Early Bird Discount for John Gray in London 13 April 2010

John Gray is the best-selling relationship author of all time and is hailed as the world's foremost relationship and gender expert.

The author of 16 books, including the relationship classic Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus - quoted as ‘the number one best-selling book of the last decade’ as well as ‘one of the top-ten most influential books of the last 25 years’.

Order your "An Evening with John Gray" Early Bird tickets with 50% discount NOW. VIP tickets with front row seating and a champagne reception are also available.


Speaking with both humour and empathy, John Gray offers practical solutions to common points of conflict and gives clear ways forward for greater intimacy and trust. With 'Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus' John Gray changed the lives and relationships of millions people around the world. He helped men and women accept just how different from each other they really are -- and, more importantly, how to work with these differences to enjoy closer, lasting and more fulfilling relationships.

In the past fifteen years, over 40 million Mars Venus books have been sold in over 45 languages throughout the world.



Men are From Mars, Women Are From Venus books at amazon.co.uk



Men are From Mars, Women Are From Venus books at amazon.com

Personal Development in the 21st Century

Why Small Businesses Fail - Michael Gerber in London

The E-Myth: Why Small Businesses Fail and What To Do About It
London 8th December 2009

Ever wonder why most small businesses fail despite the effort, dedication, passion and enthusiasm that have gone into it? Michael Gerber, author of mega-bestseller The E-Myth, will show you how to turn your business into a profitable world-class entreprise. He has already coached 30,000 businesses so is well worth listening to.

Click here for Michael Gerber in London tickets


And what's more you'll also get a complementary ticket to The Ultimate Business Growth Event where you'll learn how to really grow your business in 2010.

Fact..."Over eighty percent of all small businesses fail in the first five years!" Are you working FOR your business instead of IT working for you?

You will learn…

•How to balance the technical, strategic and operational roles of a small business entrepreneur

•Why you must develop systems and procedures

•How to separate your life from your company, and understand your dreams and goals

•How to become the leader you always wanted to be

•How to create a world-class enterprise

Michael Gerber's E-Myth books are available on Amazon:





Visit Personal Development in the 21st Century

Why Do We Sabotage Our Dreams Video

I saw Topher Morrison speak yesterday and was impressed. Here is a short video from him talking about perfectionism, positive & flexible attitude, fear of what if..., and the reminder, "Wherever you go, your problems go with you."



Click on the banner for Topher Morrison's book "Settle for Excellence - Stop Chasing Perfection":
or order here


order Topher Morrison's book "Settle for Excellence - Stop Chasing Perfection" here.


Visit Personal Development in the 21st Century

5 Proven Ways to Use Powerful Affirmations

I recently published 101 Powerful Affirmations received in my inbox.

Today, the author of the affirmations shared 5 Proven Ways to use them to bring about amazing, positive changes in your life.

Putting what you've learned into practice will dramatically speed up the process of attracting all the wonderful things you've desired into your life.

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1) Say Them Out Loud
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Affirmations work best when spoken with power and conviction.

It's normal if you feel uncomfortable saying certain affirmations in the beginning... because you may not fully believe them yet.

Saying them out loud over and over again helps to re-program your sub-conscious mind to accept these new beliefs gradually.

You'll realize that it gets easier and easier the more you do it and over time and you'll start to say the affirmations with more and more conviction.

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2) Say Them In Front Of The Mirror
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In fact, I recommend that you print out and paste the affirmations near your mirror so you can look at your reflection when you're saying them.

This is an extremely powerful way to anchor the new empowering beliefs to yourself.

I personally recite my affirmations every morning in front of the mirror in my room. I usually keep my room door closed to ensure privacy. You can also choose to do it using the bathroom mirror or wherever you feel most comfortable.

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3) Say Them In Your Head
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An alternative to saying the affirmations out loud is to say them in your head.

Perhaps, you live in a big family or in a place where it may not be convenient to practice reciting the affirmations out loud to yourself. If so, this is one good way to use your affirmations.

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4) Record Them And Listen To The Recording When Necessary
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Another way to do it is to record yourself saying the affirmations and play back the recording when you feel it's necessary to do so...for example, when you find yourself having negative thoughts.

I listen to my affirmations whenever I'm travelling from one place to another and just before I fall asleep. Research have shown that the sub-conscious mind is most open to suggestions just after you wake up and just before you fall asleep.

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5) Write Them Down
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You may also want to copy the affirmations down in your own handwriting. I don't know why it works but it does! A lot of people swear by it.

It's the same as writing sales copy... Top copywriters know that if you practice copying high response advertisements in your own handwriting, it actually improves your ability to write great copy.

Instead of questioning why it works, why not just give it a shot?

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The Secret to Making Affirmations work
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Now, you know the 5 proven ways to use your 101 powerful affirmations... but do you know the secret to making them work?

Ok... come a little closer...

*whispers*

The key to unlocking the potential of your affirmations is...

Consistency!

Don't expect to do it once and expect miracles... it just doesn't work that way.

If you want to effect positive changes in your life, you need to use your affirmations everyday or as often as you can.

Does it take a little work?

Yes... to develop the good habit of positive self-talk... but trust me, the results are definitely worth it!

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Conclusion
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I've shared with you 5 proven ways to use your affirmations as well as the secret to making them work for you. Now, the ball is in your court...

What are you going to do... to massively change your life?

Visit Personal Development in the 21st Century

Success Quote

"Success is not an accident. There are consistent, logical patterns of action and specific pathways to excellence that are within reach of all of us."

Thanksgiving Comes Before Supplication

"On Thanksgiving Day, we must be thankful for what we have, rather than focus on what we have lost. We have so much. An attitude of gratitude is received by the universe and rewarded with more of what is good. Resentment, hurt, bitterness and sadness just close our hearts and fill us with negative energy leaving no room for anything of value."

The pain of a recent unexpected break-up is still very raw. After all the love, the promises and expectations, It is normal that I feel hurt, sad and a tremendous feeling of loss. I thought this was it, my partner for the rest of my days but he changed his mind and did not give any clue that he was about to walk out. A feeling of resentment towards him for doing this to me and my children is totally warranted. How could he hurt us? How could he do this to his own children? So many questions. But do they serve me? Only if I learn from them.

I wrote the Thanksgiving Day quote as a reminder to myself. If I focus on everything I have lost and continue to feel all the negative emotions, I can only expect to attract more of the same into my life. As much as I want to believe that there is a future, there will be someone even better, of course it is difficult to even think that for a moment. But if I focus on the pain, the negative energy I send out will attract the wrong man, setting me up for more hurt in the future. I don’t want that, of course, but an unconscious belief will create the force that manifests that result again and again.

A friend asked me, “How did you attract this into your life?” I was angry with his reaction. I didn’t attract this break-up. I did everything I could to be a wonderful girlfriend and second mother to his children. But the Law of Attraction states clearly that we do attract everything into our life. We must take responsibility for our life and be on the cause side of the cause/effect equation. I must ask, “What did I do to cause this?”. I do not know but being the victim on the effect side does not serve me, it only keeps me in pain. What will it cost me to stay here? This relationship and possibly any future ones. Certainly inner peace and contentment.

I know that to create the life I want to live, I have to start with an attitude of gratitude.

I just remembered a format for prayer I learnt over twenty years ago - ACTS:
Adoration – of God
Confession – of sins
Thanksgiving – of all that we have, all that we are, all that we have received
Supplication – of all that we still ask for

Adoration and Confession are relevant when God is the Father of our life but here I want to concentrate on Thanksgiving comes before Supplication. In the Law of Attraction, we develop an attitude of gratitude in our thoughts and most importantly in our emotions because both give out energy. It is only when we are truly grateful that we can ask.

So what I am grateful for about my relationship? I am grateful that I met him, that we shared so many fun times, that he helped me be a better mother, that he shared knowledge with my sons, that he fixed my central heating system, that we learnt from each other, we experienced real happiness, togetherness, intimacy and a wonderful mutual love for each other. Some people never experience that intensity.

He is not in my life now, at least not today, but I know that he will not come back if he senses negative emotions of blame, hurt, shock, anger, bitterness, torment, suffering, rejection, neediness, pity, despair, powerlessness, panic. Who would want to go back to that? He once said he could feel my love vibes even though he was an hour’s drive away. So he can also feel the energy of negative emotions at a distance. So could any other man I meet and maybe he would be an even better man but I would never know.

Instead, I can use this pain constructively because it is often in the moments of pain that change occurs. We can stay in our comfort zone of discomfort but pain brings that all-important life-changing decision to do and feel differently.
How about courage, discovery, enthusiasm, optimism, inspiration, hope, pleasure, calm, acceptance, trust and, of course, self-love and respect?

Change can occur in the snap of a finger if we choose to try on a different way of being. I have an enormous wealth of personal development knowledge, skills and resources. I don’t need to look outside for help. I just need to change my state and be resourceful. The universe will only respond positively when I drain my heart of the negative clutter and fill up with positive energy.

So I am going to focus, really focus on something positive and be truly grateful for blessings. Let go of hurt and any negative state which does not serve me. Give thanks and more thanks. Go out into nature and breathe in the simple richness of creation and be grateful for what I have today. Tomorrow is tomorrow but today is all we truly have.

©Antonia Harrison 2009 from Personal Development in the 21st Century and The Secret and Law of Attraction .

Dr John Demartini Quote on Honouring Ourself

"Imagine what you would be able to do if you honored yourself with great clarity and inspiring certainty about your direction and what you truly would love to create in your life. What could you become, accomplish and fulfill? Every day ask yourself whatever questions that are required to polish your dreams until they are so clear that there are no spots on the window of your mind and your vitality surges." - Dr John Demartini

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

VIDEO - Eliminate Resistance and Expel Self-Sabotage

Are you ready to get out of your own way, eliminate resistance and expel self-sabotage? Watch this video

Visit Personal Development in the 21st Century .

Instantly Handle Intense Situations and Disempowering Emotions

Brian Tracy just sent me these tips you can use, today, for instantly handling intense situations and disempowering emotions.

A lot of us were never taught how to deal with stress, fear, overwhelm, sadness, etc. As a result, we've adopted habits that help us cope (usually unhealthy ones too, like smoking, overeating, drinking, etc.).

I've found a really powerful website that teaches you 2 exercises you can start using immediately to reverse those emotions and turn them in to empowering ones.

The exercises start about a quarter of the way down the page.

Take a look and try them out for yourself, you'll be glad you did.

Click here for FREE tips for instantly handling intense situations and disempowering emotions.

Visit Personal Development in the 21st Century .

Holiday Promotions on Tony Robbins Products

Here is info on the FREE PRODUCT with PURCHASES OF $500, Profit From The Peak:
For a limited time, you also receive the BRAND NEW, Never Released program, Anthony Robbins’ “Profit From The Peak” on orders over $500! In this three part multi-media program, Tony shares with you the distinctions, strategies, and tools he has learned from working with and coaching some of the top financial experts in the world. These are people who have made billions of dollars in their lifetime, most of which occurred during down economic times. You will also have the rare opportunity to hear Tony interview two of the leading financial prognosticators of the 1980s and 1990s, Harry S. Dent, Jr. and Robert R. Prechter, Jr. (This is a $149 Value)

Total Immersion Package (valid until 11:59PM 30 November 2009)
Total Value: $1,886
Special Price: $847
This package includes:



One General Admission UPW Ticket to Orlando ($895 value)
Time of Your Life Product ($297 value)
Personal Power II Product ($297 value)
FREE 30-minute Coaching Strategy Session ($250 value)
FREE new financial product, Profit From The Peak ($147 value)

Click here for the Black Friday – Cyber Monday Promotion

Click here for Holiday Promotion – Starting at 15% off!
Save as much as $550 this holiday season on bundled offers on specific products!

Total Commitment Package
Choose Any 4
Special: $647
Save Up To $549
Plus free financial product “Profit From the Peak”

Momentum Package
Choose Any 3
Special: $497
Save Up To $400
Plus free financial product “Profit From the Peak”

Starter Package
Choose Any 2
Special: $357
Save Up To $241

Also, you can buy one product for 15% off.

Not all products are included. Here are the 6 products that are part of the holiday campaign offers:

Personal Power II: 30th Anniversary Edition
The Number one Personal and Professional Improvement System of All Time.
With Anthony Robbins’ commemorative 30th Anniversary Edition of Personal Power® II, you can take advantage of the same strategies that have inspired millions to create lasting change.

The Time of Your Life
More Time for What Really Matters to You—This unique 10-day step-by-step audio program is designed to help you master the Rapid Planning Method (RPM). Take control of your time, and your life, as you massively increase your productivity, efficiency and fulfillment.

Creating Lasting Change
The 7 Steps to Maximum Impact guides you down the path to becoming a more effective inspirational leader. In this 10-day program, you will examine leadership from a unique perspective—the ability to influence the thoughts, feelings and actions of others.

Mastering Influence
A 10-day system for strengthening emotional impact and increasing your sales, this program integrates proven psychological tools with sales tactics that will help you better understand and influence others to ultimately achieve your most ambitious goals and objectives.

Love & Passion: The Ultimate Relationship Program
Understand the 7 Master Relationship Skills and 10 Disciplines of Love and Passion to continually strengthen your relationship, even during times of stress, uncertainty, and transition.

The Body You Deserve
If you are overweight, you’ve probably been told for years what you must do to be fit and healthy. Yet you may find you still can’t get yourself to consistently do what’s necessary. Anthony Robbins and Dr. Nate Booth are your personal coaches, guiding you step-by-step through a 12-day process of transforming your mind, body and emotions.

Click here for the Black Friday – Cyber Monday Promotion

Click here for Holiday Promotion – Starting at 15% off!

The Power of the Pause

We're busy, cramming in so many things to do every day. All these new gadgets were supposed to save us time. Instead we have to keep referring to instruction leaflets. We used to write a couple of letters every day. Now we receive hundreds of emails every day, many of which require reading and a reply. Life is becoming more and more demanding, not easier.

Mothers especially run around after everyone else's needs then wonder why there are exhausted.

Sometimes we have to pause, stop the train, shut ourselves off, even if just for 15 minutes.

I once saw an advertisement for a ladies' bath product:
"There are 168 hours in a week. Shouldn't at least one of them be for you?"

As a hypnotherapist I see so many clients suffering from stress, burnout, anxiety, sleep problems, poor eating patterns, and of course, relationship issues.

Learning to relax, take time out through self-hypnosis can be enormously beneficial. A 15 minutes self-hypnosis session can bring as much battery recharging as several hours of sleep.

Try this Instant Self-Hypnosis Mp3. There are lots of other suggested hypnosis Mp3 titles on the site or you can visit DownloadHypnosisMp3.com for a choice of over 400 titles.

Learning to pause, we can actually see problems in a different perspective. Allow the unconscious mind (where 90-95% of all brain activity occurs) to process a problem, an issue, a question and come up with a suggestion.

I offer a free report on personal stress management at www.live-stressfree.com (I have had hosting problems with this site so if you cannot find it, email me on iminfo@telenet.be and I'll send you a copy.)

©Antonia Harrison 2009 from Personal Development in the 21st Century

Antonia Harrison is the English Hypnotherapist in Belgium and recommends Download Hypnosis Mp3s for immediate access to positive life-changing hypnosis sessions.

BraveHeart Women Global Community

When I first read this quote by The Dali Lama I was quite intrigued. He said, "The world will be saved by the woman."

I sincerely believe that The Dali Lama is spot on regarding the powerful influence women have in our world today. We all know women who are inspiration in action which is exactly why I knew I had to share this with you...

Ellie Drake, rocked the business world in 2007 by creating the BraveHeart Women's Online Community, an innovative resource she designed to help women entrepreneurs
join together like never before in a mutual commitment to success.

Ellie told about the powerful women (Dr. Maya Angelou, Leeza Gibbons, Mariel Hemmingway, Susan Anton,and Lisa Nichols of 'The Secret' fame, just to name a few) who are part of the BraveHeart Community.

This (FREE) social networking site empowers women of all ages to discover their own voices, expand their potential, and be the change they want for themselves, their family, their community, and the world. Ellie and The Women of The BraveHeart Community have extended a special invitation to Unemployed Millionaires which I
encourage you to take advantage of right away:

BraveHeart Women Global Community

Here are a few things you will learn from The BraveHeart Community:

How ONE SIMPLE SHIFT IN YOUR AWARENESS produces astronomically more results in less time, with less effort (you'll be astonished at how productive you are with this devastatingly easy change);

How the thoughts of successful WOMEN LEADERS ARE DIFFERENT from the thoughts of average women (and how those differences play out in all personal and professional
achievements);

How to banish useless energy like GUILT, SHAME and REGRET from your brain so you can stop beating yourself up (women in particular play out negative emotions over and over in their heads, which can make them feel horrible);

How to buck the PROCRASTINATION PATTERN any of us can slip into (you can't step up to being your strongest self if you can't get stuff done);

How to INSTANTLY shift your attitude to transform your personal ability to lead and inspire (moods and emotions don't have to control your destiny);

How to easily break down and dissect the steps of TRUE PERSONAL, PROFESSIONAL and GLOBAL FULFILLMENT (it's shockingly simple when it's laid out for you);

How to 'DETOX' areas of your life today so you can realize your dreams and get out of your own way (break the cycle of repeating habits that don't serve you anymore);

How to quickly discover your 'LIFE PURPOSE' and put it into action (the Braveheart Community is tailored for meaningful connections and insights);

How to easily uncover and OVERCOME BLIND SPOTS that hold you back from being your most magnificent self (all too often it is US holding ourselves back);

Please feel free to share this with any woman who is inspiration in action:

BraveHeart Women Global Community

P.S. Did I mention the cost for registering for the *BraveHeart Women Global Community* is 100% FREE of charge?

101 Powerful Affirmations You Can Start Using Today

Affirmations are great tools that can help you overcome fear, build your confidence, develop an abundance mind-set and more. The problem is that many people aren’t sure exactly how to write effective affirmations. Do they always have to be in present tense? Can they contain “negative” words like can’t, won’t, not, and so on?

There are plenty of differing opinions on the right and wrong ways to write effective affirmations, but the bottom line is that an affirmation can be considered effective if it works for YOU! The whole point of affirmations is to shift your thoughts and emotions to a more positive place so you feel more confident, happy, secure, abundant, or anything else you’re trying to accomplish.

Take a look at the 101 powerful affirmations below for starters and feel free to use them if they resonate with you. If not, try altering them slightly until they trigger the mind-set and emotional state you’re trying to attain.

Affirmations for Healthy Weight and Body Image:
- Today I love my body fully, deeply and joyfully.
- My body has its own wisdom and I trust that wisdom completely.
- My body is simply a projection of my beliefs about myself.
- I am growing more beautiful and luminous day by day.
- I choose to see the divine perfection in every cell of my body.
- As I love myself, I allow others to love me too.
- Flaws are transformed by love and acceptance.
- Today I choose to honor my beauty, my strength and my uniqueness.
- I love the way I feel when I take good care of myself.
- Today my own well-being is my top priority.

Affirmations for Self-Confidence and Self-Belief:
- Fear is only a feeling; it cannot hold me back.
- I know that I can master anything if I do it enough times.
- Today I am willing to fail in order to succeed.
- I believe that I have the strength to make my dreams come true.
- I’m going to relax and have fun with this, no matter what the outcome may be.
- I’m proud of myself for even daring to try; many people won’t even do that!
- Today I put my full trust in my inner guidance.
- I grow in strength with every forward step I take.
- I release my hesitation and make room for victory!
- With a solid plan and a belief in myself, there’s nothing I can’t do.

Affirmations for Abundance and Prosperity:
- I open to the flow of great abundance in all areas of my life.
- I always have more than enough of everything I need.
- Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you!
- Today I expand my awareness of the abundance all around me.
- I allow the universe to bless me in surprising and joyful ways.
- My grateful heart is a magnet that attracts more of everything I desire.
- Prosperity surrounds me, prosperity fills me, prosperity flows to me and through me.
- I exude passion, purpose and prosperity.
- I am always led to the people who need what I have to offer.
- As my commitment to help others grows, so does my wealth.
- My day is filled with limitless potential in joy, abundance and love.

Affirmations for Life Purpose:
- The better I know myself, the clearer my purpose becomes.
- My unique skills and talents can make a profound difference in the world.
- Today I follow my heart and discover my destiny.
- I am meant to do great things.
- I am limited only by my vision of what is possible.
- My purpose is to develop and share the best parts of myself with others.
- Today I present my love, passion, talent and joy as a gift to the world.
- I need not know the entire journey in order to take one step.
- I fulfill my life purpose by starting here, right now.
- My life purpose can be whatever I decide to make it.

Affirmations for Inner Peace:
- All is well, right here, right now.
- Peace begins with a conscious choice.
- Today I embrace simplicity, peace and solace.
- A peaceful heart makes for a peaceful life.
- I trust the universe to deliver my highest good in every situation.
- By becoming peace, I create peace in every experience.
- I am filled with the light of love, peace and joy.
- Peace comes when I let go of trying to control every tiny detail.
- Where peace dwells, fear cannot.
- Today my mission is to surrender and release.

Affirmations for Opportunity:
- Today I open my mind to the endless opportunities surrounding me.
- Opportunities are everywhere, if I choose to see them.
- I boldly act on great opportunities when I see them.
- My intuition leads me to the most lucrative opportunities.
- An opportunity is simply a possibility until I act on it.
- Some of the best opportunities are made, not found.
- Today I see each moment as a new opportunity to express my greatness.
- I expand my awareness of the hidden potential in each experience.
- Let each of my experiences today be a gateway to something even better.
- Each decision I make creates new opportunities.

Affirmations for Love:
- I am ready for a healthy, loving relationship.
- All of my relationships are meaningful and fulfilling.
- As I share my love with others the universe mirrors love back to me.
- I see everyone I meet as a soul mate.
- I trust the universe to know the type of partner who is perfect for me.
- Today I release fear and open my heart to true love.
- I am grateful for the people in my life.
- I am the perfect partner for my perfect partner.
- I deserve a loving, healthy relationship.
- I deserve to be loved and I allow myself to be loved.

Affirmations for Healing:

- I am strong and healthy.
- My energy and vitality are increasing every day.
- I open to the natural flow of wellness now.
- My inner guidance leads me to the right healing modalities for me.
- Abundant health and wellness are my birthright.
- Thank you for my strength, my health and my vitality.
- I am feeling stronger and better now.
- I love taking good care of myself.
- Today nurturing myself is my highest priority.
- Thank you for the opportunity to balance my mind, body and spirit.

Affirmations for Inner Clarity:

- Today I awaken to my higher wisdom.
- My inner voice guides me in every moment.
- I am centered, calm and clear.
- I always know the right actions to achieve my goals.
- When I know where I’m going, getting there is a cinch!
- Today I am completely tuned in to my inner wisdom.
- Harmony is always a sign that I am balanced from within.
- Thank you for showing me the way to my dreams.
- I trust my feelings and insights.
- I am detached and open to divine guidance.

Affirmations for Self-Love:

- I am filled with light, love and peace.
- I treat myself with kindness and respect.
- I don’t have to be perfect; I just have to be me.
- I give myself permission to shine.
- I honor the best parts of myself and share them with others.
- I’m proud of all I have accomplished.
- Today I give myself permission to be greater than my fears.
- I love myself no matter what.
- I am my own best friend and cheerleader.
- Thank you for the qualities, traits and talents that make me so unique.

***
Yee Shun Jian

The Power of Personal Development

Article by Jeffrey Gitomer

When I say Think and Grow Rich, what comes to your mind?

Almost everyone in sales and those interested in personal development have read this classic by Napoleon Hill at least once. And almost everyone who's read it has a positive comment. Many (like me) will say, "Turning point in my life."

Everyone has a turning point in their quest for lifelong learning. Everyone has their Aha! In your personal development, it's what you choose to listen to, watch or read that enhances your understanding of your life and teaches you what you need to do to succeed.

Napoleon Hill's 1937 quote sets the standard. "Whatever the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve." And once you have the information, it's all about what you are willing to do to take advantage of it.

Most people know Napoleon Hill was the author of Think and Grow Rich. The person Hill emulated and studied was Orison Swett Marden. Not many know that.

Marden was the leading positive-attitude genius of the 20th century. Well-known before 1930-almost unknown today. He was a founding father of personal development and positive thought. Aha!

Author of more than 40 books, Marden also was the founder of SUCCESS magazine. Here are a few of his words of wisdom from the book he wrote in 1908, He Who Thinks He Can.

•"Every child should be taught to expect success."
•"The man who has learned the art of seeing things looks with his brain."
•"The best educated people are those who are always learning, always absorbing knowledge from every possible source and at every opportunity."
•"People do not realize the immense value of utilizing spare minutes."
•"No substitute has ever yet been discovered for honesty."
•"Poverty is of no value except as a vantage ground for a starting point."These are quotes worth learning and passing on to others. One hundred years old!

"Learn More about Orison Swett Marden."
Based on my personal experience and personal Ahas!, I'd like to challenge you with the rules of personal development and give you some examples of what I have learned so you might make your own plan to succeed or enhance the one you have.

1.Expose yourself to knowledge.
At the end of a seminar I gave on positive attitude, I received an evaluation from a woman named Mary with a comment that read, "I wish I would have heard this 30 years ago." I got goose bumps of sadness and thought of a Jim Rohn quote: "All the information you need to succeed already exists; the only problem is you're not exposing yourself to it." This information existed 30 years ago. Mary just hadn't exposed herself to it.

Jim Rohn is known as America's leading business philosopher. His CD, The Art of Exceptional Living, is among the modern classics of personal development. Jim Rohn is the current master of inspiration and Aha! He imparts wisdom in every sentence.

Between Marden and Rohn, there is a long list of valuable books. I owe my career success to these books and to personal development information to which I have exposed myself.

Most of the books are more than 50 years old. Many with religious connotations-but still preaching the right words and thoughts. One of the most notable is The Power of Positive Thinking by Norman Vincent Peale. Biblical and brilliant.

2. Simple is powerful.
If you read it and it seems too easy or too hokey, reread it. It's probably part of your personal development foundation.

One of my early Aha! moments of personal development was the simplicity of the message. Sometimes it's so simple, you go right past it without understanding the impact it can make.

A classic example is the eternal "How to Win Friends and Influence People" by Dale Carnegie. In 1936 he wrote, "You can make more friends in two months by becoming interested in other people than you can in two years by trying to get other people interested in you." How many salespeople could benefi t from that single Aha!? I think all of them.

Interesting to note that Dale Carnegie's lessons still are being taught in the classroom 70 years later!

3. Think and apply to improve.
In "As a Man Thinketh", published in 1902, James Allen says, "A man is literally what he thinks, his character being the complete sum of all his thoughts." Thinking what can be done is at the core of your personal development. About 54 years later, in the million-seller, The Strangest Secret, Earl Nightingale writes, "We become what we think about all day long." Get it?

In 1969, I listened to Glenn W. Turner on a cassette tape: "Act as though you have already begun to achieve. Not fake it-live it."

4. Take a daily dose.
Think about the time-worn expression, "An apple a day keeps the doctor away." Apply that to personal development, and it means learn and apply one new thing every day. At the end of a year you will have 365 new pieces of information.

5. The older the better.
If you want a new idea, read a book that's 100 years old. "The best educated people are those who are always learning, always absorbing knowledge from every possible source and at every opportunity." -Marden, 1908. Or, "History has demonstrated that the most notable winners usually encountered heartbreaking obstacles before they triumphed. They won because they refused to become discouraged by their defeats." -B.C. Forbes, 1919.

6. Personal development and positive attitude are joined at the hip-and at the brain. And there is another component-being of service.
"There is little difference in people, but that little difference makes a big difference. The little difference is attitude. The big difference is whether it is positive or negative." -Clement Stone, 1946. Add that to the 5000-year-old Chinese proverb, "To Serve is to Rule."

7. Do it even as your butt falls off.
In 1898, Elbert Hubbard wrote an essay titled, Message to Garcia. Deliver the message, get the job done, complete the task-no matter what. Many have read that essay. Few have emulated it.

Personal development challenges you to think forward. "Greater than the tread of mighty armies is an idea whose time has come." -Victor Hugo, 1874.

Personal development challenges you to be your best. "You cannot mandate productivity; you must provide the tools to let people become their best." -Steve Jobs, 1988.

"I am the greatest of all time." -Muhammad Ali, 1963.

Personal development challenges you to make decisions based on the person you seek to become. "The highest reward for a person's toil is not what they get for it, but what they become by it." -John Ruskin, 1869.

Wondering where you can "find more time" to devote to your own success? "It has been my observation that most people get ahead during the time that others waste." -Henry Ford, 1901. Just a thought.

The key word is not development; the key word is personal. Do it for yourself, in your own way, and make your own time for it-or not.

The biggest Aha! of personal development is from Russell Conwell's Acres of Diamonds. Considered to be one of the finest speeches ever written, Acres of Diamonds offers a multitude of lessons about the rewards of work, education and finding the riches of life in your own back yard-or your own library. Aha!

Jeffrey Gitomer is the author of The Little Red Book of Selling and The Little Gold Book of YES! Attitude. President of Charlotte-based Buy Gitomer, he gives seminars, runs annual sales meetings, and conducts Internet training programs on selling and customer loyalty at www.trainone.com. He can be reached at 704/333-1112 or at salesman@gitomer.com.

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