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?
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August 15th, 2010 by Jim Donovan
In case you missed it, here’s the replay from the July 22nd interview call I did with host, Larry Steinhouse, organizer of the “Get Rich and Happy” event in Philadelphia, November 5, 6, 7th.
Larry Steinhouse interviews Jim Donovan on Allowing Abundance
You can see the speaker line-up and learn more about this great event here:
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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.
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July 13th, 2010 by Jim Donovan
Imagination is everything. It is the preview of life’s coming attractions Albert Einstein
I recently posted this quotation from Einstein on Facebook. In thinking about it afterward I realized that, though Mr. Einstein was one of the smartest people in recent history, he neglected to caution people that it works both ways.
While imagining your ideal life is not only a good idea but a major component in creating the life you want, too many people spend their time doing the opposite. They imagine all sorts of horrible things that could happen.
“What if I lose my job,” so many are asking right now. “What if I get sick?” we worry. “What if I go for my goals but don’t succeed,” “What if I start my own business and fail?” And on and on.
The people I just described are using their imaginations but they’re using them against themselves. They’re using their imagination backwards. If you stop and think about this, I think that you’ll agree that it’s crazy to imagine what we don’t want. Isn’t it?
Consider that what you’re imagining (something that is not yet real) is pure fantasy. This being the case, why would anyone want to fantasize what they do not want?
If, when we imagine things, we’re making it all up anyway, why not make up great things? Why not see our most amazing life? Why not see (imagine) everything working out perfectly?
Doesn’t this make more sense? Of course it does, yet much of the time we do the opposite. We imagine everything that can go wrong. “For better or for worse” the wedding vows caution us. Why not rewrite them to be “For better and for better”
Our imagination, as Einstein was trying to teach us, is the most powerful tool we have for creating our life. therefore, it is important to use it wisely.
The next time you’re worried, which is just another word for imagining what you don’t want, do something to interrupt your thoughts long enough to replace them with something you do want.
As the late Lynn Grabhorn wrote in her wonderful book, Excuse Me, You’re Life is Waiting, learn to “flip switch” your attention to something you desire.
When you catch yourself imagining the worst, say to yourself “Cancel and clear” and then shift your attention to your ideal life.
Live Seminar in Philadelphia
I’m pleased to be part of an amazing lineup of speakers at the Get Rich and Happy event in Philadelphia, November 5th, 6th and 7th. You can see a partial listing of the speakers and reserve your seat here. This is sure to be a filled event so please reserve your seat now.
More resources to help you make 2010 your best year ever
Are you ready to start living the life you’ve always wanted?
This is Your Life, Not a Dress Rehearsal Workshop
Create your own economic recovery plan
Stop Living Paycheck to Paycheck book and ebook — Learn how you can create immediate income now. Click here to learn more
A lot of our readers have used the 20 Ways to Make $100 per Day Online ebook to help them get new ideas and add income. If you missed the earlier information about this simple, yet powerful product, Click here to learn more
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April 21st, 2010 by Jim Donovan
The lights dimmed and the crowd roared as Leon Russell took to the stage of the theater in Sellersville, PA.
One could not help but notice the frailty of the, now 68 year old. Clearly his life and lifestyle had taken their toll on his physical health but the moment he stood at the keyboards, such a familiar site, he was that 28 year old performer once again.
The audience was transported back to a time when he shared the stage with the likes of George Harrison, John Lennon and Eric Clapton at Madison Square Garden’s Concert for Bangladesh in 1971.
The man playing music at the Sellersville theater, while a much smaller venue, was the same man who played the big rooms so many years ago.
How is this possible? How is it that, while the body of Leon Russell has aged and taken on physical ailments and limitations, the musician remains that young, vibrant singer songwriter of times past?
Passion is one of the key components to living a fulfilling life and Russell has as much passion for what he is doing as a man half his age. Clearly he is living his dream, whether it’s in front of 40,000 people at Madison Square Garden or 400 at the theater in rural Pennsylvania. He is doing something that matters to him and its’ apparent listening to his music.
He has passion, he has a dream and he’s living his life to the fullest. These are some of the keys to a living vibrantly as outlined in my new book, “Don’t Let an Old Person Move Into Your Body.”
Challenging the myths of aging - with stories of role models in their 80′s and beyond who are living vibrant, productive lives
Igniting your passion – exercises for exploring your gifts and redefining your purpose
Creating your vision – experiencing your dream life in full technicolor
Changing your beliefs - overcoming limiting beliefs with positive affirmations
Reclaiming your power – improving your life spiritually, mentally, emotionally and physically
Learn more about the “Ageless Living Method” and find out how you can use it to help you find passion in your life and create a future that excites you.
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April 20th, 2010 by Jim Donovan
Twenty four years ago today, I woke up looking at a smiley face on a slipper, attached to the end of my foot. Looking around it started to come back to me. Oh, yea, the birthday party and all that tequila. Ouch!
Scanning the room I remembered being admitted to the detox ward of the hospital, late the night before. I was at the bottom. I was sure my life was over – friendless, homeless, jobless, flat broke, with ailing health. I was spiritually, emotionally, mentally, physically, and financially bankrupt.
Today, all I feel is gratitude. A tremendous gratitude for the life I have.
Jim Donovan's Books Around the World
Today I am having a positive impact on the lives of hundreds of thousands of people throughout the world. My books are read worldwide and I have a magical life.
Having changed my life one day at a time, with the help of God and a lot of caring people, I have a wonderful wife who loves me and takes care of me, live in a comfortable home on pristine property in a quiet area, within easy reach of New York, Philadelphia and Washington DC.
I have the privilege of doing work that matters, am having a positive effect on people’s lives and am well compensated for it. I drive a luxury car and have all the material things I need.
I am truly blessed and totally appreciate every facet of my life.
If you want to know the exact step-by-step process I used to change my old life and create one that is beyond my wildest expectations, go here
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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.
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March 9th, 2010 by Jim Donovan
There is a wonderful story about the famous escape artist, Harry Houdini that illustrates this theme. As the story goes, the great Houdini often boasted about how he could escape from any confinement or jail cell. One day, he was challenged by the keeper of a new, high tech, high security jail purported to be escape proof.
Houdini accepted the challenge and was given a specific amount of time to complete this seemingly impossible task. Poor Harry tried everything with no success. He attempted to pick and manipulate the lock and every other trick he knew. The lock did not budge.
After many hours, with his body drenched in sweat, he collapsed against the door, which immediately fell open. You see, it had never been locked in the first place.
It was all in his mind! The great Houdini was held prisoner by his own thoughts. His thinking kept him from breaking out of the jail cell. He believed the door was locked, believed it would be difficult to open and, sure enough, it was.
How many of us are held prisoner by our own thoughts? How many times do we create our own “jails” in our minds? How many things have you wanted to do but did not because you thought you would fail?
Are your thoughts and beliefs keepingyou a prisoner in your own mind?
What are some of the things you want to do? Do you want to have a new relationship, lose weight, learn a sport, dance, sing, start a business, travel? What’s stopping you? What would you do if you knew you could not fail?
Why not just go for it and see what happens? Instead of being worried you might fail, why not ask, what if I succeed? Remember the statement made by Henry Ford who said, Whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re right.
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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.
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February 25th, 2010 by Jim Donovan
It has been said that a person will not reach their full potential unless coached. While this may or may not be entirely true, it does hit on a key benefit to coaching, especially for small and solo business owners.
Typically, a small business owner, particularly a solo practitioner, works in a vacuum. They rarely have someone to share ideas with, much less talk about their fears or concerns. Aside from the few who belong to a mastermind group, most have no objective help to expand their ideas or as a way to gain a different perceptive on their business.
Small business people who are not working with someone in the capacity of a coach are missing out on one of their greatest opportunities for growth. Those savvy people who do engage the services of a coach who specializes in working with small businesses have a distinctive advantage over their competition.
Choosing Your Coach
With some many people entering the field choosing your ideal coach can be a daunting task. The single most important characteristic, in my opinion, is that you and the coach have rapport first as people, then as client and coach. I don’t care how many certifications someone has, if you don’t feel good about working with them, it will never work.
Next, I would suggest that if it’s your business that you want help with you choose a coach who specializes in working with small businesses.
I was once hired to coach a high-level sales executive and when I asked why he chose me out of the several people he interviewed; his reply was “because you’re the only one who actually has had sales experience.”
Personally, I feel that a coach who has business experience will bring more value to the relationship then one who has not.
Conversely, I would not choose a business coach to help me with a fitness or a relationship challenge.
The field of personal coaching has evolved over the years from the “life” coaches who worked with a variety of clients, to more specialized ones who choose to work in a specific niche, typically chosen because of the coaches experience in that niche.
Over the years, coach training schools have focused their programs on niches and offer additional training, beyond the basics, in business, health, and relationship coaching.
A really top coach, however, will get involved in several areas of your business and life. If for example, all your time is spent at work and you’re neglecting your health and family relationships, your coach, hopefully, will work with you to bring that back into balance. There is little point in having a successful business if the rest of your life is falling apart.
It is my heart felt suggestion, based on a decade of coaching small business owners and two decades of being in my own business, that if you really want to reach your full potential, you need a coach who can help you step out of your comfort zone and grow your business or professional practice.
How coaching works
Typically, a coach works one-on-one with clients or in a small group setting. For the most part, coaching is conducted by telephone although some of us like in-person meetings when the situation lends itself and, with the advent of video conferencing services like Skype, it’s possible to combine the two.
Coaching relationships last an average of six months although many continue much longer. If the reason for the relationship is a specific task, like publishing a book for example, the relationship may only last until the project is completed.
What does it cost?
While coaching fees vary widely most coaches are open to creating a program that will fit the needs and budget of the client. If finances are what’s preventing someone from hiring a coach, exploring group programs may be the answer, however, the experience of group coaching, while valuable, is not the same as having your own coach. It’s less personal, your time is shared with others, and it lacks the confidentiality of individual sessions.
Group coaching programs are well suited if everyone in the group is working on a similar task or project. A group geared toward people starting their own business, for example, would be quite valuable since group members can share ideas and knowledge.
Whatever method best suits your present circumstances, hiring your own coach is one of the best investments you can make in the future success of your business and will go a long way toward your realizing your full potential.
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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.”
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