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How To Overcome Distractions

Before I get started, I wanted to thank everyone that reads, listens, and follows my site. I am very humbled by your support. This is Episode 39 and I want to talk about how to overcome distractions. Life hit me hard one-day several months ago and I lost that battle. I have a lot of people both in-person and on WordPress who tell me they frequently experience similar events in their life. Therefore, I wanted to share what happened and how I dealt with it.

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Overcoming Distractions

I woke up at my usual time, around 4 a.m., and after completing my daily routine of meditation and prayer, I went out for a walk. I had a lot of energy and had a great workout. My day started like every other day and I was feeling very energetic. I had planned to go film a short course on self-confidence that I’m putting together. I packed up all my gear and right before I was heading out, I noticed that I had rehearsed the wrong introduction.

That didn’t bother me, as I told myself I would just spend the day rehearsing and go film the next day. Around noon something very strange happened. I became extremely fatigued and felt like I wanted to go to sleep. There was no reason that I could think of for me to feel this way. I fought it off for a while and then quickly realized I was losing the battle, so I laid down and took a nap.

The Distraction of Fatigue

Three hours later, I woke up and still felt extremely tired. Therefore, I couldn’t focus on anything and just felt like going back to sleep. I just laid in bed until dinner. After that, I went back and laid down. I went to sleep at my normal time, around 9:30 or 10, after giving thanks for my day and the day to come.

When I awoke today, I was still tired and stayed in bed until 7:00. As I was going through my morning routine, I realized what was happening. You see, I believe that we are constantly in a war between two opposing forces. Call it what you will, light versus darkness, Ying versus Yang, God versus Satan, it comes down to good versus evil. Whenever something good is about to happen in my life, I get hit with negativity.

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More Distractions To Overcome

As I was writing my blog post, my wife came in and told me that she couldn’t get the garage door closed. Now, I had to spend time in the stifling heat trying to fix it and if I can’t, pay someone to repair it.

Once I realized what’s happening I knew how to combat it. How to overcome distractions is easy, I stick to my plan. I can control my plan, what I do today. I don’t waver from my plan or my daily goals. Some forces don’t want me to complete my course. I know that my course will help people and these forces who don’t want that to happen. Therefore they try to distract me from my definite purpose.

The Hardest Things

The things that are the hardest for me and I don’t look forward to doing are the things I need to do most. These are the things that are going to help me accomplish my goals. It is easy to get distracted and procrastinate when something is hard. I look at it like eating. The foods I don’t look forward to eating (vegetables) are the foods I need to eat the most of. Above all, they are the foods that are best for my body. So the battle continues, the dark side pulling you towards that tasty doughnut, and the light side showing you the broccoli.

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In conclusion, So whenever you find that negative things are going on in your life, it just means that great things are going to happen for you. Don’t be discouraged, you now know how to overcome distractions just stick to your plan, go over your goals, and continue your positive affirmations.

In addition, the next day I felt energetic and more like my old self. That day the battle was won by my enemy but the war is not over. Bring it on!

Cites

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Acquiring Power By The Mastermind Principle

I am continuing to talk about the book Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill. Today I will discuss the ninth step, Power of the Mastermind, The Driving Force. Don’t try to accomplish anything great alone. Acquiring power by the Mastermind Principle will help you to attain your goals.

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The Power Of The Mastermind Principle

Power is essential for success. It can be defined in many different ways. One definition of power is; power is organized and directed knowledge. Napoleon Hill believed in acquiring power by the Mastermind Principle. This helps you gain the knowledge that you need for success. The sources of knowledge are:

1. Infinite Intelligence;

2. Accumulated Experience; and

3. Experiment and Research.

Infinite Intelligence comes from the universe. It allows you to use your creative imagination to gain knowledge. You can acquire this knowledge through meditation and prayer. Accumulated Experience comes from tapping into the knowledge that others have shared. This knowledge is contained in libraries, the Internet, etc. Experiments and Research are conducted to gain new knowledge. When knowledge is not available through an accumulated experience you can find it through experiment and research.

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Knowledge To Power By Masterminds

Knowledge is converted into power by organizing it into definite plans. You express those plans through action. Develop a burning desire for your definitive purpose. Create a plan to obtain it. Put your plans into motion through everyday action. Your knowledge becomes powerful. After that, more knowledge becomes available to you.

Hill describes the Mastermind as a “Coordination of knowledge and effort, in a spirit of harmony, between two or more people for the attainment of a definite purpose.” The Mastermind Principle has two characteristics:

1. Economic;

2. Psychic or Spiritual.

The Mastermind

The economic characteristic is simple and straightforward. It is economically advantageous to surround yourself with the advice and knowledge of other people. If you want to create wealth, get advice from a wealthy person.

The psychic or spiritual characteristic is more difficult to comprehend. When two minds come together a third force is created. This becomes like a third mind. A human mind is a form of energy. When two minds come together it forms an affinity or a marriage.

Energy

Energy is the building block of everything created. Nature can translate energy into matter. Matter is the physical substance that occupies space and possesses mass. This is distinct from mind and spirit.

As humans, we build through our thought process. By creating a Mastermind group our brains tap into more knowledge. Therefore, becoming more powerful. Think of your brain as a battery. A group of batteries is more powerful than one. Therefore, a group of brains creates more power than a single brain alone.

Henry Ford

A great example of acquiring power by the Mastermind Principle is Henry Ford. When Ford went into business, he was poor, illiterate, and ignorant. Despite this, within 10 years he had overcome all these shortcomings. 25 years after he started he became one of the richest men in America.

He became friends with Thomas Edison. After that, his business grew by leaps and bounds. His most outstanding accomplishments didn’t occur until after he met Henry Firestone, John Burroughs, and Luther Burbank. Henry Ford is a prime illustration of acquiring power by the Mastermind Principle.

Instructions

Throughout history, men and women have utilized the Mastermind Principle to increase the power of their minds and accomplish great things. If you don’t find yourself progressing in obtaining your goals look for someone to join you. Set a goal, develop a plan, and put action into your plan. Maintain harmony within your group and watch your progress grow.

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I hope you enjoyed this post. Don’t forget to like, follow, and comment. I would like to know if anyone has utilized the Mastermind Principle. What were your results? Also, subscribe to my email list and podcast. I appreciate your support.

Cites

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https://unsplash.com/@wildlittlethingsphoto

“Power Of The Mastermind, The Driving Force” Think and Grow Rich: The Complete Classic Text, by Napoleon Hill, Jeremy P. Tarcher/Penguin, 2008, pp. 243-253.

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Leadership Qualities Of Abraham Lincoln

In episode 38 of my podcast/blog, I want to discuss the leadership qualities of Abraham Lincoln. He overcame obstacles and was a great leader. I have learned great lessons from him. His leadership qualities have set excellent and inspirational examples for me to follow.

This will be part 2 of this series. Several years ago, I read a book titled Lincoln on Leadership by Donald T. Phillips. This is one of the best books on leadership that I have ever read. As I mentioned in Part 1, Ernest Shackleton, the author of Think and Grow Rich, Napoleon Hill had an imaginary mastermind group. Because of his incredible leadership qualities, Abraham Lincoln was part of that group.

Napoleon Hill created his mastermind group out of people who had the characteristics he admired. They all have characteristics that I would like to emulate in my life. They are great leaders, overcame enormous obstacles, and set great examples. I always learn something by reading about them.

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Abraham Lincoln’s Leadership Qualities

Abraham Lincoln was born on February 12, 1809, and grew up in poverty. He was self-educated and eventually became a lawyer. There are many tales of Lincoln and his successes and failures before he became the 16th President of the United States.

He inherited the nightmare of a Union which was severely divided from President James Buchanan. Before he took the oath of office, seven states had already succeeded from the union to form the Confederate States of America. Buchanan had already given up hope of holding the country together. He did nothing at the end of his term to try to repair the division that was happening in this country. Congress also did nothing to defeat the growing rebellion.

Lincoln was the country’s first Republican President and he was elected by a minority vote. He was disliked in Washington because he was an outsider. The media and the people saw him as a second-rate country lawyer. They thought he was ill-equipped and unable to handle the presidency. No one could predict the unparalleled strength of leadership he possessed.

The Leadership Qualities Of Abraham Lincoln:

He would get out and circulate among the troops.
Compassion.
Honesty and integrity are the best policies.
Courage to handle unjust criticism.
Consistency.
Decisiveness.
Being open-minded and flexible.
Setting goals and being results-oriented.
He believed that the organization takes on the personality of its top leader.

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Leadership Traits

Lincoln believed in leading from the front. He was hardly ever in the oval office. If you wanted to find him you should start in the War Department. That’s where he spent most of his time. He would go to the field and circulate among the troops. He wanted to know what they were going through. This gave him first-hand knowledge to make accurate decisions. He went to the field to observe or take charge of several battle situations and even came under fire at least once.

Compassion

To Lincoln, a leader shows compassion. The leader knows the job of his lowest subordinates and treats everyone the same. Lincoln spent many days visiting the hospitals and talking to the wounded. He spoke no differently to a private than he did to one of his generals.

Honesty

Lincoln believed that the best way to lead is with honesty and integrity. The government exists to elevate the condition of man. It is there to level the playing field and allow man to climb the ladder of success. He was not kind to politicians taking kickbacks. Many of his appointed cabinet members were fired for lack of honesty and integrity.

Courage

Lincoln showed an amazing amount of courage over an extended time. He survived defeats in his life and also at the beginning of the Civil War. He took risks and never played it safe. The faith he had in himself was unmatched. He knew his decisions were the right ones and didn’t need to be told by others.

Impervious To Criticism

Great leaders will be subjected to severe criticism from all sides just because of their position. They will suffer attacks on their honor and character. Lincoln was no different. He was slandered and criticized by the media, the public, and the Union he was trying to save. Southern sympathizers, members of Congress, and even some from within his own Republican Party verbally attacked him.

Lincoln didn’t allow the attacks to deter him from his definite purpose of saving the Union. He overcame all his critics to secure victory in the war. Not only did he preserve the nation but he also reorganized the military and renewed the spirit of patriotism in America. He is best known for the Emancipation Proclamation, abolishing slavery in the United States.

Consistent

Lincoln led with consistency in how he treated people and his interactions with cabinet members. He was very consistent with how he administered and managed the government. He did whatever it took to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution.

Decisive

Lincoln was decisive and bold in his decisions. Many of the decisions he made were not popular but he knew they were necessary for victory. At the beginning of the war, the Union was undermanned. President Buchanan had decimated the military by cutting the budget. Lincoln knew that he would need a call for troops and enacted conscription.

His bold decision to direct a blockade of the Confederate states was necessary to cut off supplies. Probably his most unpopular decision was declaring martial law. In addition, he also suspended the writ of habeas corpus, giving the military the power to arrest without charges. Lincoln would not waiver on this decision. He felt it was necessary to protect against spies and traitors.

Open-Minded

Lincoln was open-minded and flexible. He always listened to his subordinates. If their decisions were not what he had in mind, he would explain the shortcomings. But, if their ideas matched his, he would let them proceed as if it was their idea.

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Goal Oriented

Arguably his greatest leadership trait was setting goals and being results-oriented. Lincoln had always persevered and used his failures as lessons to learn from. He had the ability to turn certain defeat into a decisive victory. At the beginning of his presidency, Lincoln had one ultimate goal, preserving the United States of America.

The leadership qualities of Abraham Lincoln are best summed up with one trait. Like all great leaders, Lincoln knew that the organization takes on the personality of its top leader. Lincoln displayed all of the traits listed above to determine his personality. By setting the example of a great leader, Lincoln led the Union to persevere and overcome great odds, and securing victory.

In conclusion, the leadership qualities of Abraham Lincoln are unmatched. He was a great man and remarkable leader. I hope you enjoyed this post. If so, here is some homework for you. First, like this post. Second, leave a comment. I enjoy reading your comments. Third, Follow my blog. Fourth, subscribe to my email list. Fifth, Check out my courses. The button is above. Lastly, subscribe to my podcast. It is on many platforms. You can find them below the player above.

All the best! Scott

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Negative Personality Traits Part 2

In this continuation of my last podcast, I will talk about the power of releasing negative personality traits. By releasing and eliminating these destructive traits you can become a new person. I hope you enjoy, Episode 37 Negative Personality Traits Part 2, and don’t forget to subscribe to my podcast.

In Part I, I talked about the unlimited power of the human mind. I recounted some amazing and inspirational stories of people overcoming severe medical situations only using their minds. Cathy Goodman was diagnosed with cancer and healed herself with her strong beliefs. Morris Goodman was paralyzed in an airplane crash yet walked out of the hospital. He wouldn’t accept that he would be a vegetable for the rest of his life.

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Negative Personality Traits Part 2

In Negative Personality Traits Part 2, I want to talk about how you limit your possibilities by holding onto negative energy. Remember that the human mind is limitless and we can do all things if we believe in our hearts. To put it simply, your thoughts become your actions and your actions become your reality. I am living proof of this.

I believe in positive affirmations. Positive affirmations and changing your thought process will change the person that you are. I know this works because I am a completely different person than I was even a few years ago. Two things were limiting me. First, I was putting a time limit on my change. If it wasn’t happening quickly enough, I would say it didn’t work. Second, I held onto a lot of negative energy.

I Was A Negative Personality Trait

I held a lot of anger inside me but I didn’t know where it came from. There was no reason to feel angry because I was living a very good life. Through many hours of retrospection, I finally realized where my anger was coming from. I lacked self-confidence which was a result of always feeling that I was unworthy. I never felt good enough and always felt everyone else was better than me.

Living in South Florida and having to drive an hour to Miami to work each morning did not help with my anger. If you’ve ever driven in South Florida you know what I mean. South Floridians drive very aggressively and don’t seem to care about anyone but themselves. They will cut in front of you and almost hit you without even a second thought. I arrived at my office every day with an angry disposition. In every situation, I encountered I immediately looked for the negative aspects. I was always thinking negatively.

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A New Me

My anger carried on even after my retirement. I remember one day I realized I wasn’t happy and didn’t want to live the rest of my life like this. So I decided to release the negativity in my life. I asked God to take away my anger. When I did I immediately became calmer and felt peace inside of me.

For the most part, I’m able to drive around without getting angry but……… there are times. Anger is hard to eliminate when you have to drive in South Florida. One particular incident happened not long ago and had me backsliding into my old ways.

If you live in a normal state or part of the world, you might not understand this. Drivers in South Florida like to get in the passing or “fast” lane and drive very slow. They do not care and immediately go to the fast lane and plant themselves there for the duration of their trip. They will not move over for anything. Most of the time they are driving the speed limit or below. It got so bad that they had to pass a law and post a minimum speed you can drive on the interstate.

My Calming Factor, My Wife

My wife and I had been visiting our daughter who attends college in Orlando and we were coming home. We were driving south on interstate 95 and I was in the middle lane. The driver to my left was approaching one of these slow drivers. Instead of looking in his mirror to see if the lane was clear he just changed lanes. Luckily, he saw me before he hit me and swerved back.

All that was fine, that’s just part of South Florida driving. What pushed the old nuclear anger button was he decided he would rather hit me than slow down for the car in front of him. With total disregard, he came back into my lane and I had to hit my brakes to avoid a collision. That sent me into a tirade and the backsliding began.

The anger inside me went on for several minutes. My wife who is described as beautiful and vivacious but also a fiery Latina sat there calmly. My favorite way to describe my wife is she is funny. She always makes us laugh. In a very soothing voice, she said,

Scott be like Frozen.

What? I said angrily.

“Let it go.” She said with a straight face. We began laughing and my anger disappeared.

Release your anger, it is just holding you back.

Your Fears

You should also release your fears. Your fears are manifestations of your thoughts. Look into your eyes in a mirror and say, “I release all my fears, I am a strong confident person.” As I’ve said many times I believe in faith over fear. My faith that I will succeed is stronger than my fear that I will not.  If you cannot eliminate your fears you can still control them. Don’t let them control you. Step out of your comfort zone.

“I release all my fears and do not let them control me. My faith is my guiding light.”

Pride

Another limiting trait we should release is pride. Be proud of who you are and what you will accomplish. Don’t limit yourself by being prideful. Be humble and thankful in everything. Always treat others as you would want someone to treat you or your family.

“I release my pride. I am humbled and thankful in everything I do.”

Resentment

You must release resentment. Do not resent others for their success. Never compare yourself to other people. Always be happy for everyone and wish abundance for them. The success of other people is no reflection on you. Release your feelings of resentment and go be the best you.

I release the resentment I have for others. I wish abundance for everyone.”

Limiting Mindset

One of the most important things you can release is your limiting mindset. You must understand that you can have and be anything you want to be because the universe is unlimited. There is no competition. Don’t believe you have to compete for everything. There is more than enough for everyone. Don’t set limits on your thinking. Remember, your thoughts become your actions and your actions become your reality.

“I release the limits I place on myself. My mind is unlimited and I can have anything I want.”

Let’s Do Something Great Together!

Your reality of today is based on your past thoughts. Your future reality is based on the thoughts that you’re having today. So, dream big. Next year you can be a different person than you are today. You can be living a different lifestyle. My business motto is, “Helping You to Become The Person Others Want to Be.” Don’t go and try to be like a certain sports hero or actor. Go be the kind of person that they want to become.

I hope you enjoyed my podcast/blog Negative Personality traits Part 2. Don’t forget to like, comment and follow.

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Negative Personality Traits

This is Episode 36 of my podcast/blog, Negative Personality Traits – Part 1. I want to talk about the power of releasing these negative personality traits. Our minds are very powerful instruments. For instance, it is said that we only utilize 10% of the power of our brains. That is a myth and scientists have discovered we use 100 % of our brains. Our minds are so powerful that they can store our every thought and emotion. Depending on your thoughts and emotions this can be seen as good or bad. Positive thoughts will lead to a wonderful life. On the other hand, negative thoughts and emotions can hold you back from living your dreams.

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Negative Personality Traits

There are countless benefits you will attain from releasing these negative thoughts and emotions. Some of the negative energy that you hold onto are:

  • Anger
  • Fear
  • Pride
  • Resentment
  • A Limiting Mindset
  • and more…..

A few months ago I read a book titled, You Can Heal Your Life by Louise Hays that was recommended to me. This is an outstanding book by an accomplished author. Louise Hays believes in positive affirmations and beliefs. By repeating positive affirmations you can release the negative energy stored in your mind. She believes through a daily routine of repeating positive affirmations you can change your health. In her book, she states that you can heal diseases and chronic illnesses through positive affirmations.

Now, I am not 100% convinced that I could heal myself without medicine. I need to conduct more research into this phenomenon. I do know that your body reacts to the thoughts in your mind. If you believe you are going to die, no medicine can save you. I have read stories about people who have healed themselves utilizing only their thought process.

The Placebo Effect

In the book, The Secret, Dr. John Hagelin, Quantum Physicist, talks about the power of our thoughts. He says, “Our body is really the product of our thoughts. We are beginning to understand in medical science the degree to which the nature of thoughts and emotions actually determines the physical substance and structure and function of our bodies.”

I’m sure you’ve heard of the “placebo effect” and how the power of suggestion affects the outcome of experiments. When you take any type of medicine, you might not know exactly how the medicine works. As a result, you trust your doctor and believed the medicine will work. How much of your recovery is due to the medicine and how much is due to your belief?

Inspirational Stories

I also read in, The Secret, about a woman named Cathy Goodman. Cathy Goodman was diagnosed with breast cancer. She truly believed in her heart, with her strong faith, that she was already healed. Each day she would say, “Thank you for my healing.” She believed she was healed and saw herself as if cancer were never in her body.

She would watch very funny movies to combat the stress in her life. She would sit with her husband and laugh. By laughing, she released all her negative energy. Laughter is the best medicine. She couldn’t afford to allow any negative thoughts into her mind while she was trying to heal herself. As a result, Cathy was completely healed three months after she was diagnosed. She did not go through any radiation or chemotherapy treatments.

Morris Goodman, “The Miracle Man”

Another inspirational story I found in The Secret is the story of The Miracle Man, Morris Goodman. On March 10, 1981, Morris was piloting an airplane when it developed engine trouble and crashed. As a result, his spinal cord was crushed and he was completely paralyzed. He broke the first and second cervical vertebrae, destroying his swallowing reflex. His diaphragm was destroyed and he couldn’t breathe.

All he could do was blink his eyes. The doctor said he would be a vegetable for the rest of his life. That was what the doctors thought, but that wasn’t what Morris thought. He pictured himself being a normal person again, walking out of that hospital. The only thing he had to work with was his mind.

Morris kept thinking, over and over, “Breathe deeply.” He thought this day after day until he was finally weaned from the respirator. Consequently, the doctors could not explain what happened. He set a goal to walk out of the hospital on Christmas day. When Christmas arrived, that’s exactly what he did. He walked out of the hospital on his own two feet. Morris sums up his life with six words, “Man becomes what he thinks about.”

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Release Your Negativity

These are just a few stories that demonstrate the unlimited potential of the human mind. As it says in Philippians 4:13, “I can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me.” It doesn’t say that you can do some things or a few things. It says that you can do ALL things. This quote alone shows the unlimited potential of your mind. All you have to do is believe in your heart and give thanks.

I will continue Negative Personality Traits in Part II………

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What Does Persistence Mean?

I am continuing to talk about the book Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill. Today I will discuss the eighth step, Persistence, The Sustained Effort Necessary To Induce Faith. Once you turn belief into faith you will become unstoppable. Faith is an essential ingredient to accomplishing your goals and dreams. What does persistence mean?  These 10 quotes will help you discover the meaning of persistence.

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The Meaning Of Persistence

Hill states that persistence is an essential factor in changing desire into its monetary equivalent. The basis of persistence is willpower. Titans of industry are often described as cold-blooded and ruthless. This is because they have the willpower to obtain their objectives. Henry Ford was described this way because of his habit of following through in all his plans with persistence.

“The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one time more.”
~ Thomas Edison

“The most essential factor is persistence – the determination never to allow your energy or enthusiasm to be dampened by the discouragement that must inevitably come.”
~ James Whitcomb Riley

Most people will quit and give up on their dreams at the first sign of failure. They lack the willpower and persistence to carry on when things aren’t going well. Many people are motivated to change their situation but few have the discipline to work at it day after day without seeing results. The small percentage who live on their terms and have achieved financial independence have persistence.

Belief Will Build Faith

These are the ones who begin with a desire to change their lives. They have a reason to make that change, the WHY. If their WHY is big enough, he will fight through every obstacle and be persistent in the pursuit of their desire. Persistence, when nothing seems to be working, will build the belief that they can change. As they continue being persistent, their belief will turn into faith. The ones who quit will never know what it’s like to have faith. What does persistence mean? It means working on your plan every day until you build faith.

“Success has a price tag on it, and the tag reads courage, determination, discipline, risk taking, perseverance, and consistency – doing the right things for the right reasons and not just when we feel like it.”
~ James M. Meston

“You just can’t beat the person who never gives up.”
~ Babe Ruth

What If I Am Not Persistent?

So what you do if you are weak in persistence? Firstly, you can set up a schedule and make sure that you work toward your desire every day. Doing anything is better than doing nothing. Probably the best method of becoming persistent is to set up a mastermind group. A person or persons in your group will help you stay on track. The group will be able to keep each other accountable.

“I do not think they is any other quality so essential to success of any kind as the quality of perseverance. It overcomes almost everything, even nature.”
~ John D. Rockefeller

“In the confrontation between the stream and the rock, the stream always wins – not through strength, but through persistence.”
~ Buddha

At the beginning of the year, I was very persistent. I was working towards my goals every day. One of the members of my mastermind group and I formed an accountability circle. We would talk every Monday and discuss the things we did during the week towards accomplishing our goals. This made persistence very easy because neither one of us wanted to disappoint the other. What does persistence mean? It means forming a mastermind group to keep each other accountable and on track.

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No Substitute

There is no substitute for persistence. This is very important to remember at the beginning of your journey towards change. In this time when everything is difficult and slow, you might experience many failures. Through persistence, you recognize these failures as steppingstones to success. This will keep you from becoming disheartened and giving up which is the ultimate failure.

To obtain wealth or financial freedom you will have to develop a money mindset. If you’re struggling financially, it is because you have a poverty mindset. You focus more on bills and debt than you do on ways to increase your income. A money mindset is only developed through persistent effort. Thinking, speaking, and visualizing your financial freedom daily will change your situation.

“My greatest point is my persistence. I never give up in a match. However down I am, I fight until the last ball. My list of matches shows that I have turned a great many so-called irretrievable defeats into victories.”
~ Bjorn Borg

“Patience, persistence, and perspiration make an unbeatable combination for success.”
~ Napoleon Hill

The Subconscious Mind

Our subconscious mind works every day all day. It’s working when you’re sleeping and it’s working when you’re awake. It’s picking up your words and thoughts and translating them into your reality. To change your reality you must be persistent in your words and thoughts. Speaking positive affirmations and wealth affirmations every day will reprogram your subconscious mind.

Persistence will lead to the discovery of new techniques and strategies in which to accomplish your desire. Persistent thoughts of wealth will lead to direct discoveries via the Internet or books etc. It will also lead to indirect discoveries such as social media posts, emails, meeting new people, etc. Being persistent in the pursuit of your desire will open you up to the unlimited universe we live in.

“History has demonstrated that the most notable winners usually encountered heartbreaking obstacles before they triumphed. They won because they refused to become discouraged by their defeat.”
~ B. C. Forbes

“You’re not obligated to win. You’re obligated to keep trying to do the best you can every day.”
~ Marina Wright Edelman

4 Simple Steps

Hill describes four simple steps to develop the habit of persistence. These four little steps can have an enormous change on your lifestyle. The four steps are:

  1. A WHY. Your definite purpose coupled with a burning desire to accomplish it.
  2. A definite plan in which you consistently put action to.
  3. Closing your mind to all negative and discouraging influences.
  4. Forming an alliance with one or more persons to keep you accountable.

That is it, that’s all it takes to develop a habit of persistence. Once you develop this habit your belief will grow until you develop faith. When you know the feeling of faith, you will know that nothing can stop you from achieving your desire. Your life is going to change for the better, it’s just a matter of time. What’s the meaning of persistence? It’s quite simple. Persistence equals SUCCESS.

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Cites

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“Persistence, The Sustained Effort Necessary To Induce Faith” Think and Grow Rich: The Complete Classic Text, by Napoleon Hill, Jeremy P. Tarcher/Penguin, 2008, pp. 217-242.

Sir Ernest Shackleton: An Inspiration

Episode 34: The Inspiring Sir Ernest Shackleton

I hope you enjoy episode 34 of my podcast, Sir Ernest Shackleton: An Inspiration. A few weeks ago I was reading the book, Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill. It is one of my favorite books and I read it over and over. (You can purchase it from Amazon by clicking on the icon, hint hint, wink wink). In chapter 14, The Sixth Sense is about using your creative imagination. Hill created a mastermind group in his imagination. These were people that he admired, some alive and others long gone. They were people like Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, and Abraham Lincoln. This got me thinking about people who inspire us.

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Hill was inspired by his mastermind group and would even have roundtable council meetings in his mind. During these meetings, he would have imaginary conversations with the members. Each one had a different quality that he admired. By doing this, he opened up his creative mind and came up with ideas on things he could accomplish. I began thinking about different people who I admired and who have inspired me throughout my life. So I decided to write about these inspirational people. They are people who overcame obstacles and were great leaders. I have learned great lessons from them. They have set excellent and inspirational examples for me to follow.

An Inspirational Leader

I will begin with an incredible leader, Sir Ernest Shackleton. Shackleton was born in 1874 in Kildare, Ireland. He was an Antarctic explorer who attempted to reach the South Pole. He joined Robert Scott’s expedition in 1901 and took part in the sledge journey across the Ross Ice Shelf. In January 1908, he led an expedition to Antarctica but was prevented from reaching their intended based site by the ice. On that expedition, he later led a sledging party to within 112 miles (180 km) of the South Pole. Due to their success in claiming the Victoria Land plateau for Britain, he was knighted on his return.

I first heard of Ernest Shackleton when I was given a book titled Endurance. You can also get this book by clicking on the icon to the right. (Another wink). The book, written by Alfred Lansing, is well written and inspirational. It entails the 1914 ill-fated expedition to Antarctica led by Shackleton. They proceeded from England aboard the ship, Endurance. The expedition had planned to make the first crossing of Antarctica. They would travel via the South Pole from the Weddell Sea to McMurdo Sound.

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Endurance

Trapped

The Endurance became trapped in the ice and drifted for 10 months. Eventually, the ice crushed the powerful ship. Shackleton and his men then drifted for another five months on ice floes. Running low on food and supplies, they escaped in boats to uninhabited Elephant Island.

Knowing their only hope for survival was a dangerous journey across the sea, Shackleton and five men set out in a whaleboat. Their destination was the tiny island of South Georgia. There was a whaling station where they could find help. South Georgia was 800 miles from Elephant Island. The journey took 16 days across a rough and dangerous ocean. Through expert navigation, they landed on the south side of South Georgia.

An Arduous Journey

Although elated to have reached their destination, Shackleton knew their ordeal was not over. The whaling station was on the north side of the island. They would have to cross rugged terrain to reach it. It had been 16 months since the Endurance had become trapped in the ice. The six men set out and eventually reached the whaling station. The whalers couldn’t believe their eyes when these six ragged men walked into their station.

Shackleton never forgot about the men they left behind on Elephant Island. He worried about them every day. Despite his lack of strength he wanted to set sail and rescue them right away. The weather wouldn’t allow for a return trip at that time. Shackleton never gave up. He made four unsuccessful attempts at rescuing his men.

Rescue!

Four months later Shackleton’s perseverance paid off and they successfully arrived at Elephant Island. Shackleton couldn’t believe his eyes when he saw that all his men were alive. They survived despite the lack of food sources and water on this barren island. All his men were loaded onto the ship and they embarked to Chile.

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You can see why I titled this podcast Sir Ernest Shackleton: An Inspiration. Sir Ernest Shackleton displayed extraordinary leadership in saving all his men. He is an inspirational figure in which I admire greatly. His unmatched perseverance is a lesson that we should all learn. Persevering and overcoming all obstacles is the key to success. Shackleton had a definitive purpose, rescuing his men, and nothing was going to stop him. He was dedicated to his men and put their needs before his. This is the definition of a leader.

I hope you enjoyed Sir Ernest Shackleton: An Inspiration. Do you have any particular person who inspires you? Are there people that you admire and help you on your journey? If so, leave a comment below and let me know. Always enjoy reading your comments.

The Importance Of Retirement Planning

I have been retired for seven years now and I enjoy every minute of it. I retired when I was 53 years old but could have (and should have) retired at the age of 50. There has been a lot to learn in my retirement. I can describe my retirement in one word, options. There are unlimited options for me now that I didn’t have when I worked for the government. I can be or do anything I want now. Today I want to discuss the importance of retirement planning.

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Planning For Retirement

When I was working, I attended a pre-retirement seminar a couple of years before I retired. We were allowed to request attendance five years before our minimum retirement date. At the end of the seminar, I wrote on my evaluation that it was great information. The only problem was we needed the information sooner. It was too late for a lot of people to do what was needed for a comfortable retirement. Here are five things to do for a comfortable retirement.

  1. Begin Planning Early.
  2. Develop Specialized Knowledge and Skills.
  3. Find a Good Financial Planner.
  4. Begin Saving Early.
  5. Pay off Your Mortgage.

Begin Planning For Retirement Early

When I started my career I was 23 years old. Two things that I never thought were going to happen back then were: I would retire; I would get old. When you’re young you never think about getting old but it is inevitable. It happens to all of us. Importance of retirement planning is crucial. Starting your career is when you should start planning for your retirement. Begin thinking about what you want to do and how you want to live when that day finally comes.

Beginning your plan early will allow you to adjust to everything life throws your way. Sometimes life throws you the good things, marriage, children, etc. Other times the bad things death, injury, sickness, etc. Good things and bad will affect your retirement. By planning for the future early in your career you can minimize the impact.

Specialized Skills And Knowledge In Retirement

During my 30 year career, I developed certain skills and knowledge. After I retired I learned that most of my skills and knowledge didn’t transfer to my new life. If you have generalized skills and knowledge, you will learn that everyone is retired with the same skills. There’s a lot of competition. Finding your niche will help you stand out against the competition. I suggest that you research throughout your career skills that are needed in the private sector. Take courses and study those skills to gain the knowledge that you need.

A Financial Planner Is Important

Find a good financial planner. Unless you are an expert on finances you will need a financial planner. They can help you make the right decisions with your money. This will allow you to keep as much money as you can before retirement. It is a big change to go from knowing a check is coming every two weeks to a smaller check once a month. You will need to supplement your retirement with other sources of income if you want to maintain your current lifestyle.

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Save Early And Often

Begin saving as early as you can. The earlier you begin the more money you will have in retirement. I always put money into my Thrift Savings Account, which is the government 401(k). If I had to do it over again I would maximize my contributions. In retirement, you can use your savings to supplement your retirement. I withdraw a certain amount every month. Because the stock market has done so well, my savings have increased.

Saving early is probably the most important thing you can do. I recommend setting a goal for the amount of money you want to save before retirement. For me, the best thing was having it withdrawn from my paycheck and placed into my account. Out of sight, out of mind. Since I never saw the money it was like it never existed. My savings account would grow every two weeks without me doing anything.

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Eliminate That Big Debt

Pay off your mortgage. My mortgage is my biggest expense as it is for most people. Since I transferred a lot during my career I was not able to pay off my last mortgage. I bought houses and sold houses; made and lost money. If I had stayed in one location, in the same house, I wouldn’t have to worry about a mortgage now. I think about what I could do in the places I could go if I didn’t have a mortgage. If at all possible, pay off your mortgage before you retire.

These are just five things I wish I had known before retirement. One can’t overstate the importance of retirement planning. I am not an expert on retirement or financial planning. I hope that you will begin thinking about retirement now that you are young and not wait until it’s too late. Do your research, make a plan, and find a financial planner to help you. Always remember to start saving early.

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