding your plan of action will not be achieved in one day either.  Success is a process and the process is something you have a long-term plan for.

"You and only you can determine if the reward is worth the price you are paying for it in effort".

 

A Motivation Theory To Try Right Now

A Motivation Theory To Try Right Now

Word Count:
508

Summary:
There is a motivation theory that came from neurolinguistic programming which you can try right now. You might be surprised at the results.

Keywords:
motivation theory, motivation, NLP

Article Body:
A good motivation theory has to recognize the fact that we each get motivated differently. In the practice of neuro-linguistic programming  or "NLP" this is taken into account in many ways. One of the more useful NLP theories is the concept of "away-from" and "towards" personalities.

Of course, we each have both modes of operation as a part of the way we function, but often one is dominant in each of us. Those in who the "towards" motivation dominates will be more affected by thoughts of future rewards. Those with a primarily "away-from" motivational style, will be more affected by thoughts of escaping pain or trouble.

Why not use this test to get an idea about which motivational style dominates your personality? Just read the following two descriptions of what having millions of dollars could mean to you.

1. You are safe and secure. You never have to return to your job or do anything you don't want to do. You have the means to eliminate most of your problems easily. You have everything you need to be free and comfortable.

2. You have the house of your dreams, and your favorite car too. You buy anything you want for you and your friends, and you do what you want. You have the means to achieve any of your goals.

If the first description is more compelling to you, you primarily have an "away-from" personality. If you feel more motivated by the second description, you have a "towards" personality. There are good and bad points to both types. "Towards" individuals make good entrepreneurs, for example, but often get into trouble because they don't plan well enough to avoid problems. "Away-from" individuals manage things well and avoid problems, but don't do as well at big goals.

So how do you use this motivation theory and this knowledge about yourself to your best advantage? Suppose you want to make more money and you are an "towards" person. You would want to envision the things you'll buy and do with that money, but also be aware that you may be glossing over the problems. If you are an "away-from" person, you'll need to continually remind yourself what a mess it will be if you fail. Otherwise you'll lose your motivation once you reach some level of comfort.

Of course, when you understand these two motivational styles, you can also influence others more easily. If you wanted to sell a new car to someone, for example, you would first determine if they are motivated away from things or towards things. For the former, you might explain how this new car will mean no more used-car hassles, or how it will make life easier. For the latter, you would explain how great they'll look in it, or what it can do.

You can play with this theory, and practice using this knowledge to influence others, but don't forget to influence yourself. While it is useful for understanding and influencing others, this is a motivation theory that is best used to affect your own self improvement.

 

A Minute of Deliberate Attraction is better than None.

Title:
A Minute of Deliberate Attraction is better than None.

Word Count:
521

Summary:
Definition of the Law of Attraction: I attract to myself, whatever I give my focus, attention, or energy to; whether wanted or unwanted.

Keywords:
law, attraction, observe, vibration, deliberate, manifest, observing,moment, attention, definition, wanted, unwanted,explain

Article Body:
Before I explain why a minute of Deliberate Attraction is better than none, I'd like to begin by giving a definition of The Law of Attraction.
Definition of the Law of Attraction: I attract to myself, whatever I give my focus, attention, or energy to; whether wanted or unwanted.
It is important to understand that The Law of Attraction operates in every moment. Right now, in this very moment, each of us is offering a vibration and The Law of Attraction is matching that vibration and giving us more of it; whether or not we are offering that vibration deliberately or non-deliberately. As the definition says, whether wanted or unwanted, we attract more of whatever vibration we offer in every moment. When it comes to our vibration, whether or not they are deliberately offered, or non-deliberately offered, and whether or not our vibration attracts to us something we want or don't want, The Law of Attraction is still paying attention and operating in exactly the same way---in EVERY moment.
Ideally, we will want to become more deliberate offer-ers about the vibrations we offer. When we become deliberate about what we give our focus, attention, and energy to, we are practicing Deliberate Attraction! Here is an easy 4-stage cycle to help you understand why Deliberate Attraction is an important skill to practice.
Stage #1: You observe what you are attracting in any moment of your life.
Stage #2: While observing what you are attracting, you are offering a corresponding vibration.
Stage #3: Whether offered deliberately or non-deliberately, in every moment, The Law of Attraction is checking in with your vibration.
Stage #4: The Law of Attraction then gives you more of whatever you are offering vibrationally.
This 4-stage cycle keeps repeating itself over, and over and over again. This is how you manifest more of whatever you give your focus, attention, or energy to.
Notice the word 'attention' in our definition of The Law of Attraction. The more Deliberate Attention you give to something you desire, the more quickly it will manifest in your life. Imagine spending one minute deliberately placing your focus, attention, and energy on the way you want something to be in your life. You are filling that minute with deliberately offered vibrations. Your vibrations are summoning the energy of The Law of Attraction to start unfolding whatever you just gave your attention to.
Now that you understand, more clearly, the significance of being a deliberate offer-er of your vibration, isn't one minute of deliberate attraction better than none? Remember, when you give attention to what you Do want, you are including it in your current vibration. And, when you give attention to what you DON'T want, you are including it in your current vibration. The Law of Attraction doesn't make any distinctions between the two.
In closing, in every moment, including this moment RIGHT NOW, RIGHT NOW, RIGHT NOW, you are including both what you want and don't want in your vibration. Practice becoming more deliberate in your vibration and you will manifest your desires more quickly. That's what Deliberate Attraction is all about.

 

A Great Way To Generate All The Motivation You Need To Get Fit

A Great Way To Generate All The Motivation You Need To Get Fit

Word Count:
719

Summary:
How To Find More Motivation Than You Ever Thought Possible For Walking Your Way To Fitness: Introducing-The Pedometer

Keywords:
walking, fitness walking, physical activity, fitness, getting fit, healthy lifestyle, power walking, race walking, health & fitness

Article Body:
If you're having trouble getting motivated to keep to your fitness program ... or if you haven't even got off the starting block yet, this article could change your life! Not completely ... that would be too ambitious! But, there's a tiny, inexpensive device that can provide you with all the motivation you need to get out and start moving your body around a bit more.

The pedometer, as it's known, can also make you WANT to do it and can even get you to ENJOY doing it!

What ... ? ENJOY exercising??? Surely some mistake?

Well, no actually. Please read on.

1. So, what is a pedometer?
 
It's a small, compact device used for measuring the number of steps taken.

And, as well as measuring the number of steps taken when exercising in your local neighborhood, it can also measure your steps whilst you're climbing the stairs, mowing the lawn, or doing the shopping.

2. How Does It Work?
 
It's small enough to clip to your belt and is fitted with a pendulum which measures one step each time your foot makes contact with the ground.
 
3. How Much Does It Cost?
 
Many pedometers have been given away FREE as part of campaigns by local health authorities to get people moving their bodies more.

If you can't find such a campaign in your area, you can buy a pedometer with a reasonable number of features for as little as $20.

4. What Exactly Does It Do?
 
You should buy a model which, at the very least, measures the number of steps taken, calories burned, distance walked, speed you've been walking and how long your routine has taken.

More expensive models may include any or all of the following additional features:

- a soothing voice to tell you how many steps you've taken
- a pulse monitor
- a stopwatch
- a radio and headphones so you can listen to your favorite radio station whilst out walking
- a step filter to achieve greater accuracy
- a back light so you can see your pedometer in the dark.

5. How Do I Set Up My Pedometer?
 
First you need to enter your height, weight and average stride length.

To arrive at your stride length, most instruction guides prompt you to measure out a distance of, say 10 meters, and to count the number of steps you take to cover it. Divide this number by the overall distance and this gives your average stride length.

Once it's set up, just follow the instructions to activate the settings you want to use, clip your pedometer to your belt and you're ready to go.

6. How Do I Take Readings?
 
At any point after you've started your routine, you can stop, flip open the pedometer and take a reading. Of course, you shouldn't do this too often as this will interrupt the rhythm of your walk.

But you can get an idea of the progress you're making by checking the number of steps taken, the distance you've traveled, the calories you've burned and so on. You'll be able to go from one measurement to the next at the press of a button.
 
7. How Does This Provide Me More Motivation?
 
The great thing about wearing a pedometer is that you begin to think about the number of steps you've taken towards your daily target.

This gets you into a 'walking mindset' and you suddenly start to identify lots of new walking opportunities.

If you had to be dragged kicking and screaming to take up a fitness routine, the pedometer is the single most important device you can use to start enjoying your workouts.

It's so easy to use and it can transform the way you feel about getting fit. It can take you from resisting the whole idea of doing a daily workout, to your really looking forward to it and wanting to do it more.

Why?

Because, after using it for a while, you begin to realize that your daily targets are not only achievable but, with a bit more effort, can be easily surpassed.

Something you thought was going to be such a grind becomes easy, because you know you can do it!

Did you ever think that was possible?

Well it is. Just get hold of your pedometer and keep wearing it. It can have a really positive effect on your fitness and health.

 

 

A Change will do you Good

A Change will do you Good

Word Count:
725

Summary:
As the last rays of summer's warmth ebb away and the gentle breezes of autumn waft themselves upon us, we recognize once again, that change is inevitable. Nature is constantly changing and yet, so many people have the notion that change is frightening.

People are creatures of habit and some find it difficult to adjust to changes that are certain to come our way.  Life is like an old, comfortable pair of shoes. We may realize that we need new ones and we may even find new ones we really like,

Keywords:
change, changing, motivation, motivational, life-style, life style, self-improvement, self improvement

Article Body:
As the last rays of summer's warmth ebb away and the gentle breezes of autumn waft themselves upon us, we recognize once again, that change is inevitable. Nature is constantly changing and yet, so many people have the notion that change is frightening.

People are creatures of habit and some find it difficult to adjust to changes that are certain to come our way.  Life is like an old, comfortable pair of shoes. We may realize that we need new ones and we may even find new ones we really like, but, we know that changing will cause us discomfort for a little while until we break them in.

Sometimes we need to realize that life isn't always easy.  What may be better for us is not what we are used to, but it is certainly worth the trouble of breaking in new habits and lifestyle changes.

Change does not have to be painful. Just look to nature and it will give you clues to how change can be effortless.  The beautifully colored autumn leaves do not hang on to the old tree for dear life.  No, they yield to the changes with ease and float gently off the tree.

With the coming of autumn we have been busy in our gardens pulling up the old stuff and getting ready for a time of rest.  We know that the ground must rest and next year there will be more wonderful things in our garden to delight us. 

Are there things in your life that need to be gently eased out of your life? Maybe there are bad relationships or habits or thoughts that need to be weeded out of your life. Don't be afraid to do a little gardening in your own life.

Every gardener knows that unless we get to the roots, we really are not getting rid of the problem.  It may go away for awhile but unless we get to the root, it will sneak back into the garden very quickly.

Although the harvest time is here there is no time to stop weeding the garden of our minds.  This garden needs constant attention in order for us to flourish and be all that we can be.  The only way to keep this garden in top shape is to make sure that no weeds are there trying to strangle any good we are trying to do.  The weeds of our mind, of course are negative thoughts that like to creep in and keep us from achieving that which we are striving for.

William James said, "Human beings, by changing the inner attitudes of their minds, can change the outer aspects of their lives.

How do we change the inner attitudes of our minds?  By changing the way we think. We must put fear and negativity behind us. How, you ask?  Just as the leaves of autumn gently blow from the tree, don't try and make a change in your thinking over night and expect to get instant results.  We cannot rip these thoughts out of our minds, as much as we would like to sometimes. No, we need to be gentle on ourselves and let positive thoughts replace the negative. 

Yes it will take some work on your part. You must constantly fill your mind with positive thoughts.  Proverbs 27: 3 says, As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.  We are what we think.  When the negative thoughts come into your mind, you must be ready and willing to replace those thoughts with positive ones.  Just say to yourself, no, I won't let that thought take over my mind, I will think positively.  Affirmations are good to have readily available so you can replace the negative thought with the positive one.  It won't be easy, it won't be hard either, it will just be different, like that new pair of shoes we were talking about earlier.

The autumn leaves fall to make way for new life.  We too must go through changes that will bring new growth to our bodies, souls and spirits.

Change is inevitable, so why fight it? Why be afraid of it? Yes, change will require us to do a bit of readjusting but it is always worth it.  Don't be afraid of change, a change will do you good.

 

29 Motivational Quotes for Business and other Work Environments

29 Motivational Quotes for Business and other Work Environments

Word Count:
693

Summary:
Some days a motivational quote can provide a quick pick-me-up for employees and even management. They can be a breath of fresh air when it comes to a drab afternoon.

Keywords:
motivation, personal development, success

Article Body:
Some days a motivational quote can provide a quick pick-me-up for employees and even management. They can be a breath of fresh air when it comes to a drab afternoon. These are also a great way to jazz up a newsletter or a memo or even to simply print and attach to a bulletin board. Using quotes like these are perfect ways to create a motivational and successful work environment. As Mr. Rick Pitino says "The only way to get people to like working hard is to motivate them. Today, people must understand why they're working hard. Every individual in an organization is motivated by something different." --Rick Pitino

Motivational Quotes:

1. Mahatma Gandhi: You must be the change you wish to see in the world.

2. Jim Stovall: You need to be aware of what others are doing, applaud their efforts, acknowledge their successes, and encourage them in their pursuits. When we all help one another, everybody wins.

3. Robert Frost: The only way around is through.

4. Warren Buffett: You only have to do a very few things right in your life so long as you don't do too many things wrong.

5. Les Brown: You must remain focused on your journey to greatness.

6. Theodore Roosevelt Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.

7. Charles F. Kettering: Where there is an open mind, there will always be a frontier

8. Henry Ford: Whether you think you can or whether you think you can't, you're right!

9. Jim Rohn: You must either modify your dreams or magnify your skills.

10. William Hazlitt: Who likes not his business, his business likes not him.

11. Denis Waitley: Winners take time to relish their work, knowing that scaling the mountain is what makes the view from the top so exhilarating.

12. Le Iacocca: Management is nothing more than motivating other people.

13. Dwight D.: Motivation is the art of getting people to do what you want them to do because they want to do it.

14. Drucker: The most serious mistakes are not being made as a result of wrong answers. The truly dangerous thing is asking the wrong question

15. Max Schmelling: Why did I want to win? Because I didn't want to lose!

16. J. Paul Getty: To succeed in business, to reach the top, an individual must know all it is possible to know about that business.

17. Pierre Corneille: To win without risk is to triumph without glory.

18. Tony Dorsett: To succeed... You need to find something to hold on to, something to motivate you, something to inspire you.

19. James Broughton: The only limits are, as always, those of vision.

20. George Kneller: To think creatively, we must be able to look afresh at what we normally take for granted.

21. Peter McWilliams: To the degree we're not living our dreams; our comfort zone has more control of us than we have over ourselves.

22. Johann Wolfgang Von Goeth: To think is easy. To act is difficult. To act as one thinks is the most difficult.

23. Tryon Edwards: To waken interest and kindle enthusiasm is the sure way to teach easily and successfully.

24. Spanish Proverb: Tomorrow is often the busiest day of the week.

25. Lyndon B. Johnson: The noblest search is the search for excellence

26. Charles M. Schwab: The man who does not work for the love of work but only for money is not likely to neither make money nor find much fun in life.

27. Chinese Proverb: The miracle is not to fly in the air, or to walk on the water; but to walk on the earth.

28. John Naisbitt: The new source of power is not money in the hands of a few, but information in the hands of many.

29. Henry Ford: The man who will use his skill and constructive imagination to see how much he can give for a dollar, instead of how little he can give for a dollar, is bound to succeed.

Many employers will add these quotes inside the employees' paycheck envelope. Sometimes it may be a motivational quote, other times a silly antidote. Include employee birthdays or other important events to help your employees feel a part of the team.

 

10 Simple Steps to Self-Motivation and More Sales

10 Simple Steps to Self-Motivation and More Sales

Word Count:
1112

Summary:
Do you find influencing other people and getting your point across a bit of a challenge? This article provides 10 simple steps which will show you how to motivate and sell yourself.

Keywords:
Self-Motivation, Sales, Presentaion

Article Body:
Every day of your life you are selling yourself, nothing happens until you're successful at doing that.

We're all in the selling business whether we like it or not. It doesn't matter whether you're a lawyer or an accountant, a manager or a politician, an engineer or a doctor.

We all spend a great deal of our time trying to persuade people to buy our product or service, accept our proposals or merely accept what we say.

Before you get better at persuading or influencing other people - you need to get better at self-motivation and selling yourself.

Here are 10 simple steps to self-motivation:

#1 - You must believe in the product

Selling yourself is pretty much like selling anything. Firstly, you need to believe in what you're selling. That means believing in "you." It's about lots of positive self-talk and the right attitude.

The first thing people notice about you is your attitude. If you're like most people then you'll suffer from lack of confidence from time to time.

It really all comes down to how you talk to yourself. The majority of people are more likely to talk to themselves negatively than positively - this is what holds them back in life.

It isn't just about a positive attitude; it's about the right attitude - the quality of your thinking.

Successful people have a constructive and optimistic way of looking at themselves and their work. They have an attitude of calm, confident, positive self-expectation. They feel good about themselves and believe that everything they do will lead to their inevitable success.

If you're in a sales job or a business owner or a manager then you need to continually work on your attitude. You need to listen to that little voice inside your head. Is it saying you're on top, going for it and confident, or is it holding you back.

If you're hearing - "I can't do this or that" or "They won't want to buy at the moment" or "We're too expensive" then you'd better change your self-talk or change your job.

Start to believe in yourself and don't let things that are out with your control effect your attitude.

Avoid criticising, condemning and complaining and start spreading a little happiness.

Remember the saying of Henry Ford, founder of the Ford Motor Company - "If you believe you can do a thing, or if you believe you can't, in either case you're probably right."

#2 - The packaging must grab attention

Like any other product we buy, the way the product is packaged and presented will influence the customer's decision to buy.

Everything about you needs to look good and you must dress appropriately for the occasion. And don't think that just because your customer dresses casually, that they expect you to dress the same way.

The style and colour of the clothes you wear, your spectacles, shoes, briefcase, watch, the pen you use, all make a statement about you.

#3 - Smile

No need to get carried away, you don't need a big cheesy grin, just a pleasant open face that doesn't frighten people away.

#4 - Use names

Use the customers name as soon as you can but don't over do it. Business is less formal nowadays however be careful of using first names initially. Make sure your customer knows yours and remembers it. You can do the old repeat trick -"My name is Bond, James Bond" or "My name is James, James Bond"

#5 - Watch the other person

What does their body language tell you? Are they comfortable with you or are they a bit nervous? Are they listening to you or are their eyes darting around the room. If they're not comfortable and not listening then there's no point telling them something important about your business.

Far better to make some small talk and more importantly -get then to talk about themselves.

It's best to go on the assumption that in the first few minutes of meeting someone new, they won't take in much of what you say. They're too busy analysing all the visual data they're taking in.

#6 - Listen and look like you're listening.

Many people, particularly men, listen but don't show that they're listening. The other person can only go on what they see, not what's going on inside your head. If they see a blank expression then they'll assume you're "out to lunch."

The trick is to do all the active listening things such as nodding your head, the occasional "UH-HUH" and the occasional question.

#7 - Be interested.

If you want to be INTERESTING then be INTERESTED. This really is the most important thing you can do to be successful at selling yourself.

The majority of people are very concerned about their self-image. If they sense that you value them, that you feel that they're important and worth listening to, then you effectively raise their self-image. If you can help people to like themselves then they'll LOVE you.

Don't fall into the trap of flattering the other person, because most people will see right through you and they won't fall for it. Just show some genuine interest in the customer and their business and they'll be much more receptive to what you say.

#8 - Talk positively.

Don't say - "Isn't it a horrible day" or "Business is pretty tough at present" or any thing else that pulls the conversation down. Say things like (and only the truth) - "I like the design of this office" or "I've heard some good reports about your new product."

#9 - Mirror the other person

This doesn't mean mimicking the other person, it just means you speaking and behaving in a manner that is similar to the customer.

For example, if your customer speaks slowly or quietly, then you speak slowly or quietly. Remember people like people who are like themselves.

#10 - Warm and friendly

If you look or sound stressed or aggressive then don't be surprised if the other person gets defensive and less than willing to co-operate.

If you look and sound warm and friendly, then you're more likely to get a positive response.

This isn't about being all nicey-nicey. It's about a pleasant open face or a warm tone over the telephone.

Before we can get down to the process of selling our product, our service or our ideas then we need to be as sure as we can  be - that the customer has bought us and that we have their full attention.