Attitude as a Rock in Your Success Path

"Rock your world" implies a positive image. Everyone responds enthusiastically to having their world rocked in a pleasurable way. Surprises you receive on your birthday and Christmas present delightful thoughts. You expect birthday and Christmas surprises to rock your world in a happy manner.

When the boss says, "Come in to my office, we need to talk" that uncertain surprise conveys an entirely different thought pattern. Your first thought frequently hovers around the apprehensive as you anticipate that conversation. That little talk with your boss has the potential of being a rock in your career path.

The words are similar since both could "rock your world" but the instant mental image is 180 degrees apart. The difference is more than just the words; it is the tone and the particular setting. Birthday and Christmas are automatically anticipated to be delightful expectations. An encounter with the boss conveys apprehension.

How much of our life do we pre-determine through our expectations? Unconsciously we set the stage for our experiences. How much do we actually contribute to the rocks in our path to success? Are we constructing our own rock slide avalanche?

Our own attitude determines more of our results than we like to admit. We choose to expect positive or negative results from every situation in our life. Does the situation change? No, our attitude and expectation change with each situation. You may accidentally be constructing your own rocks in your success path due to your attitude.


Attitude Checklist
1. What decision have you made about your attitude for today?
2. Did you decide last night, early this morning or in the heat of the moment?
3. Describe your exact decision.
4. Write out the one discipline you must practice each and every day to maintain that positive attitude.
5. List the old programming, family history or events influencing your daily attitude.

Life revolves around your internal attitudes and feelings, not what happens in the outside world. What happens to you and what other people think is never as important as what you think and feel. Your attitude truly is within your control.

David Neagle went from a fork lift operator who possessed a rotten attitude about everything to a very positive person about everything. His income directly reflected his correlating attitudes. A bad attitude translated to a very low bank account; an extremely positive attitude reflected an extremely plush bank account. The one major difference was his attitude. Attitude is a choice. Every day and every situation you have the opportunity to select your attitude. Making a firm decision to maintain a great attitude in advance of a ticklish situation creates a much higher likelihood of a positive result.

A recent study of teens who chose to take drugs or avoid drugs revealed an amazingly simple fact. The teens were from similar neighborhoods, similar economic backgrounds, similar academic achievements and similar religious backgrounds. The only difference between the teens who took drugs and the teens who did not take drugs was one simple fact. The teens who did not take drugs made a conscious decision prior to the heat of the moment.

Making a decision to have a positive attitude directly relates to the choice to take or not take drugs. When a firm decision is made in advance, the positive results are far more likely. Decide right now to maintain a positive attitude and resolve to uphold that decision no matter what happens. The simple act of deciding in advance creates a stronghold for victory.

You have the ability to prevent some rocks in your path to success simply by choosing a positive attitude and resolving to maintain that decision. Will it remove all rocks? No, but why create unnecessary impediments? Success has enough challenges without creating your own rock blocks.

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Build Self Confidence

Mindset determines your results. The lack of self confidence throws a massive road block in your path to success. With or without your intention, your self confidence or lack of it will transmit into your results. The vibration we emit to others directly relates to our degree of self confidence.

In the early years when I owned the property management company in Steamboat I achieved several high honors from the industry. My business prospered more and more each year. My situation parallels many other successful business people whose business declined in direct relation to the beginning of personal problems. Business success directly related to the success within their personal life. At the point I entered into a relationship with a very successful man, my business began to suffer. He constantly reminded me how small my business was in comparison to other businesses within my management association. He pointed out how other management companies in other states were far larger and thus far more successful than my property management company. I ALLOWED this negative comparison to erode my self confidence in myself and my business. As I allowed these negative thoughts to undermine my self confidence, my business soon began to decline.

Note that I take full responsibility for the decline of my business and the erosion of my self confidence. Never underestimate the power of the words, attitudes and influence of those around you. Not only does your income seem to become the average of the five closest people to you, but their attitudes and influence generally impact your attitudes and thus your results. Quite frequently business success parallels personal self confidence.

Personal attitudes, self confidence and financial results seek the same level. Just as water seeks its own level, so does your business success seek a level with your self confidence.

Examine your life, your results and your self confidence. You will probably find a direct correlation in your life. In this time of economic turmoil, lack of self confidence abounds. Solutions do exist. For me, it took some serious personal development to overcome the decline in self confidence. Yes, I also removed myself from the negative mental relationship.

Jim Rohn, noted business philosopher, remarked that there are people you can spend five minutes with but not five hours. There are others with whom you can spend a day but not a week. Guard your associations and their influence upon you carefully. Associate with people who challenge you to improve your attitude, self confidence and achievements. Spend your time reading empowering books, listening to positive cds, and speaking with growth and achievement oriented individuals. Rebuild your self confidence.

Success is an inside game. Every positive thought inspires another positive thought which forms a chain reaction of empowerment and encouragement. If a hesitant or negative thought creeps into your mind, immediately reframe it as a positive. Your mind exists as a marvelous tool for your good or your downfall; you choose which one by your thoughts and your associations.

Start every day and end every day with positive affirmations. Recall every success from your past no matter how small and celebrate them. Recapture that feeling of happiness and self confidence. Any time you experience hesitation recall that feeling of success and feel the joy all over again. At the end of the day write down every success, no matter how small, which occurred throughout the day. Each morning before you arise, refresh you mind with those successes and resolve to create more in the new day.

Your mindset and your self confidence propel you forward or backward. Focus on the direction you choose to go and your subconscious mind will assist you. Become the example of self confidence and success you choose for yourself. You will receive the bonus not only of your own success but also of providing the success path for others to follow.

For more inspiration, empowerment and encouragement join me at www.Elaine4Success.com

Trapped By Excuses

Risk terrifies the faint of heart and inspires the entrepreneurial spirit.

The motto of the “Don’t Dare Try It” people according to John Maxwell in his book “Failing Forward” reads “I would rather try nothing great and succeed than try something great and risk failure.” Such a statement and belief tears at my soul. As one who has been psychologically unemployable, an entrepreneur, for over thirty years, that is inconceivable. Yet I know people who actually think in that exact pattern.

The motto of the “Don’t Dare Miss it” people reads “I would rather try something great and fail than try nothing great and succeed.” Only through stretching ourselves, stepping out of our comfort zone and risking do we achieve fulfillment. Success never chases you down begging to bestow its rewards upon you. Every success requires some risk but the greatest risk of all consists of doing nothing and regretting the result.

Why do people avoid taking risk? There are six common traps which make people back away from risk. The ideas for the titles belong to John Maxwell.
1. Embarrassment Trap

No one chooses to fail and lose face. Every successful person, myself included, has several people around them not only expecting them to fail but openly stating the expectation of failure. Are you going to let that stop you? The true committed entrepreneur shrugs it off and proceeds forward. The timid quit. If you fail, so what. Don’t gift wrap the garbage. Let it go and go on.

2. Rationalization Trap

Even know someone who gets caught over analyzing everything? Keep picking at anything long enough and you can find a way to talk yourself out of taking action. Analysis paralysis disease afflicts everyone who seeks an excuse not to take action. Due diligence to the extreme in order to avoid making a decision.

3. Unrealistic Expectation Trap

This person starts a new business in an industry where they have zero experience, plans to invest very little money and earn a multiple 5 figure income within 30 days. Fast money with no effort simply does not exist. Success requires effort.

4. Fairness Trap

Whining that something should not have happened to you does absolutely nothing to solve the problem. Complaining that something was not fair smacks of the blame game or “poor me.” Nothing ever moves forward while moaning about life not being fair. Find something good in the situation and move on with life.

5. Timing Trap

Procrastinators anonymous considered the formation of a group but never got around to setting the first meeting. Putting off duties until tomorrow never accomplishes anything. Tomorrow never comes. When you run low on money you can earn more. When you run out of time, you are done. Stop waiting for the perfect time and take constructive action today.

6. Inspiration Trap

Waiting for inspiration becomes a way of putting off starting. An amateur waits for a flash of inspiration to sit down and write whereas a professional starts writing and allow inspiration to flow through them. The flash of an idea never lingers. Writ it down and take action immediately or at least within 24 hours. I keep a notepad on my nightstand and in my exercise room. I keep a tiny tape recorder in my car for those idea flashes when I am unable to safely write.

You can make money and achieve success or you can make excuses. Rarely, if ever, will you make both at the same time.

For more success tips and techniques and words of inspiration, join me at www.Elaine4Success.com. Create the life you love and deserve. Stop procrastinating.

Desire to Inspire

Jim Rohn, now a world renowned author, speaker and business philosopher, started his inspirational journey when he was 25 years old. At that point in his life, he was not only broke but in debt. Broke is a temporary financial state; however, poor is a state of mind from which recovery takes more effort. Almost every great leader and financial success has suffered from financial lack at one point. None of them ever considered themselves poor.

Every great leader first developed self inspiration before they could effectively inspire others. Zig Zigler said, “Motivation does not last, but neither does bathing, that is why we do it every day.” The same statement applies to inspiration. In order to inspire other people, you first require a burning desire within yourself. Your own inner passion and self inspiration fire will fuel the fire to inspire others.

One of the greatest thrills for me is to know that I have touched, moved and inspired someone to go forward and achieve their dreams. Jim Rohn said one of the greatest thrills for anyone is to hear their name in someone else’s testimonial. Teachers and pastors rarely select that vocation for the financial rewards; they select those careers to inspire others to develop their full potential.

I started teaching seniors in high school the day of my 21st birthday. Now some 40+ years later I still hear from some of those students. The joy I feel hearing about the impact I made on their lives transcends explanation. My younger son had the opportunity to study law but chose to be a high school teacher instead. His passion for his students provided him the opportunity to be the youngest headmaster of an international high school. Currently he chairs the international division of a prep school in New Hampshire. The impact he provides inspires his students, his small sons, his wonderful wife, the faculty at the school and probably so many others whose lives he has touched.

We each have the opportunity every day to inspire others. Perhaps it is a smile or a kind word to brighten someone’s day. As a young single mother, I learned that children learn more by what we do than what we say. Children are extremely observant. They realize more than most give them credit for observing. The seemingly small unselfish acts of parents, co-workers or bosses inspire others to extend themselves. Every gesture creates an influence. When the legacy you choose to create revolves around kind gestures, you inspire me and you will enhance the lives of others. Everyone will be remembered for the problems they create or the problems they solve. You choose.

As I write this, I look up on the top of my roll top desk to a simple little gray rock which was given to me by an employee approximately 30 years ago. Engraved in the rock is the one word,”inspire.” The token of appreciation for what seemed to me as a small gesture of kindness impacted and inspired. Whose life will you have the opportunity to inspire today? Even more important - - will you make the effort to inspire others today? What a wonderful world we will create by extending inspiration and kindness to others.

For more uplifting and informative articles, visit my published article collection at www.Elaine4Success.com.

Have an inspiring day.

The Sweetest Gift You Can Ever Give is the Gift of Yourself

One simple gift is the gift of listening. Listening is a silent form of flattery. Maybe it is listening to a small child who wants to show you a treasure they find absolutely fascinating. When my mother was in the nursing home, I learned how very much the residents treasured having someone really listen to them. Most people listen waiting for a gap in the conversation so they can speak or listen for just enough information to present their point of view. How many times do we really focus and listen. Are you ever guilty of stopping listening to your spouse because you have been together so long you think you already know what they are going to say?
Giving of our time and focused attention is one of the sweetest gifts we can ever give.
Another gift we can all give is writing a simple 2 line note. Walt Whitman was born in the early 1800’s and he was struggling to get anyone to pay any attention to his poetry. One day a little 2 line note arrived. It simply said, “I am not blind to the wit and wisdom of the Leaves of Grass. I greet you At the beginning of a great career.” Signed Ralph Waldo Emerson. I’ll bet Whitman kept that note. We all keep those special notes. Maybe we keep them in a scrapbook or drawer or even a box but we keep them. Leaves of Grass was published in 1855 when Whitman was 36 years old. 36 in 1855 was much later in life than our 36 in 2009. I greet you at the beginning of a great career.
Who is it in your life right now who deserves that little 2 line note from you? Write down the names of 3 people who deserve a note of encouragement, inspiration, or appreciation from you?
Giving of yourself to help others feel good is a gift of sharing Gods love. We are the children of a loving God. He is our father and he wants the best for us.
He sat in my soul and guided me as a single mother, many times with not enough money to feed the 3 of us. He gave me wisdom to share with those two adorable little boys which I had absolutely no way of knowing. My own childhood had been the total opposite of Ward and June Cleaver. How many of you remember the show Leave it to Beaver? I gave those boys love and encouragement and self confidence that I had never experienced. God did it for me. There is no other answer. They are wonderful men, great daddy’s and loving husbands. With Gods’ help the chain of abuse was broken. I am so deeply grateful.
It is said that the vibration in the room raised simply by having Mother Theresa walk into the room. Serotonin is the chemical in the brain which is the “feel good” chemical. It is a known fact that the serotonin increases in the brain of a person doing a kind deed for another. Not only that but the serotonin increases in the brain of the person receiving the act of kindness and it is even a known fact that it increases in the brains of people watching an act of kindness.
Do something good for someone today with the absolute knowing that they could never repay you. Spread Gods love by doing kind acts for others just for the joy of doing a kind act.
Giving is all about sharing the gifts God has given you.
We all have gifts. Whether it is art as in making cards or pictures, or cooking or music or reading or kind acts to other people. We all have gifts to share. The most cherished gift is a gift of the heart. A gift of yourself.
When I was a broke student secretary in college I worked for Dr. Reilly. Doc was brilliant beyond belief. He carried his Phi Beta Kappa key on his rosary every day. Docs’ honors filled several pages of a vita. With that many accolades, he could have been arrogant and egotistical but he was not. He was humble. When I went above and beyond my hours to do some special task for him, he knew I could not be paid. His hobby was growing long stem red roses. I knew after each of those tasks I would come in the next morning to a long stem red rose on my desk. He had his special way of saying thank you. I treasured those roses. A gift of appreciation and kindness.
There are so many ways we can give.
I truly believe God brought me here for a reason. I had every argument in the world why I could not make the move from Steamboat. He gently but firmly said “Castle Rock” for a year. Despite every reason why it should not have been possible, I am here in exactly the size house I wanted, the exact location, the exact price and the exact timing.
God opened to me a love for speaking and writing which I had never known or experienced. Apparently He was waiting for me to be ready to receive and share this gift. What gift is God waiting to open for you? What gift do you have to share? He gave each and every one of us gifts. It is like the talents in the Bible. He expects us to develop and multiply those gifts.
I am so blessed and so grateful for my life.
You simply will not be the same person two months from now after consciously giving thanks for the abundance in your life and you will have set in motion an ancient spiritual law. The more you have and are grateful for, the more will be given you.
Give of yourself, give of your gifts and be grateful to God for all of your blessings.

Always Be Growing - Mind Candy

We all know that what we feed our body, determines our health, our weight and our energy. How much attention are you giving to your mind? What diet are you feeding your mind?

Are you listening and watching the electronic income reducer – TV? How many of those programs actually pick up your spirits and stretch your imagination in a positive direction? If you watch Constantly Negative News, CNN, you generally find depressing news followed by a commercial for an anti-depressant, followed by more negative news and followed by another commercial for another anti-depressant. See a pattern here?

If you continue to feed your body unhealthy food, you will have health problems. The same goes for your mind. If you feed your mind a diet of depression and violence, how can you possibly expect a happy, upbeat outlook on life?

Fill your mind with mental nutrients, especially first thing in the morning and the last thing at night. You subconscious mind is the most receptive when you are just coming out of an alpha state (sleep) and just before you drift into an alpha state. The last thing in your mind before sleep and the first thoughts into your mind when you awake are the most important. Use these times to program your subconscious mind with what you truly desire to achieve.

Avoid television, especially violence or depressing news at least an hour before sleep. Personally, I do not watch television. I prefer to read at least 10 pages of a really good book the last thing before I go to sleep.

The first thing on awakening, I like to read positive affirmations. It sets the tone for the day. The next activity is always my treadmill. I listen to inspirational or educational cds during that time. It not only makes the time go faster but it fills my mind with uplifting and mind stretching thoughts prior to starting my work day. Periodically throughout the day, I repeat the positive affirmations.

I have not listened to regular radio stations in my car. I prefer educational or inspirational cds in my car as well. Even a traffic jam is more tolerable with something soothing and pleasantly stimulating.

What we think about, we bring about. I prefer encouraging and enlightening thoughts and events. How about you? What are you feeding your mind on a daily basis?

Always Be Growing - Books

“You will be the same person in five years as your are today except for the people you meet and the books you read,” Charles “Tremendous” Jones.

There are so many notable quotes encouraging us to read. Jim Rohn says, “You can always pass up a meal, but never pass up a good book,”

There was a story I heard once on a cd about a shoe shine lady who was reading novels. She had quite a pile of those paperback dog-eared books by her shoe shine stand in the airport so she obviously liked to read. The problem was that her daughter had won a cheerleading contest and he mother desperately wanted her to go on to the competition; however, there was no money for the uniform or transportation to the contest. What if that pile of books had included “Think and Grow Rich” by Napoleon Hill or “The Prosperity Secrets of the Ages” by Catherine Ponder or “The Travelers Gift” by Andy Andrews or even “The 7 Habits of Highly Successful People” by Stephen Covey. How different her life and the life of he daughter could have been just by reading “mind stretching” books instead of romantic novels.

When I look back on my life, there was a period where I read novels and mysteries and even Zane Grey. (Zane Grey was a master of description.) These books were fun but really did not stretch my imagination in a way to make my mind grow in the slightest.

The periods in my life where I achieved the greatest growth and progress were when I read personal development books and business books. The interesting thing is that I have an extensive library and yet I seem to go back and re-read some of my favorites – like the ones I listed above. Each time I go back and read one of them again it is as if someone had revised some of the chapters because I view the information through new eyes and new experiences. I am not the same person I was even 3 years ago. I have learned and grown as a person. Consequently, I view the words in a slightly different context now. It is as if it is partially a new book.

Now, of course, if you are still reading romantic novels and grocery store tabloids, you may still be the same person you were 3 years ago. What is it that you want from your life? Are you content to stay the same? I doubt it or you would not be reading this text right now.

At least you are reading. It is amazing to read the statistics of people who never read a book after they stop going to school. That is so far from my reality that it is truly hard for me to even fathom. I have loved to read from the time I was a small child. Reading is a positive habit.

Once you develop the habit, then step up the quality of your reading material. Challenge yourself to stretch your mind and enhance your creativity. Most of us use les than one tenth of one percent of our brain power. Imagine what you could accomplish if you used ten percent of your capability. You have within you everything you ever need for success. Are you stretching yourself and reaching higher? Or would you rather settle for the status quo? Personally, I have big dreams and big goals. I’m not even close to finished. Come join me. Life has so much to offer if we will just reach for it.

Books are a source of wisdom and inspiration. They are here and ready. All we have to do is pick them up, read and implement. Easy to do? Yes. Easy not to do? Also Yes.

Notes of Appreciation

Writing notes of appreciation and encouragement is almost a lost art. It is certainly far less frequent than it was a generation ago. Now, of course, I am showing my age. We all dash a fast email now rather than sending a hand written note. Not so long ago, it was considered very poor manners not to write a note of appreciation for a kind gesture or a gift or even a special dinner invitation. Now most of these are either ignored totally or a quick email response. I wonder how many even know the names Amy Vanderbilt or Emily Post let alone have read and studied their books.

These little notes of appreciation are so important that most of us have saved them in a scrapbook or a drawer or even a box. The point is that we saved them. I know I did. They are even more valuable when they were unexpected.

Who is it who would love a note of appreciation from you? Just a little 2 line note which would not take you but a few minutes to write, address the envelope and mail. It is easy to do. The problem is that as the noted business philosopher, Jim Rohn, says, “It is easy to do, but it is also easy not to do.”

Walt Whitman, American poet, essayist, humanist, and journalist was struggling to receive recognition for his work when he received a note. The note simply said, “I am not blind to the wit and wisdom of the Leaves of Grass. I greet you at the beginning of a great career,” signed Ralph Waldo Emerson. I will bet he kept that note. Not only was it a note of encouragement but it was from Emerson, the man who inspired him to write Leaves of Grass. Whitman spent his entire life writing and rewriting Leaves of Grass. It was first published in 1855 when Whitman was 36. 36 was the beginning of his great career.

Little notes of encouragement and inspiration to keep moving forward are sometimes the fine line that provides one more burst of energy. How would you feel if you knew your little 2 line note was the one extra spark that propelled someone to achieve their dreams instead of giving up? So many give up just moments before they crest the summit of an obstacle and revel in the glory of all of their hard work. Sometimes all it takes is one person to believe in them and take the time to let them know.

Who is it in your life right now who needs a little 2 line note of encouragement or appreciation from you? I challenge you to write down the names of 3 people who deserve a note from you and then commit to writing those 3 little notes.

You may never know how much it meant to them. That little ray of sunshine you poured into their life may inspire them to do the same for 3 others. Who know how much joy we could spread in this world by taking the time to write 3 little notes? Look what it did for Whitman.