I Do the Very Best I Know How

"I do the very best I know how - the very best I can; and mean to keep doing so until the end. If the end brings me out all right, what is said against me won't amount to anything."

- Abraham Lincoln, 1809-1865, 16th President of the United States

What Caused Pat Falvey to become Ireland's great Everest and Antarctic explorer?

What drives people to succeed? How do you overcome huge personal failure and go on to achieve great ambitions? This is a story worth hearing at the moment for many of us.

Pat Falvey left school at 15 as a skilled bricklayer. He went on to build, then lose, a massive property portfolio, only to discover in the teeth of the despair that followed, a passion for exploration and endurance challenges.

He has gone on to become one of the world's foremost explorers, and has scaled Everest from both Tibet and Nepal, as well as lead the first successful Irish overland South Pole bid.

In recent years, Pat has also gained a reputation as one of Irelands finest raconteurs, motivational speakers, and corporate team-builders.

During this evening talk Pat will share some of his remarkable life experience, emphasizing tools he has used to overcome challenges on the way to success.

Our regular interactive success discussion forum will follow, in which a selection of topics relevant to achieving balanced success & fulfillment will be discussed from the floor.

As our regular attendees know, this monthly meeting represents a great-value opportunity to gain information, inspiration, education and entertainment in the company of a like-minded network of success-focused folks.

Date: Dec 16th
Time: 7-9pm
Venue: Grand Canal Hotel, Dublin 4
Ticket: €25, pre booking required
Bookings & Information: www.horizonspeakers.com / +353 (0)86 122 1359 / info@horizonspeakers.com

Decision and Indecision

"in your moments of decision your destiny is created. I have some disturbing news... it's in your moments of INDECISION your destiny is lost."

Remembering Perfection – Everyday Inspiration for Living your Spirituality

I met Jessica Johnson at a Christopher Howard training course in July 2008. Today I received an email to say she has published a book.

Book: Remembering Perfection – Everyday Inspiration for Living your Spirituality Wednesday, 03 December 2008

Remembering Perfection is focused on how to live in the world with a spiritual focus, so that it is not something separate from our everyday lives. Written with great honesty and humour it is designed to encourage those who feel like giving up, who intellectually know the ideas but cannot seem to make them work in their life. This book comes with the voice of experience, a feeling that the principles contained within are not just theory, but have been put into practice and seen to succeed. Full of practical tips, Remembering Perfection brings the ideas to life and shows you how each and every day we can joyously take the steps towards living a life with love, veracity and truth.

The excerpt comes from the chapter Being Real – Jessica chose it through the time honoured oracle method – think of what you want to know or do and open the book! With all the busy-ness in the world (and bus-i-ness) in the world it felt just right. Enjoy!

”Living life spiritually – applied spirituality – is about being practical, being honest with yourself at all times. How often have you found yourself in this type of situation; a dozen projects to finish, not enough time and two other people wanting your time too? We end up in people-pleasing mode rather than being-real mode. How can we change this? How can we do the tasks in our day, achieve what we want and not get into overwhelm?

Approach everything you do with an attitude of being real. To learn that we are loved for who we are, we have to take the risk of consciously breaking the stressed achiever’s pattern of behaviour. When setting priorities, be real with them. Look at the practicalities of the situation. Learn to say no, both to yourself, ‘No, I won’t give into the habit of pleasing others in detriment to myself’. And, ‘No’ to others who push you beyond what is humanly and humanely possible. If we take this level of responsibility we cannot blame others if we feel overwhelmed.

To help you start this process, look at all the tasks that are creating the feeling of overwhelm and list them in order of importance. Now ask yourself, what can be dropped until a later date? What can have a lesser amount of time allotted to it? What has to be done now? If you take a step back and look you will see a pattern of how you create this overwhelm, both in the workplace and in your personal life. Not only could you prioritise yourself out of it, but also you could stop it happening in the first place. Overwhelm is created in our lives when we are so focused on what has to happen in the future that we feel unable to take one step forward. By bringing our focus back to now, prioritising now, overwhelm decreases magically.

Most importantly, do the tasks to the best of your ability, but remember that it is part of the play; God’s play, and enjoy it. Stop trying to get life done, that’s not being real. Learn to enjoy whatever the task is before you, rather than getting it done so you can move on. We wish life away like that, and lose the gift of the present moment. We can realise our divinity in any moment in any task whatever our like or dislike of it. If you are totally focused on the end of the journey you will forget to enjoy the view along the way.”

To buy the book you can go to Jessica's website . For the first 30 copies bought you get a signed copy and if you are buying it for someone else (Christmas pressies?) just let her know and she will personalise it for them. Just click the Add instructions to the Seller link on the Paypal payment page and text box will appear. Once those copies are sold the link on her site will be forwarded to the publisher's site for direct mailout from them.

It would be great if this book could be available to as many people who want it so please do feel free to pass on this to anyone you think will enjoy it.

For those of you who run seminars or workshops and think that this would be an asset to have for sale please do get in touch and we can arrange supply. Jessica is also available to give presentations, talks or workshops focused on the book, please drop her a line if you are interested. web: http://www.jessicamcgregorjohnson.com

Click here for two free guest tickets to Christopher Howard's "Breakthrough to Success" weekend seminar,

Spiritual Partnership

From The Seat of the Soul: Inspiring Vision of Humanity's Spiritual Destiny by Gary Zukav:

There are certain growing dynamics that can occur only within the dynamic of commitment. Without commitment you cannot learn to care for another person more than yourself. You cannot learn to value the growth of strength and clarity in another soul, even if that threatens the wants of your personality. When you release the wants of your personality in order to accommodate and encourage another's growth, you attune yourself to that person's soul Without commitment, you cannot learn to see others as your soul sees them - as beautiful and powerful spirits of Light.

The archtype of spiritual partnershp - partnership between equals for the purpose of spiritual growth - is emerging within our species. This is different from the archetype of marriage which was designed to assist physical survival and in which the partners do not necessarily see themselves as equals. When individuals enter into a marriage, the ability of each to survive physically is enhanced.

The archetype of spiritual partnership reflects the conscious journey of multisensory humans toward authentic power. Spiritual partners recognize the existence of the soul and consciously seek to further its evolution. They recognize nonphysical dynamics at work within the world of time and matter. They consciously cocreate their experiences with each other, with an alive Earth that loves Life very much and with a compassionate Universe.

When an individual invokes the energy of the archetype of spiritual partnership, not only the partnership that it forms with another individual is affected, but also its community, nation and the global village. Your decision to evolve consciously through responsible choices contributes not only to your own evolution, but also to the evolution of all of those aspects of humanity in which you participate. It is not just you that is evolving through your decisions, but the entirety of humanity.

When you commit to a spiritual partnership with another human being, you bring the energy of the archetype of spiritual partnership into the physical arena. You begin to form and to live by the values, perceptions and actions that reflect equality with your partner and a commitment to his or her spiritual development and your own. You begin to set aside the wants of your personality in order to accommodate the needs of your partner's spiritual growth and, in doing that, you grow yourself. That is how spiritual partnership works.

You begin to see that what is necessary to the health of your partnership is identical with what is necessary to your own spiritual growth, that each of you holds the pieces that the other is missing. You begin to value your partner's contribution to your development. You experience that his or her perceptions and observations are helpful and, indeed, central to your growth, that conversations between you stir deep waters.

You learn the roles of love and commitment and trust in making your partnership work. You learn that love alone is not enough, that without trust, you are not able to give and to receive the love that both of you have for each other. You learn that your commitment must be translated into a form that satisfies the needs of both you and your partner. You learn to value the needs of your partner as much as you value your own, because the partnership that you both want requires two healthy and inwardly secure individuals.

You learn to trust not only each other, but also your ability to grow together.

You learn not to do stupid and careless things to each other. You learn that wanting what you want is not enough, but that you must both want it deeply and create it every day, that you must bring it into being and hold it in being with your intentions. As the consciousness of each of you becomes lighter, your partnership becomes richer.

You see each other as spiritual playmates as you work through the areas that require healing in each of you.

FREE Tickets for Bronwyn Boyle's Archetypes For Life Seminar

I'd like to invite you to Bronwyn Boyle's 'Archetypes For Life' evening seminar.

Bronwyn has trained people all over the world in countries as diverse as Australia, America, Canada, and various European countries and we're very excited to be able to bring her to the UK. She has spent the last 11 years studying Personal Development and psychology, dedicating the past 7 years to archetypes. Working closely with Caroline Myss, the foremost expert on the subject, she is a highly trained authority. She has written many papers on the subject with a book about to be published soon, she developed the 'Archetypes For Life' seminar which is a truly remarkable event.

Why you should attend:
* Have you ever wondered why you do the things you do and why certain things do and don't work out for you?
* Do you have a clear feeling of what you're fated to do or a clear vision of what your destiny is?
* Have you ever been frustrated that personal development takes you so far but not far enough?
* Do you have the feeling that in spite of all the work you have done on yourself and the improvements you have introduced into your life that you haven't really quite got there?
* What is it that you don't know about yourself that, if you did, would change the course of your life?
* Does your intuition tell you that the chaos happening in the world could actually be an opportunity?

If any of these questions or statements resonate with you, you'll benefit greatly from attending this seminar, apart from gaining great insights into yourself which you can translate into real world benefits, you'll have a lot of fun in a warm environment with like minded people. Best of all, it won't cost you a penny. Join us on the archetypal journey and discover your core patterns of power.

CLICK HERE TO CLAIM YOUR COMPLIMENTARY TICKETS NOW!

Archetypes can be taken on at many levels and once you have a greater understanding of this symbolic language you'll be able to recognise archetypes in yourself and those around you, be it in business, family or health.

Knowing your archetypal patterns enables you to take a step back and see the
dynamics created in your life and make new choices and create the life of your dreams.

This unique programme demystifies the how of your challenges to invoke your destiny.

By the end of this seminar, you will have learned to:
* Optimise your results and gain clarity in your business, relationship and health
* Communicate more effectively by appealing to other people's archetypes
* Identify and fix your personal 'road blocks'
* Reach your higher intuitive self

Who would benefit from Bronwyn's course?
* Anyone who is interested in starting their Personal Development journey or wants to go further
* People who want to learn new ways to adapt to a changing world Life
* Coaches, NLP practitioners and therapists
* People in management who want to improve their communication skills
* CEO's and business owners who want to grow their business significantly

For your complimentary tickets go to
BRONWYN BOYLE - FREE TICKETS

Who is Bronwyn Boyle?

Bronwyn is based in Australia. She is a writer and the founder of the Archetypes for Life. Her seminars have received huge acclaim in both Australia and the US where she has helped thousands of people. Bronwyn is one of the few people who has actually worked and trained very closely with Caroline Myss.

What other people are saying about Bronwyn's 'Archetypes For Life':

"Thank you Bronwyn for introducing me to Archetypes - the information I have learned has allowed me to take the next step in my coaching business and offer my clients even deeper insights into their own lives and that of their partners and/or work colleagues. All of which leads to a greater understanding and cooperation for everyone, better yet my clients are seeing their true colors and potential for development in a concise and clear way. As I continue to learn more and use them with my clients it is even clearer that the value of Archetypes in limitless."

- Jane Asplin, Performance Consultant and NLP Master Practitioner

"I have been working with archetypes with Bronwyn's guidance, and her teaching and help has been exceptional. The changes, awareness and opportunities that have occurred have just blown my mind. I really can't wait to complete my program, if I feel this good after one month; I am going to be soaring after 12 months. If you really want to get to know yourself and be able to achieve whatever it is that you want to achieve, then I strongly suggest that you work with Bronwyn, she will help you find your purpose and then you can live it."

- Nilla Spark, YourSpiritualJourneys.com

Up Coming Dates
MANCHESTER
12th November 08
6.30pm

Venue
Radisson Edwardian Hotel
Free Trade Hall, Peter Street, Manchester M2 5GP
Limited Places Available.
Go to
cky_Yates> to claim your complimentry tickets now! Achieve extraordinary results in your personal life and business.

Don’t Throw the Baby Out With the Bathwater

A few days ago I wrote about self-sabotage, the irrational behavior of acting or taking decisions that are not in one’s best interests.

Some people expect everything to be right, perfect even, before they will commit themselves. What is perfection? If you achieve it, does that mean that is the best it will ever be? Are you closing yourself off to the possibility of an even better experience? How do you know?

It is only by accepting that life will have rainy days as well as sunny days that we can compare the two. I used to live in southern Spain where we expected 320 days of sunshine per year. Paradise you would say. Actually, I could tell you a lot of disadvantages from having so much sunshine. Premature skin ageing for one.

On the way to finding what we think is the perfect scenario, we might miss something which has the potential of bringing us the most joy, the best feeling of satisfaction, contentment or maybe we need to meet a challenge along the way to benefit from the learnings.

“Life is sent to test us.” True. Only by meeting challenge, even adversity, do we grow, become more. The more we learn, the more we can help others to achieve their potential. So the greater contribution to society. Possibly to mankind throughout the ages. How do we know we are not destined for greatness? Or possibly our heirs because of the learnings they gain from our experience.

So my advice is to embrace what you have, appreciate what you have been given, learn the lessons and give of yourself.

Alternatively, you could throw away the gifts you are given in life by rejecting something or someone you think you no longer need or want. That is what we mean by “throwing the baby out with the bathwater”.

Partnering - A New Kind of Relationship

Partnering: A New Kind of Relationship is an important book about relationships.

At the beginning we meet the Star Maiden, the wife of a bushman, from Sir Laurens van der Post's book "The Heart of the Hunter". She teaches us a valuable lesson about magic in relationships and trust.

The authors, Hal and Sidra Stone, speak from their own experience and that of their clients. Many times they too feared that the end had come but then they did some work with each other. They advise readers on how to transform their intimate relationships into a "joint venture" based on "cooperation and equality, mutual respect and mutual empowerment."

The good news is that it is possible to preserve the magic, even after many years, but it takes work together, work and learning new skills. "Love alone cannot make a relationship work become the forces that can destroy love are too powerful and, for most of us, too unconscious." We need not only love, romance, sexual chemistry but also partnership, personal growth and spiritual evolution.

The Selves
Within everyone of us are a multitude of selves and these selves interract with similar or opposite selves. "Without the knowledge of one's inner selves, there is little possibility for truly rewarding and successful relationships." Learning about my selves was a key lesson for me.

We have developed "primary selves" which protect us, the basis of our personalities. They vary according to our surroundings. We also have selves we have disowned or discarded. People will come into our lives who display these selves, often our chosen partner, and their role is to challenge us. These "disowned selves are like heat-seeking missiles, aimed at us by the intelligence of the universe, and find us they will." Anyone who pushes our buttons must surely carry our disowned self.

"Entelechy is the purposive nature of the psyche that pushes us to complete ourselves, to become all that we can become. it senses what we are missing - the disowned selves. Much pain in relationships comes from the fact that people do not know they are carrying the other's disowned selves. They are our teachers."

Embracing our vulnerability is also key. There is a whole chapter on learning to meet the other without defenses.

Challenging ourselves to live the best relationship we possibly can is a goal well worthwhile having.

Some relationships do reach a natural end but too many fail because they don't know how to handle the negativity and the sense of being overwhelmed.

The chapters include:
- the business venture of a relationship
- the difference selves we encounter in ourselves and identify in our partner
- the patterns of behaviour
- vulnerability
- energetic linkage
- sexuality and sensuality
- romance for parents
- keeping your love alive amid routines.
- spirituality.

This book is easy to understand, contains many exercises to do alone and together and it brings results It helped me in my relationship and I recommend Partnering: A New Kind of Relationship to couples and therapists. You can order it from amazon.com but not from amazon.co.uk



Antonia Harrison the English Hypnotherapist & NLP Practitioner in Belgium and Personal Development in the 21st Century .

The Pursuit of Happiness

I just watched another inspiring show on Oprah entitled “How Happy Are you?” Here is a happiness quiz that the studio audience answered. I suggest you do the same before reading any further.

How satisfied are you? To find out, read the following five statements.

Use the 1–7 scale to rate your level of agreement.
1 = Not at all true
4 = Moderately true
7 = Absolutely true

1. In most ways, my life is close to ideal.
2. The conditions of my life are excellent
3. I am satisfied with my life.
4. So far I have gotten the important things I want in life.
5. If I could live my life over, I would change almost nothing.

(Quiz developed by Ed Diener at the University of Illinois)
Did you score nearer 5 or nearer 35 points? Your answer will be revealing.

It was interesting that the person with the highest score in the studio was a male funeral director who scored maximum 35 points. We might think that looking at dead bodies every day would be depressing but he told us that he felt honoured to be able to help people at a very difficult and sad time. He said his way of looking at life is not aiming to be successful in material terms but to be significant is more important. He labels each day eg “Marvellous Monday”, “Terrific Tuesday”. That is great because it sets up an intention for the day. He chooses to be an optimist.

Dr Robert Holden is British and has written a book
Happiness Now!: Timeless Wisdom for Feeling Good Fast In fact the subject of his Doctorate was happiness. He joked that it is rare to find a Brit who is happy!

Happiness is a choice YOU have to make. It is a state of being only you can create.

If we choose to be an optimist, the Law of Attraction will work in our lives as our perception gathers evidence to prove us right. “What is the good that can come out of this?”

When I studied French A´Level, I read Voltaire’s “Candide. Candide was a man who endured a life of suffering but through it all, he stuck to this belief that “Everything works for the best in this, the best of all possible worlds”. It is a wonderful book, funny and sad but so poignant. I really recommend Candide as it turned me on to optimism at a young age. I am even a member of an international Optimism Club.

Happiness has to come from inside but we tend to look outside to make our lives happier. There is a place inside us where we are already happy. Do you know where it is?

Going back to the Law of Attraction, we project what we think we deserve on to the world and, guess what, it comes back multiplied. Surround yourself with positive, supportive people who build you up and keep reminding you of your qualities and strengths. We become like the people we mix with. Who do you see on a regular basis? Are they a positive plus in your life?

Mothers who always help others first are particularly in danger of leaving themselves out of their life but the best gift we can give our children is showing them how to be happy. Children do not learn from what we tell them – I’ve noticed that – but what we show them.

Dr Robert Holden identified “Destination Addiction”, that conundrum of “I can’t be happy now but I will be when I have this, become this, go there”. We are always chasing more, looking around the next turn. The truth is that you will not be happy when you arrive at your destination. You will simply choose a new destination. Have you experienced that? We cannot create happiness from material items but from the internal joy within us.

He also talked about “Happychondria”, the fear that if things get too good, there will be a fall, something will go wrong, there will be a price to pay. We say, "This is all too good to be true" or "All good things come to an end". Why? Says who?

Turn it around. Dare to let life be great. As Del Trotter always says, “He who dares wins”.

Life is too short and we do not receive a second chance. Some of us do go through near death experiences, serious illnesses etc which should teach us the value of every day. But for too many, this is true – “We die before we die”.

In the film “The Pursuit Of Happyness” (deliberately mis-spelt), Will Smith makes us thankful for what we have by showing us how easy it is to lose it all.

Let go of the past for you cannot change it. Start anew. Find your purpose in life. Focus on the significant contributions you can make to yourself, your family and then the world and “success” will surely follow.

Someone wrote a review about Happiness Now!: Timeless Wisdom for Feeling Good Fast,“This book should be on schools’ “must read” llist actually, if it’s not on the parents’ bookshelf already”.



Candide: A Dual-Language Book

Here are some quotes about happiness:
"But what is happiness except the simple harmony between a man and the life he leads?” – Albert Camus

"Happiness comes when your work and words are of benefit to yourself and others.” – Buddha

"There are as many nights as days, and the one is just as long as the other in the year's course. Even a happy life cannot be without a measure of darkness, and the word 'happy' would lose its meaning if it were not balanced by sadness.” – Carl Jung

"Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.” – Mohandas K Gandhi

"Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, earned, worn or consumed. Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace and gratitude.” – Denis Waitley

"The basic thing is that everyone wants happiness, no one wants suffering. And happiness mainly comes from our own attitude, rather than from external factors. If your own mental attitude is correct, even if you remain in a hostile atmosphere, you feel happy.” – the Dalai Lama

"Learn to enjoy every minute of your life. Be happy now. Don't wait for something outside of yourself to make you happy in the future. Think how really precious is the time you have to spend, whether it's at work or with your family. Every minute should be enjoyed and savored." - Earl Nightingale

© Antonia Harrison the English Hypnotherapist & NLP Practitioner in Belgium and Download Hypnosis Mp3 for immediate, affordable hypnosis Mp3s to improve your life.

Why Do People Self-sabotage Their Lives?

Why do people self-sabotage their lives?

Why do some people with every apparent disadvantage make something of their lives – look at Oprah Winfrey’s life journey - while others with advantages throw it all away, on drink, drugs, poor life choices, destroying relationships with those who love them most?

A student wins a scholarship to a prestigious college but fails to turn in two assignments on time and is asked to leave.

Someone with great musical talent stops practicing, two weeks before an important selection.

On the first day of starting a great new job, a person forgets to set their alarm clock so arrives late creating a poor first impression.

Or the person who says they want a better job but deliberately applies for unsuitable jobs, one they are not qualified for or are not practically possible.

Another person has been told by their doctor that they must lose weight and improve their eating habits drastically to avoid serious illness, possibly death. Full of good intention, they start a sensible eating programme and join a fitness class but stop after just two weeks. The pain of making the change is somehow greater than the pain of the threat of illness.

The person who ignores on-going pain, swallowing pain-killers, refusing to see a doctor then discovering one day they have terminal cancer which could have been cured had they sought help earlier.

A person finally receives the keys to a dream home but neglects to pay the home insurance and the downstairs is destroyed by an electrical fault.

The father who has a loving wife, good children and a happy home but destroys everyone’s happiness by starting an affair.

The person who wants love, wants a togetherness relationship, but when it stares them in the face, runs a mile, too scared to give back and make a commitment. It is easier to find some small reason why they cannot enjoy happiness together instead of choosing to overcome any issues. No relationship is perfect but they go looking for something which does not exist instead of appreciating how fortunate they are to have found someone who loves them.

They say we have a fear of failure but too often, the real problem is fear of success.

What if we really could have it all? Other people do and not just in movies.

Does it come from a deep-rooted feeling of not being good enough, not deserving enough, not capable enough of living up to what will be required of us if we do step into this next stage – even if it means fulfilling our dreams? Why not eliminate that negative comparison “not ….. enough” once and for all? According to who?

Self-sabotage behaviour is when there is no logical or rational explanation for why you cannot do the things you want to do or why you cannot have the things you want to have.

Sometimes it is so frightening to imagine changing, growing or making conscious choices that we deliberately hamper our own efforts. That means that something is going on unconsciously to cause us to self-sabotage.

Self-sabotage is really a form of self-hatred. It is not extreme to say that. There is a fine line between love and hate and if you are self-sabotaging, you have not learned to truly love yourself.

Are you going to allow the negative self-talk to keep you on a path of destruction or are you going to build a better future, brick by brick?

"Nothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude from achieving his goal; nothing on earth can help the man with the wrong mental attitude." - W.W. Ziege

I think we all have situations where parts of us are not in congruence ie part of us says/wants one thing while another part of says/wants something else. This inner dichotomy can cause a great deal of stress if not resolved. NLP has a very effective technique for dealing with this “inner tug-of-war” by integrating the parts when a person is ready.

In which areas of life are you holding yourself back? Do you know why? Is procrastination your enemy? Laziness? Is it fear of success? Fear of commitment? Are you waiting for the perfect scenario? (The UK government did that with the Euro. Now the Pound has fallen from 1.40 € to 1.22 €.)

I suggest you find some quiet time to be with your inner self. Ask yourself what you are afraid of. What fears do you have? What uncertainties? What makes you feel uncomfortable about this goal? For what reasons would you try to hold yourself back? Using a journal to write down questions and answers can help too because writing helps you to connect with the deepest part of yourself. It might take time and practice, but exploring these possibilities can dramatically help you to flee the self-sabotage rut.

Hypnosis sessions can quickly deal with overcoming limiting beliefs, fears and destructive behavior.

Be authentic and true to yourself. You can be, do or have anything you want but first you may need to clear some of the negative obstructions which are holding you back. You can be free to live the life you truly want.

“If you want to make your dreams come true, the first thing you have to do is wake up.” - J. M. Power

“By your thoughts you are daily, even hourly, building your life; you are carving your destiny.” - Ruth Barrick Golden

“Your life changes the moment you make a new, congruent, and committed decision.” - Anthony Robbins

"Procrastination . . . is the thief of our self-respect. It nags us and spoils our fun. It deprives us of the fullest realization of our ambitions and hopes." - Thomas S. Monson

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." – Mark Twain

"Excuses are the words coming from the loser in you." - Robert Kiyosaki in Rich Dad Poor Dad

"Nothing is more expensive than a missed opportunity." - H. Jackson Brown JR.

" Always be able to look back and say “ At Least I did notlLead no Humdrum Life” - Forrest Gump

© Antonia Harrison the English Hypnotherapist & NLP Practitioner in Belgium and Download Hypnosis Mp3 for immediate, affordable hypnosis Mp3s to improve your life.

Samantha Backman and Gertrude Matshe in London

Acclaimed global speakers Samantha Backman and Getrude Matshe, two amazing women, will be appearing together in the UK for the first time ever. They will be in London on 24 November and in Chorley on 1 December.



This is an experience not to be missed.

Three reasons why this event is special:

Laugh while you learn:
Samantha Backman is a hilarious stand-up comic, having appeared throughout Australasia, and lately, introducing her out-of-the-box blend of worldly-wise female Aussie humour - and serious business experience - to American audiences. She's a homo-toxicologist, an international businesswoman, social entrepreneur, TV and radio host and is Australia's most successful global TV talk show host beaming her provocative and inspiring "A Bloody Brilliant Life" into 52 countries in India, Indonesia, the US and Middle East. This homo-toxicologist, international businesswoman, social entrepreneur, TV and radio host has helped millions of 3rd world women through her ground-breaking approach to health and sexuality.

She is the CEO & founder of many companies in the health industry, is the creator of the wealth template, the heart beat of wealth and is a very active humanitarian. Now, the multi-talented, mother of four, mega-successful, 'pull no punches' CEO who has Oprah knocking on her door, is in the UK to débuting her latest invention 'The Mango Juicer'. Introduced as a kitchen utensil, 'The Mango Juicer' is changing the lives of women all over the world in more ways than you can imagine.

The Mango Juicer was developed by Samantha in response to the abhorent practice of Female Genital Mutilation, (FGM), still widely practised throughout the world.

Proceeds from the sale of the Mango Juicer support The Waris Dirie Foundation and Forward UK. These organizaitons exists to safeguard human rights and dignity and to stop Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) as well as The Africa Alive Education Foundation which provides education, health and family support services for HIV positive children, AIDs orphans and young adults in rural and impoverished communities in Zimbabwe.

Be inspired: Getrude Matshe was key speaker at Akasha in London, Summer 2007. She has an amazing story to tell of the life's struggles that led to her entrepreneurial success. Who else do you know that has moved from an IT career to property to Hollywood talent agent? Through her charity, the Africa Alive Education Foundation, she is changing the lives of thousands of HIV and AIDS orphans in Africa. Both women have inspired audiences around the globe with their ability to merge their business acuity with making a profound difference.

From her homeland in Zimbabwe to her multi-million dollar property portfolio, Getrude's story will move you to tears of sadness and joy. Combining enthusiasm with an energetic speaking style, Getrude Matshe is a fascinating motivational and inspirational speaker.

Described as "a vibrant bundle of African energy, a human dynamo whose drive, zest and passion for life inspires everyone she meets."

Married and the mother of three children, Getrude is an African storyteller, a poet, an artist, an author, an entrepreneur and the founding director of three successful businesses in New Zealand.

Her extraordinary ability to manifest her dreams into reality can only be described as the way of the wizard Merlin; for she has the Midas touch and everything she touches turns to gold.

But what makes Getrude’s personal life so intriguing?

* She currently looks after 150 children from her immediate family. Her grand mother had 34 grand children, 19 of them have died from HIV leaving an average of 4-8 children parentless.
* The World Health stats show that there are 40 million Aids infected people in the world and 30 million of them are in Africa - there are 15 million HIV orphans in Africa alone.
* A life expectancy of a Zimbabwean female is now 32 and 34 for a male. She just turned 39 last year and has lived past her die-by-date…

"An African woman is the lowest in the food chain. She labours all day, gathering water and firewood, preparing food, tending to the family and at the end of her life she will amount to very little. She has no recognition, no rights and no voice ...

...this life has given me so many gifts and I have a voice. Now my mission in this life is to be her voice too" - Getrude Matshe

On the 2nd of April 2007, 60 people crammed into a small hall in London to hear Getrude speak. Her story touched people on many levels. Her beginnings, her business success, her writing, her influence and her giving stirred people at their core.

By the end of her presentation the atmosphere was electric. One of the people in the audience asked "how can we get more people to hear this powerful message?"

It is an honour for XL Manchester to present Getrude Matshe for the first time. Her reputation has preceeded itself in the XL Life Member network and beyond. She has created a ripple of inspiration everywhere she goes, and her presence is not to be missed.

Here's what Thomas Power, Ecademy Chairman says about Getrude:

"Getrude is changing the world person by person and is one of the finest public speakers and actors I have ever seen. I look forward to her life story becoming an Oscar winning movie. The world needs an army of Getrude's."

This is an evening you'll remember and be talking about for weeks, combining hilarity, business lessons and inspiration.

Seating is limited and will fill quickly, so book now . . . and bring a friend (or two)

On 24 November in London, enjoy a mango themed party: Hosted aboard the HMS President, a stunning heritage ship moored on Victoria Embankment, you will experience a extraordinary presentation by Samantha and Getrude and you'll have an opportunity to mix and mingling with awesome people as you enjoy delicious canapés, mango cocktails, mango treats and many surprises! £20 includes canapés and mango cocktail on arrival.

HMS President (1918) Heritage Ship
King's Reach, Victoria Embankment, London EC4Y 0HJ
Closest Tubes: Temple or Blackfriars Station

They will be at The Pines Hotel, Chorley, PR6 7ED on 1 December. Book here for Chorley. Free entrance for XL members.

Getrude will also be holding a visioneering workshop next week called "The Visioneering Toolbox", with a choice of dates and times between 26 and 29 November. Tickets and information at www.visioneeringtoolbox.com

O Ambassadors are Helping Children in Developing Countries

My children and I watched a wonderful programme from the Oprah Winfrey show about the O AMBASSADORS program. Oprah's Angel Network set this up with Craig Kielburger from Free the Children. US schools can apply to join the program. They receive a curriculum to teach them about the lives of children in a particular area of the developing world. Hopefully this will inspire the school children to want to raise money to help the less privileged children and work towards achieving the Millenium Development Goals.

What are the Millennium Development Goals?
The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) focus on four major issues affecting our world today: poverty, education, health and sustainable development. Set for the year 2015, the MDGs are targets agreed upon by world leaders who have all promised to do their part in helping millions of people to break the cycle of poverty.

Volunteer projects
Some even have the opportunity to volunteer for a working project eg 12 teenagers spent three weeks in Kenya building a school with their bare hands and hand tools such as picks and shovels. They had a bare piece of ground around which they had to dig a trench. The laid the bricks, prepared the walls, installed window frames and roof rafters.

The American teenagers also spent time with the Kenyan children understanding their way of life, visiting their infested water source and one girl in her home. She was so proud of learning to read English that when she read a page in the newspaper, she stuck it on the wall. She also made paper patterns from her schoolbooks and hung them from the ceiling.

The teenagers spoke of how particular aspects of their experience had been life changing, certainly making them grateful for things we take for granted such as clean water from a tap. Oprah introduced the programme as one to share with children to inspire them. My boys spoke afterwards of what the program had meant to them.

Find out how your school can participate in O Ambassadors at www.OAmbassadors.org or make an online donation.

Avoid Work At Home Stress

Most people believe that being able to work at home will make their lives easier and less stressful but what they fail to realize is that when you work at home, stress is still present but in different forms. There are certain things to consider to keep the stress level down while you work at home.

Yes, you have no-one to answer to and no set schedule to adhere to in most work at home occupations, but the end result of whether you receive a paycheck can be stressful on everyone when they first begin working from home. They can depend on no one but themselves for their income and they are also responsible for all aspects of operating the business including taxes, supplies, paying the bills and getting paid for the work performed.

Self-discipline is often tougher than working for someone else, as quite often it is easy to justify doing things not related to the business since you are at home and no one is watching what you do. You will have to be the supervisor that keeps you on your toes and remaining productive. However, even more stressful when you work at home is having the rest of your family understand that when you are at home you are working.

Being able to separate work from home in a home-based business can be stressful but by reminding yourself and others that work has to be conducted and keeping it separate can reduce the stress you feel. Even with a flexible schedule you will need to set strict hours during which business will be conducted in order to stay on track. You will also need to establish certain areas of your home for business which can be used for nothing else. You cannot be productive when you work at home if others are in your office playing games and being generally disruptive to your business.

These general rules need to be discussed before you being to work at home and the rules have to be in place and enforced from the very first day your begin working from home. Without the disciplines in place and without the understanding of family members, your business will suffer. However, having flexibility in your work schedule can be very rewarding as long as you understand your first priority has to be completing the work you have promised to your customers or clients on time.

Download your FREE 5 page report on Personal Stress Management Tips at http://www.live-stressfree.com/

The Practice of Discipline

By Brian Tracy

Discipline yourself to do what you know you need to do to be the very best in your field. Perhaps the best definition of self-discipline is this:

"Self-discipline is the ability to make yourself do what you should do when you should do it, whether you feel like it or not."

It is easy to do something when you feel like it. It's when you don't feel like it and you force yourself to do it anyway that you move your life and career onto the fast track.

What decisions do you need to make today in order to start moving toward the top of your field? Whatever it is, either to get in or get out, make a decision today and then get started. This single act alone can change the whole direction of your life.

Seven Steps to Success
There is a powerful seven step formula that you can use to set and achieve your goals for the rest of your life. Every single successful person uses this formula or some variation of this formula to achieve vastly more than the average person. And so can you. Here it is:

Decide What You Want
Step number one, decide exactly what it is you want in each part of your life. Become a "meaningful specific" rather than a "wandering generality."

Write it Down
Second, write it down, clearly and in detail. Always think on paper. A goal that is not in writing is not a goal at all. It is merely a wish and it has no energy behind it.

Set A Deadline
Third, set a deadline for your goal. A deadline acts as a "forcing system" in your subconscious mind. It motivates you to do the things necessary to make your goal come true. If it is a big enough goal, set sub-deadlines as well. Don't leave this to chance.

Make A List
Fourth, make a list of everything that you can think of that you are going to have to do to achieve your goal. When you think of new tasks and activities, write them on your list until your list is complete.

Organize Your List
Fifth, organize your list into a plan. Decide what you will have to do first and what you will have to do second. Decide what is more important and what is less important. And then write out your plan on paper, the same way you would develop a blueprint to build your dream house.

Take Action
The sixth step is for you to take action on your plan. Do something. Do anything. But get busy. Get going.

Do Something Every Day
Do something every single day that moves you in the direction of your most important goal at the moment. Develop the discipline of doing something 365 days each year that is moving you forward. You will be absolutely astonished at how much you accomplish when you utilize this formula in your life every single day.

Action Exercises
Here are two things you can do to put these ideas into action immediately.

First, decide exactly what you want, write it down with a deadline, make a plan and take action -- on at least one goal -- today!

Second, determine the price you will have to pay to achieve this goal and then get busy paying that price
-- whatever it is.

Training yourself to complete important tasks -- even when you don't want to -- is a vital skill that every Top Achiever should master.

Accomplish More in a Month Than Most People Accomplish in a Year. Take complete control of your time and your life. Get more done now.



Brian's tips may seem obvious but his advice is well-founded. Writing down goals and making plans is really the best way to achieve what you want. The "salami technique" helps with any task ie complete one slice then go on to the next. If you want to clear out the spare room, start with one drawer, then a cupboard etc. Approaching any task this way avoids a negative feeling of overwhelm.

Brian Tracy now has over 70 MP3s and various CDs. Click here for your Free CD of 21 Success Secrets of Self Made Millionaires

Why is Personal Development Important?

Sometimes, when our doubts, fears and insecurities overwhelm us, we tend to think, “I wish I was somebody else.” More often than not, we think and believe that someone or rather, most people are better than us, when in reality the fact is most people are just as worried and insecure.

You spot a totally eye-catching girl sitting by herself at a party, casually sipping on a glass of bubbly. You think to yourself, “She looks so perfectly calm and confident.” But if you could read her mind, you might find thoughts like, “Are people talking about why I am sitting here alone?... Why don’t guys find me attractive? …I don’t like my ankles, they look too skinny… I wish I was as intelligent as my best friend.”

We look at a young business entrepreneur and say “Wow… what else could he ask for?” He stares at himself at the mirror and murmurs to himself, “I hate my big eyes… I wonder why my friends won’t talk to me… I hope my parents can sort out their problems.”

Isn’t it funny? We look at other people, envy them for looking so outrageously perfect and wish we could trade places with them, while they look at us and think the same thing. We are insecure of other people who themselves are insecure of us. We suffer from low self-esteem, lack of self-confidence and lose hope in personal development because we are enveloped in quiet desperation.

Sometimes, you have an irritating habit like biting your finger nails, chewing your lip, and you are probably the last to know.

I have a friend who never gets tired of talking. In most conversations, she is the only one who seems to be interested in the things she has to say. So all of our other friends tend to avoid the circles whenever she’s around and she doesn’t notice how badly she became socially handicapped – gradually affecting the people in her environment.

One key to personal development is to LISTEN and TALK to a trusted friend. Find someone who you feel comfortable with talking about personal matters. Someone you know will be brutally honest rather than tactful. Ask questions like “Do you think I am ill-mannered?”, “Do I always sound so argumentative?”, “Do I talk too loud?”, “Does my breath smell?”, “Do I ever bore you when we are together?”. In this way, the other person will obviously know that you are interested in the process of personal development. Lend your ears for comments and criticisms and don’t give her answers like “Don’t exaggerate! Yes but…!” Open up your mind and heart as well. In return, you may want to help your friend with constructive criticism that will also help her improve her self.

One of Whitney Houston’s songs says “Learning to love yourself is the greatest love of all.” True enough. In order to love others, you must love yourself too. Remember, you cannot give what you do not have.

Before telling other people some ways on how to improve themselves, let them see that you yourself are a product of personal development. Personal development makes us better people. Only then can we inspire other people and the the rest of the world will follow.

Stop thinking of yourself as second-rate beings. Forget the repetitive thought of “If only I was richer… if only I was thinner” and so on. Accepting your true self is the first step to personal development. We need to stop comparing ourselves to others only to find out at the end that we’ve got ten more reasons to envy them.

We all have our insecurities. Nobody is perfect. We always wish we had better things, better features, better body parts, etc. But life need not be perfect for people to be happy about themselves. Personal development and loving yourself is not a matter of shouting to the whole world that you are perfect and you are the best. It is the virtue of acceptance and contentment. When we begin to improve ourselves, we then begin to feel contented and happy.

Chicken Soup for the Soul

Mark Victor Hansen and his friend, Jack Canfield, had an idea to write a book of short stories that would touch the souls of many people. After the book was written the title seemed to be not quite right. So he went into meditation and asked for guidance about a title. He wanted the book to be special, to captivate the imagination of the public, so the title was critical. He went to bed each night with the phrase in his mind: “Mega bestseller”.

What Do You Do When You Are Turned Down 134 Times?

After a few days, Hanson woke up with the phrase “Chicken Soup” in his mind. He didn't understand until he remembered that his mom had always made him chicken soup when he was sick. After more contemplation, the final title was born: “Chicken Soup for the Soul”. Everybody he shared this title with got goose bumps almost instantly.

However, even though a major breakthrough had been achieved with the title, bills were piling up, and his spouse got more nervous with each passing day. The title was there but the book was not selling. How could they continue to promote the book to publishers when real life was intruding so heavily?

Hansen received over 33 rejection letters even though he was not an unknown in his field. In the following weeks, he was turned down by 134 more publishers. Finally, a small printing company agreed to take on the project if the authors agreed to buy the first 20,000 copies!

Well, what are you going to do if this is your dream? You just keep the faith and keep on doing it. Hansen and Canfield agreed to buy the first 20,000 copies themselves, and the book hit the market in 1994. It did not make it to the first bestseller list until 14 month later. During all that time, the two men ceaselessly promoted the book by their own efforts.

Guess What Happened Next?
The book became the greatest top-selling success story in the history of non-fiction books with over 100 million books in print and over a billion dollars in combined sales!

Your Dreams - The Source Of Infinite Power

If you love what you do, you can never fail! Why? Because you will never run out of juice. You will always be motivated. During the inevitable times when you are discouraged, you will find a way to simply acknowledge the state you find yourself in, take a break, and the juice will be back in no time. If you live your talents you will be empowered by the universal source — a source that is beyond your wildest imagination and it is of infinite supply.

No argument can make you stop doing what you love to do. Many people have wonderful reasons for what they do and for what they want to accomplish. These reasons are as varied and personal as anything in the universe. If you take away these reasons and ideas, people fall into a black hole because there is then no longer any substance behind their reality—their dreams have been cut off at the source.

If there is only one important thing in your life, then surely it must be this: to find and live your dreams. Don't waste any more time doing things you don't like. Yes, you are taking a risk, but you will never want to go back once you have made this choice.

Just in case you have not discovered the marvellous "Chicken Soup for the Soul" book, you can find it here at Amazon.com along with the books in the series:


or from Amazon.co.uk


They also make great presents.

Jim Rohn Excerpts from the Treasury of Quotes

I am a huge fan of Jim Rohn, the silver haired American business philosopher. He speaks such wisdom, inspiring and challenging with his words.

Here are some Jim Rohn quotes:
"Don't wish it were easier; wish you were better. Don't wish for less problems; wish for more skills. Don't wish for less challenges; wish for more wisdom."

"Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment.

"To become financially independent you must turn part of your income into capital; turn capital into enterprise, turn enterprise into profit; turn profit into investment; and turn investment into financial independence."

"We can have more than we've got because we can become more than we are."

"Success is nothing more than a few simple disciplines, practiced every day, while failure is simply a few errors in judgment, repeated every day. It is the accumulative weight of our disciplines and our judgments that leads us to either fortune or failure."

"There is no better opportunity to receive more than to be thankful for what you already have. Thanksgiving opens up the windows of opportunity for ideas to flow your way."

"Goals. There's no telling what you can do when you get inspired by them. There's no telling what you can do when you believe in them. There's no telling what will happen when you act upon them.

You might be familiar with The Jim Rohn Excerpts from the Treasury of Quotes, which broke the 2,000,000 in sales mark last year. Its huge demand is based on the fact that it is an extremely elegant booklet (gold foil on burgundy leatherette), it is very high in content (it contains more than 130 quotes on 21 specially selected topics from the original Treasury of Quotes by Jim Rohn) and it makes an excellent gift for family, friends and colleagues; yet it sells for less than a dollar each when purchased in multiples.

Also, each Jim Rohn booklet has a special TO and FROM section along with space to add a personalized note. There is a dedication:

"I wish for you a life of wealth, health and happiness; a life in which you give to yourself the gift of patience, the virtue of reason, the value of knowledge, and the influence of faith in your own ability to dream about and to achieve worthy rewards."

Think of the impact on someone when they receive such a positive heartfelt wish from you. They make an excellent stocking filler or business gift for clients - much better than yet another pen or calendar - and will be referred to time and time again. Brilliant idea!

The wide range of topics in this little booklet means that it really will speak to everyone:

Personal Development
Leadership/Management
Activity/Labor
Desire/Motivation
Knowledge/Education
Results/Success
Goals/Plans
Time/Time Management
Lifestyle
America/Government/Politics
Business/Career/Marketplace
Resolve/Belief/Asking
Skills/Fundamentals
Choice/Change/Decision
Fear/Doubt/Negativity
Influence/Association
Communication/Persuasion
Kids
Finances/Wealth
Relationships
Motivation

Click here for The Jim Rohn Excerpts from the Treasury of Quotes.

On the same site you can also subscribe to Jim Rohn's ezine so regularly receive his pearls of wisdom in your inbox.

Fall In Love Again

In my last post I urged you to be CELEBRATED, not tolerated. Very important.

Think about the people you admire who have created excellence in their life. No doubt the desire for what they do came first, they persisted on their chosen path and were ultimately rewarded with wealth.

Think about top people and household names like golfer Tiger Woods, TV presenter & businesswoman Oprah Winfrey, film producer and household name Steven Spielberg, real estate king Donald Trump.

They could have led ordinary lives, focussed on paying bills, complained about not having enough money or time but instead they had a dream, a goal, a desire and they lived and breathed it. They put it out to the universe. They told others, they enrolled others in their dream. They worked when everyone else was sleeping. They read books, they studied mindset and ultimately they became the person they wanted to be.

Can we all do this? Can we really?

I believe when we fall in love with what we want to achieve, we focus on it all the time. Can you remember being head-over-heels in love with a boyfriend or girlfriend, so besotted that you could hardly eat or think about anything else? Well so it is with finding your life's passion and being so determined to bring it to reality that nothing will stop you. Oh yes there will be obstacles, rocks along the way, and setbacks, even heartaches but if we stay focussed and driven, the only outcome can be success.

“He who has a why to live for can bear almost any how.” - Friedrich Nietzsche

I know Oprah had to overcome a childhood of abuse and rape and could have become like any other poor, black girl in the south but she didn't. She read, she studied others and she developed dreams and ambitions that she hardly dared to voice. The first black woman with her own TV show, she has become an inspiration to millions of women (and men!) worldwide. Appearing on her show becomes a springboard to fame as people trust her endorsements. She has now become the first woman billionaire, the first black billionaire and thus the first black woman billionaire. In so doing, she has created the wealth to allow her to give in so many ways, including her Angel Network. As well as her TV shows, her website www.Oprah.com is a source of inspiration and information on a variety of subjects. This all came about by her love for her work, her enjoyment of people and her dedication and ambition.

As part of my training with Christopher Howard, I will learn the process of Cognitive Re-Imprinting which is a technique to discover the mindset, values and beliefs of achievers then install them in ourselves. Choosing to model the best of the best.

I encourage you to read and watch biographies to find out what inspires achievers.

“It isn't what the book costs; it's what it will cost if you don't read it.” - Jim Rohn

©Antonia Harrison 2008 from Personal Development for the 21st Century

You Can Do Anything

"You can do anything and everything. Believe in that, do not believe that you are weak.

Stand up and express the divinity within you. Stand up, be bold, be strong.

Take the whole responsibility on your own shoulders, and know that you are the creator of your own destiny." - ~Swami Vivekananda

The question is what future do you want to create? Do you know where your destiny lies or are you just floating from day to day to "see what life brings"?

If you are reading this, I choose to believe that you are one of life's doers, wanting to create a difference for yourself and others. You do not accept a life of mediocrity. You want and know you can have, be, do so much more.

Mediocrity is the enemy of greatness.

Discover what truly lights you up, something which is so inspiring that you will want to get out of bed in the morning to get started or stay up late. Work can be a burden if it is not what you are meant to be doing but I am talking about finding your true destiny so that you know that your life has a purpose. If you light up when you talk about it, you will attract others who want to join you, buy from you, invest in you.

Instead of people's eyes glazing over when you tell them what you do, be CELEBRATED, not tolerated. Very important.

On a training course in platform skills, I listened to the half-hour presentations of various people. Some people were so in tune with their subject that they made me believe in their cause, their business. One woman talked about cold calling techniques for salespeople of a particular truck and for a while, I even felt like one of those truck salespeople. Her passion for such an everyday subject really came across.

If you are still unsure where you are headed, I recommend a very challenging exercise. Take time over this. Take blank paper and write a description of your life in ten years time - the work, the people, the home, the lifestyle. Include as much detail as you can.

A variation is to write the tributes people are giving you at your 80th birthday party as they celebrate the amazing life you have had and all the people you have touched.

Once you see your life in the future, you can start working backwards to bring it to fruition. Start becoming more valuable to others. This precedes massive success.

Start becoming an example to your kids of what is possible in life. Encourage their ideas and self-belief. All too many children grow up discouraged by their parents' limiting ideas based on the mediocrity they have accepted as the norm.

Be aware of who you call friends. They say that our income is the average of the five people we spend the most time with. I have a natural tendency to want to help people, usually the people who need it, rather than those who deserve my help. So I have invested far too much time in people who are stuck and yet not prepared to make any changes. They are comfortable in their uncomfortable zone.

I stopped spending time with the wrong people and now choose my friends and influences more carefully. I want to be with positive people, people who are creating without limits.

Make your choices carefully.

©Antonia Harrison 2008 from Personal Development for the 21st Century

Somebody Needs You

I received this email today. Just fill in (YOUR NAME) and soak it in.

Many people devalue their God given gifts.
Many people under appreciate their worth.
Many people laugh off their natural strengths.
Many people have a tough time taking in appreciation.
Many people take lightly their assignment in life.
You see, we were all born to solve a problem.
Dentists solve teeth problems.
Phones solve communication problems.
Cars solve transportation problems.
We forget how important we really are to SOMEONE, somewhere.
"Mike, what do you mean?"

We were born to be a reward and blessing for a person or group of people.
Look around you, everything was created to solve a problem.
You get RICH, both personally and financially when you solve problems for people.
You see, every generation needs its great entrepreneurs, its great athletes, its authors, and its role models.
If you look at 25-50 year periods of times, each generation has its OWN STARS.
Today we have Steve Jobs, Oprah, Spielberg, Tiger and others. 50 years ago, there were other names.

(YOUR NAME) you were born to be a STAR in this generation.
You were.
Maybe it's business, family life, being a great listener,there's some PROBLEM you were born to solve.
There's somebody who needs you right now. There is. There's somebody you can bring joy to.
Will you be there for them?

The problem you were born to solve in life isn't so much a 'creation', as it's a discovery. Your discovery.
Many times your gifts are so close to you, you undervalue them and can barely see them.
What do you love doing?
Where are you naturally strong? (writing, reading, listening, speaking, etc...)
What bothers you?

We must correct the injustice of people spending their lives doing work they can't stand. This kind of work helps nobody.
It hurts them, their family and those they were born to help.

(YOUR NAME) Be the reward you were born to be.
(YOUR NAME) Add 1% more enthusiasm to your life.
Your gifts, talents, and abilities were given to you for a reason. Use them.
Love yourself. Serve others. Create value for others.
Get rich, financially and personally.
Great things usually take time. Go slow to go fast. Patience amigo.

Somebody is hurting today. Somebody needs you today. Awaken to this idea.
You can and WILL make somebody's day.
Focus on bringing more purpose and meaning to your life.
The fastest way to get what you want is to help someone else get what they want.
You're a problem solver for someone. This is your ticket to great riches.

(YOUR NAME) the thousands of people reading this right now believe in you.
Just like you believe in their abilities, they believe in yours.

We were ALL born for greatness. Start seeing that in others and they'll start acknowledging it in you.
As a group, we're much more powerful together than as individuals.
Believe in someone else's greatness today.

Love Ya! You're The Best!

Source: Mike Litman

Don't Steal by Not Sharing

Do you realize that you have a GIFT, a strength, a passion that can help people and by you not sharing it, you're STEALING from peoples' lives?

Think about that.

I have just been to a powerful seminar to help people develop Leadership and stop playing small. One big strong African man admitted that by playing small, African children are dying daily because he is not teaching them a better way to live.

If you have a passion and vision to make a difference, you need to do whatever it takes to attend Christopher Howard's "Breakthrough to Success" seminar. It runs in the UK, Ireland, USA, Australia and New Zealand and people travel all over the world to be there. Don't let time or money stop you.

Take my offer of TWO FREE TICKETS to attend this life-changing seminar.

When I went to "Breakthrough to Success" my vision was small and very limited. Five months later, I am growing so fast, learning the skills I need to fulfill my mission and impact thousands of lives.

Don't play small.

“If only. Those must be the two saddest words in the world.” - Mercedes Lackey

Antonia Harrison at Personal Development in the 21st Century and The Secret and Law of Attraction .

Are You in the 2%?

Why are some people successful and millions are not?

The difference between those who are successful and those who are not is simple. Successful people do what unsuccessful people do not. It all starts and ends at your self honesty. When you set promises to yourself do you follow them or do you let them go?

Successful people don't focus on what's required to be done. Success mindset focuses on the result of the actions not on the effort.

Successful people make decisions fast and change their minds slowly. Success can easily be summed up in one word - action. If you are constantly moving forward - even in the wrong direction you will make more progress than standing still.

When you don't go - you don't grow!

Is Fear Robbing you of your Dreams?

Sometimes fear of success can be the most demobilizing fear of all. Let fear sneak in and note that you do anything rather than take action even when your instincts tell you to do so. It can cost you more than you are willing to admit.

The lesson I learned was that choosing inaction (through fear) gives your fears the green light to move forward and your dreams to dwindle and fade away.

Dreams are attained through action not inaction. When I have a gut feeling I move boldly in that direction and do not allow that negative dream stealing inner talk to influence me.

Back to your question, "What would I do if I weren't afraid?"

Turn the question round to one that can empower and inspire you:

If God came to me and said, "I will assist you in accomplishing, doing or having anything it is that you tell me you want to be, do or have. All the things you need to make it happen will be done through my guidance and will. What is it that you choose to be, do or have?"

If God guaranteed that I could & would accomplish anything I desired what would I choose?

Are you clear what your answer would be? At least put it another way, "I know you don't know the answer, but if you did, what would it be?"

I hope that by reading this you will stop being caught up in the moment or in the drama of a problem and seek the solution to overcome that adversity.

In the meantime, be grateful, "The more you can be grateful for the things in your life now, the more you will have to be grateful for tomorrow." (no matter how 'bad things may seem)

No matter where you are in your life, there are thousands of things you could choose to be grateful for. Are you focusing on those or are you focusing on the little things which 'annoy' you?

In life you get more of what you focus on. Focus on gratitude and you will have more to be grateful for. Focus on worries or problems and you will have more worries and problems. Focus on solutions and you will find more solutions.

Web Designer Wanted

There was a study done by Harvard Business School using the USA Today Publication. They did a test where two ads were placed in this newspaper.

Ad One Read: Web Designer Wanted
Full time, Full Benefits, 401k
Salary: $120k to Start
Fax Resume to: 222.222.2222 Only 12 People Responded!

Ad Two Read: Web Designer Wanted
Full time, Full Benefits, 401k
Salary: $18k to Start
Fax Resume to: 333.333.3333 A Whopping 200 People responded!

The ironic thing is that the ad was for the same exact position for the same exact company in the test!

Do you now see how people through their own limited beliefs, fear, doubts & skepticism cut themselves out of so much opportunity in their lives? Are you one of them?

The power of self-hypnosis can help you rid yourself of these unwanted limiting beliefs, fears and doubts once and for all. Just visit www.downloadhypnosismp3.com to find out how you can start your new future today. Hypnosis is relaxing and totally natural. We all go into trance state when watching a good film, becoming engrossed in a book, driving long distance. Hypnosis has helped millions of people to a better future and can help you too.

Antonia Harrison 2008 from Personal Development in the 21st Century and The Secret and Law of Attraction .

How Empowering Beliefs Shape Successful Entrepreneurs

Every business owner wants their business to be a success and perhaps even build an empire from that success. If you really want your business to excel and to achieve every aspiration that you have, do not even think “Failure is not an option,” because as soon as you let that thought crossed your mind you have already opened the door to failure. Your belief must be that “the only option is Success” – the achievement of what you are after.

The way you think and the thoughts that you let into your mind will determine how your life manifests itself. Making sure that you have empowering beliefs will not only change the way you perceive the world around you, but it will also impact the success of your business. Know this: “Always think in the positive.”

Some people may argue that “failure is not an option,” is a positive affirmation, but is it right to say that not wanting to fail means wanting to succeed and hence it is a positive statement? No it isn’t, it is negative and here’s why. When you are carrying that belief, your mind is occupied with “not” landing yourself in “failure”. This means that you are unlikely to rise beyond the level of “not failing”, which is nowhere near the success you want. In more tangible terms, you are settling for anything from 50/100 to 60/100 instead of 90/100 to the perfect 100/100.

“Failure” and “not” carry negative connotations and most mental imageries associated with them are not exactly desirable. Now, the universe works by reading the states of what your thoughts are, so if what you are thinking of is the failure not happening, the universe reads “failure” and you would step right through the door to failure.

Think for one minute which statement makes you feel strong and empowered: “You will not fail!” or “You will succeed!” The second statement should have evoked a more positive feeling because what you are thinking about then is “success”. “Success” is the vibration that you are sending out to the world and therefore “success” is what is brought to you by the universe.

Beside holding the correct beliefs for your business, being optimistic about your endeavors are just as important. Having empowering beliefs and being optimistic is a wonderful and highly powerful combination for an entrepreneur. Optimism, together with belief in yourself and your business, will allow the universe to bolster your business. One essential part of the law of attraction is the “Believe” process and being optimistic that your desire is coming is part of the “believing” process. This isn’t just a theory; there are anecdotal evidences that support the fact that optimism is a significant contribution to how successful a person and a business can be. Just think about it, optimism is an ingredient to human evolution (you will have to read further down the article to find the information) and it keeps us going when the tide is against us.

Understand that optimism is not something that you can develop after reading a book or watching a show, it is a habit that we have to pick up. The successful people of the world have not only learned, but mastered it as well.

What does this mean to you, the entrepreneur? It means that your set of beliefs and level of optimism dictates where your business is heading towards. The universe meets the positive vibrations that you are sending out and return more positive things your way. If you don’t seize them, you are wasting energy and you will not be successful.

If you are curious to know whether or not you are an entrepreneur that is using empowering thought to its fullest potential, you can answer the following questions:

- Do you have a crystal-clear vision of what you want to achieve and how to do it?
- Do you spend a reasonable amount of time you can afford on working towards those visions?
- Do you recover fast from every failure and celebrate every success that you have?
- Do you remain enthusiastic about your vision after somebody has given you the cold shoulder?
- Do you have an air of confidence around you that let others know that you are worthy of success?

If you were able to answer yes to all five questions, you are an optimistic person who knows how to use empowering beliefs to take control of your future and get what you want. If there is a question or two that you have answered “no” to, stop for a moment and figure out what made you said “no.” The purpose of this exercise is for you to better understand how strong your beliefs are and what could be holding you back.

This process is not easy but it is worth it. Empowering beliefs and optimism are necessary attributes to having the universe work with you for the ultimate success of your business.

Personal Development in the 21st Century and The Secret and Law of Attraction

Fast Tracking Success Through Cognitive Profiling

by Christopher Howard

The most successful people in the world did not reach the top of their game by just asking the question, How can I make a huge amount of money? They became the top leaders in their fields by asking, What can I do to provide the most value to the largest number of people?

Now, a lot of people might say, I dont care why they did what they did. I just want to know how they did it so I can do it too. Well, the how actually exists within the subtler aspects of personality such as values, beliefs and attitudes. It is these often overlooked components of a Cognitive Profile that provide some of the key distinctions differentiating billionaires and world leaders from so many others who struggle in their businesses. It is precisely these internal factors that, when modeled through Cognitive Profiling, can drive anyone to create wealth and influence on a grand scale.

Cognitive Profiling is the system of breaking down the internal matrix of any role model to replicate their success patterns. Most beginners believe that if they only had the proper resources and financial backing, their business would make it big. But any seasoned entrepreneur will tell you from experience its a persons inner resources that back long-term success. Creating a Cognitive Profile allows you to, in the shortest amount of time possible, gain those key inner resources you may be lacking.

To Create a Cognitive Profile:

1. Choose your role models.
Start with a few people who are getting the results you want for yourself and your business. They do not necessarily have to be in your specific field. Richard Branson is not a Speaker or Trainer. However, I chose him for his obvious entrepreneurial genius, and because fun and adventure are high on both our values lists; and Oprah Winfrey because we share a primary motivation toward empowering others.

2. Study your role models in depth.
Re-imprinting yourself for ultimate achievement begins with saturating your mind with new mindsets to increase your own behavioural choices. During this stage of the change work, you want to absorb the most information in the least amount of time. This is accomplished by Genius Reading a technique of speed-reading to glean the necessary traits and strategies from this persons experience. Speed is important because a) rapid firing of new referential experiences within the neurology can alter patterns from the past; and b) because you want success now, not somewhere down the road! Choose to take on whichever aspects of your role models personalities serve your own purpose. You may realise you want their business strategies, but not their values. Fame, for example, may not be of high importance to you, but some of Madonna's marketing strategies could give your business a much-needed shot-in-the-arm.

3. Create a Mind Map
Write down all of those internal processes and external behavioural patterns that made the difference in your role model's success. This step continues their integration into your own conscious and unconscious mind. On what criteria did they base decisions? What attitudes assisted them? How did they deal with stress? What skill sets made the difference? What values compelled their actions? When I began to study Oprah Winfrey I recognised that, whether starting a magazine, production company or book club, her core value of inspiring others influenced every business choice she made. That became the criteria for my own business decisions. While creating Cognitive Profiles for all your role models, it often becomes glaringly apparent what skills, traits and habits you yourself need that, when incorporated, will accelerate your vision into fruition. Get excited you now know what you need and how to get it!

Begin to Model Success Today

Start with the preceding three steps. Read between the lines. Look for patterns. Ask yourself:

Do they use the language of possibility or necessity?
Necessity is words like :have to; must; need to, and possibility examples are, want to, can. An example of necessity is, I have to listen now. An example of possibility is, I want to listen now.

Are they toward or away-from motivated?
Do they move toward what they want in life or away from what they don't want? If they are propelled toward what they want, then positive statements like. Money will give me freedom and a sense of achievement, will motivate them. If they move away from what they don't want, negatively expressed statements such as. Money will mean I'll never be broke again, will motivate them.

Are they abstract or detailed thinkers?
Such as a big picture thinker or a specific and detailed thinker. Better at leading self or others? What strategies consistently get them results? Where can I apply all those patterns in my own business?

You have now begun Cognitive Reimprinting. Eliminating any of your own inner obstacles to success and repatterning your neurology toward the mindset and behaviours of ultimate fulfillment.

Want to know more?

Click here for two FREE guest tickets to Christopher Howard trainings and seminars in your area!

Empowerment Quiz

Take this quiz to find out how YOU are doing on your journey to your dreams!

Here are 10 questions to find out if you are on track, on passion and on purpose in life!

1. Do you wake up in the morning excited about the day?
2. Is it easy for you to make decisions about life because you’re so clear about what you want?
3. Do you tend to bring to you seemingly “fortunate coincidences or opportunities”?
4. When you look at yourself do you notice a glow on your face or a sparkle in your eye?
5. Do you find that little things or even big dramas do not distract you for long?
6. Do you feel a sense of natural motivation to just do what you need to get done?
7. Do you find that you are attracting the right people to you to help with the accomplishment of your vision?
8. Do you feel a sense of gratitude and a propulsion to fulfill your destiny?
9. Do you find that you are hitting your 3-month, 6-month and 1-year goals fairly accurately?
10. When you are working, do you lose track of time and feel you could go on forever?

If you answered “NO” to any of these questions, here are a few tips to get you back on track!

1. Imagine that ANYTHING is possible, and take some time to write down exactly what would be the perfect life for you.
2. Write down your IDEAL DAY. Use as many sensory details as possible.
3. Make a list of all your skills, talents, gifts, attributes, etc. then look for ways to bring those things to the market place to create value for others, which will create income for yourself!
4. Find your “evidence procedure” for one of your goals which is the end step — you can find this by asking yourself “What is the last thing that has to happen for me to KNOW that I achieved my outcome?” — then write down what you will be thinking, believing and DOING when you achieve that goal!
5. Set boundaries for yourself and others to insure that you will stay on track towards your goals. (Boundaries are your own little rule book as to what you will and will not accept in your life) Then stick to them as a gift to yourself!
6. Remember, every time you honour your own values, you BUILD YOUR OWN SELF ESTEEM AND SELF RESPECT!! (Not to mention others will have respect for you too.)
7. Write down your 5-year, 1-year, 6-months and 3-month goals. Get clear on what ACTION STEPS you would need to take EACH DAY to ensure that you hit these goals and deadlines.
8. Find a great mentor. Find someone who has done what you want to do and study everything you can about them! What do they think? What do they believe? How do they problem solve? What skills and talents do they have? What actions do they take? Then adopt all their habits yourself. If you don’t actually KNOW the person or they are a celebrity of some kind, read everything you can on them, watch videos on them and learn the things they know.
9. Make a list of all those things you are grateful for. Write “I am so grateful for…” then include anything and everything that you appreciate—from the blue sky to the fact that you found a great parking spot that day. You will be amazed at how much you already have! Then you are no longer focused on what you don’t want or what you don’t have. Instead you proceed with your dreams in the state of “the wish fulfilled!”
10. Be a student of personal development. Be willing to continue to learn, grow and evolve into who and what you want to be. Never give up. Have the flexibility of behaviour. That really means that if you try something and it doesn’t work…what do you do? Try again…if that doesn’t work …TRY AGAIN until you achieve your outcome! Remember, there is no failure, only feedback. If you keep at anything long enough YOU WILL SUCCEED!!!
11. Share what you do know with others starting on the path. You don’t realize how much you know until you start to teach it! Being a role model to others enforces excellence in your own behaviours and thinking and holds you to your own high standards.

Click here if you would like two FREE guest tickets for Christopher Howard's three-day empowering "Breakthrough to Success" seminar a FREE guest ticket plus one for a friend. Chris uses advanced hypnosis and NLP techniques to bring major breakthroughs to people's lives in the fields of career, finances, relationships, health etc. There are seminars in London, Dublin, USA, Australia and New Zealand. People travel from all over the world to attend. The energy is exhilarating and the seminar is a great opportunity to network with positive thinking people.

I also recommend Christopher Howard's book Turning Passions into Profits available from Amazon.

Antonia Stuart-James 2008 from Personal Development in the 21st Century and Hypnotherapy for Positive Change