Top Ten Ways To Create Positive Behavior Change

By Jeannette Kraar

1. Open your mind to new ideas: Positive behavior change has to start with your thoughts. Get excited about learning new methods, developing new skills and doing things differently. Anything else is “text-book insanity” – that’s when you do the same things the same way and expect different results.

2. Embrace change: Change is good. Change means never having to settle. Join the ranks of “change-junkies” who have learned that change provides huge opportunities for health, wealth and happiness.

3. You have a choice of being positive or negative. Choose to be positive in your thoughts. There are so many clichés and adages like “garbage in, garbage out” or “your altitude is determined by your attitude”. But these sayings have staying power because they have been proven true over and over again. If you feel a bout of depression or gloom settling in, just redirect your thoughts by asking yourself good questions like, “how can I turn this into something good” or what can I learn from this?’ Your subconscious will go into over-drive to find an answer for you.

4. Define your own terms - This is all about you. This is change that you get to control so the ground rules, conditions and expectations are up to you. It’s like eating at Burger King – you can have it your way.

5. Get the information and resources you need to succeed. With the help of technology we all have the means to attract what we need in a record time. Support groups, books, classes, retailers, whatever it may be – you can find it all with a push of the button. When you ask the right questions, you get the right answers. Ask for what you need.

6. Take 100% responsibility for your own motivation. Replay this thought over and over again: “If it is to be, it is up to me”. You’ll build momentum by taking action. If you get stuck, just do something – and it could be almost anything as long as it is constructive and positive. You’ll find that activity promotes enthusiasm that will spur you on.

7. Break it down to manageable steps. An elephant is huge, but anyone could eat one as long as it’s done one bite at a time. Take it one step at a time. Start with your ultimate goal in mind and work backwards to create a realist, manageable action plan.

8. Find ten solutions to each problem you face. I truly believe there are solutions to every problem. You’ll find as you stay open to new ideas, become more comfortable with change and remain positive in your thoughts, problem solving will become much easier. For each challenge you face, grab a piece of paper and start writing down ideas. Don’t prejudge or evaluate your thoughts, just open your mind and let the ideas flow. Don’t stop until you have ten. Then you can go back and consider each idea. Some will be ridiculous, and others will need to be modified, but the answer will be there. Remember to use your new skill at breaking things down to take a huge problem and reduce it to a few small issues. (This is the same process I used to create my plan to generate an annual income of $360,000 – doing it my way!)

9. Evaluate and adjust. Change is all about doing something new and/or different, so expect a learning curve. Be realistic and consider how you can improve to get better results.

10. Don’t stop. Michael Jackson has his share of problems, but he knew what he was talking about when he sang, “Don’t stop till you get enough!”

Jeannette Kraar, president of Performance Management International is the Breakthrough Career Coach and a highly-acclaimed trainer, speaker and consultant. Hundreds of PMI clients have succeeded even in the most turbulent times. Jeannette is the author of BREAKTHROUGH, The Hate My Job, Need A Life, Can’t Get No Satisfaction SOLUTION. Learn more about the book at http://www.breakthroughcareersolutions.com. Email Jeannette at pmi@manageyoursuccess.com or visit her on-line at http://www.breakthroughcareersolutions.com

Success from Failure

By Margo Chevers

Those of you who know me, know that I am always looking for ways to improve and grow as an individual. This past weekend, I attended a one-hour seminar that was put on by Dennis McCurdy of Sturbridge, MA. It was to give people a taste for his eight-week personal development program.

He talked about the usual goal setting, creating a vision, getting rid of our negative self-talk and overcoming our fears. I conduct those seminars myself, yet, I learned more than I expected.

Dennis took it one step further than I’d been in the past. He had us attempt to break a one-inch thick board with our bare hands. I wanted to experience as much as possible, so I volunteered to be the first to try. I mentally prepared myself, saw in my mind my hand going through the board, I raised my hand and brought it down hard. The board snapped as though it were a toothpick. I was amazed at how easy it was to do something I thought would be difficult.

Then, he took an arrow and told us how we could break it with our necks. He showed how to place the feather end against the wall and put the tip on the soft part of our throat. We were to lean into it until it snapped. He demonstrated and sure enough the arrow snapped.

When he asked for volunteers, I was NOT the first to raise my hand. This was raising the stakes. If I broke my hand, that was one thing, but if I pierced my throat with an arrow, that could be fatal.

I watched as another participant snapped the arrow in two. I thought, well I might as well try. I got up, set the arrow against the wall, strategically placed the tip against my throat and started to lean into it. I leaned with force and as the other members of the class were telling me it was beginning to bend, I felt a sensation that the arrow was going to crush my larynx.

I am a speaker and a trainer. Without my voice, I wouldn’t be able to work. I immediately backed off from the arrow. The class as well as Dennis encouraged me to try again. They assured me that I had almost succeeded. So I tried again. As I leaned into the arrow, again the class gave me the feedback that they could see the arrow bending. I leaned harder and again I felt the sensation of crushing my larynx. I backed off. Although they encouraged me to try again, I couldn’t bring myself to do so.

I sat down, convinced I had saved myself from losing my voice. As I processed the experience, I realized that I have experienced this sensation many times. I convince myself that something disastrous will happen if I go ahead and act on an idea I have. I come up with many good reasons why it won’t work. Each one based on what I consider fact.

Just like the arrow experience, I feel we many times pull back from success because of the “concrete evidence” we manufacture in our minds.

I believe I learned as much from my failure to break the arrow, perhaps even more, than if I had been successful in my attempt.

The lesson here is, that we can learn more from our mistakes and failures than we can from our successes.

Thank you Dennis for giving me this life lesson.

Margo Chevers, Author of How to Get Up on a Down Day, What do you Want to be When You Grow Up?, and STOP the BS (bad service).

For top 10 attitude adjusters send an email to Margo@MargoChevers.com

Visit blog at http://www.MargoChevers.com/plog/

Do You Know What's The #1 Success Secret Is?

By Patric Chan

How many people do you hear complaining about their job, where they live, how little money they have, or how they can never take a vacation?

How many times have you heard those same people, when they hear about someone else who made a lot of money from an idea, say,

“I could have done that!” But yet, they didn’t.

And they continue to complain about where they are in life.

A friend of mine owns a dog grooming business, and she buys supplies from another pet business in town.

One day, as she talked to the owner, she found out that the owner’s husband made liver treats for dogs—he bought liver at wholesale, cut it into thin strips, dried it, packaged it, and retailed it to pet businesses. Eventually he got a contract with a distribution company and was doing very well with what started out as a simple side business.

My friend was upset when she was talking to me. She explained that she had had that idea several months earlier, but didn’t follow through because she didn’t think it would fit into her business.

“I could have done that!” she said, with some resentment in her voice.

You know what? She was right. She could have “done” that. She had the idea. But she didn’t follow through.

Do you see yet what the number one success secret is?

You must take action! You must put your ideas into play.

You will not be successful if you don’t take action. You can have as many ideas as you want, read as many books as you want, listen to motivational tapes, and watch inspirational speakers, but if you do not act on what you learn, you will not be successful.

It really is that simple.

If you have a great idea but stand still with it, nothing will happen. You have to walk—or better yet, run!—with your idea to make it happen.

After all, who was successful with the dog snack idea?

Was it my friend, who quite possibly had the idea first, or was it her friend’s husband, who actually followed through with the idea?

The person who takes action will be successful.

I know that it can be difficult to take action, especially if you are used to not doing so. It can be very hard to break out of the bad habit of inaction.

You’ll need to have continous improvement to achieve it. If you want to know how and where you can gain continous self-improvement resources, email me at patric(AT)esuccessmastery.com

Take action now.

To your success,

Patric Chan
CEO, eSuccessMastery.com

This article is written by Patric Chan, CEO of eSuccessMastery.com and author of 'How To Make More Money Easily'. Discover the 5 wealth lessons on how to make more money and work less in 'How To Make More Money Easily'.

http://www.makemoremoneylessons.com

Copyright 2005 Patric Chan

Seven Steps for Success

By Gerri D Smith

"The secret of success is to make what you are doing interesting to other people." - Florence Scovel Shinn

When you set a goal, no matter how difficult it seems to accomplish, don’t be afraid to take the risk. In life, some sacrifices are worth the challenge. So, stop making excuses. Life is too short to miss out on reaching for your goals and realizing dreams do come true. With a little effort and a little time on your part make a commitment to go for it!

If your goals and your dreams are good ones a plan is required to make them real. Develop a time plan or a target. For instance, when you know the end result you wish to accomplish, you might list several mini targets to work on first.

Your initial target plan might look like this:

If you wish to lose 20 pounds, set up a weekly schedule. The first week you might start a daily exercise program. Second week- start cutting back on sugar and sweets. Third week - try and lowering your daily intake of calories, and so on until your goal weight is achieved.

If you wish to take a trip to the south of France (or wherever), or if you desire to expand your business, the strategy would be similar. You may need to set up a weekly or monthly schedule to put a sum away toward the cost of the trip or the cost needed to purchase more space and more equipment for the business. You could cut back on your spending and put the savings aside, or take on an extra paying project until you reach your required goal. When you’ve accumulated sufficient funds for the trip or the down payment on the larger business space and more equipment, you can plan your next target.

So that you may have a richer, fuller, more rewarding life, putting a system together to target your success and make your dreams a reality may include the following seven steps:

¨ Set reasonable goals and target dates. Day to day living makes a lot of demands on you – your time, your physical and emotional energy, and your responsibilities. Do not set yourself up for defeat. Master one goal at a time and do not expect instant gratification. With the onset of the microwave, and then along comes the computer and the internet both giving ways to shortcut everything you do, trying to stay focused isn’t always easy.

¨ Be the master of your thoughts. Dream big. A small goal takes just as much time and effort as a giant one. Think your goal through and keep a record of your ideas and a time schedule of what needs to be done and when. Seek help where needed.

¨ Choose goals that you are passionate about. Motivation and inspiration are powerful forces that keep you moving toward your goals. Positive attitudes are also helpful. And of course, never forget your faith and the knowledge that a higher power is available to help you reach your goal. Remember: Nothing is easy, and everything takes time – lots of it. So, be patient –it eliminates the stress.

¨ Stay healthy and practice taking care of yourself - first. When you aren’t feeling well, everyone around you is affected –your family, your friends and associates, and your business clients. Try to stay flexible and allow enough time to work on any project so you won’t have to rush. The old saying: “Haste makes waste,” is often true and may even cause a serious accident. And if you are a sole proprietor, when illness or accidents happen, this could mean a devastating loss of business income.

¨ Don’t be afraid to take risks. Fear is an internal blockage that you impose on your thoughts. It is a way of making excuses for not dealing directly with your anxiety. Or, you may not wish to face the outcome. What if it doesn’t work out? Instead, replace your thoughts of fear with your own source of strength and let your inner support system guide you.

¨ Keep a list of your qualities and values. What do you consider to be your most valuable asset? Do you know which of your qualities you need to make stronger? Make a list of those qualities and values that you think are the best you, those that make you feel most secure, and give you your highest self-esteem. Some of these may include: self-confidence, a forgiving nature, courage, being a good listener, trustworthy and honest, and a willingness to inspire others.

¨ Keep your emotions under control. A peaceful attitude and an awareness of your surroundings go hand in hand with prosperity and success. When you are peaceful, your thoughts and actions come from a wide-awake place that is free of fear and confusion. You will see more clearly and act quickly. When you are at peace within yourself, you attract all that is good. You are more likely to bring success, happiness and prosperity to you. When you feel rich, you attract riches. And when you feel successful, you become successful.

Make it your goal to attract success and prosperity!

Copyright April, 2005

Gerri D Smith is publisher and host of multiple Gateways to inspiration, motivation, and support for individuals, women business owners, and entrepreneurs. Gerri's internet resource offers ways to unlock the doors to your personal and business empowerment. Now is a perfect time to own your own business and discover some of the best ways to market a product. One is by letting your customers see it before they buy it. This concept is a sharing of information and is made available by the Internet. Best of all it’s delivered right to your email doorstep. Why not invest in your future, now. To help you reach more of your personal and business goals, subscribe to Gerri's Free bi-monthly inspirational newsletter.

Visit: http://www.distinctivebusinesswomen.com Or, send a blank email and your correct email address and mailto: gerri@distinctivebusinesswomen.com?Subject=EZ-Scribe