Big Ego

Functioning in your ego? Being proud of your accomplishments is not only valid, but should be celebrated. Write major goals and minor goals on your goal sheet; having the fun of checking them off, is to be relished. Giving yourself a prize for accomplishment and a penalty for missing the mark serves to incentivize goals. I applaud goal achievement and reward.

During my morning work out today, I listened to Dr Wayne Dyer. Dr Dyer has published 30 books, numerous audio recordings, hosted public television programs and lectured all over the world. His point this morning struck a chord in my heart. He was speaking on the Success dual disk which arrives every two months in my Success magazine.

Dr Dyer, known as the father of motivation, turned the crank of my thought pattern this morning by challenging my perspective. Wayne spoke about how for the first nine months of our life we don’t worry about anything. We have zero concerns about the color of our eyes or if our heart will start beating. Our mother simply carries us in her womb and lets God do his perfect work to create us. On the day of our birth, we unconsciously say, “Great work, God. We’ll take over from here.” We let our EGO take over from that point forward. Wayne’s definition of EGO is Edge God Out.

On some level, we say, “We are in control now. We take credit for all of the wonderful talents, abilities and accomplishments in our life. Unfortunately, sometimes He gets the blame when things do not go well. If we are going to take all of the credit for the great events, we also need to take responsibility for the “why did that happen” events. Most of us function largely within our ego.

Are you accepting full responsibility for your life? Taking credit for all of the wonderful events also requires taking full responsibility for our mistakes. Ego isn’t totally bad if it spurs you forward to create more with the time and talents you were given. Napoleon Hill spoke of the two sealed envelopes we bring with us at birth. He reminded us of the benefits of taking control of our mind and the penalties for not taking control of our mind. Taking control of our own mind allows us to grow and achieve. Ego plays a part in that growth and achievement.

The core issue revolves around whether we function totally self serving or serving others. Functioning totally, or even 90 per cent, within our ego indicates a strong probability that we are edging God out of the picture and being self serving.

Some of the greatest leaders throughout history were servant leaders. They learned the valuable lesson of valuing other people. They achieved great wealth by assisting others to reach their dreams and goals. Great leaders are also known throughout history to be deeply grateful for the blessings and opportunities they have received. Research all of the great leaders and you will find deeply religious convictions.

You will either be remembered for the problems you solve or the problems you create. Great leaders who are servant leaders focus on serving others. Great leaders provide benefit to others.

Hitler, on the other hand, functioned on ego and encouraged his followers to function on the egocentric belief that they were superior. Look how that ended. . .

Think carefully about your feelings and motivation. Are you functioning out of ego and being self serving? Are you edging God out? How do you choose to have your legacy read, “He gave value to others” or “He lived for his own gain.”

Ego under control can produce positive results. Ego out of control becomes destructive.

For more thought provoking articles, visit me at www.Elaine4Success.com.

Slight Edge

Jeff Olson recorded a cd about “The Slight Edge.” This audio clarifies the fine line between success and a mediocre life. The good news is that it really is a slight edge. You may be closer than you think to achieving your goals and dreams.

For instance, he spoke about a nice shoe shine lady in the airport who read a great many books. Reading is excellent. Every great leader recommends reading. Brian Tracy and Dennis Waitley recommend reading for a minimum of thirty minutes per day. Jim Rohn, noted business philosopher recommends reading a book a week. In fact, one of Jim’s weekend seminars teaches how to read a book a day. Every great leader is a reader.

So what is the problem for the nice show shine lady? She was reading romance novels. Nothing is wrong with romance; I am an absolute romantic. Romance novels do not enhance the intellect or provide inspiration or even motivation to succeed in business. What if that stack of dog-eared books included “Think and Grow Rich” by Napoleon Hill, “The Richest Man in Babylon” by George S. Clason, “The Travelers Gift” by Andy Andrews, “The Prosperity Secrets of the Ages” by Catherine Ponder or “The Seven Habits of Highly Successful People” by Steven Covey? Reading is critical to success but it is not just reading but which books you choose to read.

Your mind is a fertile garden which can be planted with the seeds of greatness or weeds of mindless chatter. It is a slight edge. In many cases, THE slight edge.

Another slight edge revolves around your daily habits. How much time do you spend watching television? Silly situation comedy shows may be fun but what do they do for your mind? How much time do you spend every day watching CNN, which I refer to as constantly negative news? Have you ever noticed that most news stations give you negative news, then a commercial for an anti-depressant, more negative news and another commercial for another anti-depressant? Why not eliminate the negative? What are you planting in that fertile soil of your mind? Are you planting positive thoughts and inspiration or negative thoughts and empty time fillers?

I’m not saying that you should not be informed about world and local events, but filter the essential from the un-necessary negative. I have televisions in my home; however, I probably have not had them on a total of ten hours in a year. My time is spent with good books, educational and inspirational cds and masterminding with leaders.

The slight edge makes all the difference. Start by committing to reading at least 30 minutes per day or at least 10 pages per day. Focus on reading growth-oriented information which will inspire, inform or encourage you. Spend your free time filling your mind with positive thoughts rather than negative. It is imperative that the last 30 minutes before sleep and the first 30 minutes after you awaken be filled with positive thoughts and information.

Success involves a slight edge. Who knows, this may be the slight edge which turns your life from ordinary to exceptional.

Slight Edge

Jeff Olson recorded a cd about “The Slight Edge.” This audio clarifies the fine line between success and a mediocre life. The good news is that it really is a slight edge. You may be closer than you think to achieving your goals and dreams.

For instance, he spoke about a nice shoe shine lady in the airport who read a great many books. Reading is excellent. Every great leader recommends reading. Brian Tracy and Dennis Waitley recommend reading for a minimum of thirty minutes per day. Jim Rohn, noted business philosopher recommends reading a book a week. In fact, one of Jim’s weekend seminars teaches how to read a book a day. Every great leader is a reader.

So what is the problem for the nice show shine lady? She was reading romance novels. Nothing is wrong with romance; I am an absolute romantic. Romance novels do not enhance the intellect or provide inspiration or even motivation to succeed in business. What if that stack of dog-eared books included “Think and Grow Rich” by Napoleon Hill, “The Richest Man in Babylon” by George S. Clason, “The Travelers Gift” by Andy Andrews, “The Prosperity Secrets of the Ages” by Catherine Ponder or “The Seven Habits of Highly Successful People” by Steven Covey? Reading is critical to success but it is not just reading but which books you choose to read.

Your mind is a fertile garden which can be planted with the seeds of greatness or weeds of mindless chatter. It is a slight edge. In many cases, THE slight edge.

Another slight edge revolves around your daily habits. How much time do you spend watching television? Silly situation comedy shows may be fun but what do they do for your mind? How much time do you spend every day watching CNN, which I refer to as constantly negative news? Have you ever noticed that most news stations give you negative news, then a commercial for an anti-depressant, more negative news and another commercial for another anti-depressant? Why not eliminate the negative? What are you planting in that fertile soil of your mind? Are you planting positive thoughts and inspiration or negative thoughts and empty time fillers?

I’m not saying that you should not be informed about world and local events, but filter the essential from the un-necessary negative. I have televisions in my home; however, I probably have not had them on a total of ten hours in a year. My time is spent with good books, educational and inspirational cds and masterminding with leaders.

The slight edge makes all the difference. Start by committing to reading at least 30 minutes per day or at least 10 pages per day. Focus on reading growth-oriented information which will inspire, inform or encourage you. Spend your free time filling your mind with positive thoughts rather than negative. It is imperative that the last 30 minutes before sleep and the first 30 minutes after you awaken be filled with positive thoughts and information.

Success involves a slight edge. Who knows, this may be the slight edge which turns your life from ordinary to exceptional.