August 29th, 2010 by Jim Donovan
Can you really increase your income by simply reading self-help books and listening to audio programs or is it just a bunch of hype designed by the people who write and record those books and programs?
Do these principles really work or is it just a lot of feel good, touchy feely rubbish?
Well, my friend, I can honestly tell you yes, you can! It does work and, in a moment, I will explain how and why. I can hear some of you more skeptical readers saying, sure, prove it. I will, I promise.
Napoleon Hill in his classic book, Think and Grow Rich, James Allen in As A Man Thinketh and Florence Scovel Shinn in The Game of Life all written in the 1920s, taught us we could use the power of our minds to become more successful.
Most of you, especially if you’ve been in business for a while, have probably been to a seminar on personal development. Seminars are great. I love going to them and I really love giving them since it gives me a way to share ideas with a live audience and meet new people, something I really enjoy doing.
The problem is, as I’m sure you’ve experienced, that a week or two after the seminar you are right back into your less-than-productive habits. You left the seminar all charged up and once the excitement wore off, you slipped back into your pre-seminar behavior. Reading books and listening to self-help programs is also a great practice but, like seminars, if it is not done on a regular basis it is not nearly as powerful. The operative word here is regular.
On-going Personal Development
The key is On-going Personal Development (OPD). The Japanese have a word, Kaizen, which means making small daily improvements in every area of your life. It is a principle taught to them by the late W. Edwards Demming who was sent by General Douglas MacArthur to help them rebuild their country after World War II. Since we have no word for this in English, I have chosen OPD, On-going Personal Development as a reminder to follow this formula for success.
It is not so much what you do sometimes that makes the difference, it is what you do daily. If you want to succeed, make a daily habit of reading and listening to self-help and inspirational books and audios. As little as 15-20 minutes a day can make a major difference. For one thing, you will begin your day (assuming you do this first thing in the morning) on a more positive note and secondly, you will, over time, have assimilated a lot of powerful, positive and thought provoking material.
Proof Positive
A number of years ago, my friend John came to visit me in my home office. It had been a while since I had seen him so, of course, I asked how he had been. “Great!” he replied, “My income went up over 15% in the last six months.”
Considering that John is in automobile sales and we were in the middle of the worst recession in decades, I had to learn more. I asked John how he did it and was a bit taken aback when he replied, “I went to a seminar.”
He went on to explain that the seminar leader suggested reading a self-help book for fifteen to thirty minutes a day. John, who had not read a book since school, bought the persons book and began reading every morning before going into the dealership where he worked. He would leave for work a half an hour early each day, sit outside in his car and read the book. That was the only change he made in his daily habits and his income went up by, in his case, $1,000 a month. By the way, that works out to $100 an hour for reading!
Why this works
It took me a while to fully understand what had taken place but it finally clicked one day. Imagine John, having just finished his daily ritual of reading an inspirational book, going into the showroom. He is in a positive, uplifted state and is cheerful.
The other salespeople are in the corner, whining about the recession. You’ve seen the scene, everyone stands around complaining about the situation instead of taking action to change it.
You, the buyer, enter the showroom. One one side is the group, kicking the coffee pot and looking grumpy. Across the room is John, bouncing around happy as can be. Now, let me ask you the critical question. Who do you want to buy your car from? Who are you most likely to gravitate toward? John, of course. Positive energy attracts people to it.
As a direct result of investing a little time each day on personal development (OPD), John increased his income and felt better in the process. The bonus is that this activity is cumulative. The more you do it, the better you feel.
Success leaves clues
One hundred percent of the self made millionaires (excluding people in the entertainment field) are committed to reading and listening to self help books and audios. The most successful direct sales companies have instituted a book/audio of the month program and encourage their people to participate.
How many books have you read this month? How many audios are in your car? Do you think it is a coincidence that top companies have a formal program of books and audios for their employees success?
Please share Read the rest »
July 29th, 2010 by Jim Donovan
The other day I posted a question on the social media sites about going through a period of big shifts and change, since I’ve noticed over the years that whenever I’m personally going through something, chances are many others are too. This reinforces the idea, referred to in all spiritual teachings, that we are all connected.
For me, this has meant taking a close look at my business and life’s work and refocusing on the core of who I am and what I do.
It resulted in my taking down a Web site or two and redesigning my main, www.JimDonovan.com, Web site.
I’m also eliminating one of my Facebook pages since it was a distraction. My official “Fan” page is here at Jim Donovan and it will remain so.
So, what’s been happening with you? I’d love to hear your comments and recent experiences. You can post them here.
If you are, like me and so many others, going through a business “reinvention,” you may want to ask yourself what I consider to be one of the most powerful questions you can ask.
This was asked of me back in 1997 when I was just starting out as an author and speaker by my, then, coach Beth Meininger, one of the best coaches I know.
I was going through a rough spot and trying to offer whatever services I thought would produce income for me. I’ve always been good at figuring out what service people want and finding a way to provide it, however, at this point in my business, this was not the best route for me to take.
Beth looked at me and asked, in her best coach tone, “Jim, what are you willing to let go of to make room for what you want?”
Let go? You must be kidding. As I wrote in a story in my first book, Handbook to a Happier Life, “The last thing I let go of had claw marks on it.”
My nature as an Entrepreneur is not to let go but rather, to hang on to as many things as possible. The problem is this will not get me, or you, where we want to go.
Over the years I’ve noticed a lot of solo business owners, particularly people in network marketing, trying to do several businesses at once. All this does is dilute your efforts and scatter your energies.
For me this means going back to those actions and activities that are what I consider to be my life’s purpose.
Back in 1992 I wrote that my purpose is,
“To create and communicate information which will have a positive effect on people’s lives, empowering and helping them reach their full potential as human beings.”
The essence of this has not changed. At this point in my life, it’s writing books and delivering seminars and trainings. Of course, this includes audio and video programs, tele-classes and whatever new media comes along to facilitate this mission in the future.
Are all your activities in alignment with who you are and what your mission is?
If so, great. If not, what will you change in order to live your true purpose at the highest level?
Please comment and post below.
Please share Read the rest »
April 5th, 2010 by Jim Donovan
In the more than two decades that I have been studying and later writing about personal development, worthiness is something that I have not seen discussed very often. Sure we all talk about dreams, goals, visions and the like, but whether or not you feel worthy of receiving your good will make all the difference in the world.
Perhaps it’s not discussed widely because we make assumptions, “of course I feel worthy.” Or is it that the subject itself is so complex and highly charged?
Whatever the reason, it is the one thing that can sabotage your best efforts and will, most likely, rear its ugly head at the worst possible time. In my live seminars, I often conduct a simple test using Applied Kinesiology (muscle testing). It’s a quick and accurate way to test your inner response to a statement, a food substance, or anything else. You can learn more about this in the book “Power Verses Force” by Dr. David Hawkins.
In my demonstrations, I ask the audience who would like to have a million dollars. Not surprisingly, lots of hands go up. I ask for a volunteer from the audience. When I test them for the phrase, “I would like to receive a million dollars” they typically test strong. However, when we test the phrase, “I deserve to have a million dollars,” most test weak, indicating they are not congruent with the idea.
One of the ways to remedy this is by using an energy releasing technique like Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) or other energy releasing techniques. You can learn more about EFT at the web site of the person who developed it, Gary Craig, at www.emofree.org
What about you?
Do you fell worthy of receiving your good? Are you open to receiving or are you pushing it away saying things like, “Money is not important.”
Of course it’s important, however, it’s only important for those things for which money is used.
No, it’s not more important than love, but with it, you can do more for your loved ones. No, it’s not more important than health, but with it, you can afford the best heath care.
No, it’s not more important than happiness, but take it from someone who’s been there, it’s a lot easier to be happy when your basic needs are met than it is when you’re struggling just to survive.
The other day I was speaking with a friend about the idea of receiving and feeling worthy. He is also a student of personal development and he shared some interesting ideas with me. When I mentioned to him that it would be great to have a larger sum of money to devote to marketing my new book, he asked me why I didn’t just ask for a benefactor.
Wow! Talk about having your comfort zone and beliefs challenged! I could not in my wildest imagination see myself doing this. It made me way to uncomfortable. I guess I haven’t master worthiness either.
What I did do however, having seen it on Steve Pavlina’s Web site, was to add a “donate” button on my web site and blog. Steve, by the way, writes some great personal development articles.
This made me so uncomfortable that it’s been more than a week and I haven’t told anyone about it until now.
Since I believe we need to do the things that we are uncomfortable doing, I am telling you. I used to have a button from a Tony Robbins seminar that read, “If I can’t, then I must.” I guess it stuck.
What about you? Do you feel worthy of receiving the good that God wants to give you? When a friend offers to buy you dinner, do you graciously accept or do you feel it necessary to say, “Let’s split the check?”
One way to get better at receiving, is to practice simply saying “thank you” when someone offers to do something for you or pays you a compliment and let them.
Remember that giving and receiving are two polarities on the same continuum and it is just as important to receive, as it is to give.
Most of us have been taught that it’s better to give than receive, maybe so but receiving is important also. One thing I learned, after writing this newsletter for more than 19 years, is that if I’m facing a personal challenge, chances are, other people are as well. Therefore, let’s all work on being better receivers of the abundance that is part of God’s Divine plan for us all.
“I have come that you should have life; and that you should have it abundantly.” John 10:10
Please post your comments below. I look forward to reading your opinion on this volatile issue that seems to affect so many people.
Please share Read the rest »
March 19th, 2010 by Jim Donovan
Have you ever noticed that there is no shortage of people willing to give you advice, whether or not you asked for it? I’ve developed some simple rules about from whom I will accept advice and suggestions.
I do not ask for heath advice from people who are sick, I do not ask for financial advice from people who are broke and I do not ask for business advice from people who are not in their own business.
Over the years I’ve watched hundreds of people go into a business venture and excitedly tell their family and friends about their new enterprise. Big mistake! How many of your friends and relatives own their own business? Probably few or none.
While they may be well intentioned and have your best interests at heart, their lack of knowledge and their own fears can sabotage your new venture.
If you want advice or input about a business, find someone who is successfully running their own business and ask them. Ask several people so you can obtain an objective view. When your choosing mentors or role models, be sure to seek out those people who have been there. Chose people who have “walked the walk” and have succeeded in doing what you want to do.
This applies as much to health, finance, education, relationships and pretty much any area of your life. If you want to be fit and healthy, do not seek advice from someone who is overweight, a smoker, and sick all the time.
Find a fit and healthy person and model them. I know this sounds overly simple and obvious, but it never ceases to amaze me how many people are listening to and even following the advice of people who do not know what they are talking about.
They are sadly listening to the person who is stuck in a dead-end job telling them why a business idea will not work.
They are listening to an overweight, sick person who is telling them that taking vitamins is a waste of money and they are listening to the person who is living paycheck to paycheck telling them how to become wealthy.
To ensure your success, make sure your role models are demonstrating in their own lives, the qualities you seek to develop.
If you want to learn the exact process that I used to change my life and create the life I now enjoy, take a look
Please share Read the rest »
February 26th, 2010 by Jim Donovan
You’re probably asking yourself, “Why would anyone want to push their goals away?” After all, goals represent what we want in our lives, right? It would seem so but in reality, we often set ourselves up to fail every time we think about a goal or something we want to have or do in our lives.
Mary thinks to herself, “I would really like to write my book” (the goal). Then, instead of basking in the good feelings associated with that worthy ideal, the very next thought that comes into her mind is “How will I ever do it? I have to take care of the kids and all. I barely have time to eat much less write a book.”
She has literally pushed the goal away in her mind even before it had a chance to settle in.
Fred thinks, “I’d really like to drop a few pounds and get in better shape” (the goal). Then, before his sub-conscious has a chance to work on attracting the goal to him, he thinks, “That will be hard and will take up even more of my time. I don’t have enough time as it is now.”
The two cases above are typical examples of how we often push our goals away, usually before they even have time to germinate.
You think to yourself, “I’d like a new car.” The very next thought is, “That’s ridiculous! I can’t even afford the car I have now.” If you want to live a magical life, attract your goals to you and have everything you want in life, you must change this reaction.
Whenever the little voice in your head rears its ugly head, tell it to sit down and be quiet. You must silence the negative, limiting thoughts in your mind. Even if your goal is totally outrageous, you must remain open to the possibilities of achieving it if you intend to succeed. There will be plenty of time for a “reality check” later.
Exercise – Goal Attraction
When you have a thought about something you want to have, be or do, write it in your journal, in the form of a question. For example, in the case of writing your book, you might write: “What can I do, right now, to begin working on my book?” or in the case of an exercise program, “What can I do, starting today, to begin to get in better shape, reach my ideal weight and enjoy the process?”
Do It Daily
Invest fifteen or twenty minutes each day thinking about your goal and asking yourself how you might accomplish it. Jot down whatever pops up into your mind. Even if an idea seems absurd, write it down anyway.
This simple technique has been used successfully by some of the greatest achievers throughout history. People like Thomas Edison, Andrew Carnegie and Henry Ford used this simple technique.
They called it, “sitting for ideas.” Whatever you choose to call it, it is well worth the time you spend doing it. You will find that the first couple of days are easy. You come up with al the logical ways to do what it is you want to accomplish. After about the third or fourth day, however, you may begin to run out of ideas.
Don’t Give Up
Don’t quit. Just sit for your allotted time period and let your sub-conscious mind feed you ideas. You may have a thought “pop into” your consciousness. You will surely uncover creative ways to accomplish your goal.
If you do this simple exercise for thirty days, you’ll have an arsenal of creative ideas from which to draw and you’ll be on your way to attracting your most cherished goal.
Please share Read the rest »
February 4th, 2010 by Jim Donovan
With the current economic challenges we’re all facing, too many small business owners are finding their business moving in the wrong direction.
In many cases, what were once growing, thriving businesses are now heading into a downward spiral of cutbacks, layoffs, and, in too many cases, bankruptcies. Owners are watching as their customers dwindle and revenues drop.
So, what can a small business owner who is trying to prosper in today’s climate do to turn things around?
While you may not be able to do much about the nation’s economy as a whole, there are proactive steps you can take, regardless of outside circumstances.
Following are three steps you can use to get started turning your business around and moving, once again, in the direction of growth and prosperity:
1. Change Your Focus
Beginning immediately, stop talking about anything that is not working. Stop defending and justifying why you’re not doing better. Stop blaming the economy or whatever else you deem to be the cause of your troubles. If something is not working, continuing to talk about it will cause you to start seeing more things going wrong and continue the downward spiral.
Ask only, “What’s working?” and continue asking every day. Make a list of what is working and have your team do the same, individually and as a group. Change the tone of your meetings. If you understand that you get more of whatever you focus upon, it’s obvious why you’ll want to do this.
2. Mine the Gold That’s Already in Your Business
Every business has “hidden” opportunities which can be mined, usually by either developing new markets for your products, creating new products, leveraging the relationships you’ve built, and joint venturing with colleagues, suppliers, customers and, yes, even competitors.
Ask yourself what new opportunities you could tap into if you expanded your e-commerce offerings and maximized the technology that’s available today. Does your Web site give visitors a compelling reason to subscribe to your mailing list? Are you utilizing email marketing and auto responders to their fullest? What about social media, social bookmarking, video, podcasting, blogging, and other “Web 2.0″ tools?
Your greatest opportunity for business growth, regardless of the economy, are the assets you already have in your business. From personnel, customers – past and present – relationships with colleagues and suppliers, and other “people” assets, to your investment in equipment and technology, the assets you’ve already built represent your greatest opportunity.
And the really good news is they will require the least in either time or money.
Of these “hidden” assets, your customers are the easiest and most obvious place to begin. Do you know who they are and why they do business with you?
This may seem like an obvious question, however, many businesses do not know who is buying from them or why. Once you’ve ascertained this, you’re in a position to explore how else you might serve them.
One of my favorite questions has always been, “is there anything else I can help you with?” This simple question can increase your business tenfold.
A friend of mine is a graphic designer and print broker. One day she asked her client this question to which the client replied, “Yes there is. Can you help us get some of those imprinted jackets with our logo on them?” She happily replied that she could and took the order. (hint: if you own a small business, the answer, within reason, is always, “Yes.” You can figure out later how to deliver.)
Don’t fall into the trap if thinking just because you’ve been around a while that people know everything you do. Often we “ass-u-me” that our customers know what we do.
Leverage
You can grow your business by leveraging your relationships with colleagues, suppliers, distributors and yes, even your competitors.
Several years ago I attended a demonstration at a local copier supplier. It was a huge success as a herd of people roamed throughout the building seeing live demos of the latest in office copiers.
While the local business hosted the event, their supplier provided the factory trained experts on hand to answer people’s questions.
Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, and Saks have regular “trunk shows” and make-up events to attract customers, again with the expertise provided by the manufacturers.
Faith Popcorn pointed out in her landmark book “The Popcorn Report” that people like entertainment while they shop.
What about your colleagues? Could a carpet or home cleaning company team up with a caterer and offer a holiday special?
Might a lawyer, accountant and banker put together a free event for their business customers? What could you do to leverage your business?
Do you have underused equipment sitting around? Many local newspapers whose presses are only used for a few hours a day, will take on outside printing jobs. Your typical weekly paper is most likely being printed on a daily newspaper’s presses.
Opportunities on the internet.
I’ve saved the best for last. If there is one area that is underutilized by small businesses, it’s your website. Ninety percent or more of local business websites that I’ve visited are nothing more than online brochures. I call them “Tombstones in Cyberspace.”
Contrast this against the sites used by internet marketers. Internet marketers, people whose business profits entirely or in part online, engage the customer with an array of techniques designed to keep them coming back, refer them to friends and leave them wanting more.
The typical offline business gets little if any internet traffic, mainly because their sites have not been setup properly or not even optimized for search engines.
What is even sadder is that if someone does manage to stubble upon their site, they have no way to connect with the visitor and develop an ongoing relationship.
Other than SEO, the easiest thing that you can do is set up some sort of “capture mechanism.” A simple subscription box connected to an auto responder will enable you to begin building a database of your customers and potential customers.
As my friend Vic Johnson, a highly successful Internet marketer who sells personal development information, said, “He who has the biggest list, wins! Or, as every online marketer knows, “the money is in the list.”
The really good part
Once you have put in place your strategy for developing your customer database, you can communicate with them at virtually no cost.
Compare this to the costs of direct mail, display advertising, radio, or TV and the advantages to email and other types of online communication are obvious.
A heating oil company, with a database of 600 prior customers, can blast an offer for a spring special to jump-start sales during their slow season, at practically no cost.
The restaurant owner who’s experiencing a slow Wednesday lunch business, can test offers for specials early that morning by sending to their database. Chances are, they’ll see an increase in business almost immediately. All at little or out of pocket expense.
If you can’t go into your business tomorrow morning at 7:30, create a special offer to jump start sales, and have it out to a list of several hundred or thousand customers by 9:00, you’re missing out on a great opportunity. Go here if you want to learn how you can grow your offline business with online strategies.
3. Develop Systems and Follow Through
Hire a business coach or appoint someone in your organization to be your team’s “accountability partner” to ensure your renewed vision is being carried out and that you are steadily moving in the right direction.
A business coach provides a fresh viewpoint and can often help by not being bogged down in the day-to-day running of the business. They are objective and not invested in the politics if your company. The best business coaches contribute knowledge acquired from a variety of situations in any number of industries and employs specific strategies to help you make quantum leaps beyond what you may have thought possible.
Regardless of the specific actions you take, it is important that you do something proactive. Don’t just sit there complaining about the economy with the rest of the crowd. Above all, don’t wait for it to turn around by itself or, worse yet, expect the government to fix it. You have within you the power to change your life and your business, so go and do it.
Please share Read the rest »
January 28th, 2010 by Jim Donovan
It saddens and frustrates me when I see people in their fifties or sixties moping around talking about how “it’s not easy getting old.” On the other hand, I am inspired when I see an older person, someone in their eighties or nineties, living a vibrant and productive life. It gives me hope and further proves my theory that there is a huge difference between aging and getting old.
So what’s the difference between these two groups of people? Why are some, still in mid-life, seeming to be on their last legs while others, old enough to be the parents of the first group, still going strong?
The answer really boils down to a couple of key differences, as outlined in the “Ageless Living Method” to mak the rest of your life, the best of your life.
1. Challenge the myths of aging
“You’re getting on in years — you’d better slow down,” “At my age, I’d better be careful,” “Act your age,” “We’ll all wind-up in a nursing home sooner or later,” “I’m just having a senior moment.”
All of the above statements are nonsense. There’s no biological connection between age and poor health. If you want to break down these beliefs, find references of older people living vibrant, productive lives. They’re all around us. People like Hulda Crooks who became the oldest person to climb Mt. Fuji in Japan at 91 years of age. Author Phyliss Whitney, who passed away in 2008 at the age of 104, said in an Associated Press interview when she was 85 that “I’ve slowed down in that I only write one book a year. A writer is what I am.”
2. Ignite your passion
Older people who are living vibrantly are passionate about their life. Their outlook is positive and they are motivated by something outside themselves. They have a purpose. They are engaged in life and are pursuing something that matters to them. Whether a career, a hobby, a cause, or something in between, they have dreams and goals and are living life to it fullest.
3. Create your vision
If you were living your ideal life, what would it look like? In your journal, write a vivid description the life you dream of living. For now, don’t be concerned with how you will do this. What are you doing and with whom? Where do you live? Where are you vacationing? What type of work are you engaged in? Who are your friends?
Write your vision in as much detail as possible, making sure to include the feelings you are experiencing and engaging as many senses as possible. Smell the ocean if you’re at the shore. Hear the sounds of the people in the city where you’re visiting, and so on. If it’s a dream home you desire, see each room in vivid detail. What do you see when you look out the windows?
4. Change your beliefs
The only thing stopping you from having whatever you desire is your belief about your ability to achieve it. What beliefs are standing in your way? Do you tell yourself, “I’m too old,” “I don’t have enough education,” “I’m not smart enough,” or some other variation on this theme?
Challenge those beliefs that are not serving you. Find references of someone just like you doing whatever it is you want to do. Override your limiting beliefs with positive affirmations.
5. Reclaim your power
Spiritual Power: A regular practice of prayer and meditation, the former, talking to God and the latter listening, will help you create and maintain a strong connection with your Creator.
Emotional Power: You can strengthen your emotional power by devoting some time each day visualizing your ideal life. Sit quietly, close your eyes (assuming you’re not driving), and create a “mind movie” in which you’re living your ideal life.
Mental Power: You can strengthen your mental power by paying attention to your self-talk and replacing any disempowering thoughts with positive affirmations. Read positive and uplifting information daily to maintain a more productive state of mind.
Physical Power: Of course, without physical power and energy you’re not going very far. It is essential, as we age, to take an active part in maintaining our health. Invest the time to learn about health and nutrition. Of course, exercise is important too. As a society, we do not move enough. Our high-tech lifestyles have enabled most of us to expend the minimal amount of physical energy in our day-to-day life.
How you age is up to you. You can live your life vibrantly and productively, or you can just get old. Decide now to take decisive action to make the rest of your life, the best of your life.
Please share Read the rest »
January 18th, 2010 by Jim Donovan
Martin Luther King said “Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyhow.” What would you do if you knew you would not fail? So many people have a dream, something they have always wanted to do, but do not even attempt it because they are afraid they may not successful.
Others have put their dreams on hold in order to pursue raising a family or having a career. Fortunately, as we age, we reach a point we’re realizing our dreams become something we can do.
Many people I know have left their big corporate careers either taking an early retirement, by being downsized and tossed out against their will, or by just deciding, they’re not going to take it anymore and just quitting. My wife Georgia left her executive career in telecommunications to follow her own passions. Having a life long love of fashion and style and wanting to do something fun, she took a position as a makeup artist for the top makeup company in the world.
Instead of spending her days in endless company meetings running to catch yet another plane, she counsels other women and helps them take better care of themselves and look their best, a job that gives her tremendous personal satisfaction.
Have you abandoned your dream because it hasn’t happened yet? Remember the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, “Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it.”
Recommit to your dream, start seeing it as having happened and, one day, sooner than you think, you will realize it is in your life.
Please share Read the rest »
December 28th, 2009 by Jim Donovan
Several years ago, I began the practice of writing my accomplishments at the end of the year. I borrowed the idea from the corporate world. In most companies, managers are required to submit a list of their accomplishments and objectives annually. This information is used as the basis for performance reviews, raises, and promotions.
I thought, “If it works for them, maybe it will help me.” The sense of personal satisfaction and encouragement I received after doing this once was so great that it has become a regular practice and something I look forward to doing at the start of each new year.
We take so much of what we do for granted, or just shrug it off, saying, “It’s no big deal.” We point to the successes, contributions, and accomplishments of others while overlooking all that we, ourselves, have done.
Only after taking the time to list our own accomplishments and activities do we see that we, too, are making a difference. We realize how much we have actually done in our lives, and this serves to encourage and motivate us to even greater heights.
In your journal, make a list of what you have done in the past year. Include everything you can think of. Where have you vacationed? What plays, movies, or concerts have you seen or attended? What books have you read? What have you done for and with your family? What have you accomplished in your business? What about personal goals? What have you done for yourself? What about your health? Have you lost weight, began exercising, or played a sport? Did you start a business, write a book, or give a speech?
Write down everything you can think of. The more you list, the better. Be sure to list even the seemingly small things.
Seeing all you have done will raise your self-esteem and increase the likelihood that you will accomplish even more in the future. You have probably done much more than you realize, and writing it down will enable you to see just how much you have accomplished.
(Excerpt, 52 Ways to a Happier Life, by Jim Donovan, early 2010 release)
Please share Read the rest »
December 14th, 2009 by Jim Donovan
I want to ask you a serious question.
Did you reach the goals you set for yourself this past year? Remember back to the beginning of 2009. You were excited about the year ahead.
You had dreams and, hopefully, took the time to write your goals in your journal and maybe even developed an action plan to achieve them.
If you did this and are fully satisfied with your results, congratulations.
If not, ask yourself why. You had the best of intentions. You were motivated but, yet, for some reason, life got in the way.
I understand. It’s happened to all of us at one time or another.
One reason so many people are living what seems like the same year, over and over again, is simply because they don’t have a coach.
That’s it. The secret is out!
I’ll tell you one thing I know as sure as I know my own name. If you had worked with me as your coach over this past year, you’d be closer to your goals than you are now.
How do I know this? Simple, I’ve been coaching people for over a decade and have the results to back it up.
Just ask the aspiring authors I worked with who are now successfully published and living their dream. One recently hit #7 on the New York Times bestseller list.
Or you could ask the realtor I coached who wrote that in his 16 years in the business, he had his best year when we were working together.
You could ask the small business owners who I helped launch products, develop additional revenue streams, create joint ventures, and open new markets, they had not even considered before. You could ask the small publisher who added $9,000 to her monthly income.
How am I able to do this? What makes me so different from other coaches?
Simple, in addition to my more than 10 years as a coach and my certification in a Law of Attraction coaching program specifically for businesses, I have more than 30 years servicing small to mid-sized business clients. This means I have worked with companies in dozens of different industries and bring this experience to my work with each of my clients.
Let me ask you this: What will you do to make sure 2010 is the year you go for your dreams?
Here are a couple of things you can do to insure your success:
For starters, get a coach. If not me, get someone else or, at the very least, have an “accountability” partner to work with to keep you on track.
Next, make a habit of reading and listening to personal development information daily. In addition to books and audio’s, I’d suggest you subscribe to Success Magazine. It’s a great way to keep your attitude positive and continue learning throughout the year.
If you do want to consider working with me as your coach, send me an email and tell me a little about yourself and what you’d like to achieve this year.
Do it now because, you deserve to have the life you desire and, besides, in 2010 I am only working with a small number of people.
You deserve to live the life of your dreams but no one does it alone. Get a coach, work with a team, ask for help.
Create your vision, take inspired action, have faith, and enjoy the journey.
Please share Read the rest »
A number of years ago, my friend John came to visit me in my home office. It had been a while since I had seen him so, of course, I asked how he had been. “Great!” he replied, “My income went up over 15% in the last six months.”
Tags: 
