Basic rules for success
Basic Rules for Success 1 Having a vision is essential to living with meaning. Successful people are those that know and apply the basic rules of achievement. Since we stand on the platform of fresh beginnings in this month of January, the next few articles are reminders on exactly what these basics are. Even if you know these principles, they are such powerful and fundamental truths that everyone needs to hear them over and over. The first principle is this: without vision you're going nowhere. A five-year vision is a minimum starting point. Before you even start thinking about setting goals for this year, you must build your 2007 vision first. The captain of a plane takes off from the airport knowing exactly where he/she is headed in the long term, and it is this final destination that defines the moment-by-moment route. This success principle works for all aspects of living, from building construction to personal achievement, and if you do not have a clear concept of your ultimate objective, now's the time to be working at finding some answers in this regard. If you have already set your goals for 2002, ditch them for the moment so that you can really benefit from the exercise I'm going to take you through in the next few articles. Close your eyes and imagine your ideal lifestyle, the life of your dreams. What would you be doing each day? Where would you be doing it, and with whom? What you see in your mind becomes your vision for 2007. Even if you only have one insight, for instance getting married, that's ok. Don't fall into self-doubt or start beating yourself up because you don't know your way forward. Negative thoughts close the creative circuits of your mind, so keep your mind open and positive, all the while asking "where do I need to be in 5 years time?" For those of you who know exactly what you want, great, just put these ideas on paper. Having a vision not only cues your moment-by-moment decisions, but gives your life meaning and direction. My own life took a turn for the better the instant I took hold of the possibility that I could live my ideal life, and I created a vision of uplifted possibility to guide me. From that time, in 1984, I went from strength to strength, building myself up from a struggling single parent with no job, up the corporate ladder to heading up a multi-million Rand company. It was the vision, and the hope and joy it inspired in my heart and mind, that kept me going. Success has a cost, and we are only prepared to pay that price if we can see the payoff clearly in our mind's eye. The vision is that pay off, so make sure you see it in all its glory. My goal was to be the boss, and I used to imagine I was presenting in the boardroom to a group of employees who admired my business acumen immensely. I used to imagine arriving home in a red BMW, the picture of dynamic success, my briefcase in hand. At the time of laying out this vision, the possibility was laughable to others, but through holding the vision clearly before me, I'm the one with the smile on my face now! Only once you have defined your 2007 vision, are you able to set relevant goals for 2002. By assessing what needs to be accomplished this year in order for 2007 dreams to come true, you define appropriate goals for this year, goals which take you in the right direction long term. Don't put off this project. Setting your long term vision is the most important thing you could ever do. Done positively, it opens you up to fulfilling your greater life purpose - and that's a place of optimal motivation and real peace of mind.
Basic Rules for Success 2 Build yourself the most amazing dream This week I continue with the second part of the series on the basic rules of achievement. Last week we established that a long-term vision, minimum 5 years, is the first rule. Out of this vision, our short term goals flow, and by now you should have written a whole long list of both. The next rule of achievement is profiling your vision in a way that awakens and cues your creative power. Start this profiling exercise by prioritising your plans. Trying to complete 20 goals simultaneously will put you into confused overload, and what started out great, will end up a flop. Once your priorities have been established, you need to go beyond your written description to create a 'dream board' – a visual depiction of how you want your life to be. Using a big piece of cardboard, cut and paste pictures that illustrate your 2007 vision, and 2002 goals. You can use photo's, pictures from magazines or hand drawn images. Write a few words underneath each picture, describing what you want. Use words that create mental pictures of the desired outcomes or behaviour. For instance if your goal is to diet to loose weight, instead of writing down "I do not eat fatty foods", rather write "I loose weight by eating the vegetables and fruit". A good rule of thumb is not to use the word "not" when you do this exercise. The dream board project is a fun, inspiring task, and at the beginning of each year I not only settle down to construct my own dream board, but when my children were little, helped them build their own dream boards as well. We all spent several very happy hours dreaming about positive possibilities for our lives. But the benefits of this exercise go way and beyond the physical construction of the board, since, as we cut and paste and dream, we also start to build mental maps of these hopes and plans - and it is these mental maps that provide the creative power and magic. The human mind is goal seeking. If we have no goals, or do not imprint our goals into our minds properly, the mind will use as it's goal the unconscious and often negative beliefs introduced during our childhood years. When I was a young mother I was astounded at some of my responses to children's behaviour. Sometimes I heard my mother and sometimes it was like my father was speaking through me. My mind had stored all my childhood models of parenting, and I was just playing this out – without even trying! This is a classic example of how our minds use things of the past to achieve goals of the future, and I was only able to change my parenting behaviour once I'd set a new parenting vision for myself. By continually referring to this vision, I was able to re-pattern and change my parenting style. This is the process for all of us, for every aspect of our lives. First we set the vision clearly, and then we integrate it into our inner-selves through repeating referring to it. Only once internalised, can it materialise. In order to harness the incredible power of your mind to help you fulfil your dreams and hopes it's essential to spend quality time imprinting your vision into your mind. The dream board helps this process immensely.
Basic Rules for Success 3 Inner vision is the genesis of creation We continue with the basic rules of achievement and success. The more you are reminded of them, the more likely you are to take action on them. Firstly, success asks us to have a 5-year vision, one which then directs the formation of this year's goals. The second rule is to create a dream board depicting your prioritised goals, and I explained how to do that last week. Since the dream board offers a method of instructing the creative mechanism within, it becomes a very important success tool, the importance of which cannot be emphasized enough.. Every day - morning and evening - take time out to look at your dream board and allow your mind to imagine how fantastic your life will be when these plans come together. Close your eyes and allow these positive images to fill your being – and hold those pictures clear in your mind's eye and feel the joy of that possibility. Whilst you might at first find your mind wandering off, in truth, visualisation is in fact the most natural thing in the world to do. I remember as a child I dearly wanted my own horse. At night as I drifted off to sleep I used to imagine buying it, where and how I would ride it, and what fun I would have. Imagining these things made me happy, and my sister tells me I used to drop off to sleep with a sweet smile on my face. But sweet dreams should not be confined to childhood, they should continue on, and become the call to better of our adult years. Sadly most adults have got so bogged down in the humdrum aspects of living, that they have stopped this natural process of dreaming big dreams. Today's the day to change. Dreaming is a fundamental part of success, and your dream board offers a way to awaken your natural abilities again. The ultimate intent of the dream board is to create compelling, powerful and permanent mental images of your ideal life. The dream board is the outer manifestation that is held up as the model for your mind to absorb. Psychologist say that painting up new mental images takes 21 days of repetition – minimum – so, if you're committed to success, you must become committed to washing your mind with your dream board images for the next three weeks – day in, day out. Simply stated, if you wish to achieve your goals, your goals have to live in your head and heart. Repetition does this. Put your dream board up in a convenient place where you will not only be able to do your daily 'dream work', but where you will see it often. I put my dream board up in my bedroom, and this ensures that I see it first thing in the morning and last thing at night - and every time I walk into the bedroom. I often pass it and say 'that's where I'm going!' Not only does the dream board give you a sense of hope and excitement, but it provides valuable guidance for your day-to-day decisions. Each time you have to make a choice, whether it is life changing or only small, look at your dream board and ask "what choice will ultimately lead me to achieve this vision". Success is not only for a few. Success is about applying a few simply forumla's, and building and holding a mental dream is such a formula. All it needs now is disciplined action on your part. You can do it!
Basic Rules for Success 4 Positive words create positive power This is part 4 in a series of articles covering the basics rules of success. So far we have established that creating a five-year vision, with supporting yearly goals, is the starting point. Fleshing this vision out on a dream board is the next step, and this dream board then becomes the outside model used to create new inner images and expectations. Getting the vision powerfully imprinted in your inner world comes about through repeatedly spending time looking at your dream board, and then closing your eyes and imaging yourself in this ideal life. Aside from this process of deliberate imagination, spend at least 5 minutes a day doing what I call "positive self talk" in support of your vision and goals. There is tremendous creative energy in words. Lyall Watson tells a remarkable story about words in his book SuperNature. He recounts how a man living in the UK battled to find a cure for a strange illness that struck his daughter. He went from doctors, to homeopaths, spiritual healers and more - without finding a relief for her - as he did this, he started saying "I'd give my right arm to see my daughter cured". Over and over he would say this, and it became his daily mantra. After months and months of repeatedly this mantra, he and his daughter were in a car crash, which the local press reported as a 'freak accident' - during the smash this man's right arm was inexplicably ripped off his body. At that moment, his daughter was instantly cured. He got what he had said over and over, and this dramatic story illustrates the power of words. Lyall Watson goes on to explain research done on words where various vowel sounds were projected over some evenly spread iron filings. In response to the sound, the iron filings 'rearranged' themselves to create a clear and unique shape for each sound. Interestingly enough the shape created for the sound 'o', was the same round circle that we use to write an 'o'. Words have the power to take form, and both the story and the research, show us just how much power they really have. Words are the building blocks - and vitamin boost – of your 5 year vision. The words you speak about yourself and your plans are commands to the rich and creative ethers in which we live, but they also instruct your subconscious mind in the process. If your words are positive, your subconscious responds by injecting positive energy into your system. If your words are negative, negative energies power your system down. In this way you either energise or make yourself tired. So, in the same way that you wrote your goals without using the word 'not', start to speak only positive words of power about your vision, framing things in the present tense. If your dream is to get a bigger house, your self talk could be something like 'I live in my perfect house which I obtain with ease'. Note, that although you do not already live in your dream house, you refrain from saying 'I will' because this puts the action into the future, whereas the magic of the mind needs to see the vision in the now. Once again, repetition is the corner stone to creating this new reality. So now you have the fourth success technique. It's simple, yet powerful. It's easy to bring into your daily living, and yet produces superb results.
Basic Rules for Success 5 Just do it! This is Part 5 of the current series on the basic principles of success. The truth about truth is that, at some level, we all know it already. We just need to be reminded. And today's principle is just such a reminder. 'Just do it!' is a success principle popularised by Nike and is my topic today. Many people have stunning ideas that could lead to happiness and wealth. Others are so creative that they could become artistic icons in no time. But most people are waiting for some magic moment in order to do anything with these ideas or talents. People think that taking action comes AFTER feeling inspired and positive. Nothing could be further from the truth. I'm not denying that there are times when it's like someone just switched on the light, the music and the opportunities - all at the same time. And yes, at these times your vision is so real and compelling taking bold and decisive action is easy. But unfortunately many, and most who ache for a different and better life, do not experience this, and are waiting for an ideal moment before doing anything to improve their lives. They don't start that business because the economy is too bumpy - nor begin that novel because there's no enough time in the day. Life doesn't come in perfect packages - don't die waiting for that perfect moment! It has been said that 'Knowledge without practise makes half an artist' and success calls us to take action without guarantees, and without perfect circumstances. It's often that those faith filled moments of action hold the most potential. There are times when I sit down to write this column feeling the opposite of motivated and inspired. Since I have a deadline and a commitment however I sit at my PC and start to write - but the words don't flow - it's like there are no words. My mind does cartwheels and flikflacks trying to latch onto a theme that will say 'hello' to my readers. But I keep writing, and as the page gets longer the flow starts, and words start to stream into my mind without effort, and the message starts to seep onto the page. And so it is. First we act, then the good stuff happens. If you wish to feel motivated, act motivated. If you wish to study, enrol today. If you wish to get fit, put on those takkies and hit the road. Without action, your talents and abilities, hopes and dreams will waste away to nothing. You deserve better so let these words written in 1832 by Johann von Goethe stir you to a moment of brilliance and action. "Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation) there is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: "the moment one definitely commits oneself then Providence moves too." All sorts of things occur to help one that otherwise would not have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favour all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material incidents, which no one could have dreamt would have come their way. Whatever you do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Begin it now.'
Basic Rules for Success 6 Little sips of recognition are the oxygen of motivation and endurance This is the sixth article in this series on the basic rules of achievement. Today's rule is key to ensuring that you can keep going for the 5 years that your new vision covers as you stretch excitedly toward a new and better life. It's easy to get fired up and enthusiastic in the early stages of setting the vision and working the rules, but what really counts is the ability to keep going over time. Research has revealed that there's no better way of doing this than by feeding yourself little 'sips' of achievement and recognition. Think about it! Don't you feel fabulous when someone comes by your desk and raves about something you have just done? And there's those moments when you have bust a gut to get the garden neat, tidy and pretty, and when you sit back and admire your handiwork – man it feels great! It changes your body chemistry and builds enthusiasm for life. But our natural inclination is to look to the world outside ourselves for recognition, and this is where many people lose their way. Truly successful people do not wait for others to give them what they want and need. Truly successful people take ownership for getting it themselves. You need to set out deliberately to recognise your own achievements. You need to own your feelings of motivation and enthusiasm. I have developed a daily checklist which includes about 10 really important matters that I need to do every day – for instance exercise is one, and making a certain number of client contacts is another. As I go though my day, I continually look for opportunities to tick one of those important items on my strategic checklist. So the minute I finish my stint at the gym, I tick the list. At the end of a client contact I tick the list again. Each time I do this I give myself a powerful reminder that I am moving toward my specified goals in life - I am recognising my work and acknowledging my achievement. And this is an example of how to take ownership for feeding yourself those little 'sips' of recognition and achievement. By approaching your day in this way you make sure that you are motivated to go the distance – one day at a time. It's the small things that count in life, and its vital that you use the little things you do each day to build the bigger picture. And the research supports this, since it shows that both the motivator of recognition and achievement, are short lasting. So don't fall into the trap of attributing recognition with glittering events with fanfares and crowds. In the same way, achievement isn't only about getting a large and significant project completed. Both these key motivators can be found in the small everyday events of life, and if you are to become all you wish to be, working at this level is a must. To life a rich and full life, make everyday count.
To have a sense of purpose and power, acknowledge your achievements and
recognise your abilities. When you start doing this you put yourself in
the driving seat of life. Bring Cosmic Possibilities into your life As in all things in life, success and happiness rest on applying simple truths, and it is these simple truths that I have been exploring since the beginning of the year. Today's final basic rule of success asks us to work with our 'total selves'. We often think of success in the context of mind -what we think, body - what we do, and emotion - what we feel. But thinking across these three elements only, is a severe limitation to personal growth. In order to reach our highest possibility in life, we need to deliberately bring our spiritual selves into the equation. Not actively working with your spirit is like taking delivery of a newly purchased car and then trying to drive it for the rest of its life on the original tank of petrol. Not possible. In the same way that we top up our petrol tank from a greater resource, the local garage, we need to top up our personal resources from the greater resource of cosmic energy. We need to get spirit fuel. And this is not about religion, it's about a mindfulness each day we need to invest in maintaining and building our spirit. Success depends upon it. The go-go lifestyle of modern man leaves very little time for inner contemplation and quietness. And leaving your spirit work to the moment you collapse tiredly into bed is just not enough. If we wish to be highly motivated and truly successful, connecting to our spirit should come first in the day. Just three minutes of closing your eyes, stopping the endless chatter of the conscious mind, and going to the still centre within, is enough to replenish your cosmic energy reserves in a really powerful way. Once you are connected in this way, you follow the leadings of spirit simply by following your gut feel, intuition. Intuition is the cosmic guidance system given to us to help us navigate our lives in the most optimal way. When we ignore it, we create difficulties and obstacles for ourselves. I ignored it one day and got attacked while walking in the forest. From that day on I started listening in earnest, and now I take action on that quiet inner voice. As a result I have achieved more in my life than I would ever have dreamed possible. The more we spend those vital minutes of connecting to our spirit selves in the morning, the clearer we hear the voice of higher possibility, and have the energy to make it happen. When we bring spirit matters into our daily mix we change clever thinking to visionary ideas; turn great actions to moments of mastery; and transform feelings of happiness into an experience of unbounded joy. Here are the 7 rules:
It simple. It's true. It works. If you keep focussed on practising the basics, success is yours for the taking © Catherine M Glennie
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