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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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“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.

April 25, 2021October 11, 2021

InspireChief10 Comments

Leadership Qualities Of Abraham Lincoln

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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.

leadership-qualities-lincoln-statue-night

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

April 21, 2021April 21, 2021

InspireChief5 Comments

Negative Personality Traits Part 2

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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.

negative-personality-traits-2-scrabble-letters-not-faults

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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April 18, 2021April 21, 2021

InspireChief3 Comments

Negative Personality Traits

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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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April 14, 2021April 29, 2021

InspireChief8 Comments

What Does Persistence Mean?

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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.

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:

A WHY. Your definite purpose coupled with a burning desire to accomplish it.
A definite plan in which you consistently put action to.
Closing your mind to all negative and discouraging influences.
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.

April 11, 2021April 10, 2021

InspireChief5 Comments

Sir Ernest Shackleton: An Inspiration

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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.

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.

April 7, 2021April 10, 2021

InspireChief6 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.

Begin Planning Early.
Develop Specialized Knowledge and Skills.
Find a Good Financial Planner.
Begin Saving Early.
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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https://unsplash.com/@giorgiotrovato

April 4, 2021April 1, 2021

InspireChief6 Comments

How Do You Defeat Procrastination?

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How do you defeat procrastination? Action! In episode 33 of my podcast, I tackle the crippling effects of inaction. If you find yourself procrastinating and not working towards becoming a better you, you need to listen to this episode. Here is the link to my new podcast site, lessonslearntbecomingabetteryou.wordpress.com

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Defeating Procrastination

All right, you have decided to become the person others want to be. You’ve taken that first step on your journey. Goals have been set and you have written a detailed plan for accomplishing them. Now what? How are you going to get to that finish line? You see, it’s all a waste of time and energy if you don’t begin to do the work. You have to crack that egg to make your omelet. Congratulations! It’s time to take that first step on your journey to a new you.

This is the most important step, ACTION. Once you have made your decision to accomplish anything, 50% of the work is done. Congratulations once again, you are already halfway there. The other 50% comes from the action of getting it done.

It’s great that you have set your goals, written a good plan, and are ready to change. Unfortunately, nothing will change without ACTION. You must do the work. This is what stops most people. They are unwilling to do the work and make the sacrifices. This is why only 1% of people succeed. You are not like most people. It is inside you to get moving and take that step.

A Small Change Can Defeat Procrastination

A small change in your thought process can result in a large change in your lifestyle. That change is called ACTION. Inaction creates procrastination. Why do you procrastinate?

You have to get out of your comfort zone.

You have a fear of failure.

The fear of success.

Defeat Procrastination By Getting Out Of Your Comfort Zone

Moving out of your comfort zone is difficult. It’s called a comfort zone for reason, it’s comfortable. You don’t like to be uncomfortable, nobody does. But it’s necessary for change.

Whenever you decide to do anything significant, like change, you experience a fear of failure. This is common. Those annoying little Doubt Demons will come out of hiding, repeating those thoughts of failure. “What if I fail, what will people say?”

Procrastination also comes from a fear of success. Many people do not see themselves as being successful. What will happen in your life if you succeed in accomplishing your goal? How will your life change? If your business becomes successful, how will that impact your time? Your family? You will have to deal with these fears before you can take that first step.

Other Reasons

Other reasons for inaction and procrastination can be:

Your goal is overwhelming.

It’s too complicated.

The timing isn’t right.

Goals can be overwhelming. Think about if your goal is to become a published author. The thought of coming up with an exciting plot and intriguing characters that keep the reader engaged. Writing 50,000 to 100,000 words can be staggering.

When you start on a new journey there can be a learning curve. Your goal can seem too complicated. If you decide to start a new business, you might not know what it takes to run a business. You will have to spend a lot of time studying and learning.

The Timing Is Never Right

Probably the greatest cause of procrastination is timing. You want to change your life, but today is not the best day to start. You don’t feel prepared. Equipment needs to be bought. How to Books need to be read. You decide to begin an exercise program to lose weight. Procrastination sets in because you don’t have the right clothes.

defeat-procrastination-scrabble-letters-tomorrow

I’m here to tell you that all the reasons outlined above are one thing. EXCUSES! They all stink.

There Is One Way To Defeat Procrastination

There is one way to defeat procrastination which is created by inaction and you know what it is. ACTION! When you take that first step and put your plan to action, it does some marvelous things to your mindset.

It conquers your fears.

Provides you with the knowledge of how you’re going to accomplish your goal.

K. I. S. S. Things become simpler.

You will eliminate all excuses.

It will ignite a passion within you.

Stepping out of your comfort zone will become tolerable.

You will learn how to embrace failure.

Action will chase those Doubt Demons back into their hiding place. You will be able to control and conquer all your fears.

Focus On WHY

Focusing on your WHY will keep you from worrying about how you’re going to accomplish your goals. You will learn new things and techniques to put your plan into motion.

Your mind will take your overwhelming goal and break it down. You will look at your project in smaller more manageable bits. How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. (Please don’t try to eat an elephant. They are magnificent and there aren’t enough of them.)

All the excuses that caused you to procrastinate will become trivial. With ACTION you will begin to eliminate your excuses one by one. Pretty soon they will be all gone.

The greatest reward of taking the first step in putting your plan into ACTION is passion. It will ignite a passion within you to achieve your goal. Once you have lit this passion, you become unstoppable.

Stepping out of your comfort zone is hard. Possibly, one of the hardest things you do. Once you’re out, you realize that you can survive. Even though it might not be comfortable taking ACTION, you find that it is tolerable.

Failure is going to happen. Anyone who has ever accomplished anything great has had many failures along the way. The reason that they were successful was that they persevered. You are going to have failures and setbacks along the way. Embrace your failures, don’t hide from them. Don’t use them as an excuse to quit. Once you fail, you are closer to success. They are just steppingstones along the way.

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March 31, 2021July 5, 2021

InspireChief13 Comments

The Fragility Of the Human Body

I have been unexpectedly absent from publishing my blog and podcast all due to an unplanned hospital stay and surgery. The human body is a remarkable thing that we don’t give a second thought to until something goes wrong. I didn’t have a clue that there was something wrong with my digestive system until everything shut down. When it happened, I became aware of the fragility of the human body. It doesn’t take much to go from feeling normal to ending up in the hospital.

The Fragility of the Human Body

It all started on February 19th. I had no indication anything was wrong when I went to bed. About two hours later I woke up in my stomach was distended and in pain. I then felt that familiar taste in the back of my throat that told me I needed to head to the bathroom. After vomiting everything that was in my stomach, I felt better and went back to bed. It didn’t last long and I was back up and headed to the bathroom for another round.

I lost track after seven trips and spent the whole next day in bed. Anytime I would drink anything you would come back up. Thinking that I had a stomach virus, I continue to stay in bed the next day and was able to hold down water only. I awoke on Monday morning, the 22^nd and we headed to the emergency room.

Easy Peasy

Once in the emergency room, I was told that I had a small bowel obstruction. The doctor said they could normally remove the obstruction by inserting a tube into my stomach. I was okay with this because I thought it was going to be like an endoscopy where they knock you out, fix the problem, take out the tube, and wake you up. I was feeling pretty good.

That all came crashing down when the nurse came in and asked if the doctor explained the procedure. I told her what I thought was going to happen and she gave me a wicked smile. She then proceeded to tell me that I would be awake and the tube would be inserted up my nose, down my esophagus, and into my stomach.

Gagging

She then left and came back with another nurse and told me that the worst part was when the tube gets to the back of the throat. This triggers the gag reflex. They failed to tell me how much it hurts having something shoved up your nose. My nose started bleeding and I was using paper towels to stop it when they hit the gag reflex. I then began gagging uncontrollably. One nurse said, “You’ll get used to it in about an hour.” So for the next hour every time I felt the tube touched the back of my throat, I would gag. On a side note, gagging has to be one of the most unflattering looks a person can have.

Admitted

So I was admitted into the hospital with the hopes that by starving the small intestine it would shrink and remove the obstruction on its own. One day they pumped contrast into my stomach to see if it would pass through to the colon. It eventually made it through but at one point they could see it was slowing down and backing up. This meant the obstruction was still there.

Surgery

After almost a week in the hospital, they decided that it wasn’t going to clear up on its own and I would have to have surgery. I was taken to the operating room right away and woke up about six hours later and taken to ICU. He spent a few days in ICU and slowly began to feel better. They removed the tube in my nose which was a big relief. The next day they removed the catheter and transferred me to a regular room.

I was placed on a clear liquid diet and after not eating anything for nine days it tasted like a gourmet meal. After another week of recovering in the hospital, they let me go home. I felt good other than having no energy. Now I’m getting a little better every day but they tell me that it will take 2 to 3 months before I’m back to normal. It was a lot of trauma that my body went through and I’m not a spring chicken anymore. Going to try my best to get back to scheduling my blogs and podcasts twice a week. I will take things slowly but I am positive I will be back to my old self sooner rather than later. My message to you is to take care of yourself and never underestimate the fragility of the human body

Cites

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March 23, 2021March 23, 2021

InspireChief28 Comments

Quotes About Overcoming Fear With Faith

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If you have been following some of my blog posts, then you are familiar with the term faith over fear. Faith is what gives me the confidence that I can handle any situation. Faith gives you the confidence that everything will turn out alright. You know that it will work out in your favor. Therefore, you don’t worry about any negative things that happen along the way. Faith is what keeps those irritating “Doubt Demons” locked in their little dark spaces. No matter how bad things are today, you know that tomorrow is a new day. Tomorrow can be the day when things take a turn for the better. These quotes about overcoming fear with faith will help you conquer all obstacles in your journey to self-improvement.

“Fear has two meanings: ‘Forget Everything And Run’ or ‘Face Everything And Rise.’ The choice is yours.”
~ Zig Ziglar

What you fear is what you must conquer.
~ Lailah Gifty Akita

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“The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.”
~ Nelson Mandela

Fear vs Faith Quotes

Faith builds your confidence. Fear tears it down. To accomplish great achievements you must carry faith with you. As you begin a new venture it can seem overwhelming, almost impossible. To turn it into a reality you will need confidence in yourself and everyone helping you. Everything is possible with faith. In 1969 we sent three astronauts to the moon. Two of the astronauts, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin actually landed and walked on the moon. Michael Collins flew the command capsule. This was a phenomenal feat. When they were given the “green light” to launch in July 1969, many scientists and experts thought we were years away from being ready. It took a lot of faith and confidence from the astronauts, engineers, scientists, and mathematicians to proceed on this historic event. In fact, experts only gave them a 50 percent chance of making it back alive.

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”
~ Deuteronomy 31:6

“I have learned over the years that when one’s mind is made up, this diminishes fear; knowing what must be done does away with fear.”
~ Rosa Parks

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Faith vs Fear, It’s Your Choice

If the people that were involved in the moon landing had focused on their fears, that event would have never happened. Faith and fear are the same things, a choice. You can choose fear and do nothing or you can choose faith and accomplish great things. Fear will keep you right where you’re at, in your comfort zone. Faith will give you the confidence to control your fears and succeed. When you make that decision to change your life, see the outcome that you want, and have faith that it’s going to happen. Does that mean there won’t be obstacles along the way? No, but faith will get you through them. Focusing on your fears will have you turning around and going back to your old, comfortable life.

“Do the thing we fear, and death of fear is certain.”
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Do the thing you fear to do and keep on doing it… that is the quickest and surest way ever yet discovered to conquer fear.”
~ Dale Carnegie

Changing and making the decision to improve your life is hard. You will encounter doubts and fears. I pray that these quotes about overcoming fear with faith will help you conquer all obstacles in your journey to self-improvement. Listen to the podcast above where I go more in-depth on faith vs fears.

March 3, 2021March 20, 2021

InspireChief27 Comments