Month: August 2011

My friends and I were having dinner. The topic of success came up and I remained silent. I wanted to hear what they had to say. Someone who had been my friend for over 20 years spoke to the group; however, I knew his words were meant for me. He boldly proclaimed, “Success is all luck... luck. That is all it is!” He then looked at me as if to say, “You are a lucky man and that is it.”

I didn’t say a word, but I confess that it hurt. He was one of my best friends and although it wasn’t a direct quote, he was telling me that he didn’t respect my success because it was all luck. In other words, he could have done the same if he was just as lucky.

I mulled this over for a few days and then let it go. What could I do?

Then some time after that, my truck window broke and I had to park in his garage for the day to stay out of the rain. I was stuck at his home for six hours. During the six hours, I watched five of his friends come over and they all watched the Comedy Channel and consumed adult beverages for five hours. It was driving me up a wall! I wanted to go for a run, write, read a book, goal set, strategize or spend time with someone I loved. Instead, I wasted six hours watching the Comedy Channel.

I am not suggesting that watching television or the Comedy Channel is a waste of time. Most certainly not. However, it was obvious that this was their daily routine. Then it hit me!

Success is not a result of luck. It is a result of how you spend your free time!

He and I both work hard. The difference is when my workday is done my free time is productive and his is not.

My 6-CD Memory in a Month program was created in my free time. Every month, I get checks in the mail because of this program, and I will never have to do a single bit of work again for it. I did the work in my free time. My friend was watching the Comedy Channel. Today, his mailbox is empty.

Success is a result of luck? No, success is a result of how you spend your free time.

Ron

Standard education will get you jobs and self-education will make you fortunes Jim Rohn

"Success is neither magical nor mysterious. Success is the natural consequence of consistently applying basic fundamentals." —Jim Rohn

From the seeds of success ezine.

Are You Busy But Not Accomplishing Anything?

Benjamin Franklin once said, "Don't confuse motion with action." If you are frantically busy but not getting any closer to your goals, try these tips from the experts.

Use the rule of five, says Jack Canfield, co-founder of the Chicken Soup for the Soulseries. Everyone has a breakthrough goal—a goal that you have always wanted to reach or one that could change your life. List five actions you could take today on your breakthrough goal and then do them. Repeat the same steps every day until you break through.

Get up one hour earlier than the rest of your household. Gain clarity on your priorities and start your day empowered. "Use the time as an inspirational hour—reconnect with you mission, core values and review your goals," says Robin Sharma, motivational expert and author of The Leader Who Had No Title. "This will build deep focus against distractions as you move through your day." Or spend your hour meditating, visualizing achieving what's most important to you, writing in a journal, listening to music, reciting affirmations or exercising.

Confront fear. Andy Andrews, best-selling author of The Traveler's Gift, says people need to identify where fear has hindered their progress. "List five ways fear held you back and for each write down the actions you are committed to taking on a consistent basis to make your fears irrelevant."

Push through major snags. Lots of people get stuck or procrastinate when they don't know how to do the next step on a goal, but there's always a solution. Talk to someone who has done it before, brainstorm with other people or ask for help. Sandra Felton and Marsha Sims, authors of Organizing Your Day, suggest taking a break, changing your scenery or taking a walk.