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Sunday, June 29, 2008

Is 90 Days Really Too Long?


Greetings:

I am loving the Daily Action Power Process 90 Day program that I created and have been personally working. I already know the power of daily action, I am the Action Advocate after all. However the combination of focus and action is amazing. There simply is nothing else like it.

But is 90 Days too long? Some people have been sharing their concerns with me that the 90 Day Program that I am launching is just too long. Of course my first question is "Compared to what?" The other point I would make is July 1 marks the end of half the year. Are you where you want to be? If you haven't achieved what you wanted in the first half by doing what you have been doing, what makes you think you will achieve more continuing with the same program.

The risk you run here is that in 90 Days if you continue to do what you have been doing you will get exactly what you have gotten so far. That most likely isn't what you want. However if you focus and take action and do the 90 Day Program you will change your life and accomplish the goals you set out to accomplish.

The point to make here is regardless of what you decide to do 90 Days is still going to pass. Time isn't going to stop or even slow down. It will zip on by just like it did in the first half of the year.

There is a lot that will help you achieve your goals. Will power and determination can assist in making change. However if you don't take consistent action over a period of time, it isn't enough.

May people procrastinate when it comes to working on their gaols. This can be for a lot of reason, fear, low confidence, letting the "How" get in the way. Some of the excuses I have heard for not doing the 90 Day Power Process is that it is summer, their is a holiday, it's too hot, bla, bla bla. What is so great about the 90 Day Power Process is it will help you build momentum and once you get the momentum going the rest such as abundance and prosperity will follow.

So why 90 Days? Actually the concept of 90 Days came to me after I read my friend Ron Chapman's book, Seeing True - Ninety Contemplations in Ninety Days." In the book Ron explains that the 90 day concept came out of his Alcoholic Anonymous (AA) days. When a person decides to go sober they are required to attend 90 AA meetings in 90 days. The thought is that 90 days will create a solid habit and lead to a life of sobriety. I find that the 90 days helps to keep the focus and the momentum so that the change can take place. It is also easier to keep going than it is to start or restart. The 90 Days keeps the ball rolling and actually helps to make achieving the goal easier. Change doesn't happen over night, it happens over time. This process isn't a quick fix, it is designed to create a habit that will support you in attaining your goals.

To me 90 Days is just the start - it is the beginning of the process. So to answer the question, No ninety days isn't too long. It is just right!

If you would like to join me in my first ever Daily Action Power Process Summer Camp click here and sign up. At the end of the ninety days you will be glad you did.

Here's to taking action,

Rachelle

Saturday, June 28, 2008

Daily Action Power Process - 90 Days to Success - Summer Camp


Many people are telling me they love the concept of the Daily Action Power Process (DAPP) that I have been Blogging about but the lack of accountability and support is getting in the way of their success. Well I have listened and created a 90 Day Program that will skyrocket your success.

Since I loved Summer Camp (I was a Girl Scout after all) I couldn't think of a better time to launch the program. Summer officially started on June 21st so I am giving you a couple weeks to kick back and then launch into achieving your goals.

While many of us have a little downtime during the summer, this is also a great time to take action on your goals. You will have a couple weeks of downtime and then Camp starts on July 7th.

Camp will include weekly calls, coaching call-in days, private mini coaching sessions and, of course, a Camp Manual (workbook for the Daily Action Power Process). I wanted everyone to attend Camp so I kept the price low, and the value very high. For more information go to http://www.365daysofcoaching.com/dapp.htm and sign up today. Summer is a great time to get into action and put a turbo charge on your goals.

I sure hope I see you at camp.

Here's to taking action

Rachelle

Monday, June 23, 2008

The secret to moving forward when you feel stuck


Greetings:

I love this article by Asha Tyson, who by the way has an amazing story of success, because it confirms what I have been saying and thinking, Consistent Daily Action is the key to success. I love how Asha ask for a "Drum Roll" as she announces that Daily Action is the secret. Daily Action doesn't always get the attention or the "Drum Roll" it deserves. Actually most people know that it would make a difference but don't for some reason actually do anything about it. Knowing something and putting that knowledge to use is two different things.

As we move forward with the Daily Action Power Process I am reminded that Daily Action, although not all that glamorous, is the key, the secret, the magic wand, and more all rolled up into one. It is what will make you successful, rich and happy. And it is so simple! You just need to do it.

Simple yes, easy no. First you have to know what you want, what you really, really want. You have to be specific. Don't just say you want more money. When you find a penny on the ground your wish has come true, you now have more money. You have to be specific, how much more do you want and by when. When you become very clear the Universe will conspire with you to make it happen. Now get busy and start taking the inspired actions to get more money. I say inspired because once you become very clear the Universe will start sending you opportunities, ideas and hunches that when followed through with will begin to manifest what you want.

Here's to taking action,
Rachelle


How To Move Forward When You Feel Stuck
By Asha Tyson


Sometimes you may feel like you don't have the support you need to move forward. You might feel busted and disgusted. When it's your turn to be encouraged, you may feel no one can or will help. We have all been there. But you don't have to be there anymore. I discovered something that all successful people know.

There is a way to combat that feeling each and every time you get stagnate. You will be able to push yourself along whether you have help or not. That's right. You can literally change your situation in an instant -- at will -- and be on your way to the success you deserve!

It's a simple concept, but the practice is highly uncommon. If more people implemented this little technique, they would be amazed at their results.

The secret is...(Insert Drum Roll Here)

Consistent Daily Action!

If you're not getting what you want out of life, the first place to look is at your daily actions and habits. You must ask yourself, "What small steps am I taking everyday towards any one goal?" You will be amazed to find that your daily action is either not happening or not consistent enough to produce the result you're after. Consistent daily action, regardless of how small, is the single most effective key to achieving any level of success you want.

So you have to plan your work. Do you have a real plan that is clear and focused? If the answer is "no" You have to re-assess your desires and find out what's holding you back.

If you don't have a large enough reason for moving forward everyday. IT JUST WON'T HAPPEN. Select one specific goal you would like to work on first. Now, set a date for completion.

Next, create a plan for reaching that goal. What tools, knowledge, suppliers, professionals, finances, etc. do your think you need? Get that all together. WRITE IT DOWN. I've carried a Franklin Planner for several years. I find it very useful in keeping my schedule, tasks and projects in order, but I have been known to grab a good old fashion legal pad or loose-leaf notebook every now and again if it's closer. I'm not high tech, so I write everything down. There are lots of systems, software, cherries and blackberries available. The absolute best system to use
is one that works for you!

Break the plan down into manageable daily steps that will assist you in achieving your goal. Once the goal is set, you can ask yourself, "What will I need to accomplish in order to get from here to there?" Now get moving. Refuse to be stopped. Celebrate failure because you learn more from it than you do from success. Decide not to give up until you win!

If you haven't taken the time or you just need a loving shove, I have good news for you. Here it is.

Take Action Now!

Asha Tyson -homeless at 17, is now award-winning celebrity life coach and national bestselling author of "How I Retired at 26!"

Today you too can get lasting results with FREE success tools only at http://www.ashatyson.com Do it now!

Sunday, June 22, 2008

Ask and you shall receive


Greetings:

I just love when Jack and I are saying the same things. This week in 365 Days of Coaching I wrote several days about Asking. One Day was based on a scene from The Rocky Horror Picture show, a movie I have seen countless times.

Megenta (a domestic) says to Dr. Frank-N-Furter (a scientist), "I ask for nothing - nothing."

To which Dr. Frank-N-Furter replies, "And you shall receive it in abundance."

You simply won't get what you don't ask for. Don't worry that is isn't polite or you might be turned down. You risk nothing when you ask for something because you don't already have it so you have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

I love how Jack has outlined what to ask for and how to ask for it. If you want to increase your success in life you have to learn this all important skill.

So get to asking! You will be so glad you did.

Here's to taking Action

Rachelle

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The Power of Asking; 7 Ways to Boost Your Business
by Jack Canfield

The gift called “asking” has been around for a long, long time. One of life’s fundamental truths states, “Ask and you shall receive.” Kids are masters at using this gift, but we adults seem to have lost our ability to ask. We come up with all sorts of excuses and reasons to avoid any possibility of rejection.

Yet the world responds to those who ask! If you are not moving closer to what you want, you probably aren’t doing enough asking.

Here are seven asking strategies you can implement in your business (and in life) to boost your results and your bottom line:

Asking Strategy #1: Ask for Information

To win potential new clients, you first need to know what their current challenges are, what they want to accomplish and how they plan to do it. Only then can you proceed to demonstrate the advantages of your unique product or service.

Ask questions starting with the words who, why, what, where, when and how to obtain the information you need. Only when you truly understand and appreciate a prospect’s needs can you offer a solution. Once you know what's important to them, stay on this topic and find solutions for them.

Asking Strategy #2: Ask for Business

Here’s an amazing statistic: after giving a complete presentation about the benefits of their product or service, more than 60 percent of the time salespeople never ask for the order! That’s a bad habit, and one that could ultimately put you out of business.

Always ask a closing question to secure the business. Don’t waffle or talk around it—or worse, wait for your prospect to ask you. No doubt you have heard of many good ways to ask the question, “Would you like to give it a try?” The point is, ask.

Asking Strategy #3: Ask for Written Endorsements

Well-written, results-oriented testimonials from highly respected people are powerful for future sales. They solidify the quality of your product or service and leverage you as a person who has integrity, is trustworthy and gets the job done on time.

When is the best time to ask? Right after you have provided excellent service, gone the extra mile to help out, or in any other way made your customer really happy.

Simply ask if your customer would be willing to give you a testimonial about the value of your product or service, plus any other helpful comments.

Asking Strategy #4: Ask for Top-Quality Referrals

Just about everyone in business knows the importance of referrals. It’s the easiest, least expensive way of ensuring your growth and success in the marketplace.

Your core clients will gladly give you referrals because you treat them so well. So why not ask all of them for referrals? It’s a habit that will dramatically increase your income. Like any other habit, the more you do it the easier it becomes.

Asking Strategy #5: Ask for More Business

Look for other products or services you can provide your customers. Devise a system that tells you when your clients will require more of your products. The simplest way is to ask your customers when you should contact them to reorder. It’s often easier to sell your existing clients more than to go looking for new ones.

Asking Strategy #6: Ask to Renegotiate

Regular business activities include negotiation. Many businesses get stuck because they lack skills in negotiation, yet this is simply another form of asking that can save a lot of time and money. Look at your vendors and suppliers and see if there are areas where you can be saving money. Just ask.

All sorts of contracts can be renegotiated in your personal life, too, such as changing your mortgage terms and rate, reviewing your cell phone plan and requesting a policy review with your insurance agent. As long as you negotiate ethically and in the spirit of win-win, you can enjoy a lot of flexibility. Nothing is ever cast in stone.

Asking Strategy #7: Ask for Feedback

This is a powerful way to fine-tune your business that is often overlooked. How do you really know if your product or service is meeting your customers’ needs? Ask them, “How are we doing? What can we do to improve our service to you? Please share what you like or don’t like about our products.” Set up regular customer surveys that ask good questions and tough questions.

HOW TO ASK

Some people don’t enjoy the fruits of asking because they don't ask effectively. If you use vague language you will not be clearly understood. Here are five ways to ensure that your asking gets results.

Ask Clearly
Be precise. Think clearly about your request. Take time to prepare. Use a note pad to pick words that have the greatest impact. Words are powerful, so choose them carefully.

Ask with Confidence
People who ask confidently get more than those who are hesitant and uncertain. When you’ve figured out what you want to ask for, do it with certainty, boldness and confidence.

Ask Consistently
Some people fold after making one timid request. They quit too soon. Keep asking until you find the answers. In prospecting there are usually four or five “no’s” before you get a “yes.” Top producers understand this. When you find a way to ask that works, keep on asking it.

Ask Creatively
In this age of global competition, your asking may get lost in the crowd, unheard by the decision-makers you hope to reach. There is a way around this. If you want someone’s attention, don’t ask the ordinary way. Use your creativity to dream up a high-impact presentation.

Ask Sincerely
When you really need help, people will respond. Sincerity means dropping the image facade and showing a willingness to be vulnerable. Tell it the way it is, lumps and all. Don’t worry if your presentation isn’t perfect; ask from your heart. Keep it simple and people will open up to you.

© 2008 Jack Canfield

* * *

Are you 'stuck' in this area?
Send me your most pressing question, then join me for our monthly
'Ask Jack Canfield' Tele-Clinic on Wednesday, July 2nd!
www.AskJackCanfield.com

If you missed previous issues of Success Strategies,
I keep an archive of past issues you can always refer to.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Jack Canfield, America's #1 Success Coach, is the founder and co-creator of the billion-dollar book brand Chicken Soup for the Soul and a leading authority on Peak Performance and Life Success. If you're ready to jump-start your life, make more money, and have more fun and joy in all that you do, get your FREE success tips from Jack Canfield now at: www.FreeSuccessStrategies.com

Saturday, June 21, 2008

One month and going strong

Greetings:

It has been one month since we started the Daily Action Power Process. It has gone really fast which tells me that it is important to stay focused and on track or time can easily get away from us.

I made three goals in the beginning which was to focus on my marketing, my speed reading and walking every day. I had to tweak the goals, start over twice and adjust what I wanted to do each day. What I learned is that one of the most important things the process offers is focus. I didn't have to guess about what I would do each day or what my objectives were, I already knew.

I also find that planning the day the evening before is powerful. That way you don't start the day wondering what you will do, you already have it structured and planned out. It makes is so much easier.

I also find that doing just a few small steps each day is extremely powerful. Although it might not feel like I am doing much in the moment, when I look over what has happened over time I see I have gotten a lot accomplished.

I will be announcing something very special on Monday that will help you with the process. I have heard from many people that they like the concept but they can't stay motivated. I can help you with that and I will be letting you know more on Monday.

I would love to hear how the Process is working for you. What has been your greatest accomplishment in the last month and what has been your greatest challenge?

Here's to taking action

Rachelle

Three step process to success


Greetings:

I have determined that there is a three step process to success.

Know Your Goal, Make A Plan, Take Action

I have come to the conclusion that in order to create something new in your life there are three necessary steps. The first one is to determine what you want. You must have something in mind that is compelling and inspiring. Once you know what you want, you must develop a plan of action. Not having a plan is like taking a road trip without a map. You might eventually get to your destination, but it will take you more time and effort. The same is true of goals. Without a plan, you will founder around and waste a lot of time and energy. And the final and most important step is to take action.

Taking action is the only way you are going to create your goal(s) into reality. Taking action seems, for many, to be the hardest step. If you are not sure what to do to get started, that is fine. Just do something. The first step is the hardest. The path will unfold in front of you and reveal itself, but only after you make the first move. When you take action, you create a forward motion. You do not need to know exactly how everything will unfold. Often there is no way to know. You just need to keep putting one foot in front of the other and be willing to do what it takes to create your goals. Staying committed to being in action and not stopping until you reach your goal is the secret to creating what you want.


The three step process to success requires a clear goal, a plan, and action. Having a goal without a plan is not really a goal; it is a dream. Taking action without having a plan is like following your dream in the dark. You might eventually get there, but it will take twice as much time and energy. Having a goal and a plan without acting will not support you in achieving anything. What you will end up with is a wish that you had, not the joy of having done it.

Here's to taking action

Rachelle

Monday, June 16, 2008

Chunk it down


Greetings:

I love when I find articles that back up what I have been saying for years. I found this great article by Carolyn Matheson that backs up what I have been saying, "it is the small steps that count." You can do it all, just not all at once. You are better off just taking small steps than trying to stress yourself out by taking big leaps. Actually you will get further in the long run by taking the small and steady route than trying to rush at full speed and risk burning yourself out.

Did you know that if you saved $50 a month for 20 years you would have more money in the bank at the end of 20 years than if you saved $600 once a year for 20 years. It is all about Compound Interest. The same is with Action. You will actually get more done and get further along in life if you take one or two actions a day verses trying to do it all at once. I call that Compound Action. The small actions will build on one another and add up to big results.

Here's to taking action,
Rachelle



Bite-Size Chunks! The Power Of Daily Actions
By Carolyn Matheson

There may be so much you want to change in your life to make
it less stressful. You can do it all, just not all at once!
Feeling in control is an important part of saying Yes to
Less Stress. Breaking down any problem into small, solvable
parts makes things less overwhelming; it also gives you the
sense that you are taking action.

Nothing happens in one big action, it is all the small
actions we take daily that make the difference. If you only
do one thing different, take one small action every day, it
will make a big difference in the long run. If you only
implement this simple suggestion, you will see some changes
in your life. It looks simple and it is.

Fulfilling an ambition of leaving a stressful job, Dave
dreamed of having a thriving consultancy business. He wanted
everything to happen at once: two days a week on the golf
course and time with his family, as well as continuing with
charity work helping the homeless.

When he finally decided to quit his well-paid job, he
thought that clients would be queuing up to work with him.
He overlooked the fact that he needed to be proactive in
finding new clients. He started to wonder how he had
believed this new life would be better. Every day he felt
anxious and worried. In some ways he felt more stress than
he had felt from the job he'd escaped - he had escaped the
office politics but the stress of feeling a failure was much
greater.

Dave became fearful that maybe the dream he was trying to
achieve wasn't ever going to materialise. This stinking
thinking was overwhelming him. On the golf course, however,
he had a flash of inspiration. He realised that he had been
thinking rather than taking action towards fulfilling his
dream.

Dave had allowed negative thoughts to get in the way of his
progress. Before he could start developing his business, he
needed to identify his prospective customers. So each
morning he took a simple daily action towards building his
client base. He committed to identifying 10 new prospects
daily. This rarely took him longer than 15 minutes each day.
He had initially put this task off as the thought of
compiling a list of 300 prospects overwhelmed him. He was
creative in asking for help from his former business
colleagues as well as his golfing friends, and he was amazed
at how quickly his list grew as a result. Within the first
week, he added a new daily action. He contacted 10 people a
day from his list. Of course, not all of these turned into
customers, but in time he was well on his way to success.

Within three months, Dave had not only developed his
thriving business but also improved his golf handicap! How?
He included golf practice at his local driving range on his
list of daily actions! His daily practice not only kept him
fit, but allowed him thinking time; a time when ideas freely
flowed into his mind.

Are you are sitting there thinking "I'm too short of time"?
The good news is that you don't need a lot of time and you
don't have to do a radical overhaul of your life. Don't let
a big goal overwhelm you. Every goal, no matter how large,
can be broken down into small, manageable, bite-size chunks.

Whatever you want to do with your life, you stand more of a
chance if you just get started. No matter how small a step
you take each day, over a year that will add up to 365 daily
actions. I am always amazed when clients agree how obvious
this step is, yet it is the one they have often overlooked.
Start wherever you are and take one step at a time - that is
all you can do!

It doesn't matter what has happened to date. The only
thing that counts is where you are now and what you need to
do to move forward.

If you are starting to feel a bit clearer about what you
want in your life, the only thing that will move you forward
now is action. Once you've worked out what it is you most
want to do, now is the time to do it. Daily actions help to
break old habits.

Consider actions that require 15 minutes or less to
implement.

The daily action you take may not always be the right one
with the benefit of hindsight - don't worry, some doors may
close but others will open.

Everyone has bad days - don't let them turn into a bad
week, month or year. Tomorrow, or even later on today, you
can start afresh, with a fresh daily action.

If you feel about to crack under pressure, break up your
larger plans into smaller actions that are easier to manage.
When your day feels heavy, take one step at a time. Just
decide your priority for the next hour.

Change happens when we change our actions. If we
constantly do the same things, we will constantly get the
same results.

What simple daily action are you willing to take today to
reduce the stress in your life?

About The Author:

Carolyn Matheson is a nationally recognized Coach, Speaker and Author of "Yes to Less Stress", available online from http://www.areustressed.com

Saturday, June 14, 2008

Compound Action

Greetings:

Every financial planner will tell you that Compound Interest is your friend. Compound interest works on the basis that you earn interest on the interest, as well on the original amount of money that you invested. Well, Compound Action works in pretty much the same way. Your action builds on itself to compound into a powerful change. The more action you invest toward your goals, the bigger and better the results will be.

Small actions, taken consistently, will reap great rewards. I am a believer that it is the consistent daily actions that will create the biggest results. People tell me that they don't have enough time to do things differently. The good news is you don't need a lot of time, and you don't have to do things a whole lot differently. As I am fond of saying, "If you can't do a lot, do a little." The key is committing to doing the action every day. It is this consistent daily action that will compound your results. For example, let's say you committed to waking up 15 minutes earlier than your usual time. In one week, you would have an additional 105 minutes, or an extra hour and forty-five minutes during the week. Multiply that by 52 weeks in the year and you now have 5,460 extra minutes, or 91 extra hours. If you used that extra time to read one book a month, you could read 12 new books in a year. After ten years, you will have read 120 books. The idea here is that the small things add up. It doesn't take a lot of time or a lot of extra effort. By taking small actions consistently, you will make big changes over time.

Small actions, taken over time, make the biggest differences. Each action builds on the previous one to create a big change. Don't worry that you don't have a lot of time. You don't need it. Just do one action a day and commit to doing it for at least one month. The results of the compound action will amaze you.

Compound Action is the premise of the Daily Action Power Process. Just commit to doing a few small actions a day and over time you will see big results.

Here's to taking action,
Rachelle

Friday, June 13, 2008

Life sometimes helps you take the actions you are afraid to take


Greetings:


Change sometimes finds you when you least expect. There are times when life will force you into actions that, given time, you might have discovered on your own or that you knew were available, but were reluctant to take. I have experienced times when life forced me to change jobs, change relationships and even change where I lived. In retrospect, I might have taken those actions on my own, but for whatever reason, I wasn't ready or willing. Sometimes life doesn't wait for you to prepare. At times life moves you into action when you most need it but aren't willing to take it on your own.

The good news is that often the actions you are forced into work out for the best. Taking the action is usually the most difficult part. Once you take the action, it becomes easier to go with the process. Starting is most often the most difficult part, which is why I believe life sometimes steps in and forces the action you are too afraid to take on your own.

Sometimes the actions you most need to take are the ones that you don't want or are too afraid to take. Life will step in and force the action. I worked with a client that went into work early one morning as usual only to find out the office had been cleaned out and the company had gone out of business. Although this was shocking, the truth was that she was miserable, but too fearful to leave. Life stepped in and forced the action she needed to take. She went on to start her own business and loves what she does now. Her only regret is that she wishes she had left on her own years earlier.

Before you get too upset over an action that life forces on you, stop and ask yourself if this is something you have been wanting to do but was too fearful to do on your own. Often the actions that we are forced into are blessings. Be thankful when life steps in and helps you do what you can't do on your own.

Here's to taking action,

Rachelle

Life Lessons from Sex and the City

Greetings:

Okay I make no secret of it, I am a big fan of Sex and the City. I watched about three seasons of the show and was excited to see the movie. If you are a Sex and the City fan you will not be disappointed in the movie. It is like watching six episodes back to back. The clothes have gotten nicer for the most part and the shoes are amazing.

However besides fashion tips there are a few tips one can pick up from the movie. The biggest one is the importance and value of friendship. There are two amazing scenes in the movie where I was brought to tears, both had to do with the amazing power of friendship. The movie, as did the show, does a great job of depicting female relationships and how powerful, positive and necessary they can be.

I have written a lot about friendships over the years in 365 Days of Coaching. According to me,

"According to a study conducted by the Australian Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ALSA) friendships are more important than family when it comes to survival. The study concluded, "that a network of good friends is more likely than close family relationships to increase longevity in older people." Other studies suggest that friendships increase the feeling of happiness and stave off other illnesses."

The only other life lesson I got from watching the movie Sex and the City is "it's just a movie." I would love to see people put as much passion and energy into their own lives as they do watching others live their lives (imaginary as they are). It is great entertainment but so is your life. Live it to the fullest. Go out and create your own exciting adventure.

If I had to rate the movie I would give it four stars out of five. It was good to see the girls grow up and move on.

Here's to taking action,

Rachelle

Thursday, June 12, 2008

Pay Attention


Greetings:

I recently re-learned a very important lesson,"Pay Attention." I rented a car and when the agent was checking the car out he did an inspection of the car. He discovered two dents in the car and made note of them. He then proceeded to tell me what would happen if I brought the car back with a dent or scratch on it that wasn't there before. As he was explaining how I would be liable for anything that happened to the car I began to get a foreboding feeling. In fact the feeling was so strong I felt like turning around and running.

Lesson one - Pay attention to your feelings. Don't ignore them or talk yourself out of them. If I would have paid attention to my feelings I would not have rented the car. I would have gotten out of there as soon as possible.

When I returned the car I was greeted by Jo, a different agent than I had the day before. He was busy trying to check people in and out and he was the only agent there. When he came back from looking at the car he told me he would have to charge me for a dent on the car that wasn't there the day before. Yep, my feelings were trying to warn me about this but I didn't listen. He went on to tell me there was nothing I could do about it, I was responsible. That was the policy!

Lesson two - pay attention when signing contracts or making agreements with people. If I had paid attention to the agent the day before I would have remembered that he clearly marked on the form that the dent I was now being blamed for was indeed there and had been noted.

When I got home I called the company and was able to resolve the issue. However I learned a valuable lesson from this. Intuition is a strong feeling. If for any reason you are not feeling good about doing something, don't do it. I don't care what it is, if your feeling the least bit uneasy about it, take that as a sign. Listen to your inner wisdom and follow it.

Also take responsibility for yourself and pay attention to what you are doing. Don't assume others are going to look out for you, they won't. Had the first guy not marked down the dents I would have been held responsible for them. That would have been an expensive lesson.

Here's to taking action,
Rachelle


Today I received this great ezine from Marci Shimoff, best selling author of Happy for No Reason. I often talk about the importance of breathing, which may sound odd because we all do it. However we don't always do it properly and sometimes we actually don't breathe. In the past I have found that I held my breath when stressed, worried or anxious. Extremely unhealthy. Abraham speaking through Ester Hicks says breathing is as important as eating and sleeping and we should consciously choose places to breathe and take time to breathe deeply as often as possible. I have gotten into the habit of taking time each day, often two or three times a day, just to breathe as deeply as possible. It is amazing how after only a few minutes of doing that I begin to feel better and even think more clearly.

Give yourself a treat every day and go outside and do some deep breathing. You will be so happy you did.

Here's to taking Action

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Darth Vader Breathing


For the last year I’ve been spending far too many hours indoors—in hotel rooms and conference centers and on airplanes. I’ve been craving nature, the earth, beauty, silence, and even exercise. (Sprinting through airports in high heels and nylons is not the best way to work out, though I hope I get at least a few Brownie points for it!)

When spring recently burst on the scene, my husband, Sergio, and I made a commitment to go for a hike every weekend. A few weeks ago we went on a lovely hike in the Northern California redwoods.

While appreciating the extraordinary feel and beauty of the woods, I found myself having a hard time getting up the hills. As I panted and struggled more and more, I was out of breath, tired, and not having a good time!

Then I remembered the advice of my good friend, Dr. John Douillard, who said when you breathe in and out through your mouth you’re exhausting and aging yourself. Years ago he taught me a different way to breathe that increases energy, reverses aging, and promotes greater happiness and well-being.

John called it “Darth Vader” breathing, because when you’re doing it right, you sound just like the Star Wars character. In yoga circles it’s called “Ocean Breath” (it also sounds like the ocean) or ujjayi pranayama, which translates as “the breath that gives victory over fear.” I call it bliss breathing, because it always makes me feel joyful.

John recommends breathing this way while meditating, sitting at your desk, or exercising, so I tried it during my hike. I quickly noticed I was no longer out of breath, and I was feeling more energy—even though I was trudging up a steep hill. Within minutes, I felt a bliss that lasted throughout the day. It worked!

Modern scientific studies are now catching up with ancient wisdom showing that breathing properly can make us feel good—fast. Darth Vader breathing creates a healing response in the body. As the lungs absorb more oxygen, circulation and metabolism improve. This increases your overall life energy.

The next time you’re feeling down or sluggish, try Darth Vader breathing. It’s easy but so powerful. Here’s how:

1. Start by inhaling and exhaling through your mouth, pulling the air from the back of the throat to make it sound like Darth Vader. You will feel the back of the throat slightly constricting. (You can also imagine you’re fogging up a pair of glasses.)

2. Once you get the hang of the sound, close your mouth, and continue inhaling and exhaling in the same way. Take slow and deep breaths. When you’re doing it correctly, you’ll hear the breath coming in and going out. This is the sound people make right before they go to sleep, when they are very relaxed.

Practice this a few times each and every day, breathing your way to greater happiness and bliss!

Happily,


Marci Shimoff

Marci Shimoff’s Exclusive Radio Show June 16

Stay tuned for Marci Shimoff's exclusive show on Women's Radio, a service of Women's Online Media and Education Network, on June 16, 2008. Read more details by clicking the link below.

http://www.womensradio.com/


* * *




* * *
Share your experiences raising your happiness set-point on the Happy for No Reason discussion forum.

Share your experiences raising your happiness set-point on the Happy for No Reason discussion forum.

www.HappyForNoReason.com/forum


Marci Shimoff is a celebrated transformational leader
and #1 New York Times best-selling author. To learn
more of her powerful techniques for establishing deep
and authentic happiness and well-being, visit
www.happyfornoreason.com

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Ask and You Might be Turned Down

Greetings:

After reading Jack Canfield's ezine (I posted it on the blog yesterday) I was reminded of a situation that happened to me while I was working on my Doctorate Degree.

Needing some additional information for the research I was doing, I asked a fellow student if she would share a study with me that she had completed. The study was not in my area of interest. However, what I wanted to see was the layout and process she went through to pull it all together. Her reply was a flat refusal to share her information.

Just because you ask doesn't mean that the other person has to say Yes. But if you don't ask you won't know what the possibilities are. The way I looked at this situation was that I didn't have the paper to begin with, so I had nothing to lose. If she said No then I was in the same place I was already, except I now knew I needed to find a different source.

I sent a thank you email back to her. After all, she had helped me determine a way that wasn't going to work. Actually, in the end she did share the information after realizing there was no way I could steal her research. The other thing to understand is that when someone says No, it might mean that they simply don't understand the request. When I was able to explain in a way she understood, she was happy to share her paper with me.

No isn't personal and it is always an option. Just because you ask doesn't mean the other person has to comply. That is the right they have. But if you don't ask you will never know. When asking for something, go into it knowing that the answer may not be Yes. And that is fine.

It is always worth asking even if you do get a no. No doesn't mean anything and you haven't lost anything. You life will not change.

Here's to taking action,

Rachelle

Monday, June 09, 2008

Action reaps rewards

Greetings:

Okay I am on a roll here. Every Monday I receive this great ezine from my friend and associate Cookie Tuminello, Life Success Coach. This week Cookie and I are on the same page. She is talking about Action! I tell you I sat straight up when I read Cookies second sentence, there are 183 days that have come and gone and we are officially at the half way mark of the year. When did that happen? And while time was passing were we busy accomplishing our goals or doing something else? My guess is a little of both. However time is moving on and if you want 2008 to be the best year yet you better get busy. No time to rest, it is time to get going and focus on the goals you set in the beginning of the year (you do remember them don't you?)

Here's to taking action,
Rachelle


Quote:
"Life rewards action - not intention, not insight, not wisdom, not understanding." - Dr. Phil McGraw

It just occurred to me the other day that in 21 days from today, half a year will have passed. That's a 183 days (yes, this is a Leap Year so we get one extra day to work with!) that have come and gone which can never be taken back. Which leads me to ask you this: How long are you going to chew on whatever it is that you've been wanting to change, but haven't had the courage to tackle yet? Are you willing to wait for the rest of the year to go flashing by before you take that next step?

Dr. Phil knows from where thou speaks. I, myself, have been a victim of this paralysis. You keep waiting for the right time, the right information, the right education, blah, blah, blah. And a year later here you sit. Come on folks, this is your life we are talking about here. Life is not a spectator sport where you get to sit on the sidelines and cheer for your home team. Although, it has been my experience that a lot of us live our lives as just that - a spectator waiting for someone else to score the winning goal for us.

The world doesn't care how much you know, how smart you are, how understanding you are, how insightful you are, how skinny you are etc. The people of this world will know you by what you DO and BE. The proof is in the pudding. Think about this ladies: six months of the year are gone. You are burning precious daylight here. What do you want to create in your life by the end of December? Do you REALLY want to wait another 6 months to be the success you want to be? I don't think so.

It's kind of funny how the big "P" eats up your precious life. I'm talking about that dreadful word 'procrastination', people. It's a known fact that success comes to those who take purposeful, committed action. You will never know what you can achieve until you step out and do it.

Here are some affirmations that have supported me in taking action:
Good is good enough - Once you make the decision to have what you want, the HOW will show up.


Act with speed - There will never be a perfect time, perfect place, perfect plan, perfect anything. Start with the information you have now. The rest will show up as you go.


Believe in yourself. You will never know what you could be until you let go and take action. You will never grow until you do.


So, here's my challenge to all of you this week. What is ONE thing you can do right now that will move you forward to achieving your goal? I'm not asking you for your "To Do" list, I'm asking you to just pick ONE thing that you can manage and start doing something about it. We all had to learn to crawl before we managed to walk, so take a leap of faith and make that first baby step TODAY! Don't let another 183 days zip by you in a blur, having never even made an attempt to institute a change in your life.

Because frankly, we only get one kick at the can folks. So get your mind in gear and get your foot in action to step out into your life now.

Here are two suggestions that will help you get started on the right foot right now.

If you are in Baton Rouge Metro area you definitely want to sign up for my Live People Pleaser No More Workshop on Wednesday, June 18th -

If you're out of the area and you want to jump start your success right now, get a copy of my People Pleaser No More Home Study System(TM). This step by step system will give you the support and tools you need to work smarter not harder right now.

Cookie Tuminello, Personal Power Mentor, is creator of the People Pleaser No More System(TM), the proven step-by-step program to get you out of the overwhelm of everyday business life and into the ease and success you want and deserve. To receive your FREE weekly inspiration, humor, and life strategies that can transform your life immediately, sign up for Monday Morning Coffee with Cookie, visit http://www.successsource.biz/.

Talk is cheap - Back up your words with action


Greetings:

"The great end of life is not knowledge but action." Thomas H. Huxley


It is easy to talk about what you will do. Talk is cheap and takes little effort. Although talk might make you feel like you are moving along or that you will someday take action, it doesn't help you accomplish anything unless you back it up with action. Talk is the beginning not the end of achievement. Unless you decide to take action the talk is a big waste of breath.

Many people talk about getting things done and achieving goals, but talk will not get you what you want. It is a start. Words can help formulate a plan and get you started, but, without any action to backup the words, nothing is going to happen. You have to do and not just talk.

It is easy to say what you are going to do. It is much more challenging to do it. However, words are powerful and can assist in guiding and directing you. Words can get you started, but alone they won't be enough. You must pair words with action, and once you do, you will be surprised at what a powerful pair they make. Words will get you started and action will help you complete the goals.

This marks our 4th week of the Daily Action Power Process. If you have just been talking about getting started, now is the time to put action behind those words. If you are a member of 365 Days of Coaching you can go to the Members Only Area and download a copy of the Process. If you have been talking about becoming a member now is the time! Don't delay, life is too short to simply talk about what you are going to do.

Here's to taking action,

Rachelle

Join me for this exciting event with Merci Miglino, CPC




Coach Lee's Special Event

My friend and colleague, Merci Miglino, CPC, will be joining us on Tuesday, June 17th at 1:00 p.m. MDT (12noon PT, 2PM CT and 3PM ET) to enlighten us on how to be the best we can be.

Merci will take you on a wild ride from the backstage of your life to center stage in 3 steps. From Doormat to Diva© or Adonis: Taking Center Stage in Your Own Life.

Merci takes you on the road to personal stardom - first class, of course!

1. Get Diva-vision - see your star-studded future now. Attract what you've always wanted. Embrace your plan, dream or big wish!

2. Strip off those energy zappers - stop "putting up" with people, places and things that block your light...your greatness. Experience true, never-say-die confidence!

3. Re-define selfishness, empowerment and extreme self-care. Use your highest self to promote yourself. Be fully self-expressed, fully alive. Strut your stuff with abandon!

Merci Miglino, a spitfire of a woman with a deep New York accent, has a heart as big as her personality! Merci's unique perspective and storytelling is transformational, thought provoking and action-oriented. You won't want to miss this fun, interactive and life changing free teleseminar. I have reserved a bridgeline for only 100 people! Please sign up early, as I am sure there are going to be plenty of people who want to go from Doormat to Diva.

Click here to register for this one of a kind teleseminar.

Check out the video for a sneak preview of Merci.

If you want it you have to act like it


Greetings:

Although I write a daily ezine I also subscribe to many of them. One of my favorites comes from Jack Canfield. In this weeks issue Jack repeats what I have been saying forever, "If you want it you have to take action." Jack asked a question in his ezine this week and gives the answer I would have given, "Are you where you thought you'd be by now? If not, you're probably not taking too much action."

So why am I sharing something with you that is pretty much what I say all the time anyway. Good question? Because sometimes we need to hear the same message over and over, from different people in different ways. One day it sinks it and you will say to yourself, "Got it."

A couple things I want to point out in the article that were most interesting to me. One of course is the daily action and the importance of doing something everyday towards your goals. Jack says that research shows that if you walk just 30 minutes a day 3-4 times a week you are in the top 1% of people who exercise. I would imagine that we could take this to the next logical step and say that if you do something towards your goal(s) every day you would be in the top 1% of people who take action towards what they want. Here comes the plug for the Daily Action Power Process. Just doing one thing a day is going to put you way ahead of where most people are and will get you closer to where you want to be. If you haven't started the process yet that is fine. Just don't delay another day. Get your rear in gear and get going. If you need more detail about the Process go here.

The other thing Jack covers is Act as If. I don't talk about this as much but I know it is important. If you think about being rich but act as if you are poor, you are contradicting yourself and making it impossible for you to manifest what you want. Stop telling yourself that you are too poor, can't afford, bla bla bla. Change your language around what you want and what you choose to have in your life. I never say "I can't afford" something. I say "I choose not to" buy, have whatever it is right now. Also when I see something that I want but don't choose to get right now I will say, "That is my next car" or "That is my next home." I put it out there that it is a possibility.

The point I want to drive home more than anything else is Action is the Key to Success. Action is what will get you what you want. You can think about it, talk about it, pray about it, but until you do something about it by actually taking Action not much is going to happen.

Here's to taking action,

Rachelle


Act to Create It
by Jack Canfield


If you want to live a dream life, not only must you decide what you want, turn your dream into measurable goals, break those goals down into specific action steps, and visualize and affirm your desired outcomes -- you must start taking action!

I recommend making the commitment to do something every day in at least three different areas of your life that moves you in the direction of your goal.

If one of your goals is physical fitness, make a commitment to do some sort of exercise -- aerobics, weight training, stretching -- four to five times a week for a minimum of twenty minutes.

I read recently that if you simply go for a 30 minute walk four times a week, that would put you in the top 1% of those people getting physical exercise!

If your goal is financial independence, start saving and investing a portion of your income every month with no exceptions.

If your goal is to write a book, write for a minimum of one hour every day.

DON'T LET FEAR STOP YOU

Most people never get what they want because they let their fears stop them. They are afraid of making a mistake, looking foolish, getting ripped off, being rejected, being hurt, wasting their time, and feeling uncomfortable.

Fear is self-created by imagining catastrophic consequences that have yet to happen. It is all in your mind. In fact, you can actually scare yourself by imagining negative and harmful images. But simply stop the catastrophic thoughts and images, and the fear goes away.

REJECTION IS A MYTH

One of the biggest fears that stops people from asking for support, guidance, advice, money, a date, a job, the sale, or anything else is the fear of rejection.

In fact, it's been known to literally paralyze people. They become tongue-tied and refuse to reach for the phone or get up and walk across the room. They break out in a sweat at the mere thought of asking for what they want.

I have come to realize that the whole concept of rejection is false -- that rejection doesn't really exist. Think about it for a moment. If you asked someone to join you for dinner, and they said no, you could tell yourself that you had been rejected. But think about it. Did you have anyone to eat dinner with before you asked them? No! Did you have anyone to eat dinner with after you asked them? No! Did your life really get worse? No. It stayed the same!

ACT AS IF

One of the secrets of success is to start acting like a success before you are one. Act as if.

If you had already achieved your dream, what kinds of clothes would you be wearing? How would you act? How would you treat others? Would you tithe a portion of your income to your church or favorite charities? Would you have more self-confidence? Would you take more time to spend with your loved ones?

I suggest that you begin to do those things now.

When I decided that I wanted to be an "international" consultant, I immediately went and applied for a passport, bought an international clock that told me what time it was anywhere in the world, printed business cards with the words "International Self-Esteem and Peak Performance Consultant," and decided I would like to first go to Australia. I bought a poster of the Sydney Opera House and placed it on my refrigerator.

Within one month, I received an invitation to speak in Sydney and Brisbane. Since then, I have spoken and conducted trainings in over 30 countries and continue to expand my business around the globe.

Start acting as if you already have everything you want.

Most people think that if they have a lot of money, they could do the things they want to do, and they would be much happier. In fact, the reverse is true.

If you start by creating a state of happiness and abundance, then do the things you are inspired to do from that state of being, you will end up having all the things you ultimately desire.

You may not be able to fill your closets with expensive Italian suits and designer clothing, but why not invest in one or two really great outfits, so that when you do need them, they are there. When you dress like you have already made it, you will look the part, and successful people will naturally be attracted to you and invite you to participate with them.

The Law of Attraction states that you will attract to you those things that match your state of being. If you focus on having gratitude for what you do have, you will feel rich, and you will attract more abundance into your life. If you focus on what you don't have, you will send out a message of lack and you will attract more lack into your life.

BE, DO AND HAVE EVERYTING YOU WANT... STARTING NOW!

Remember, the proper order of this is to start now and be who you want to be, then do the actions that go along with being that person, and soon you will find that you can easily have everything you want in life--health, wealth and fulfilling relationships.

© 2008 Jack Canfield

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Jack Canfield, America's #1 Success Coach, is the founder and co-creator of the billion-dollar book brand Chicken Soup for the Soul and a leading authority on Peak Performance. If you're ready to jump-start your life, make more money, and have more fun and joy in all that you do, get your FREE success tips from Jack Canfield now at: www.FreeSuccessStrategies.com

It Is Often Harder To Think About Taking Action Than Taking Action


Greetings:

"Ideas without action are worthless. " Harvey Mackay

Thinking is a good thing and something you should do often. However, there are times when thinking can get in the way. Thinking can cause you to create fears that only exist in your head. When you think about something too long, you can think yourself right out of taking action.

When you think too long about something, you can actually conjure worries that don't exist. You really can't know what will happen until you take action. Thinking won't turn your ideas into reality, so think about what you want to do and then do it.

Don't allow yourself to get into the "What if?" thinking loop. This type of thinking will only keep you going in circles. "What if" only serves to keep you stuck right where you are. Forget the "What ifs" and take action. Once you are in action you can begin to see how things are going and use your thinking skills to assess and adjust.

Thinking about something will not get you where you want to go. You must take action. Thinking is a good thing, but done to excess can keep you from doing the really important task of taking action. There is a certain amount of risk associated with taking action, but consider the risk of not taking action. If you continue to just think about your dreams and goals, they will never become anything more than dreams and wishes.

This week take action on a goal you are thinking about. You have been thinking long enough. It is now time to take action towards creating your dreams into reality.

I would love to hear about how you turned your thinking into action!

Here's to taking action,

Rachelle

Sunday, June 08, 2008

Daily Action Spells Success


Greetings:

I came across this article on Daily Action as I was surfing the web. I related to what John had to say about daily action and how daily action is what will get a lot done. Action is the key to success no matter what you are doing or what the goal is. The only way to achieve what you want is to take action. You can actually get more done by doing a little every day than trying to do a lot all at once.

Here's to taking action,
Rachelle

Daily Action Spells Success - What Have You Done Today To Make Yourself Feel Proud?
By John Watson

Since December 1st 2004, I have written one article or potential article a day for my motivation web site. One or two of these have been upgraded versions of previous articles but so far, I have not missed a day.

I feel reasonably proud of this mainly because I am doing what I planned to do by making a daily effort. Occasionally I am extra proud of an article which I think contains some really useful or valuable ideas.

It is easy to check whether I have achieved my goal or not. I have either written the article or I haven't. Because of the daily effort I have now written at least 100 articles. Today is the 13th March 2005.

If I had sat down to write a 100 articles all at once, I would never have achieved that goal but with daily effort, a target of 100 is easily reached. I had not even realized that I had reached a hundred until I added up the number just now.

Heather Small, the singer and songwriter, was interviewed on TV in February 2005. She admitted to being nervous before the interview because she hates mediocrity and raises the bar high in everything she does.

She is always looking for the hero inside herself as in her song "Search for the hero inside yourself." We all have hero potential but this might take some looking for.

Her songs are full of motivation and encouragement to make the most of yourself. One of her songs is being used in association with the London Olympic bid. This song is already world famous. She sang it after her interview. It is called 'Proud'. The words go as follows:

"What have you done today to make you feel proud?
It's never too late to try.
Still so many answers I don't know.
To question is to grow.
So I step out of the ordinary.
I can feel my soul ascending.
Can't stop me now and you can do the same.
What have you done today to make you feel proud?
You could be so many people.
Just make a break for freedom.
What have you done today to make you feel proud?"

The song stresses daily action to make yourself feel proud. This may sound corny to some but it is pure wisdom to others. It is the daily actions which create the habits and then the character which is extraordinary and even heroic.It is also the daily action which gets huge amounts of work done.

The interviewers asked her how she motivates herself when writing songs on her own.

Again she admitted that on some days she did not feel like getting up let alone creating music but then some small thing like a smile from her son would make her day.

She feels that at the end of every day you should be able to look back on some good experience that makes you feel that life is worth living.

It is a great relief to hear motivating, tuneful, music and inspiring lyrics instead of the sentimentality, self pity, negativity and tunelessness of some modern music.

Heather was born and raised on a West London council estate. She battled with shyness and a desire to sing from an early age. She was captivated by the fire and inspiration of gospel music and was also influenced by '70s reggae and soul.

She joined her first group, the blues band 'Hot House' while still in her teens. Although their potential was never fully realised, Heather later joined a Manchester group called M People. They would go on to sell over 10 million records worldwide.

Now she is a solo artist. She has already made a great contribution to both the world of music and the world of motivation. She has done plenty to make herself and her family proud.

What have you done today to make yourself feel proud? Like King Arthur and his knights, who would not eat before some one had done a great deed, you and I could do something daily which would be worth mentioning at the evening banquet!

About the author

John Watson is an award winning teacher and martial arts instructor. He has recently written two books about achieving your goals and dreams.

They can both be found on his website http://www.motivationtoday.com along with a daily motivational message.

The title of the first book is "36 Laws To Ignite Your Inner Power And Realize Your Dreams Now!" The book can be found at this URL http://www.motivationtoday.com/36_laws.php

The book uses acronyms, stories and pictures to help readers remember 36 laws that can gradually transform your life.

Saturday, June 07, 2008

Actions Not Takes Don't Count


Greetings:

If you could get credit for all the actions you meant to take but didn't, imagine how different your life would be. To bad that actions you don't take don't count.

There are times when I think, "I intended to do that." I wonder how things would be different had I only done what I intended to do. Although there is no need to beat yourself up over what you didn't do, it is a good idea to take a look at the reason you didn't take action. What gets in your way? What stops you from doing what you say you want to do? Maybe you don't want whatever it is badly enough or maybe fear gets in the way. Whatever stops you from taking action stops you from having the life you really want.

Action is the key to getting things done. It is the secret to success. Every action you take gets you one step closer to where you want to be. That shouldn't be a surprise, but it does seem to be a challenge. We often say we are going to take action, and then don't. Instead of beating yourself up over it, figure out what gets in your way and go around it, go under it, or go through it. Do whatever you need to do to get past what is stopping you. The longer you put off taking action, the longer you put off having what you want in your life. If you don't mind putting off your life, that is okay. But if you want to create change in your life, or have more of what makes you happy, then the only way is to take action.

Every action you take counts. The actions you don't take, don't count. They will not support you in achieving your goals. This week forgive yourself for all the actions you failed to take, wipe the slate clean, and start new. Plan out your week and make a list of the actions you will take that will help you move towards your goals. It doesn't have to be a long list. Two or three actions would be better than a list of actions you will never take.

Keep in mind that a big part of the Daily Action Power Process is doing a little every day, not a lot. Just a step or two a day will get you to where you want to go over time. In just three weeks I have lost seven pounds, not by focusing on loosing weight, but on focusing on taking action every day. I am also increasing my reading speed with the speed reading, again not by focusing on increasing my speed but on focusing on taking action every day. And I am moving right along with the marketing course I signed up to take. When I signed up I was so overwhelmed by how much there was to do. I broke it down into daily action and I am moving right a long and loving it. Just by doing a few things a day I am covering a lot of ground. It all adds up.

A quote my mother use to say is "The road to hell is paved with good intentions." What you intend to do doesn't count.

Here's to taking action,

Rachelle

Friday, June 06, 2008

The Only Thing that will Move You Forward is Action


Greetings:

To achieve a goal, you must first conceive it, create an idea and know what it is you want. Having the idea is the first step in creating what you want. You then must create a plan that will make it possible for you to obtain that goal. But it can't stop there. The only thing that will move you forward is ACTION.

Action is the single thing that will create results. You can have a great idea, but ideas without action are worthless. You can have the best and most well thought-out plan in the world, but if you do not take action, the plan is not worth the paper it is written on. Taking action is the only thing that will get you closer to your goals. By taking action, you create the movement that is necessary to make things happen.

Hopefully you are reading this and thinking, "So what, I knew that." I think we all know this. Action creates results. The problem is that knowing it isn't enough. Knowing that you need to take action and actually taking action are too different things. Most people know what they need to do; it is the doing that gets in the way.

If you know that action is what creates results, then why don't you take the actions you know you need to take? What happens to many of us is fear steps in and stops us. We fear failure, disappointment, or making mistakes. And you have good reason to fear all of those things. When you begin to make changes you will experience failure and disappointment and you will make mistakes.

If you want to make changes in your life, you must face fear. When you accept that, it makes it a little easier. When you begin to make changes, you will face disappointment. Do not worry. No one has died of disappointment yet, so expect it and move on. And when you begin to make changes, you will make mistakes along the way. Celebrate the mistakes because it means you are moving forward and get on with it. Once you realize that failure, disappointment and mistakes are all part of making change you can be prepared and take action.

We are wrapping up our third week in the Daily Action Power Process. I am thrilled with the results that are coming about because of the Process. Keep going with the process and look for changes to start showing up. After 21 Days the process becomes a little easier as the habits are beginning to set in. Keep on going. Action is what leads to success.

Here's to taking action,

Rachelle

Wednesday, June 04, 2008

No Hocus-Pocus Just Focus Focus


Greetings:

It would be great if we could wave a magic wand and change anything and everything in our lives that we wanted too. Unfortunately, change doesn't happen by using magic. Although it can be magical when change happens, it takes more that hocus-pocus. It takes focus, focus.

What you focus on expands. If you want to create change, you have to focus on the outcome. The distinction here is important. Often people focus on what they don't want. Instead it would be more powerful to focus on the change you want to create and then move towards that change. According to Bill Harris the Founder of CenterPointe Research Institute, "When you focus on anything, your mind says: "Okay, we can do that," and starts figuring out how to do it. It doesn't ask whether you're focusing on it because you want it or because you do not want it. It ALWAYS assumes you want what you focus on and then it goes and makes it happen. The more frequent and the more intense the focus, the faster and more completely you will create what you focus on, which is why intense negative experiences create intense focus on what you do not want, and tend to make you recreate what you don't want, over and over."

The great news is you don't have to learn how to focus. You already know how, and do it everyday. The shift is to focus on what you want and begin to create that in your life. So instead of focusing on not having enough money, focus on how you can afford what you do want. Instead of focusing on being overweight, focus on being healthy and active. Shift your focus to the end result. Keep your eye on the target and keep moving in that direction. Focus is a powerful thing. All you have to do is look around at your life and know that. You have always got what you focused on.

Whatever you focus on, you get. It isn't magic, but it can be magical. Manifesting what you want doesn't require a magic wand or any hocus pocus, just the commitment to change and a focus on creating what you most want in your life.

This week notice what you are focusing on and then notice what is showing up in your life. Hmmmm, I bet there is a connection.

Here's to taking Action,

Rachelle