LEARN LEADERSHIP SACHIN TENDULKAR WAY

What are the things that set the great man apart from mere mortals? The ability to read the game acutely, pick the ball early, dedication, discipline and more

Virender Sehwag on Sachin Tendulkar As told to Nagraj Gollapudi

The first time Virender Sehwag met Sachin Tendulkar was in March 2001, at a practice session ahead of the first ODI of the home series against Australia. For Sehwag, Tendulkar was the man who had inspired him to skip exams in school and allowed him to dream of cricket as a career. Sehwag was shy then, and didn't speak to his hero. He got 58 off 51 balls and picked up three wickets. Tendulkar later walked up to him and said, "You've got talent. Continue playing the same way and I'm sure you will make your name." That ability to motivate youngsters is one of the traits, Sehwag says, that makes Tendulkar special. Here he tells Cricinfo about 10 things that make Tendulkar stand out.
Discipline
He never comes late to any practice session, never comes late to the team bus, never comes late to any meeting - he is always five minutes ahead of time. If you are disciplined, it shows you are organised. And then he is ready for anything on the cricket field.
Mental strength
I've learned a lot of things from him as far as mental strength goes - on how to tacke a situation, how to tackle a ball or bowler. If you are not tough mentally, you can't score the number of runs and centuries he has in the last two decades. He is a very good self-motivator.
He always said to me: whatever the situation or whichever the bowler you face, always believe in yourself. There was this occasion in South Africa, early in my career, when I was not scoring runs fluently, so he suggested I try a few mental techniques that had worked for him. One of the things he said was: Always tell yourself you are better than others. You have some talent and that is why you are playing for India, so believe in yourself.
Picking the ball early
He can pick the ball earlier than other batsmen and that is a mark of a great batsman. He is virtually ready for the ball before it is bowled. Only great players can have two shots for one ball, like Tendulkar does, and a big reason is that he picks the ball very early.
Soft hands
I've never seen him play strokes with hard hands. He always tries to play with soft hands, always tries to meet the ball with the centre of the bat. That is timing. I have never been able to play consistently with soft hands.
Planning
One reason he can convert his fifties into hundreds is planning: which bowler he should go after, which bowler he should respect, in which situation he should play aggressively, in which situation he should defend. It is because he has spent hours thinking about all of it, planning what to do. He knows what a bowler will do in different situations and he is ready for it.
In my debut Test he scored 155 and he knew exactly what to do every ball. We had already lost four wickets (68 for 4) when I walked in, and he warned me about the short ball. He told me that the South African fast bowlers would bowl short-of-length balls regularly, but he knew how to counter that. If they bowled short of a length, he cut them over slips; when they bowled outside off stump, he cut them; and when they tried to bowl short into his body, he pulled with ease. Luckily his advice had its effect on me, and I made my maiden hundred!
Adaptability
This is one area where he is really fast. And that is because he is such a good reader of the game. After playing just one or two overs he can tell you how the pitch will behave, what kind of bounce it has, which length is a good one for the batsman, what shots to play and what not to.
A good example was in the Centurion ODI of the 2006-07 series. India were batting first. Shaun Pollock bowled the first over and fired in a few short-of-length balls, against which I tried to play the back-foot punch. Tendulkar cautioned me immediately and said that shot was not a good option. A couple of overs later I went for it again and was caught behind, against Pollock.
Making bowlers bowl to his strengths
He will leave a lot of balls and give the bowler a false sense of security, but the moment it is pitched up to the stumps or closer to them, Tendulkar will easily score runs.
If the bowler is bowling outside off stump Tendulkar can disturb his line by going across outside off stump and playing to midwicket. He puts doubts in the bowler's mind, so that he begins to wonder if he has bowled the wrong line and tries to bowl a little outside off stump - which Tendulkar can comfortably play through covers.
In Sydney in 2004, in the first innings he didn't play a single cover drive, and remained undefeated on 241. He decided to play the straight drive and flicks, so he made the bowlers pitch to his strengths. It is not easy. In the Test before that, in Melbourne, he had got out trying to flick. After that when we had a chat he said he was getting out playing the cover drive and the next game he would avoid the cover drive. I thought he was joking because nobody cannot not play the cover drive - doesn't matter if you are connecting or not. I realised he was serious in Sydney when he was on about 180-odd and he had missed plenty of opportunities to play a cover drive. I was stunned.
Ability to bat in different gears
This is one aspect of batting I have always discussed with Tendulkar: how he controls his game; the way he can change gears after scoring a half-century. Suddenly he scores 10-12 runs an over, or maybe a quick 30 runs in five overs, and then again slows down and paces his innings.
He has maintained that it all depends on the team's position. If you are in a good position you tend to play faster. He also pointed out that the batsman must always think about what can happen if he gets out and the consequences for the team. The best example is the knock of 175. I was confident he would pull it off for India and he almost did.
Building on an innings
I learned from Tendulkar how to get big hundreds. He told me early on that once you get a hundred you are satisfied for yourself. But it is also the best time to convert that into a bigger score for the team because then the team will be in a good position.
If you look at my centuries they have always been big. A good instance of this was in Multan in 2004, when he told me I had given away a good position in Melbourne (195) the previous year and the team lost, and I needed to keep that in mind against Pakistan. In Multan, in the first hundred of the triple century I had hit a few sixes. He walked up to me after I reached the century and said he would slap me if I hit any further sixes. I said why. He said that if I tried hitting a six and got out the team would lose the control over the game, and I needed to bat through the day. So I didn't hit a single six till I reached 295. By then India were 500-plus and I told him I was going to hit a six!
Dedication
This is the most important aspect of his success. In his life cricket comes first. When he is on tour he is thinking about nothing but cricket, and when he is not on tour he dedicates quality time to his family. That shows his dedication to the game and to his family. He has found the right balance.

DEPRECIATION – A SOURCE OF FUND OR NOT?

Arguments in favour of considering it as a source of fund
1. Depreciation is considered as an expired cost. It is included within cost of goods sold. It is an allocated cost which is realised when goods / assets are sold. If sale of an asset is considered as a source of fund, depreciation should also be treated as a source of fund.
2. When fund from operations is found out, depreciation is added back with that.
3. Depreciation does not cause any outflow of cash. Naturally, current assets increase; the working capital also increases. If working capital is considered as a fund, depreciation causes its addition. So, it is a source of fund.
Arguments in favour of not considering depreciation as a source of fund
1. Depreciation is an expense. No other expense is considered as a source of fund. So, it cannot be the solitary exception.
2. Depreciation may be considered as a recovery of capital cost allocated over years. If depreciation is deemed to flow back into the business that cannot cause any inflow of cash. As such, it is never a source of fund.
3. It is added back with fund from operations because the profits taken there are calculated after deducting depreciation. The subsequent addition compensates for the deduction already made. It is an internal adjustment which does not enhance ‘fund’.
4. A concern suffering from paucity of fund cannot solve that by charging more depreciation. It cannot establish itself as a source of fund.
5. There may be no sale or no profit in a year. Still depreciation has to be matched. In that year it cannot be said that fund has been generated through depreciation.
6. Even if there is a sale of any depreciable asset, that cannot be technically considered as a source of fund. It is the amount recovered against capital outlay. So, depreciation is a tool in the process of recovery of capital.
Conclusion: Depreciation is a process of allocation of cost. It cannot be a source of fund. At best by charging adequate depreciation, the taxable profit may be legally reduced. The tax burden may be reduced. It may help to conserve working capital. It may indirectly regulate the fund position but cannot increase funds.

Fire Walk for employees.- New HR technique

With many out of the box initiatives undertaken by organizations to help their employee address issues arising out of stress at the workplace, the latest stress busting measure that HR is resorting to boost morale, say experts, will help ‘ignite’ employees’ true potential quite literally. Walking on fire as an HR initiative, is gaining immense prominence at the workplace.
We create impossible situations through our mental blocks. This program hammers out those blocks and makes the mind more stable, erases fear and helps take more practical decisions.
Enough has been said and discussed about the ongoing situation and its impact on productivity of employees worldwide. Also, it’s known fact that the current economic situation has thrown a lot of challenges at employers and employees alike. This has led to increased stress levels and added immense pressure on employees for they are expected to deliver more in the presence of less resources. Hence, in an endeavour to address issues arising out of increased stress levels among employees, organizations are leaving no stone unturned to ensure that their employees are able to keep stress at bay and productivity levels high. Amongst the many initiatives undertaken by HR departments across organizations, one very unique and new initiative gaining grounds, is the concepts of making employees ‘walk on fire’ a concept propagated by PS Rathore, a behavioural trainer and philanthropist. Is this for real? Well, it is, say experts and the advantages derived out of this practice promises to have a positive impact on the productivity and efficiency of employees. And hence, in a quest to achieve just that, many companies are encouraging their employees to experience this out of the box concept and derive maximum benefit out of it.
So, what does this entail an employee to do? As the name suggests, it expects the employee to do just that – walk on fire. Fire – walking is the act of walking barefoot over a bed of hot embers or stones. It has a long history in many cultures as a test or proof of faith and is also used in modern motivational seminars and fund-raising events as a self empowering, motivational activity. There is a lot of fear in our minds. The kind of result we obtain depends on the way we think and how we behave. We are empowered with lots of energy and power within ourselves and once we realize that power, every fear fades away and success becomes achievable. Talking about how his organization came up with the idea of getting their employees experience this unique exercise. HR Head saint Gobain says, ‘We had started our new business vertical in India with new product lines. At that time, employees were subjected to a lot of pressure due to added responsibilities they had to shoulder, in a quest to attain superior delivery. It was important to make, employees acquaint with this concept and imbibe in them the need to understand that success, under stressful times, can be achieved through self confidence and persistence’.
This concept is entirely different as opposed to the other forms of stress busting techniques that exist. It is fun filled, interactive and interesting and gives you a sense of tranquillity. Towards the end of the day, one feels more rejuvenated and self-reliant about one’s skills and self. So, how has this initiative helped people fight stress and made them feel more confident about themselves? A few endeavours may seem difficult at the workplace, but when you actually attempt it, you may find them easy. The fire walk too seems to be impossible at the start, but then the misconception gets shattered eventually. Our employees are more confident of themselves now. They have grown more competent and are more interested to work with the best of their efforts to get the best of their output. Individual and company goals seem to run hand in hand in the minds all employees.
We create impossible situations through our mental blocks. This program hammers out those blocks and makes the mind more stable, erases fear and helps take more practical decisions. We can certainly challenge ourselves and break our limits. We need to find out our real potential and the power hidden inside. Once we do it, we can perform well in ways more than one. We make the participants focus and concentrate on the mission are targeting. This requires patience and concentration. On completion of the seminar, the participants gain confidence, patience and become more goal oriented.
The increasing popularity of this concept and says, people keep harbouring guilt about relationships, financial problems, health issues etc. But the fact is that all guilt must be eliminated if we want to realize our true potential. Strong conviction and guilt make uneasy companions. We work for the complete transformation of individuals that includes the acceptance of accountability and responsibility.
So if you feel that stress at work or home is taking is toll on you, go ahead and experience this mind boggling exercise of walking on fire and unleash the power within you.

Happy Diwali 2009

With gleam of innumerable lights of Diwali
And the Echo of the Chants
May Happiness and Contentment Fill Your life
Wishing you a very happy and prosperous Diwali!!

Win / Win situation

The idea is in thyself. The impediment, too, is in thyself.
- Thomas Carlyle

Win / Win is a frame of mind and heart that constantly seek mutual benefit in all human interaction. Win/Win means that the agreements or solutions are mutually beneficial, mutually satisfying. With a Win / Win solution, all parties feel good about the decision and feel committed to the action plan. Win / Win sees life as a cooperative and not a competitive arena. Most people tend to think in terms of dichotomies:
Strong or weak, win or lose. But that kind of thinking is fundamentally flawed. It is based on power and position rather than on principle. Win / Win is based on the model that there is plenty for everybody, that one person’s success is not achieved at the expenses or exclusion of the success of others. Win / Win is a belief in the Third Alternative. It is not your way or my way; it is a better way, a higher way.
If individuals do not come up with a synergistic solution one that was agreeable to both they can go for an even higher expression of Win / Win or no Deal.
No deal basically means that if we cannot find a solution that would benefit both of us, we agree to disagree agreeably – No Deal. No expectations have been created, no performance contracts established.
We do not take on a particular assignment together because it is obvious that our values or our goals are going in opposite direction. The Win / Win or No Deal approach is most realistic at the beginning of a business relationship or enterprise. In a continuing business relationship, No Deal may not be a viable option, which can create serious problems, especially for family business or businesses that are begun initially on the basis of friendship.
In every Win / Win agreement, the following five elements should be made very explicit:
Desired results: To identify what is to be done and when.
Guidelines: To specify the parameters (principles, policies, etc) within which results are to be accomplished.
Resources: To identify the human, financial, technical, or organizational support available to help accomplish the results.
Accountability: To set up the standards of performance and the time of evaluation.
Consequences: To specify – good and bad, natural and logical – What does and will happen as a result of the evaluation. These five elements give Win / Win agreements a life of their own.
Seek First to Understanding, then to be understood.
This habit, seek first to understand then to be understood is the key to effective interpersonal communication.
Communication is the most important skill in life. People spent years learning how to read, write and speak, but what about listening? What training or education one has that enables him to listen so that he really understands deeply another human being from that individual’s own frame of reference?
Technique alone cannot help in being effective in the habit of interpersonal communication because technique can be sensed as duplicated and manipulated. We typically seek first to be understood. Most people do not listen with the intent to understand, they listen with an intention to reply. They are either speaking or preparing to speak or reading their autobiography into other people’s lives.
To be effective one has to build the skills of emphatic listening (from empathy). Empathic listening is not active listening or reflective listening, which basically involves mimicking what another person says. Empathic listening means listening with an intention to understand to really understand.
Empathic listening gets inside another person’s frame of reference. You look out through it, you see the world the way they see the world, you understand their point of view, you understand how they feel.
Empathic listening is so powerful because it gives you accurate data to work with. Instead of projecting your own autobiography and assuming thoughts, feelings, motives, and interpretation, you are dealing with the reality inside another person’s head and heart. You are listening to understand. You are focused on receiving the deep, communication of another human soul.
The habit, seek first to understand, then to be understood is very critical in reaching win /win solutions. Seeking to understand requires consideration; seeking to be understood takes courage. Win/Win requires a high degree of both.

Tips for Job Interview

Interviewing for a job is a very stressful and difficult process Here are nine secrets to consider.



1. Discover what you really want out of your work and life. Discover your true passions, desires, beliefs, and talents so that you can paint a picture of your true work and life goals, from your own perspective.



2. Develop and define the job you really want.That"s right! Design and define the job that will allow you to fulfill your passions, desires, and beliefs and maximize your talents. What you are doing is building your ideal job around what you want as opposed to looking at job opportunities that come along to evaluate. Believe it or not, your ideal job actually exits in more than one way and within the personal parameters you set.



3. Find out what companies have positions that meet your ideal position requirements. Look at and research all of the possible companies within the geographical area you designated to discover what positions within these companies you would want. Do not worry about whether they have job vacancies or are in a hiring mode.



4. Evaluate the companies that have your desired jobs. Make sure you would want to work for the companies that have your ideal jobs. They need to have integrity and treat their employees and customers in the manner you would want to be treated. Determine whether they operate in an industry that you want to work in.



5. Research the companies you selected.Once again, do not be put off or discouraged if the companies are not hiring. Why? Because companies are always looking for the right employees and will have to eventually hire new employees to survive. Determine who actually makes hiring decisions, and what is important to them. Many companies disguise this information through HR departments or hiring committees. If possible, try to find out how you can contact hiring decision-makers directly. Get their e-mail addresses, direct telephone numbers, or find someone in the company who can be a liaison for you.



6. Contact the decision-makers and tell them you want to work for them in the specific jobs you chose. Express your enthusiasm for that specific job or jobs. The fewer jobs you designate the better. You want them to know you can be trusted by truthfully exposing your commitment to seeking your dream job, even though they may not have an opening. You are, in essence, recruiting them to work in your dream job. Let them know that you will be very productive because you will excel at the job, and also that you will be a very grateful and energetic employee because you are doing what you love. You are not just asking for a job so they will pay you, but you have targeted a specific job at that company, and you are committed to contributing in that position.



7. Ask them if there are any special skills or qualifications you will need to be accepted in the position. If you do not have the sought-after skills and qualifications for the job, either find a way to get them beforehand or see if you can attain them within the company as an employee. This approach directs attention to what the employer wants and away from your resume compared to others" resumes. It will also show them your commitment to attaining that job. Stay in contact to alert employers of your new skills, qualifications, and continued interest.



8. If necessary, be willing to take an interim job. This way you can work on the required skills and qualifications, and you can obtain an income while you prepare for the job. You will also be in a better position to take your dream job when it becomes available.



9. Get support from somebody during the process. Some of the secret steps discussed above will probably appear to be daunting to you, which is to be expected. Enlist the help of another person to discuss all of the above steps and to map out the best strategy to get your ideal job. This person should be a trusted and strong supporter of your goal, as well as someone who will offer you another perspective to assist in the execution of your plan. Getting your ideal job is an extremely important objective, and it is worth enlisting the help of someone to actually get it.



Final Thoughts
Employers constantly face the problem of finding and surrounding themselves with the right employees who want to work for them, whom they can trust, and who will be very productive with the least amount of supervision. You will definitely get their attention, when you recruit employers for the specific job you chose, because of your honesty, your commitment, your enthusiasm, and your desire to produce for them. In fact, you may even appear to be too good to be true.


Many times the people who are filling the jobs that you want are not happy in the position. They are not producing or are causing other problems for the employers. Your request for employment for these specific jobs will give employers an option that they only dream about.

What determines how angry we get?

Deterioration of mental retention is only a part of it. Your eyes misread a sudden urge of violence...not being able to hold it together...A mutiny is on...the crew no longer obeys the captain. It’s sheer anarchy.

Aggression is defined as: “the first act of hostility or injury.” But why do people become aggressive? It is the thirst for power, money, authority, or simply the desire to intimidate others?

The root of aggression lies in the spirit of the suppressed when intimidated for long, when stripped of basic rights, when denied liberty, when made to feel unheard.

Intolerance is another reason for harbouring resentment. We, as a society are very emotional. Take for instance, our common method of conducting protest rallies. They are all about burning tires, pelting stones, breaking glass of shops and restaurants. Scaring others into compliance is an achievement rather then convincing people by reason, logic and facts.

Throughout the world social psychologists have attempted to figure out what makes a man go, with savagery unmatched by even the fiercest predators. Scientists and scholars from countless diversified fields have pondered over these moot points for centuries, and have submitted contrasting explanations for the enigma of human violence.

One of the earliest explanations of aggression says that mortals aggress because it is in their nature to do so. Sigmund Freud held that aggression stems mainly from an indomitable death wish or instinct possessed by all humans.

Konrad Lorenz proposed that aggression springs mainly from an inherited fighting instinct that human beings share with many species. However, social psychologists have been inclined to repudiate the view that aggression stems from inherent tendencies.

BIOLOGICAL THEORIES: Growing evidence points to the conclusion that biological factors do predispose some individuals towards aggression. Still, existing evidence suggests that biological processes exert their impact only against a rich backdrop of social and cognitive factors.

SOCIAL LEARNING THEORY: This approach emphasizes the idea that aggression is largely learned. Studies have proven that through direct and vicarious experience, even as early as six years of age, individuals also learn (a) which persons or groups are appropriate targets for aggression, (b) what actions by others either justify or actually require aggressive retaliation, and (c) what situations or contexts are ones in which aggression is appropriate or inappropriate.

COGNITIVE THEORIES OF AGGRESSION: Imagine being stuck in a traffic jam. A motorcyclist suddenly rams into the bumper of your car. How do you react? Certainly with surprise and a feeling of agitation. But do you retaliate in kind; reversing your car and bumping into the motorbike? Or do you swallow your annoyance and proceed? Obviously, this depends on numerous factors; how big a dent your car received etc.

According to several theories of aggression, cognitive factors play a crucial role in determining how you react. One cognitive factor that will influence your behaviour is your interpretation of the situation — your appraisal of why the motorcyclist bumped into your car. Did he do it on purpose? Was it totally an accident? Finally, it’s important to consider your current mood. Aversive experiences produce negative effects.

In sum, cognitive theories of aggression suggest that such behaviour is the result of a complex interplay between our prevailing moods and experiences, the deliberation and memories these elicit and our cognitive appraisals of the current state of affairs.

SOCIAL DETERMINANTS: Reflect back to the last time you found yourself in a state of pique. What made you lose your cool? Chances are that your ire grew from the deeds of another. In fact, when asked to recount situations that made them vexed, most people refer to something another person said or did. Dollard proposed the famous aggression hypothesis on the eve of World War-II (1939). In its original form, the hypothens stated: (a) frustration always leads to some form of aggression, (b) aggression always stems from frustration.

Although, these points are appealing, existing evidence suggests that this hypothesis goes too far with respect to the importance assigned to frustration. Social psychologists believe that frustration is simply one of the many factors that can lead to aggression. Aggression is often a direct result of physical or verbal provocation from others.

And then there are classes of aggression.

INDIVIDUAL AGGRESSION: A spouse beating up his wife; a boss intimidating his employee.

SOCIAL AGGRESSION: A certain sect of a community holding a prejudice against and acting out on it towards a different sect.

STATE AGGRESSION: A powerful state, aggressing through the use of its armed forces against the sovereignty, territorial or political independence of another not-so-powerful state.

Now, one should even consider the difference between being competitively aggressive and destructively aggressive. Being aggressive in ones attitude towards grooming creative or positive instincts results in higher achievements. It is therefore, believed that the distinction is crucial.

Since, there is a tendency for the line of distinction between the two to blur — we should be clear. Major difficulty still remains with respect to the question: how far does the spirit of competitive aggression extends before it reaches the threshold of destructive aggression?

Social Psychologists state that there are two types of aggression.

HOSTILE: In this, the prime objective is inflicting some kind of harm on the victim.

INSTRUMENTAL: A person performs this sort of aggression not to harm someone but to attain other goals, such as control of valued resources or praise from others for behaving in a tough manner.

PREVENTING AGGRESSION: Several ideas have been proposed. Firstly removing all iniquity from the scene; reducing the feelings of isolation, recognizing others rights.

Then in different situations punishment may need to be implemented as an effective deterrent to aggression. Punishment administered should be in accordance with the basic principals. It should at least appear to be justified. Depending upon the circumstances, the punishment must be prompt. It should also be certain and strong. The resulting unpleasantness should have a sufficient magnitude with which it affects the potential recipient.

When pugnacity thrives, senses lose acuity. One becomes shortsighted and deaf. Logic feels its comfortable identity lurching and swaying under the impact of aggression. Targeting others with aggression may bestow one with sensation of delegation. But aggression culminates in retaliation. And when retaliation takes the form of belligerence, then one can only cogitate how well the aggressor resolves is to deal with consequences of his actions!

How often we wish.......

How often we wish for another chance
To make a fresh beginning.

A change to blot out our mistakes.
And change failure into winning.

And it does not take a special time
To make a brand-new start,
It only takes the deep desire
To try with all our heart,
To live a little better

And to always be forgiving,
To add a little sunshine
To the world in which we're living.

So never give up in despair
And think that you are through,
For there's always a tomorrow
And a chance to start anew.

Who passed away?

One day all the employees reached the office and they
saw a big notice on the door on which it was written:
"Yesterday the person who has been hindering your
growth in this company passed away. We invite you to
join the funeral in the room that has been prepared in
the gym".

In the beginning, they all felt sad for the death of
one of their colleagues, but after a while they
started getting curious; who was that man who hindered
the growth of his colleagues and the company itself.
The excitement in the gym was such that security
guards were brought in to control the crowd within the
room. As they neared the coffin, the more the
excitement heated up. Everyone was thinking: "Who is
this guy who was hindering my progress? Well, at least
he died!"

One by one the thrilled employees got closer to the
coffin, and when they looked inside it, they suddenly
became speechless. They stood over the coffin, shocked
and in silence, as if someone had touched the deepest
part of their soul.

There was a mirror inside the coffin: everyone who
looked inside it could see himself. There was also a
sign next to the mirror that said:

There is only one person, who is capable to set limits
to your growth:

It is You.

You are the ONLY person who can revolutionize your
life.

You are the only person, who can influence your
happiness, realization and success.

You are the ONLY person who can help YOURSELF.

Your life does not change when your boss changes, when
your friends change, when your partner changes, when
your company changes. Your life changes when YOU
change, when you go beyond your limiting beliefs, when
you realize that you are the ONLY one responsible for
your life.

THE MOST IMPORTANT RELATIONSHIP YOU CAN HAVE IS THE
ONE YOU HAVE WITH YOURSELF! ".

Examine yourself. Watch yourself. Don't be afraid of
difficulties and losses: Be a WINNER, Build Yourself
and Your Reality.

The world is like a Mirror. It gives back to anyone
the reflection of the thoughts in which one has
strongly believed.

The world and your reality are like mirrors lying in a
coffin, which show to any individual the death of his
divine capability to imagine and create his happiness
and his success.

It's the way you face Life that makes the difference.

Always in life an idea ...

Always in life an idea starts small, it is only a sapling idea, but the vines will come and they will try to choke your idea so it cannot grow and it will die and you will never know you had a big idea, an idea so big it could have grown thirty meters through the dark canopy of leaves and touched the face of the sky.

The vines are people who are afraid of originality, of new thinking. Most people you encounter will be vines; when you are a young plant they are very dangerous.

Always listen to yourself, It is better to be wrong than simply to follow convention. If you are wrong, no matter, you have learned something and you grow stronger. If you are right, you have taken another step toward a fulfilling life.

Bryce Courtenay
Source: Power of One, Page: 157

Believe in Yourself
There may be days when you get up in the morning and things aren't the way you had hoped they would be.
That's when you have to tell yourself that things will get better. There are times when people disappoint you and let you down.
But those are the times when you must remind yourself to trust your own judgments and opinions, to keep your life focused on believing in yourself.
There will be challenges to face and changes to make in your life, and it is up to you to accept them.
Constantly keep yourself headed in the right direction for you. It may not be easy at times, but in those times of struggle you will find a stronger sense of who you are.
So when the days come that are filled with frustration and unexpected responsibilities, remember to believe in yourself and all you want your life to be. Because the challenges and changes will only help you to find the goals that you know are meant to come true for you.
Keep Believing in Yourself.
Lessons of Life....
I feared being alone until I learned to like myself.I feared failure until I realized that I only fail when I don't try.I feared success until I realized that I had to try in order to be happy with myself.I feared people's opinions until I learned that people would have opinions about me anyway.I feared rejection until I learned to have faith in myself.I feared pain until I learned that it's necessary for growth.I feared the truth until I saw the ugliness in lies.I feared life until I experienced its beauty.I feared death until I realized that it's not an end, but a beginning.I feared my destiny, until I realized that I had the power to change my life.I feared hate until I saw that it was nothing more than ignorance.I feared love until it touched my heart, making the darkness fade into endless sunny days
I feared ridicule until I learned how to laugh at myself.I feared growing old until I realized that I gained wisdom every day.I feared the future until I realized that life just kept getting better.

If there were ever a time to dare...

If there were ever a time to dare, to make a difference, to embark on something worth doing, it is now.
Not for any grand cause, necessarily- but for something that tugs at your heart, something that's your aspiration, something that's your dream.
You owe it to yourself to make your days here count.
Have fun.
Dig Deep.
Stretch.
Dream big.
Know, though, that things worth doing seldom come easy.
There will be good days.
There will be times when you want to turn around, pack it up, and call it quits. those times tell you that you are pushing yourself, that you are not afraid to learn by trying.
Persist.
Because with an idea, determination, and the right tools, you can do great things.
Let your instincts, your intellect, and your heart guide you.
Trust.
Believe in the incredible power of the human mind.
Of doing something that makes a difference.
Of working hard.
Of laughing and hoping.
Of lazy afternoons.
Of lasting friends.
Of all the things that will cross your path this year.
The start of something new brings the hope of something great.
Anything is possible.
There is only one you.
And you will pass this way only once.

Thank you God !

I dreamt that I went to Heaven and an angel was
showing me around. We
walked side-by-side inside a large workroom
filled with angels.

My angel guide stopped in front of the first
section and said, "This
is the Receiving Section. Here, all petitions to
God said in prayer
are received."

I looked around in this area, and it was
terribly busy with so many
angels sorting out petitions written on
voluminous paper sheets and
scraps from people all over the world.

Then we moved on down a long corridor until we
reached the second section.
The angel then said to me, "This is the
Packaging and Delivery
Section. Here, the graces and blessings the
people asked for are
processed and delivered to the living persons
who asked for them."


I noticed again how busy it was there.

There were many angels working hard at that
station, since so many
blessings had been requested and were being
packaged for delivery to
Earth.
Finally at the farthest end of the long
corridor, we stopped at the
door of a very small station. To my great
surprise, only one angel was
seated there, idly doing nothing. "This is the
Acknowledgment
Section," my angel friend quietly admitted to
me. He seemed
embarrassed "How is it that there's no work
going on here?" I asked.

"So sad," the angel sighed. "After people
receive the blessings that
they asked for, very few send back
acknowledgments.

"How does one acknowledge God's blessings?" I
asked.

"Simple," the angel answered.

"Just say, "Thank you, God”.

"What blessings should they acknowledge?" I
asked.


"If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes
on your back, a roof
overhead and a place to sleep, you are richer
than 75% of this world.
If you have money in the bank, in your wallet,
and spare change in a
dish, you are among the top 8% of the world's
wealthy."

"And if you get this on your own computer, you
are part of the 1% in
the world who has that opportunity."



Also..."If you woke up this morning with more
health than illness
.... You are more blessed than the many who will
not even survive this
day.

"If you have never experienced the fear in
battle, the loneliness of
imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs
of starvation. You
are ahead of 700 million people in the world."

"If you can attend a prayer meeting without the
fear of harassment,
arrest, torture or death you are envied by, and
more blessed than,
three billion people in the world."

If you can hold your head up and smile, you are
not the norm, you're
unique to all those in doubt and despair."

Ok, what now? How can I start?
If you can read this message, you just received
a double blessing in
that someone was thinking of you as very special
and you are more
blessed than over two billion people in the
world who cannot read at
all.

Have a good day, count your blessings, and if
you want, pass this
along to remind everyone else how blessed we all
are.

Attn: Acknowledgment Dept:
Thank You God! Thank you God, for giving me the
ability to share this
message and for giving me so many wonderful
people to share it with".

Self Management

You are responsible for everything that happens in your life. Learn to accept total responsibility for yourself. If you do not manage yourself, then you are letting others have control of your Life. These tips will help "you" manage "you."

Here is a list of things that help you in self management and which will in turn lead you to the path of success: -

-) Look at every new opportunity as an exciting and new-life experience.

-) Be a professional who exhibits self-confidence and self-assurance in your potential to complete any task.

-) Agree with yourself in advance that you will have a good attitude toward the upcoming task.

-) Frequently ask, "Is what I am doing right now moving me toward my goals?"

-) Do it right the first time and you will not have to take time later to fix it.

-) Accept responsibility for your job successes and failures. Do not look for a scapegoat.

-) Do not view things you do as a "job." View all activities as a challenge.

-) Use your subconscious mind by telling it to do what you do want. Instead of telling yourself, "I can't do that very well," say, "I can do this very well."-) Give yourself points for completing tasks on your "to-do" list in priority order. When you reach 10 points, reward yourself.

-) Practice your personal beliefs. It may be helpful each morning to take 15 minutes to gather your thoughts and say a prayer.

-) Make a commitment to show someone a specific accomplishment on a certain date. The added urgency will help you feel motivated to have it done.

-) Practice self-determination, wanting to do it for yourself.

-) Believe that you can be what you want to be.

-) Never criticize yourself as having a weakness. There is no such thing. You are only talking about a present undeveloped skill or part of yourself that if you so chose, you can change. You do not have any weakness, only untapped potential.

-) Be pleasant all the time-no matter what the situation.

-) Challenge yourself to do things differently than you have in the past. It provides new ideas and keeps you interested.

-) Talk to yourself. A self-talk using positive affirmation is something that is common among all great achievers. They convince themselves that they can accomplish their goals.

-) Create your own "motivation board" by putting up notes of things you need to do on a bulletin board or special wall space. It is an easily visible way to see what you need to work on. When an item is done, remove the note. Also keep your goals listed and pictured on your board.

-) Stay interested in what you are doing. Keep looking for what is interesting in your work. Change your perspective and look at it as someone outside your job would,

-) Establish personal incentives and rewards to help maintain your own high enthusiasm and performance level.

Worry

Worry has been described as "interest paid on trouble before it comes due." One of America's worst enemies is worry. Worry is like a rocking chair; it requires a lot of energy, and it gets you nowhere. Leo Buscaglia said, "Worry never robs tomorrow of its sorrow, it only saps today of its joy."
Question: Are you a worrier? Americans take more pills to forget more worries about more things than ever before and more than people in any other nation in history. That's bad. According to Dr. Charles Mayo, "Worry affects the circulation and the whole nervous system. I've never known a man who died from overwork, but I've known many who have died from doubt." Doubt always creates worry, and in most cases, lack of information raises the doubt.
Life is much like Christmas. You're more apt to get what you expect than what you want.
Mathematically speaking, it really doesn't make sense to worry. Psychologists and other researchers tell us that roughly 40 percent of what we worry about will never happen and 30 percent has already happened. Additionally, 12 percent of our worries are over unfounded health concerns. Another 10 percent of our worries involve the daily miscellaneous fretting that accomplishes nothing. That leaves only 8 percent. Plainly speaking, we are worrying 92 percent of the time for no good reason, and if Dr. Mayo is right, it's killing us.
One solution that will reduce your worry is this: Don't worry about what you can't change. Example: For a number of years I've flown in excess of 200,000 miles a year. On occasion, flights are canceled or delayed. As I write this, I'm sitting on the runway waiting for my gate to clear. If I worry or get angry, nothing will change. If I take constructive action and finish this article, I'm ahead of the game. That's a positive way to use the energy that I would have wasted on anger, frustration, or worrying.
The message is clear: If you don't like your situation in life, don't fret or worry--do something about it. Worry less, and act more.

Your Brain Bank

How often had I NOT sought an opportunity because (by my
standards) that wasn't who I was? How much had I missed out
on because of my rigid view of myself?

David J. Schwartz, in his book, "The Magic Of Thinking Big"
provides a beautiful illustration of what we do to ourselves.
He explains that a lack of confidence can be traced directly
to our mis-managed memory.

Imagine that your brain is like a bank. Every day you make
thought deposits in your "mind bank". These thought deposits
grow and become your memory. When you settle down to think
or when you face a problem, in effect you say to your memory
bank, "What do I already know about this?"

Your memory bank automatically answers and supplies you with
information relating to this situation that you deposited on
previous occasions. Your memory is the supplier of material
for your new thought.

The teller in your memory bank is tremendously reliable.
He never crosses you up. If you approach him and say,
"Mr. Teller, let me draw some thoughts I deposited in the
past proving I'm inferior to just about everybody else,"
he'll say, "Certainly".

Recall how you failed two times previously when you tried
this? Recall what your 6th grade teacher told you about your
inability to accomplish things. Recall what you overheard
some fellow workers saying about you and on and on Mr. Teller
goes, digging out of your brain thought after thought that
proves you inadequate.

But suppose you visit your memory teller with this request,
"Mr. Teller, I face a difficult decision. Can you supply me
with any thoughts that will give me reassurance?"

And again, Mr. Teller says, "Certainly," but this time he
delivers thoughts you deposited earlier that say you can
succeed. "Recall the excellent job you did on a similar
situations before. Recall how much confidence Ms. Smith placed
in you. Recall what your good friends said about
you. Recall."

Mr. Teller, perfectly responsive, lets you withdraw the
thought deposits you want to withdraw. After all, it is
YOUR bank.

Shifting our thoughts from who we think we are to who we truly
could be provokes limitless possibilities. Envision the deep
growth and change that could transpire with your new view of
your self.

What if you allowed your mind to serve you rather then rule you?

Change who you think you are - and change your life

Improving your personal productivity

Here are 50 time-tested ways of improving your personal productivity. Check off those ideas that make sense to you, and yet are not currently being practiced.

1. Put your personal and organizational goals in writing.

2. Every week do something that brings you closer to your annual goals.

3. Schedule appointments with yourself to complete priority work.

4. Schedule more time for tasks than you think it will take.

5. Set priorities according to importance, not urgency.

6. Make notes while you are talking on the telephone.

7. Use a Delegation Record or Assignment Record to keep track of assignments to others.

8. Develop the do it now habit. Don’t procrastinate.

9. Have meetings start on time, end on time and have a timed agenda.

10. Take advantage of commute time, travel time and waiting time to get things done.

11. Toss out as much correspondence and paperwork as possible.

12. Don’t write when a telephone call will do.

13. Make minor decisions quickly.

14. Set deadlines on all tasks you delegate.

15. Be time conscious rather than a perfectionist. Let the amount of time spent on a task be proportionate to the value of the outcome.

16. Hold meetings only when absolutely necessary, and keep them brief.

17. Keep telephone conversations brief; discuss the business up front.

18. Write brief letters, reports and email. Encourage brevity in others.

19. When a crisis occurs, immediately determine how to stop a recurrence.

20. Say “no” more often. Have as much respect for your own time as you
have for other people’s time.

21. Don’t keep shuffling papers; handle each item only once whenever possible. Do it, scrap it, file it, delegate it or schedule a time to do it later.

22. Use a follow-up file to hold paperwork relating to scheduled tasks.

23. Use a Participant’s Action Sheet at meetings to record notes.

24. Take advantage of timesaving technology such as handheld computers, business card scanners, remote access software and Paper Tiger software.

25. Don’t allow upward delegation. Ask for solutions, not problems.

26. Start earlier in the morning. Utilize your prime time for priorities.

27. Don’t keep magazines. Tear out or photocopy relevant articles.

28. Plan as far in advance as feasible.

29. Record the whole year’s schedule of meetings, events etc. into your planner.

30. Always carry a small scratch pad, pocket recorder or handheld computer to record notes and capture ideas.

31. Use the same planner for home and office. Schedule time for family
events as well as work.

32. Be in control of your own life; don’t let others’ lack of planning become your crisis.

33. Have set times each day to review your email. Assign a time limit.

34. Always take a few minutes after each meeting to evaluate how it went.

35. If someone calls for an appointment, try to settle the matter right then on the telephone.

36. When leaving a message for someone to call you back, indicate a convenient time to call.

37. If the person you’re calling is not in, try to get the information you need from someone else.

38. Record the time you must leave the office when traveling to a distant meeting.

39. If items dropped in your in basket distract you, move the basket from your desk.

40. When away on a business trip have someone else sort and dispense
with most of your mail.

41. To reduce interruptions during the day, hold brief standup meetings with
your staff each morning.

42. When filing paperwork, record a throw out date on it to make subsequent purging easier.

43. Schedule specific amounts of time to review and dispense with your mail and voice mail.

44. Hold brief breakfast meetings when most people are mentally alert and have a full day to take action.

45. Capture ideas when listening to cassette tapes or CDs by dictating into a pocket recorder.

46. Use checklists for recurring events such as meetings, sales calls, and business trips.

47. Spend time each week on time investments – those activities that will help you free up more time.

48. When putting something in your follow-up file, make a corresponding note in your planner that tells you it’s there.

49. Recognize you can’t do everything. Work on the 20% of the activities that produce 80% of your results.

50. Manage stress by putting life in perspective, and not taking yourself too seriously.

Negative Thinking Never Helps

I've never had someone come up to me and say, "I'm always
negative and it's working out great for me. I can't wait to
get up in the morning!" And yet, positive thinking still has
its skeptics.

Some people tell me that positive thinking doesn't work or
that it's "unrealistic," especially in today's turbulent
world.

"Look around you," they say. "How can you be so positive?"
Well, let me ask you this: can the world be lifted out of
negativity by adding MORE negativity?

The truth is, there are certain things that negative
thinking will do for you. It will make you sick. It will
make you very unpleasant to be around. And, it will
significantly limit what you can achieve.

Let's take a closer look at why negative thinking doesn't
serve us. For starters, we all operate under the Law of
Dominant Thought. Simply stated, we're always moving in the
direction of our dominant thoughts.

Most of us have heard about the "self-fulfilling prophecy" -
that we get what we expect in life. Expect negative results
and, sure enough, you'll produce negative results.

As I'm sure you've found, negative thinking also causes you
to feel more stress and to have less energy. Scientific
studies have demonstrated that negativity weakens your
immune system. How many times have you gotten sick during a
stressful period in your life?

If you're still not convinced about the effects of being
negative, take out a sheet of paper and write down your list
of all the benefits you're getting from negative thinking. I
think your list is going to be very short, if you come up
with anything at all.

Let me make an important distinction here. It's quite
natural for a person to feel sad in response to a tragedy or
the death of a loved one. There's a period of loss and
grieving that differs for each individual, and we don't
expect a grief stricken person to be positive in the short
run.

However, even a person in that situation will not be served
by holding onto their negative thoughts indefinitely. (By
the way, if you've suffered some trauma or have had a
difficult time releasing negative thinking, by all means get
counseling. That's not a sign of weakness. It's a
constructive step to help you move forward in your life.)

Doing What Comes Naturally

From everything I've observed, babies are naturally
positive. They're usually smiling and seem to be enjoying
life. I haven't met any negative, frowning babies. That's
why I don't buy the argument that negative thinking is just
natural.

Those who think negatively do so out of habit. They have
conditioned themselves to think that way. In Western
societies in particular, we've developed the tendency to
focus on minor irritations, even though these annoyances are
only a tiny part of our overall lives. We tend to focus on
the 5% of our lives that are going "wrong"... instead of the
95% going well.

We'll sigh and tell everyone about the traffic jam or flat
tire on the way to work. Yet, we'll never comment about the
miracle of our existence - the billions of cells in our body
that somehow allow our brain to function, our heart to pump
blood or our eyes to see.

We don't appreciate that we have enough food to eat or that
we have a roof over our heads, while there are millions of
people who don't have these gifts. It's no wonder that so
many people think negatively.

The newspaper is filled with negative news. Television and
radio reports dwell on tragedies and crimes. How often do
you read or hear about people helping each other or doing
something positive? Hardly ever. If you do nothing to
counteract this bombardment of negativity, you're going to
think negatively.

At any time, however, you could take control of this
situation. You could stop watching and listening to all of
the negative news and read something positive instead. You
could limit your contact with "toxic" people and make sure
your life is filled with positive inputs.

If you did that, your "natural" inclination would switch and
you'd begin to think positively.

Quick Mental Exercises

I'll show you that you have much more control over your
thinking than you might believe. Try this experiment. Right
now, think about your favorite movie. You might even get a
picture in your mind of your favorite scene in that movie.

Now, let's think about your favorite meal. What is it? A
fresh salad ... a juicy steak ... grilled salmon? Whatever
it is, just think about it. Now that your mouth is watering,
let's move on. Think about being out in a snowstorm, with
two feet of snow on the ground. Can you see the snow and
feel the cold on your toes?

In each case, you were able to control what you thought
about. You could shift your thinking in an instant. It has
been said that positive thinking is harmful because
optimistic people ignore things that can go wrong or are
easily duped and taken advantage of.

In other words, if you expect the sun to be shining all the
time, you're just naive and are sure to be disappointed. But
positive thinking doesn't mean that you ignore reality or
refuse to consider the obstacles that might arise. On the
contrary, the positive person expects a positive outcome but
prepares for overcoming obstacles.

For example, if a positive person is planning an outdoor
wedding, he or she won't use the power of positive thinking
to make sure it doesn't rain on the big day. Rather, a
positive person is prepared with contingency plans, focusing
on things that she can directly control, such as having a
tent available in case it does rain.

By this point, I hope that you're receptive to the idea that
negative thinking won't help us. So, the question is: how
can we change our thinking to become more positive? The
answer, simply stated, is that you must change what goes
into your mind every day.

Start by eliminating as many of the negative inputs as
possible. While you can listen to the news for a few minutes
to catch the important headlines, there is no need to hear
reports of the same murders and bombings over and over each
day. At the same time, replace the negative inputs with
positive stimuli.

Read positive materials on a daily basis. Listen to positive
audio tapes or CDs, or to music that inspires or relaxes
you.

Here's another technique: monitor your everyday language.
When you find yourself beginning to complain or talk
negatively, switch immediately to something positive. Say
something like, "I really have so much to be grateful for"
and start listing some of those things.

Condition yourself to focus on constructive solutions to
challenges, rather than harping on problems or fretting
about things outside of your control. Make a commitment for
the next 30 days. Think about what you want instead of what
you don't want.

Think about what you're grateful for rather than what you
believe is missing in your life. Saturate your mind with the
positive. After 30 days, you can then decide whether to keep
focusing on the positive or to revert to your negative
thinking pattern. I think I know which one you'll choose!

-- Jeff Keller

ANYWAY

People are often unreasonable, illogical
And self-centered;
Forgive them anyway

If you are kind, people may accuse you
Of selfish, ulterior motives,
Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some
False friends and some true enemies;
Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and frank,
People may cheat you:
Be honest and frank anyway.

What you spend years building,
Someone could destroy overnight:
Build anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness,
They may be jealous;
Be happy anyway.

The good you do today,
People will often forget tomorrow;
Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have,
And it may never be enough;
Give the world the best you've got anyway.

You see, in the final analysis,
It is between you and God;
It was never between you and them anyway.

-

Mother Teresa

200 IDEAS TO IMPROVE YOUR LIFE

200 IDEAS TO IMPROVE YOUR LIFE

1
Sleep less. This is one of the best investments you can make to make your life more productive and rewarding. Most people do not need more than 6 hours to maintain an excellent state of health. Try getting up one hour earlier for 3-4 weeks and it will develop into a powerful habit. Remember, it is the quality not the quantity of sleep that is important. And just imagine having an extra 30 hours a month to spend on the things that are important to you.
2
Set aside one hour every morning for personal development matters. Meditate, visualize your day, read inspirational texts to set the tone of your day, listen to motivational tapes or read great literature. Take this quiet period to vitalize and energize your spirit for the productive day ahead. Watch the sun rise once a week or be with nature. Starting the day off well is a powerful strategy for self-renewal and personal effectiveness.
3
Do not allow those things that matter the most in your life be at the mercy of activities that matter the least. Every day, take the time to ask yourself the question "is this the best use of my time and energy?" Time management is life management so guard your time with great care.
4
Remember that your expectations create your reality and life pretty much sends you what you think and expect.
5
Always answer the phone with enthusiasm in your voice and show your appreciation for the caller. Good phone manners are essential. To convey authority on the line, stand up. This will instill further confidence in your voice.
6
Throughout the day we all get inspiration and excellent ideas. Capture them. Keep a set of cards (the size of business cards; available at most stationary stores) in your wallet along with a pencil to jot down these insights. When you get home, put the ideas in a central place such as a coil notepad and review them from time to time. As noted by Oliver Wendell Holmes: "Man's mind, once stretched by a new idea, never regains its original dimensions."
7
Set aside every Sunday evening for yourself and be strongly disciplined with this habit. Use this period to plan your week, visualize your encounters and what you want to achieve, to read new materials and inspirational books, to listen to soft soothing music and to simply relax. This habit will serve as your anchor to keep you focused, motivated and effective throughout the coming week.
8
Always remember the key principle that the quality of your life is the quality of your communication. This means the way you communicate with others and, more importantly, the way you communicate with yourself. What you focus on is what you get. If you look for the positive this is what you get. This is a fundamental law of Nature.
9
Stay on purpose, not on outcome. In other words, do the task because it is what you love to do or because it will help someone or is a valuable exercise. Don't do it for the money or the recognition. Those will come naturally. This is the way of the world.
10
Laugh for five minutes in the mirror each morning. Steve Martin does. Laughter activates many beneficial chemicals within the body that place us into a very joyous state. Laughter also returns the body to a state of balance. Laughter therapy has been regularly used to heal persons with varied ailments and is a wonderful tonic for life's ills. While the average 4 year old laughs 500 times a day, the average adult is lucky to laugh 15 times a day. Revitalize the habit of laughter, it will put far more living into your life.
11
Light a candle beside you when you are reading in the evening. It is most relaxing and creates a wonderful, soothing atmosphere. Make your home an oasis from the frenzied world outside. Fill it with great music, great books and great friends.
12
To enhance your concentration and powers of focus, count your steps when you walk. This is a particularly strong technique. Take six steps while taking a long inhale, hold your breath for another six steps, and then exhale for six steps. If six steps is too long for the breaths, do whatever you feel comfortable with. You will feel very alert, refreshed, internally quiet and centered after this exercise. So many people allow their minds to be filled with mental chatter. All peak performers appreciate the power of a quiet, clear mind which will concentrate steadily on all important tasks.


13
Learn to meditate effectively. The mind is naturally a very noisy machine which wants to move from one subject to another like an unchained monkey. One must learn to restrain and discipline it if one is to achieve anything of substance and to be peaceful. Meditation for twenty minutes in the morning and twenty minutes in the evening will certainly provide you with exceptional results if regularly practiced for six months. Learned sages of the East have been advancing the many benefits of meditation for over 5000 years.
14
Learn to be still. The average person doesn't spend even 30 minutes a month in total silence and tranquility. Develop the skill of sitting quietly, enjoying the powerful silence for at least ten minutes a day. Simply think about what is important to you in your life. Reflect on your mission. Silence indeed is golden. As the Zen master once said, it is the space between the bars that holds the cage.
15
Enhance your will-power; it is likely one of the best training programs you can invest in. All elite performers have high levels of self-discipline. Here are some ideas to strengthen your will and become a stronger person:
a) Do not let your mind float like a piece of paper in the wind. Work hard to keep it focused at all times. When doing a task, think of nothing else. When walking to work, count the steps that it takes to get all the way to the office. This is not easy but your mind will soon understand that you hold its reins and not vice versa. Your mind must eventually become as still as a candle flame in a corner where there is no draft.
b) Your will is like a muscle. You must first exercise it and then push before it gets stronger. This necessarily involves short term pain but be assured that the improvements will come and will touch your character in a most positive way. When you are hungry, wait another hour before your meal. When you are laboring over a difficult task and your mind is prompting you to pick up the latest magazine for a break or to get up and go talk to a friend, curb the impulse. Soon you will be able to sit for hours in a precisely concentrated state. Sir Isaac Newton, one of the greatest classical physicists the world has produced, once said: "if I have done the public any service, it is due to patient thought." Newton had a remarkable ability to sit quietly and think without interruption for very long periods of time. If he can develop this so can you.
c) You can also build your will-power by restraint in your conduct with others. Speak less (use the 60/40 Rule = listen 60% of the time and speak a mere 40%, if that). This will not only make you more popular but you will learn much wisdom as everyone we meet, every day has something to teach us. Also restrain the urge to gossip or to condemn someone who you feel has made a mistake. Stop complaining and develop a cheerful, vital and strong personality. You will greatly influence others.
d) When a negative thought comes to your mind, immediately replace it with one that is positive. Positive always dominates over the negative and your mind has to be conditioned to think only the best thoughts. Negative thinking is a conditioned process whereby the negative patterns are established over and over. Rid yourself of any limitations and become a powerful positive thinker.
16
Make an effort to be humorous throughout the day. Not only is it beneficial from a physical viewpoint but it diffuses tension in difficult circumstances and creates an excellent atmosphere wherever you are. It was recently reported that members of the Tauripan tribe of South America have a ritual where they awake in the middle of the night to tell each other jokes. Even tribesmen in the deepest sleep wake to enjoy the laugh and then return to their state of slumber in seconds. The shortest distance between two human beings is laughter.
17
Become a highly disciplined time manager. There are roughly 168 hours in a week. This surely allows plenty of time for achievement of the many goals we desire to accomplish. Be ruthless with your time. Set aside a few minutes each morning to plan your day. Plan around your priorities and focus on not only those tasks which are immediate but not important (i.e., many telephone calls) but especially on those which are important but not urgent, for these allow for the greatest personal and professional development. Important but not immediate activities are those which produce long-term, sustainable benefits and include exercise, strategic planning, the development of relationships and professional education. Never let the things which matter most be placed in the backseat as compared to those that matter least.
18
You become who you drink coffee with. Associate only with positive, focused people who you can learn from and who will not drain your valuable energy with complaining and uninspiring attitudes. By developing relationships with those committed to constant improvement and the pursuit of the best that life has to offer, you will have plenty of company on your path to the top of whatever mountain you seek to climb.
19
Stephen Hawking, one of the great modern physicists of the world, is reported to have said that we are on a minor planet of a very average star located within the outer limits of one of a hundred thousand million galaxies. Are your problems really significant in light of this? You walk this Earth for but a short time. Why not become devoted to having only a wonderful experience. Why not dedicate yourself to leaving a powerful legacy to the world? Sit down now and write out a list of all that you have in your life. Start first with your health or your family - the things we often take for granted. Put down the country we live in and the food we eat. Do not stop until you have written down fifty items. Once every few days, go through this list - you will be uplifted and recognize the richness of your existence.
20
You must have a personal philosophy in life. This is simply a set of guiding principles which clearly state where you are going and where you want to be at the end of your life. A mission statement embodies your values. It is your personal lighthouse keeping you steadily on the course of your dreams. Over a period of one month, set a few hours aside to write down five or ten principles which will govern your life and which will keep you focused at all times. Examples might be to consistently serve others, to be a considerate citizen, to become highly wealthy or to serve as a powerful leader. Whatever the mission statement of your life, refine it and review it regularly. Then when something adverse happens or someone tries to pull you off course, you quickly and precisely return to your chosen path with the full knowledge that you are moving in the direction that you have selected.
21
No one can insult or hurt you without your permission. One of the golden keys to happiness and great success is the way you interpret events which unfold before you. Highly successful people are master interpreters. People who have attained greatness have an ability which they have developed to interpret negative or disempowering events as positive challenges which will assist them in growing and moving even farther up the ladder of success. There are no negative experiences only experiences which aid in your development and toughen your character so that you may soar to new heights. There are no failures, only lessons.
22
Take a speed reading course. Reading is a powerful way to gain many years of experience from a few hours of study. For example, most biographies reflect the strategies and philosophies of great leaders or courageous individuals. Read them and model them. Speed reading will allow you to digest large quantities of material in relatively small periods of time.
23
Remember people's names and treat everyone well. This habit, along with enthusiasm, is one of the great success secrets. Everyone in this world wears an imaginary button that screams out "I WANT TO FEEL IMPORTANT AND APPRECIATED!". Leave people better than you found them and just watch your own life change.
24
Be soft as a flower when it comes to kindness but tough as thunder when it comes to principle. Be courteous and polite at all times but never be pushed around. Ensure that you are always treated with respect.
25
Do something each day to improve yourself and your life. Even a daily enhancement of only 1% will lead to a 30% improvement just four weeks from today.
26
Be truthful, patient, persevering, modest and generous. And be the kindest person you know.
27
Soak in a warm bath at the end of a long, productive day. Reward yourself for even the smallest of achievement. Take time out for renewal of your mind, body and spirit. Soon all your more important goals will be met and you will move to the next level of peak performance.
28
Learn the power of breathing and its relationship with your energy source. The mind is intimately connected with your breathing. For example, when the mind is agitated, your breathing becomes quick and shallow. When you are relaxed and focused, your breathing is deep and calm. By practicing deep, abdominal breathing, you will develop a calm, serene demeanor that will remain cool in the hottest of circumstances. Remember the rule of the Eastern mountain men: "to breathe properly is to live properly."
29
Recognize and cultivate the power of self-suggestion. It works and is an essential tool in maintaining peak performance. We are all performers in one way or another and it is particularly valuable to use such techniques of athletes and public figures for our own enhancement. If you want to become more enthusiastic, repeat "I am more enthusiastic today and am improving this trait daily". Repeat it over and over. Purchase a legal notepad and write out this mantra 500 times. Do it for three weeks with regular practice and feel that this quality is developing. Very soon it will come. This is a strategy that Indian sages have employed for thousands of years to aid their spiritual and mental development. Do not be discouraged if the results are not immediate, they will certainly develop. The spoken word is a powerful influencer of the mind.
30
Maintain a journal to measure your progress and to express your thoughts. Writing out not only your successes but your troubles is one of the world's most effective methods of erasing the worry habit, staying in optimum state and developing precision of thought. Your life is worth living so your life is worth recording.

31
Stress is simply a response which you create in the interpretation of an event. You see the world – not as it is but as you are. Two people might find that a given event results in quite different responses. For example, an after dinner speech might strike fear into the heart of an inexperienced speaker while a strong orator views it as a wonderful opportunity to share his thoughts. Understanding that the perceived negative effects of an event or task may be mentally manipulated and conditioned towards the positive, will allow you to be a peak performer in all instances.
32
Read "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People" by Stephen Covey. It contains a wealth of wisdom and powerful insights into further developing your character and enhancing your personal relationships.
33
Become a committed learning CD user. Most personal-mastery programs and bestselling business books are now offered in this format. Listen to these inspirational materials on your way to work, whilst waiting in the line at a bank or while you wash dishes in the evening. Make your car a college on wheels and use the drive time to make knowledge your best friend. All down time can be very effectively used in this productive fashion. Use such opportunities to learn and continually expand your mind and its vast potential. All it takes is one big ideas to transform your life.
34
Try fasting one day every two weeks. During these fast days, drink fruit juice and eat fresh fruits only. You will feel more energetic, cleansed and alert. Fasting also has a salutary effect on your will-power as you are subverting the otherwise pressing impulses in your mind calling on you to eat more. And it will give your digestive system a much-needed break.
35
Keep a CD player at your office and listen to soft, soothing music throughout the day. Place pleasant scents and inspirational pictures in your workplace. By the magic of association, your work will become something you enjoy even more and arouse a very pleasant feeling within you. Budget your time on trips such that you can spend half an hour in the airport bookstore. They always contain the latest and best self-mastery books and tapes given that those who travel by air are of a group that finds value in these materials.
36
Read "As a Man Thinketh" by James Allen. And don't just read this little book once, read it over and over again. It contains an abundance of timeless wisdom on living a fuller and happier life.
37
Remember that forgiveness is a virtue that few develop, but one that is most important to maintaining peace of mind. Mark Twain wrote that forgiveness is the fragrance the violet sheds on the heel that has crushed it. Practice forgiveness especially in those situations where it is seemingly difficult. By using your emotional forgiveness muscles more regularly, petty wrongs, remarks and slights will not touch you and nothing will penetrate your concentrated, serene mindset.
38
Empty your cup. A full cup cannot accept anything more. Similarly, a person who believes that he cannot learn anything else will stagnate quickly and not move to higher levels. A true sign of a secure, mature individual is someone who sees every opportunity as a chance to learn. Even the teachers have teachers.
39
The Two Minute Mind is an excellent exercise for developing concentration. Simply stare at the second hand on your wristwatch for two minutes and think about nothing else for that time. At first your mind will wander but after 21 days of practice, your attention will not waver during the routine. One of the greatest qualities a person can develop to ensure his success is the ability to focus for extended periods of time. Learn to build up your concentration muscles and no task will be too difficult for you.
40
Drink a cup of warm water before a speech. Ronald Reagan employed this strategy to ensure that he maintained his honey-smooth voice. Mastery of the art of public speaking is a noble goal. So dedicate yourself to it. You will be judged by the caliber of your communication skills.
41
When you stand and meet someone, stand firm and steadfast. A telling sign of an unfocused, weak mind is constant fidgeting, shifting of the eyes and shallow breathing.
42
Act strong and you will be strong. Have courage and inspire others with your actions. But always be considerate.
43
Ask not what this world can give you but, rather, what you can give to this world. Make service an important goal in your life. It is a most fulfilling investment of time. Remember, in the twilight of your life, when all is said and done, the quality of your life boils down to the quality of your contribution to others. Leave a rich legacy for those around you to savor. Sustained happiness does not come from what you get but from what you give.
44
Once a week, rise at dawn. It is a magical time of day. Be still, go for a walk or simply listen to an old Ella Fitzgerald recording. Take a long, hot shower and do 100 pushups. Read one of the classics. You will feel alive and invigorated. Getting up early builds self-discipline and self-respect.
45
Your health is your wealth. Without excellent health, you have nothing. Make being in world-class physical condition your number one priority.
46
Master the art of public speaking. There are few natural speakers. One great trial lawyer stammered dreadfully but through courage and strength of conviction, he developed into a brilliant orator. Role model anyone you think is a highly effective, influential communicator. Visualize a picture of this person. Stand like him, smile like him, and talk like him. The results will startle you.
47
Seek out leadership speakers committed to character training and lifelong success. Make it a point to attend inspirational lectures each month to consistently renew the importance of personal growth in your mind. In a two hour seminar, you can learn powerful techniques and strategies that others have spent many years learning and refining. Never feel that you have no time for gathering new ideas, you are investing in yourself.
48
Read the wonderful book "Discovering Happiness" by Dennis Wholey. It will certainly open up new horizons for you in your quest for an optimal state of health and happiness.
49
To enhance your concentration, read a passage in a book you have never explored. Then try to recite it verbatim. Practice this for only 5 minutes a day and enjoy the results which follow after a few months of effort.
50
Try entering a 5 km running race and then a 10 km event. The adrenaline that flows from the experience of racing with several hundred other fitness-minded people is exhilarating. By constantly pushing the envelope of your capacity, your potential will quickly unfold. Remember, the body will give you only what you ask of it.

51
Aromas have been proven to be an effective means of entering a state of relaxation. Scents have a very noticeable effect on your mindset and moods. Purchase the essential oils of orange and clove bud from your local health food shop. Put a few drops of either oil within a cup of boiling water and inhale the sweet smelling steam for a few minutes. Then let the mixture sit in the room where you are resting. You will gain a sense of peace and serenity. A little apple spice in the air has recently been shown to induce a far more restful sleep.
52
Cultivate the art of walking half an hour after you have finished eating your evening meal. Walks in natural settings are the very best. Walking is, perhaps, nature's ideal exercise. And when you walk, do not think about work or about the bills or about the challenges you might be facing - this will neutralize many of the benefits. Simply enjoy the walk. Notice the richness of your surroundings. Let your senses drink in the beauty of nature and the crispness of the air for a change. So many people who have mastered the art of growing younger have also mastered the habit of a daily walk.
53
Start a program of weight lifting at the gym. Strong people are mentally tough people. As you age, you need not lose your physical nor your mental strength. 75 year-old men are running marathons, 80 year-old women have scaled mountains and 90 year-old grandparents are living rich, productive lives. Whether you are 19 or 93, stay fit, stay motivated and stay passionate about life.
54
Work with a life coach. Coaching will help you get to your best life more quickly and elegantly.
55
In terms of business attire, dark suits (navy blue and charcoal grey) reflect power, sophistication and authority. Have you ever seen a prime minister or president in a tan suit?
56
Regularly send handwritten notes to your business clients and your other relations to strengthen the bond. Develop a system which reminds you to send something valuable to this network at least once every four months. Send them postcards when you are away on vacation. If you have to buy a few hundred postcards and spend an hour writing, don't worry. This is an exceptionally good investment of your time. Another idea is to send a recent article of interest to your contacts with a handwritten note saying that you thought this would interest them and that you continue to value their friendship. Relationship building should always be a central focus whether you are a CEO, a student, a salesperson or a parent.
57
Two of the fundamentals for a happy, joyful life are balance and moderation. One must maintain a balance of all activities and do nothing to extremes.
58
Drink Jasmine tea which can be obtained from any Chinese herbal shop. It is excellent for your general health and is very relaxing. Also try placing a few slices of fresh ginger in a cup of hot water for a superb tea that will restore vitality and keep you in a peak physical condition.
59
Remember that effective time management makes you more rather than less flexible. It allows you to do the things that you really want to do rather than the things you really have to do.
60
Do not take personal development books as gospel. They simply reflect that particular author’s truth and worldview. Read them and take whatever useful ideas you need. Some people feel they must do everything suggested and take the techniques to extremes. Every book has at least one tool or strategy of benefit. Take what you need and what works for you and discard what doesn't suit you.
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Become an adventurer. The human brain craves novelty. Revitalize your spirit and sense of playfulness. Become a kid again. Once every few months, plan to enjoy a new, thrilling activity such as white water rafting, scuba diving, windsurfing, rock-climbing, joining a martial arts club, sailing, deep sea fishing or camping. This will keep your life in perspective, bring you closer to those you share the activity with and keep you feeling invigorated and young.
62
Spend time with Nature. Natural settings have a powerful effect on your senses which in turn will lead to a sense of renewal, refreshment and peacefulness. Peak performers through the ages have understood the importance of getting back to Nature. Start camping or simply taking quiet walks in the forest. Rest by a sparkling stream. Cultivate your own little garden which will serve as your personal oasis in the middle of a crowded city. By cultivating a friendship with Nature, you will quickly find more serenity, contentment and richness in your life.
63
Recall the wise saying "mens sana in corpore sano" which means in a sound body rests a sound mind. Never neglect the body which is intimately connected to the mind. This is your temple. Feed it the finest fuels, exercise daily and care for it as you would your prized possession - because it is.
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Be so strong that nothing interferes with your peace of mind. A well-known boxer was once unhappy. When asked why, he said that he had allowed himself to think a negative thought. Curb your desires and stay centered and focused - it gets easier with practice. You truly cannot afford the luxury of even one negative thought.
65
Do not eat three hours before sleep. This allows for smoother digestion and a more restful sleep. For deeper, more renewing sleep, remember that a daily dose of exercise promotes good sleep as does a period of relaxation an hour before bed. Also do not bring work to bed with you or think about anything which might agitate you. Ease yourself into sleep like a baby being sung a soft, soothing lullaby. And finally, as Leonardo da Vinci said: "a well-spent day brings happy sleep."
66
Be careful about your reputation. If it is good it will take you to the highest of heights. But once tarnished, it will be difficult to retrieve. Always reflect on your course of action. Never do anything you wouldn't be proud to tell your mother about. Have fun always but temper it with common sense and prudence.
67
Find mentors to model who will guide you in your progress. The mistakes of the world have all been made once before - why shouldn't you have the benefit of the experience of others? Find someone who has both courage and consideration for others, someone who is therefore mature. Your mentor must have only your best interests in mind and should be sufficiently senior to offer you good guidance on the subjects you seek assistance with. Everyone needs to feel appreciated and even the busiest of executives will find time to assist a person who respects them and values their advice.
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Make a list of all your weaknesses. A truly confident and enlightened person will note a weakness and seek to methodically improve. Bear in mind that even the greatest and most powerful people have weaknesses. Some are better than others in hiding them. On the other hand, get to know your best qualities and cultivate them.



69
Never complain. Your words have power and the language you use determines the way you perceive reality. Be known as a positive, strong, energetic and enthusiastic person. Someone who complains, is cynical and always looks for the negative in everything, will scare people away and rarely will succeed at anything. From a purely psychological viewpoint, things are always created twice: once in the mind and then in reality. Focus on the positive. Be so mentally tough that nothing takes you off your planned course to success. Visualize and firmly believe in what you want. It will most certainly come true.
70
Overlook the weaknesses of your friends. If you look for flaws you will most surely find them. Be mature enough to ignore the petty failings of others and see the good that each one inherently possesses. We can learn from everyone. Everyone has a story to tell, a joke to share and a lesson to learn. Open your mind to this and you will learn a tremendous amount. Friends are so very important to a happy existence - especially those who have shared many experiences and laughs with you. Work hard to make friendships, and all your relationships for that matter, stronger and richer. Call your friends, buy them small gifts of books or other items you believe they might enjoy. The "law of the farm" applies to relationships as well as to the rest of life - you reap what you sow and to have great friends you must first be one.
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Be kind, considerate and courteous. But also be shrewd and know when to be tough and courageous. This is the mark of a well-defined character and you will surely command respect. It is most useful to read books on friendliness and enhancing relationships by being a good listener, showing others sincere appreciation and refining other inter-personal skills. But, to truly succeed, one must also recognize that worldly wisdom and shrewdness are essential skills to foster. Become an expert in human psychology and be able to read the essence of people. Never be taken advantage of and be aware of the politics around you. Stay above petty gossiping and office politics but appreciate that they indeed exist and know what goes on behind your back. Every great leader does.
72
Create your identity in the world as a highly competent, strong, disciplined, calm and decent individual. Find that crucial balance between working on the image that you project to the rest of the world and your inner character. The successful citizens of this world think thrice before they speak because a word uttered can never be retrieved. Speak only good things and people will flock to you. Never speak ill of others and all will know you will not malign them behind their backs. Build your character and live a highly principled life. Shine.
73
Familiarity breeds contempt is a very good rule. The stars remain far above the Earth. You must keep a distance from all but your closest of relations. Once people see everything of a leader he loses his aura and with it the authority and mystique he may have created. For example, Ronald Reagan was known to many as an excellent leader. He carefully cultivated his image of a folksy, considerate politician who kept the interests of the United States first and foremost in his mind. At gatherings of world leaders, he commanded attention and respect in his dark suits, surrounded by the trappings of power such as political aides, security officers and a convoy of limousines. As soon as he appeared, thoughts of authority and power came to our minds. Did you ever see the President with his shirt off swimming at his pool? How about in his dressing gown after waking up after one of his long sleeps, hair tousled and beard grown? Reagan's handlers never allowed such glimpses because they detract from the perception of authority. The American nation was not exposed to these sights. In the Clinton Era things changed and you saw the President eating Big Macs and wearing baseball caps with a full business suit. Whilst these scenes may be endearing to the public, there is little doubt that President Clinton was more familiar to us, merely another one of us and, unlike the stars above, much closer to the ground.
74
Learn to organize your time. It is incorrect to say that by becoming a meticulous time manager and living by a carefully defined schedule you become rigid and non-spontaneous. Rather, proper organization allows one to accomplish those goals which are truly important as well as enjoy leisure time. Good time management offers more time for fun and relaxation - not less. These important periods are scheduled into the week just like other commitments which may appear more pressing. Neither are sacrificed. Also, discipline yourself and stop wasting time on all those immediate and pressing but unimportant tasks (i.e., the ringing phones) and concentrate on the activities that are truly meaningful to your life's mission. Such activities include time for self-renewal and reflection, time forging relationships built on trust and mutual respect, time for physical fitness, time to read and think deeply and time serving others in your community.
75
Be a world-class thinker. Keep well-informed about current events, the latest books and popular trends. Many peak performers read five or six papers a day. You don't have to read every story of every paper. Know what to focus on, what to pass by and what to clip out and read at another time (many successful people scan scores of magazines and papers, clipping out articles of interest; these articles go into a file folder which can be read in your down time). Knowledge is power. Whether you are an entrepreneur, a corporate leader or someone leading a family, you can profoundly change your life and the lives of those around you with a single idea. Just ask Gates, Edison and Bell.
76
When choosing your life partner, remember that this is the most important decision of your lifetime. The marriage relationship offers 90% of all your support, happiness and fulfillment so choose it wisely. Consider qualities such as affection, sense of humor, intelligence, integrity, maturity, temperament, compatibility and that indescribable characteristic of chemistry. If these are present, your relationship stands an excellent chance of great success. Move slowly and let no one press you into an uncomfortable decision. Be true to yourself.
77
Today, raise your standards. Step into the highest version of your best self. You can transform your life with a single choice.
78
Schedule relaxation time into your week and be ruthless in protecting it. You would not schedule another activity into the time planned for an important meeting with the president of your company or your best client so why would you put off a period to invest in yourself? We must have time for ourselves to reflect, unwind and recharge our batteries. These are the renewal activities that allow us to maintain peak performance and are exceptionally valuable periods.
79
83% of our sensory input comes from our eyes. To truly concentrate on something, shut your eyes and you will remove much distraction.
80
Be the master of your will but the servant of your conscience.
81
Develop the wonderful habit of a daily swim. It will promote excellent health, keep you relaxed and concentrated, lean and trim. Swimming is not stressful on the body, provides a great workout for the lungs and requires little time to do effectively. Remember that in a fit body resides a fit mind.
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People who are doing good today are ensuring their happiness for tomorrow.
83
The key to successful time management is doing what you planned to do when you planned to do it. Keep your mind fully on the task at hand. Only then will you achieve all your goals and have time for the things that matter most. Although it is imperative to be flexible (a bow too tightly strung will soon break), following your planned schedule requires no more than simple discipline.
84
An excellent visualization technique: if you are worrying about something, picture the words of your worry on a piece of paper. Now ignite a match to the paper and watch the worry dissipate into flames. Bruce Lee, the great martial arts master employed this mental control device regularly.
85
Compartmentalize your worry. Set aside a certain amount of time to ponder over a problem and map out an effective plan of attack and your options. Once this is done, have the mental fortitude not to come back to the problem and go over it again and again. The human mind is a strange creature - things we want to forget keep coming back and those things we want to remember are not there when we want them. But the mind is similar to a muscle and the more you flex it the stronger it will become. Make it your servant. Feed it only the best nutrition and information. It will serve you well and perform magic if you believe in it.
86

Peak performers are physically relaxed and mentally engaged.

87
To be at your performance peak mentally, your body must be loose physically and relaxed. It is now beyond dispute that there is a mind-body connection and when the body is supple, free from tension, the mind is clear, calm and focused as well. This is why yoga is such a beneficial activity. It keeps the body relaxed so that the mind can follow. Basic stretching for 15 minutes a day is also an excellent way to release tension that builds up as a result of our life in this highly complex and fast moving, but wonderful world. Try having a massage or power lounging in a Jacuzzi. Relax the body and you relax the mind.
88
Prepare a detailed financial plan for the next few years and follow it. Seek out financial advice if you need it. A powerful strategy for financial mastery is also a simple one: save 10% of all you make for long-term growth (take this off the pay cheque before you have a chance to spend it). If you can invest $200 a month for the next 30 years at an annual return rate of 15%, you will end up with $1.4 million dollars. Being wise with your money is one of the very best investments to make. Financial security leads to personal freedom.
89
Readers are leaders. U.S. President Bill Clinton read more than 300 books during his short time at Oxford University. Some top performers read a book a day. Seek out knowledge and information. We have truly entered the age of massive information and those who are proactive can use this to their advantage. The more you know, the less you fear.

90
Get into the excellent habit of reading something positive and inspirational before you go to bed and as soon as you awake in the morning. You will soon note the benefits as these thoughts will be supporting you throughout the day.
91
Make it one of your goals to develop a dynamic, charismatic personality. Such a quality is something each one of us has the potential to develop but few do. President Kennedy was a sickly youth but rose above his physical problems to be the most charismatic and exciting political figure in the history of the United States. Start off small. Take a Dale Carnegie course on public speaking. Go to the library where you will find books on the fine art of conversation and personal grooming. Learn three clean and witty jokes and get in the habit of socializing. You will have fun and build a lasting network of friends and associates.
92
On the subject of conversation, a Chinese proverb states as follows: "a single conversation across the table with a wise man is worth a month's study of books." Seek out the wise and learn from them. They are just waiting for that small spark of interest to tell you all that you need to know.
93
Lao-Tzu prized three essential qualities for a person of greatness: "the first is gentleness; the second is frugality; the third is humility, which keeps me from putting myself before others. Be gentle and you can be bold; be frugal and you can be liberal; avoid putting yourself before others and you can become a leader among men."
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"When you cannot make up your mind which of two evenly balanced courses of action you should take - choose the bolder," said W. J. Slim. There is no substitute for courage and though the chance of stubbing your toe increases the more you walk, it is always better than going nowhere by standing still. Take chances, take smart risks and you will meet with success beyond your dreams.
95
Become your spouse's number one supporter, the one who is always there supporting and fueling hopes and dreams. Develop together and march confidently through the world as an army of two.
96
Think of three people who can provide you with inspiration, motivation and support for your goals and aspirations. Plan to meet with each one of them over the next few weeks. Listen enthusiastically to them and brainstorm with them. Map out a strategy and take their wise counsel.
97
Make every one of your days a true masterpiece. Remember the old saying: "it's not who you think you are that holds you back but what you think you're not."
98
Just as valuable energy is wasted by spending time on activities that are of no value, energy can be wasted on loose thinking. Imagine that your mind has an energy measure of 1000 watts at its disposal. Each time your mind wanders off the project at hand, to a nagging worry, to all the things to do by the end of the day, 100 watts is lost. Quite soon the entire energy supply is gone. This is the nature of the mind. Fail to discipline it and your energy levels will be depleted and your accomplishments will be minimal. Control it and you will see great things happening. You will feel more powerful and achieve difficult tasks with ease. The 19th century philosopher Henri Frederic Amiel summed it up nicely: "for purposes of action, nothing is more useful than narrowness of thought combined with energy of will."
99
It has been rightly said that "you sow an action, you reap a habit. You sow a habit, you reap a character. You sow a character, you reap a destiny." The essence of a person is his character - make yours unique, unblemished and strong. Do not say you will do anything unless you will indeed do it. Speak the truth and measure your words wisely. Be humble, straightforward and peaceful.
100

101
A contented mind is a continual feast. Greed and material desires must be curbed to achieve lasting happiness and serenity. Be happy with what you have. Do you really need all of those material possessions? One can develop contentment just as one develops patience, courage and concentration - with daily practice and sincere desire.
102
Make a new friend or acquaintance every day. Keep an updated list of all contacts close at hand. Rich relationships are the DNA of a rich, rewarding life.
103

Remember this ancient Indian proverb: "if you conquer your mind, you conquer the world."


104
Place greater importance on staying happy than amassing material possessions. A zest for life is developed and carefully nurtured through thoughtful activities and pursuits.
105
Contrary to popular opinion, stress is not a bad thing. It allows us to perform at peak levels and can assist us through the flood of chemicals it releases within our bodies. What is harmful is too much stress, or more particularly, a lack of relief from stress. The times of stress must be balanced nicely with times of pure relaxation and leisure for us to be healthy and at our best. Many of the great leaders of our time were exposed to crushing workloads and the burdens of high office. But they prospered by developing strategies to balance the challenging times with fun and calming times. President Kennedy would have regular naps in his White House office. Winston Churchill had the same practice and slept for one hour every afternoon to stay alert, focused and calm. Not only is it essential to be physically relaxed to maintain optimal health but one must couple this trait with mental serenity. Too often people think that vigorous exercise, good nutrition and pleasant leisure activities will be the panacea for all ills. These pursuits must be combined with positive thinking and peace of mind for true happiness and longevity.
106
Get into the habit of taking mental vacations throughout the day. Visit Bermuda for five minutes in the morning. Visualize a swim in the Mediterranean in the afternoon and skiing down the slopes of the Alps just before you head for home at the end of your busy and productive day. Try this for two months and schedule these rest periods into your agenda just as you would your essential meetings or tasks. The rewards will be significant.
107
A change is as good as a rest. Whether this change is as major as a change of employment or as minor as a leisure pursuit which occupies your entire attention for an hour three times a week, these changes in routine, and mindset are entirely beneficial. In selecting the activity, try to find something totally engaging which requires deep concentration so that your mind is free from the mundane but seemingly important aspects of your day. Many executives are becoming involved in the martial arts for just this reason. If your mind wanders for even a split second, a harsh lesson is soon learned. Pain is a great motivator and always will be.
108
Study these 10 fundamentals of happiness:
- Pursue a productive, exciting and active life
- Engage in meaningful activities every minute of every day
- Develop an organized, planned lifestyle with little chaos
- Set realistic goals yet keep your mark high
- Think positively
- you cannot afford the luxury of a negative thought
- Avoid needless worry over trifling matters
- Devote time to fun
- Develop a warm, outgoing personality with a sincere love of people
- Get in the habit of giving more than receiving
- Learn to live in the present. The past is water under the bridge of life.
109

Strive to be humble and live a simple life.

110
Read "A History of Knowledge" by Charles Van Doren which chronicles the history of the world's ideas. In this one book is an absolute wealth of knowledge. Get it, read it and enjoy it.
111

Read "The Art of the Leader" by William A. Cohen. It is both inspirational and practical.

112

Develop that elusive quality known as charisma. The following are ten qualities of a charismatic leader:
- Be committed to what you are doing
- Look like a winner and act like one
- Have big dreams, a vision and reach for the sky
- Steadily advance in the direction of your goals
- Prepare and work hard at every task you do
- Build a mystique around yourself
- Be interested in others and show kindness
- Have a strong sense of humour
- Be known for the strength of your character
- Have grace under pressure. (John F. Kennedy said that "the elusive half-step between middle management and true leadership is grace under pressure.")
113

In work, love and life, play hard and play fair.

114
Do not talk when you are listening. Interrupting is one of the most common discourtesies. Listen aggressively with the full scope of your attention. You will be amazed at what you learn and how your counsel will soon be sought by many.
115
"Anybody can become angry - that is easy; but to be angry with the right person, and to the right degree, and at the right time, and for the right purpose, and in the right way - that is not within everybody's power and is not easy." - Aristotle
116
Knowledge is power. People who have achieved great success are not necessarily more skillful or intelligent than others. What separates them is their burning desire and thirst for knowledge. The more one knows, the more one achieves. Great leaders have techniques to allow them to arrive at the top of the mountain. Read the biographies of the world's leaders and learn from their habits, inspirations and philosophies. Cultivate the important practice of active role modeling.
117
All the answers to any questions are in print. How to improve as a public speaker, how to improve your relations with others, how to become fitter or develop a better memory - all aspects of personal development are dealt with in books. Therefore, in order to achieve your maximum potential, you must read daily. But, in this age of information, you must be ruthless in what you consume. Focus on your goals and read only those materials that will be an asset to you. Do not attempt to read everything for you are busy and have other tasks at hand. Choose what is important and filter out what is of no value. Begin with a solid newspaper every morning for an excellent summary of the key events of the day. Also ensure that your readings are broadly based. For example, perhaps you may wish to read history, business, Eastern philosophy, health books etc. Then go to the library and develop the habit of making regular visits. Read the classics from Hemingway to Bram Stoker. Read history, with all its lessons on life and read biology for a new perspective. Look under the heading of "success" at the library and you will be amazed at the literature you will find: inspirational stories of people who developed greatness in the face of adversity, strategies for improving yourself physically, mentally and spiritually and texts to tap the unlimited power for success that certainly exists within us. Drink deeply from such books. Surround yourself with them and read them constantly whether on the bus each day or before you go to bed. Let them inspire and motivate you.
118
Get into the habit of breakfast meetings. An early meal to touch base with a friend or business associate is a most pleasant way to start the day and allows you to maintain your contacts in the face of a busy schedule.
119
If you live in an apartment, try to ensure that it is very bright and has a swimming pool. A pool is especially important because it will allow you to exercise no matter how busy your schedule. There is nothing like a refreshing swim after a long, productive day. You will feel excellent and sleep like a baby.
120
"Excellence is an art won by training and habituation. We do not act rightly because we have virtue or excellence, but rather we have those because we have acted rightly. We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit." - Aristotle
121"

Today is yesterday's pupil." - Benjamin Franklin

122
If you have a choice of taking two paths, always take the more daring of the two. Calculated risk taking often produces extraordinary results.
123
Every day, get away from the noise, the crowds and the rush and spend a few hours alone in peaceful introspection, deep reading or simple relaxation.
124
That which any person who has walked this Earth has achieved you can achieve with the right mental attitude, perseverance and industry. Limiting thoughts and weak mental images must be banished. One's focus must be on the attainment of goals that are truly important.
125
Get into the habit of memorizing beautiful poetry. Not only will it be a great source of entertainment but it will quickly lift your intellectual functions to a higher level by improving your memory, concentration and mental agility.
126

Keep your words soft and arguments hard.

127
Break the worry habit by putting things in perspective and laughing over small setbacks. Repeat to yourself that "this will soon pass". Then take a sheet of paper, write out the worry on your mind. Allot a certain period of time to think on it, isolate the precise problem and formulate a powerful line of attack. By this practical technique, your negative, energy sapping habit will soon be a faint memory of the past.
128
Be known as that person who goes the extra mile. The person who works longer than others. The one who takes on the extra assignments and follows them through with great success. Be the person who always has concerns about others and who makes family members feel truly special. Be a standout, the one with a balance in both personal and professional excellence. Be a star that shines brightly for all others to admire.
129
Become a committed and sincere cimmunity-builder. Cultivate new friendships. You will truly be surprised where people end up over the years and how small, kind gestures will help you later on in life. Treat everyone who crosses your path as if they are the most important person in your world. You will certainly meet with great success.
130
When you look for something you will find it. If you constantly expect exceptional success, you will surely have it. Peak performers attract success. You must keep the goals you desire to achieve at the forefront of your mind throughout the day. Repeat your ambitions at least five times a day and visualize yourself achieving them. If your goal is to be rich, picture the house you will be living in, the car you will be driving, what it will feel like to be rich and the pleasure of attaining your goals in life. Repeat your ambition over and over until you have complete certainty that you will attain your desires and eventually you will.
131
Develop a sense of wonder about the world. Be an explorer. Find pleasure in the things that others take for granted. Stop and actually listen to that wonderful street musician playing the trumpet. Read that classic book your father loved so much. Plan to get away from the city next week and visit a secluded, powerfully natural place for a few days. Take a mini-retreat and care for your mind, body and spirit. It will profoundly improve the quality of your life.
132
Send cards on birthdays and little notes from time to time showing that you care and were thinking about your relations. We are all busy but if you spend just five minutes a week to send a card to a friend or family member, by the year end you will have sent out 52 cards. This is a small investment for the dividends that are guaranteed to follow.
133

Remember and use people's names when you talk to them. A person's name is a uniquely sweet sound to them.

134
Go outdoors and look up into the blue sky for half an hour. Note the supremely strong feeling that you get when you are connected to Nature. Get away from your rigid schedule today and spend the afternoon in a beautiful setting. Walk in the woods and sit by a cool stream. Go fishing or rent a canoe. Getting away from your routine will provide a refreshing release and make you feel wonderful when you eventually return.
135
Once every few weeks, leave your watch at home. In this society we often become bound to the clock and soon it governs our every action like a rigid taskmaster. Go through the day doing precisely what you wish to do and for however long you wish to do it. Spend time with that special person without having to run off to your next appointment. Savour the moments and focus on what is truly important rather than those mundane things that somehow take on a greater importance than they really deserve. Lose the clock and gain some quality time.
136

Laugh at work and be known as a positive achiever who adds outrageous value to all you do.

137
An idea gives rise to a mental image. A mental image will then generate a mental habit out of which a mental trait ultimately blossoms. Master your thoughts and you master your mind; master your mind and you master your life; master your life and you master your destiny.
138
Recognize the tremendous power of opposition thinking. This simple technique simply involves the substitution of a positive thought each and every time a negative or limiting thought enters your mind and begins to detract from your focus. For example, on a Sunday evening, you may think "I wish I did not have to return to work tomorrow after such a pleasant and relaxing weekend." Immediately replace this defeating thought pattern before it begins to take hold by thinking the opposite. For example you might think "I cannot wait to return to the office given the exciting projects on the go and the wonderful sense of accomplishment I receive after a productive, challenging week." Then think how fortunate you are to have a job and one that you can advance in through your own efforts and productivity. Make a list of all of the positive attributes of your position and repeat them over and over. Soon the negative pattern will be broken and you will look toward the exciting week ahead with that most fabulous of qualities: enthusiasm.
139
Get deep into the habit of personal introspection. Ben Franklin called this one of the most important strategies for personal effectiveness. Spend ten minutes every night before you go to bed in self-examination. Think about the good things you did during the day and the bad actions you may have taken which you must change in order to excel and grow. Successful people are simply more thoughtful than others. Daily reflection will soon allow for the eradication of your negative qualities (ranging from procrastination to gossiping to insulting others) and will sharpen the mind. After steady practice, a time will eventually arrive when the mistakes you make are few indeed and your personal power will move to the highest level.
140
The most efficient and effective alarm clock ever developed lies within our own minds. If you do not believe this, try the following:
1. Sit in an easy chair approximately ten minutes before you go to bed.
2. Shut your eyes and gently rest your hands on your knees.
3. Breathe deeply for a few minutes (inhale to the count of five, hold to the count of ten and exhale fully).
4. Repeat the following command to yourself at least twenty times: "I will awake at (the desired time) feeling fresh, alert and enthusiastic." This command must be said with feeling and emotion.
Then take a few seconds to visualize yourself waking up at the desired time (the more detailed the mental picture the better) and imagine how great you will feel. You will soon wake up at the desired moment after little or no practice.
141

"Some men see things as they are and say 'why?' I dream of things that never were and say 'why not?'" - George Bernard Shaw
142

Use these strategies to improve the quality of your mind-calming meditation:
1. Practice meditation at the same time each day and in the same place so that your mind becomes accustomed to entering the desired serene state as soon as you enter the peaceful place.
2. The early morning is undoubtedly the most powerful time to meditate. Indian yogis believe that the pre-dawn time has almost magical qualities which aid in achieving the super-peaceful state so many mediators attempt to attain.
3. Before you start, command your mind to be quiet by using affirmations such as "I will be focused and very calm now."
4. If thoughts do enter, do not force them out but simply let them pass like clouds making way for the beautiful blue sky. Picture that your mind is like a still lake without even a ripple.
5. Sit for ten minutes at first and then increase the time every few sittings. After a month or two, you will not be interrupted by any pressing thoughts and will surely feel a sense of peace that you have never felt before.

143
Forge and foster great friendships as such relationships are essential for maintaining a healthy and successful life. Find a few minutes every day to jot down some warm wishes to an old friend or to place a telephone call to someone you have not had a chance to speak to for a while. Show compassion and sincere consideration for all your friends and watch the results which follow. Develop long lasting friendships by being a good friend. Also, make it a priority to seek out new friends no matter how many you may be fortunate enough to have. This is one of life's greatest joys which many of us miss.
144
Purchase a CD of Miles Davis's Kind Of Blue. It is a uniquely soothing compilation that will refresh and soothe you after a challenging and productive day. Music such as this is good for the soul.
145
Drown your appetite by drinking more water - ten glasses a day is ideal. It revitalizes the system and purifies the body. Also, get into the habit of eating soups and more complex carbohydrates such as rice, potatoes and pasta which feed your hunger with far less calories than other less healthy foods. You truly are what you eat and must ensure that your diet is designed to maximize your energy and mental clarity.
146
Develop the essential habit of punctuality for it is most important for high success. Punctuality reflects discipline and a proper regard for others. Without it, even the most sophisticated person appears slightly offensive. Do not be early and certainly never be late. Budget your time and, should you arrive early, take a walk or simply relax for a few moments to ensure that you arrive on time as requested. You will be appreciated and welcomed always if you cultivate this important quality that appears so rarely these days.
147
The telephone is there for your convenience, not for the convenience of others who are attempting to contact you. If you are busy with a task, do not answer the phone or have someone answer the call so that you may return it at a more suitable time. Do not let such interruptions waste your time. Most phone calls are not important and last far too long anyway. Over the course of the average American's lifetime, she will spend two years unsuccessfully returning phone calls. There are so many important and fun things to do in life. The challenge is to respect precious time so that we can achieve a fuller, more satisfying life.
148
Start your day off well. The way you begin your day determines the way you will live your day. Before you get out of bed each morning, say a prayer or repeat your personal affirmation giving thanks for the day and all the positive things you will see and achieve. Make a conscious decision to make this the best day of your life and meet with pleasure, success and fun. If you believe it, it will most certainly happen. A timeless secret for lifelong success is to live each day as if it were your last.
149
Confide in your partner. This will strengthen the relationship and allow you both to grow at the same pace. It is also a wonderful tonic to share important or otherwise troubling things with the person you are closest to.



150
Push yourself just a little harder and a little farther each day. Winners on the playing field of life push the envelope of their potential daily. Do the thing you fear and the death of fear is certain. Winners do the things that less developed people don't like doing even though they also might not enjoy doing them. This is what strength of character and courage is all about. Tackle your weaknesses. Do the thing that you have consistently put off. Write that thank you note or letter that you have neglected for so long. Exercise your discipline muscles and they will rise to the occasion by filling your day with more satisfaction, more effectiveness and far more energy.

151
All individuals who have attained the highest of levels generally have cultivated the essential mental habit of optimism. Without optimism, life loses its luster and hardships appear at every step of the way. This is an essential life habit.
152
Today, write down the seven best qualities of individuals who you admire and post this list by your bed. Then, each morning as you rise, focus on a new quality which you will strive to implement during the day. After one week, you will notice small differences in yourself. In one month, these traits will become firmly embedded. After two months, all those important qualities will be yours.
153
You have as many reputations as you do acquaintances as each person you know thinks differently of you. What should truly concern you is your character. You have full control of this and this is what you must develop, refine and cultivate. Once your character is strong and vigorous, then all else that is positive will follow. It really doesn’t matter what others think about you, so long as you do what you feel is right and live life on your own terms.
154
Consider yourself as an orange. Only what is really inside can come out. If you fill your mind with thoughts of serenity, positivity, strength, courage and compassion, when someone squeezes you, this is the only juice that can flow.
155
Our lives have been described as a parenthesis in eternity. We are but a small blip on the stage of the Universe. As we can take nothing with us when we leave, then the real meaning of our existence must be to give and serve others. Keep this in mind. When you wake up early in the morning, repeat the mantra: "I will serve others today, I will care for others today and I will be kind today." This kind of living will bring you huge returns if you stay on the purpose of aiding others rather than on the outcome of personal gain.
156
Be known as a world-class innovator at your place of work. Be all about Big Ideas and Bold Dreams. Sit down over the next week and write out ten suggestions for your supervisor as to how to improve the work being done and the quality of the workplace itself. Be known as an idea person willing to discover challenges and tackle them with zest and enthusiasm.
157

Learn to laugh at yourself.

158
Be an instrument of service, leaving the world better than you found it.
159
Try to go through one full day without saying "I". Focus on others. Listen to others and you will learn wonderful new things as well as gain friendships.
160
Spend one hour a day in full silence except in answer to direct questions. Even then, answer directly and without extending the conversation unduly. We, so very often, talk around subjects and repeat ourselves. This ancient Eastern exercise will not only build your will-power but develop clarity and precision of language which is essential for effective communication.
161
Each day, do two things that you do not like doing. This may be the preparation of a report you have been putting off or shining your shoes. It does not matter how small the task, just do it! Soon these chores will not seem so bad, your personal power will increase and your productivity will soar. Try it because this is an age-old technique for building strength of character.
162
True happiness comes from only one thing: achievement of goals, whether they are personal, professional or otherwise. You are happiest when you feel you are growing. When you feel that you are contributing and advancing in the direction of your dreams, you will notice that you have boundless energy and vitality. Time spent on activities which offer little reward aside from a fleeting feeling of relaxation (television watching is the best example), is time lost forever. Relaxation is essential but chose the most effective means of renewal and spend your time in productive pursuits that will slowly move you along the path of accomplishment. Happiness comes from doing - not sleeping.
163
Napoleon III of France had a special ability to remember the names of all those he met. His secret was to say "so sorry, I missed your name" after being introduced to a new person. This would cause the name to be repeated and reinforced within his memory. If the name was difficult, he would ask for the proper spelling.
164
The sages of China have held a basic life philosophy for thousands of years: develop an indomitable spirit along with courtesy and integrity. The repetition of these three traits will make you an exceptionally powerful individual respected by all. Exert your effort and personal influence to attain these qualities.
165
A valuable technique for defeating negative and self-limiting thoughts that can hamper you from attaining peak performance is the mental interrupt device. When a negative thought enters your consciousness, first you must become aware of it and have a strong desire to remove it for good. To do this, interrupt the negative train of thought by doing something to break and banish the self-limiting pattern. When the bad thought enters, you may pinch yourself and say, "I am strong and weak thoughts are gone", or you may shout out loud or do anything that will divert your attention and remove the negative focus. By practicing this technique, you will see a marked decrease in the negative thoughts that most people have, paving the way to the mindset of a true winner.
166
Taking time from your busy work and family schedule to focus on personal growth activities is essential and is never to be considered a waste. Taking one hour from your hectic morning to watch kids playing in a nearby park or to take a brisk walk might seem like a poor use of time to some. But by making more time for life's simple pleasures and bringing more balance into your day, you will make the remaining hours far more productive and effective. You cannot do good unless you feel good. When you are serene, relaxed and enthusiastic you are also more productive, creative and dynamic. This is something that has been proved time and time again and yet we consistently get caught up in the apparent immediacy of our routine and fail to see the forest for the trees.
167

Read more, learn more, laugh more and love more.

168
Pick five relationships that you desire to improve over the next six months. Write out the names of these people and under each name detail why you want to improve the relationship, how you plan to do so and in what time frame. This is simply another facet of goal setting - the practice which will always yield excellent results in any of life's fields. Be committed to being a better parent, friend and citizen. Be creative in the steps you take to show your appreciation and respect for your loved ones. Sending notes is fine but consider unique and thoughtful measures ranging from a romantic picnic in the country with your partner to an early morning fishing trip with an old friend.
169
Remember the power of prayer. Remember the power of kindness. Remember the importance of love.
170
An excellent investment in your personal growth is the six CD series of Reverend Norman Vincent Peale entitled "The Power of Positive Thinking". Get it and listen to it over and over. It is packed full of strategies and techniques that, without fail, will ensure that you live a long, happy, productive and prosperous life.
171
Consider purchasing a pocket organizer which may prove to be an excellent tool for scheduling, recording your commitments and keeping the responsibilities of your life in fine order. One can be purchased at a reasonable price.
172
Browse second-hand bookstores every few months searching for lost treasures of character-building books. You will find gems on public speaking, improving your habits, time management, personal health and other important subjects for low prices. Some of these older texts are the very best and come from an age where every young person was under an obligation to develop discipline and good life habits regularly.
173
Read "The Magic of Believing" by Claude M. Bristol. It will allow you to release the powerful forces which most certainly exist in your mind but may presently be untapped.
174
Be known as someone with a cool head, warm heart and great character. Your presence on this earth will long be remembered.
175
It has been said that doing something for others is the highest form of religion. Every week, out of the 168 hours available, spend a few in service to others. Many say that such selfless service soon becomes a key focus within their lives. Give your time at a seniors home or to needy children. Teach someone how to read or offer to give a public lecture on the subject of your expertise. Simply take action and do something to leave a legacy.
176
Fill your home with bright, fresh flowers. This is one of the best investments you can make. Let the sounds of great music, loud laughter and good fun fill the oasis of your home.
177
Get to know and enjoy your neighbors. They make life more pleasant and can provide helpful resources when you least expect it. An extraordinary life is all about human connections.
178
Recognize the power of mantras and the repetition of positive, powerful words. Indian yogis have employed this technique for over 4000 years to live tranquil, productive and focused lives. Create your own personal mantra which you can repeat daily to enhance your character and strengthen your spirit.
179

When the breath is still and strong, so is the mind.

180
Use the following visualization from time to time. Sit in a quiet place and picture that you will be on the earth for only another day. Who would you call, what would you say and what would you do? These questions will give you some important insights into what outstanding actions you must endeavor to complete.
181

Study the following evidence of high character:
1. Precision & clarity of thought and speech
2. The power of personal growth
3. Refined and gentle manners
4. The power and habit of introspection
5. The power to achieve your goals & dreams
182
"Youth is not a time of life; it is a state of mind. People grow old only by deserting their ideals and by outgrowing the consciousness of youth. Years wrinkle the skin, but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul... You are as old as your doubt, your fear, your despair. The way to keep young is to keep your faith young. Keep your self-confidence young. Keep your hope young." - Dr. L.F. Phelan
183
Explore the healing powers of Chinese herbal medicine and similar Eastern strategies for maintaining a state of perfect health (consult an expert at all times and take a formal course on the subject to gain powerful insights into this most useful area of healing).
184
Be certain to organize your time around the true priorities of your life. As Stephen Covey has noted: "it is easy to say no when there is a deeper yes burning within."
185
Slow down your pace of life. In this complex age, we are running our lives at a frantic pace. Focus on what is truly important and start undertaking activities that will slow you down and rekindle the natural, calm within us. Sit in the grass and watch the blue sky for half an hour - at first, it is not as easy as one would think and the urge is to get up after only a few minutes of such useful relaxation. Once you are used to a healthier pace of living, with regular periods dedicated to the simple pleasures of life, every other activity will become more efficient and enjoyable.
186
Try eating only fruit and milk for a full day. Fasting is a powerful success strategy of the East that millions use regularly to maintain peak health and mental clarity. By trying this simple practice every few weeks you will notice a surge in your energy level and a lightness in your walk. Big meals require a significant amount of energy that could be better directed toward more productive pursuits.
187
Value your spouse's laugh and keep your partner's picture close by your work desk for inspiration and pleasant thoughts throughout the day.
188
If you are married, have your partner's initials and your own engraved on the inside of your wedding bands along with the date of your marriage. This is useful not only in case the rings are lost but to provide you both with personalized keepsakes that may be passed down to successive generations.
189
The mind is like a garden - as you sow, so shall you reap. When you cultivate it and nurture it, it will blossom beyond your wildest expectation. But if you let the weeds take over, you will never reach your potential. What you put in is what you get out. So avoid violent movies, trashy novels and all other negative influences. Peak performers are meticulous about the thoughts they allow into the gardens of their minds. You truly cannot afford the luxury of a single negative thought.
190
Do a hundred sit ups a day and do not break this habit. Strong abdominal muscles are very helpful to ensuring that you enjoy peak health and injury free days. They also maintain your appearance and confidence level.
191

Be the most honest person that you know. Be trustworthy - worthy of the trust of others.

192
Curb your worldly desires and you will strengthen your will. He who is deeply bound to material things runs into difficulty and unhappiness when they are taken away. Happy people enjoy worldly objects but do not become bound or wedded to them. Live a simple, uncluttered and productive existence. To simplify your life today, consider selling your television, stopping the junk mail, spending less, learning yoga, selling your car, practicing meditation every morning and unplugging your ringing phone once in a while.
193
If you have not laughed today, you have not lived today. Laugh hard and loud. As William James said: "we don't laugh because we are happy, we are happy because we laugh."
194
Read "The Charisma Factor - How to Develop Your Natural Leadership Ability" by Robert J. Richardson and S. Katharine Thayer. It is a superb book for any aspiring leader, or a current one, who seeks to advance to the next level.
195
Travel often. The perspective offered by visiting new lands is important and allows one to appreciate the existence that we generally take for granted.
196
Each month set a physical fitness goal for yourself. Start to swim in July or learn to ski in January. The key is to arrive at a goal for the month, write it down, consider how to execute it and then, as the NIKE ad says: "Just Do It!".
197
Things are always created twice. There is always the mental creation which precedes the physical creation. Just as plans for a house must first be set down on paper before the house is started, so too should your day be planned within your mind early in the morning before the day begins. Visualize the wonders you desire this life to bring and they will materialize as your subconscious mind starts to focus on the attainment of goals. This is a true law of Nature.
198

Walk to work and notice the wonderful beauty in Nature.

199

Sleep less, spend less, do more, live longer and be greater.

200
Read this book over and over and share it with others! Let us work together to elevate the world, one human being at a time.