Don't Let Failure Have The Last Word!

"I've failed over and over and over again in my life and that is why I succeed." - Michael Jordan

Fell Down?

So, you fell flat on your behind!

Well, what did you do about it? Did you just stay there, or did you get up again?

It's the difference between letting failure have the last word or not!

I'm sure we've all found ourselves down on our rump at one time or another. But failing doesn't make us failures. It's when we choose to stay down and not try again that makes us so.

There are those we consider as successful but have failed before. And sometimes, they've failed so much that others have concluded that they won't amount to much.

But contrary to circumstances, they've proven those who've given up on them wrong!

Why? Oh, there are a number of reasons. But a major reason why they eventually succeed is that they don't allow their failed experiences to stop them. Instead, they learn what they can, and apply what they've learned when they try again.

They know that falling down doesn't define them, that it doesn't always have to be that way. They acknowledge what happened, learn from it, stand again, and have a go at it once more. But this time, they carefully avoid what didn't work for them.

Don't Stay Down!

Ever heard about Donald Trump? I'm sure hearing that name makes us think of the word, "millionaire," eh? But did you know that he had to go through a couple of bankruptcies?

Have you ever eaten a KFC fried chicken? I don't know about you, but I, with many others, find his chicken quite tasty. But did you know that the original recipe of Col Sanders, the founder of KFC, was rejected more than 500 times?

Ever seen Michael Jordan in his heyday with the Chicago Bulls? He seemed unstoppable! Bet you didn't know that he was once cut off from his high school basketball team.

Would you consider these guys failures today?

It's scandalous to think that "failure" should even be in the same sentence where their names are mentioned!

No sir! When we mention their names, we think, "they made it! They were successful!"

Turn Your Failures Around!

What about you?

I'm sure that if we imitate what they did, we'd also see basically the same results as they did. And it's not rocket science.

They failed.

They learned.

They stood again.

They tried again.

Read that quote from Michael Jordan above? Well, here's a more complete one,

"I've missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed." - Michael Jordan

Ok, now it's your turn!

The Ones Who Really Remember

I just a attended a memorial service for a friend's dad who passed away about a year or so ago. I looked at the people and shook my head. How different from the first time.

I remember when her Dad's funeral service was held. The church was nearly filled with people. All were saddened at his passing. Everyone was grieving. Flowers and cards were displayed with notes of "We will never forget you. We will always remember you. In our hearts. In our prayers."

It was a touching scene then. I couldn't help thinking, "This was a man loved by many."

Seemed everyone showed up to pay their respects. Friends. Family. Colleagues. They were all there. Not a dry eye in sight. All chewed up inside.

After the service, they all filed out and followed the funeral car to the cementery. They stayed until the body was delivered back to the earth. And when the last patch of dirt was shovelled on, and the tombstone secured in place, some lingered even as the crowd slowly went their own way.

"We will always remember him" they promised.

And now, after about a year, here we were in a memorial service held by his offspring. As the service started, I was dismayed at the handful of people who were present. Gone were the crowd who professed they would remember him.

Oh, the invitations were sent out. But for some reason or other, they simply couldn't find the time to come. Even though this was mentioned in the original service ... where most, if not all of them, professed that they would come. They said they'd remember, didn't they?

Ah, but life goes on. His friends, co-workers, colleagues and other relatives have moved on.

The only one who remembered is his child and the child's family. The memory of their dad and grandpa will always be fresh in their minds and in their hearts. Even though they also have moved on, they will always remember him dearly ... and tenderly ....

The bonds that hold family together are not easily severed ... even by death.

And as we live our lives to the fullest, reach out for our dreams, and tackle our highest mountains, let us not forget, neglect and leave behind our families and loved ones. For even when we have friends who will laugh and cry with us while enjoying life, only our families and loved ones will continue celebrating us even when we're long gone.

Only they will keep us in their memories. Only they will continue to feel our absence even as others no longer remember.

Cherish and treasure family. Especially the time you have with them. One day, that time will no longer be there.

Losing sight of our families is losing a firm foothold that will deny us the favorable outcomes we long for ....

Christmas Carol Greetings!

Joy to the World, the LORD is come!

Away in a Manger, He was born one Silent Night, In a Little Town of Bethlehem.

And as Shepherds Watched Their Flocks by Night, O Holy Night, Angels were Heard on High.

So Go Tell it on a Mountain, of the First Nowell, when Love Came Down on Christmas.

Because of Mary's Boy Child, We Wish You a Merry Christmas!

Christmas Cheers to one and all!

Want It? Imagine It!

"If you can imagine it, you can achieve it. If you can dream it, you can become it" - William Arthur Ward

A Forgotten Ability?

Did we all know about a powerful success system when we were children?

It came quite naturally for us when we were young. We talked about how things could be instead of what was, of exciting adventures, happy scenarios, and favorable outcomes. When adults chanced on us doing this, they just smiled.

It was a time when we indulged our imaginations as only kids could.

But when we grew up, we were told that this was something we needed to leave behind. We were told that we needed to be more realistic. And that normally meant allowing outward circumstances to define for us what we couldn't do.

Problem is, we learned to see only limitations and restrictions. This was a far cry from what we used to do as kids, when outside appearances didn't really matter. Then, we imagined we could do anything.

"In imagination, there's no limitation" - Mark Victor Hansen

Well, it's time to recapture this creative ability again. In the midst of harsh realities, we need to develop this child-like capacity to imagine and believe.

Imaginary Help To Survive

Have you heard the story of Vietnam veteran, Major James Nesmeth?

During his tour of duty, he was captured and became a POW for 7 years. Isolated and imprisoned in a very tiny cell, he realized he needed to do something to preserve his sanity. But without books, TV, computers, musical instruments or any of the modern conveniences that we have today, what could he do?

He turned to the only resource available to him - his IMAGINATION!

Cooped up in a space about 4.5 feet high and 5 feet long, he imagined himself in his favorite golf course and playing golf. In his mind, he smelled the fresh grass, felt the grooves of his club handle, savoured the cool breeze, saw himself going through his swings and finishing a full 18 holes of golf. Daily, for 7 years, he did in his imagination what he couldn't physically do.

The day came when he was finally released and returned back to the US. One of the 1st things he did was act out what he saw himself visualizing for the past 7 years. He went to his favorite gold course and started actually playing what he could only do in his imagination.

But do you know what was most amazing than him actually doing what he only imagined?

Without having touched a golf club in 7 years, he played a great game of golf. He improved his game by 20 strokes and shot a 74 - as if he had been actually practising golf for 7 years!

Making Imagination Work For Us

Let's not neglect this creative ability which we all have. Let's train our imaginations to work for us.

• Let's see ourselves overcoming our difficulties, instead of failing.
• Let's see ourselves accomplishing our goals, instead of falling short.
• Let's see ourselves becoming more productive, instead of self-destructing.

We used to be good at it when we're young. We can be good at it again!

"One's ability to imagine is directly proportional to one's ability to be successful" -- L. Ron Hubbard

Cheers!
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Our Breakthroughs Start From Within

In his book, "Think and Grow Rich," Napoleon Hill states,

"Whatever the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve."

At first glance, it looks too simplistic.

The first time I read that, my initial reaction was, "Really? That's all I need to do - think and it will become a reality?" It does sound like a "mind over matter thing," doesn't it? Some might even think this is a scene from the movie, "Bewitched."

But it's none of those things. The quote is talking about "attitudes."

What is our attitude when we are faced with difficult and seemingly impossible circumstances?

Do we react in a negative way? Do we say to ourselves, "I can't do anything. The problems are too great. I see no way out. My hands are tied. It's hopeless!" Or do we face it with a positive attitude and say from the inside, "This mountain looks daunting, but I'm going to look for a way to overcome this. One way or the other, I'll go through this, over this, or under this. And if i have to, then I'll move this mountain - even if it means doing it one rock at a time!"

Whether we think we can or we can't, we're right.

When we say we can't, our mind shuts down and doesn't look for solutions anymore. But when we say we can, the creative processes of our mind go to work looking for answers.

This reminds me of a story about an elephant trainer.

When the elephant was still small, he'd tie it to a tree. The small elephant would struggle, but because it wasn't strong yet, it would fail. It would continue to fight against its bondage, but it fail everytime.

One day, it would be convinced that escape was useless. In its mind, the rope became impossible to break. It would no longer try to escape.

Eventually, the elephant would grow into its full stature with the strength to move large logs and even uproot trees. But the moment it's tied to a small stake, it will not even try to resist it anymore.

It will not make any effort for it to break free from the flimsy stake. This mighty elephant would just passively remain there, accepting its fate.

Why?

You see, even though the full-grown elephant was stronger than the rope tied to the small stake, in its mind the rope was stronger than him.

And so it is also with us.

In our circumstances, do we see ourselves able to break out, to succeed, to finally overcome, and to achieve our goals and desires?

If so, then that's half of the battle won.

We need to see that it can be done.

We need to be convinced that it can be achieved.

We need to act on the possibilities we see.

Then we can finally experience the breakthroughs we've always fervently hoped for!

Here's hoping that this simple foothold can lead to some serious favorable outcomes in your life!

Cheers!
primeprojects

Three Keys To Succeeding

I was reading through some articles, and I found one that gives common sense advice on succeeding. Although his particular field is internet marketing, the principles he talks about can be applied to just about any area of our lives. May this article help you on your way to building a successful life.

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Three Keys to Succeeding This Year
(c) Charlie Page
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When it comes to succeeding online - whether that means starting your own online business, earning money as an affiliate, or something more, there is a world of confusion.

Create a niche site, some say. But that's easier said than done.

Publish an ezine, say others. But what would you have to say?

Become a super affiliate we often hear. Again .. HOW?

In the years I've been online I have been blessed indeed to be able to learn what I needed to know to succeed. Sometimes I learned from others examples. Sometimes I learned from watching others mistakes. And sometimes I learned from painful (and costly) trial and error.

Based on all of that, I'd like to share with you three keys that I believe can help every one of you succeed this year, and beyond.

---> 1. KNOW YOURSELF

The good thing about the Internet is that there are so many different ways to make money.

And the bad thing about the Internet is that there are so many different ways to make money. ;)

So what's a boy (or girl) to do?

Know yourself. Respond to what feels right, what sounds right to you.

Remember what you learned as a youth -- if it sounds too good to be true it probably is.

Nowhere is that more true that on the Internet where scams and snake-oil salesmen abound.

So, how *specifically* does 'knowing yourself' help you succeed online?

Here's how.

If you are losing sleep over the ability to pay your bills and need some very fast money you may be much better off getting a second job for a while than 'starting an online business'.

I know -- that's not the advice you are used to hearing. But it's the advice I would give my daughter.

There ARE situations where trading time for money makes *very* good sense - times where the efforts you make MUST bring a return or you will lose everything.

A bird in the hand still beats two in the bush, and making any real money online when you are just starting out is hard. Very hard.

The truth you are not being told is that the "overnight success" "here's a picture of my PayPal account" "look at my shiny new race car" stories are by FAR the exception ... IF they are even telling the truth.

You know that in your gut, so trust yourself when the voice in your head says "better think twice".

Here's another example.

If you are staying up until the wee hours of the morning viewing site after site that sound too good to be true then you are headed for trouble.

Someone is about to pick your pocket.

It might be with the promise of huge commissions or of doing all the work for you (why would they do that?) but one way or the other they are going to take your money. So be careful. Very careful.

---> 2. GET OFF THE OPPORTUNITY TREADMILL

What does that mean? It means stop looking for the next big thing and start looking for the next real thing.

Specifically, if a business you are considering does not make sense to you but is asking you to 'trust them' please don't.

Business online is just like business offline. Those who stick with things succeed. Those who jump around don't.

Nowhere is this more evident that in network marketing. I've read, but not confirmed, that the average person starting out in network marketing stays with the program they choose for less than 90 days.

My friend, no one succeeds at anything new in less than 90 days ... especially if they are doing that business part time.

So, forget the word 'opportunity' for a moment and focus on the word business.

Here are a few clarifying questions that might help.

Is the business you are considering delivering a real product?

Does that product help people achieve meaningful goals?

Do you understand how the business works?

Could you explain the business to your best friend and be comfortable?

WOULD you share the business with your best friend and still be comfortable in the friendship?

If you answered yes to all of these questions you have the beginning of a basis to go into a business.

If not, run.

---> 3. FOCUS

We touched on this above but it is *so* important that I want to hover here for a moment more.

To succeed online (or offline for that matter) you will have to focus on *one* thing at a time.

* Focus your attention
* Focus your resources
* Focus your passion
* Focus your time

If you learn to focus your resources in this way on *one* thing and prove that it is for you (or that it is not for you) you will succeed faster. Period.

How can you focus?

Think of something you want to accomplish. It might be a business you are considering or a new site you want to build or a way to advertise a product.

Now examine that from the outside in and then the inside out and then examine it again.

Ask questions. Be a skeptic. Check out testimonials to be sure they are real. Ask people who have succeeded with the idea you are pursuing.

Now go further and Google something about the idea to see what people are saying and to check the validity of any sites you might be considering.

Once you *know* that you want to move ahead take action and give it your all.

Only then can you know what will work for you!

One last word - the fact that something doesn't work the first time does not mean that it will not work.

Nowhere is this more evident than in the world of advertising where beginning advertisers wrongly think they can run one ad and have it succeed.

Professional advertisers know that it takes testing - and patience - to make an ad campaign work.

If your first attempt at something fails consider analyzing why and trying again before moving on to something else.

Use your focus to discover how to do better on the next try. The list of people who failed on their first try and then went on to greatness is legion.

I hope that this year is your best year ever.

May it be so for us all.

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Charlie Page helps people succeed online. How can he help you? Find out now at his main site or call his toll free number. http://www.RealWorldTactics.com
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It's a simple article, but quite powerful. I especially appreciate what he said about knowing ourselves and focusing. Seems basic, but many times overlooked. I suggest that we look for ways to apply these tips to our lives.

To greater heights!

Cheers!
primeprojects

Courageous Choices

Going through my readings, I came across an old friend - a poem that was the subject of discussion during my college days. Our professor encouraged us to explore whatever insights we glimpsed through this simple poem. Here's the poem;

The Road Not Taken
by Robert Frost

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveller, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth.

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same.

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--
I took the one less travelled by,
And that has made all the difference.

I don't recall exactly all the things we talked about. What I remember was that we were trying hard to impress each other -- And we succeeded! Ha-ha-ha - after all, we were young, brash, and impressionable!

Anyway, looking at this poem again, there are some insights I can appreciate.

When faced with diverging paths, we should not just stand staring at which one to take, we must eventually choose.

Life is filled with major decisions that need to be made.

- What career to take
- Who to marry
- To start a business or to continue with your present job

Choices. Each one has its own pros and cons. And while it's true that we need to evaluate each one carefully, we cannot linger in the valley of indecision indefinitely.

Although we can learn as much as we can about each choice, we cannot know everything about them. While we can try to imagine possible outcomes, we cannot see everything that will happen based on whatever path we decide on.

But this is not a reason to stand still. We must eventually commit to a path so we can finally move forward.

"Think before you act and then act decisively. Fortune favors the brave" - Brian Tracy

In choosing, we should not be afraid to take risks.

In the many options we face, it's natural to pick the safer one. To take the path everyone has taken gives us a measure of comfort and security. I've done it. You've done it. Who hasn't?

But there are times when the well-trodden path isn't always the best one to take. There are times when we need to go against the tide.

If everyone wanted to stay in their comfort zones, we wouldn't have inventors, explorers, visionaries, and adventurers. We'd probably be still living without electricity, medical breakthroughs, modern conveniences, scientific technologies, and other things we've taken for granted. We'd think the world's still flat. America wouldn't have been discovered. It would still be the dark ages for us.

So, when the time comes for you to take that riskier path, don't be afraid to do so!

"Courage is the power to let go of the familiar" - Raymond Lindquist

Cheers!
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