December 20

Just Do It

There are two phrases I grew up with. The first was from the book, Think and Grow Rich," by Napolean Hill, "If you want it bad enough you will get it." and the second, I don't know the original source of this phrase, but it has been used extensively by Nike, "Just do it."

If you want your dreams to come true, you must face them daily. Let nothing interfere with your desires.

It's very easy to commit to this dedication, but dreams and desires require action. This is where many of us falter. We say "tomorrow." "Tomorrow I will start. I'm kind of busy today or I don't really feel up to it today, or....." The excuses come day to day and before you know it a month or two has gone by and your dreams are forgotten.

Is this what you want? Apparently it is or your determination would be driving you to accomplish your goal. Don't put your dreams aside. Now is the time. If you want to grow, "Just do it!" Get out there, think and dwell on what you want. Think of nothing else. When you feel yourself loosing sight of what you want, push your mind back to where you want it. Don't let others sway you. Your dreams are you and they are not frivolous or foolish.

You must work for what you want, but when you put in the effort, the world responds and things will come your way. Work through the frustration. You may loose a battle or two, but with patience and determination you will win the war.

Why Do They Have All The Luck!

Ever notice how some people have all the luck? They seem to attract clients and business effortlessly, and win awards without even trying. Even the media seems to seek them out. So what makes THEM the anointed ones…. and not you? The difference is passion. The passion to win or accomplish your dreams.

Passion is what what makes you get up in the morning, to be excited about what your going to do or accomplish. It’s what pushes you through tasks you would rather not do – and propels you through those that are ordinarily intimidating.

Passion gives you momentum. Momentum to accomplish your dreams.

Passion is contagious. Display your passion to others and they can't help but respond. True Passion creates a magnetic field that draws others to us. It is irritable. Others want to be a part of this magical euphoria we display.

Be passionate about your business, display enthusiasm and a positive mental attitude and the public will respond. When communicating with a customer or prospect, exhibit your passion.

Don't sell your product, sell yourself ! Be energetic, positive. Let your customer or prospect see the passion in your eyes, hear it in your voice. Talk to yourself everyday. Look yourself in the eye and display the passion that is hidden within you. Make the client want to help you or share your success with you. Everyone needs to be uplifted and your attitude can do that for someone and the rewards will just flow from that encounter and you yourself will find that same magnetism flowing back from the client.

Why the Elephants Don’t Run
By Jim Donovan

I Ran across this article and found it quite interesting. Hope you do also.

A number of years ago, I had the rather unique experience of being backstage in Madison Square Garden, in New York, during the Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey Circus. To say the least, it was a fascinating experience. I was able to walk around looking at the lions, tigers, giraffes and all the other circus animals.

As I was passing the elephants, I suddenly stopped, confused by the fact that these huge creatures were being held by only a small rope tied to their front leg. No chains, no cages. It was obvious that the ele-phants could, at any time, break away from their bonds but for some reason, they did not. I saw a trainer near by and asked why these beautiful, magnificent animals just stood there and made no at-tempt to get away.

"Well," he said, "when they are very young and much smaller we use the same size rope to tie them and, at that age, it’s enough to hold them. As they grow up, they are conditioned to believe they cannot break away. They think the rope can still hold them, so they never try to break free."

I was amazed. These animals could at any time break free from their bonds but because they believed they could not, they were stuck right where they were.

Like the elephants, how many of us go through life hanging onto a belief that we cannot do something, simply because we failed at it once before? How many of us are being held back by old, outdated beliefs that no longer serve us? Have you avoided trying something new because of a limiting belief? Worse, how many of us are being held back by someone else’s limiting beliefs? Do you tell yourself you can’t sell because your not a salesperson?

Particularly in starting or running a business, we are cautioned not to take risks, usually by well intentioned friends and family. How many of us have heard, "You can’t do that?" These are the dream stealers who, due to their own limiting beliefs, will attempt to discourage you from living your dreams. You must ignore them at all cost!

I am not suggesting that you should not seek advice from qualified individuals and mentors, but that you avoid like the plague, being swayed by the limiting beliefs of others, especially people who are not in their own business.

Challenge your own limiting beliefs by questioning them. If you begin to question a belief, you automatically weaken it. The more you question your limiting beliefs, the more they are weakened. It’s like kicking the legs out from under a stool. Once you weaken one leg, the stool begins to lose its balance and fall.

Think back to a time when you "sold" someone on yourself. We are selling all the time. You have to sell your ideas to your spouse, your children, and your employees — even your banker. Maybe, as a child, you sold Girl Scout cookies or magazine subscriptions to raise money for your school team. That was selling too!

Once you realize you are, in fact, a capable salesperson, you have weakened that old belief and began to replace it with a new, empowering one. Look for references to support the new beliefs you want to cultivate. As in the example of the stool, you want to reinforce your beliefs by adding more and more "legs" to them.

Find people who have accomplished what you want to accomplish, discover what they did and model their behavior. Remember back to times in your past when you were successful and use that experience to propel yourself forward. If your challenge is in sales, read sales books and listen to tapes or attend sales seminars. This is a critical area of your business. One that cannot be undermined by limiting beliefs.

There is a technique called "fake it until you make it" that works well. I am not suggesting you live in denial, just that you begin to see yourself succeeding. Visualize your successes. See yourself vividly in your minds eye making the sale and reaching your goals. Affirm, over and over, that you are succeeding. Write your affirmations daily. Of course, make sure you take the appropriate action. As it says in the Bible, "Faith without works is dead."

Remember that your subconscious mind does not know the difference between real and imaginary. Before you go on a sales call, take a moment and mentally rehearse the scene, just like actors and athletes do. Tell yourself, "I’m a great salesperson." Do this over and over, especially just before a sales call. See the sale being made. See and feel the success. You will be pleasantly amazed at the result. Don’t take my word for it. Give it a try. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

It has been said throughout history that what ever you believe, with conviction, you can achieve. Don’t be like the poor elephant and go through your life stuck because of a limiting belief you were given or developed years ago. Take charge of your life and live it to the fullest. You deserve the best.

Jim Donovan is an author, speaker and coach who inspires people to go beyond where they are and reach their potential.