A Compelling "Why"

A Compelling "Why" by Denis Waitley(excerpted from The Psychology of Motivation)

I have a suitcase for you. In that suitcase there is $1 million in cash. The suitcase is sitting in a building that is about an hour’s drive from where you are now.

Here is the deal: All you have to do is get to this building in the next two hours. If you get there before the end of the two hours, I will hand you the suitcase, and you will be a million dollars richer.
There is one catch, however. If you are even one second late, our deal is off, and you will not get a dime. No exceptions! With that in mind, what time would you like to leave?
Most people would respond to that scenario by saying that they would leave right now. Wouldn’t you?
So off you go. You jump into your car and start driving for the building. You are excited and are already starting to plan how you are going to spend your million dollars. Then, suddenly, the traffic comes to a complete stop. You turn on the radio and find that there has been a series of freak accidents between you and the building and there is no way to get there!

Now what would you do? Would you give up and go back home? Or would you get out of your car and walk, run, hire a helicopter, or find some other way of getting to the building on time?

Now let’s suppose for a minute that you are driving to an appointment at your dentist’s office. The traffic again comes to a stop. Amazingly, there have been freak accidents between you and your dentist’s office. What would you do then? Probably give up, go home and reschedule!

What is the difference between these two situations? It all comes down to why. If the why is big enough; the how is usually not a problem. This compelling why is connected to your personal objectives, mission statement or magnificent obsessions. It is the basis of your motivational support beam. Truly motivated people are able to identify and tap into the power of a compelling why in everything they do.
—Denis Waitley

Reproduced with permission from the Denis Waitley Ezine. To subscribe to Denis Waitley's Ezine, go to http://list.deniswaitley.com/t/13367868/31467341/590954/0/ Copyright 2009 Denis Waitley International. All rights reserved worldwide.

Today's Quote - December 23, 2009

“Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.”

Merry Christmas to you all!!

Time For You by Ron White

He was completely infatuated with her. It was all that he could think and talk about. Yet, every time that he asked her on a date, he received the same reply. She told him that she would love to go out with him, but her schedule of work, school and other commitments was just too hectic and it wasn’t possible.

In his frustration, he came to me and asked me for advice. He wanted to know how he could creatively help her with some of her responsibilities and free up some commitments so that they could spend time together. When he made this suggestion to me, I sighed deeply and bit my lip. I was searching for a tactful way to break the news to him. I have never reached tremendous success in my efforts to be tactful, so I just let him have it.
“Man, when she tells you that she doesn’t have time, what she means is that she doesn’t have time for YOU. I suggest that you dress in black for a week and pretend as if she’s dead because it isn’t going to happen.”

My words seemed to have been a kick to the gut that knocked all the air out of his lungs. After a few seconds of silence, he raised his head as he came up for air. “Thanks, buddy—I needed to hear that” was his beaten reply to me. After our conversation, he left. I do believe that, although he didn’t dress in black for a week, he did take my advice and move on. I am sure that both he and the woman are grateful for that.
You see, I have never seen a woman (or a man) who is head over heels attracted to someone, yet just can’t find the time to be with that person. If the interest is there, the time will be there.

In life, you often hear the excuse “I just don’t have the time” when someone wants to spend more time with family, start their own business, chase a goal, travel or volunteer. You have the time. You are simply spending it somewhere else. You are a human and will make time for what you see as a priority. The question is: Are you prioritizing the correct things?

You have the exact same amount of time in a day that Albert Einstein, Marie Curie, Copernicus and Leonardo da Vinci had. You have the exact same amount of time in a day that Michael Dell, Bill Gates and Oprah Winfrey have. The question is not, Do you have the time? The question is, How are you spending the time that you do have?

Begin to keep a journal and log the time you spend doing things every day. Do this for at least two weeks. Track the time you spend getting ready for work, driving your car, working at the office, eating out, reading, watching television, surfing the Internet or simply doing nothing. You may be surprised at the amount of time that you spend on unproductive matters. It is very often shocking the amount of time each day that we squander and will never get back.

Zig Ziglar penned the term automobile university. It is the answer for everyone who says they don’t have time to learn a new skill, a foreign language or gain an education on the mysteries of the day. Ziglar suggests that if you simply listen to audio programs as you drive every day, you can successfully use the time to gain a new skill or improve your education. This is effective time management.
Life can often become so overwhelming that, as we get caught up in the rat race, we are not aware of how we are spending our time. It may be time for a time inventory of your life. First, begin by journaling what is most important to you in your life. Then, track how you spend your time for two weeks. It could be very eye-opening.

Remember, you have the same amount of time in a day that Einstein, Henry Ford and Leonardo da Vinci had. The question is: Are you using your time as effectively as they did? You have no cause to complain for your lack of time, only your management of that time. Time plays no favorites. You make time every day for what you value. What do you value?
—Ron White

Reproduced with permission from the Ron White Newsletter. To subscribe to Ron White's Newsletter, go to http://list.yoursuccessstore.com/t/14044576/31467343/609243/0/ Copyright 2009 All rights reserved worldwide.

Today's Quote - December 19, 2009

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.

~ Mark Twain

Thinking about 2010?

Hi Folks,

Here we are in December and almost ready to roll the calendar over to 2010, a new year of promise and possibilities. As you solidify your plans for the new year, I hope you are thinking about the action plans required to support your goals.

I wanted to share with you a few words from Chris Widener.

Have you ever thought about the power of incremental success? One of my favorite quotes is from Tony Robbins when he says that most people overestimate what they can do in a year but they underestimate what they can do in ten years. Very powerful if you think about it.

Most people quit because they expect to try something or begin something, and that it will happen for them right away. Not true, or at least rarely true. Take weight loss for example. You can’t lose 30 pounds in two weeks. But if you lose 1/4 pound a day, in 120 days you will have lost 30 pounds!

One time a prolific writer was asked how he writes so many books. His answer? “One page at a time.” Perfect!

What about you? Are you feeling a little blue because you aren’t getting where you want to be? Well, consider that it may take you more time than you thought. But if you will take it step by step—incrementally—then you will eventually get there. Just keep moving in the right direction and your perseverance will pay off!

Reproduced with permission from the Chris Widener Ezine. To subscribe to Chris Widener's Ezine, go to http://pr1.netatlantic.com/t/12897414/31467344/590990/0/ Copyright 2009 Chris Widener International. All rights reserved worldwide

Remember the words of Martin Luther King Jr. who said “Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase.”

Have an awesome week!!

Today's Quote - December 12, 2009

“You cannot solve a problem from the same consciousness that created it. You must learn to see the world anew.”

Albert Einstein 1879 – 1955

Jim Rohn

Jim Rohn is a man who has influenced many. As a philosopher and inspirational speaker, Jim shared his vision for leadership and personal development with countless thousands of people. With his passing away last week, I wanted to compile a list of some of my favorite Jim Rohn quotes. Although he is credited with sharing many inspirational things, these are some of my personal favorites:

“Character isn't something you were born with and can't change, like your fingerprints. It's something you weren't born with and must take responsibility for forming.”

“Don't wish it were easier, wish you were better.”

“Formal education will make you a living; self-education will make you a fortune.”

“Happiness is not something you postpone for the future; it is something you design for the present.”

“If someone is going down the wrong road, he doesn't need motivation to speed him up. What he needs is education to turn him around.”

“If you don't design your own life plan, chances are you'll fall into someone else's plan. And guess what they have planned for you? Not much.”

“It is the set of the sails, not the direction of the wind that determines which way we will go.”

“Miss a meal if you have to, but don't miss a book.”

“Give so much to the improvement of yourself, that you don’t have time to criticize others.”

“Success is neither magical nor mysterious. Success is the natural consequence of consistently applying the basic fundamentals.”

“The walls we build around us to keep sadness out also keeps out the joy.”

“The book you don't read won't help.”

“Time is more value than money. You can get more money, but you cannot get more time.”

“You cannot change your destination overnight, but you can change your direction overnight”

Character - Quote and Commentary - by Chris Widener

“Character is not a gift. It is a conquest and its kingdom lives upstream. You never get there by drifting.” —Dale Turner

Chris’s Commentary:What great imagery to show us a truth about an aspect of true success. Truly successful living means we are becoming, more and more, people of character. We do not wake up one day as people of character, nor will we slowly drift there. No, we must constantly be determining areas of our lives where we can be making ground in our character and finding the will to make it happen.

Action Point:Take some time today to ask yourself where in your character you may be cutting corners. Then make a decision to begin to do what is morally and ethically right in that area. That decision will reap tremendous rewards!

Reproduced with permission from the Chris Widener Ezine. To subscribe to Chris Widener's Ezine, go to http://pr1.netatlantic.com/t/13961671/31467344/590990/0/ Copyright 2009 Chris Widener International. All rights reserved worldwide.