10 Critical Success Clues

10 Critical Success Clues
By Leslie Fieger

I don't need to be a gypsy fortune teller to tell your fortune. I can tell with a 95% certainty whether or not a person is (or is going to be) successful.

All I need is 20 minutes of conversation or a few email interactions and I know. It is easy to do. You can do it too. Yes! You can actually predict whether or not someone will have the success they say they want. Better yet, you can tell if you are going to be a success OR not.

The best part about checking to see if you will be a success is that you don't have to 'beat around the bush' in a conversation to discover the clues, as you would normally have to do with another person. The worst part about checking in with yourself is that you will run up against an outright liar. Yes, you will attempt to deceive yourself. Now that you are forewarned about that, you can watch out for your attempts to obscure (or divert yourself from) the truth about yourself.

So, if you want to predict the future of anyone, including yourself, here are the ten most critical clues that you will need to uncover and clarify:

1- Attitude

2- Intention

3- Purpose

4- Passion

5- Plan

6- Resolve

7- Responsibility

8- Words

9- Actions

10-Peers.

Let's take a closer look at each.

Attitude: There is a winner's attitude and there is a loser's attitude. Most people have a mix of the two.

A winner's attitude is characterized by high self-esteem, a positive outlook on life, a general feeling of gratitude, a sense of great personal destiny, a willingness to learn and the will to do what is necessary.

Losers have poor self-esteem, a negative (they say realistic) outlook on life, a general feeling of resentment about the trials and tribulations of life, a sense of impending negative fate, a stubbornness about what they 'know', and lousy will-power or self-discipline.

Intention: As a general rule, things done with intent, produce intended results and things done without specific intent produce unintended results.

It is my experience that most people think, say and do most things in life without any conscious and specific intent. I like to ask people (and especially myself) the following clarifying questions:

What is your intent in holding that belief? What is your intent in thinking that way? What is your intent in doing what you do? Most can't answer. Winners can. More importantly, winners are always asking themselves, what is my intended result for this chosen action, thought or way of being?.

Purpose: This is so simple it is almost ludicrous... a life without a defined and stated purpose is a life of no purpose and no meaning.

Winners have a purpose. Losers do not. Winners live a life of purpose and 'on purpose'. Losers live accidentally; victims of circumstance instead of creators of circumstance. The sooner you write down the succinct and true purpose of your life, the sooner you will discover success, happiness and personal fulfillment.

Important caveat: your purpose does not have to be altruistic or measure up to anyone's standards except your own. It can be entirely selfish.

Passion: Passion is that fuel that drives you. Passion is also what attracts to you the people and resources that you need to achieve your success.

Passion is magnetic. Desire is the metaphysical equivalent of gravity. It draws to you the elements that you need to succeed. Passionate people attract followers and supporters. Winners are passionate! ! ! ! !

Plan: You've heard before. You've read it many times. Every personal empowerment teacher says it... You must have specific and written goals and a step-by-step plan to enact those goals.

Every business needs a business plan. Your life needs a plan. You must create it. As Ben Franklin pointed out, Failing to plan is planning to fail. Winners have a game plan. Losers are spectators and armchair quarterbacks. Do you have written goals?

Do you have a specific game plan?

Resolve: It is persistence that creates winners. It takes resolve to reach the top.

There will be obstacles in your path and impediments to your success. Losers allow themselves to be defeated by these barriers. Winners use them to build up strength and/or to learn a better way to do something. I see it all the time... people quit just before the finish line. They lose focus and direction.

Winners persist. Losers desist.

Responsibility: Ask yourself this question, Why don't I have all the prosperity, happiness, success and fulfillment that I desire?

If you blame any condition, circumstance, event, person or external thing, then you are a loser. Winners accept responsibility. Losers assess blame.

Step up to the plate and accept responsibility for your life and you will become the winner that you desire to be in your secret heartfelt moments. The wonderful part about accepting responsibility for your failures is that you also get to accept responsibility for your successes. You don't have to say that you were lucky or blessed or had the right breaks... you can say, I did this.

Words: The words you speak and the way you speak them tell a lot about you. They tell the world what you believe, what you think, where you have been, who you hang around with and where you are likely to end up.

Below average people talk about other people; average people talk about events and circumstances. above average people (winners) talk about ideas and ideals (especially their own).

Winners say what they mean and mean what they say. Losers say what they think will please others or repeat what they have been told.

Actions: And yes, actions speak louder than words. The things you do are a reflection of your character.

Most people tend to do what most others do, in some sort of willful ignorance of the plain fact that most people live mediocre lives and never achieve the success they had idealized for themselves. Actions produces results.

If you want uncommon results, you must undertake to act uncommonly on purpose, with intent, with responsibility, with persistence, with resolve, with passion and according to your plan.

Do what you love. Do what you will.

Peers: Birds of a feather do flock together.

If you want to be a winner, hang out with winners. Create your own 'mastermind group'. Try to be involved with people who are smarter than you, more successful than you, have greater aspirations than you. If you can't do it in person, read their books or read their biographies or visit their websites.

Losers like to hang around with other losers, not just because misery loves company, but because their self-esteem is not threatened by comparison to their peers. If you can find the way to love yourself enough to always have a high level of self-esteem, then you won't need to compare yourself to others.

Winners believe in themselves. Losers believe in the world around them.

So now you know my secret to be able to predict the future. All I need to know about a person is:

1- Who they hang around with,

2- What they do day-to-day,

3- The way they speak and what they say,

4- Whether or not they assume responsibility or assess blame,

5- Whether or not they have the resolve (the stick-to-it-tive-ness) to overcome obstacles,

6- If they have a plan to live by,

7- A passion for life and their plans,

8- A self-designed purpose to live for,

9- If they act intentionally or in reaction, and,

10- What their overall attitude is to life and their part in it.

Now that you know, you don't need me, or some gypsy tea leaf reader, to predict your future.

The GREAT good news is that, if you discover, through this self-analysis, that you do not have these 10 necessary characteristics of winners, you can change the way you are and the things you do. So there it is... your destiny is yours, by design or by default. It is up to you.

Leslie Fieger. All rights reserved worldwide.

Leslie is the author of The DELFIN Knowledge System Trilogy: The Initiation, The Journey and The Quest plus many more success publications. He also the co-author of The End of the World with Hugh Jeffries and Alexandra's DragonFire with his daughter Ashley. Subscribe to his free and ad-free eZine at http://www.ProsperityParadigm.com or http://www.LeslieFieger.com.

Reprinting and republishing of this article is granted only with the above credit included. Permission to reprint or republish does not waive any copyright.

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Kindness Is A Strategy For A Happy Life

Kindness Is A Strategy For A Happy Life
By Saleem Rana

All our thoughts and feelings as we go through our day are recorded for us by the universe and then played back to us as an experience on the screen of time-space.

Because we have long since forgotten what we thought or felt about anything, when the playback unrolls it takes us by surprise, and since we are more prone to negative views on things, as our urge to fix things is usually stronger than our urge to heal them, the playback usually sets us off on another cycle of gloom and doom.

Of course in our more sunny moods and times of awareness, we determine to set things up right the next time, but as our mind speeds up with the roll of urgent events, we fall back into unawareness and create more mishap.

In general, then, the better strategy is to assume an attitude of helpfulness, both to ourselves and others, a kindness and tolerance in our view, a forgiving and giving in our actions, and a sense of poise and ease in our delivery of any dialogue.

When Albert Schweitzer wanted people to understand this value of cooperation and harmony he would tell this story:

A flock of wild geese had settled to rest on a pond. One of the flock had been captured by a gardener, who had clipped its wings before releasing it. When the geese started to resume their flight, this one tried frantically, but vainly, to lift itself into the air.

The others, observing his struggles, flew about in obvious efforts to encourage him; but it was no use. Thereupon, the entire flock settled back on the pond and waited, even though the urge to go on was strong within them. For several days they waited until the damaged feathers had grown sufficiently to permit the goose to fly.

Meanwhile, the unethical gardener, having been converted by the ethical geese, gladly watched them as they finally rose together and all resumed their long flight.

We can learn much from this story, for it is not only about the ethics of kindness amongst the geese, but also how they were in relationship with the universe itself even when misfortune struck. The lesson was not for the geese but for the gardener.

Through our conduct, we can establish the same rapport with the universe that the geese enjoyed and that made them whole despite an unexpected adversity.

Our most important relationship, then, is with the universe for it gives us our reality, the unfolding movie of our lives. But this relationship is an indirect one for we are dealing with an invisible current that shapes our destiny from day to day by how we think and feel.

While at certain peak states of awareness we may be able to control our thoughts and feelings about things, the general tone of life is not conducive to such heightened perception, and a better general strategy for staying on good terms with the universe is by exercising the view held by the geese, a sense of love and tolerance, acceptance and patience.

Life is short but it is also a long flight and we enjoy it most when we are in the company of a universe that buoys our every effort with benediction, heals our wounds when we should fall, and leads us to higher and higher comprehension of the mystery of sentience; but to get to this place, we need to be the embodiment of benediction ourselves.

The purpose of all virtue is not to win accolades or fulfill some creed taught in some groupit is, more than anything else, a way for us to find rhythm, harmony, and peace as we walk towards the twilight of our days, preparing for journeys beyond the body; for everything, even life itself, is always a preparation for something greater.

Saleem Rana would love to share his inspiring ideas with you. Hunting everywhere for a life worth living? Discover the life of your dreams. His book Never Ever Give Up tells you how. It is offered at no cost as a way to help YOU succeed. http://www.theempoweredsoul.com/enter.htmlCopyright 2004 Saleem Rana. Please feel free to pass thisarticle on to your friends, or use it in your ezine ornewsletter. It's a shareware article.

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1 and Only Tip You Need to Set Yourself Up for Success

1 and Only Tip You Need to Set Yourself Up for Success
By Erik Vossman

You could spend days reading all the Anthony Robbins self improvement books, listening to all his CDs and watching all his tapes. You could sift through Amazon reading the reviews of Dr. Phil and the like. This would no doubt motivate you to become better at whatever it is you are hoping to accomplish. You would then find more information and learn how to do whatever it is you want to do. This route is good but too often it shifts focus away from your goal to the point where you don't have the drive to complete it. Sure you are motivated but you might just forget what you're motivated for.

This is why you really only need one tip to start you on the path to success:

1. Become Accountable

That seems like a pretty simple task on a really simplified list. However, as you think about what becoming accountable means you begin to realize just how difficult it can be.

Becoming accountable for your goals and actions means that other people need to know what your doing and what you plan on doing. This means you can't sit back being a gonna doer only telling yourself and a few close friends, I'm going to be rich some day, or This year I'm going to get that promotion. No, instead of telling you significant other, your dog, or maybe, just maybe your best friend, you have to tell everyone especially those you admire most.

By telling all the people around you what your plans are, what your goals are, you are creating a fan base of sorts. When you have fans you have people to encourage you. Most of all when you have fans you have people following your progress that you don't want to disappoint. Not letting someone down can be one of the biggest motivators a human being needs to strive for success.

Looking at your favorite sports team you can see an example of this first hand. Most athletes have a crowd, be it their mothers at the local pee wee baseball game to fanatics that follow pro teams all over the world, these athletes have people who want them to succeed. Sure some get payed outrageous salaries to do what they do, but all that stems from having a fan base that wants them to succeed.

You need to get the word out. Here are several tips that can help you do just that without taking your energies away from accomplishing your goal and achieving the level of success you deserve for yourself.

1. Start a blog and tell the world
2. Bring it up in the next bar room conversation
3. Put it in your Holiday Cards
4. Put it in your email closing
5. Join a club and share your goals with its members

Just trying these five suggestions has the potential to explode your fan base. Getting fans you won't want to disappoint will force you into a situation to succeed, you'll have no choice but to succeed.

By Erik Vossman
Can You Become Good at Everything

Erik Vossman over at http://www.erikvossman.com is working towards becoming good at everything he tries and shares great tips for success in whatever you are trying to do. Join him on his quest and learn how to be successful.

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Top Ten Reasons People Fail To Attain Goals

Top Ten Reasons People Fail To Attain Goals
By Terry Wisner

With the plenary of philosophers and self-improvement gurus in all forms of media, it is amazing how many times a day are we informed that all we need to do is, have a dream and go after it. Many of the clients of PARTNERING TO SUCCESS have told me that Partnering is the secret to success. Well I hate to rain on your parade, but there is no secret. Partnering simply addresses one of the Top Ten reasons for failure to reach your goals.

Although the accountability that Partners enjoy is a major key success factor, any one of the ten will lead to falling short in goal attainment.The goals can be personal; IE, Lose weight, remodel the kitchen, get our finances in order, clean up my credit. Or, your goals may be work related; IE, improve customer service skills, make more cold calls, close more sales, listen better, improve my leadership skills, et cetera. Review the listing and rate yourself on each of the items. Be honest with yourself and identify the areas in your personal planning which need improvement.

10) ILL DO IT TOMORROW: Procrastination! Too many people just keep putting of until tomorrow, that which they know they need to do today. Why? Because its easy! Short term, its always easier to do nothing. If you know you need to improve in some area, make it a priority, develop a plan, and Partner with someone to make it happen.

9) TOO MANY BALLS IN THE AIR: At times, we all feel like we are juggling too many things in our day to day lives. Many folks enjoy having things on their To Do list, simply to check them off. Select two, maybe three things that you want to work on this year. Make those your Priority.

8) DONT REALLY WANT TO: Its important to note that nobody can motivate you. Each of us can motivate ourselves, and only ourselves. If someone else tells you to go after this goal, it is not likely to give you the passion and drive you need to achieve it. The goal must be important to you and your success.

7) NOT SURE ITS IMPORTANT: Once you have established a goal, it sometimes can become secondary to other objectives in life. If the goal is not important to you, it will not be achieved. By the way, just because it is important to the boss, it may not be important to the employee.

6) DONT KNOW HOW TO DO IT! All too often people set goals for themselves, create a plan, and go after their objective. However, without the knowledge of how to do it, they ultimately fail. An essential element of your plan should be to test your knowledge and educate yourself. WARNING: Dont overeducate yourself. Some people never get things done because they try to make it perfect. As the old saying goes, dont let perfect get in the way of good.

5) CANT DO IT: Certainly every one of us has fallen into this category. We want to accomplish something specific, we make it a priority, we develop our plan, and we Partner to hold each other accountable. Unfortunately, we plainly dont possess the ability to carry it out. One can plan to hike to the top of Pikes Peak; however, without the ability to cope with the altitude, the plan will just not come together.

4) SOMETHING IS MISSING: If the right tools arent in the tool box, the job will be difficult or perhaps even impossible. No matter what the task, if the proper resources are not available, the job wont get done. Attitude and aptitude are vitally important, but without a computer, a PowerPoint presentation would be very difficult deliver.

3) CANT STICK TO IT: Every one of us gets distracted. The phone rings, a visitor stops by, something of interest enters our mind, new objectives are given to us or identified by ourselves, and the list goes on. According to a recently completed survey by NFI Research, two of the top sources of stress for managers are interruptions (47%) and conflicting responsibilities (37%). Focus, focus, focus! Post your major objectives in plain sight, put little reminders around your office or home, and remember that your Partner will help you maintain focus. If your goals are most important, then maintaining focus should not be a problem.

2) NO WRITTEN PLAN: Have a purpose. Too many folks go through life and never understand their purpose. Things take up the hours of our lives, but in the end, many individuals look back a simply regret many things they didnt do. Once you have identified your major priorities, its time to develop a plan to achieve them. Make sure the plan is written and includes the following:

Specific objectives and milestones. The steps to reach your goal
Measures that will indicate how you are progressing
Attainable elementsthings you can do
Results oriented statements and actions
Timing of each objective so you know when you are finished

If you fail to planyou plan to fail.

1) NO ACCOUNTABILITY: The number one reason people fail to accomplish their goals is lack of accountability. Any effective seminar, class, or workshop will include an action planning segment in the program. Participants write their action plan, often share it with others at their table, sometimes read it aloud to the entire group, and fully intend to implement the planned changes in their work and/ or personal life. Come Monday, they fall right back into the same old behaviors and fail to execute the plan. Be honest, youve done it, Ive done it, everybody does it. Thats where Partnering comes into play. This process offers a simple and unique approach to accountability. Question, if we could hold ourselves accountable, wouldnt we already be doing it? Are there things in your life you know must change, but never do? You need a Partner, and by the way, they need one too.

Dont let any of these ten things keep you from achieving the success you expect. Prioritize, Plan, and Partner.

Terry Wisner, the Partnering Pro, International Speaker, Consultant, and author, shares his experience and knowledge through energetic, entertaining, and enlghtening presentations and seminars. Do you,or your company want to experience improvement in; Customer Service, Teamwork, Leadership Skills, Communication Skills, or simply Self-Improvement? Then, visit Terry at http://www.terrywisner.com or http://www.p2s.us and learn more about Partnering and how it can help you and your organization eliminate the top ten reasons for failure.

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Zen Masters Beat Pack Rats At Time Management!

Zen Masters Beat Pack Rats At Time Management!
By Dr. Gary S. Goodman

What is the difference between a Zen master and a pack rat?

A pack rat is someone who holds on to everything and uses nothing.

A Zen master is someone who uses everything and holds on to nothing.

Big difference!

One of the best time management insights is that this moment passes, as does the next, and the next.

If you can do the most with each one, thats ideal. But this means youre constantly embracing and letting go, embracing and letting go, and its not easy to do.

We get caught up in the past, dwelling on unsatisfactory experiences, and untidy conclusions. We worry about the future.

Either way, we sacrifice the present.

The key is to use everything around us, in us, and every present moment.

For example, earlier this morning, I awoke because I was thinking about a client who is late in paying his bill.

Catching myself, I realized my sleep time was over! By trying to get BACK to sleep, I was trying to go backwards in time, which is impossible.

Because it was 4:45 in the morning, it was too early to call him, and ask him whats going on. But I knew also, that it would be an utter waste to worry about whether hell stiff me on the payment.

So, I asked, what can I do, now, to address this issue in the most constructive, satisfying way?

Immediately, I turned on the computer and wrote an article: The Deal Is Not Made Until The Money Is Paid!

Doing this made me feel good, and I also felt that I addressed my problem, which is not the unpaid account. The problem is the worry about it, and the potential for wasting the present by chasing money from the past, which may or may not be paid in the future!

No moment has to be considered a waste, if we are fully in the here and now to embrace it and let it go, and keep doing whats situationally appropriate.

Dr. Gary S. Goodman, President of Customersatisfaction.com, is a popular keynote speaker, management consultant, and seminar leader and the best-selling author of 12 books, including Reach Out & Sell Someone and Monitoring, Measuring & Managing Customer Service, and the audio program, The Law of Large Numbers: How To Make Success Inevitable, published by Nightingale-Conant. He is a frequent guest on radio and television, worldwide. A Ph.D. from USC's Annenberg School, a Loyola lawyer, and an MBA from the Peter F. Drucker School at Claremont Graduate University, Gary offers programs through UCLA Extension and numerous universities, trade associations, and other organizations in the United States and abroad. He holds the rank of Shodan, 1st Degree Black Belt in Kenpo Karate. He is headquartered in Glendale, California, and he can be reached at (818) 243-7338 or at: gary@customersatisfaction.com.

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Finding Life's Candles for Dark Moments

Finding Life's Candles for Dark Moments
By Ana Tampanna

Tragedy doesnt make an appointment. It attacks! A terrifying surprise that explodes in the midst of a family. Tragedy brings with it multiple consequences as wellfinancial disaster, depression, guilt and blame. Devastating fallout! Marriages fall apart, family members commit suicide, personalities change. Yet tragedies occur daily. Tornadoes and earthquakes rip apart communities, car accidents claim thousands of lives, and children drink poisons or drown in swimming pools. People kill their friends and families, co-workers and peers. Here is what helped me make it through a horrendous time, so should it happens to you or to a close friend. You have some suggestions to fall back on.

Words are not necessary-- a loving presence conveys support. Initial shock and denial are numbing and intensely painful. When we received the dreadful news of our daughter-in-laws murder, we called our minister immediately. He and his wife came over and sat with us silently in the middle of the night. They made coffee, experienced our grief and comforted us with their presence.

Ask people you trust to handle immediate logistical problems. We had to cancel plane reservations, and make new ones. Airlines offer a reduced fare for situations when grieving families need to rush in an emergency. My brother, who travels a lot, made reservations for us. Caring friends wanted to keep our children and pets. Dont hesitate to ask or accept.

Keep inspirational reading with you. Ask your minister or a caring friend to loan you an inspirational book if necessary. I found the book of Psalms particularly helpful, as well as a book loaned to me from an Al-Anon friend. Our minister mailed a wonderful book he had written. Another minister had comforting words about the sweet relief experienced when dying.

Keep a journal. I purchased a thick, spiral notebook and kept it with me. In it put information as well as feelings, events, and questions. I taped business cards of police, investigators, and wrote down addresses of helpful strangers. My portable office became invaluable.

Buy thank you notes. Thank you notes help you to focus on the love and support you receive during this painful time rather than your helplessness or loneliness. Strangers brought us food and took us to dinner. Our church sent flowers to our hotel room. Friends held mass at home for our daughter-in-law. People who admired her came to see us, gave us religious pictures, and bought us sodas. I concentrated on building a new support system by writing immediate thank you notes. When we returned home, more thoughtfulness awaited us including food, vitamins, and an invitation to go cherry picking (a perfect thing to do when processing grief).

Stay connected to home. If the tragedy takes you away from home, arrange a time that you will talk with a calm, clear- headed family member daily. My brother called me at four every afternoon. I looked forward to his call and found comfort in his familiar voice. I took my laptop computer with me which enabled receiving caring messages via email. With my brothers phone calls and emails, our home community stayed informed of our trauma. They organized needed support as soon as we returned. The church casserole brigade had food ready, gift baskets, cards and prayers. A special service at our church and a prayer service with our Marriage Encounter Group provided us with loving friends who listened and cried with us as we worked through our emotional pain. One cant carry such a burden alone.

In the months that follow. Tragedies attract media, curious people, gossips, and people intrigued by dramatic life events. Sometimes people who had nothing to do with the tragedy become obsessed with the details. With our tragedy, information changed constantly upsetting our perspectives and tearing our shreds of hope. Phone calls and emails came from strange sources. Be careful not to answer media questions or give out information to the wrong people.

A year might not be enough. Grieving takes time. Any healing does. For us, ongoing legal trials fester the guilt, doubt, and confusion. Even though life has basically returned to normal, my energy level has not. I seem to accomplish far less than before. I remember having a long to do list and happily checking off task after task. Now, I check off two. (Three if I count my exercise.) My focus has become a wild animal, difficult to train. Yesterday, I had to write down take a shower. Initially, I asked friends to take me places as a distraction. Immediately after I asked, it seemed as if I lacked time to go anywhere. Time became unmanageable. I let go of my career goals, a difficult challenge for an achiever like me. Making sales and booking presentations did not seem relevant any more.

Even now, a year and a half later, I am still in the healing process only now I have a deep understanding of what other people are going through.

Let go of what you didnt do to prevent the tragedy. Focus on what you can to help others now. Both my husband and myself have felt called to serve people in new ways. A year after the tragedy occurred, my husband got laid off from his lucrative computer-consulting job. He wants to make a career change to teach high school. I took volunteer training to answer hotline phones for sexual abuse and family violence. The experience has been rewarding, Im sorry I waited until now to do this. Both of these activities stem from the helplessness we felt after our tragedy. Even our children respect us for taking them on. We know our values are changing.

It has been said that our tragedies make us who we are. We would agree with Corita Kent, Flowers grow out of dark moments.

Ana Tampanna, The Alligator Queen, is author or the The Womanly Art of Alligator Wrestling. To learn more about her books in addition to her speaking and coaching services, visit her site at http://www.alligatorcoach.com/index.html

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Self Improvement Ideas: The Power of Decisions

Self Improvement Ideas: The Power of Decisions
By Deon Du Plessis

Concerning all acts of initiative and creation, there is one elementary truth that the moment one commits oneself, then providence moves, too. - Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

Change is a sign of life. Everything in this world, including every person, is in a continual state of change. Life is dynamic and always moving in a direction and every direction has an ultimate destination or what we call a destiny. The most powerful way to shape our lives is for us to take action, to just do it. The difference in people comes down to what they have done differently from others in the same situations.

Those people who live life to the full, who are happy, fulfilled and have it all are the people who are in control of their minds and their emotions. In doing so their conditioned response is to make decisions. And once they have made their decisions there is NO looking back. They consistently seek out self improvement ideas and realize that no matter how good they are, they can always improve. Not because they got bored or unhappy, but because they realize that the only way to be truly happy and fulfilled is to consistently grow and contribution through seeking out self improvement ideas. It is ironic that only the most successful people in the world have life coaches.

Consciously we all want to have more money, better relationships or a fitter healthier body, but most of us have no clear idea of where we want our lives to ultimate be. One of the most important self improvement ideas to utilize is to learn the power of a truly committed decision. We shape and direct our destiny by the actions we take daily. Unfortunately it is not as simple as that. Most of us struggle to do the things we know we must do to change our lives and direct it to where we ultimately want it.

One of the easiest ways to take control of your actions is to take control of your decisions. Decisions are what precede all of our actions. A truly committed decision is one where you release all the possibilities from your mind, except for the outcome that you are absolutely committed to. According to Anthony Robbins, a truly committed decision is the force that changes your life and is one of the main self improvement ideas he teaches in almost all his seminars and audio programs.

The challenge is that most of us have weak decision making muscles mainly because we tend to say I will give it a go and see if it works. A truly committed decision is like a laser beam that is so focussed on its target that nothing can get in its way. In its latin form the word decide means to cut off and that is what a truly committed decision calls us to do. Cut off all other possibilities to the extent that you will not even consider any other result. Now this might sound easier said than done and I have to agree. BUT once you realize that making decisions is a skill and that the more you practise it the better you get at it, you will begin to powerfully direct and shape your life towards your ultimate destination.

Decisions are ideas acted upon. Therefore a real decision is always followed by some action and is maintained by consistent action towards a desired result. Consistent and committed action is a self improvement idea that is taught by leaders from all walks of life. The power of it's effectiveness is that it builds momentum in our lives that allows us to blast obstacles out of the way and having momentum in the desired direction is trademark of a successful life.

The challenge that lies before all of us is that even after making a truly committed decision things happen to us that discourage us. Events and circumstances distract us from our goals and it challenges the strength of our resolve to stay committed to our decisions. The important thing is to stay committed to your decisions no matter what.

Every challenge on the strength of your resolve will strengthen your decision and commitment but only if you stay true to your commitment. When you learn to consciously use your will to resist the temptations to just go with the flow of life you, start to build emotional muscle. Just like working out in the gym, the more resistance you have stronger you get.

Let me therefore offer you this self improvement idea: Start by taking a different look at problems and challenges. Commit yourself to seeing them as the necessary weights to build enough strength to reach your goals. Learn to welcome problems as an opportunity to grow and soon you will habitually turn challenges into opportunity.

This article is published with the permission of The Self Improvement Gym, a network of website dedicated to helping ordinary people create extraordinary lives and turning their dreams into reality. For more information please visit http://www.TonyRobbinsAudiobooks.com for free e-books, e-zines and other recourses.

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Self Improvement and Prioritising

Self Improvement and Prioritising
By Garry Zancanaro

The ability to be able to set priorities and deal with our most important tasks first is an essential skill for self improvement and achieving results. We are all busy and there are many demands on our time and it is very easy to be distracted by other people and events. We may feel we have so many things to do that we dont know even where to start.

Usually the best place to start is to make a list of everything you need to do. Many people keep the things they have to do in their heads, and never write things do. Any busy person that manages to be highly productive and genuinely feels they are performing effectively without writing things down and prioritising them is very lucky indeed, and this is a great skill.

However, most people, even people who dont feel the need to write things down, are amazed to find how much more they can achieve by working from a list. The very act of writing down everything we need to do can also unburden the mind and allow us to think clearer.

But just to write our tasks down is not enough, the critical next step is to prioritise them by listing them in order of importance. When seen on paper, deciding our most important tasks is easier, and things that were preoccupying us, may be seen to be unimportant, and can often be deleted altogether, or delegated.

To ensure we are making the most effective use of our time at all times we must put at the top of the list the item that is most important, that will achieve the greatest results for us when completed, or will have serious consequences if not completed. And we must commit to work on and complete that task before moving on to the second item on our list.

There are variations on this technique, and many other more detailed resources available from time management experts that can make us more productive. However, the simple actions of making a list and prioritising our tasks, then completing our highest value task before doing anything else, will have a huge impact on our productivity.

Self Improvement Quote of the Day:

It's not enough to be busy, so are the ants. The question is, what are we busy about? - Henry David Thoreau

About The Author Garry Zancanaro is the creator of http://www.SuperSuccessLibrary.com a collection of outstanding and life changing Success and Personal Development Resources, and the founder of http://www.SelfImprovementDirectory.com where you can claim a FREE copy of THINK AND GROW RICH.

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SelfImprovement Something For Everyone (Part 2)

Self-Improvement - Something For Everyone (Part 2)
By Jordi Shoman

Just about everyone in the world can think of something they want to improve about themselves. With some people they may want to achieve more than one improvement. The best way to approach this is to make a list of what is most important to you. It could be something as simple as reading a book to help you improve the work you do or making time for yourself to indulge in reading of your favorite pastime. Once you commit your deepest desires about improving yourself to paper, it seems more attainable.

Start off with a plan. This means setting a goal for yourself. If you wish, you can even set a time limit, such as I want to be able to walk five km. a day at the end of the summer. When you start out knowing what it is you want to achieve, then it makes it easier on you to get what you want. There is no point in trying to do everything at once. If you take small steps and reach stages in your self-improvement process in increments, it makes the end result more worthwhile. If you could do it all at once, then it would be too easy and you won't have the same sense of accomplishment as if it were something that you had to work really hard to get.

In some cases, the type of improvement that you want will necessitate spending money. If you want to become more confident at public speaking, for example, you may have to take classes in this. If you admire a friend of yours that can sew or paint really well and you would like to do this as well, there are many opportunities to take classes at night or on weekends. One thing that you do have to keep in mind is the amount of talent that you have for such a project. It is also something in which you have an interest. If you don't like it, then you won't master it.

Of course, self-improvement always involves health, whether it is health of the body or health of the mind. Once you achieve what you set out to do, it improves all of you - your body, mind and soul.

If you need self-help information or have articles on self-help issues, visit our Self Improvement issues section for more in-depth resources. Free reprint articles

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Improve Your Work Life Balance And Get More Out Of Life

Improve Your Work Life Balance - And Get More Out Of Life
By Clare Evans

Do you feel that youre spending too much time at work and there must be more to life? Perhaps you need to improve your work life balance?

One way to assess how youre doing, is to score each of the following eight areas out of 10. If any one of these is seriously out of balance its likely youll be tired, stressed and unhappy.

Health being fit, healthy and well.Are you a healthy weight for your height? How physically active are you do you take regular exercise? Do you have a healthy diet limited intake of sugar, caffeine, alcohol and processed food? When was the last time you visited the dentist, got your eyes tested, checked your blood pressure?

Money having enough to meet your needs. Do you know what it is that you need on a monthly basis? Do you have any large credit card bills or loans? Do you save 10% of you income? How well do you manage your expenses, investments and savings? Would you like to have financial independence?

Personal Growth get to know yourself better.What steps could you take this year to increase your own personal development? What behaviour would you like to change? Is there something that youd like to learn to do better?

Partner/Relationship being happy with where you are.If youre not currently in a relationship are you happy with where you are? If you are in a relationship do you have your partners needs as a priority and do you know what these needs are? How much time do you spend with your partner? Are you able to communicate effectively?

Fun/Social Life having time to relax and enjoy yourself.How regularly do you take time out for yourself to go and do something you really enjoy? This is one area of our life, which can get out of balance when we spend too much time at work. Arrange to do something this week to increase your fun.

Career/Business enjoying your work.Is your job enjoyable and fulfilling? Do you have a plan in place to improve your career/business prospects, gain promotion or plan your retirement? How are your working relationships with your boss, colleagues and others around you? Get to know what makes them tick after all theyre people too.

Friends/Family spending time with your friends and family.How often do you see your family? Who havent you spoken to recently that youve been meaning to call? Who could you talk to right now? How could you spend more time with your friends?

Physical Environment enjoying the surroundings in which you live.What you come home to has an important effect on how you feel day to day. If youve got lots of unfinished jobs around the house or youre not happy with where or how you live, look at what you could do to change it. Pick one outstanding task and aim to do it by the end of the week.

If you score less that 4 in any area, focus on that area first. What action could you take to make a change? What would it take to score a 9-10 in every area?

To get further support and advice and a free test email me for your own Life Balance Wheel - info@clareevans.co.uk

Clare works with busy, stressed individuals and small business owners to help them plan and organise their time more effectively.

Do you want to learn how to prioritise, plan and delegate, organise your perfect life, organise it effectively and enjoy the process? Spend your time doing what matters and stop worrying about the things that don't.

Register to receive her free monthly newsletter at http://www.clareevans.co.uk and receive free tips on managing your time.

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Improve Your Vocabulary By Using An Electronic Dictionary

Improve Your Vocabulary By Using An Electronic Dictionary
By Daniel Lesser

Current info about electronic dictionary is not always the easiest thing to locate. Fortunately, this report includes the latest electronic dictionary info available.

George W Bush can't say 'nuclear'. Does it matter? He is the most powerful person in the world. But he is ridiculed for his vocabulary and use of words. Would you want power as well as respect? With the daily use of a good electronic dictionary you will begin to improve your pronounciation as well as your vocabulary.

From my research I know that with the latest sound technology pronounciations of difficult words are much more audible and copiable. The searches are that much quicker than they used to be and the handheld electronic dictionary now sits snugly in your pocket, unlike your old style paper dictionary.

There was a little boy who asked for a hamburger but he was never able to have it cooked the way he liked or with different kinds of filling due to his limited vocabulary. That little boy was all of us. Most of us are still unable to ask for things exactly the way we want them.

If you are like me and live in a foreign country, not having enough words to express yourself becomes even more problematic.

Sometimes the most important aspects of a subject are not immediately obvious. Keep reading to get the complete picture.

After consulting my paper dictionary I found out that microphone is spelt the same way as in English. I went up to the shopping assistant and asked for a 'microphone' for my PC in my best spanish accent but he didn't understand me. I then whipped out my PDA and got it to say the word 'microphone' to him as a test. I thought then that these things really work.

An electronic dictionary can now be used when ever you need it as they are small, fast and and audible. They can be standalone handheld, or downloaded to your PDA and cellphone or you can use free online dictionaries.

I suggest you try out some of the free resources available that can be found on the internet. Download some free, shareware or trial software and use a few of the free online dictionaries. There are dictionaries available for topics such as languages, legal, medical, science, technical, business and math to name a few.

If you have just 7 minutes a day, use an electronic dictionary. Then you can build an executive vocabulary that grants you instant credibility and persuasive power by knowing exactly what words to say and when to say them.

Of course, it's impossible to put everything about electronic dictionary into just one article. But you can't deny that you've just added to your understanding about electronic dictionaries, and that's time well spent.

About The Author
Daniel J Lesser is the creator of best-electronic-dictionary.com. A whole world awaits with the right words in your handsFind out how you can expand your horizons at www.best-electronic-dictionary.com.View their website at: http://www.best-electronic-dictionary.com

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Improve Your Performance

Improve Your Performance
By Clare Evans

If you want to operate at Peak Performance then you need to give your body what it needs to function effectively - nutrition and exercise. The better you feel the more effective you'll be and the more you'll be able to do.

1. Eat more Fast Food. Bet you never thought you'd hear me say that! By fast food I mean food that your body is able to deal with fast. Not junk food that turns into slow food as soon as it gets into your digestive system. This means fresh fruit and veg juice and the only way to get this is from a juice bar or make your own at home. Check out Jason Vale on www.thejuicemaster.com to hear from the man himself on all that is wonderful and good about juices.

2. Look at what you eat. Eat fresh fruit and veg and avoid processed food. Do you ever read labels? What exactly are you putting into your body - do you really want all those chemicals? Notice that sugar creeps into most processed foods. What replaces the fat in 'low-fat' and sugar in 'sugar-free'. And don't get me on the subject of what really goes into producing the food that we eat - that's a whole other can of worms! Concentrated on creating the habit of healthy eating and avoid yo-yo dieting to control your weight.

3. Drink more water. We all know we should be drinking more but how often do you manage it? Even slight dehydration can affect your performance, energy levels and efficiency. Have a large glass of water first thing each morning and last thing at night then make sure you sip water throughout the day - have a bottle at your desk, in the car and especially if your exercising. If you're thirsty you're already dehydrated!

4. Don't forget to Breathe! Most of us only use the top part of our lungs when we breathe. To breathe correctly, breathe in to your stomach for a count of two, then into your upper chest for two to fully inflate your lungs. Reverse the process and breathe out for four counts. Try this for a few minutes at a time throughout the day and revive your body. Use it as a warm-up when exercising - matching your breathing with your stride - it's a great fat-burner.

5. Stop the Bloat. Do you suffer from bloating after you eat? Keep a food diary of everything you eat and note how you feel throughout the day. Try going dairy and wheat free for a couple of weeks and see if it makes a difference. Apparently the vast majority of us don't even have the enzyme to digest cow's milk after the age of three! No wonder it doesn't agree with us!

6. Get enough sleep. Your body needs time to recover each day - if you're not getting the sleep you need, you're likely to reach for that cup of coffee every morning to keep you going. Set a regular time to go to bed and get up each day and stick to it. Our bodies like routine.

7. Exercise regularly. Have you noticed how when you feel tired and low on energy - actually getting out for some exercise can make you feel better. Find something you enjoy - it doesn't have to be going to a gym and pounding away on a treadmill, learn/participate in a team sport, go out for a walk, swim find ways to build exercise into your daily routine. 30 minutes 3-5 times a week is all it takes.

8. Avoid food comas. That state of lethargy that occurs after the Sunday roast or Christmas dinner because you've overdone it. Your body can't cope with an overloaded stomach so to digest all that food, the rest of the body shuts down. Smaller meals - little and often are easier on your body, increase your metabolism and avoid those blood sugar slumps.

9. Take breaks. You can't work at peak performance for hours on end and expect to be effective and productive. Take regular breaks throughout the day - get up from your desk, take a few deep breaths, get outside for some fresh-air if you can - don't reach for the caffeine to give you a boost - it's only a temporary high and creates a bad habit.

10. Everything in moderation. Treat yourself gently and with respect. Ideally avoid caffeine, sugar and alcohol - these place an added strain on your body as it deals with them. Be realistic - give yourself a treat or indulgence but make these the exception not the norm.

Clare Evans is a Personal & Business Coach. She works with busy individuals and small business owners to enable them plan and organise their time more effectively. You can read more articles on Work Life Balance here.

Receive free weekly Time Tips to show you how to manage your time more effectively when you register for her monthly newsletter at http://www.clareevans.co.uk.

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Motivation The Defining Moment of SelfImprovement

Motivation - The Defining Moment of Self-Improvement
By Jordi Shoman

For any aspect of self-improvement, there has to be a reason for you to start and keep going. That is your motivation - the reason for doing what you do. In order to attempt any sort of improvement in your life, you need to be motivated in some way to get started. Strategies for self-improvement start with defining what it is you want to achieve and then charting a course through which you can effect the improvements or changes. These do not have to be drastic changes - they could be something as simple as making time for yourself to write in a journal each day or something to improve your health, such as quitting smoking.

Motivation comes from within. It is something that you want to do for you. This is what keeps you going, getting up each day and going off to work. Children are often the motivating force behind parents saving money, when they would ordinarily blow it on something frivolous. You know that you will need money for your children's higher education or to give them the extras that they want, such as toys and brand name clothing. This is the reason that you work each day, maintain a home and spend time enjoying each other.

If you don't have something to look forward to or see some sense of gratification in what you do, then there is no motivation to get doing it. Just meeting with colleagues helps you get a sense of who you are and your place in the world. Socialization, confidence and improvement are three main aspects of life. When you enjoy life, you can be motivated to achieve great things. Achievement does not have to be something that everyone recognizes. It can be something as simple as learning to make a quilt or to use a saw to create beautiful woodwork. The end result is the feeling of accomplishment that you have in yourself.

If you need self-help information or have articles on self-help issues, visit our Self Improvement issues section for more in-depth resources. Free Article Distribution

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SelfImprovement Secrets

Self-Improvement Secrets
By Judith Ann Kirk

* Perfectionism is a time waster.

Strive for excellence on important issues and ordinary best for everyday tasks. Do not waste your time on needless details.

* Be flexible.

Organize things the way they work for you. The principle of organizing is to be able to find what you want when you want it.

* Simplify.

No matter how much you seek change, it is impossible if there is no room for change. Busyness and over spending leaves you feeling overwhelmed, stressed and yearning for a simpler life. Letting go of clutter and attachments can be painful. Ask for help. Consider a trusted friend, family member or professional organizer who can keep you focused. (Telephone and email coaching are available. For more information contact: Judith@OrganizingResources.com)

* Clean out your closets.

Take time to remove what you no longer wear or use. Statistics show that we wear 20% of our clothes 80% of the time. That means that there are a whole lot of clothes just waiting for the infrequent occasion to wear them. Do you really need to keep so many?

* Measure progress in terms of percentages.

The point of Self-Improvement is to increase your batting average. Changing a habit 10% of the time is a positive step in the right direction. Give yourself credit for the progress you are making. (Ty Cobb, baseballs legendary all-time leading hitter, had a lifetime batting average of 367, which means nearly five out of eight times at bat he made an out.)

* Treat yourself kindly.

Positive self-talk produces better results than degradation. (I have missed more than 9000 shots in my career; I have lost almost 300 games; on 26 occasions I have been entrusted to take the game winning shot...and missed; I have failed over and over and over again in my life, and that is why I succeed, states Michael Jordan, basketball's greatest.)

* Someone once said, It is not how much you make that counts, it is how much you KEEP.

Pay attention to where you are spending and start a savings plan with spare change. It will mount up and your abundance will grow.

* Relax.

Stress depletes the immune system. Seek balance in your life and learn deep breathing exercises. Press your tongue onto the roof of your mouth and slowly breathe in through your nose continuing until you are fully inflated. Hold and notice how much oxygen you bring into your starving tissues. Release your breath by exhaling through your mouth. Repeat as often as necessary.

* Laugh.

Why does it feel so good to laugh? Because endorphins are released from the brain every time you do it. Endorphins have a morphine-like affect and are often referred to as the bodys own opiates. Endorphin pushers: smiling and laughing, exercising, positive thinking, connecting with family and friends, celebrations, receiving recognition and experiencing nature up close and personal.

* Get a life!

This clich is usually said with sarcasm. However, it is actually very good advice. Are you among the multitude that invests in an abundant lifestyle? Do you think you need that new car, boat or expensive vacation to feel successful? Would life be perfect if you had that new suit, a diamond ring or a bigger TV? Our homes have become a warehouse for possessions that enhance our lifestyle but fall short of enhancing our life.

* Choose to be happy.

Happiness is not found in ownership of material possessions. Rather, it comes from deep within. Each morning make a conscious decision to have a good day. Instead of waiting for things to get better, be grateful for what you already have. Success is getting what you want; happiness is wanting what you get, stated Dale Carnegie, 1888-1955, American Author and Self-Improvement Trainer

Judith Kirk, owner of www.OrganizingResources.com provides coaching in simplification and organization mastery. She uses a holistic approach to teach life management skills and assures an immediate physical, emotional and psychological payoff when chaos and clutter are eliminated. The impact of simplifying and organizing renews the spirit and builds confidence. Order is the foundation upon which to build inner peace, contentment and joy in life. Subscribe to Free monthly newsletter at Newsletter@OrganizingResources.com.

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Need a Memory Upgrade? How to Improve Your Memory Part 7 of 11

Need a Memory Upgrade? How to Improve Your Memory, Part 7 of 11
By Teresa Bolen

Change Locations

One of the ways that you can improve your memory is to change your location. Your memory of something is linked to the place where you learned it, so by learning things in different places you can make them easier to remember. Surprisingly, even small changes such as where you are sitting in a room can make a huge difference. I use this technique in every class with my students, and they are able to remember and use what they learn to such a high level of skill, it surprises and amazes their other teachers year after year

Warning: To make use of this information, you are going to have to move out of your comfort zone.

You know how when you start attending a class, how you have a tendency to pick a certain area of the room, or even a specific seat and continue to sit there every time you go? It becomes a kind of habit, or even ritual for you. And Id be willing to bet that if someone else beats you to your favorite seat, you are somewhat displeased and feel a bit unsettled for the remainder of the class. Am I right? Most students feel a bit territorial about the spot they have chosen, they develop a sense of familiarity and comfort in it, and often really resent a disruption to their ritual such as the presence of another person there.

However, in reality, if someone sits in your favorite seat, they are actually doing you an enormous favor. They are forcing you to find another place. That lecture or class will stand out more strongly in your memory simply because you were forced to sit in a different place.

Go ahead and give this a try for a few classes or lectures and see how your memory improves. When you walk in the room or lecture hall, and you feel that pull in your feet to go to your favorite spot, move out of your comfort zone and deliberately choose another. At the next class, you may be tempted to return to that new seat, but that is just the start of a new comfort habit. It is in your best interest to deliberately choose yet another seat, and a new place in the room every time you go there.

In addition to helping you remember what you learn in each class, there is an additional benefit. Chances are good that unless your classmates read this, they are going to stay in the same place. This gives you the opportunity to meet many new people and begin friendships with other classmates that ordinarily you might never create an opportunity to talk with.

So get out of your rut of sitting in the same seat all the time, and sit in a different location each time, and make some wonderful new friendships as you improve your memory!

Heres to your success!

Copyright 2005-2006 by Teresa Bolen. All rights reserved.

Teresa Bolen is a teacher at Todaiji Academy, one of the top 5schools in Japan, and the author of Master Plan to Master Exams:How to Discover Your Hidden Abilities to Create the Success YouDesire. You can get her FREE Academic Excellence Report athttp://www.MasterPlanToMasterExams.com

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Living Single is Not a Condition to Improve

Living Single is Not a Condition to Improve
By Dr. Jackie Black

Many of us find ourselves un-partnered at various times in our lives. How do you experience being single and uninvolved?

Do you worry that you are unloved, or will never find that special someone to love?

Did you feel relief at the end of a marriage or relationship that was contentious or disappointing, one fraught with conflict and dissension?

Each one of us has our own unique experience of being single and living alone. For some men and women, being single is a message that he or she is not good enough, or is flawed in some serious way. People tell me that being single is the evidence that there is something wrong with them.

Sometimes men and women without partners are afraid that friends and family members think they are alone because they are not worth being cared for. Some single people feel self-conscious going into restaurants alone or with friends, especially on weekend nights.

Being single and living alone is a chance to focus on our self, a chance to strengthen our connection to our inner life and become more introspective and contemplative. Having only ourselves to consider can be a precious gift that brings us home to ourselves; to a part of us that springs forth like an exquisite fountain in the presence of a little quiet time. Being un-partnered offers a rich opportunity to catch up with our self.

We have no doubt changed a lot over the years, though sometimes we hardly notice. It is a good time examine and explore your inside self so you can create the outside life that matches who you are being and becoming!

When we have only ourselves to consider, we have the luxury to explore new interests, dream new dreams, spend time with valued friends and family members. It can be a time to read the books you have been meaning to check out of the library, take that art class you have always wanted to take, play more golf, write poetry, learn something you have always wanted to learn, go places that have sparked your curiosity, participate in activities that move your spirit and make your heart sing; to engage life in a very personal and private way.

Embrace your life and live in the incredible moment. If being partnered again is your hearts desire, live in the truth of that knowing. But dont stop being present in the fullest way possible now.

Dont waste one minute waiting to meet someone special. Be your own special you. Spend each minute living your life fully and coming from the goodness, richness, and enoughness that is your very essence!

Whether you choose to be single the rest of your life or someday co-create a loving partnership, being present and fully engaged in your life will remain the centerpiece of all that you are and all that you do. Take good care and let me know how you are doing!

Remember, only YOU can make it happen!

Copyright Dr. Jackie Black 1999-2005

If you like this article, please read more about Dr. Jackies relationship dating advice and help for issues and problems.

This article may be re-published with appropriate attribution to the author including name, web site, email address and telephone number.

Dr. Jackie is an internationally recognized relationship expert, educator and coach. Advice and coaching about personal relationships is Dr. Jackie's passion. Her goal is to inspire and support single men, single women and couples through the challenges and pitfalls of dating, loving and building lasting, committed relationships in today's fast-paced world. Dr. Jackie's Relationship Coaching Programs and Groups, her Blog, downloadable PodCasts and her Internet streaming radio show are jam-packed with valuable dating tips and strategies.

Check out Dr. Jackie's Podcasts here:http://www.relationshiptalkpodcast.com

Check out Dr. Jackie's Blog here:http://www.askdrjackie.com

1.866.419.5928

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Self Improvement Advice Do The Opposite Of What Your Demons Tell You To Do

Self Improvement Advice - Do The Opposite Of What Your Demons Tell You To Do
By Steve Hill

I am sure that I am not alone in the fact that I have a large army of demons in my head. These demons are always talking to me and trying to advise me about how to react to different situations. For many years I listened and took their advice, these years were not exactly happy ones and I have now come to realise that these demons are not my friends but are actually my enemy.

I had many issues in my life that had a negative affect on my levels of self-esteem. The demons used these issues to get to me and to play their mind games. For this article, I am going to describe my stuttering demons and how I eventually destroyed them. The advice can be used for whatever type of demon you may have.

At the age of four, I developed a stutter which would continue to affect my speech for the next eighteen years of my life. I was aware of what I could and could not say and was also aware of the social situations in which I was more likely to stutter.

If I was asked a question by for example a friend, I would think of the answer but before I would have a chance to say it, a voice would appear. This voice or what I call my demons would advise me not to say that word and to substitute it for a different word.

If I was invited out to say a party, my demons would advise me not to go, as there would be a lot of people there that I did not know. They would remind me that I found it difficult talking to people which I did not know.

At one stage in my life, I decided that I wanted a career change as I was not happy in the role that I was in. My demons reminded me, that to find alternative employment meant going through the whole interview process again. They continued that I had always struggled to talk fluently at interviews, due to the pressure factor.

I would be able to speak quite well when I was drunk and this is when I would have the confidence to talk to the ladies. On several occasions a woman has given me their phone number and I would tell them that I would call them to arrange a night out. The next day though, when sober, the demons would remind me that making a phone call is what I find the hardest form of speech task and to simply not bother.

As previously stated, I used to listen to these demons and suffice it to say I did not go on my first date until I was eighteen years of age.

Things had to and were about to change. After reading many self-help books, I realised what I had been doing wrong. I should not be listening to these demons, in fact what I need to do is the opposite of what they tell me. Steve don't go to that party, OK then I will. Steve don't phone that lady up, OK I will, etc.

I am not trying to say that this is easy to do. I am happy to say that I have eradicated my speech demons and am now fluent, however I do still have demons in other areas of my life. There are not nearly as many as there have been in the past and I am slowly hopefully killing them all.

I treat it like a war. There are many battles and I have to say that I do not win them all. I talk to my demons all the time and especially when they win one of these type battles. I tell them that they may have won this particular battle but that I will win the overall war.

You may possibly think that I am a bit of a freak after reading this article. I frankly do not care, I am happier now than I have ever been.

Good luck in your quest to improve your own life.

Stephen Hill helps to promote a number of websites including:

stuttering treatment

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Improve Our Income

Improve Our Income
By Gordon Goh

We all want to improve our top line - our income - be it our salary or business profits. Here are the 5 Ways to make it happen:

1. You need to figure out what you want, and don't settle for anything less without a struggle. Build a fortress around your desires. Figure out how badly you want it. Figure out how you are going to get it. Form a plan and reward yourself along the journey.

The difference between an achiever and a super achiever is that the super achiever gets out of his comfort zone and tackles the tough stuff. Modest achiever attempts to survive on their reputation.

Learn from people who have done it before. Those people are always set high goals and achieve for themselves.

2. Keep pushing yourself. Doing one hard thing a day lifts your momentum, confidence level, self-esteem and provides the sheer joy of success.

3. Be Sales Oriented. Everyone in the whole company should be salesperson. Go for more sales calls and more activities to get the sale.

4. Focus. Do as you plan and don't let anybody steal your day. People can steal your day with their negative emotions, and sometimes they don't even know that they are doing this. Gravity is always there, and pulls you up through strong focus.

Focus on the most profitable activity. First you need to know what products and services you should be focusing on based on the 80/20 rules. Then have the profile of your ideal customer and list out all the characteristics. Third is to find more customers who want to do business with you. Go get more customers, and embark on creative and aggressive marketing to make it happen.

The best way to identify if a prospect fits your 'best customer profile' is to ask some great questions. Ask the following:

* Which of your customers are the easiest to work with?

* Which of your customers do the most businesses with you?

* Which of your customers give you the most headaches?

The answers to these questions will tell you where you should be investing your time. Because the goal is to get great results, which leads us to the last and fifth way...

5. Be Results Driven. No more excuses for not doing anything. In fact, do not bother to find reasons for non-achievements, and instead spend the time on achieving something else to compensate for the lack of achievement. Be ruthless. Give the best to your customers by learning the keys to customer service. Set a goal to increase your business profits by a quantum leap now.

Gordon Goh is author of the free, informative website Simply Motivation offering quality useful tips for Motivation

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SelfImprovement Patterns of Jesus: 12 Secrets to Revolutionize Your Life Part I

Self-Improvement Patterns of Jesus: 12 Secrets to Revolutionize Your Life - Part I
By Paul Davis

Jesus of Nazareth was both God incarnate and man living in flesh here on earth. He manifisted amazing leadership and fulfilled His divine purpose in thirty-three-and-a-half years.

How can we model Jesus and implement His proven techniques in our own lives?

Here are 12 secrets to unlock your hidden potential, revolutionize your life and get you moving in victory en route to fulfilling your dreams.

1.Purify your heart.

Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. (Matthew 5:8)

Anybody can be like everybody else. Cutting corners, disregarding others and being dishonest diminishes your personhood within. Being transparent and tender hearted however will attract both God and His blessings to your life.

2.Develop inner solitude and a sacred place to experience solace.

Now when Jesus saw great multitudes about him, he gave commandment to depart unto the other side. (Matthew 8:18)

Jesus told His disciples, Come you yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat. (Mark 6:31)

Notice Jesus didn't operate like people today who are hungry to be in the spot light. Instead of staying around the multitudes to receive the praise of men, Jesus departed to a place of quiet where His soul could rest and be strengthened. Jesus remained mindful of the eternal purpose to which He was called despite the urging of the people. Not everything that is urgent is necessarily important. Our inner solitude and soul's stability is far more important. Only from a place of inner strength can we meet the pressing needs around us. First however we must attend to our own soul.

3.Mastering the Art of Silence

Then Pilate said to Him, Are You not speaking to me? Do You not know that I have power to crucify You, and power to release You? (John 19:10)

There is a time to speak and a time to be silent. (Ecclesiastes 3) Mastering your emotions and harnessing your tongue is no easy task. In a world filled with accusation and criticism, people can easily provoke you to lash out against them. This however is the least advantageous course of action when dealing with a critic. Such a response only further adds fuel to the fire and gives a critic more to criticize you about.

Jesus wisely held His tongue when being publicly tried by Pontius Pilate prior to His crucifixion. Most would have spoken up to defend themselves in an attempt to escape any physical suffering. Christ however came to suffer for mankind and thereby liberate them from selfishness and their sin.

4.Meditate and Build Momentum through Prayer

This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. (Joshua 1:8)

What you meditate on, you move toward. Where meditation goes, energy flows. The mind is a terrible thing to waste. Jesus was crucified at Golgatha, the place of the skull. So too must we master our mental processes and internal imagery so we can arrive fully at our divine intended destiny.

Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. (Matthew 26:41)

And Jesus went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed. (Matthew 26:39)

Prayer takes you farther than you can go in your own strength. Prayer energizes your spirit and soul. Prayer connects you to God and makes you whole. Prayer propels you forward despite external circumstances.

Paul Davis is author of Breakthrough for a Broken Heart a book telling us How to overcome disappointments and blossom into your dreams! He is a minister, life coach (relational & professional), dating expert, popular worldwide keynote speaker, creative consultant, humor being, adventurer, explorer, mediator, liberator and dream-maker.

Paul's compassion for people & passion to travel has taken him to over 50 countries of the world where he has had a tremendous impact. Paul has also brought revival to many in war-torn, impoverished and tsunami stricken regions of the earth. His nonprofit organization Dream-Maker Ministries is building dreams and breaking limitations.

Paul's Breakthrough Seminars inspire, revive, awaken, impregnate with purpose, impart the fire of desire, catapult people into a new level of self-awareness, facilitate destiny discovery and dream fulfillment.

Paul can be contacted at: RevivingNations@yahoo.com 407-967-7553.

For additional info:
http://www.CreativeCommunications.TV
http://www.DreamMakerMinistries.com
http://www.PaulnKarla.com

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How to use SelfHypnosis to Improve your Golf

How to use Self-Hypnosis to Improve your Golf
By John Lundholm

Legendary golfer Ben Hogan is reported to have stated that when he was playing at his best he could often see his next shot completed before he ever started the club moving forward. What Hogan described is a simple case of visualization.

Self-hypnosis is a technique that can allow you to reach a state where you can control your mind and reach peak performance. It is a state in which you are more receptive to suggestion.

The easiest way a receptive state is to guide ones self into a state of relaxed focus. One quick and easy way to accomplish this is to sit comfortably, and slowly take 10-15 deep breaths, and with each exhalation allow your self to become more and more relaxed. Once you reach a relaxed state give yourself positive suggestions.

The most powerful form of suggestion is visualization. The subconscious is unable to differentiate between something that is real and what is imagined. The more vivid the imagination, the more real the subconscious thinks the picture is.

If an athlete spends enough time visualizing success on the field, and if he or she really makes the thought as vivid as possible, eventually the subconscious will believe it is reality and allow the body to perform the skill.

There are two important keys to effective visualization.

First, get as many senses involved as possible. You should not stop at thinking about making a putt. You should imagine the smell of the grass, the sound of the ball striking the putter, rolling along the grass and falling in the cup. Experience the emotion you feel in that setting.

Second, visualize both the process of achieving a desired outcome and the result of achieving your desired outcome. In other words, visualize yourself receiving the winners trophy and being congratulated by your friends, and also visualize the process of teeing up, driving the ball, making the putt and all the steps along the way. Even include images of your self missing a putt and making the necessary correction to nail it right the next time. Recent studies suggest that visualizing only one aspect, process or results, may actually result in decreased performance. So include both.

Combining focused relaxation and suggestion in the form of visualization is a simple form of self-hypnosis any golfer can practice. Practicing it two to three times a week can make a dramatic difference in your game.

John Lundholm, Hypnotherapist, RN, Educator/speaker, and Web Entrepreneur helps people succeed by addressing the two essential foundations of achievement: the success mindset and positive action. For additional resources for golfers: http://www.brainpower.8k.com

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How to Improve My Chances of Success in My Last Mathematics Course: For People Like Me (Vol 3)

How to Improve My Chances of Success in My Last Mathematics Course: For People Like Me (Vol 3)
By Jacquinita Rose

Well, it is that time again. Classes will resume in a few short weeks. For many studentsit is a semester of anticipation, excitement, and fear. He or she has put off taking that last mathematics course until it can no longer be avoided. This volume of my People Like Me Series, addresses, with a touch of humor, that last mathematics course before graduation. This article provides a few brief tips on how you can be successful in that course.

Tips For Success:

1.Breathe!

Most of us take one long breath and do not release it until the end of the semester. It is more beneficial to our success and stress level to take a few short breaths throughout the duration of the semester. It can make for a less bumpy ride.

2.Attitude!

Change your attitude at least for this semester. Remember you have to take this course. One of the ways you can improve your chances of success is to tell your self that I will pass this class! Believe it and mean it. Fear will only get in the way of your ability to learn and process the course material.

3.Empower!

For far to long students have let mathematics have the power over them. Rather, grab hold of those reins and take control of the mathematics. Now, I know for the most part people do not enjoy mathematics and try to avoid it. However, to obtain a college degree it is usually unavoidable. You have gone through so much to reach this milestone. Avoid letting this last mathematics class outweigh the work of all your other college coursework.

4.Maintain!

Approach this class with the attitude that you have the grade and you will work like the dickens to maintain it! Follow the general rule of study. That is 3 hours/wk of study time for each credit hour. So, if your last mathematics course is a 3-credit hour course to be successful you will need to spend at least 12 hours of study time. In between college, the job, and the family, it can be done!

Success in the last mathematics course requires a change in attitude and a change in your approach to completing your coursework. Although easier said than done, remember that it can be done. The joy and pride that comes at the end of the semester, knowing that you accomplished your goal, is priceless. You can and will do it! Happy Graduation!

Copyright 2006 J.A. Rose For People Like Me Series

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Self Improvement and a Strong Work Ethic

Self Improvement and a Strong Work Ethic
By Garry Zancanaro

If we want to make more of ourselves and our lives, and seek self improvement, it is essential to develop a strong work ethic. If we are in a job or a situation that we dislike, we must be prepared to make a decision. We must decide to either do the best work we can do in that situation, or take action to get out. These are the only real choices if self respect is important to us.

If there are any prospects of promotion in any position, a person who works hard and is eager and willing, will almost certainly be noticed by the people who can help. We may have to be prepared to ignore the negative attitudes of peers and colleagues who prefer to take the easy option of doing the minimum amount required to get by. But this is really only an option if we have no interest in self improvement or building a better life for ourselves.

There are plenty of people who pride themselves on doing as little as possible, beating the system or getting one over on their bosses. These people are also likely to spend a lot of time complaining about their lot, but probably like things as they are and enjoy the petty office politics. They almost certainly lack the courage or ambition to actually make any changes, and probably never will.

On the other hand, there are people who are ambitious and feel they have made their best efforts, but are being completely ignored by their bosses. In these cases moving on is the only option, and there is no doubt that any person with a strong work ethic and ambition will find a position where they will be appreciated.

Keeping up to date with the latest information in our field and learning new skills and techniques, and working on keeping motivated at all times will certainly help. Whether we desire to work our way up the corporate ladder, or eventually start our own business, having a strong work ethic is one of the most vital of all character traits for success.

Self Improvement Tips Quote of the Day:

Dictionary is the only place that success comes before work. Hard work is the price we must pay for success. I think you can accomplish anything if you're willing to pay the price. Vince Lombardi

About The Author

Garry Zancanaro is the creator of http://www.SuperSuccessLibrary.com a collection of outstanding and life changing Success and Personal Development Resources, and the founder of http://www.SelfImprovementDirectory.com where you can claim a FREE copy of THINK AND GROW RICH.

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How to Improve Your Life Exponentially

How to Improve Your Life Exponentially
By Janice Elizabeth Small

With the amount of excellent material available in books, courses and on the internet these days, it's unlikely that you are short of ideas about how to improve your life.

But how many great ideas have you read and then forgotten? Probably a fair few, even most of them, if you're honest with yourself. And somehow it's all too easy for life to go on, despite your interest in making things great, just getting more of the same old results you were always getting.

Why not try making the very most of your life by putting this simple system in place to gather and implement the changes and ideas which capture your imagination?

1. Record your ideas

Keep a special notebook where you jot down all your ideas and notes about improving your life as you come across them, noting down only those ideas you definitely want to try out. Ideas can be as simple as drinking 8 glasses of water a day or as complex as following the whole process in the latest self-development book you have been reading.

2. One-off actions

Every week select an action, small group of actions or next stage in a process you want to implement. Have a set day and time to make your selection each week so you don't forget and then make sure that you complete the action before it's time to choose again. Result : 52 one-off actions or steps towards implementing a program completed every year for the rest of your life.

3. Habits to encourage

In addition, select a great new habit every week. And spend the week focusing on that habit and making it happen. View this as an experiment to see if it does anything for you. If it works you can keep it. If it doesn't show any signs of being of benefit, you can discard it. Monitor your current set of habits daily until each one becomes so automatic it's simply part of your routine. Make a game of seeing how well you can do each day in keeping up your new habits. Result : potentially 52 great new habits a year, realistically 30 to 40, building your success week by week for the rest of your life.

4. Projects Big and Small

You can even tackle a big project to lose weight or get a new job in this way by breaking it down into one-off action steps and habits. For example, action steps you might jot down in your goal to lose weight might be to buy a healthy cookbook, join a gym and get a chosen weight loss program checked out by your doctor. Habits you can implement step by step might be to take a walk each lunchtime, replace sugary soda drinks one by one with water and include 7 portions of fruit and vegetables in your diet each day to add bulk and nutrients without too many calories.

5. Focus for Visible and Motivating Progress

If you focus on specific areas of your life for 4 to 6 weeks at a time, you will find that you make huge leaps forward in a short time. For example, 6 weeks on health and you will have taken 6 action steps towards a healthier you and added 6 new healthy habits which you can consoldate while you focus on another area, such as your home or your relationships.

Copyright 2006, Janice Elizabeth Small

Janice Elizabeth is a weight loss coach, slimming club owner and author of The Diet Exit Plan, an 8 week coaching program for automatic permanent weight loss. Get her FREE 15 page report How to lose weight without dieting - 7 secrets the diet industry doesn't want you to know at http://www.SimplySlimming.com TODAY!

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Need a Memory Upgrade? How to Improve Your Memory Part 11 of 11

Need a Memory Upgrade? How to Improve Your Memory, Part 11 of 11
By Teresa Bolen

Make It Silly

You can improve your memory by attaching additional associations, creating acronyms, and making up mini stories, and the sillier you can make them the better. The more silly, outrageous, absurd or bizarre, the easier it is to remember.

For example, when you were in elementary school and you learned the names of the Great Lakes in North America, you might have been taught the acronym HOMES, for Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie, and Superior. It works, but it is a little mundane. If you wanted to crank up the memorability of it, you might imagine you and your friends homes floating above the Great Lakes. It makes a strong imprint on your mind. Or perhaps you would prefer something even more ridiculous, such as picturing a Hysterical Ostrich Munching Electric Spiders over the lakes.

If you want your story to more closely resemble the names of the lakes, you could change your mini story to something like a Heron playing baseball at the Great Lakes expected to hit a home run all the way to Ontario, but Missed again! It was Erie the way it looked at me, as if it were Superior. This is an odd little story, but easy to remember and will bring you very close to the actual names of the lakes.

Another variation of this is to link ideas to the furniture of a room in your home. Lets say you want to remember a series of ideas for a presentation, and you have seven main points you want to cover. Create a logical pathway to move through the room, noting the main pieces of furniture or objects of interest.

You can link your introduction to entering the room. Then link each of your topics to those pieces of furniture or objects of interest, and remember that the more silly, outrageous, absurd or bizarre, the easier it is to remember. Link one idea to the sofa. Link one idea to the coffee table. Link one idea to the lamp, and so on until walking through your room brings up the outline of your speech. At this point you can just imagine walking through this room in your home and as you imagine each piece of furniture you also remember the topic you linked to it. This is a great way to improve your memory, and it makes use of your kinesthetic abilities, a skill often overlooked when using more traditional methods of study.

Hopefully you are sensing how much fun you can have with this. I encourage you to play with this technique and see how silly you can make the additional associations, acronyms, and mini stories. The more fun you have with it the more you will see your memory improve.

Heres to your success!

Copyright 2005-2006 by Teresa Bolen. All rights reserved.

Teresa Bolen is a teacher at Todaiji Academy, one of the top 5schools in Japan, and the author of Master Plan to Master Exams:How to Discover Your Hidden Abilities to Create the Success YouDesire. You can get her FREE Academic Excellence Report athttp://www.MasterPlanToMasterExams.com

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How To Improve Communications With Those Who Were Difficult To Communicate With In The Past

How To Improve Communications With Those Who Were Difficult To Communicate With In The Past
By Sonny Julius

You talked but didn't get a response. You talked but you got a negative response. Has this happened to you often? All the time? Occasionally? Never? Well if you have experienced it more often then you care to admit then maybe it's time to find out why.

Good communications can be a pleasant experience. Bad communications can be a very unpleasant experience. When you are in conversation with someone else it's great to be ableto hit it off with them. On the other hand if you get the cold shoulder from them or a stern rebuttal it might be your last chance to communicate with them again.

When this happens with a family member, dear friend or even a new acquaintness you may have lown you chance to ever enjoy their company again. Now, hopefully, this won't bequite this severe but you may have to mend a lot of fences before you have can enjoy their company once again.

What are some things that causes these kind of responses?To be blunt about the whole issue, you could be a eal blabber mouth. You could be one that dominates the conversation from the start. Instead of first asking questions of the individual and then listening to their response you may just jump in there with both feet and talk a mile a minute about your own interest.

Wow! was I guilty of that myself at one time. It was back during my sales career that a certain instant happened to finally wake me up to what I was doing wrong Let me first say, before I tell you my story, that I was a very aggressive salesman who wanted to be highly successful at my craft.

This particular incident happened one day when I was a sales supervisor whose job was to open up new territories for my company and then hire a salesman to finally manage it. My company had a new and unique way of selling their product and services and I was very excited about it.

So here I was in a distant city this day calling on a certain apartment community to sell maintenance supplies. My goal was always to make as many calls as I could in one day and add as many new customers as I could sign up. Once I arrived on the complex I spotted a man who I assumed was the maintenance supervisor hurrying down the sidewalk. I called out to him and he stopped.

Now here is the climax to this incident that day. I asked him if he was the maintenance man and he agreed he was. I thenintroduced myself and proceeded to make my lenghty presentation pointing out all the benefits of my services and products. When I finally finished the prospect looked at me with a very stern look on his face and said, I don't have the authority to buy you'll have to talk to the manager I said, Why didn't you tell me that before I began my presentation. He said, mister you talked so fast I couldn't get a word in at all.

Another sad part of this story was I was breaking in a new salesman. Not a very good lesson for someone just starting out with the company. In addition to that, I finally went to the manager to make my pitch to her without success. Even though I asked her questions before I started talking she wasn't a bit interested in changing vendors.

Since I'm a very positive thinking person, I didn't let that incident discourage me. In retrospect it probably was the best thing to happen. I learned a valuable lesson and so did the new salesman as well. After that I learned to first ask questions and then listen intensely to the response I get. Consequently my closing rate became much more successful.

If you have lost contact with a family member, a good friend or have had difficulty making new friends because of poorcommunication skills I hope the above story will help you solveyour situation.

Sonny Julius is a retired sales supervisor. Prior to this he spent 29 years in the family florist business. Becoming dissatisfied he decided to enter the sales profession. After 18 months with the first sales company he left and joined another one and eventually spent 20 years with them. During this time he became a sales supervisor with a sales staff of eight salesmen with territories from the midwest to the west.His interest in the Internet eventually led him to search for a home-based business he felt worthy to promote. After being dissatisfied with a few he joined he eventually found the ideal one and now spends a few hours a day promoting it. http://www.sonnyj.com

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