Items by Daniel Ngari

Daniel Ngari .com - Inspiring Friends

  • The Girl Who Smoked Me Out of My Cave

    Posted: July 19, 2011, 8:36 pm by Daniel Ngari

    Her name is Rose. She grabbed yours truly with both hands from his Tora Bora hideout. She stirred me into action!

    It has been a full year since I wrote something on this blog. Many people wondered where I went to. Many stopped seeing the name “Daniel Ngari” on Facebook, Twitter and in their mailboxes. Someone even asked me “So where the bloody hell are you?“.

    I will soon write a blog post explaining my leave of absence; and unveil what I have been working on in that period. but for now, SIT BACK!!! and watch this amazing girl, Rose Nasimiyu. Then follow the instructions at the end of the blog post.

    If you are in a position to help financially, please do, if not,you can still help by spreading  the word by sharing this blog post with friends.

    My man Shakespear said, “that which we call a rose would by any other name smell as sweet”. He could well have been talking about Rose Nasimiyu.  She is only nine years old, in Nairobi Kenya and is a cancer survivor with an amazing story; inspiring others and being strong. I just talked to her on the phone and want to do my best to help spread her message.

    You can help by sending her mother money. Her mother’s name is Phoebe Nafula. Her phone number is +254724551754. You can send her money through Western Union or through Mpesa if you are in Kenya. You can send any amount as every little bit counts.

    For those outside the country (Kenya), it may be easiest to send money through BabaWatoto.com [www.babawatoto.com] or through MamaMikes [www.mamamikes.com] both reliable and reputable remittance websites that are popular with Kenyans abroad. They are both safe and you can send money directly to a person’s phone in Kenya. They are based in USA but have offices in Kenya.

    Her details again: Phoebe Nafula, phone number +254724551754.

    Special thanks goes to Jeff Koinanage for the good work he does on The Bench at K24TV. Thanks for the inspiring stories.

    Please leave your comments after watching this video. Here are a few comments from others who have watched the videos.

    “Baby Rose- You are an inspiration to many. You will live another day as per your prayer always. i have no words for you other that MAY GOD GRANT YOUR WISHES, and we Pray for you too.

    Mr. Jeff- This was soo inspiring. Please bring such little beautiful angels to inspire and speak sense like the little girl………………….than­k you – ronniestrobes “

    I can’t hold back my tears,may God feel mercy on her.You will live child,nothing is impossible before the eyes of God!! –
    cathnj08

  • 10 Benefits of Becoming an Early Riser

    Posted: October 7, 2010, 12:39 pm by Daniel Ngari

    “The moment when you first wake up in the morning is the most wonderful of the twenty-four hours.  No matter how weary or dreary you may feel, you possess the certainty that, during the day that lies before you, absolutely anything may happen.  And the fact that it practically always doesn’t, matters not a jot.  The possibility is always there.”  – Monica Baldwin

    “Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise”– Ben Franklin.

    Recently, reader Rob asked me about my habit of waking at 4:30 a.m. each day, and asked me to write about the health benefits of rising early, which I thought was an excellent question. Unfortunately, there are none, that I know of.

    However, there are a ton of other great benefits.

    Now, let me first say that if you are a night owl, and that works for you, I think that’s great. There’s no reason to change, especially if you’re happy with it. But for me, switching from being a night owl to an early riser (and yes, it is possible) has been a godsend. It has helped me in so many ways that I’d never go back. Here are just a few:

    1. Greet the day. I love being able to get up, and greet a wonderful new day. I suggest creating a morning ritual that includes saying thanks for your blessings. I’m inspired by the Dalai Lama, who said, ” Everyday, think as you wake up, ‘today I am fortunate to have woken up, I am alive, I have a precious human life, I am not going to waste it. I am going to use all my energies to develop myself, to expand my heart out to others, to achieve enlightenment for the benefit of all beings, I am going to have kind thoughts towards others, I am not going to get angry or think badly about others, I am going to benefit others as much as I can.’
    2. Amazing start. I used to start my day by jumping out of bed, late as usual, and rushing to get myself and the kids ready, and rushing to drop them to school and come in to work late. I would walk into work, looking rumpled and barely awake, grumpy and behind everyone else. Not a great start to your day. Now, I have a renewing morning ritual, I’ve gotten so much done before 8 a.m., my kids are early and so am I, and by the time everyone else gets in to work, I’ve already gotten a head start. There is no better way to start off your day than to wake early, in my experience.
    3. Quietude. No kids yelling, no babies crying, no soccer balls, no cars, no television noise. The early morning hours are so peaceful, so quiet. It’s my favorite time of day. I truly enjoy that time of peace, that time to myself, when I can think, when I can read, when I can breathe.
    4. Sunrise. People who wake late miss one of the greatest feats of nature, repeated in full stereovision each and every day — the rise of the sun. I love how the day slowly gets brighter, when the midnight blue turns to lighter blue, when the brilliant colors start to seep into the sky, when nature is painted in incredible colors. I like doing my early morning run during this time, and I look up at the sky as I run and say to the world, “What a glorious day!” Really. I really do that. Corny, I know.
    5. Breakfast. Rise early and you actually have time for breakfast. I’m told it’s one of the most important meals of the day. Without breakfast, your body is running on fumes until you are so hungry at lunchtime that you eat whatever unhealthy thing you can find. The fattier and sugarier, the betterier. But eat breakfast, and you are sated until later. Plus, eating breakfast while reading my book and drinking my coffee in the quiet of the morning is eminently more enjoyable than scarfing something down on the way to work, or at your desk.
    6. Exercise. There are other times to exercise besides the early morning, of course, but I’ve found that while exercising right after work is also very enjoyable, it’s also liable to be canceled because of other things that come up. Morning exercise is virtually never canceled.
    7. Productivity. Mornings, for me at least, are the most productive time of day. I like to do some writing in the morning, when there are no distractions, before I check my email or blog stats. I get so much more done by starting on my work in the morning. Then, when evening rolls around, I have no work that I need to do, and I can spend it with family.
    8. Goal time. Got goals? Well, you should. And there’s no better time to review them and plan for them and do your goal tasks than first thing. You should have one goal that you want to accomplish this week. And every morning, you should decide what one thing you can do today to move yourself further towards that goal. And then, if possible, do that first thing in the morning.
    9. Commute. No one likes rush-hour traffic, except for Big Oil. Commute early, and the traffic is much lighter, and you get to work faster, and thus save yourself more time. Or better yet, commute by bike. (Or even better yet, work from home.)
    10. Appointments. It’s much easier to make those early appointments on time if you get up early. Showing up late for those appointments is a bad signal to the person you’re meeting. Showing up early will impress them. Plus, you get time to prepare.

    How to Become an Early Riser

    • Don’t make drastic changes. Start slowly, by waking just 15-30 minutes earlier than usual. Get used to this for a few days. Then cut back another 15 minutes. Do this gradually until you get to your goal time.
    • Allow yourself to sleep earlier. You might be used to staying up late, perhaps watching TV or surfing the Internet. But if you continue this habit, while trying to get up earlier, sooner or later one is going to give. And if it is the early rising that gives, then you will crash and sleep late and have to start over. I suggest going to bed earlier, even if you don’t think you’ll sleep, and read while in bed. If you’re really tired, you just might fall asleep much sooner than you think.
    • Put your alarm clock far from you bed. If it’s right next to your bed, you’ll shut it off or hit snooze. Never hit snooze. If it’s far from your bed, you have to get up out of bed to shut it off. By then, you’re up. Now you just have to stay up.
    • Go out of the bedroom as soon as you shut off the alarm. Don’t allow yourself to rationalize going back to bed. Just force yourself to go out of the room. My habit is to stumble into the bathroom and go pee. By the time I’ve done that, and flushed the toilet and washed my hands and looked at my ugly mug in the mirror, I’m awake enough to face the day.
    • Do not rationalize. If you allow your brain to talk you out of getting up early, you’ll never do it. Don’t make getting back in bed an option.
    • Have a good reason. Set something to do early in the morning that’s important. This reason will motivate you to get up. I like to write in the morning, so that’s my reason. Also, when I’m done with that, I like to read all of your comments!
    • Make waking up early a reward. Yes, it might seem at first that you’re forcing yourself to do something hard, but if you make it pleasurable, soon you will look forward to waking up early. A good reward is to make a hot cup of coffee or tea and read a book. Other rewards might be a tasty treat for breakfast (smoothies! yum!) or watching the sunrise, or meditating. Find something that’s pleasurable for you, and allow yourself to do it as part of your morning routine.
    • Take advantage of all that extra time. Don’t wake up an hour or two early just to read your blogs, unless that’s a major goal of yours. Don’t wake up early and waste that extra time. Get a jump start on your day! I like to use that time to get a head start on preparing my kids’ lunches, on planning for the rest of the day (when I set my MITs), on exercising or meditating, and on reading. By the time 6:30 rolls around, I’ve done more than many people do the entire day.
    Post written by Leo Babauta.

  • The Man Who Said Sorry

    Posted: June 28, 2010, 5:23 pm by Daniel Ngari

    There was a leadership spill in Australia last week. The Australian Labor party felt it was in a losing bus and had to change the driver to stay on course. Within hours, Australia got a new driver; the first female Prime Minister in Australian history.

    Her predecessor, Kevin Rudd was one of the most popular Prime Ministers Australia ever had. But in his last months in power, opinion polls deserted him. His popularity slipped. This allowed factional leaders to rally the numbers against him and support his deputy, Julia Gillard. Such is politics.

    The Stolen Generation

    On his last speech as Prime Minister, he outlined his achievements and they were many. His enduring legacy will include the leading of the nation to say sorry to the Aboriginal people.

    Many will remember Kevin Rudd as the man who said sorry to the stolen generations. His predecessor John Howard stubbornly refused to do so for his 11 years in power.  K-Rudd, on the other hand, made saying sorry his first priority.

    Below is part of the speech he made in Parliament in February 2008.

    “I move:

    That today we honour the indigenous peoples of this land, the oldest continuing cultures in human history.

    We reflect on their past mistreatment.

    We reflect in particular on the mistreatment of those who were stolen generations – this blemished chapter in our nation’s history.

    The time has now come for the nation to turn a new page in Australia’s history by righting the wrongs of the past and so moving forward with confidence to the future.

    We apologise for the laws and policies of successive parliaments and governments that have inflicted profound grief, suffering and loss on these our fellow Australians.

    We apologise especially for the removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families, their communities and their country.

    For the pain, suffering and hurt of these stolen generations, their descendants and for their families left behind, we say sorry.

    To the mothers and the fathers, the brothers and the sisters, for the breaking up of families and communities, we say sorry.

    And for the indignity and degradation thus inflicted on a proud people and a proud culture, we say sorry.

    We the parliament of Australia respectfully request that this apology be received in the spirit in which it is offered as part of the healing of the nation.

    We today take this first step by acknowledging the past and laying claim to a future that embraces all Australians.

    A future where this parliament resolves that the injustices of the past must never, never happen again.

    A future where we harness the determination of all Australians, indigenous and non-indigenous, to close the gap that lies between us in life expectancy, educational achievement and economic opportunity.

    A future based on mutual respect, mutual resolve and mutual responsibility.

    A future where all Australians, whatever their origins, are truly equal partners, with equal opportunities and with an equal stake in shaping the next chapter in the history of this great country, Australia.”

    Sorry and Success

    Not everyone loves saying sorry. Fewer ever say sorry and mean it.

    Saying sorry can mend a damaged relationship. A genuine sorry is a miracle worker in the healing process. Clean up your closet of pain by apologizing to those you hurt.

    Stubbornly refusing to apologize will set you up for failure. Accept that you will make mistakes along the way. Be ready to own up to your mistakes when they happen. Be ready to make amends by saying sorry.

    How to Apologize
    • Empathize with the person you have hurt. Put yourself in their shoes. Understand their expectations. Feel their pain. Understand their disappointment and anger.
    • Listen to their concerns and fears. Watch their body language and weigh in their words. This will give you an idea of where the pain points are. Be careful not to apologize for the wrong sin. You can open unnecessary cans of worms if you don’t take time to really listen.
    • Be specific – Do not ask for blanket forgiveness of sins. This is not a prayer. Say exactly what you are apologizing for.
    • Take Responsibility – Avoid making excuses or blaming others for the pain caused. Admit to your mistakes and own them.
    • Timing – Apologize at the appropriate moment. Taking eternity to apologize causes more pain. Apologizing too soon has the wrong effect too. Be wise in the timing and delivery of your apology.
    • Take Action – Don’t just say sorry. Actions speak louder than words. Show in both words and deeds that you want to turn a new leaf.
    • Forgive – If the other person wronged you too, forgive them. But most importantly, do not let negative emotions like guilt, embarrassment and shame dominate your life going forward. Do not beat yourself up unnecessarily. Forgive yourself.
    • Give Gifts – Depending on your level of “sin”, a gift can help turn the tide to your favor. You could buy a card, flowers, champagne, a house, an island etc depending on who you are, who you are apologizing to and what you have done. Seriously, test this for yourself… the right gift can precipitate forgiveness. The gift does not need to be material…it could even be a solemn promise to change. Give and it will come back to you.
    Summary

    Today’s inspiring legend Kevin Rudd is the immediate former Australian Prime Minister. He famously led the nation to say sorry to the stolen generations.

    Take a moment to reflect on your life and see if there is one relationship or friendship that could do with the magic words “I am sorry”. Relationships are the bedrock of success. Treasure them. Work on them.

  • The Most Inspiring Carpenter

    Posted: May 26, 2010, 7:03 pm by Daniel Ngari

    Jonah had just bought a piece of land near Nazareth and needed extra tools to till the land. One day as he was going to the market he saw a sign “Joseph & Mary Carpentry“. He went in and started chatting with the carpenter, a young man named Jesus.

    Jonah bought a couple of tools and left the shop after about half an hour. They talked with Jesus about the new farm and life in general. As he walked away, he kept thinking that Jesus the son of Joseph was growing fast into a wise young man. And he was right.

    The Making of a King

    Jesus was born into working class family. His dad worked as a carpenter and became an apprentice there. He worked diligently as a carpenter with his father.

    After his 30th birthday, he switched careers and became a teacher. He taught, challenged and inspired the people around him.

    His teachings spread around the world and are still pertinent even after 2000 years. He is one of the inspiring legends upon whose shoulders I stand. What can we learn about this man Jesus Christ?

    Lessons from the King of Kings 1 –Diligence Pays

    He knew that he was the son of God but he did not sit on his laurels. He was up and about, had a job as a carpenter and worked crazy hours to achieve his goals. Positive thinking will only take you so far. You need to put in the hours and apply yourself to reach your goals.

    2 – Have a Mission

    His mission on earth was to teach the word of God and die for our sins so we may have eternal life. His mission was not easy; he endured tribulation but did not waver.

    Determine what your mission in life is and go for it. Develop a mission statement and spend your life fulfilling it. With a mission statement, everything falls into perspective. You define your own boundaries and prioritize things in your life.

    Your mission is different from your goals. Think of your mission as your core values, and your goals as tools to live up to your mission.

    3 – Stories Sell

    Parable after parable, Jesus shared his lessons with people as stories. He realized that human beings are suckers for a good story. Stories teach and sell.

    What is your story? Package your achievements, your desires and goals into stories and tell them. You will be more likely to get an audience with stories than with facts alone. Stories help connect people and turbo charge bonding.

    4 – Be a Team Player

    Jesus realized that he needed a good team to help pass on his message. He assembled a team of disciples and worked well with them. They taught the gospel even after he was gone.

    Everyone is gifted or experienced in their own area. Knowing how to tap into the unique talents and experiences of people can transform you from zero to hero and beyond.

    5 – Fear Not

    Jesus’ teachings were going against the accepted teachings at the time. He was amassing enemies at an alarming rate. He would have slowed down but he did not. He believed that what he stood for was right and his message needed to be heard.

    Do not let fear paralyze you. Fear prevents action and modifies behavior in ways that slow down your journey to victory… What kind of fears do you have? Are they limiting your success? What can you do to face or address your fears?

    6 – Show Leadership

    Jesus was able to influence others through his teachings, his character and style. He inspired people to want to live a better life instead of forcing them into it. He also empowered his disciples and delegated authority to them.

    You will achieve more by being a good leader.

    Do not just sit back and wait to be led. Chart your path, grow and give others the opportunity to follow you. A good leader needs to be strong and unwavering. A good leader must have a vision and empathy for his followers. If you want to be a better leader, care more.

    7 – Be Prepared

    Jesus did not just wake up and start teaching people. He studied carpentry, religion, law and other disciplines. If you want to be a roaring success story, put in the hours to learn and practice. Learn from the people who are already successful at what you aspire to do. Study and copy them.

    Gain valuable experiences and do your home work before you embark on a journey. You would not climb Mount Kilimanjaro before thorough preparation…right? Be sucker for preparation if you want to avoid fatal mistakes.

    8 – Shun Intolerance

    Jesus talked with both the elite and the poor in society. He talked with the sinners and the people the masses rejected. He saved a woman who was about to be stoned for adultery. He ate at a hated tax collectors house.

    He treated everyone with love and respect. People come in different in looks, shapes, beliefs, tastes, habits, views etc.

    If you don’t accept or at least respect diversity in people, it will limit how high you soar. To rise above mediocrity, we must shun intolerance by taking active steps to respect diversity.

    9 – Be Generous

    Jesus gave his life to save us from eternal damnation. He endured gross injustices and violations to his human rights for greater good.

    When at a party and the booze ran out, he was swift to change water into wine. He turned a few loaves and fish into a lavish bash.

    Giving with an open heart will open floodgates of blessings in your life. If you practice the habit of giving, the universe will compensate you many times over. Be a cheerful giver.

    Give something of value to people you meet. Not necessarily money but what you have in your reserves. When you give, you are making a deposit in your spiritual account and you will reap your rewards with the same measure you give out.

    10 – Humility is not Cowardice

    Even though he was the Son of God, Jesus came to the world and was born in a manger. He endured poverty and humiliation to achieve his goals. You may have to swallow humble pie to achieve some of your goals.

    Avoid pride especially when things start looking up in your life.  Pride comes before a fall. A bloated ego as a result of winning can obstruct common sense.

    Summary

    I hope I did not step on too many toes through this blog post. Religion is a touchy subject for some. Having said that; there are many lessons we can learn from Jesus Christ. Take a moment to read the bible even if you are not a Christian. It is a book with pearls of wisdom on how to succeed in life and beyond. Be blessed.

  • Skill vs Talent

    Posted: May 23, 2010, 7:41 pm by Daniel Ngari

    Do you want to use every ounce of potential to achieve more? Do you want to succeed in life? If you are anything like me, you probably want more out of life. You want to succeed. You want to thrive. You want to prosper. Mediocrity is not an option.

    Apart from knowing exactly what you want in life, the next strong determinant of your success is your ability to achieve your goals. Having goals propels you ahead of the pack. But you are not the only one with goals. There are others who want a piece of the action. It comes down to you vs. them. So how do you win? You win through ability.

    Ability comes down to your level of skill and talent. Talent is God given while skill is learned. Actor Will Smith reckons that “Talent you have naturally. Skill is only developed by hours and hours and hours of beating on your craft.”

    I am Legend

    Will Smith is our Inspiring Legend of the day. He is the actor of the movie “I am Legend”, a title that befits him.

    I have watched all of Will Smith’s movies and followed his career since the days of Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. He has starred in many hit movies including Bad Boys, Bad Boys II, Independence Day, Men in Black, Men in Black II, I, Robot, The Pursuit of Happyness, Hancock, Enemy of the State and Hitch.

    Most of us would say that Will Smith is a talented actor, and he is. But he has a different take on this. He says “I’m not afraid to die on a treadmill. I will not be outworked. You may be more talented than me. You might be smarter than me. And you may be better looking than me. But if we get on a treadmill together, you are going to get off first or I’m going to die. It’s really that simple. I’m not going to be outworked”. Will Smith has an incredible work ethic. He applies it to his work and exercise with the same vigor. It amplifies his talents.

    When he first went to Hollywood, like other aspiring actors, he was not taken seriously. He was seen as just a rapper who had been lucky to have a breakthrough with a TV show and nothing more. But that did not dampen his spirit. He vowed to be the best actor in the world and got to work on himself.

    First he analyzed what the top grossing movies had in common. He realized that they all had special effects and involved strange creatures and a love story. He chose his movies carefully based on his intended goal. His record speaks for itself.

    He works harder than most actors. What appears like easy delivery is a result of hours and hours of practice. As a result, Will Smith became the only actor in history to have eight consecutive films gross over $100 million in the US domestic box office. That takes more than talent.

    What about You?

    There are things you are naturally good at. There are things that you do with ease that others struggle in. You may not have recognized it, but you have your talents.

    The first step you should do is to take an inventory of your talents. What are you good at? Are you good with people? Are you a good problem solver? Are you a good writer? Are you good in music, dance, athletics, drawing etc?

    Once you recognize what your talents are, and decide on the direction of your efforts; get to work. It is time to raise your skill level. It takes hours upon hours of practice to be really good in something. Race drivers do not rely on talent alone. Great writers do not rely on talent alone. Great mortgage brokers do not rely on talent alone. They put their heart and soul into skill development. Persistence is the name of the game.

    “Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan “press on” has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race – Calvin Coolidge.

    We take some skills for granted but they took hours of practice to develop. Walking, brushing your teeth, personal grooming, typing, reading etc. They all took time, and so will the other skills you need.

    Learn from Will Smith and put in the hours to develop your skills. Find a mentor or a coach to help you improve your skills. Even world class athletes need coaching too.

    The difference between being average and world class is not talent. It is relentless skill development. What have you done today to develop your skills?

    Conclusion

    A whisper of talent can lead to a roar of achievement. Will Smith turned his talent to roaring success through an incredible work ethic and skill development. What skills can you develop to improve your prospect for prosperity? The time to act is now.

    P/s – Please share this blog post with your friend on Facebook or via email. I am trying to expand the readership of the blog and your support is highly appreciated. Your feedback and comments are also most welcome.

  • How to Beat the Odds in Your Life

    Posted: May 22, 2010, 6:49 pm by Daniel Ngari

    My dad took me aside at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Kenya on a fine September afternoon. He shared with me words of wisdom that have stayed with me ever since. My parents were nervous of cutting loose their green son, straight out of high school. They wanted to impart me with as much last minute wisdom as humanly possible.

    They had heard of chilling statistics about young, unprepared Kenyan international students. They wanted to help me beat the odds; but there was only so much they could do. I boarded the 9000km flight feeling free like a bird. I was finally free to do as I pleased.

    I was soon to learn that with great freedom comes responsibility. Life is not a straight line. It is more like a winded road with bumps, traffic jams, pot holes and unpredictable motorists. There is such a thing as odds against you.

    The Odds against You

    If success was easy, then everyone would be successful. There will be obstacles on your success journey. The playing field will at times be tilted against you. There will be people out to pull you down. There will be times when you are just not good enough. You will be out of your depth on some occasions. And to make matters worse, there will always be people better than you. Depressing?

    If you actually sat down and wrote down the reasons why you would fail in life, you would still be writing until the end of time. There are so many variables that can jettison your prospects of achievement.

    Many people dwell on the reasons why they will fail instead of looking at the reasons why they will succeed. They feel the pain of failure before it happens. Failure becomes a self-fulfilling prophesy. Yes there will be odds against you. But your time and mental energy will have a greater return on investment if you stay positive.

    Meet Jessica Watson

    Today’s Inspiring Legend is 17 years old Jessica Watson.

    Jessica Watson, from Queensland, Australia is the youngest person to sail around the world, non-stop and unassisted. She is Australia’s newest hero.

    Millions of TV viewers, led by Australian Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, welcomed her after 7 months at sea. Her story is an inspiration to those of us with odds to beat.

    The Los Angeles Times reported her reason for the journey: “I wanted to challenge myself and achieve something to be proud of. And yes, I wanted to inspire people. I hated being judged by my appearance and other people’s expectations of what a ‘little girl’ was capable of. It’s no longer just my dream or voyage. Every milestone out here isn’t just my achievement, but an achievement for everyone who has put so much time and effort into helping getting me here“. She has inspired me and others alright.

    Lessons from Jessica Watson
    • It is all in the mind – Success or failure is all in the mind. Victory is first achieved in the mental realm. Very few things are impossible. Sailing around the world for a young girl is not impossible as demonstrated by Jessica Watson. Starting and succeeding in your own business is not impossible. Most of the obstacles ahead of you can diminish with a winning attitude. Do not let the odds put you down.
    • Preparation is the key. – She had over 10,000 nautical miles of ocean sailing experience before departing on her round the world trip. Jessica and her team worked tirelessly to give her the best chance of succeeding. They prepared the technology and every aspect of the voyage to improve her odds.
    • Get Inspiration – She sought out help from experts and sailors who had done it before her. Find people who have succeeded in what you are attempting to do and learn from them. Find a mentor to guide you on the road ahead. Reach out to people who inspire you. Read up on how others did it.
    • Amass Supporters – Sailing around the world does not come cheap. She had an array of sponsors chipping in. Standing on the shoulders of giants makes life easier. How far ahead can you get if you had a team of supporters for your vision? Tilt the playing field to your advantage by finding people to believe in you and support you against the odds.
    • Handle Critics – Jessica Watson had her fair share of critics. There are those that believed that she did not quite cover the distance required for hers to be regarded as a world record. She responded “If I haven’t been sailing around the world, then it beats me what I’ve been doing out here all this time! Yes it’s a shame that my voyage won’t be recognized by a few organizations because I’m under 18, but it really doesn’t worry me.” There were people out to steal her moment of glory. There will be people out to pull you down. You will have your critics too. Listen to them but do not let them dampen your spirit or prevent you from beating the odds and succeeding.
    • Celebrate Victory – Her return to Sydney, Australia turned out to be one big party. She celebrated her victory with the nation and with her family. Allow for celebrations when you succeed. Reward yourself for making progress. Celebration has a way of making you want to beat more odds.
    Learn More about Jessica Watson

    Like we have done with the other inspiring legends, please take a moment to learn more about our young legend Jess.

    Summary

    The road to your success may not be paved with gold. But you owe it to yourself to tilt the playing field to your advantage. Some of your odds might be imagined while others may be real. Eradicate the imagined odds first. Fight the mental battles relentlessly and take action after preparation. Look for inspiration and seek support to improve your prospects of victory. Yes you can beat the odds!

  • What is Your Life’s Purpose?

    Posted: May 20, 2010, 7:26 pm by Daniel Ngari

    I recently had a near death experience that made me re-evaluate aspects of my life. They say that your life flashes before you just before death. It was not quite like that for me. My mind froze. I did not have the luxury of watching the movie of my life in an instant. Nevertheless, that scary event raised my level of awareness and clarity. Life is temporary and I cannot afford to just drift along.

    My life’s purpose is to be a positive change agent in the lives of millions. I hope to inspire you to be the best you can be through the power of positive thinking.

    I do not stand on a high horse and pretend to be better than you. I am quick to remind my readers that I am not an expert or guru in the area of human psychology. All I am is a guy willing to learn from the best about successful living and share my lessons with you.

    I want to grow as a person and at the end of life look back and say that I made a positive impact on the lives of others. But today’s blog post is not about me, so let me get back on track.

    Inspiring Legends

    In this series of articles, I continue to shine the spotlight on legends that have inspired me. These are the legends on whose giant shoulders I stand. They are the people that have enabled a regular Kenyan guy living in Western Australia to bring a message of hope to you.

    We previously looked at the life of Richard Branson. His family had three generations of lawyers and he would have been expected to follow suit. But he had other plans. He discovered that being an attorney was not his calling. He charted his path and found success in business.

    Many people go through life without ever finding their calling or defining their purpose. They blindly eat what is served to them instead of looking at what else is on the menu of life.

    Today’s Inspiring Legend is the late Steve Irwin. This was a man so full of life and passion for what he did. Steve was a wildlife warrior that left a powerful legacy. His work endures. His life was not in vain.

    Discovering Your Purpose

    Before we dig deeper into the life of Steve Irwin, I want to focus on you. Take a piece of paper and write down the names of ten people who know you well. Leave a gap of about 3 lines between each name. Ideally those names should be people from various aspects of your life e.g. sports team, family, workmates, neighbors etc.

    Now put yourself in the shoes of those ten people and describe YOU. If for example you have a friend called Jane, write down what you think Jane would say about you on your obituary if lying and sugar-coating was not an option.

    Are you happy with what they would honestly say? Do they really understand your life’s purpose? Have you been spending time pursuing your life’s purpose or have you been too busy making a living? If you have never really sat down and thought about your purpose in life, now is a good time.

    A Generous Purpose in Life

    I like a quote by President Barack Obama: “Focusing your life solely on making a buck shows a certain poverty of ambition. It asks too little of yourself. Because it’s only when you hitch your wagon to something larger than yourself that you realize your true potential”.

    When discovering and pursuing your purpose in life, remember that quote. Regardless of what success means to you, you can attain it faster by building others up instead of bringing them down. Give and it will come back to you. Align your purpose in life with sharing with others and the floodgates of blessings will open on your life.

    Few people exemplify a generous purpose in life than Steve Irwin. Let us zoom in on the man!

    Tears for a Legend

    It may have been crocodile tears by some people, but the world grieved on 4th September 2006 when Steve Irwin died. He had a cult following around the world. Millions in 130 countries followed his “Crocodile Hunter” documentaries and visited Australia Zoo to see him and his conservation work in action.

    His daughter Bindi Irwin, then aged 8, wrote and read the following statement at his memorial service on 20th September 2006, to an audience of 300 million television viewers around the world.

    “My daddy was my hero – he was always there for me when I needed him. He listened to me and taught me so many things, but most of all he was fun.

    I know that Daddy had an important job. He was working to change the world so everyone would love wildlife like he did. He built a hospital to help animals and he bought lots of land to give animals a safe place to live.

    He took me and my brother and my mum with him all the time. We filmed together, caught crocodiles together and loved being in the bush together.

    I don’t want Daddy’s passion to ever end. I want to help endangered wildlife just like he did.

    I had the best daddy in the whole world and I will miss him every day. When I see a crocodile I will always think of him and I know that Daddy made this zoo so everyone could come and learn to love all the animals. Daddy made this place his whole life, now it’s our turn to help Daddy”.

    Lessons from the Crocodile Hunter
    • Early is Better – Steve Irwin started his love for animals at an early age. He learned from his mum and dad, and volunteered for government conservation efforts. Today is better than next week when it comes to discovering your purpose in life and giving it your best.
    • A perfect partner is worth gold – He found his perfect match in Terry Irwin. Together they built Australia Zoo into one of Australia’s favorite tourist destinations and as a conservation haven. She supported him in his work in life and continues to work to uphold his legacy. Surround yourself with people who understand and support your purpose in life. It makes life easier.
    • Leverage – He discovered that he was a natural with a Video Camera. He used broadcast media to his advantage, helping him connect with over 500 million people in over 130 countries. Build on your strengths instead of focusing on your weaknesses.
    • Enthusiasm is contagious – Whether talking to Jay Leno or visitors to Australia Zoo, Steve was always hyper enthusiastic about his love for animals. His enthusiasm helped pass on the conservation message faster. Are you excited about what you want to achieve in life? Are you happy to share your purpose in life with others?
    • Put money in its place – Steve Irwin once said “Every cent we earn from Crocodile Hunter goes straight back into conservation. Every single cent”. He was not making chump change. Money was never the reason Steve did what he did. And that is why he was able to do it so well. Yes he made money, but money was never an end on itself. Don’t let money (or lack of it) come between you and your passion.
    • Know your stuff – To be at the top of his game, Steve mastered his craft, learned a lot about the animals he was fighting for. What do you want to do? Dedicate time to ferocious learning and gaining experience.
    Learn More about Steve Irwin

    I have only scratched the surface of the topic of discovering your life’s purpose. This is probably a topic I will come back to at a later date. For now, as we have done with the other legends, take time to learn a little more about Steve Irwin.

    Summary

    It does not matter who you are, where you from, or what you do for a living. Age, Race, Gender, Location, and Circumstances etc should not stop you from achieving your true potential. Take a moment to reflect on what makes you “YOU” and what you can do to better align your life with your true purpose on planet earth.

  • Losing My Virginity

    Posted: May 11, 2010, 8:15 pm by Daniel Ngari

    I had gone to Curtin University here in Perth, Western Australia to visit a friend. She was doing her Phd and was about 35 years old. On her bookshelf, I noticed a red book entitled “Losing My Virginity”. I felt sad for her and thought to myself that it need not be that complicated. But I quickly reasoned that if she had saved it for 35 years; she probably needed the book.

    Six months later at a bookshop in Melbourne, I saw that same book again. Curiosity got the better of me and I checked it out. I started reading it to kill time before my flight. It had never crossed my mind that I would ever be so engaged reading a book called “Losing My Virginity”. It was almost time for my flight so I quickly bought it. Good decision. The page turner kept me hooked on my return journey to Perth.

    I got to know Richard Branson better through this book; his autobiography (called “Losing My Virginity”) abode a Virgin Blue flight from Melbourne to Perth. He is one of my inspiring legends, a giant on whose shoulders I stand.

    Someone asked me if this inspiring legend series is about dead people. No. Richard Branson is alive and kicking, though he has had his fair share of near-death experiences.

    On one of his risky world record breaking attempts, he wrote a letter to his son and daughter that would have been his last had he not survived:

    Dear Holly and Sam,


    Life can seem rather unreal at times. Alive and well and loving one day. No longer there the next. As you both know I always had an urge to live life to its full. That meant I was lucky enough to live the life of many people during my 46 years. I loved every minute of it and I especially loved every second of my time with both of you and Mum.

    I know that many people thought us foolish for embarking on this latest adventure. I was convinced they were wrong. I felt that everything we had learned from our Atlantic and Pacific adventures would mean that we’d have a safe flight. I thought that the risks were acceptable. Obviously I’ve been proved wrong.

    However, I regret nothing about my life except not being with Joan to finally help you grow up. By the ages of 12 and 15 your characters have already developed. We’re both so proud of you. Joan and I couldn’t have had two more delightful kids. You are both kind, considerate, full of life (even witty!). What more could we both want.


    Be strong. I know it won’t be easy. But we’ve had a wonderful life together and you’ll never forget all the good times we’ve had.

    Live life to its full yourselves. Enjoy every minute of it. Love and look after Mum as if she’s both of us.

    I love you,
    Dad

    Luckily for Holly and Sam, daddy returned and saw them grow up. He survived, had fun and made a fortune. He is still having fun, getting rich and growing strong.

    Rags to Riches Story

    Richard Branson’s grandfather was a judge and his father a barrister. Three generations of the Bransons had been lawyers. Pressure was on him to do well in school but the poor chap was not too good in class. He was mildly dyslexic, short sighted and preferred sports to books.

    His school headmaster predicted that he would either go to prison or become a millionaire. He did both and went on to become a billionaire. “Losing My Virginity” is his inspiring rags to riches story.

    Seeds of Greatness

    His first venture was growing and selling Christmas trees (a business I once tried along Ngong Road in Nairobi Kenya lol). His business plan indicated that he and his partner would make ₤800 but as fate would have it their young trees were eaten by rabbits. His revenge mission on the rabbits allowed him to make a few shillings after selling the meat to a local butcher.

    He tried a few such businesses with poor results in making money but scored high on lessons and confidence. Eventually, he found his footing when he teamed up with a friend to setup an alternative school magazine. They named the magazine “Student”.  The magazine was opened up to more schools, colleges and universities. They worked the phones and came up with a list of advertisers and distributors before the first issue. The magazine went on to become a huge success. At 17, he had over 100,000 readers.

    Virgins in Business

    Students love music and Richard Branson quickly moved in to fill the information gap. He interviewed musicians including the Beatles. Being a people person, he was able to attract people to work for him mostly on volunteer basis. They worked out an arrangement where the friends would sell the magazine. They would keep 50% of the money as commission. Amazon and other internet companies call this affiliate marketing; Richard was doing it in 1970.

    Richard Branson learned to leverage the “Student” name and had other companies funding his ventures such as sending reporters overseas. He also realized that his magazine could also be used as a platform for selling music, not just posting photos and interviews of the artists.

    He had the vision for expanding the “Student” brand to “Student Accommodation”, “Student Hostels”, “Student Travel” etc. Then someone suggested that they use the name “Virgin” since they were virgins in business. A global brand was born.

    More than 300 Virgins

    Over the years, Richard Branson re-invested his profits to build up the Virgin Brand. Today the Virgin Brand is one of the most respected and recognized brands in the world. The Virgin Group has found success  in sectors ranging from mobile telephony to transportation, travel, financial services, media, music and fitness. Virgin Companies include Virgin Galactic, Virgin Atlantic, Virgin Holidays, Virgin Wines, Virgin Games and Virgin Media.

    Inspiring Richard Branson Quotes
    • My interest in life comes from setting myself huge, apparently unachievable challenges and trying to rise above them.
    • A business has to be involving, it has to be fun, and it has to exercise your creative instincts.
    • Above all, you want to create something you are proud of…. That has always been my philosophy of business. I can honestly say that I have never gone into any business purely to make money. If that is the sole motive, then I believe you are better off doing nothing.
    • All you have in life is your reputation: you may be very rich, but if you lose your good name, then you’ll never be happy. The thought will always lurk at the back of your mind that people don’t trust you. I had never really focused on what a good name meant before, but that night in prison made me understand.
    • To be successful, you have to be out there, you have to hit the ground running, and if you have a good team around you and more than a fair share of luck, you might make something happen. But you certainly can’t guarantee it just by following someone else’s formula.
    • I don’t think of work as work and play as play. It’s all living.
    Learn More about Richard Branson

    Like we have done with the other inspiring legends, please take a moment to learn more about Richard Branson and what makes him tick. My job was just to introduce you to the man. Your job is to learn more about him and to find the nuggets of inspiration that you can take with you.

    Summary

    Richard Branson is an inspiring legend who has created success after success. I hope he can inspire you to awaken you the giant within you.

  • What is Your Philosophy?

    Posted: April 29, 2010, 6:38 pm by Daniel Ngari

    I grew up in Kenya in the Nyayo era. This was the period in which the then president, my namesake, Daniel arap Moi ruled supreme. Though he sat comfortably on the wrong side of perfection, he had a unique philosophy. Some may call it unique in its simplicity, but nobody said your belief (philosophy) has to be complex. In fact his philosophy was only three words.

    The government and the ruling party never tired of reminding Kenyan citizens of the president’s philosophy. Songs and poems were composed about this philosophy. Even school children had to pledge their loyalty to the president and his “Nyayo philosophy” of PEACE, LOVE and UNITY.

    Years went by without me having the word “philosophy” drummed into my brain incessantly. Then one day a friend gave me a tape that changed my philosophy and life. When I say changed my life, I mean exactly that. This blog would likely never have been launched without the voice in that tape. The voice belonged to Jim Rohn. A giant on whose everlasting shoulders I now stand.

    Why I love Jim Rohn

    Just before Christmas last year (2009), I logged on to Facebook and saw someone post a status update “Rest In Peace Jim Rohn”. A cold shiver ran through my spine. I was at that moment in time listening to one of Jim Rohn’s audio programs. I quickly left Facebook and Googled Jim Rohn. Sadly, Jim Rohn had left this world. It was a sad day for me. A few tears freely fell on my desk. I was momentarily in shock that I was crying over someone I had never met. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized how much of an impact Jim had had  on my life. I felt a strong sense of loss. I had lost a friend, a father, a mentor and a source of inspiration.

    When I started writing this series, I knew that I was going to write about Jim Rohn. It is with a heavy heart that I write this post.  I will not be able to share with you all that I have learned from Jim, but you can be assured that his teachings will continue to find their way in this blog one way or another.

    There are two types of people in the world – givers and takers. Jim Rohn was a giver. He gave his best ideas on successful living. He inspired me to give my best on this blog and in life. He can still inspire you even though he is gone.

    He left an impressive body of works including 17 books on business and personal development. He inspired the modern generation of personal development mavens including Anthony Robins, Brian Tracy and Jack Canfield.

    The Jim Rohn Story

    Many people fell in love with the Jim Rohn’s rags to riches story. And he never got tired of telling that inspiring story. It went a little something like this…

    Jim started out as a farm boy from Idaho and rose to become on of the most sought after motivational speakers in the world. By the age of 25, he was deeply in debt and with a young family to feed. He did not have much money in the bank and the creditors were calling.

    Then he had the good fortune of meeting Earl Shoaf who was a successful entrepreneur with charisma and a great philosophy. Earl Shoaf taught Jim that his life would continue being as it was unless he changed his (Jim’s) philosophy. He started working on himself , reading books on personal development and interacting with successful people. By the age of 31, Jim had made his first million.

    He went on to become an acclaimed speaker, author and businessman for four decades. I love his teachings because they focus on the fundamentals of success. In fact, Jim Rohn once said “There are no new fundamentals. Truth is not new, it’s old. You’ve got to be a little suspicious of the guy who says, ‘come over here, I want to show you my manufactured antiques!’ No, you can’t manufacture antiques.”

    Classic Jim Rohn Quotes
    • “Asking is the beginning of receiving. Make sure you don’t go to the ocean with a teaspoon. At least take a bucket so the kids won’t laugh at you.”
    • “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. “
    • “Failure is not a single, cataclysmic event. You don’t fail overnight. Instead, failure is a few errors in judgment, repeated every day. “
    • “Formal education will make you a living; self-education will make you a fortune. “
    • “Let others lead small lives, but not you. Let others argue over small things, but not you. Let others cry over small hurts, but not you. Let others leave their future in someone else’s hands, but not you. “
    Learn More About Jim Rohn

    As I said at the beginning of this series, I will not spoon feed you with every nugget about these inspiring legends. Do a bit of homework by following the links below to learn more. You will be pleasantly surprised by the good stuff that will come out of the links I am sharing with you.

    Jim Rohn on Wikipedia – [en.wikipedia.org]

    Jim Rohn’s Official Website – [www.jimrohn.com]

    Quotes By Jim Rohn – [www.personal-development-training.com]

    Jim Rohn – How to have Your Best Year Ever (YouTube Videos) – [www.youtube.com]

    Summary

    Jim Rohn was a great teacher who encouraged his listeners to change their philosophy. Take a moment to learn more about this great man and think through your life’s philosophy. Change your philosophy, change your life.

    I would love to hear from you about this series and especially about Jim Rohn.

  • The Father of Positive Thinking

    Posted: April 21, 2010, 7:42 am by Daniel Ngari

    If there was ever the need for a paternity test for the positive thinking movement, guess who the daddy would be? My money would be on Napoleon Hill; and for good reason.

    If you have ever heard me say that you can be anything you set your mind to, I learned that from Napoleon Hill. He would often say “What the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve“. Millions of people around the world have learned the success philosophy from Napoleon Hill. His book “Think and Grow Rich” has sold over 30 million copies.

    A Young Napoleon Hill

    Napoleon Hill had the misfortune of losing his mother at the tender age of eight. He grew up in financial difficulties and even dropped out of college due to lack of school fees.

    He started writing for small-town newspapers in the area of Wise County, Virginia. His employer commissioned him to write a series on successful men. His first interview became a life changer. He was to interview Andrew Carnegie, the richest man in America at the time.

    A three hour interview turned out to be a three day talk with the great Andrew Carnegie. It then went on to become a twenty year research project.

    Andrew Carnegie could sense potential in people. Within three hours of meeting Napoleon Hill, he knew that he had the right man for the job of researching and putting together a new success philosophy.

    Imagine going to interview the richest man in the world and after the interview, he asks you if you would be willing to work for him for 20 years without pay. That was the decision Napoleon Hill had to make on his feet that day. Saying yes proved to be his best decision yet.

    The Formula for Success

    Andrew Carnegie paved the way for Napoleon Hill by giving him letters of introduction to the rich and famous men. He did not pay Napoleon throughout the twenty year project apart from some expenses in the early years of their relationship.

    Napoleon Hill’s first task was to listen to and analyze over 500 powerful men and women to learn the secrets of their success. Andrew Carnegie believed that any man or woman could be successful by following a simple formula and it was Hill’s job to find that formula. When I tell you that I am standing on the shoulders of giants, these are the giants.

    As part of his research, Hill interviewed and drew out the best from success giants such as Thomas Edison, Alexander Graham Bell, George Eastman, Henry Ford, John D. Rockefeller, Theodore Roosevelt and Jennings Randolph.

    Napoleon Hill later became an adviser to two presidents of the United States of America, Woodrow Wilson and Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

    What can we learn from Napoleon Hill?

    Thoughts are things. Thoughts are physical.

    Whatever your mind thinks about becomes your reality. Success or failure is all in the mind. You are the architect of your life.

    “There is one quality which one must possess to win, and that is definiteness of purpose, the knowledge of what one wants, and a burning desire to possess it”, said Napoleon Hill.

    Napoleon Hill believed that action is the true measure of intelligence. The scales of success are tipped on the side of action takers.

    Learn More about Napoleon Hill

    Many people have written about Napoleon Hill and his philosophy of achievement. I will not repeat it all in this blog post.

    In this series of articles on inspiring legends, I will be introducing each legend and giving the motivated readers links to find out more about the legend.

    To read his book “Think and Grow Rich” for free, please visit [www.sacred-texts.com]

    To watch a TV interview of Napoleon Hill talking about his first meeting with Andrew Carnegie, check out [www.youtube.com]

    To download (free) his monumental success masterpiece “The Law of Success in Sixteen Lessons (1928)”, please visit [www.archive.org]

    Summary

    Napoleon Hill is the father of positive thinking. This blog is based on his teachings as seen through my eyes, experiences and thinking. I will be exposing more of my sources of inspiration in this series. Take time to follow the links and to learn from these masters. Even you know about Napoleon Hill and his teachings, going back to them again will lift your spirit and expose you to new ideas.

    Stay tuned for the next inspiring legend, coming soon.

  • The Inspiring Legends Series

    Posted: April 14, 2010, 11:23 am by Daniel Ngari

    There are a handful of people who have touched me at at critical junctions in my life. They have inspired me to fight the good fight even when I felt like giving up. They instilled the burning desire for success even when I was slacking off. They gave me what I lacked when I needed it most. They gave me renewed hope when I was down and out. You may know some of them while others are unsung heroes. I will be shinning the spotlight on these heroes in this new series.

    I feel absolutely blessed to have this blog – a platform to pass on the wisdom and inspiration from the giants on whose shoulders I stand. It is an honor for me to have your attention. Being a regular guy, entrusted with your attention on matters of success, makes it even more of an honor.

    I am about to write a powerful series that will rock your world and change your life. Take your time to go through some of my older articles as you wait for the most inspiring series of articles I have ever written. It is a series I have wanted to write for so long and the time is finally ripe. It is time to shine the spotlight on the true legends of inspired living and success. Stay tuned.

    Please share this blog post (and others on the blog) with your friends.

  • Succeed by Building Others Up

    Posted: March 23, 2010, 10:10 am by Daniel Ngari

    Regardless of what success means to you, you can attain it faster by building others up instead of bringing them down. Success is sweeter when you help someone else up. It is all too easy to  criticize others to “show them how things are supposed to be”. But instead of criticizing others, why not try and see the good in them and play it up?

    One of the main reasons for starting this blog is for me to learn ways of aligning my career and activities with the spirit of giving. I want to use my God given talents, life experiences, success and failures to inspire you to be the best that you can be. I have my reasons for doing this and I will share them with you shortly. But first I will share with you a short story from my growing up days in Kenya.

    There was a lovely family that lived a few blocks from our house. We were relatively good friends and one day, my sister and I went there for a visit. We had a fabulous time, stayed there all afternoon and even had dinner there. When it came time to go we said our goodbyes and promised to keep in touch. Unfortunately as soon as we walked out, it started raining cats and dogs. We walked back to the house and stood outside the door where we could see everyone inside. It was dark outside and all bright inside. We did not realize it at the time, but our friends could not see us. We watched in disbelief as they tore into our family demonizing us left right and centre. I was shell shocked, how could these people, people we regarded as friends speak such malicious evil? Right after we had such a great time with them?

    It is unfortunate that many people will laugh with you, dine with you and then talk nasty behind your back. You probably do that yourself from time to time. I have done it too. It is not a good thing and if we are to rise above mediocrity, we must shun that kind of behavior. It is tempting to bring people down when we are threatened by them. It is easy to want to bring people down if we think they are rising up too fast and leaving us behind.

    In Australia, we call it the Tall Poppy Syndrome. Tall Poppy Syndrome is resentment of others’ success. It is something that we need to be aware of and shun as we seek success. If you are planning to be successful, you need to be aware that there are people who will try and bring you down. If you are trying to be successful, spare you energy and focus on what will make you successful instead of wasting time and energy resenting others.

    Bringing people down through negative comments and thoughts only hinders your own success. It is a natural trait that we have as humans to want to bring others down, but you should deliberately change this natural urge to a more empowering mindset. The way to do this is by intentionally wanting, wishing and working for the success of others. When others succeed, instead of being jealous, you will be very happy and proud of yourself. It is even better if you can tie your own success to the success of others.

    How can you succeed by building others up?

    Someone pointed out that I gave an example that drug dealers also provide value to their customers. While it is true that drug dealers provide value in the short term, they ultimately destroy the lives of those same customers. You need to be able to decide how you are going to build others up through your efforts, and whether it is short term or long term. My approach is to focus on how to build others up in the long term.

    One of the most successful men in the world today is Bill Gates. I have massive respect for him for his dream, vision, and work of bringing personal computers to the desktops of ordinary families. His company, Microsoft, has been instrumental in building millions of people up by creating software and helping make the PC affordable.

    For you to build others up, you have to want it, visualize it and take action. If you are currently thinking of starting a career, you can choose a career that will have a lot of positive impact on others. For example, I was talking to a brilliant engineer friend who wants to use her engineering knowledge to build solar panels and other environmentally friendly solutions. Such an endeavor will help build not just the current generation up, but also future generations.

    Succeeding by building others up is akin to planting good seeds. You reap what you sow. If you do a good job for others it will come back to you. For example, if you work hard for your employer and help him achieve his objectives, he may be able to stay in business longer and maybe even give you a pay rise. Whatever your job is, you can do more to improve the fortune of your employer. Do not just do just enough to save your job, go beyond your call of duty to deliver exceptional value.

    Building other’s up means that you are self confident about your situation and prospects in life. It means you are grateful for what you have and have a generous spirit to share. This is very important for your success. The more grateful you are, the more success you will attract in your life.

    Succeeding by building others up is the most sustainable way of succeeding. If I work really hard to write great articles that will change your life, you are most likely going to keep coming back for more and maybe invite your friends to this site. It is the same in business and other areas of life. If you build other people up, they will be happy with you and spread the word on your behalf saving you big bucks in advertising costs.

    Can you succeed if you do not build others up?

    Yes you can succeed by being selfish and by destroying other people. Drug dealers do succeed by destroying the long term lives of their customers but that kind of success is not sustainable. Sooner or later it catches up with them.

    As Bob Marley used to sing “You can fool some people sometimes, and you can fool some people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time”. It is the same with success, you can succeed sometimes by bringing people down, but you cannot succeed all the time by bringing people down.

    An Example of Success through Building Others Up

    I love teachers, maybe it has something to do with my dad having been a teacher and the fact that my sister is a teacher. Last Sunday in church they played a video of a dinner discussion between a lawyer and a teacher. As much as I love lawyers too, I thought this video will be a good example of how someone can succeed by building others up. Teachers do an amazing job and we can all learn from them.

    Video Transcript

    By Taylor Mali
    www.taylormali.com

    He says the problem with teachers is, “What’s a kid going to learn
    from someone who decided his best option in life was to become a teacher?”
    He reminds the other dinner guests that it’s true what they say about
    teachers:
    Those who can, do; those who can’t, teach.

    I decide to bite my tongue instead of his
    and resist the temptation to remind the other dinner guests
    that it’s also true what they say about lawyers.

    Because we’re eating, after all, and this is polite company.

    “I mean, you¹re a teacher, Taylor,” he says.
    “Be honest. What do you make?”

    And I wish he hadn’t done that
    (asked me to be honest)
    because, you see, I have a policy
    about honesty and ass-kicking:
    if you ask for it, I have to let you have it.

    You want to know what I make?

    I make kids work harder than they ever thought they could.
    I can make a C+ feel like a Congressional medal of honor
    and an A- feel like a slap in the face.
    How dare you waste my time with anything less than your very best.

    I make kids sit through 40 minutes of study hall
    in absolute silence. No, you may not work in groups.
    No, you may not ask a question.
    Why won’t I let you get a drink of water?
    Because you’re not thirsty, you’re bored, that’s why.

    I make parents tremble in fear when I call home:
    I hope I haven’t called at a bad time,
    I just wanted to talk to you about something Billy said today.
    Billy said, “Leave the kid alone. I still cry sometimes, don’t you?”
    And it was the noblest act of courage I have ever seen.

    I make parents see their children for who they are
    and what they can be.

    You want to know what I make?

    I make kids wonder,
    I make them question.
    I make them criticize.
    I make them apologize and mean it.
    I make them write, write, write.
    And then I make them read.
    I make them spell definitely beautiful, definitely beautiful, definitely
    beautiful
    over and over and over again until they will never misspell
    either one of those words again.
    I make them show all their work in math.
    And hide it on their final drafts in English.
    I make them understand that if you got this (brains)
    then you follow this (heart) and if someone ever tries to judge you
    by what you make, you give them this (the finger).

    Let me break it down for you, so you know what I say is true:
    I make a goddamn difference! What about you?

    Summary

    No matter what you do in life, whether you are a teacher or a lawyer, a cleaner or a business man, you can succeed by building others up. Find what others need and give them exceptional value. Always ask yourself, “what can I do to build this person or people up?”.

    //

  • The Power of Discipline

    Posted: March 7, 2010, 11:48 pm by Daniel Ngari

    Does positive thinking and motivational talk turn you on? Does it activate your mind to imagine the possibilities? Unfortunately, motivation alone does not bring success. You will only progress in life if you take action. Learn to take action even when you feel bored. Utilize the power of discipline to get more out of life. Discipline means doing the right thing, at the right place, at the right time, for the right purpose, to achieve the desired goals. It means following through with your commitments regardless of your emotional state.

    Attitude Towards Discipline

    Many people associate discipline with punishment. When growing up children learn that if they do not do what their parents or teachers want, they will be punished in some way. So they develop an uncanny ability to do just enough to avoid punishment. That ability becomes the genesis of mediocrity.

    It is shocking how many people are like that. It is a negative trait that is honed overtime. To rise above mediocrity, you must change your attitude towards discipline.

    Discipline means getting more out of yourself and giving your best towards your goal. Think of discipline as a surefire way of getting to your success. Learn to associate discipline with success not punishment.

    If you are productive today, then slack off tomorrow, you will only get minimal results. Be disciplined everyday for the best results in your life.

    Discipline Training

    You can be trained or train yourself to be progressively more disciplined. If you can only concentrate at your job for 1 hour, try and add an extra half an hour. If you become comfortable with that, keep increasing the period until you get full concentration.

    The best way to be disciplined is to learn how to set boundaries. Learn to say no to distractions from your goal. It may mean that you will not answer your phone when “in the working zone“. It may mean denying yourself some pleasures or finer things in life or set a limit to your sleeping hours.

    Without boundaries, you will just go with the “flow”. Discipline is about taking deliberate action towards your goal not just going with the flow. Define what consists work or actions towards your goal, stick with it and eliminate all else.

    Multitasking wastes time especially when switching from one task to another. Progressively train yourself to be more disciplined by  focusing fully on the task at hand.

    Practical Discipline Examples

    • Physical Health & Fitness – Be disciplined in taking care of your body. Do not just set new years resolutions in January to keep fit then forget it as the year progresses. Discipline means carrying on with your resolutions even when your emotional state has changed. Eat right and keep a regular exercise routine.
    • Work – Many people do just enough not to get fired. The average office worker is productive for only half the time they are in the office. Research has shown that many workers spend time in idle socializing, checking email, reading news and other activities not directly related to their job. Set yourself apart by being more disciplined. Improve your productivity, work the required hours everyday and give your best.
    • Financial Freedom – Many people read financial freedom books or attend seminars and resolve to change their financial future. But after the dust settles, they get back to the old habits. Financial freedom is a long road, expect to get bored or tired as you go along. Put in place automated systems, e.g. regular savings to help you carry on. Watch the small dollar bills regularly even as you aim for the the big bucks.
    • Home & Family – Be disciplined in the amount of time you spend with your family. Be disciplined in taking action and responsibilities at home even when the going gets tough.
    • Mind – Keep training your mind, feed it positive thoughts regularly, visit positive websites like this one, regularly. Train your mind to think outside the box. Keep learning new ideas and develop mental strength by stepping out of your comfort zone. Do this regularly.
    • Time Management – We only have 24 hours in a day. Learn how to prioritize your activities and stick to a schedule. Do not take on more than you can chew, but when you commit to something, find the most time effective way of following through. If time management does not come naturally for you, train yourself to be more time conscious, productive and/or learn how to delegate.

    Summary

    Work towards your goal even when the going gets tough.  You will achieve a lot in your life if you stick to your mission day in day out. Don’t keep on falling in and out of love with your passion.
    //

  • Here Comes the Men in Luck

    Posted: February 17, 2010, 5:35 pm by Daniel Ngari

    “I’m a great believer in luck, and I find that the harder I work, the more I have of it”, said Thomas Jefferson.  Then Oprah Winfrey said “Luck is a matter of preparation meeting opportunity”. And the Japanese have an interesting saying “The day you decide to do it is your lucky day”. Today is your lucky day my friend if you decide to create your own luck.

    You were born lucky

    My sister says that I swim like sediment. But every time she says that, I am quick to remind her that I once won a swimming contest.

    The average man’s ejaculate is 280 million sperms. Only 1 is required to make a baby. If you are reading this it means you won a nearly impossible swimming championship. Even champion swimmers Michael Phelps and Ian Thorpe never had to compete with that many people at the Olympics.

    Always remember that you were once a winning sperm. Even when faced with life’s difficulties, remember you were born a winner. You were born lucky.

    Create Your Own Luck

    If you are waiting for your lucky day while lazing & sleeping all day, I have news for you; in your dreams!

    You get lucky when you decide to be lucky.  Luck will meet you when you are ready for it. I have decided to be lucky this year. I will work hard for my luck, I will work smart for my luck, and I want to inspire you to do the same.

    What kind of lucky break are you looking for? Are you looking to meet the love of your life? Are you looking for a recording contract? Are you looking at doubling your profits? Whatever your heart desires, you can do it if you put your all into it. Your luck is the sum total of your thoughts and actions.

    You can create your lucky break by becoming clear on what you really want. No one can decide for you what your true desire is. Harness the power of your mind to zoom in on exactly what you need to do to achieve your goal.

    For example, if you want to get your dream job, what are the right steps to follow? What contacts would you need? How would you position yourself to potential employers? Where would you find those employers in the first place?

    Remember that you have to be in a game to win it. Spectators never legally score a goal. You have to practice and make it to the team. You have to turn up for the match. You have to do your part to get lucky. Action and thoughts are the building blocks of luck. They are the master keys of a lucky break.

    A Few Lucky Men (and Woman)
    • Richard Branson – He was busy selling his student magazine and distributing records on mail order. Then the unexpected happened. There was a postal strike and he suddenly realized just how reliant he had become to the postal service. That was the beginning of setting up of Virgin Megastores. He decided to invest in a place where young people could go buy records and listen to music. What could have been a death knell of his business, turned into a window of opportunity and luck.
    • Napoleon Hill - He was working for a magazine that required him to compile success stories of people who had made it in life. One of his first assignments was to interview Andrew Carnegie, one of the richest men in the world at the time.An interview originally intended for three hours went on for three days and nights. Andrew Carnegie then decided to entrust Napoleon Hill with the task of teaching his success principles to the world. He introduced him to various rich men such as Henry Ford, and helped set in motion the study and philosophy that would turn Napoleon Hill into the success teacher of millions in the world for decades. What a lucky break!
    • J.K. Rowling – J.K Rowling is a classic rag to riches story. She was on government welfare support while writing the first Harry Potter book. Within 5 years, she moved from welfare to multi-million dollar status by following her passion. Her book was first rejected by 13 publishers, before being taken in by Bloomsbury who advised her “to get a day job, since she had little chance of making money in children’s books.”Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows was released on 21 July 2007 and broke its predecessor’s record as the fastest-selling book of all time. It sold 11 million copies in the first day of release in the United Kingdom and United States. Harry Potter is now a global brand worth an estimated $15 billion and the last four Harry Potter books have consecutively set records as the fastest-selling books in history. Lucky indeed
    • Sir Donald George Bradman – He was an Australian cricketer, widely acknowledged as the greatest batsman of all time. He practiced batting incessantly during his youth. This form of practice developed his timing and reactions to a high degree. He may have looked like an overnight sensation, a lucky bloke, but his luck was years in the making.

    • You – You can create your own luck by setting your goals, and following your passion. Do not let that internal voice called fear stop you. Do not let the challenges of the road ahead cause you to despair. Set your mind right and take action towards your goals. It is only when you are out there doing it that you will meet your lucky break. Luck does not come to you while you sleep. You meet half way.
    Some Lucky Quotes
    • Be prepared, work hard, and hope for a little luck. Recognize that the harder you work and the better prepared you are, the more luck you might have. – Ed Bradley
    • Diligence is the mother of good luck. – Benjamin Franklin
    • I believe life is a series of near misses. A lot of what we ascribe to luck is not luck at all. It’s seizing the day and accepting responsibility for your future. It’s seeing what other people don’t see and pursuing that vision. -Howard Schultz
    • People always call it luck when you’ve acted more sensibly than they have. Anne Tyler
    Summary

    You can use the power of your mind to attract luck to your life. Your thoughts and actions bring success that others may deem as your lucky break.

  • Guy Seeking Goal

    Posted: February 16, 2010, 6:20 pm by Daniel Ngari

    It is not too late to set a major goal in life. A good goal is one that is attainable and measurable. Where do you want to be in one year? Who do you want to be in ten years? What about 50 years?

    Every year without fail, the words “resolutions” and “valentine” spike up on web searches. Millions of people log in to their favorite search engines and google for goals and love. According to Google Trends, the searches for the word “resolutions” spike up right at the end of each year. The searches for the word “valentine” spike up at the second week of February. Let us ride the wave and set some post valentines resolutions.

    Where is Your Horizon?

    How far into the future do you set your goals? Are you only looking at the next 18 months? Your actions and choices today will affect your future. Successful people think further into the future than unsuccessful people. They are willing to invest for the future instead of getting instant gratification. They are willing to sow the seeds and wait for them to bear fruits.

    Set a major goal that is attainable but have a longer term view of it. Your major mission in life becomes your moral compass, helping you make the right choices along the way. If you only think of the near term, your habits, friends, output and choices will show.

    The Feeling of Achievement

    One of my decisions this year is to get used to the taste of victory. I want to get used to the idea of winning. I want to get used to the idea of being a super achiever. It is a self perpetuating state. The more you think of yourself as a winner, the more likely you are to succeed.

    Positive thinking alone will not make you win your battles, but it does a lot more for your success than negative thinking ever can. So how do you develop the feeling of achievement? The answer lies with the goals you set for yourself.

    If you set goals that are almost impossible to achieve, then chances are that you will not achieve them. The biggest man was once a baby. Start with baby goals and grow with them. Get used to the little league before jumping into the small league. Learn to spell before you write your novel.

    Celebrate each victory no matter how small. When you set a specific, measurable goal, and you reach it, take a moment to celebrate. Take a moment to reflect on what made you succeed. As you do that over and over, you will grow in confidence and ability. You will establish a pattern of winning that will be difficult to break.

    Life Work Balance

    Do you have an insatiable desire for wealth that is detrimental to your values and relationships? Taking business and success too seriously can lead to stress and emotional turmoil that can ruin everything else.

    Since launching this blog, I have written on a wide array of topics ranging from Personal Branding, to Emotional Mastery to Relationships and Getting Rich. I have tried to inspire you and me to find balance instead of chasing success in only one aspect of life. How would you like to gain the whole world and lose your soul? How would you feel if you became the richest man in your city and lose you family?

    Take regular breaks from work or business. It helps create a healthy work / life balance. You can spend time with your family and friends when taking breaks from work.

    Take a piece of piece of paper and set your goals in all aspects of your life. Re-evaluate your quest for success and decide if you are paying a fair price. Is your job worth your family life? Is your night out worth your school grades? Is a little grass worth your career?

    Finding the One

    Find the one goal that makes you happy. Put in the requisite time and effort to attain that goal. Going on with life without a major goal is like setting out to sea without a destination in mind.

    The major goal for this blog, this year, is to create a community of positive minded people. I want to provide a personal development platform and an environment for people to share their experiences. I am still working behind the scenes to put the building blocks in place. It is a goal that has consumed me and will continue to until it turns out into reality.

    What is your major goal in life? What are you trying to achieve this year or in your life? Take time to really understand yourself and where you want to go. You are the captain of your universe and you owe it to yourself to get direction. Nobody can tell you what your major goal should be. Look within and you will find it. When you find your goal, give it your very best.


  • Are Your Goals Getting Enough Love?

    Posted: February 15, 2010, 6:53 pm by Daniel Ngari

    On Valentines Day, my heart went out to King Solomon’s 700 wives and 300 concubines. If they were still alive, they would have got lots of Valentines Day presents, yes, but the closest they would have got to him would have been a quick handshake. Have you ever shaken hands with1000 people, leave alone given them tender, loving care?

    Polygamous Goals Setting

    Many people rushed to remove the speck in South African president, Jacob Zuma’s eye (regarding his polygamy), before removing the logs in their own eyes. Why? Introspection is harder than analyzing other people’s affairs.

    As we move along with the Goals Series of articles, I want to zoom in on the question of monogamy vs. polygamy of goals. (Valentine’s love is still in the air).

    What are the perils of marring many goals? Why does the grass seem greener on the other side of your goal? Is it that hard to be faithful to your major goal in life? How sweet is that forbidden fruit called distractions? Why do we keep falling in and out of love with our goals?

    Many people spread themselves too thin. They never stay fixated on something long enough to see it blossom. It is easier to be turned on by the next shiny goal than to pursue a boring goal to its logical conclusion.

    Flirting with a new goal is irresistibly exhilarating. It takes us to new highs, gives us goose bumps and makes our minds spin. It is easy to stay up at night thinking of a new goal. It is easy to be passionately infatuated with fresh goals. New goals open the world of possibilities and do wonders for the heart.

    Then something happens. The reality of our relationship with that goal sinks in. The excitement is replaced by mundane activities. The honeymoon comes to a crashing halt.

    At first there is the desire to rekindle the passion, but that is quickly replaced by the temptation to try something new. Why not seek out yet another goal on the side? Why not juggle a couple of goals incase one does not work out? Subconsciously, we ask, “What is wrong with polygamy?”

    Lack of focus is a major cause of infertility of goals. Jumping from one bed of ideas to another is bad karma. It may seem fun and safe at first but it causes nothing but pain and under-performance in the long run.

    Enhancing Your Relationship with Goals

    If you have been in and out of relationships you know that there is a cost of switching. You either end up hurting yourself, your partner or wasting time… or all of the above. It is the same with goals. Switching from one goal to another comes at a price. It gets expensive as far as time is concerned. It hurts your output and your confidence. Flipping from one goal to another turns out to be a recipe for mediocrity.

    Polygamy of goals would work best if you had more than 24 hours a day. It is better to have one sweet goal and give it all the loving that it needs. Spend time with your lovely goal. Dedicate yourself to your goal. Commit to your goal and stick around to see it bear fruits.

    Relationships take time and work. Do not starve your goals of attention, time and sheer hard work. Continuously enhance your performance and drive deeper into your goals. Many people never get close to their potential because they swim on the shallow end. They are afraid of the deep end of their desires.

    Learn to show love to your goals. One of the best ways of showing love is to learn to listen. Learn all you can about your goal and get real intimate with the details. Go out of your way to make the baby steps of achievements. It is the small things that count. Little by little you will get to do big things.

    Sometimes you may feel uninspired to love your goals. In moments like those, seek the advice of goals counselors. Zig Ziglar once said “People often say that motivation doesn’t last. Well, neither does bathing – that’s why we recommend it daily!” Look for ways to stay attracted to your goals daily. Retrace your steps to that which attracted you in the first place. You may need a coach, an inspiring blogger or a good friend to remind you daily that your love for your goal is not in vain. Do what you need to do to stay in love with your goal.

  • In Goals We Trust

    Posted: February 11, 2010, 6:46 pm by Daniel Ngari

    A group of five guys, including yours truly, were coming from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi, Kenya, on one chilly Friday morning. Our car got a flat tire and as fate would have it; our spare tire was flat too.

    We were on a stretch of road called Mombasa Road heading to Nairobi city centre. There had been many reported car-jackings around that road so other motorists were too scared to come to our aid.

    Imagine this; a bunch of rough looking dudes, looking like gangstas, trying to flag down scared motorists for a lift to the nearest garage or service station. It was an effort in futility.

    Someone suggested that we were scaring them coz of the sheer numbers. So we decided that some of us should hide, and have only one of us to try to flag down the speeding motorists. But even thugs had figured that one out. In fact some were way ahead of us. They were reported to have been using pregnant looking women with kids to flag down their prey. Looking back, in the light of the crime rate at the time, we were not in a position to be trusted. We were the epitome of Nairobbery.

    Lets Talk About Trust, Baby…

    Trust is stronger than love. No matter how much you love someone, if you cannot trust that person, it is hard for that love to bear fruits. It is hard to do business with people you do not trust. It is hard to communicate with people you cannot trust. Lack of trust destroys friendships faster than a snake’s venom.

    It takes years to build trust. It is a slow process; just like nature. Trust does not grow as fast as the beans in Jack and the bean stalk.

    It is the small things that you do to build trust that count. Small cumulative words and actions allow trust to thrive. You cannot impose trust. You cannot dictate trust. But you can help create an environment for it to flourish.

    Trust is so important for success yet many people never really pause to think about creating a “trust strategy”. How do you gain and maintain the trust of the key people you need, to get ahead in life? How do you know whom to trust? How do you use the trust bestowed upon you responsibly? How can you piggyback on someone else’s trust?

    A Unity of Purpose

    There is a Swahili proverb that says “Mpanda ngazi na mshuka ngazi hawashikani mkono”. It is loosely translated as “someone heading North and someone heading South cannot hold hands”.

    It is easier to trust someone after you know their goals. It is easier to trust a person if your goals and theirs are in harmony, and not in direct conflict. This applies to all spheres of life. An employee whose burning ambition is to create a competing business is not worth being on your payroll. A consultant who cares more about his fees than helping his client solve problems is not the best candidate for the job.

    Pay special attention to what motivates the people you interact with. Pay attention to what makes them happy. What do they ultimately want? Do not ignore the link between goals and trust.

    Positioning Yourself for Trust

    People will use your goals in life to judge you, whether you know it or not. Whether you want it or not; it will happen. When setting your goals, add trust to the mix.

    Allow me to refer to an earlier blog post I wrote last year. It was entitled – What is Personal Branding from Within? In that post, I applied a Bob Marley song to Personal Branding. I wrote “The truth outs. The truth about who you really are eventually comes out. You can fool some people sometimes, you can fool some people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time. The best way to enhance your personal brand is to change your internals; your thoughts, your emotions, your habits and your character”.

    Who you really are eventually comes out. The best way to inspire trust is to be happy in your own skin. Be happy with the person you really are. Develop an unshakable character and habits.

    Before you can seek to be trusted by others, you must be someone worthy of trust. People break others people’s trust not because they are bad people, but because of conflicting goals.

    It pays to know what you want in life. You are less likely to hurt others if you know what you want and communicate it clearly, and in good time. If you have to fake who you are, then you will break someone’s trust eventually.

    There is no shame in walking away from people or situations if they do not align with your objectives. Position yourself with people that accept you just as you are instead of camouflaging your real self. It is good for you and them in the long run.

    Cultivating Trustworthiness

    The little things that you do day in day out are the vital trust deposits into your trust bank. Unfortunately, that bank is a little strange. The numerous small deposits over time can only sustain one withdrawal. It is possible to erode 10 years worth of trust deposits with one withdrawal. Don’t prick the balloon of trust.

    Reliability is the long haul trick to solid trust. Learn to keep the small promises. When you say you are going to do something, do your best to make sure that it is done.

    Not everyone will trust you. It is hard for Osama and Obama to trust the same guy. Decide whose camp you want to be in. Work on building trust with the right people. Misdirected trust efforts are futile.

    Summary

    People will trust you more if they know that your goals are not in direct conflict with theirs. Make small baby steps to build trust with the people who matter. Trust can be built over the years but destroyed overnight. Gourd it ferociously when you get it.

  • Who Is Your Customer?

    Posted: February 10, 2010, 5:51 pm by Daniel Ngari

    There is a customer born every minute, said P.T. Barnum. Wherever I go, I see and meet customers. Some are my customers; some are the other guy’s customers. Each of us has customers. We make a living or a fortune by finding and satisfying customers.

    I did a degree in Marketing so I got to hear the word customer more than people doing courses such as Engineering, Medicine etc. I learned a great deal about customer relationships management, customer acquisition, customer retention, customer service etc. But it was still a limited view on the concept of “customers”.

    Most people think of customers as someone who purchases goods and services from a vendor. Those are customers, yes, but there is more to it.

    Defining Your Customers

    Your customers are the people who help you make a living. Your customers are the people you have to satisfy to get ahead in life. If you are employed, your boss is your customer. If you are a politician, your voters are your customers.

    Many people fail to achieve their true potential because they do not clearly define who their customers are. Who do you need to deliver value to for you to profit? Who do you need to please for you to make a fortune?

    One of the mistakes that many small businesses make is to try and please everybody. You have to take your time and define, identify clearly, who you have to serve. Think carefully how you want to allocate your resources such as time, money, emotional engagement etc.

    Do not spread yourself too thin. Laser target your efforts to those who matter. You can please everyone else in the next life time.

    Amplifying Customer Satisfaction

    Once you have identified whom it is that you need to please to get ahead, get to work. Find out what they need and over-deliver. Do not make promises you cannot keep. Commit to over delivering on your promises. Satisfaction is the difference between the promise and performance. The higher your promise is; the lower the satisfaction.

    Don’t be boring. Boring is when you deliver exactly as you are expected to. Find interesting ways to wow! your customers. Turning up to work on time is expected, doing more than your call of duty to improve your company’s bottom line is amazing. Gravitate towards being amazing.

    Learn the art of subtle bragging. When you do something great, don’t hide it. Make sure your customer knows about it. I learned this one as a little kid. My parents were my customers. Whenever they wanted something done, I did it and subtly let them know “who did it”. It worked like a charm. It still does, even with other customers I get in life.

    Your customers needs evolve. Do not stagnate. Change with the times. Survey your customers from time to time to find out what tickles their fancy. Be on the forefront of knowing when your customers are unhappy. You will make mistakes from time to time, when you do, be prompt to apologize and make up for it.

    The customer is always right. Learn to see things from their perspective. Learn to put yourself in their shoes. Feel their pain. Solve their pain. Be of great service to your customers. They will love you for it.

    Lastly, learn to automate your customer satisfaction. Customer needs are ever changing and the quicker you learn to make your work easier, the better it will be for you in the long term. Have systems in place to please your customer, whoever he or she may be.

    For example, as a blogger, I have automated the blog subscription. Anyone who wants to get a daily dose of inspiration only needs to subscribe at the top of the site. The blog is then delivered via email without me lifting a finger (after posting it on the site).

    Find ways of satisfying your customers without breaking your back. It is more sustainable that way. Set specific, measurable goals for pleasing your customers.

  • Pimp Up Your Avatar

    Posted: February 9, 2010, 5:42 pm by Daniel Ngari

    It is not every day that Perth, Western Australia boasts of being home to one of the biggest stars in the world. Sam Worthington has set the bar so high; it may take more than a decade for Perth to have such bragging rights again.

    Acting as Jake Sully in the 2009 film Avatar, Sam Worthington has immortalized himself here in Perth and beyond.

    And who would have thought that movie writer and director, James Cameron would break his own box office record (Titanic)? At the time of this writing, Avatar is the highest grossing movie in history (Over $US2.2 Billion!).

    I won’t be the spoiler for those who have not seen the movie. Go watch it.

    Pimp My Ride

    A few years ago I was addicted to a TV show called “Pimp My Ride”. Each episode consisted of taking a car in a poor condition and restoring it, as well as customizing it. I personally know a few people who would benefit from such a makeover.

    Last night I had a dream. I dreamt up of a new “Blog show”. Let us call it “Pimp My Avatar”. The show will be starring a carefully selected Success Makeover Experts team.

    This team will be responsible for challenging your thinking and inspiring you to be the best you can be. What is an Avatar? An Avatar is a representation of an idea. The idea can be you as a husband (or wife); you as a business owner; you as a student; you as a sports man… it is up to you.

    Now let us think about it. What if the “Pimp My Avatar” team worked on you today? What would they change? How would they transform you? How would the customize you? What would they get rid off in your life? What would they say about your current state?

    You are about to be PIMPED UP!

    Focus – What Do You Want To Be?

    A good Avatar does not try to do everything. It is not a generality but a specific success story. What do you want to be? Do you want to be a better leader? Do you want to be a good student? Do you want to be the perfect relationship partner? Whatever your heart desires, you can be it. Make no mistake about it.

    What are your current dominating thoughts? Are you a positive person or is your mind clouded in negative thoughts? Take out a piece of paper and write down what you think about mainly. What dominates your Avatar?

    Changing what you focus on has the magical power of transforming your Avatar. Many people waste time and energy because of lack of focus. They do a little bit of this and a little bit of that. They spread themselves too thin.

    Dig deeper into what you want to achieve in. If it is a relationship, give it more time. If it is a job, do your best. Do one thing and do it well. See it to its logical conclusion.

    Grow – Get More Powerful

    The more you use your Avatar, the more powerful it becomes. In computer games, the more you play and jump hurdles, the more powerful your Avatar becomes. You only grow if you do something. Sitting on your laurels only makes you stagnate.

    Visualize in your mind where you want to go and how you plan to get there. Remember there can be no progress without action.

    Don’t just take action for the sake of taking action. Take well calculated steps to take you to where you want to be. Remember the most important part of a journey is to pick the right direction. Don’t head to Cape Town if you want to get to Cairo.

    Don’t be afraid of making mistakes. Learn from your mistakes. Be careful not to make the same mistake twice though.

    As you become stronger, hang around other stronger people. Do not compete with amateurs when you go pro. Do not lift the small weights when you can do more. Stretch yourself. Find people and situations that make you stretch. Do not get into a comfort zone. Be a powerful Avatar.

    Presentation – Sell the Sizzle, not the Steak

    The “Pimp My Avatar” team loves this part. This is where they make you look good. What good does it do for you to be a strong, focused Avatar if everyone thinks you suck?

    The “Pimp My Avatar” team will first tell you to work on your communication skills. The messages you send out to others through your verbal and non-verbal communication define how they look at you.

    Think ahead of time what image you want to project. Choose your words carefully. The words that come out of your mouth will be your Avatar’s image. Don’t speak like an old shoe.

    Be careful about what you write down and speak to others. Words, once let out never come back. You cannot swallow back your words even with the most sincere apology.

    The next task is to work on your association. Birds of a feather flock together. The people you hang out with will be a reflection of your Avatar’s character. An Avatar that scratches with turkeys is not an eagle in my books (and in many people’s books).

    The “Pimp My Avatar” team will also spend time working on your personal grooming. You will feel like a million bucks once they give you a few handy tips. It takes only 3 seconds for you to make a first impression. And because you don’t get a second chance to make a first impression; make sure your Avatar looks good!

    Work On Your Weak Areas

    Just like the old cars in Pimp My Ride TV show, we all have defects. There is nothing wrong with that… that’s just the way life is. If we were all perfect, the world would be a boring place (and I would be out of job).

    The “Pimp My Avatar” team has this little worksheet called “Habits”. They believe we are creatures of habits. They will help you identify your habits.

    What bad habits would you like to eliminate? Do you tell “creative” truths? Are you always late for meetings? Do you forget to keep in touch with loved ones? Are you loud and a vexation to the spirit?

    One by one, cast your bad habits to a bottomless pit or the deep blue ocean.

    Work On Your Strengths

    The able team at “Pimp My Avatar” knows that we at times give ourselves more credit than we deserve. It is not so easy to be a jack of all trades.

    The team may seem mean spirited, but they are only trying to help you. They will gently advise you to go slow on things you don’t naturally excel in. They will tell you that even Michael Jordan tried his hand in Baseball but decided to go back to Basketball. It was not like he was bad at it anyway; it just was not his core strength.

    Identify your key strengths and work on those. If you are not good with numbers, hire an accountant. If you are not good with gardening work, hire a gardener. Decide what your core strengths are and let others do the rest. Shine at what you do best. Let others shine in what they do best.

    Journal Your Journey

    The “Pimp My Avatar” team will insist that you record your success journey. A success journal is something that will guide you over the years and tell you how far you have come. Who knows, one day you may want to write a book to tell the world about how you became such a big, successful Avatar.

    We tell ourselves that we shall remember all that is happening today. But over time the memories fade.

    When you are eliminating habits, write your down how you feel. Why are you stopping smoking? What challenges are you experiencing? Why are you trying to improve your writing skills? How are you going about it?

    Write your journal for you own consumption. Even if nobody ever reads it, it will serve the purpose of crystallizing your ideas, thoughts and help you in making sound judgment now and in the future.

    Establish Your Feedback Loop

    The “Pimp My Avatar” will finally insist that you have people to keep you in check. Do not surround yourself with “yes-men”. Have a friend (or a few friends) who will always be honest with you and tell you when you go wrong.

    I once heard that a certain rich man had someone whose work was to whisper to him the words “You are only human”, after a delegation of praise singers had been to see him.

    Musicians sometimes lose touch with their true fans and get surrounded by flatterers. By the time they realize it, they have lost touch with their base and their records are not selling as they used to.

    Have a trusted mentor who will guide you and give you feedback on how your Avatar is coming along. Have a couple of admirers and cheerleaders that will lift your spirits up, but be wary of flattery. An ancient Greek philosopher once said “Flattery is like friendship in show, but not in fruit”. Get feedback that will bear fruits.

    Final Thought….

    To succeed in life you have to be clear on what you want. Focus on the right things. You become what you think about. Fill your mind with positive thoughts of achievement.

    Remember to get out of your comfort zone. Work on your strengths and weaknesses. Present yourself well through your grooming, communication and association. Record your success journey and maintain touch with people who will give you honest feedback.

    You are now an officially pimped up Avatar!

  • Sermon on the Blog

    Posted: February 6, 2010, 10:16 pm by Daniel Ngari

    I have found solace in the Big Book this year (The Bible). It is an ocean of lessons on life, lessons that I would love to share with you. I know that not everyone who reads this blog is a Christian. Please bear with me. You do not have to be a Christian to apply these lessons anyway.

    1 – Build a Strong Foundation

    Whether you are building a business, a relationship or a career, you need to set the right foundation. Spare a thought for the kind of foundation you are sitting on in your success journey.

    Life is not a straight line; there will be bumps, traffic jams, roadblocks etc on your success journey. The weather may not always be what was predicted. Your best bet is to invest in a strong foundation.

    In a relationship for example, investing in building trust, communication and problem solving skills is good insurance for tough times. Without a strong foundation, a relationship will be challenged by changing circumstances or external pressures.

    In business, invest in building a solid product and good customer relations. Listen to your customers and develop richer relationships with them. This will not only help you be more profitable but insulate you from increased competition.

    In Mathew 7:24-27 (New International Version), Jesus said “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

    Are your goals this year indicative of a wise man (or woman) or are you building your success on sand?

    2 – Make Hay While the Sun Shines

    I stumbled upon this idea last year…if you look around; you will notice that it is true. Those who succeed in life are those who harness the power of delayed gratification. Delayed gratification is the ability to wait in order to obtain something that one wants.

    When a drug addict or an alcoholic wants something, they do all they can to get it right away. Their timeline is between now and a few hours. On the other hand, a medical student is willing to wait for seven years to become a doctor. Successful people look further into the future. Whether it is a business or a relationship, they are willing to put in the work now for rewards that may take years to realize.

    There is a time for everything; a time to plant and a time to harvest. Do what you have to do now even if your pay off may be somewhere down the line. Set goals that allow you to stockpile now incase of tough times ahead.

    The best time to fix a leaking roof is when the sun is shining. Do not wait for the rains to pound before looking for a fix. Doing it in good time will save you both time and money.

    Joseph in the Bible interpreted Pharaohs dream (Genesis 41:28-31, New International Version), “It is just as I said to Pharaoh: God has shown Pharaoh what he is about to do.  Seven years of great abundance are coming throughout the land of Egypt, but seven years of famine will follow them. Then all the abundance in Egypt will be forgotten, and the famine will ravage the land. The abundance in the land will not be remembered, because the famine that follows it will be so severe”

    Are you in good physical health now? Do you have a job? Do you have blessings in areas of your life today? Maybe you have seven years of this and seven years of ravaging famine ahead. Ok, that is a gloomy way to look at it. But am sure you get my point don’t yah?

    I have recently opened a new bank account that I intend to start an automatic saving/investment plan. This is something that I have been postponing for a long time. Every month I will automatically deposit a percentage of my earnings into that account. Is there something you can do in your life to be a good custodian of blessings in good times?

    3 – The Only Thing to Fear is Fear Itself

    Franklin D. Roosevelt said in his first inauguration speech “So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself—nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance”.

    If you want to advance in life this year you have to shun fear like a plague. Fear paralyzes action. Fear is the devil incarnate.

    Fear is that little voice telling you that you cannot do it. Fear is that friend that makes you doubt yourself. Fear is what will make you sink to the depths of mediocrity.

    In Matthew 14: 25-31 (New International Version), Peter walked on water before he let doubt creep in, then he started sinking.

    During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.

    But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. don’t be afraid.”

    “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”

    “Come,” he said.

    Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”

    Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”

    Have faith in yourself and in your abilities. Develop your self esteem and self confidence. They will help you achieve more of your goals. Fearing that you might fail will precipitate failure. The more you allow self defeating thoughts into your mind, the more likely they are to become true. How much more would you achieve in life if you were not afraid?

    4 – Attitude Determines Altitude

    Zig Ziglar said “Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude”.

    The kind of attitude you bring to your work, business, relationship, health will determine how far you go. Consciously work on your attitude.

    5 – Use It or Lose It

    The final lesson today is very important. It is a parable by Jesus about using our talents. Purpose it in your heart to use your God given talents to succeed in life. Set goals that will stretch your potential.

    Let us look at Matthew 25:14-30 (New International Version).

    “Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them.  To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.

    “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’

    “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

    “The man with two bags of gold also came.’Master’,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more.’

    “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

    “Then the man who had received one bag of gold came.’Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’

    “His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.

    ‘Take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. For those who have will be given more and they will have abundance. As for those who do not have, even what they have will be taken from them. And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

    Mark those words: “For those who have will be given more and they will have abundance. As for those who do not have, even what they have will be taken from them”. Before you complain that the rich get richer, think about what you have been blessed with. Are you using it to its true potential?

    Summary

    This is a blog post that I should have written months ago. I will personally revisit it severally in the course of this year. We can all apply these lessons to help us achieve more of our goals.

    Remember to build yourself a strong foundation. Shun the desire for instant gratification, have a positive attitude towards life and shun fear. Use your talents and blessings to get ahead in life.

  • Setting Incredible Resolutions

    Posted: January 27, 2010, 12:24 pm by Daniel Ngari

    What if you decided to set goals so ambitious that everyone around you thought of you as crazy? What if  you feared you might be crazy for setting such goals? Then fast-forward 12 months later. How would you feel if you actually went ahead and achieved most of your incredible goals?

    Some people claim that setting new years resolutions is useless; they say that they tried it for a few years and it did not work for them.

    2009 Resolutions

    I have always set new years resolutions but always achieved less than I set out to achieve. But I achieve more than I would if I did not set them. The same would be true for companies that set annual goals. They may fail to achieve their goals, but they fare better than they would if they did not have any goals or guiding principles.

    For example, in 2009 I set a goal of publishing 300 blog posts.  I was however only able to publish 185 blog posts. A part of me felt really bad that I did not hit the target. But I also realized that had I not set that goal, it is likely that I would have published less than 100.

    It was my first year of blogging and I learned a great deal. My only regret is that after I realized that I had very few days to go to keep my promise of 300 posts, I froze. I could not get myself to write anymore.

    There are no unrealistic goals, just unrealistic timelines. What I should have done is to adjust my timelines instead of being paralyzed into inaction.

    Up the point I launched the blog, I had been making a living on the Internet for 7 years anonymously. I wanted to give back to the people who had unknowingly supported me over the years. On top of that, I wanted to connect with people and document my success and challenges.

    Looking back, my 2009 goals were easy to achieve, yet I did not achieve all of them. This year, I am going to up the ante and for good reason. I always achieve just over half of my goals. What if I set out bigger goals? Would you prefer a full rabbit or half a goat?

    2010 Resolutions

    If 2009 was the year of coming out of the woodwork on the Internet, 2010 will be the year of PPP. In high school, we had a club called “People, Places and Plants (PPP)” from which I will draw a lot of inspiration this year.

    The People

    I am very lucky to be blessed with a great loving family. My sister and two brothers are with me here in Perth. We speak almost daily but see each other about twice a month. I will endeavor to spend more time with them, and keep in touch more with my family in Kenya.

    If you are just joining us, please read a series of blog posts I wrote about people and relationships.

    If I could sum up my plans and hopes for 2010, I would put it in one word “RELATIONSHIPS”. I am going to enhance my existing friendships, develop new friendships, business relationships and intimate relationships.

    I have never consciously earmarked an entire year as my relationships year. Everything I do this year will be geared towards developing relationships. I will learn all there is about people, and develop relationships with them.

    My writing, marketing and programming skills will come in handy as I develop community sites that will help people connect on this blog. I will learn to listen more and better maintain friendships than I have done in the past.

    I have a huge list of goals and ideas for 2010 and 90% of them will make me a social animal. Maybe I should focus more on business but stuff that. I want relationships. I want to get intimate. I want to get deep. I want to help people connect. To inspire people and to make people feel better. I want to have a positive impact on the lives of people I interact with. I want to be a friend in need, a friend in deed.

    In my previous lifetime, I had once developed software for relationship marketing online. 2010 sounds like a good year to revive that project.

    Most of the relationships I will have in 2010 will be “long distance”. This blog has helped me reach out to people in 5 continents and I will continue enhancing those friendships electronically.

    I realize that I have more in common with people across the world than some of my next door neighbors. But there is nothing that beats the physical presence of a friend. For this reason, I will be logging out of my computer more often to meet up with friends here in Perth. Perth has been home to me for 12 years and without a doubt, some of my best friends are within the metro area of Perth.

    2010 will be one big party for me; hanging out with one friend today, and the next one tomorrow. I will be going to a friend’s party today, and inviting friends over at my place the next week. Am ready to meet and mingle. I have never been this open to new possibilities.

    In short, 2010 I will spend 90% of my time and efforts pursuing relationships. Me reckons I will have a blast. I will keep you posted.

    The Places

    Try spending 12 years in the most isolated city in the world and you will feel the itch to move around. That is exactly how I feel right now. Perth is a beautiful city, but it is the most isolated city in the world. A whopping 2692 km from the nearest city of Adelaide.

    Leaving home at the age of 18 to travel 8,902 km from Nairobi to Perth was a major turning point in my life. Everything was so new. The culture was foreign, the way of life was different. But over time, Perth has become home for me. However, I am now extremely curious about what lies across the Indian and Pacific Oceans.

    Being in Australia has given me the opportunity to travel to a few Asian countries but I have never been to Europe or America. This year, I want to travel or live in one or both of those continents. My initial destination is likely to be Europe because I can visit many countries in a short time. I would love to explore the differences in history and culture that Europe has to offer. I plan to visit over 100 countries by 2015 and this is the year that I will start to seriously tick off my destinations list.

    The travel bug has hit me and I am itching to fly away.

    I will tie my travel with self improvement and relationships. I have met and will continue to meet people on this blog and elsewhere on the Internet, and hopefully meet them in person in Europe and America. It will be a great year to be exposed to more cultures, more people and develop intimate relationships with a whole new group of friends.

    This year, I will officially become a global citizen. If there was a world passport, I would be on the application queue right now.

    We have a saying in the Kikuyu tribe of Kenya that says “mundu utaumagaraga augaga no nyina urugaga”. It means that he who does not travel (not exposed) only thinks of his mum as the best chef in the world.

    2010 will be my year of pushing the horizon literally. I want to meet all the other “chefs” so I can better compare. I will not settle for less just because that is what I am familiar with.

    The Plants

    Everyone is talking about climate change. Not to be outdone, I will endeavor to familiarize myself with this vital topic, really get familiar. There is a big debate on who is responsible for climate change and global warming, but instead of blame shifting, we should all seek to do something about it.

    From my initial research on this topic, I have found that becoming a vegetarian is surprisingly one of the best personal steps we can all take to make a contribution to the environment. I really, really love my steak and it will be hard to saying goodbye to it.

    So I will not be turning into a vegetarian overnight . But over time I will make the transition to be a full vegetarian. At first I will add more vegetables to my diet and cut down my meat eating days from 7 to 4. Over time I hope to cut down my meat consumption to nearly zero.

    This text from the BBC website better articulates my decision to have less beef and dairy products.

    A vegan in a 4×4 can do the climate more good than a meat-eater driving a hybrid car. Food for thought?


    Livestock produce more greenhouse gases than all the world’s transport combined, with beef production singled out by a recent UN report as a particular enemy at the gate. Why? Because cattle belch. Methane is a greenhouse gas more than 20 times worse for climate change than CO2emissions and cattle are full of it. There are 1.5 billion cattle and buffalo worldwide, each producing more greenhouse gas in a day than the average 4×4.
    Cutting off beef is a good start but I am blessed with the means to do more. My other contribution to climate change will be to financially support green companies and ventures. I will support tree planting and other environmentally friendly programs. I will also highlight issues to do with the environment on this blog.

    Summary

    I have publicly written down my goals for 2010 and a private action plan for their achievement. My guiding principle will be to inspire people to be the best they can be. The site will continue to obsess about making a success out of you and me. On that note, I will transform this blog into a community of positive thinkers. Together we shall use the new site as a platform for personal development and building friendships.

    On a personal level,  I will be guided by the simple principle of People, Places and Plants (PPP). I be writing about those areas and share my success and challenges with you. I look forward to your continued readership and support as we continue grow and improve.

    Other articles you may enjoy :

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    2. Guy Seeking Goal It is not too late to set a major goal...
    3. What I Learned Through Blogging in 2009 – Part One In January 2009, I set out on a public self...
    4. What is Your Philosophy? I grew up in Kenya in the Nyayo era. This...
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  • What If 2010 Was Your Last Year on Earth?

    Posted: January 25, 2010, 6:46 pm by Daniel Ngari

    What would you do if you only had six more months to live? Who would you call more often? How would you spend your free time? How would you spend your money?

    Someone once said, “Given a long enough timeline, we shall all be dead”. Life is so temporary. We are on earth for a season, yet for a reason. Why are you here? Have you found your mission yet? Have you found your calling yet? What would your legacy be if you took your last breath tonight?

    I always fantasized about dying young when I was younger. I listened to Tupac and Biggie Smalls as they sang about their impending deaths. But death no longer excites me. I don’t get the same kick nowadays when I write my own obituary. Unfortunately, my death is just around the corner.

    Knowing that I am only mortal helps me focus on the important things in life. I know I can be re-called to my maker anytime now so I have to make every moment count. Am I freaking you out?

    Imagine the shock that Nelson Mandela must have had in 2001 when CNN pre-maturely (wrongly) published his pre-written obituary. CNN pulled down the webpage in 20 minutes but the damage had already been done.

    Nelson Mandela was neither the first nor the last person to be pre-maturely declared dead. When Mark Twain was wrongly reported to be dead, this is what he famously said: “The report of my death has been grossly exaggerated”.

    I know this a gloomy way to start the year, but stay with me.

    When setting your 2010 resolutions (if you have not already done so), please keep in mind that you are only here for a season. Align your resolutions with your true mission in life.

    If you found out that you were terminally ill, would you spend more time at the pub? Would you spend more time with your family? Would you travel the world? Would you try to make more money? What would you really do?

    Find out what really matters and only do that. Your time is limited.

  • What I Learned Through Blogging in 2009 – Part Two

    Posted: January 24, 2010, 7:49 am by Daniel Ngari

    Today we continue looking at my lessons in 2009 and how they will influence the direction of this site in 2010.

    6. People love stories

    I experienced the power of stories when I launched this blog. I saw patterns in what people were responding to. The more stories I shared, the more readers would respond. One friend told me that my stories helped to better articulate the problems we all face.

    The greatest book of all time (the bible), is a collection of stories. People love stories. We connect and learn better through stories.

    Learning the power of stories had a powerful impact on my life and this site’s future direction. I will transform this website to a community of people sharing stories. Each of us has a story.

    The new site will also feature stories about people who have made it in life. We shall zoom in on the lives of famous people such us Nelson Mandela, Jim Rohn, Richard Branson etc.

    7. Two heads are better than one

    I collaborate with a few friends on aspects of running the site. Some times it having someone share with me a new perspective, or a good topic. I also have people encouraging me to keep the fire burning. All in all, I could not have done it without the support of this group of incredible people.

    Many people think that they can make it alone. I am here to say that yes you can make progress alone (to some extent). But to really get ahead in life, you need others.

    One of the books I partially serialized in 2009 was “Think and Grow Rich” by Napoleon Hill. He had this to say about collaborating with others…

    “Economic advantages may be created by any person who surrounds himself with the advice, counsel, and personal cooperation of a group of men who are willing to lend him wholehearted aid, in a spirit of PERFECT HARMONY. This form of cooperative alliance has been the basis of nearly every great fortune. Your understanding of this great truth may definitely determine your financial status.”

    Everyone is gifted or experienced in their own area. Knowing how to tap into the unique talents and experiences of people can transform your success from zero to a million and beyond.

    There is a limit of how far a website can grow when it is based on the thoughts and ideas of one man. Transforming this site into a community will hopefully, increase its reach and impact.

    8. I don’t know it all

    2009 exposed me to the $US14 Billion Personal Development industry. I thought I knew it all but the more I researched, the more I realized just how little I knew.

    It is like when someone goes to university for the first time, they feel “clever” at first, but as they dig deeper, and specialize, they realize just how huge the human body of really knowledge is.

    For this reason, I am going to dedicate 2010 to learning and bringing to your attention, resources and ideas from others better than me. Together we shall study successful people, apply their tried and tested success principles and ideas; instead of re-inventing the wheel.

    We shall study the work of people like Robert Kiyosaki (Rich Dad, Poor Dad), Stephen Covey (7 Habits of Highly Effective Habits) and many more.

    9. I know enough to make a difference

    I was humbled by my discovery that a lot of people are better than me. Many are better than I can ever hope to become. However, my unique experiences, lessons, ideas and actions can still make a difference.

    My writing style, experiences, skills and passion touches a particular audience. Your experiences, skills and passion will touch a different group of people. If we can all come together to a personal development melting pot, we can learn from each other, help each other grow and avoid repeating mistakes that each of us has already made.

    I will use my contacts, marketing and programming skills to bring together many of us on one website. That I can do. That I will do.

    I may not be the world expert on personal development, but my unique talents, passion, and experiences will form the backbone of a community of friends inspiring friends.

    10. Networking is Magical

    It is good to have one or two contacts. But the more contacts you have the more likely you are to find a contact to meet your needs.

    Your needs may vary from getting a new job, having someone to meet you in a new city, or someone to make you laugh.

    The people you surround yourself with determine your destiny. How much you earn is likely to be the average of your closest 5 friends. Your hobbies, activities and thoughts are all influenced by people around you. The bible says “show me your friends, and I will tell you what kind of person you are”.

    2009 allowed me to network, to make new friends from around the world. I saw the power of surrounding myself with positive people even when they are miles away from me.

    2010 is going to be an even bigger year for me as far as networking goes. The more positive friends you have on speed dial, the more likely you are to be positive.

    As you can see, my 2009 lessons all seem to point to the need of reaching out to people, developing better relationships, and collectively getting ahead. I am really looking forward to launching this community.

    When is this community going live? We are not too far off, but I will not give an ETA (Estimated Time of Arrival) as yet. When the time comes, I hope you will be part of the group of positive friends who will join the site, get to know each other and share experiences.

    Thank you.

    P/s – I would love to hear your comments, and ideas that you would like incorporated in the new community site.

    Other articles you may enjoy :

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  • What I Learned Through Blogging in 2009 – Part One

    Posted: January 20, 2010, 7:44 pm by Daniel Ngari

    In January 2009, I set out on a public self improvement journey on this blog. Through blogging, I was able to re-connect with old friends and make new friends. I was able to meet many of my goals and establish my path to success. Was it easy? No it was not. But I am glad I did it.

    Many of my dear readers have asked me why I stopped writing on a daily basis like I used to. I have no valid reason but a million excuses. It was partially because of laziness, loss of focus,  and an identity crisis. Wow! Now that is off my chest, let us get on with the lessons I learned in 2009.

    1)   Give and it will come back to you

    I grew up hearing my parents tell me about giving. I heard about the need for giving at our church, as the offering basket did the rounds. But I also heard from friends that we live in a society with “each for himself and God for us all”.

    Through sharing my ideas on this blog; inspiring my friends and strangers alike, I was able to attract good things in my life. I was able to meet great friends, make more money and live a richer life. The more I shared, the more I got back in return.

    I also noticed  that people and businesses that gave more value succeed more. The bible says “Give and it will come back to you”. We all have spiritual accounts that we deposit into through our acts of giving. The more you deposit the more you can withdraw.

    You may think that keeping your money to yourself in times of hardship is the wisest thing. On the contrary, giving opens the floodgates of heaven.

    I am just a regular guy not a trained Dr Phil. But I shared the little I knew and it opened the floodgates of blessings that I have attracted to my life.

    Be a generous soul in 2010. Giving creates an prosperous mindset. What do you think would happen to your life if you felt rich, abundant, blessed, gifted and prosperous?

    2)   Thoughts are Physical

    I serialized a couple of books on this blog last year. One of the books was a timeless classic by James Allen. It features the following quote;

    “Man is made or unmade by himself; in the armoury of thought he forges the weapons by which he destroys himself; he also fashions the tools with which he builds for himself heavenly mansions of joy and strength and peace. By the right choice and true application of thought, man ascends to the Divine Perfection; by the abuse and wrong application of thought, he descends below the level of the beast. Between these two extremes are all the grades of character, and man is their maker and master.”

    Many people (including me), have the habit of letting random thoughts through our minds. We fail to control our thoughts and consciously inject positive ideas.

    I learned in 2009 that whatever thought I let in my mind  comes to pass. I will be more vigilant with my thoughts and my words. Because as surely as the sun rises, they come to pass.

    3)   Kaizen Opens Doors

    I literally stumbled on the concept of Kaizen a few years ago.

    Kaizen is the process of reaching your goals in life by harnessing the amazing power of baby steps. It is a simple concept imported from Japan, that can transform your life if you apply it.

    If you improved your life by 10% every month, you will not just have 120% better results at the end of the year. The small gradual improvements will compound to give you amazing results.

    Kaizen will open doors that would otherwise have remained closed. Whether you want to improve your career, your business, your relationship or your concentration, you can do it through kaizen.

    Do not wait for perfection, have a bias for action. Start with small gradual improvements and you will be amazed at the momentum you will gain over time.

    When I started blogging, my name was hardly listed in the search engines. With every incremental blog post, I was able to get my site into the search engine databases and attract readers from around the world.

    In addition, every blog post helped me improve as a writer and as a person. Small steady steps paid off for me and they can for your life too.

    4)   The Art of Personal Branding

    A good personal brand increases your perceived value and makes people pay a premium to be associated with you. They may not necessarily pay you money, but they will give you the attention, trust, remembrance, forgiveness and opportunities.

    A strong personal brand enables you to be confident in your own abilities and as a person. It helps you become influential in many spheres of life and opens up a world of opportunities.

    I learned how to build a personal brand online almost from scratch. Although I had been making a living on the internet for 7 years by the time I started writing on this site, I had been doing so anonymously. So this was new to me.

    Personal branding does not happen overnight. Personal branding is about how others view you, not how you view yourself or want to think that others view you. Having said that, you can influence how people perceive you, through your words, actions and habits.

    Creating a blog is a fantastic way of enhancing your personal brand online. I wrote about 20 articles on the topic of personal branding, including one on how to use blogging for your personal branding efforts.

    5)   Ideas are not worth much

    I can spend the rest of my life writing on this blog. I can spend all day researching and coming up with ideas to inspire you. You can spend all day reading and re-reading my blog posts. But if you do not take action, it is all in vain.

    This blog was once an idea, but it is only when I put in the hours, to research and to write, that I was able to connect with you and other readers. I am guilty of coming up with ideas in the past that never saw the light of day. I have purposed it in my heart to do more (actions). It is better to implement half your ideas than generate double the ideas without acting on them.

    Do you have ideas for doing this or that but never really done it? Take a step of faith in 2010 and keep the excuses at bay. Have a bias for action in the implementation of your ideas.

    Summary

    2009 was a great year for me. I am grateful for having you as a visitor to my blog and hope to connect with you more in 2010. Please be on the lookout for part two of this article in the next few days. Part two will tell you what really got into me in 2009 and what is in store for 2010.

    Other articles you may enjoy :

    1. What I Learned Through Blogging in 2009 – Part Two Today we continue looking at my lessons in 2009 and...
    2. 10 Steps to Personal Branding Success Today’s blog post walks you through 10 simple steps that...
    3. Personal Branding for Rich Men Most of my theories on personal branding would not resonate...
    4. Thanks a Million 2009 Very soon writing New Year’s resolutions will be back in...
    5. The Value of Consistency “In essence, if we want to direct our lives, we...
    6. 10% of Your Actions Define 90% of Personal Brand Transform your personal brand by identifying the key 10% of...

  • Thanks a Million 2009

    Posted: December 13, 2009, 5:07 pm by Daniel Ngari

    Very soon writing New Year’s resolutions will be back in vogue. Before I jump on that wagon too, I would like to take a moment to reflect on 2009.

    In January 2009, I set out on a journey of self improvement. I purposed it in my heart to change the trajectory of my life. At that point, my life was in shambles. There were riots in my mind and heart. I needed to quell the uprising within me. The only way to drive out the negative demons was to invite positive angels. It is not easy to change one’s life but I did it; through the grace of God, the power of positive thinking, and the support of friends.

    I decided to start this blog with the aim of inspiring my friends to be the best they can be. I realized that the quickest way to grow is by sharing. The genesis of a bumper harvest is sowing the right seeds. The bible says “give, it will come back to you, in good measure, pressed and well shaken”. So I decided to give, and give. I shared my life, my ideas, my pain and my lessons in life. And within a few months, I started seeing amazing results in my life.

    My life started improving considerably when I started this blog. I met amazing people who inspired me in many ways.

    A few months ago I started asking myself some serious questions.

    What if this blog was a community instead of a blog? What if all those anonymous readers were involved in deep conversations with each other?  What if I could come to this blog and learn from the readers instead of me pulling my hairs thinking of what to share?

    There is a limit as to how much one person can do in blogging. I want to leave a mark in the lives of more people but my time, experience, knowledge and perspectives are limited. I now ask myself, if only the people who have shared their stories with me in private can share with each other on this website. It would be a good place to hang out, to learn from each other, and to grow as a group and as individuals.

    I want to sincerely thank all the people who have supported me this year. I wanted to touch the lives of people but you ended up touching mine. I wanted to inspire you but you ended up inspiring me. You are amazing, you are fabulous. Thanks a million and may God bless you. This blog would not have been what it is without the support and encouragement. I say a big THANK YOU! and hope to work with you closely in 2010 as we build a community of positive thinkers and doers.

    I reserve special thanks for Nyomi Graef for the encouragement and helping me brainstorm on the first 20 topics that formed the basis of this blog. I want to thank Paula for the consistent commenting, encouragement and support. I want to thank Mwangi for getting me to take action and just do it (launch blog). I want to thank Philip for the countless hours of editing. A big thank you goes to Joy for believing in me and constant inspiration. To Kibe Gitau I say thank you for your encouragement, and I wish you a successful 2010 and beyond. And finally a big thank you to my Facebook friends for the support, and passing word out about the blog.

    To the people listed below, I want to say a big thank you for your positive messages, giving me a reason to write, and a reason to build the community site that I am working on for 2010. May the light shine in your lives, and may success be yours for generations.

    Abdullatif Manjothi

    Abiodun oluwaseun

    Afolabi Albert

    aileen veleci

    aisha

    akams

    Alen

    Alen Wekesa

    alfred

    alice ngalla

    alicia

    Allan inc.

    allan lucumay

    amakay

    amelia mwendwa

    Amo

    Amos

    andrew muasya

    Andrew Njuguna

    andrson

    Anes Mohamed

    Angeey

    angeline

    Ann Kibunja

    Anne

    Anthony

    Antony Mbugua

    Antony Mbugua Ngari

    ANTONY NGARI

    Aoll

    Arsento

    Atef

    Atieno,South Korea

    Austine viera

    ayo FADUMIYE

    babu

    Ben Gathogo

    Ben k.

    Benn

    Benn Rono

    bestgirls.com.ua

    Bikundo

    Billy Ombima

    Birech

    Bob Bong

    Bob Skilnik

    Bonnie

    Boston Gym

    boyfulani

    BRENDA NJERI

    Brenda Njeru

    Bunmi

    carol

    Carol Achieng Otieno

    CAROLYN

    Cate

    Catherine

    Cathy Nyawira

    cecilia kabura

    Cee

    Charity

    Charity G

    Charles

    charles oloo

    Charles Simba

    chegepreneur

    Chike Ibe

    Chris Perry

    christine magati

    christine pamba

    Ciru Mansur

    Colin

    Cornelius

    damaris

    Dan Gicharu

    Dan kavole

    Dan Mahiri

    Dan Schawbel

    DANIEL

    Daniel ‘Jeshi-X’ Ngari

    Daniel Gicharu

    Daniel Ngari

    DANN KIMANI

    Daudi

    David Hamilton

    David Kamau

    David M

    Deer

    Dennis Muchiri

    Diana

    dickson mwangangi

    Doba

    Dobah

    dorcas

    Downunderhater

    Edu

    eimong

    Elly

    Emile

    Emily A.

    Eric M

    Eric muema Kiilu

    ERICAH KIPTOO

    essie

    Esther

    Esther Kinene

    Eston

    Eva Kamiri

    Evah

    Fahreen

    Faiza

    felicia

    Felix

    ford sink

    fred michori

    Fred Nyakundi

    funmi fasunloye

    Gabriel

    Gabriel Kemboi

    Gabriel Olofu

    Gathoni Kimuyu

    George

    George Mutale

    Georgia Atieno

    Gicharu

    Giny-D

    gitau

    Gladys

    Gladys Maina

    gloriathomas

    Goals / Resolutions

    Godfrey.C.Osakwe

    GOOD WORK

    Gorata

    grace

    Harry

    Hildah

    Humphrey Mburu

    i.ali

    Ibe Arua

    Ibrahim

    Ifects

    ij

    Ikechukwu Anthony Nwaodu

    Iman

    Iman Ali

    Irene

    IRENE KORIR

    Irene Y

    irungu

    irungu wagura

    Jacinta Wambui

    jackie

    Jafeni

    jafeni karanja

    James Adolwa

    James Court

    James Gitau

    james karuku

    James Muriuki

    james mwendwa kivuva

    Jamez

    Jamleck

    jane

    jane wangari

    janet

    janet mutuku

    Jazz

    jbw

    Jedz

    jemimah

    Jeri

    Jesse Obukhor

    Job kungu

    Joe and Wanda

    Joe Gichuki

    JOEY W.

    John

    john kaburi

    John Makau

    john mwangi

    John Onyango Rare

    John Rare

    John Tedesco

    Joram

    Joseh

    Joseph

    Joseph Karuga

    Josephine Macharia

    Joses

    Joses Loltome

    Josphine njeri

    Joy

    Joy. kehinde

    JOYCE

    JT

    Jude A

    Jude A.

    Judy

    juliana mburu

    Juliet

    june

    justyna daniel-akpan

    kachwanya

    kadani

    Kageniii

    kahora

    kaibs

    kainvestor

    kamama

    Kamau Warui

    kami

    kami wa nyina wa macua

    Kanai

    Kanja Paul

    karanja

    karanja kamotho

    Karen

    karuga

    KAY

    Ken

    Ken Mwangi

    Kennedy Kamau

    KenyaLuv

    Kepher

    Kevin Kute

    kibe gitau

    kim anointted

    Kimaku

    Kip

    kiplangat

    Kristjan-Olari Leping

    Kuria Steve

    kybs

    lawrence jonga

    Leila

    Lilian B K

    Linda

    Linda K. Mugo

    Linda Obilo

    Linet Kerubo

    Lisa

    Liz

    lloyd kikunzu

    lorna

    louise nyaboke

    lucie

    Lucy Mundia

    lucynd

    Lydia

    Lydia Muriithi

    lynne

    lynnette

    Lyre

    m. mwangi

    m.ali

    m.mwangi

    Macharia

    Manciny NeeMoh Migwi

    Mandi

    Marcel Masaga

    Maria

    Martha

    Martin Muchira

    Martin W

    Marto

    Mary

    mavis

    max

    Mayoress

    mel

    Meli

    mercy

    Mia

    Michael

    michael m g

    MICHAEL MURITHI

    Michael Mwaniki

    michelle m

    mike

    mike kamanu

    millionaires of genesis

    Milly

    Miriam Ruff

    Moboh

    molara

    Molly

    Morris

    Moses Kimani

    Moses Waruiru

    Motivational

    Mukonyo

    Mumbi

    munga

    munysara

    Muthoka

    Mutuma Timothy

    MWALIMU

    mwangangi

    Mwangi

    Mwangi – the Displaced African

    Myrna A. Niedo

    Nancy

    NANCY KARIUKI

    Narasha

    Natalee Bangkok Hotels

    Natty Dread

    natural sleep aids

    Ndiang’ui

    Ndiku

    ndugi

    nelie

    nellie

    Nelly

    Nelson

    Nganga

    nganga wa karuku

    Ngige Benson

    nich

    Nicholas Kimani

    Nick Tumbo

    Nimo

    Nisa

    Njau

    njeri

    Noha

    Nwaodu Anthony Ikechukwu

    Nya

    nyayiemi

    Nyomi

    Nyomi Graef

    Obamayowa

    onesmus makori

    Pam

    Parto

    Patricia Kanja

    PATRICK

    Patrick Odhiambo

    patrick okumu m.

    Paul Gitonga

    PAUL NGO’NG’A

    Paula

    Paula May

    Pauline Mwaniki

    Perminus

    Peter Mburu

    Peter Nduati

    Peter Ngunyi

    Phases

    Philip D.W.N

    philip w

    Philip w.n.

    phoebe

    Prince Miyake

    Prince Sioni

    QUEEN-ANNE BALOGUN

    racheal wangari Njeru

    Rachel

    Rachel Akinyi

    RaiulBaztepo

    Rajab

    Rebecca Munga

    regina

    Renee M

    Renee Mburu

    reu

    reuben

    reuben lagat

    Richard Ollor

    Richardinah

    Robert Echa

    Robert Wilkins

    Rofem

    ronald

    Ronald Earl Wilsher

    ronald n.ngugy

    rosemary njeri

    Roy

    rubby

    saeed

    sally

    salome

    Sam

    Scimmo

    SHADRACK

    Shiroh

    Shiru

    shomyz

    simon

    simon  kanoga

    simon kanoga

    simon wachira

    SK Usman

    slimjess

    Sophie

    stan

    Steve

    Steve Kybs

    steve nick

    Steve Njau (Kybs)

    Sublimity

    Sulaiman

    Sumi Akumu Assumpter

    susan

    Susannah

    sush

    symo

    Tamaku

    tghttxhosy

    thaka

    Thuo

    Tj

    Tola

    Tom

    Tom Kabau

    Tom Miller

    Tommy Adebayo

    Toni

    tony

    tony ngari

    victor

    Victoria Zillah

    victoria zilllah

    Vikky

    vivianne nancee

    wamahium

    Wanja

    Wanjiru

    WeddingChecklist

    william

    Wilson Odhiambo

    Winnie

    Woji Christian C.

    xtine

    Xtine Dida

    Yomi Oloko

    Yvonne Ndunge

    Zippy

    P/s: If you have not had the chance to read all the blog posts, please take your time to read them and share them with friends. I would love to hear from you. Merry Christmas and Happy 2010!!

    Other articles you may enjoy :

    1. What I Learned Through Blogging in 2009 – Part One In January 2009, I set out on a public self...
    2. What I Learned Through Blogging in 2009 – Part Two Today we continue looking at my lessons in 2009 and...
    3. What is Your Life’s Purpose? I recently had a near death experience that made me...
    4. Of Good and Bad Debt Have a quick look at those two men over there;...
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  • Do you have a Blueprint for Success?

    Posted: November 5, 2009, 1:02 pm by Daniel Ngari

    A prudent construction company will not start building a house before designing the blueprint for it.  Many people set out to be successful without planning exactly how they are going to get there or even have a way of verifying that they have arrived. It is like setting out to sea without a compass. You may get to your destination, but it may take a long time. You will get there a whole lot faster if you have a compass.  Likewise to succeed you need to have a blueprint or framework.


    Like in the post yesterday, I am still setting up the stage for future articles that will form the basis of this blog. The purpose of this blog is to inspire you to be the best you can be. To help you think of ways to reach your true potential. To succeed in life, you need a tried and tested way of getting there.

    Revealed: My blueprint for success:

    1. It is all in the mind.
    2. Bias for Action.
    3. Oh Baby Steps.
    4. Change Habits.
    5. Track your  Progress.
    6. Build on your Success.

    1. It is all in the mind.

    Even the Great Wall of China was once an idea. If you can think it, then you can do it or be it. You have to think in vivid terms what it is that you want to succeed in. Do you want to be in the first 11 of your soccer team? Do you want to shed 10 pounds? Do you want to graduate with honors? Whatever your goal is, you have to visualize it and believe that you can make it.

    Mental preparation is the most important part of the blueprint. You are going to encounter bumps and hills on the road to success.  The last thing you want is to add to the obstacles through self sabotage. At your core, you must believe that what you want to achieve is congruent with your beliefs, otherwise you will sabotage yourself.

    Once you have it clear in your mind that you really want the goal e.g to shed 10 pounds, then write it down on a piece of paper.  Write down your goal and read it aloud and create an action plan. Translate your desire for that goal into a practical series of doable tasks.

    2. Bias for Action.

    I am a computer programmer. One of the problems that we programmers have is that we tend to over analyze and think of the most creative ways of solving a particular problem. This comes at the expense of writing the software. We call it analysis paralysis.

    Don’t spend a disproportionate amount of time and effort analyzing how to solve your problem or how to get to your goal. Instead, have a bias for action. Borrow from our friends at Nike – “Just Do It!”.

    Every step you make towards your goal (action), will give you more confidence and lessons, even if you fail. Like this blog for example. I spent so much time last year thinking of what kind of features to have, what kind of community to cultivate etc. Those were just delaying tactics, I later realized. That is why this year, I decide to just do it. It may not be perfect, but at least it is out there, touching the lives of a few people.

    3. Oh Baby Steps.

    For many years I used to start lofty projects with big goals but never really got to  the finishing line. Why? I always wanted to hit it big. I got bored with the details. But as I grew older and wiser, I realized that it is the small baby steps that  count.

    When does a baby give up trying to walk? When does a baby’s parent say to the baby… “Hey little, you have tried too many times. Give it up!”. Almost never. You must have that same tenacity of learning how to make those baby steps. Once you start making small practical steps towards your goal, you will feel better and be more likely to succeed.

    Even great super achievers like Tiger Woods have to make those small baby steps every day to stay at the top of their game. Plan your game, have a bias for action and remember to make baby steps towards your goals every day.

    4. Change Habits.

    We are creatures of habit. There is no way you are going to achieve different results if you keep doing things in the same old fashioned way. Say for example you wanted to save up to buy a house. If you were not tracking your expenses or saving money, then you need to change that.

    To achieve any goal in life, you need to change some habits. Think of the goal you want to achieve, and decide what habits would keep you from achieving that.  Then change those habits.

    I have recently had a great interest in healthy living. If you want to improve your health and fitness level, you may have to change some habits e.g how much food you eat, what you drink, what type of foods tickle your fancy or how much exercise you do.

    5. Track your Progress.

    When you set out to achieve a particular goal, you must have check points and milestones to track how you are doing. With our earlier example of shedding 10 pounds, if you gave yourself 10 weeks to get to your goal, then you can set a goal of losing say 1 pound per week. Then weigh yourself every week to see if you are on track. No point waiting for 10 weeks to find out whether or not you got to your goal.

    It is important that you set yourself realistic yet challenging deadlines for your goals. If you don’t meet your milestones, analyze why you missed the deadline, and make necessary amends.  Writing your goals helps in the tracking and accountability.

    6. Build on your Success.

    Once you reach your goals, you should look back on how far you have come. Be truly thankful, count your blessings and then move on to bigger things. Yes, it is like chasing the wind, but success feeds on success. Don’t rest on your laurels.

    Say if your goal was to make a million dollars. Once you get to you goals, don’t shoot yourself. Do something with that money. Make other goals, that capitalize on the fact that you now have your million.

    Even for goals that are not monetary, you can always build on your successes. Say your goal was to attract to your life the perfect life partner. Getting him or her to your life should not be the end. You should set goals on how to improve your relationship and live in harmony.

    With time, as you have more successes under your belt, you will be surprised by the momentum they will build in terms of improving your self confidence and you level of satisfaction.

    Summary

    Success does not just happen. You must first purpose it in your mind, resolve to achieve and create an action plan. You should always have a bias for action and make steady baby steps towards the achievement of your goals.

    Succeeding in life calls for a change in habits. As you walk through the journey towards success, remember to change your habits and keep track of your success along the way.  Once you succeed, remember to turn that success to your next success.

    All the best in your goals. Your comments are most welcome.
    //

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  • Success: How Badly do You Want it?

    Posted: November 1, 2009, 9:00 pm by Daniel Ngari

    I will start today’s post with a confession: I have a ravenous desire for success, hence this website. I am passionate about inspiring my friends to be the best they can be. My path to freedom and happiness is tied to how well I can inspire you. I am starving for success that is intricately tied to your success. Do you have a ravenous desire for success? Are you really hungry for success? How so?

    We previously talked about what success means, and how to create a blueprint for your success. I truly believe that your success or failure is all in the mind. If you really need success and purpose it in your mind then you will succeed. But you need to be hungry for it.

    A story is told of a shy young man who wanted to succeed. He saw an older man from his home town fishing. He mustered some courage and approached the highly successful old man and asked, “What is the secret to your success?”. Without saying as much as a word to the young man, the old man grabbed him and pushed him down into the lake.

    The young man struggled to free himself, but the old man was strong and held him down. After a few minutes of a shockingly fierce struggle the old man pulled out the young from the water. The young man was belligerent and held the old man by the neck. “Why were were you trying to kill me?”, he asked.

    The old man looked at the young man straight into his eyes and said “You see how much you wanted to breath while under the water. If you shall desire success with such intensity, then my son success shall be right there waiting for you.

    Success begins with the mind. All you need is to set realistic goals, with appropriate time lines and have a big enough “WHY”.  Have you heard of the Australian movie Rabbit Proof Fence? The film tells the stoy of two Aboriginal girls as they trek/walk for nine weeks along 1,500 miles (2,400 km) of the Australian rabbit-proof fence to return to their home. They had a big enough “WHY” for walking such a lengthy distance. They were running away from prison to their native community.  I am sure we would not be friends for long if I told you to walk with me for mere 100 kilometers “to get to know each other“.

    If you don’t have a big enough reason for doing something, chances are you will not do it. I want to inspire you to succeed. To awaken the giant within you. What is your goal in life? What do you want to achieve by the end of this year? Do you have a specific goal that you want to get to within the next 30 days?

    You have to visualize that which you want, in the most vivid terms possible. The road to success is not paved with gold. Like all good things in life, success comes at a price. Be willing to pay the price, through preparation, burning desire, and perseverance.

    To succeed, you need to take action. To take action, you need to have a reason. A quick and easy way of making yourself desire success is to use the carrot and  stick method. Let us say for example that your goal is to get a  job straight after college. This is how you might apply the carrot and  stick method to drive you to action.

    Carrot Way

    • Think of the money you will earn.
    • Think of the nice holiday you will be able to afford.
    • Think of the boost in confidence and opportunities.

    Stick Way

    • Think of the pile of bills that need to be paid.
    • Think of the gaps in your curriculum vitae (resume) that you will create if you stay out of the job market for long.
    • Think of the missed opportunities for advancement.
    • Think of the shame in failing to answer to the question “What do you do?”

    Carrot and stick (also “carrot or stick”) is  idiom hat refers to a policy of offering a combination of rewards and punishment to induce behavior. It may derive from methods used for training mules and other animals by drawing them forward with rewards (the “carrot”) and driving them forward with punishment (the “stick”)

    Whatever you goals are, you can apply the carrot and  stick method to build that fire within you. The fire that will ignite you into action and help you get to your goals.

    Summary

    How much do you want to succeed? You need to have a ravenous desire to succeed. Without that desire, it is hard to take action and overcome obstacles on the road to success.

    Most of the obstacles to your success will be mental. Things like fear and self sabotage. Create in your mind a big enough “why” you want to succeed, and the journey to your success will become easier. All the best my friend. May success be upon you.

    //

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  • Serenity

    Posted: October 29, 2009, 1:06 am by Daniel Ngari

    CALMNESS of mind is one of the beautiful jewels of wisdom. It is the result of long and patient effort in self-control. Its presence is an indication of ripened experience, and of a more than ordinary knowledge of the laws and operations of thought.

    [This is the final part of the serialization of the book "As a Man Thinketh" By James Allen]

    A man becomes calm in the measure that he understands himself as a thought evolved being, for such knowledge necessitates the understanding of others as the result of thought, and as he develops a right understanding, and sees more and more clearly the internal relations of things by the action of cause and effect he ceases to fuss and fume and worry and grieve, and remains poised, steadfast, serene.

    The calm man, having learned how to govern himself, knows how to adapt himself to others; and they, in turn, reverence his spiritual strength, and feel that they can learn of him and rely upon him. The more tranquil a man becomes, the greater is his success, his influence, his power for good. Even the ordinary trader will find his business prosperity increase as he develops a greater self-control and equanimity, for people will always prefer to deal with a man whose demeanour is strongly equable.

    The strong, calm man is always loved and revered. He is like a shade-giving tree in a thirsty land, or a sheltering rock in a storm. “Who does not love a tranquil heart, a sweet-tempered, balanced life? It does not matter whether it rains or shines, or what changes come to those possessing these blessings, for they are always sweet, serene, and calm. That exquisite poise of character, which we call serenity is the last lesson of culture, the fruitage of the soul. It is precious as wisdom, more to be desired than gold—yea, than even fine gold. How insignificant mere money seeking looks in comparison with a serene life—a life that dwells in the ocean of Truth, beneath the waves, beyond the reach of tempests, in the Eternal Calm!

    “How many people we know who sour their lives, who ruin all that is sweet and beautiful by explosive tempers, who destroy their poise of character, and make bad blood! It is a question whether the great majority of people do not ruin their lives and mar their happiness by lack of self-control. How few people we meet in life who are well balanced, who have that exquisite poise which is characteristic of the finished character!

    Yes, humanity surges with uncontrolled passion, is tumultuous with ungoverned grief, is blown about by anxiety and doubt only the wise man, only he whose thoughts are controlled and purified, makes the winds and the storms of the soul obey him.

    Tempest-tossed souls, wherever ye may be, under whatsoever conditions ye may live, know this: In the ocean of life the isles of Blessedness are smiling, and the sunny shore of your ideal awaits your coming. Keep your hand firmly upon the helm of thought. In the bark of your soul reclines the commanding Master; He does but sleep: wake Him. Self-control is strength; Right Thought is mastery; Calmness is power. Say unto your heart, “Peace, be still!”

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  • Visions and Ideals

    Posted: October 29, 2009, 9:28 am by Daniel Ngari

    THE dreamers are the saviours of the world. As the visible world is sustained by the invisible, so men, through all their trials and sins and sordid vocations, are nourished by the beautiful visions of their solitary dreamers. Humanity cannot forget its dreamers; it cannot let their ideals fade and die; it lives in them; it knows them as they realities which it shall one day see and know.

    [This blog post is part of the serialization of the book "As a Man Thinketh" by James Allen]

    Composer, sculptor, painter, poet, prophet, sage, these are the makers of the after-world, the architects of heaven. The world is beautiful because they have lived; without them, labouring humanity would perish.

    He who cherishes a beautiful vision, a lofty ideal in his heart, will one day realize it. Columbus cherished a vision of another world, and he discovered it; Copernicus fostered the vision of a multiplicity of worlds and a wider universe, and he revealed it; Buddha beheld the vision of a spiritual world of stainless beauty and perfect peace, and he entered into it.

    Cherish your visions; cherish your ideals; cherish the music that stirs in your heart, the beauty that forms in your mind, the loveliness that drapes your purest thoughts, for out of them will grow all delightful conditions, all, heavenly environment; of these, if you but remain true to them, your world will at last be built.

    To desire is to obtain; to aspire is to, achieve. Shall man’s basest desires receive the fullest measure of gratification, and his purest aspirations starve for lack of sustenance? Such is not the Law: such a condition of things can never obtain: “ask and receive.”

    Dream lofty dreams, and as you dream, so shall you become. Your Vision is the promise of what you shall one day be; your Ideal is the prophecy of what you shall at last unveil.

    The greatest achievement was at first and for a time a dream. The oak sleeps in the acorn; the bird waits in the egg; and in the highest vision of the soul a waking angel stirs. Dreams are the seedlings of realities.

    Your circumstances may be uncongenial, but they shall not long remain so if you but perceive an Ideal and strive to reach it. You cannot travel within and stand still without. Here is a youth hard pressed by poverty and labour; confined long hours in an unhealthy workshop; unschooled, and lacking all the arts of refinement. But he dreams of better things; he thinks of intelligence, of refinement, of grace and beauty. He conceives of, mentally builds up, an ideal condition of life; the vision of a wider liberty and a larger scope takes possession of him; unrest urges him to action, and he utilizes all his spare time and means, small though they are, to the development of his latent powers and resources. Very soon so altered has his mind become that the workshop can no longer hold him. It has become so out of harmony with his mentality that it falls out of his life as a garment is cast aside, and, with the growth of opportunities, which fit the scope of his expanding powers, he passes out of it forever. Years later we see this youth as a full-grown man. We find him a master of certain forces of the mind, which he wields with worldwide influence and almost unequalled power. In his hands he holds the cords of gigantic responsibilities; he speaks, and lo, lives are changed; men and women hang upon his words and remould their characters, and, sunlike, he becomes the fixed and luminous centre round which innumerable destinies revolve. He has realized the Vision of his youth. He has become one with his Ideal.

    And you, too, youthful reader, will realize the Vision (not the idle wish) of your heart, be it base or beautiful, or a mixture of both, for you will always gravitate toward that which you, secretly, most love. Into your hands will be placed the exact results of your own thoughts; you will receive that which you earn; no more, no less. Whatever your present environment may be, you will fall, remain, or rise with your thoughts, your Vision, your Ideal. You will become as small as your controlling desire; as great as your dominant aspiration: in the beautiful words of Stanton Kirkham Davis, “You may be keeping accounts, and presently you shall walk out of the door that for so long has seemed to you the barrier of your ideals, and shall find yourself before an audience—the pen still behind your ear, the ink stains on your fingers and then and there shall pour out the torrent of your inspiration. You may be driving sheep, and you shall wander to the city-bucolic and open-mouthed; shall wander under the intrepid guidance of the spirit into the studio of the master, and after a time he shall say, ‘I have nothing more to teach you.’ And now you have become the master, who did so recently dream of great things while driving sheep. You shall lay down the saw and the plane to take upon yourself the regeneration of the world.”

    The thoughtless, the ignorant, and the indolent, seeing only the apparent effects of things and not the things themselves, talk of luck, of fortune, and chance. Seeing a man grow rich, they say, “How lucky he is!” Observing another become intellectual, they exclaim, “How highly favoured he is!” And noting the saintly character and wide influence of another, they remark, “How chance aids him at every turn!” They do not see the trials and failures and struggles which these men have voluntarily encountered in order to gain their experience; have no knowledge of the sacrifices they have made, of the undaunted efforts they have put forth, of the faith they have exercised, that they might overcome the apparently insurmountable, and realize the Vision of their heart. They do not know the darkness and the heartaches; they only see the light and joy, and call it “luck”. They do not see the long and arduous journey, but only behold the pleasant goal, and call it “good fortune,” do not understand the process, but only perceive the result, and call it chance.

    In all human affairs there are efforts, and there are results, and the strength of the effort is the measure of the result. Chance is not. Gifts, powers, material, intellectual, and spiritual possessions are the fruits of effort; they are thoughts completed, objects accomplished, visions realized.

    The Vision that you glorify in your mind, the Ideal that you enthrone in your heart—this you will build your life by, this you will become.

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  • The Thought-Factor in Achievement

    Posted: October 28, 2009, 8:47 am by Daniel Ngari

    ALL that a man achieves and all that he fails to achieve is the direct result of his own thoughts. In a justly ordered universe, where loss of equipoise would mean total destruction, individual responsibility must be absolute. A man’s weakness and strength, purity and impurity, are his own, and not another man’s; they are brought about by himself, and not by another; and they can only be altered by himself, never by another. His condition is also his own, and not another man’s. His suffering and his happiness are evolved from within. As he thinks, so he is; as he continues to think, so he remains.

    [This blog post is part of the ongoing serialization of the classic personal development book "As a man Thinketh" by James Allen]

    A strong man cannot help a weaker unless that weaker is willing to be helped, and even then the weak man must become strong of himself; he must, by his own efforts, develop the strength which he admires in another. None but himself can alter his condition.

    It has been usual for men to think and to say, “Many men are slaves because one is an oppressor; let us hate the oppressor.” Now, however, there is amongst an increasing few a tendency to reverse this judgment, and to say, “One man is an oppressor because many are slaves; let us despise the slaves.”

    The truth is that oppressor and slave are co-operators in ignorance, and, while seeming to afflict each other, are in reality afflicting themselves. A perfect Knowledge perceives the action of law in the weakness of the oppressed and the misapplied power of the oppressor; a perfect Love, seeing the suffering, which both states entail, condemns neither; a perfect Compassion embraces both oppressor and oppressed.

    He who has conquered weakness, and has put away all selfish thoughts, belongs neither to oppressor nor oppressed. He is free.

    A man can only rise, conquer, and achieve by lifting up his thoughts. He can only remain weak, and abject, and miserable by refusing to lift up his thoughts.

    Before a man can achieve anything, even in worldly things, he must lift his thoughts above slavish animal indulgence. He may not, in order to succeed, give up all animality and selfishness, by any means; but a portion of it must, at least, be sacrificed. A man whose first thought is bestial indulgence could neither think clearly nor plan methodically; he could not find and develop his latent resources, and would fail in any undertaking. Not having commenced to manfully control his thoughts, he is not in a position to control affairs and to adopt serious responsibilities. He is not fit to act independently and stand alone. But he is limited only by the thoughts, which he chooses.

    There can be no progress, no achievement without sacrifice, and a man’s worldly success will be in the measure that he sacrifices his confused animal thoughts, and fixes his mind on the development of his plans, and the strengthening of his resolution and self-reliance. And the higher he lifts his thoughts, the more manly, upright, and righteous he becomes, the greater will be his success, the more blessed and enduring will be his achievements.

    The universe does not favour the greedy, the dishonest, the vicious, although on the mere surface it may sometimes appear to do so; it helps the honest, the magnanimous, the virtuous. All the great Teachers of the ages have declared this in varying forms, and to prove and know it a man has but to persist in making himself more and more virtuous by lifting up his thoughts.

    Intellectual achievements are the result of thought consecrated to the search for knowledge, or for the beautiful and true in life and nature. Such achievements may be sometimes connected with vanity and ambition, but they are not the outcome of those characteristics; they are the natural outgrowth of long and arduous effort, and of pure and unselfish thoughts.

    Spiritual achievements are the consummation of holy aspirations. He who lives constantly in the conception of noble and lofty thoughts, who dwells upon all that is pure and unselfish, will, as surely as the sun reaches its zenith and the moon its full, become wise and noble in character, and rise into a position of influence and blessedness.

    Achievement, of whatever kind, is the crown of effort, the diadem of thought. By the aid of self-control, resolution, purity, righteousness, and well-directed thought a man ascends; by the aid of animality, indolence, impurity, corruption, and confusion of thought a man descends.

    A man may rise to high success in the world, and even to lofty altitudes in the spiritual realm, and again descend into weakness and wretchedness by allowing arrogant, selfish, and corrupt thoughts to take possession of him.

    Victories attained by right thought can only be maintained by watchfulness. Many give way when success is assured, and rapidly fall back into failure.

    All achievements, whether in the business, intellectual, or spiritual world, are the result of definitely directed thought, are governed by the same law and are of the same method; the only difference lies in the object of attainment.

    He who would accomplish little must sacrifice little; he who would achieve much must sacrifice much; he who would attain highly must sacrifice greatly.

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  • Thought and Purpose

    Posted: October 27, 2009, 4:07 am by Daniel Ngari

    UNTIL thought is linked with purpose there is no intelligent accomplishment. With the majority the bark of thought is allowed to “drift” upon the ocean of life. Aimlessness is a vice, and such drifting must not continue for him who would steer clear of catastrophe and destruction.

    [This blog post is part of the serialization of the book "As a Man Thinketh" by James Allen]

    They who have no central purpose in their life fall an easy prey to petty worries, fears, troubles, and self-pityings, all of which are indications of weakness, which lead, just as surely as deliberately planned sins (though by a different route), to failure, unhappiness, and loss, for weakness cannot persist in a power evolving universe.

    A man should conceive of a legitimate purpose in his heart, and set out to accomplish it. He should make this purpose the centralizing point of his thoughts. It may take the form of a spiritual ideal, or it may be a worldly object, according to his nature at the time being; but whichever it is, he should steadily focus his thought-forces upon the object, which he has set before him. He should make this purpose his supreme duty, and should devote himself to its attainment, not allowing his thoughts to wander away into ephemeral fancies, longings, and imaginings. This is the royal road to self-control and true concentration of thought. Even if he fails again and again to accomplish his purpose (as he necessarily must until weakness is overcome), the strength of character gained will be the measure of his true success, and this will form a new starting-point for future power and triumph.

    Those who are not prepared for the apprehension of a great purpose should fix the thoughts upon the faultless performance of their duty, no matter how insignificant their task may appear. Only in this way can the thoughts be gathered and focussed, and resolution and energy be developed, which being done, there is nothing which may not be accomplished.

    The weakest soul, knowing its own weakness, and believing this truth ‘that strength can only be developed by effort and practice, will, thus believing, at once begin to exert itself, and, adding effort to effort, patience to patience, and strength to strength, will never cease to develop, and will at last grow divinely strong.

    As the physically weak man can make himself strong by careful and patient training, so the man of weak thoughts can make them strong by exercising himself in right thinking.

    To put away aimlessness and weakness, and to begin to think with purpose, is to enter the ranks of those strong ones who only recognize failure as one of the pathways to attainment; who make all conditions serve them, and who think strongly, attempt fearlessly, and accomplish masterfully.

    Having conceived of his purpose, a man should mentally mark out a straight pathway to its achievement, looking neither to the right nor the left. Doubts and fears should be rigorously excluded; they are disintegrating elements, which break up the straight line of effort, rendering it crooked, ineffectual, useless. Thoughts of doubt and fear never accomplished anything, and never can. They always lead to failure. Purpose, energy, power to do, and all strong thoughts cease when doubt and fear creep in.

    The will to do springs from the knowledge that we can do. Doubt and fear are the great enemies of knowledge, and he who encourages them, who does not slay them. thwarts himself at every step.

    He who has conquered doubt and fear has conquered failure. His every, thought is allied with power, and all difficulties are bravely met and wisely overcome. His purposes are seasonably planted, and they bloom and bring forth fruit, which does not fall prematurely to the ground.

    Thought allied fearlessly to purpose becomes creative force: he who knows this is ready to become something higher and stronger than a mere bundle of wavering thoughts and fluctuating sensations; he who does this has become the conscious and intelligent wielder of his mental powers.

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  • Effect of Thought on Health and the Body

    Posted: October 26, 2009, 6:01 am by Daniel Ngari

    THE body is the servant of the mind. It obeys the operations of the mind, whether they be deliberately chosen or automatically expressed. At the bidding of unlawful thoughts the body sinks rapidly into disease and decay; at the command of glad and beautiful thoughts it becomes clothed with youthfulness and beauty.

    [This blog post is part of the serialization of the classic personal development book "As a Man Thinketh" By James Allen]

    Disease and health, like circumstances, are rooted in thought. Sickly thoughts will express themselves through a sickly body. Thoughts of fear have been known to kill a man as speedily as a bullet, and they are continually killing thousands of people just as surely though less rapidly. The people who live in fear of disease are the people who get it. Anxiety quickly demoralizes the whole body, and lays it open to the, entrance of disease; while impure thoughts, even if not physically indulged, will soon shatter the nervous system.

    Strong, pure, and happy thoughts build up the body in vigour and grace. The body is a delicate and plastic instrument, which responds readily to the thoughts by which it is impressed, and habits of thought will produce their own effects, good or bad, upon it.

    Men will continue to have impure and poisoned blood, so long as they propagate unclean thoughts. Out of a clean heart comes a clean life and a clean body. Out of a defiled mind proceeds a defiled life and a corrupt body. Thought is the fount of action, life, and manifestation; make the fountain pure, and all will be pure.

    Change of diet will not help a man who will not change his thoughts. When a man makes his thoughts pure, he no longer desires impure food.

    Clean thoughts make clean habits. The so-called saint who does not wash his body is not a saint. He who has strengthened and purified his thoughts does not need to consider the malevolent microbe.

    If you would protect your body, guard your mind. If you would renew your body, beautify your mind. Thoughts of malice, envy, disappointment, despondency, rob the body of its health and grace. A sour face does not come by chance; it is made by sour thoughts. Wrinkles that mar are drawn by folly, passion, and pride.

    I know a woman of ninety-six who has the bright, innocent face of a girl. I know a man well under middle age whose face is drawn into inharmonious contours. The one is the result of a sweet and sunny disposition; the other is the outcome of passion and discontent.

    As you cannot have a sweet and wholesome abode unless you admit the air and sunshine freely into your rooms, so a strong body and a bright, happy, or serene countenance can only result from the free admittance into the mind of thoughts of joy and goodwill and serenity.

    On the faces of the aged there are wrinkles made by sympathy, others by strong and pure thought, and others are carved by passion: who cannot distinguish them? With those who have lived righteously, age is calm, peaceful, and softly mellowed, like the setting sun. I have recently seen a philosopher on his deathbed. He was not old except in years. He died as sweetly and peacefully as he had lived.

    There is no physician like cheerful thought for dissipating the ills of the body; there is no comforter to compare with goodwill for dispersing the shadows of grief and sorrow. To live continually in thoughts of ill will, cynicism, suspicion, and envy, is to be confined in a self made prison-hole. But to think well of all, to be cheerful with all, to patiently learn to find the good in all—such unselfish thoughts are the very portals of heaven; and to dwell day by day in thoughts of peace toward every creature will bring abounding peace to their possessor.

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  • Effect of Thought on Circumstances – Part 2

    Posted: October 25, 2009, 6:04 am by Daniel Ngari

    Men are anxious to improve their circumstances, but are unwilling to improve themselves; they therefore remain bound. The man who does not shrink from self-crucifixion can never fail to accomplish the object upon which his heart is set. This is as true of earthly as of heavenly things. Even the man whose sole object is to acquire wealth must be prepared to make great personal sacrifices before he can accomplish his object; and how much more so he who would realize a strong and well-poised life?

    [This blog post is a serialization of the book, "As a Man Thinketh", by James Allen]

    Here is a man who is wretchedly poor. He is extremely anxious that his surroundings and home comforts should be improved, yet all the time he shirks his work, and considers he is justified in trying to deceive his employer on the ground of the insufficiency of his wages. Such a man does not understand the simplest rudiments of those principles which are the basis of true prosperity, and is not only totally unfitted to rise out of his wretchedness, but is actually attracting to himself a still deeper wretchedness by dwelling in, and acting out, indolent, deceptive, and unmanly thoughts.

    Here is a rich man who is the victim of a painful and persistent disease as the result of gluttony. He is willing to give large sums of money to get rid of it, but he will not sacrifice his gluttonous desires. He wants to gratify his taste for rich and unnatural viands and have his health as well. Such a man is totally unfit to have health, because he has not yet learned the first principles of a healthy life.

    Here is an employer of labour who adopts crooked measures to avoid paying the regulation wage, and, in the hope of making larger profits, reduces the wages of his workpeople. Such a man is altogether unfitted for prosperity, and when he finds himself bankrupt, both as regards reputation and riches, he blames circumstances, not knowing that he is the sole author of his condition.

    I have introduced these three cases merely as illustrative of the truth that man is the causer (though nearly always is unconsciously) of his circumstances, and that, whilst aiming at a good end, he is continually frustrating its accomplishment by encouraging thoughts and desires which cannot possibly harmonize with that end. Such cases could be multiplied and varied almost indefinitely, but this is not necessary, as the reader can, if he so resolves, trace the action of the laws of thought in his own mind and life, and until this is done, mere external facts cannot serve as a ground of reasoning.

    Circumstances, however, are so complicated, thought is so deeply rooted, and the conditions of happiness vary so, vastly with individuals, that a man’s entire soul-condition (although it may be known to himself) cannot be judged by another from the external aspect of his life alone. A man may be honest in certain directions, yet suffer privations; a man may be dishonest in certain directions, yet acquire wealth; but the conclusion usually formed that the one man fails because of his particular honesty, and that the other prospers because of his particular dishonesty, is the result of a superficial judgment, which assumes that the dishonest man is almost totally corrupt, and the honest man almost entirely virtuous. In the light of a deeper knowledge and wider experience such judgment is found to be erroneous. The dishonest man may have some admirable virtues, which the other does, not possess; and the honest man obnoxious vices which are absent in the other. The honest man reaps the good results of his honest thoughts and acts; he also brings upon himself the sufferings, which his vices produce. The dishonest man likewise garners his own suffering and happiness.

    It is pleasing to human vanity to believe that one suffers because of one’s virtue; but not until a man has extirpated every sickly, bitter, and impure thought from his mind, and washed every sinful stain from his soul, can he be in a position to know and declare that his sufferings are the result of his good, and not of his bad qualities; and on the way to, yet long before he has reached, that supreme perfection, he will have found, working in his mind and life, the Great Law which is absolutely just, and which cannot, therefore, give good for evil, evil for good. Possessed of such knowledge, he will then know, looking back upon his past ignorance and blindness, that his life is, and always was, justly ordered, and that all his past experiences, good and bad, were the equitable outworking of his evolving, yet unevolved self.

    Good thoughts and actions can never produce bad results; bad thoughts and actions can never produce good results. This is but saying that nothing can come from corn but corn, nothing from nettles but nettles. Men understand this law in the natural world, and work with it; but few understand it in the mental and moral world (though its operation there is just as simple and undeviating), and they, therefore, do not co-operate with it.

    Suffering is always the effect of wrong thought in some direction. It is an indication that the individual is out of harmony with himself, with the Law of his being. The sole and supreme use of suffering is to purify, to burn out all that is useless and impure. Suffering ceases for him who is pure. There could be no object in burning gold after the dross had been removed, and a perfectly pure and enlightened being could not suffer.

    The circumstances, which a man encounters with suffering, are the result of his own mental inharmony. The circumstances, which a man encounters with blessedness, are the result of his own mental harmony. Blessedness, not material possessions, is the measure of right thought; wretchedness, not lack of material possessions, is the measure of wrong thought. A man may be cursed and rich; he may be blessed and poor. Blessedness and riches are only joined together when the riches are rightly and wisely used; and the poor man only descends into wretchedness when he regards his lot as a burden unjustly imposed.

    Indigence and indulgence are the two extremes of wretchedness. They are both equally unnatural and the result of mental disorder. A man is not rightly conditioned until he is a happy, healthy, and prosperous being; and happiness, health, and prosperity are the result of a harmonious adjustment of the inner with the outer, of the man with his surroundings.

    A man only begins to be a man when he ceases to whine and revile, and commences to search for the hidden justice which regulates his life. And as he adapts his mind to that regulating factor, he ceases to accuse others as the cause of his condition, and builds himself up in strong and noble thoughts; ceases to kick against circumstances, but begins to use them as aids to his more rapid progress, and as a means of discovering the hidden powers and possibilities within himself.

    Law, not confusion, is the dominating principle in the universe; justice, not injustice, is the soul and substance of life; and righteousness, not corruption, is the moulding and moving force in the spiritual government of the world. This being so, man has but to right himself to find that the universe is right; and during the process of putting himself right he will find that as he alters his thoughts towards things and other people, things and other people will alter towards him.

    The proof of this truth is in every person, and it therefore admits of easy investigation by systematic introspection and self-analysis. Let a man radically alter his thoughts, and he will be astonished at the rapid transformation it will effect in the material conditions of his life. Men imagine that thought can be kept secret, but it cannot; it rapidly crystallizes into habit, and habit solidifies into circumstance. Bestial thoughts crystallize into habits of drunkenness and sensuality, which solidify into circumstances of destitution and disease: impure thoughts of every kind crystallize into enervating and confusing habits, which solidify into distracting and adverse circumstances: thoughts of fear, doubt, and indecision crystallize into weak, unmanly, and irresolute habits, which solidify into circumstances of failure, indigence, and slavish dependence: lazy thoughts crystallize into habits of uncleanliness and dishonesty, which solidify into circumstances of foulness and beggary: hateful and condemnatory thoughts crystallize into habits of accusation and violence, which solidify into circumstances of injury and persecution: selfish thoughts of all kinds crystallize into habits of self-seeking, which solidify into circumstances more or less distressing. On the other hand, beautiful thoughts of all kinds crystallize into habits of grace and kindliness, which solidify into genial and sunny circumstances: pure thoughts crystallize into habits of temperance and self-control, which solidify into circumstances of repose and peace: thoughts of courage, self-reliance, and decision crystallize into manly habits, which solidify into circumstances of success, plenty, and freedom: energetic thoughts crystallize into habits of cleanliness and industry, which solidify into circumstances of pleasantness: gentle and forgiving thoughts crystallize into habits of gentleness, which solidify into protective and preservative circumstances: loving and unselfish thoughts crystallize into habits of self-forgetfulness for others, which solidify into circumstances of sure and abiding prosperity and true riches.

    A particular train of thought persisted in, be it good or bad, cannot fail to produce its results on the character and circumstances. A man cannot directly choose his circumstances, but he can choose his thoughts, and so indirectly, yet surely, shape his circumstances.

    Nature helps every man to the gratification of the thoughts, which he most encourages, and opportunities are presented which will most speedily bring to the surface both the good and evil thoughts.

    Let a man cease from his sinful thoughts, and all the world will soften towards him, and be ready to help him; let him put away his weakly and sickly thoughts, and lo, opportunities will spring up on every hand to aid his strong resolves; let him encourage good thoughts, and no hard fate shall bind him down to wretchedness and shame. The world is your kaleidoscope, and the varying combinations of colours, which at every succeeding moment it presents to you are the exquisitely adjusted pictures of your ever-moving thoughts.

    “So You will be what you will to be; Let failure find its false content In that poor word, ‘environment,’ But spirit scorns it, and is free. “It masters time, it conquers space; It cowes that boastful trickster, Chance, And bids the tyrant Circumstance Uncrown, and fill a servant’s place. “The human Will, that force unseen, The offspring of a deathless Soul, Can hew a way to any goal, Though walls of granite intervene. “Be not impatient in delays But wait as one who understands; When spirit rises and commands The gods are ready to obey.”

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  • Effect of Thought on Circumstances – Part 1

    Posted: October 24, 2009, 7:01 am by Daniel Ngari

    MAN’S mind may be likened to a garden, which may be intelligently cultivated or allowed to run wild; but whether cultivated or neglected, it must, and will, bring forth. If no useful seeds are put into it, then an abundance of useless weed-seeds will fall therein, and will continue to produce their kind.

    [This blog post is part of the serialization of the book "As a Man Thinketh" by James Allen]

    Just as a gardener cultivates his plot, keeping it free from weeds, and growing the flowers and fruits which he requires, so may a man tend the garden of his mind, weeding out all the wrong, useless, and impure thoughts, and cultivating toward perfection the flowers and fruits of right, useful, and pure thoughts. By pursuing this process, a man sooner or later discovers that he is the master-gardener of his soul, the director of his life. He also reveals, within himself, the laws of thought, and understands, with ever-increasing accuracy, how the thought-forces and mind elements operate in the shaping of his character, circumstances, and destiny.

    Thought and character are one, and as character can only manifest and discover itself through environment and circumstance, the outer conditions of a person’s life will always be found to be harmoniously related to his inner state. This does not mean that a man’s circumstances at any given time are an indication of his entire character, but that those circumstances are so intimately connected with some vital thought-element within himself that, for the time being, they are indispensable to his development.

    Every man is where he is by the law of his being; the thoughts which he has built into his character have brought him there, and in the arrangement of his life there is no element of chance, but all is the result of a law which cannot err. This is just as true of those who feel “out of harmony” with their surroundings as of those who are contented with them.

    As a progressive and evolving being, man is where he is that he may learn that he may grow; and as he learns the spiritual lesson which any circumstance contains for him, it passes away and gives place to other circumstances.

    Man is buffeted by circumstances so long as he believes himself to be the creature of outside conditions, but when he realizes that he is a creative power, and that he may command the hidden soil and seeds of his being out of which circumstances grow, he then becomes the rightful master of himself.

    That circumstances grow out of thought every man knows who has for any length of time practised self-control and self-purification, for he will have noticed that the alteration in his circumstances has been in exact ratio with his altered mental condition. So true is this that when a man earnestly applies himself to remedy the defects in his character, and makes swift and marked progress, he passes rapidly through a succession of vicissitudes.

    The soul attracts that which it secretly harbours; that which it loves, and also that which it fears; it reaches the height of its cherished aspirations; it falls to the level of its unchastened desires,—and circumstances are the means by which the soul receives its own.

    Every thought-seed sown or allowed to fall into the mind, and to take root there, produces its own, blossoming sooner or later into act, and bearing its own fruitage of opportunity and circumstance. Good thoughts bear good fruit, bad thoughts bad fruit.

    The outer world of circumstance shapes itself to the inner world of thought, and both pleasant and unpleasant external conditions are factors, which make for the ultimate good of the individual. As the reaper of his own harvest, man learns both by suffering and bliss.

    Following the inmost desires, aspirations, thoughts, by which he allows himself to be dominated, (pursuing the will-o’-the-wisps of impure imaginings or steadfastly walking the highway of strong and high endeavour), a man at last arrives at their fruition and fulfilment in the outer conditions of his life. The laws of growth and adjustment everywhere obtains.

    A man does not come to the almshouse or the jail by the tyranny of fate or circumstance, but by the pathway of grovelling thoughts and base desires. Nor does a pure-minded man fall suddenly into crime by stress of any mere external force; the criminal thought had long been secretly fostered in the heart, and the hour of opportunity revealed its gathered power. Circumstance does not make the man; it reveals him to himself No such conditions can exist as descending into vice and its attendant sufferings apart from vicious inclinations, or ascending into virtue and its pure happiness without the continued cultivation of virtuous aspirations; and man, therefore, as the lord and master of thought, is the maker of himself the shaper and author of environment. Even at birth the soul comes to its own and through every step of its earthly pilgrimage it attracts those combinations of conditions which reveal itself, which are the reflections of its own purity and, impurity, its strength and weakness.

    Men do not attract that which they want, but that which they are. Their whims, fancies, and ambitions are thwarted at every step, but their inmost thoughts and desires are fed with their own food, be it foul or clean. The “divinity that shapes our ends” is in ourselves; it is our very self. Only himself manacles man: thought and action are the gaolers of Fate—they imprison, being base; they are also the angels of Freedom—they liberate, being noble. Not what he wishes and prays for does a man get, but what he justly earns. His wishes and prayers are only gratified and answered when they harmonize with his thoughts and actions.

    In the light of this truth, what, then, is the meaning of “fighting against circumstances?” It means that a man is continually revolting against an effect without, while all the time he is nourishing and preserving its cause in his heart. That cause may take the form of a conscious vice or an unconscious weakness; but whatever it is, it stubbornly retards the efforts of its possessor, and thus calls aloud for remedy.

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  • Thought and Character

    Posted: October 22, 2009, 4:37 am by Daniel Ngari

    THE aphorism, “As a man thinketh in his heart so is he,” not only embraces the whole of a man’s being, but is so comprehensive as to reach out to every condition and circumstance of his life. A man is literally what he thinks, his character being the complete sum of all his thoughts.

    [Chapter two of the book - As a Man Thinketh by James Allen]

    As the plant springs from, and could not be without, the seed, so every act of a man springs from the hidden seeds of thought, and could not have appeared without them. This applies equally to those acts called “spontaneous” and “unpremeditated” as to those, which are deliberately executed.

    Act is the blossom of thought, and joy and suffering are its fruits; thus does a man garner in the sweet and bitter fruitage of his own husbandry.

    “Thought in the mind hath made us, What we are By thought was wrought and built. If a man’s mind Hath evil thoughts, pain comes on him as comes The wheel the ox behind…. ..If one endure In purity of thought, joy follows him As his own shadow—sure.”

    Man is a growth by law, and not a creation by artifice, and cause and effect is as absolute and undeviating in the hidden realm of thought as in the world of visible and material things. A noble and Godlike character is not a thing of favour or chance, but is the natural result of continued effort in right thinking, the effect of long-cherished association with Godlike thoughts. An ignoble and bestial character, by the same process, is the result of the continued harbouring of grovelling thoughts.

    Man is made or unmade by himself; in the armoury of thought he forges the weapons by which he destroys himself; he also fashions the tools with which he builds for himself heavenly mansions of joy and strength and peace. By the right choice and true application of thought, man ascends to the Divine Perfection; by the abuse and wrong application of thought, he descends below the level of the beast. Between these two extremes are all the grades of character, and man is their maker and master.

    Of all the beautiful truths pertaining to the soul which have been restored and brought to light in this age, none is more gladdening or fruitful of divine promise and confidence than this—that man is the master of thought, the moulder of character, and the maker and shaper of condition, environment, and destiny.

    As a being of Power, Intelligence, and Love, and the lord of his own thoughts, man holds the key to every situation, and contains within himself that transforming and regenerative agency by which he may make himself what he wills.

    Man is always the master, even in his weaker and most abandoned state; but in his weakness and degradation he is the foolish master who misgoverns his “household.” When he begins to reflect upon his condition, and to search diligently for the Law upon which his being is established, he then becomes the wise master, directing his energies with intelligence, and fashioning his thoughts to fruitful issues. Such is the conscious master, and man can only thus become by discovering within himself the laws of thought; which discovery is totally a matter of application, self analysis, and experience.

    Only by much searching and mining, are gold and diamonds obtained, and man can find every truth connected with his being, if he will dig deep into the mine of his soul; and that he is the maker of his character, the moulder of his life, and the builder of his destiny, he may unerringly prove, if he will watch, control, and alter his thoughts, tracing their effects upon himself, upon others, and upon his life and circumstances, linking cause and effect by patient practice and investigation, and utilizing his every experience, even to the most trivial, everyday occurrence, as a means of obtaining that knowledge of himself which is Understanding, Wisdom, Power. In this direction, as in no other, is the law absolute that “He that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened;” for only by patience, practice, and ceaseless importunity can a man enter the Door of the Temple of Knowledge.

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  • As a Man Thinketh in His mind

    Posted: October 20, 2009, 3:02 pm by Daniel Ngari

    For the next few days, I will serialize one of the books that has had a tremendous impact on my life this year. It is a great book, called “As a man thinketh”, written so many years ago by James Allen.  I hope you will be inspired as much as I am by this great book.

    Mind is the Master power that moulds and makes, And Man is Mind, and evermore he takes The tool of Thought, and, shaping what he wills, Brings forth a thousand joys, a thousand ills:— He thinks in secret, and it comes to pass: Environment is but his looking-glass. Foreword

    THIS little volume (the result of meditation and experience) is not intended as an exhaustive treatise on the much-written-upon subject of the power of thought.

    It is suggestive rather than explanatory, its object being to stimulate men and women to the discovery and perception of the truth that— by virtue of the thoughts, which they choose and encourage; that mind is the master-weaver, both of the inner garment of character and the outer garment of circumstance, and that, as they may have hitherto woven in ignorance and pain they may now weave in enlightenment and happiness.

    “They themselves are makers of themselves.”

    JAMES ALLEN.

    BROAD PARK AVENUE, ILFRACOMBE, ENGLAND

    ———————————————

    “As a Man Thinketh” by James Allen is an inspiring book about the power of your mind.

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  • What a Car Mechanic Taught me About Success

    Posted: October 18, 2009, 1:44 pm by Daniel Ngari

    Everywhere I look, I seem to find lessons to share with you on this blog about success. Yesterday I was talking with a friend, a car mechanic, about life in general. He mentioned that he enjoys reading my blog. He requested that I share a few lessons with you that he applies in his life. So here we go…

    Life has plenty of systems

    Did you know that a car is a collection of systems? Lighting System, Braking System, Lubrication System, Cooling System, Fuel System, Ignition System, Suspension System and many more. All these systems have to work together for the car to function properly.

    A car without a braking system is a disaster waiting to happen. Do you have brakes in your life or are you hurtling down towards self destruction? Do you have self control or a moral code that determines how far or how fast you can go?

    The success of a car is determined by more than one system working together. Success is not about one thing that you do. It is combination of habits and actions that you take. What good is a well paying job when you cannot get along with your family or your health is in ruins?

    The trick is to understand what each part of life brings to the table. Determine how each of your activity impacts the others. Just as a car mechanic will not spend all his day inspecting the cooling system and ignore the fuel system, do not ignore parts of your life. Apportion the right amount of time for different people and activities in your life. In other words, find balance.

    Are you well serviced?

    A regularly serviced car runs smoothly and proves more useful to the owner over the long term. Some people try and save money by not taking their cars for service. This is short term thinking that costs more over the long term.

    You can service yourself by constantly improving your skills, your thoughts and your relationships. Do not forget to spend time thinking about your life, checking your progress towards your goals, or performance.

    There are different types of services that a car needs. A car may need a routine check up or tune up that helps it runs more efficiently. It also needs a log book service. A log book service is pre-determined by manufacturers based on the kilometers accumulated. This type of service helps the car runs efficiently over the long haul.

    You can determine periodic periods for servicing yourself too. This can range from dental checks to annual personal goals setting sessions. Avoiding this type of service will cost you more over the long term.

    Your car may be involved in an accident or work erratically. This will call for repair service. The older the car, the more the repairs required. Repairs left too long may cause a danger to the driver and to the car. If you have unresolved issues, or an area of life that needs correcting, take time to sort that out before it starts affecting other areas.

    Are you insured?

    Car mechanics do not always come cheap. If you want the best care, be insured. Have someone else foot the bill of repairs especially for unexpected repairs. You can self insure your car through regular servicing (against routine problems). Read more about this topic on my earlier article about insurance for the upwardly mobile.

    Where do you want to go?

    You are the master of the car. Likewise you are the master of your destiny. Determine where you want to go. Be in control of your own life.

    Before you embark on your journey, make sure you have enough supplies for your journey. You would not want to go from Perth, Western Australia, to Adelaide, South Australia without having packed right or adequately serviced your vehicle.

    What do people think about you?

    Do you have a powerful personal brand? Does your reputation precede you? What kind of first impression do you make? Do you have a consistent brand image that gets the results you desire? Do you project an image of success or hardship?

    Some cars are more equal than others. A Lamborghini and a Toyota Corolla are not cut from the same cloth. How you position yourself will determine what value people place on you. Today is your lucky day, I have prepared a personal branding salad bar for you.

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  • Wisdom Precipitates Prosperity

    Posted: October 16, 2009, 12:26 pm by Daniel Ngari

    I appreciate that not everyone who comes to this blog is a Christian. Having said that, I would like to share some Biblical teachings that will hopefully inspire you, regardless of your religious beliefs or faith. The bible teachings in this blog post are from the book of Proverbs, written by King Solomon. I love reading the bible and in it, I find the inspiration and ideas to share on this blog. Please read the following selected verses, I hope you will get a lesson or two that will guide you in your quest for prosperity.


    Pro 3:9 Give honour to the Lord with your wealth, and with the first-fruits of all your increase:
    Pro 3:10 So your store-houses will be full of grain, and your vessels overflowing with new wine.

    Pro 3:27 Do not keep back good from those who have a right to it, when it is in the power of your hand to do it.
    Pro 3:28 Say not to your neighbour, Go, and come again, and tomorrow I will give; when you have it by you at the time.
    Pro 3:29 Do not make evil designs against your neighbour, when he is living with you without fear.
    Pro 3:30 Do not take up a cause at law against a man for nothing, if he has done you no wrong.

    Pro 6:4 Give no sleep to your eyes, or rest to them;
    Pro 6:5 Make yourself free, like the roe from the hand of the archer, and the bird from him who puts a net for her.
    Pro 6:6 Go to the ant, you hater of work; give thought to her ways and be wise:
    Pro 6:7 Having no chief, overseer, or ruler,
    Pro 6:8 She gets her meat in the summer, storing up food at the time of the grain-cutting.
    Pro 6:9 How long will you be sleeping, O hater of work? when will you get up from your sleep?
    Pro 6:10 A little sleep, a little rest, a little folding of the hands in sleep:
    Pro 6:11 Then loss will come on you like an outlaw, and your need like an armed man

    Pro 10:1 A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish son is a sorrow to his mother.
    Pro 10:2 Wealth which comes from sin is of no profit, but righteousness gives salvation from death.
    Pro 10:3 The Lord will not let the upright be in need of food, but he puts far from him the desire of the evil-doers.
    Pro 10:4 He who is slow in his work becomes poor, but the hand of the ready worker gets in wealth.
    Pro 10:5 He who in summer gets together his store is a son who does wisely; but he who takes his rest when the grain is being cut is a son causing shame.
    Pro 10:6 Blessings are on the head of the upright, but the face of sinners will be covered with sorrow.
    Pro 10:7 The memory of the upright is a blessing, but the name of the evil-doer will be turned to dust.
    Pro 10:8 The wise-hearted man will let himself be ruled, but the man whose talk is foolish will have a fall.
    Pro 10:9 He whose ways are upright will go safely, but he whose ways are twisted will be made low.
    Pro 10:10 He who makes signs with his eyes is a cause of trouble, but he who makes a man see his errors is a cause of peace.
    Pro 10:11 The mouth of the upright man is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the evil-doer is a bitter cup.

    Pro 12:27 He who is slow in his work does not go in search of food; but the ready worker gets much wealth.
    Pro 12:28 In the road of righteousness is life, but the way of the evil-doer goes to death.
    Pro 13:1 A wise son is a lover of teaching, but the ears of the haters of authority are shut to sharp words.
    Pro 13:2 A man will get good from the fruit of his lips, but the desire of the false is for violent acts.
    Pro 13:3 He who keeps a watch on his mouth keeps his life; but he whose lips are open wide will have destruction.
    Pro 13:4 The hater of work does not get his desires, but the soul of the hard workers will be made fat.

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  • Sex, Power and Success – Part 2

    Posted: October 15, 2009, 1:17 pm by Daniel Ngari

    This is Continued from Part 1 of the topic of Sex, Power and Success.The emotion of sex is an “irresistible force,” against which there can be no such opposition as an “immovable body.” When driven by this emotion, men become gifted with a super power for action. Understand this truth, and you will catch the significance of the statement that sex transmutation will lift one to the status of a genius.

    The emotion of sex contains the secret of creative ability.

    CHAPTER 11 ( Think and Grow Rich Book – Napoleon Hill) THE MYSTERY OF SEX TRANSMUTATION

    The Tenth Step toward Riches

    WHY MEN SELDOM SUCCEED BEFORE FORTY

    I discovered, from the analysis of over 25,000 people, that men who succeed in an outstanding way, seldom do so before the age of forty, and more often they do not strike their real pace until they are well beyond the age of fifty. This fact was so

    p. 274

    astounding that it prompted me to go into the study of its cause most carefully, carrying the investigation over a period of more than twelve years.

    This study disclosed the fact that the major reason why the majority of men who succeed do not begin to do so before the age of forty to fifty, is their tendency to DISSIPATE their energies through over indulgence in physical expression of the emotion of sex. The majority of men never learn that the urge of sex has other possibilities, which far transcend in importance, that of mere physical expression. The majority of those who make this discovery, do so after having wasted many years at a period when the sex energy is at its height, prior to the age of forty-five to fifty. This usually is followed by noteworthy achievement.

    The lives of many men up to, and sometimes well past the age of forty, reflect a continued dissipation of energies, which could have been more profitably turned into better channels. Their finer and more powerful emotions are sown wildly to the four winds. Out of this habit of the male, grew the term, “sowing his wild oats.”

    The desire for sexual expression is by far the strongest and most impelling of all the human emotions, and for this very reason this desire, when harnessed and transmuted into action, other than that of physical expression, may raise one to the status of a genius.

    One of America’s most able business men frankly admitted that his attractive secretary was responsible for most of the plans he created. He admitted that her presence lifted him to heights of creative

    p. 275

    imagination, such as he could experience under no other stimulus.

    One of the most successful men in America owes most of his success to the influence of a very charming young woman, who has served as his source of inspiration for more than twelve years. Everyone knows the man to whom this reference is made, but not everyone knows the REAL SOURCE of his achievements.

    History is not lacking in examples of men who attained to the status of genii, as the result of the use of artificial mind stimulants in the form of alcohol and narcotics. Edgar Allen Poe wrote the “Raven” while under the influence of liquor, “dreaming dreams that mortal never dared to dream before.” James Whitcomb Riley did his best writing while under the influence of alcohol. Perhaps it was thus he saw “the ordered intermingling of the real and the dream, the mill above the river, and the mist above the stream.” Robert Burns wrote best when intoxicated, “For Auld Lang Syne, my dear, we’ll take a cup of kindness yet, for Auld Lang Syne.”

    But let it be remembered that many such men have destroyed themselves in the end. Nature has prepared her own potions with which men may safely stimulate their minds so they vibrate on a plane that enables them to tune in to fine and rare thoughts which come from–no man knows where! No satisfactory substitute for Nature’s stimulants has ever been found.

    It is a fact well known to psychologists that there is a very close relationship between sex desires and

    p. 276

    spiritual urges–a fact which accounts for the peculiar behavior of people who participate in the orgies known as religious “revivals,” common among the primitive types.

    The world is ruled, and the destiny of civilization is established, by the human emotions. People are influenced in their actions, not by reason so much as by “feelings.” The creative faculty of the mind is set into action entirely by emotions, and not by cold reason. The most powerful of all human emotions is that of sex. There are other mind stimulants, some of which have been listed, but no one of them, nor all of them combined, can equal the driving power of sex.

    A mind stimulant is any influence which will either temporarily, or permanently, increase the vibrations of thought. The ten major stimulants, described, are those most commonly resorted to. Through these sources one may commune with Infinite Intelligence, or enter, at will, the storehouse of the subconscious mind, either one’s own, or that of another person, a procedure which is all there is of genius.

    A teacher, who has trained and directed the efforts of more than 30,000 sales people, made the astounding discovery that highly sexed men are the most efficient salesmen. The explanation is, that the factor of personality known as “personal magnetism” is nothing more nor less than sex energy. Highly sexed people always have a plentiful supply of magnetism. Through cultivation and understanding, this vital force may be drawn upon and used to great advantage in the relationships between

    p. 277

    people. This energy may be communicated to others through the following media:

    1. The hand-shake. The touch of the hand indicates, instantly, the presence of magnetism, or the lack of it.
    2. The tone of voice. Magnetism, or sex energy, is the factor with which the voice may be colored, or made musical and charming.
    3. Posture and carriage of the body. Highly sexed people move briskly, and with grace and ease.
    4. The vibrations of thought. Highly sexed people mix the emotion of sex with their thoughts, or may do so at will, and in that way, may influence those around them.
    5. Body adornment. People who are highly sexed are usually very careful about their personal appearance. They usually select clothing of a style becoming to their personality, physique, complexion, etc.

    When employing salesmen, the more capable sales manager looks for the quality of personal magnetism as the first requirement of a salesman. People who lack sex energy will never become enthusiastic nor inspire others with enthusiasm, and enthusiasm is one of the most important requisites in salesmanship, no matter what one is selling.

    The public speaker, orator, preacher, lawyer, or salesman who is lacking in sex energy is a “flop,” as far as being able to influence others is concerned. Couple with this the fact, that most people can be influenced only through an appeal to their emotions,

    p. 278

    and you will understand the importance of sex energy as a part of the salesman’s native ability. Master salesmen attain the status of mastery in selling, because they, either consciously, or unconsciously, transmute the energy of sex into SALES ENTHUSIASM! In this statement may be found a very practical suggestion as to the actual meaning of sex transmutation.

    The salesman who knows how to take his mind off the subject of sex, and direct it in sales effort with as much enthusiasm and determination as he would apply to its original purpose, has acquired the art of sex transmutation, whether he knows it or not. The majority of salesmen who transmute their sex energy do so without being in the least aware of what they are doing, or how they are doing it.

    Transmutation of sex energy calls for more will power than the average person cares to use for this purpose. Those who find it difficult to summon will-power sufficient for transmutation, may gradually acquire this ability. Though this requires will-power, the reward for the practice is more than worth the effort.

    The entire subject of sex is one with which the majority of people appear to be unpardonably ignorant. The urge of sex has been grossly misunderstood, slandered, and burlesqued by the ignorant and the evil minded, for so long that the very word sex is seldom used in polite society. Men and women who are known to be blessed–yes, BLESSED–with highly sexed natures, are usually looked upon as being people who will bear watching.

    p. 279

    Instead of being called blessed, they are usually called cursed.

    Millions of people, even in this age of enlightenment, have inferiority complexes which they developed because of this false belief that a highly sexed nature is a curse. These statements, of the virtue of sex energy, should not be construed as justification for the libertine. The emotion of sex is a virtue ONLY when used intelligently, and with discrimination. It may be misused, and often is, to such an extent that it debases, instead of enriches, both body and mind. The better use of this power is the burden of this chapter.

    It seemed quite significant to the author, when he made the discovery that practically every great leader, whom he had the privilege of analyzing, was a man whose achievements were largely inspired by a woman. In many instances, the “woman in the case” was a modest, self-denying wife, of whom the public had heard but little or nothing. In a few instances, the source of inspiration has been traced to the “other woman.” Perhaps such cases may not be entirely unknown to you.

    Intemperance in sex habits is just as detrimental as intemperance in habits of drinking and eating. In this age in which we live, an age which began with the world war, intemperance in habits of sex is common. This orgy of indulgence may account for the shortage of great leaders. No man can avail himself of the forces of his creative imagination, while dissipating them. Man is the only creature on earth which violates Nature’s purpose in this connection. Every other animal indulges its sex

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    nature in moderation, and with purpose which harmonizes with the laws of nature. Every other animal responds to the call of sex only in “season.” Man’s inclination is to declare “open season.”

    Every intelligent person knows that stimulation in excess, through alcoholic drink and narcotics, is a form of intemperance which destroys the vital organs of the body, including the brain. Not every person knows, however, that over indulgence in sex expression may become a habit as destructive and as detrimental to creative effort as narcotics or liquor.

    A sex-mad man is not essentially different than a dope-mad man! Both have lost control over their faculties of reason and will-power. Sexual overindulgence may not only destroy reason and willpower, but it may also lead to either temporary, or permanent insanity. Many cases of hypochondria (imaginary illness) grow out of habits developed in ignorance of the true function of sex.

    From these brief references to the subject, it may be readily seen that ignorance on the subject of sex transmutation, forces stupendous penalties upon the ignorant on the one hand, and withholds from them equally stupendous benefits, on the other.

    Widespread ignorance on the subject of sex is due to the fact that the subject has been surrounded with mystery and beclouded by dark silence. The conspiracy of mystery and silence has had the same effect upon the minds of young people that the psychology of prohibition had. The result has been increased curiosity, and desire to acquire more

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    knowledge on this “verboten” subject; and to the shame of all lawmakers, and most physicians–by training best qualified to educate youth on that subject–information has not been easily available.

    Seldom does an individual enter upon highly creative effort in any field of endeavor before the age of forty. The average man reaches the period of his greatest capacity to create between forty and sixty. These statements are based upon analysis of thousands of men and women who have been carefully observed. They should be encouraging to those who fail to arrive before the age of forty, and to those who become frightened at the approach of “old age,” around the forty-year mark. The years between forty and fifty are, as a rule, the most fruitful. Man should approach this age, not with fear and trembling, but with hope and eager anticipation.

    If you want evidence that most men do not begin to do their best work before the age of forty, study the records of the most successful men known to the American people, and you will find it. Henry Ford had not “hit his pace” of achievement until he had passed the age of forty. Andrew Carnegie was well past forty before he began to reap the reward of his efforts. James J. Hill was still running a telegraph key at the age of forty. His stupendous achievements took place after that age. Biographies of American industrialists and financiers are filled with evidence that the period from forty to sixty is the most productive age of man.

    Between the ages of thirty and forty, man begins to learn (if he ever learns), the art of sex transmutation.

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    This discovery is generally accidental, and more often than otherwise, the man who makes it is totally unconscious of his discovery. He may observe that his powers of achievement have increased around the age of thirty-five to forty, but in most cases, he is not familiar with the cause of this change; that Nature begins to harmonize the emotions of love and sex in the individual, between the ages of thirty and forty, so that he may draw upon these great forces, and apply them jointly as stimuli to action.

    Sex, alone, is a mighty urge to action, but its forces are like a cyclone–they are often uncontrollable. When the emotion of love begins to mix itself with the emotion of sex, the result is calmness of purpose, poise, accuracy of judgment, and balance. What person, who has attained to the age of forty, is so unfortunate as to be unable to analyze these statements, and to corroborate them by his own experience?

    When driven by his desire to please a woman, based solely upon the emotion of sex, a man may be, and usually is, capable of great achievement, but his actions may be disorganized, distorted, and totally destructive. When driven by his desire to please a woman, based upon the motive of sex alone, a man may steal, cheat, and even commit murder. But when the emotion of LOVE is mixed with the emotion of sex, that same man will guide his actions with more sanity, balance, and reason.

    Criminologists have discovered that the most hardened criminals can be reformed through the influence of a woman’s love. There is no record of

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    a criminal having been reformed solely through the sex influence. These facts are well known, but their cause is not. Reformation comes, if at all, through the heart, or the emotional side of man, not through his head, or reasoning side. Reformation means, “a change of heart.” It does not mean a “change of head.” A man may, because of reason, make certain changes in his personal conduct to avoid the consequences of undesirable effects, but GENUINE REFORMATION comes only through a change of heart–through a DESIRE to change.

    Love, Romance, and Sex are all emotions capable of driving men to heights of super achievement. Love is the emotion which serves as a safety valve, and insures balance, poise, and constructive effort. When combined, these three emotions may lift one to an altitude of a genius. There are genii, however, who know but little of the emotion of love. Most of them may be found engaged in some form of action which is destructive, or at least, not based upon justice and fairness toward others. If good taste would permit, a dozen genii could be named in the field of industry and finance, who ride ruthlessly over the rights of their fellow men. They seem totally lacking in conscience. The reader can easily supply his own list of such men.

    The emotions are states of mind. Nature has provided man with a “chemistry of the mind” which operates in a manner similar to the principles of chemistry of matter. It is a well known fact that, through the aid of chemistry of matter, a chemist may create a deadly poison by mixing certain elements, none of which are–in themselves–

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    harmful in the right proportions. The emotions may, likewise, be combined so as to create a deadly poison. The emotions of sex and jealousy, when mixed, may turn a person into an insane beast.

    The presence of any one or more of the destructive emotions in the human mind, through the chemistry of the mind, sets up a poison which may destroy one’s sense of justice and fairness. In extreme cases, the presence of any combination of these emotions in the mind may destroy one’s reason.

    The road to genius consists of the development, control, and use of sex, love, and romance. Briefly, the process may be stated as follows:

    Encourage the presence of these emotions as the dominating thoughts in one’s mind, and discourage the presence of all the destructive emotions. The mind is a creature of habit. It thrives upon the dominating thoughts fed it. Through the faculty of will-power, one may discourage the presence of any emotion, and encourage the presence of any other. Control of the mind, through the power of will, is not difficult. Control comes from persistence, and habit. The secret of control lies in understanding the process of transmutation. When any negative emotion presents itself in one’s mind, it can be transmuted into a positive, or constructive emotion, by the simple procedure of changing one’s thoughts.

    THERE IS NO OTHER ROAD TO GENIUS THAN THROUGH VOLUNTARY SELF EFFORT! A man may attain to great heights of financial or business achievement, solely by the

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    driving force of sex energy, but history is filled with evidence that he may, and usually does, carry with him certain traits of character which rob him of the ability to either hold, or enjoy his fortune. This is worthy of analysis, thought, and meditation, for it states a truth, the knowledge of which may be helpful to women as well as men. Ignorance of this has cost thousands of people their privilege of HAPPINESS, even though they possessed riches.

    The emotions of love and sex leave their unmistakable marks upon the features. Moreover, these signs are so visible, that all who wish may read them. The man who is driven by the storm of passion, based upon sex desires alone, plainly advertises that fact to the entire world, by the expression of his eyes, and the lines of his face. The emotion of love, when mixed with the emotion of sex, softens, modifies, and beautifies the facial expression. No character analyst is needed to tell you this–you may observe it for yourself.

    The emotion of love brings out, and develops, the artistic and the aesthetic nature of man. It leaves its impress upon one’s very soul, even after the fire has been subdued by time and circumstance.

    Memories of love never pass. They linger, guide, and influence long after the source of stimulation has faded. There is nothing new in this. Every person, who has been moved by GENUINE LOVE, knows that it leaves enduring traces upon the human heart. The effect of love endures, because love is spiritual in nature. The man who cannot be stimulated to great heights of achievement by love,

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    is hopeless–he is dead, though he may seem to live.

    Even the memories of love are sufficient to lift one to a higher plane of creative effort. The major force of love may spend itself and pass away, like a fire which has burned itself out, but it leaves behind indelible marks as evidence that it passed that way. Its departure often prepares the human heart for a still greater love.

    Go back into your yesterdays, at times, and bathe your mind in the beautiful memories of past love. It will soften the influence of the present worries and annoyances. It will give you a source of escape from the unpleasant realities of life, and maybe–who knows?–your mind will yield to you, during this temporary retreat into the world of fantasy, ideas, or plans which may change the entire financial or spiritual status of your life.

    If you believe yourself unfortunate, because you have “loved and lost,” perish the thought. One who has loved truly, can never lose entirely. Love is whimsical and temperamental. Its nature is ephemeral, and transitory. It comes when it pleases, and goes away without warning. Accept and enjoy it while it remains, but spend no time worrying about its departure. Worry will never bring it back.

    Dismiss, also, the thought that love never comes but once. Love may come and go, times without number, but there are no two love experiences which affect one in just the same way. There may be, and there usually is, one love experience which leaves a deeper imprint on the heart than all the others, but all love experiences are beneficial, except

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    to the person who becomes resentful and cynical when love makes its departure.

    There should be no disappointment over love, and there would be none if people understood the difference between the emotions of love and sex. The major difference is that love is spiritual, while sex is biological. No experience, which touches the human heart with a spiritual force, can possibly be harmful, except through ignorance, or jealousy.

    Love is, without question, life’s greatest experience. It brings one into communion with Infinite Intelligence. When mixed with the emotions of romance and sex, it may lead one far up the ladder of creative effort. The emotions of love, sex, and romance, are sides of the eternal triangle of achievement-building genius. Nature creates genii through no other force.

    Love is an emotion with many sides, shades, and colors. The love which one feels for parents, or children is quite different from that which one feels for one’s sweetheart. The one is mixed with the emotion of sex, while the other is not.

    The love which one feels in true friendship is not the same as that felt for one’s sweetheart, parents, or children, but it, too, is a form of love.

    Then, there is the emotion of love for things inanimate, such as the love of Nature’s handiwork. But the most intense and burning of all these various kinds of love, is that experienced in the blending of the emotions of love and sex. Marriages, not blessed with the eternal affinity of love, properly balanced and proportioned, with sex, cannot be happy ones–and seldom endure. Love, alone, will

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    not bring happiness in marriage, nor will sex alone. When these two beautiful emotions are blended, marriage may bring about a state of mind, closest to the spiritual that one may ever know on this earthly plane.

    When the emotion of romance is added to those of love and sex, the obstructions between the finite mind of man and Infinite Intelligence are removed. Then a genius has been born!

    What a different story is this, than those usually associated with the emotion of sex. Here is an interpretation of the emotion which lifts it out of the commonplace, and makes of it potter’s clay in the hands of God, from which He fashions all that is beautiful and inspiring. It is an interpretation which would, when properly understood, bring harmony out of the chaos which exists in too many marriages. The disharmonies often expressed in the form of nagging, may usually be traced to lack of knowledge on the subject of sex. Where love, romance and the proper understanding of the emotion and function of sex abide, there is no disharmony between married people.

    Fortunate is the husband whose wife understands the true relationship between the emotions of love, sex, and romance. When motivated by this holy triumvirate, no form of labor is burdensome, because even the most lowly form of effort takes on the nature of a labor of love.

    It is a very old saying that “a man’s wife may either make him or break him,” but the reason is not always understood. The “making” and “breaking” is the result of the wife’s understanding, or

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    lack of understanding of the emotions of love, sex, and romance.

    Despite the fact that men are polygamous, by the very nature of their biological inheritance, it is true that no woman has as great an influence on a man as his wife, unless he is married to a woman totally unsuited to his nature. If a woman permits her husband to lose interest in her, and become more interested in other women, it is usually because of her ignorance, or indifference toward the subjects of sex, love, and romance. This statement presupposes, of course, that genuine love once existed between a man and his wife. The facts are equally applicable to a man who permits his wife’s interest in him to die.

    Married people often bicker over a multitude of trivialities. If these are analyzed accurately, the real cause of the trouble will often be found to be indifference, or ignorance on these subjects.

    Man’s greatest motivating force is his desire to please woman! The hunter who excelled during prehistoric days, before the dawn of civilization, did so, because of his desire to appear great in the eyes of woman. Man’s nature has not changed in this respect. The “hunter” of today brings home no skins of wild animals, but he indicates his desire for her favor by supplying fine clothes, motor cars, and wealth. Man has the same desire to please woman that he had before the dawn of civilization. The only thing that has changed, is his method of pleasing. Men who accumulate large fortunes, and attain to great heights of power and fame, do so, mainly, to satisfy their desire to please women.

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    Take women out of their lives, and great wealth would be useless to most men. It is this inherent desire of man to please woman, which gives woman the power to make or break a man.

    The woman who understands man’s nature and tactfully caters to it, need have no fear of competition from other women. Men may be “giants” with indomitable will-power when dealing with other men, but they are easily managed by the women of their choice.

    Most men will not admit that they are easily influenced by the women they prefer, because it is in the nature of the male to want to be recognized as the stronger of the species. Moreover, the intelligent woman recognizes this “manly trait” and very wisely makes no issue of it.

    Some men know that they are being influenced by the women of their choice–their wives, sweethearts, mothers or sisters–but they tactfully refrain from rebelling against the influence because they are intelligent enough to know that NO MAN IS HAPPY OR COMPLETE WITHOUT THE MODIFYING INFLUENCE OF THE RIGHT WOMAN. The man who does not recognize this important truth deprives himself of the power which has done more to help men achieve success than all other forces combined.

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  • Sex, Power and Success

    Posted: October 15, 2009, 3:15 am by Daniel Ngari

    The mind is a powerful tool at our disposal. Napoleon Hill, in his classic text, Think and Grow Rich, opined that the transmutation sexual energy can lead to success in other areas of life. People become really creative when looking for sex or sex partners. If that drive and creativity can be directed, deliberately, to another pursuit, one can improve his or her probability of success.

    Let us here it from Napoleon Hill himself. Brace yourself, it is a long chapter, but I hope you will read it all and be truly inspired to unleash the genius within you. If you can, please print this blog post.

    CHAPTER 11 ( Think and Grow Rich Book) THE MYSTERY OF SEX TRANSMUTATION

    The Tenth Step toward Riches

    ANYBODY can WISH for riches, and most people do, but only a few know that a definite plan, plus a BURNING DESIRE for wealth, are the only dependable means of accumulating wealth.

    THE meaning of the word “transmute” is, in simple language, “the changing, or transferring of one element, or form of energy, into another.”

    The emotion of sex brings into being a state of mind.

    Because of ignorance on the subject, this state of mind is generally associated with the physical, and because of improper influences, to which most people have been subjected, in acquiring knowledge of sex, things essentially physical have highly biased the mind.

    The emotion of sex has back of it the possibility of three constructive potentialities, they are:–

    1. The perpetuation of mankind.
    2. The maintenance of health, (as a therapeutic agency, it has no equal).
    3. The transformation of mediocrity into genius through transmutation.

    Sex transmutation is simple and easily explained. It means the switching of the mind from thoughts of physical expression, to thoughts of some other nature.

    Sex desire is the most powerful of human desires.

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    When driven by this desire, men develop keenness of imagination, courage, will-power, persistence, and creative ability unknown to them at other times. So strong and impelling is the desire for sexual contact that men freely run the risk of life and reputation to indulge it. When harnessed, and redirected along other lines, this motivating force maintains all of its attributes of keenness of imagination, courage, etc., which may be used as powerful creative forces in literature, art, or in any other profession or calling, including, of course, the accumulation of riches.

    The transmutation of sex energy calls for the exercise of will-power, to be sure, but the reward is worth the effort. The desire for sexual expression is inborn and natural. The desire cannot, and should not be submerged or eliminated. But it should be given an outlet through forms of expression which enrich the body, mind, and spirit of man. If not given this form of outlet, through transmutation, it will seek outlets through purely physical channels.

    A river may be dammed, and its water controlled for a time, but eventually, it will force an outlet. The same is true of the emotion of sex. It may be submerged and controlled for a time, but its very nature causes it to be ever seeking means of expression. If it is not transmuted into some creative effort it will find a less worthy outlet.

    Fortunate, indeed, is the person who has discovered how to give sex emotion an outlet through some form of creative effort, for he has, by that discovery, lifted himself to the status of a genius.

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    Scientific research has disclosed these significant facts:

    1. The men of greatest achievement are men with highly developed sex natures; men who have learned the art of sex transmutation.
    2. The men who have accumulated great fortunes and achieved outstanding recognition in literature, art, industry, architecture, and the professions, were motivated by the influence of a woman.

    The research from which these astounding discoveries were made, went back through the pages of biography and history for more than two thousand years. Wherever there was evidence available in connection with the lives of men and women of great achievement, it indicated most convincingly that they possessed highly developed sex natures.

    The emotion of sex is an “irresistible force,” against which there can be no such opposition as an “immovable body.” When driven by this emotion, men become gifted with a super power for action. Understand this truth, and you will catch the significance of the statement that sex transmutation will lift one to the status of a genius.

    The emotion of sex contains the secret of creative ability.

    Destroy the sex glands, whether in man or beast, and you have removed the major source of action. For proof of this, observe what happens to any animal after it has been castrated. A bull becomes as docile as a cow after it has been altered sexually. Sex alteration takes out of the male, whether man

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    or beast, all the FIGHT that was in him. Sex alteration of the female has the same effect.

    THE TEN MIND STIMULI

    The human mind responds to stimuli, through which it may be “keyed up” to high rates of vibration, known as enthusiasm, creative imagination, intense desire, etc. The stimuli to which the mind responds most freely are:–

    1. The desire for sex expression
    2. Love
    3. A burning desire for fame, power, or financial gain, MONEY
    4. Music
    5. Friendship between either those of the same sex, or those of the opposite sex.
    6. A Master Mind alliance based upon the harmony of two or more people who ally themselves for spiritual or temporal advancement.
    7. Mutual suffering, such as that experienced by people who are persecuted.
    8. Auto-suggestion
    9. Fear
    10. Narcotics and alcohol.

    The desire for sex expression comes at the head of the list of stimuli, which most effectively “step-up” the vibrations of the mind and start the “wheels” of physical action. Eight of these stimuli are natural and constructive. Two are destructive. The list is here presented for the purpose of enabling

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    you to make a comparative study of the major sources of mind stimulation. From this study, it will be readily seen that the emotion of sex is, by great odds, the most intense and powerful of all mind stimuli.

    This comparison is necessary as a foundation for proof of the statement that transmutation of sex energy may lift one to the status of a genius. Let us find out what constitutes a genius.

    Some wiseacre has said that a genius is a man who “wears long hair, eats queer food, lives alone, and serves as a target for the joke makers.” A better definition of a genius is, “a man who has discovered how to increase the vibrations of thought to the point where he can freely communicate with sources of knowledge not available through the ordinary rate of vibration of thought.”

    The person who thinks will want to ask some questions concerning this definition of genius. The first question will be, “How may one communicate with sources of knowledge which are not available through the ORDINARY rate of vibration of thought?”

    The next question will be, “Are there known sources of knowledge which are available only to genii, and if so, WHAT ARE THESE SOURCES, and exactly how may they be reached?”

    We shall offer proof of the soundness of some of the more important statements made in this book–or at least we shall offer evidence through which you may secure your own proof through experimentation, and in doing so, we shall answer both of these questions.

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    “GENIUS” IS DEVELOPED THROUGH THE SIXTH SENSE

    The reality of a “sixth sense” has been fairly well established. This sixth sense is “Creative Imagination.” The faculty of creative imagination is one which the majority of people never use during an entire lifetime, and if used at all, it usually happens by mere accident. A relatively small number of people use, WITH DELIBERATION AND PURPOSE AFORETHOUGHT, the faculty of creative imagination. Those who use this faculty voluntarily, and with understanding of its functions, are GENII.

    The faculty of creative imagination is the direct link between the finite mind of man and Infinite Intelligence. All so-called revelations, referred to in the realm of religion, and all discoveries of basic or new principles in the field of invention, take place through the faculty of creative imagination.

    When ideas or concepts flash into one’s mind, through what is popularly called a “hunch,” they come from one or more of the following sources:–

    1. Infinite Intelligence
    2. One’s subconscious mind, wherein is stored every sense impression and thought impulse which ever reached the brain through any of the five senses
    3. From the mind of some other person who has just released the thought, or picture of the idea or concept, through conscious thought, or
    4. From the other person’s subconscious storehouse.

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    There are no other KNOWN sources from which “inspired” ideas or “hunches” may be received.

    The creative imagination functions best when the mind is vibrating (due to some form of mind stimulation) at an exceedingly high rate. That is, when the mind is functioning at a rate of vibration higher than that of ordinary, normal thought.

    When brain action has been stimulated, through one or more of the ten mind stimulants, it has the effect of lifting the individual far above the horizon of ordinary thought, and permits him to envision distance, scope, and quality of THOUGHTS not available on the lower plane, such as that occupied while one is engaged in the solution of the problems of business and professional routine.

    When lifted to this higher level of thought, through any form of mind stimulation, an individual occupies, relatively, the same position as one who has ascended in an airplane to a height from which he may see over and beyond the horizon line which limits his vision, while on the ground. Moreover, while on this higher level of thought, the individual is not hampered or bound by any of the stimuli which circumscribe and limit his vision while wrestling with the problems of gaining the three basic necessities of food, clothing, and shelter. He is in a world of thought in which the ORDINARY, work-a-day thoughts have been as effectively removed as are the hills and valleys and other limitations of physical vision, when he rises in an airplane.

    While on this exalted plane of THOUGHT, the creative faculty of the mind is given freedom for

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    action. The way has been cleared for the sixth sense to function, it becomes receptive to ideas which could not reach the individual under any other circumstances. The “sixth sense” is the faculty which marks the difference between a genius and an ordinary individual.

    The creative faculty becomes more alert and receptive to vibrations, originating outside the individual’s subconscious mind, the more this faculty is used, and the more the individual relies upon it, and makes demands upon it for thought impulses. This faculty can be cultivated and developed only through use.

    That which is known as one’s “conscience” operates entirely through the faculty of the sixth sense.

    The great artists, writers, musicians, and poets become great, because they acquire the habit of relying upon the “still small voice” which speaks from within, through the faculty of creative imagination. It is a fact well known to people who have “keen” imaginations that their best ideas come through so-called “hunches.”

    There is a great orator who does not attain to greatness, until he closes his eyes and begins to rely entirely upon the faculty of Creative Imagination. When asked why he closed his eyes just before the climaxes of his oratory, he replied, “I do it, because, then I speak through ideas which come to me from within.”

    One of America’s most successful and best known financiers followed the habit of closing his eyes for two or three minutes before making a decision.

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    When asked why he did this, he replied, “With my eyes closed, I am able to draw upon a source of superior intelligence.”

    The late Dr. Elmer R. Gates, of Chevy Chase, Maryland, created more than 200 useful patents, many of them basic, through the process of cultivating and using the creative faculty. His method is both significant and interesting to one interested in attaining to the status of genius, in which category Dr. Gates, unquestionably belonged. Dr. Gates was one of the really great, though less publicized scientists of the world.

    In his laboratory, he had what he called his “personal communication room.” It was practically sound proof, and so arranged that all light could be shut out. It was equipped with a small table, on which he kept a pad of writing paper. In front of the table, on the wall, was an electric pushbutton, which controlled the lights. When Dr. Gates desired to draw upon the forces available to him through his Creative Imagination, he would go into this room, seat himself at the table, shut off the lights, and CONCENTRATE upon the KNOWN factors of the invention on which he was working, remaining in that position until ideas began to “flash” into his mind in connection with the UNKNOWN factors of the invention.

    On one occasion, ideas came through so fast that he was forced to write for almost three hours. When the thoughts stopped flowing, and he examined his notes, he found they contained a minute description of principles which had not a parallel among the known data of the scientific world.

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    Moreover, the answer to his problem was intelligently presented in those notes. In this manner Dr. Gates completed over 200 patents, which had been begun, but not completed, by “half-baked” brains. Evidence of the truth of this statement is in the United States Patent Office.

    Dr. Gates earned his living by “sitting for ideas” for individuals and corporations. Some of the largest corporations in America paid him substantial fees, by the hour, for “sitting for ideas.”

    The reasoning faculty is often faulty, because it is largely guided by one’s accumulated experience. Not all knowledge, which one accumulates through “experience,” is accurate. Ideas received through the creative faculty are much more reliable, for the reason that they come from sources more reliable than any which are available to the reasoning faculty of the mind.

    The major difference between the genius and the ordinary “crank” inventor, may be found in the fact that the genius works through his faculty of creative imagination, while the “crank” knows nothing of this faculty. The scientific inventor (such as Mr. Edison, and Dr. Gates), makes use of both the synthetic and the creative faculties of imagination.

    For example, the scientific inventor, or “genius,” begins an invention by organizing and combining the known ideas, or principles accumulated through experience, through the synthetic faculty (the reasoning faculty). If he finds this accumulated knowledge to be insufficient for the completion of his invention, he then draws upon the sources of

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    knowledge available to him through his creative faculty. The method by which he does this varies with the individual, but this is the sum and substance of his procedure:

    1. HE STIMULATES HIS MIND SO THAT IT VIBRATES ON A HIGHER-THAN-AVERAGE PLANE, using one or more of the ten mind stimulants or some other stimulant of his choice.
    2. HE CONCENTRATES upon the known factors (the finished part) of his invention, and creates in his mind a perfect picture of unknown factors (the unfinished part), of his invention. He holds this picture in mind until it has been taken over by the subconscious mind, then relaxes by clearing his mind of ALL thought, and waits for his answer to “flash” into his mind.

    Sometimes the results are both definite and immediate. At other times, the results are negative, depending upon the state of development of the “sixth sense,” or creative faculty.

    Mr. Edison tried out more than 10,000 different combinations of ideas through the synthetic faculty of his imagination before he “tuned in” through the creative faculty, and got the answer which perfected the incandescent light. His experience was similar when he produced the talking machine.

    There is plenty of reliable evidence that the faculty of creative imagination exists. This evidence is available through accurate analysis of men who have become leaders in their respective callings, without having had extensive educations. Lincoln was a notable example of a great leader

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    who achieved greatness, through the discovery, and use of his faculty of creative imagination. He discovered, and began to use this faculty as the result of the stimulation of love which he experienced after he met Anne Rutledge, a statement of the highest significance, in connection with the study of the source of genius.

    The pages of history are filled with the records of great leaders whose achievements may be traced directly to the influence of women who aroused the creative faculties of their minds, through the stimulation of sex desire. Napoleon Bonaparte was one of these. When inspired by his first wife, Josephine, he was irresistible and invincible. When his “better judgment” or reasoning faculty prompted him to put Josephine aside, he began to decline. His defeat and St. Helena were not far distant.

    If good taste would permit, we might easily mention scores of men, well known to the American people, who climbed to great heights of achievement under the stimulating influence of their wives, only to drop back to destruction AFTER money and power went to their heads, and they put aside the old wife for a new one. Napoleon was not the only man to discover that sex influence, from the right source, is more powerful than any substitute of expediency, which may be created by mere reason.

    The human mind responds to stimulation!

    Among the greatest, and most powerful of these stimuli is the urge of sex. When harnessed and transmuted, this driving force is capable of lifting men into that higher sphere of thought which enables

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    them to master the sources of worry and petty annoyance which beset their pathway on the lower plane.

    Unfortunately, only the genii have made the discovery. Others have accepted the experience of sex urge, without discovering one of its major potentialities–a fact which accounts for the great number of “others” as compared to the limited number of genii.

    For the purpose of refreshing the memory, in connection with the facts available from the biographies of certain men, we here present the names of a few men of outstanding achievement, each of whom was known to have been of a highly sexed nature. The genius which was their’s, undoubtedly found its source of power in transmuted sex energy:

    GEORGE WASHINGTON

    NAPOLEON BONAPARTE

    WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

    ABRAHAM LINCOLN

    RALPH WALDO EMERSON

    ROBERT BURNS

    		 THOMAS JEFFERSON

    ELBERT HUBBARD

    ELBERT H. GARY

    OSCAR WILDE

    WOODROW WILSON

    JOHN H. PATTERSON

    ANDREW JACKSON

    ENRICO CARUSO

    Your own knowledge of biography will enable you to add to this list. Find, if you can, a single man, in all history of civilization, who achieved outstanding success in any calling, who was not driven by a well developed sex nature.

    p. 273

    If you do not wish to rely upon biographies of men not now living, take inventory of those whom you know to be men of great achievement, and see if you can find one among them who is not highly sexed.

    Sex energy is the creative energy of all genii. There never has been, and never will be a great leader, builder, or artist lacking in this driving force of sex.

    Surely no one will misunderstand these statements to mean that ALL who are highly sexed are genii! Man attains to the status of a genius ONLY when, and IF, he stimulates his mind so that it draws upon the forces available, through the creative faculty of the imagination. Chief among the stimuli with which this “stepping up” of the vibrations may be produced is sex energy. The mere possession of this energy is not sufficient to produce a genius. The energy must be transmuted from desire for physical contact, into some other form of desire and action, before it will lift one to the status of a genius.

    Far from becoming genii, because of great sex desires, the majority of men lower themselves, through misunderstanding and misuse of this great force, to the status of the lower animals.

    Continued on Part 2. Please Read On.

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  • How to Amplify Your Potential

    Posted: October 14, 2009, 4:45 am by Daniel Ngari

    To amplify is to increase in size, volume or significance. You can amplify your potential for success by doing things in a certain way. You have to identify what hinders you from success and break through that. You also have to identify ideas to speed up your success journey.

    Take Action

    It does not matter how much you know if you never take action. You will rarely get that dream job unless you place the right job applications. You will not get that lean and fit body unless you exercise and eat right.

    Do not just sit there and think of all the things you are capable of. Instead, a have a bias for action. Get out there and do something. You may be thinking of starting a business or a relationship. That will only materialize if you take action. Fantasizing about your potential will only leave you feeling unfulfilled in the end, if you do not take action.

    Use Other People’s Resources

    I first heard of the term OPM (Other People’s Money) ten years ago. I got fascinated by the concept and read up on it, and discovered it goes further than that. It extends to other resources, not just money.

    You can use other people money to amplify your potential. Banks and insurance companies reap huge benefits by using our money. People take their savings to the bank and are rewarded with a negligible interest rate. The bank then takes the money and lends it to the next guy for a fortune. Listed companies use shareholders money to run their operations.

    Are you working long hours trying to make a living or is other people’s money working for you? It is not too late to start thinking of how you can take advantage of other people’s money, just like the banks do.

    Using other peoples money wisely and profitably WILL amplify your success. On the other hand, losing other people money in a failed venture can leave you with a deep hole in your pocket. The trick is to do your homework on how to profit from other people’s money.

    People and banks will lend you an umbrella when it is raining and ask for it when it starts drizzling. It happens all the time especially in the stock market. Many investors will quickly withdraw their money from your venture at the first sign of trouble. Be careful with other people’s money, but do not underestimate its potential.

    You can also tap onto other people’s resources; experiences, time, passions and expertise to turbo charge your success. First you need to align your intentions to make sure you are pulling in the same direction. Create a win-win situation and you will laugh all the way to the bank.

    Focused Effort

    My mind is constantly coming up with ideas of what I need to do. I end up with a plethora of unfinished projects. I consider myself a man of great potential, but am quickly realizing that there are only 24 hours in a day. Not everything that passes through my mind can be done, unfortunately. I am learning to prioritize and saying NO to good opportunities that I would not have let slide a few years ago.

    Do you find yourself trying to juggle more than a few projects or ideas? If you get nothing else from today’s posting, get this: Be Focused!

    It is an area of life that I admittedly fall short in but I am trying. Why? I think it makes a lot of sense. Why do 10 mediocre things when you can do one thing very well? The more focused you are on something, the greater your success rate. Do not be a jack of all trades and end up as a master of none.

    Have a Mastermind Group

    In his timeless classic book, “Think and Grow Rich”, Napoleon Hill said “When a group of individual brains are coordinated and function in harmony, the increased energy created through the alliance, becomes available to every individual in the group”.

    Very few fortunes (if any) are made by people who work in isolation. That is the precise reason why companies have boards of directors. The directors brainstorm and use their collective experiences, contacts and expertise for the betterment of the company.

    You can assemble your own “board of directors” in your life. Identify people you can connect with in harmony, for a definite purpose, and that will surely amplify your potential.

    Napoleon Hill also said:  “Men take on the nature and habits and the power of thought of those with whom they associate in a spirit of sympathy and harmony”.

    Think of the 5 people closest to you. Chances are they think like you, talk like you and enjoy the same things as you. If you dig deeper, you will realize just how much impact they have in your life. The bible says “show me your friends, and I will tell you what kind of person you are”. They say that birds of a feather flock together.

    Consciously assembling a mastermind group could turn out to be on of your best time investments. How do you become a millionaire if all your friends all earn 15,000 per year? How do you live a healthy life if you and your friends are always at the pub till the wee hours of the morning? How do you get ahead in life without a single encouraging voice in the vicinity? A mastermind group is the master key to unlocking potential.

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  • Be Prepared for Success

    Posted: October 13, 2009, 4:49 am by Daniel Ngari

    A farmer knows that they have to plant the right seeds at the right season. They also know that they have to till the land before planting. The kind of preparation done by a small scale farmer is different from that done by a large scale commercial farmer. The type and level of preparation determines your destiny.

    You want to succeed in life… right? Then be prepared for it. It took Jesus 30 years of preparation for his 3 year ministry. It takes NASA months of planning and preparation before they set out to the heavens. It takes hours upon hours of preparations for a music band to have a stellar performance. How long have you been preparing for your success?

    Mental Preparation

    Success or failure is all in the mind. You become what you think about. Continuously feed your mind with junk and you will succeed in reverse. Success first happens in the mental realm before it materializes in the physical world.

    The first step of mental preparation is deciding on what you want to be. Let us say you wanted to become a blogger. Your first step would be to think through what area or angle you want to pursue. Finding clarity on your area of focus will help save time and amplify your efforts. Visualize the exact steps you will take and create a checklist of things that need to be done.

    Test Driven Preparation

    As a computer programmer, I get to write “unit tests” to verify that a program code behaves as it should. Many programmers “test” their program only after they have written the whole program. Others write small tests as they go along to make sure that each aspect is working, before they proceed. What has all this computer programming talk got to do with your success?

    Instead of waiting to see if all your plans worked out alright, or waiting to have all the information on your desk before making your move, have a bias for action.

    When driving for a 50 miles at night, you do not have to see more than a few yards before you can start your journey. In the same way, take small tests (actions) towards your goal, instead of waiting to get to your destination and then wonder if that is the right destination. Prepare for the next set of actions instead of preparing for the biggies of life. That way, you avoid analysis paralysis and gain the confidence to succeed.

    Enjoy Learning

    I went to a music store with a friend a few weeks ago and was mesmerized by how much there is to learn in the world of music. Music is continuously evolving but certain fundamentals remain the same for generations. If you want to succeed as a musician, you not only need to refine your skill but also learn all there is about your particular genre and beyond. That way, you will be better placed to succeed than those that focus on only skill development.

    To learn effectively, you have to become inquisitive. There are answers all around. Very few things under the sun are new. What is has been and will always be. Find out from those who are more experienced than you. Read books, watch DVDs, read magazines, attend seminars or learn from experts. Do not rediscover the wheel; rather, find creative new ways of using the wheel by learning from others. Learning is the best way of preparing for success. It helps save time, energy and makes the success journey easier.

    Worst Case Scenario Preparation

    When people embark on a journey, there is a strong temptation to concentrate on the upside and forget the dangers. It is thrilling to think of the potential fruits of your labor. It is fun to think of how much fun you are going to have if all goes according to plan. Unfortunately, life is not a straight line. To really succeed, you have to think of the worst case scenario as well and plan what to do if the worst happens.

    Create a checklist of what could go wrong. Say for example you wanted to gallivant around Europe… don’t just think of all the fun you are going to have. Ask yourself some hard questions. What would you do if you got sick on your trip? What would you do if you lost your luggage? Think through different scenarios and have an action plan. Thinking of the worst case scenario is not “negative thinking”, it is smart thinking as long as you do it right and don’t dwell on it too much.

    Best Case Scenario Preparation

    The world is awash with stories of people who succeeded before they were prepared for success. What would happen if everything you touched turned to gold? Would you get a big head? If you are not mentally prepared for bigger than life success, you will sabotage yourself and end up in familiar territory, your comfort zone.

    If you set out to succeed, think about what you would do with your success. Many lottery winners usually go back to the poorhouse within months of winning because of lack of preparation. Continuous learning from people who are doing better than you can help you keep a level head even when you succeed beyond your wildest dreams.

    The Power of Discipline

    Discipline is doing the right thing, at the right time, for the right reasons to achieve the desired goals. Discipline means having clarity on what, when and why things need to be done. It also means following up on your commitments whether you feel like it or not. Be disciplined in taking action, managing your time and relationships.

    Without discipline, people become like animals. They do not prepare or follow through with commitments. Make a plan and stick with it. That is the only way to realize your dreams. It all starts in the mind followed by small baby steps (Kaizen) that prepare you for greatness.

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  • Becoming a Success Magnet

    Posted: October 11, 2009, 5:02 am by Daniel Ngari

    What if you could attract to your life anything you ever wanted? What if you had a magnetism around you that brought all you want in finances, relationships, careers and so on?

    According to Wikipedia, a magnet is a material or object that produces a magnetic field. This magnetic field is invisible but is responsible for the most notable property of a magnet: a force that pulls on other ferromagnetic materials and attracts or repels other magnets.

    The mystery of magnetic energy has never been unraveled; they are at an atomic level that isn’t known yet. And like other forces such as gravity, mechanics, heat, scientists are only able to know how they work, what they do, and if there any formulas that can be made to describe (and thus predict) their behavior. Only then are able to control them.

    Qualities of a Magnetic Success

    There are four facts about a magnet that we can borrow and apply in our lives in order to attract success.

    • Magnetic forces attract only magnetic materials.

    There are some materials that just won’t be attracted by magnets. You will not be able to attract anything and everything in your life. Even magnets do not attract some materials such as glass or plastic. Do not waste your time and energy trying to attract things that just won’t happen. Sow where there is a possibility of a harvest.

    • North poles point north, south poles point south.

    The compass that will shape our destiny is internal and will always point us to where we belong. If you have a strong character with values such as integrity, honesty and good attitude, then you will attract success. Before looking at external sources of success, try and get the internal magnet working right for you. That is what will ultimately attract the success that you desire.

    • Magnetic forces act on distance.

    Depending on the magnetic strength possessed, a magnet will be able to attract things at a distance. If you move closer to the things that you want to attract, you will be able to attract them faster and more powerfully. If you want to attract success in one area of life, move closer to the thing that you want to attract. It does not have to be physical distance; it can be mentally or emotionally.

    • While magnetized, temporary magnets act like permanent magnets.

    When you start acting like a success, success comes to you. When you have the right mindset, even temporarily, it will attract success to your life.

    Keep reading inspiring blogs such as this one. Read motivational books, hang out with positive and empowering people. The energy and motivation you get from them will energize you to work, take action and succeed.

    Your success will come because of the things you DO when you were “magnetized”. Always seek to be magnetized or motivated for success by other magnetic or motivated people.

    Success Attractors:
    • Clarity is a success magnet

    Be absolutely clear on what you want. It does not take long to find clarity. When you are clear on what your intentions are, you are able to eliminate wasted effort and apply yourself fully to achieving your goals. You save a lot of time by avoiding chasing irrelevant things.

    • Have the right thoughts

    Success or failure is all in the mind. You become what you think about. Take time to feed your mind with positive and empowering thoughts. I have deliberately decided to fill my mind with positive thoughts and I have seen this doing wonders in many areas of my life.

    Think through what you want, it will propel you to action, and achieving it. Everything you see out there was once a thought. Who knows what you can achieve if you set your mind on something. What you think in your mind will eventually be realized in the physical realm.

    • Attitude

    Have a can do, will do attitude to attract success. The kind of attitude you have in your relationships, job, business, and finances will determine the exact level of success you will attract or repel.

    • Become a learner.

    Learn from your mistakes and those of others; it will help you forge ahead and achieve what you want to achieve. Go out of your way to learn about how to succeed. Invest in learning from experts, peers and authorities in your field. Continuous learning is a success magnet.

    • Become a giver

    The more you give the more you will attract back to your life. If you give friendship you will get friendship. If you give value you will get value. Be a cheerful giver. Give something of value to people you meet. Not necessarily money but what you have in your reserves. When you give you are making a deposit in your spiritual account and you will reap your rewards with the same measure you give out.

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  • Success Tip From Barack Obama

    Posted: September 30, 2009, 7:36 am by Daniel Ngari

    A few words from US President Barack Obama inspired me today. My first instinct was to share them with you.

    • “Making your mark on the world is hard. If it were easy, everybody would do it. But it’s not. It takes patience, it takes commitment, and it comes with plenty of failure along the way. The real test is not whether you avoid this failure, because you won’t. it’s whether you let it harden or shame you into inaction, or whether you learn from it; whether you choose to persevere”.
    • “Focusing your life solely on making a buck shows a certain poverty of ambition. It asks too little of yourself. Because it’s only when you hitch your wagon to something larger than yourself that you realize your true potential”.

    P.s – Incase you are wondering why I have been quiet over the last few days,  am working very hard in the background to revamp the blog.  The new site will be more community centric and will focus obsessively on success. Please read my blog post on Clarity, for more information.

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  • Mastering Self Confidence for Success

    Posted: September 24, 2009, 4:58 am by Daniel Ngari

    My self confidence has always swung like a pendulum. Sometimes it is giant sized, other times it is midget sized. Sometimes it is up north, other times it is in the Deep South. Mostly, it is somewhere in between. In the new style blog, I will be tackling problems that are real to me or people around me. It is easier to communicate issues that I have a firm grasp on. So let us kick off with confidence.

    Self confidence is an attitude. It is a state of mind that makes us see our lives from a positive perspective. When confident, we are able to believe in our strengths and abilities, and are enthusiastic about what we go through everyday. Self confidence gives us pride, independence, and emotional maturity to handle different situations and handle criticism.

    Sources of Confidence

    1. Achievement

      Think about it, some of the most confident people you and I know are people who have achieved something in their lives. Think about all the businessmen, the athletes, the singers and a million other successful people. I find that if my confidence takes a dip, achieving something in my life helps back on my confident feet. You do not have to win the presidential elections for you to get the feeling of achievement. Set goals that you can achieve, the more wins you have under your belt, the greater your confidence will become.

      2. Giving

        Giving is an admission of an abundant mindset. If you give your time, your money or something of value to others, you are subconsciously telling yourself that you are blessed. You attract more than you give back in your life in terms of your self confidence.

        3. Recognition

          Nobody wants to be an invisible person. Invisible people are hardly confident. Do something with your life that deserves recognition and your confidence will soar like an eagle. Find something that really makes a difference in people’s lives. Do subtle self promotion and let the right people know about it. The recognition that follows will do wonders to your self confidence.

          4. Association

            Do you hang out with people who continuously put you down? If your friends do not believe in you, that could rub off on you. From early childhood, people are unwillingly trained to bow to the pressure from their peers. Think through the people you let into your life. Find people who empower you, and massage your ego once in a while. But at the same time find people who challenge you and aspire to add value to their lives by being a good friend. What you give out to others comes back to you tenfold.

            5. Values

              What do you stand for? Do you believe in yourself? If you make a promise to others and do not keep it, you are telling your subconscious mind that you cannot be trusted. When you try to tell your mind that you are going to make a success out of your venture, your subconscious mind will sabotage you. Your values and character ultimately determines how you feel about yourself.

              6. Contentment

                Cultivate a spirit of gratitude. Take time to thank people who are kind to you. Do not always be seeking more. Blindly trying to keep up with the Joneses can be detrimental to your confidence and bottom line. Find satisfaction within instead of constantly chasing one more thing. Count your blessings one by one and watch them multiply your confidence.

                7. Hope

                  Hope is what makes a student doctor confident that after seven years of hard study, all will be well. If you think that your best years are ahead of you, then you will be more confident than someone who thinks of themselves as a spent force. Try and imagine better days ahead instead of getting hang up on the “good old days”.

                  8. Fake It

                    Some people believe that you should fake it until you make it. I find it really hard to fake it but sometimes necessity is the mother of all inventions. The way you dress, the way you talk and the places you hang out in will determine how many doors are open to you.

                    9. Personal Branding

                      Your personal brand will determine how you feel about yourself. If you have a good reputation, and people respect you, you are more likely to be more confident than a person who is not. Invest in your personal brand. Perhaps try and have a dish from my personal branding salad bar.

                      10.Learning

                      Self confidence grows with each lesson; whether learning from your mistakes or learning a new language. Commit to life long learning. Find people you can learn from, travel to different places and learn about others. Learn about yourself, learn a new skill. The effort applied in learning is repaid in increased confidence.

                      11.Overcoming Obstacles

                      I love hearing about stories of people who overcame challenges. I have overcome a few challenges myself in life and I can tell you for a fact overcoming challenges is one of the best way of growing your confidence. When in the middle of a calamity or a saga, your confidence may be on the lower side, but if you emerge victorious then your confidence grows in leaps and bounds. If you are facing tough times, take heart, be strong and remember that your confidence will grow the moment you overcome. So hang in there and do your best to overcome.

                      12.Focus

                      Success or failure is all in the mind. If your dominant thought is that of victory, then you will become a winner. If you focus on why things will not work, then you will be proven right sooner than later. Change your confidence level by controlling what you focus on.

                      Confidence and Success

                      Confidence and success are bedfellows. You can hardly succeed if you have low self confidence. You may be greatly talented, but pint sized confidence puts a great barrier between you and your full potential.

                      Success is not for the timid, it is not for those who belittle themselves. Self confidence attracts success like a magnet. If you truly believe in yourself and your abilities, it will reflect in your output.

                      Here is how self confidence determines success in some areas of life.

                      1. Careers

                        In the career world, right from the interview room, your self confidence has to be right. Few people will hire a person who is not sure of what they are capable of. Self confidence helps you sell yourself better than any Godfather can.

                        Even in business, self confidence is king. People want to do business with people who are self ascertained. They want people who believe in what they do and their value proposition. If you want to attract good business partners believe in yourself.

                        2 . Relationships

                          Confident people look more attractive. They have a better success rate in dating and finding suitable partners. Confidence is a cornerstone of healthy relationship. People with confidence issues can be a pain to be with. They either get jealous easily or become susceptible to diverse relationship problems. When problems arise in relationships, people who are self confident are more likely to face them and work out a solution.

                          3. Finances

                            People with confidence issues are more likely to buy things they do not need, with money they do not have, to impress people they do not like. (I think Will Smith first said those words). Self confidence allows for the sobriety to take control of your finances and make proper plans for the future.

                            Summary

                            Confidence affects many areas of life. There are many sources of confidence, find the areas that interest you and develop that. It is worth every effort to invest in growing your self confidence.

                            This is the first of the new articles that will focus exclusively on inspiring you to achieve success in your life. I will be focusing on various factors that determine success in life. I would love to hear your comments and suggestions on some of the topics that you would like me to tackle.

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                          1. Clarity Begins at Home

                            Posted: September 19, 2009, 7:11 pm by Daniel Ngari

                            On the 5th of January this year, I set out on a journey to inspire my friends through this blog. I set out some objectives for my efforts but those objectives were vague at best. At the back of my mind, I knew it was possible to connect with others using the blog, and make a difference in people’s lives.

                            Reality Checks in …

                            What I had not realized was that blogging is not as easy as it sounds. Sometimes I would get on the flow and write and write. Other times I would have a mind block. When the blog was really young, it was easier for me to write. I was writing to a few people; people I knew and interacted with regularly. They would call me and we would talk about the article they just read on the blog. One friend in particular insisted on commenting via phone calls or face to face instead of commenting on the blog.

                            Some of those early articles were pretty basic but the encouragement and feedback I got helped me improve a lot. Then the blog became popular. I started getting readers from 90 countries around the world. It was exciting looking at my website traffic statistics to see all the distant cities readers were coming from. At first I was enjoying getting all the attention, mails and friendship requests on Facebook from people who had read my blog. Then seemingly suddenly, something else happened.

                            I became a little more self conscious about what I was writing. A couple of my readers told me in private that I seemed increasingly less likely to share my personal experiences on the blog. And they were right. My blog was being read by people I had never met. It was being read by people I had not talked to for 10 years since I left Kenya. How was I supposed to share private information about my day to day challenges with those people?

                            In my mind, this was supposed to be a small blog for my own personal growth, but it evolved into something bigger than I anticipated. I guess I would be right in calling that phase “growth pains”. I am a persistent kind of guy so giving up was not an option. I have made fantastic friends through the blog and many people have encouraged me to keep sharing. I was caught between wanting to share something of value and wanting to protect my privacy. Then I realized it had little to do with trying to protect my privacy and more to do with struggling to remain relevant to a wider audience.

                            Give up or Swim on?

                            I miss the days when it was only a handful of my friends reading the blog. But those days are gone; gone forever. The blog is on the internet for anyone with a connection to read. I have to keep swimming or drown. Even though in real life I swim like sediment, I am keen to swim on, keen to forge ahead.

                            Nine months of blogging, and I have mixed feelings about what I am trying to do here. It is at a point like this that many give up. It is the attractive option at the moment. Today I open up my heart and mind to you my dear readers.

                            My passion for inspiring my friends has not waned. But who are my friends? Is it my sister or my girlfriend? Is it the lady who reads my blog daily from Malaysia? Is it my former classmate who now works in Texas? Is it the random dude who comes to this blog via search engines? I am confused and I cry out aloud. The haze and the maze have clouded my judgment. I do not know to whom I should write. I am struggling to become relevant to everyone. And there lies my mistake; the mistake that so many of us make.

                            The Road Ahead

                            I have taken three hours between the last paragraph and now to really think about the future of this blog. I have made a new roadmap and business plan for the blog. This blog is not for everyone, I have decided. I will not kill the blog by trying to please everyone. Today is a turning point in the life of this blog. I will re-invent the blog to avoid ever having an identity crisis again.

                            This blog will now focus exclusively on inspiring my friends to succeed in life. For the purpose of this blog, I shall define my friends as positive thinking people, with a deep hunger for success. I will obsessively focus on the word SUCCESS, and bring it alive in your life.

                            I am a successful person and I want to be ten times, maybe a hundred times more successful. To be able to reach my goals, I will conduct a public study on what makes people succeed. I will fill this blog with my findings. I will talk to people, read up on what others have done, I will obsess over the topic of success until you and I make it.

                            If you are looking to improve your financial situation, your relationships, your business or career, you are in the right place. This blog will be your success companion and compass. Success or failure starts in the mind. We shall revisit the mental preparation required for success and get in tune with universal principles of success.

                            The people I love

                            There are people who inspire me and I read about them regularly. I will conduct studies of successful people and what makes them tick. We shall share in the lessons and use their inspiring stories as launch pads to our own success.

                            The blog will now move on to its next phase, which will be beyond Daniel Ngari, the person. I will steer this blog to become an inspirational powerhouse that will bring together the brightest and most positive minds in the planet.

                            I would love you to join me on this journey over the next few months. You will experience a transformation in your life by being part and parcel of the exciting changes that I will implement before the end of 2009. If you are hungry for success, and want access to the best information and principles for achieving your level best, you are in the right place.

                            Over the next few weeks, I will be posting announcements on the blog about the new developments that will not only inspire you more, but bring you in touch with other positive and success minded people.

                            My dear friends, if you ever feel like giving up, look within yourself. Take a moment to reflect and find that clarity from within. Eliminate distractions and zero in on what really matters and spring back to life. Your favorite blog has just been reborn!

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                          2. Vital Qualities of a Right Hand Man

                            Posted: September 15, 2009, 3:14 am by Daniel Ngari

                            One vital relationship that you need in your success journey is a right hand man (or woman). You need a friend, a close friend who will be your sounding board for your ideas. A person who will keep you in check and ensure that you are on the right track in your quest for success.

                            Not all your friends can play this role of a right hand man. Not everyone in your career line can do that either. To ensure that you have the right man (or woman) for the job,  be careful to check that they have some of these qualities.

                            1.    Has good motives

                            There are two types of friends; givers and takers. Givers will share their ideas, encourage you, motivate you, be there for you and much more. Takers will be on the look out for what they can squeeze out of you. They will take your ideas, your fighting spirit, your enthusiasm and resources.

                            You don’t want someone who is around to steal your ideas then take off. Gauge people who are genuinely interested in giving you the support you need. This does not mean you don’t share ideas with them, it but let it be mutual.

                            2.    Have common goals

                            Don’t hold hands with someone jumping off the cliff (unless you are also jumping). When you are aiming for the same thing then it is easier to share experiences with your right hand man. A good right hand man should be moving in the same general direction as you.

                            3.    Positive outlook in life

                            People who expect the best from life exude positivity and it’s contagious. They will push you to be the best you can be. But if your right hand man is only good at pointing out the flaws and impossibilities. Then you need to change company. If you surround yourself with such people you will not realize it but you will begin picking that negativity and doubting yourself. Make sure your right hand man is one who will have positive influence on you.

                            4.    A person who you can learn from

                            Your right hand man doesn’t need to be your mentor but you should be able to learn a few things from this person either directly related to your career or in general aspects of life. He/she should be a person who enriches your life in one way or the other. They should have a positive effect on you.

                            5.    Your right hand man should be reliable

                            Reliability is what sets apart friends from acquaintances. We all want to be around people we can trust. A person you know can count on to be there when you need them. The last thing you need is right hand man who does not pick up his phone when you are caught between a rock and a hard place.

                            6.    Trustworthiness is key

                            A right hand man will be privy to some of your trade secrets, your weaknesses. You need to trust that such information is in safe hands.  This is a person who knows quite a bit about you and could hurt you if he/she wanted to. Have an eye for spotting backstabbers before they hurt you.

                            7.    A genuine friend

                            It is important that above all that your right hand man be your friend. When you have a genuine friend in your right hand man, then most of these are things will fall into place. A friend will want the best for you; a friend will be there to listen when you need someone to listen; a friend will also take care of your affairs in your absence.

                            When you have that person who can always be with you in your journey to success this is a great asset for you and will help you keep you focused.

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                          3. Signs of an Unhealthy Relationship

                            Posted: September 13, 2009, 4:18 pm by Daniel Ngari

                            There are actions and habits that should be reason enough for you to run to the hills. You shall know them by their fruits. How good are you at spotting trouble in relationships? What can you do to avoid the eminent danger posed by these evil signs?

                            1.    You expect that your partner will fix it all

                            As an individual, you may have deep issues such as fear or low self-esteem.  You may wrongly imagine that as long as you are in a relationship your partner will fix those problems.

                            Some of the problems you have as a person, only YOU can solve. A relationship should not be a substitute for problem solving skills. Expecting your partner to be Mr or Mrs Fix-it-all is self delusion and leads to disappointment.

                            2.    Control freak

                            If you are a control freak then that relationship is not likely to last so long. If one of you is always threatening to leave when things are not done in a certain way, then that’s a big red sign right there. Forcing your way in the relationship does not help solve anything either.

                            3.    Lack of trust

                            Trust is a fundamental ingredient in establishing a relationship. If you cannot trust the other person you will have problems getting convinced that they really love you. Diminishing trust is a sign of an impending catastrophe in a relationship.

                            4.    You have no other friends besides your significant other

                            If you are always hanging out with your significant other because you don’t have any networks besides your relationship, then by all means that’s unhealthy. Having other friends does not mean you do love your partner any less. But you get to learn from other people as well and there is nothing wrong with mingling and having a good time with other friends.

                            5.    There is abuse

                            Abuse can with be mental, verbal, or emotional. If the other person is subjecting you to any kind of abuse, then your relationship is ailing. The victim is always put down everyday of her/his life. In some cases they are not brave enough to speak out, so it looks like all is well. Abuse is not one of the recipes of a great relationship and both of you need to work on it.

                            6.    You feel like you have lost your own identity

                            Sharing your life with another person does not mean you become one. You are still two different people and you should not lose your uniqueness. Do not try to be like the other person. Your uniqueness is an asset in your relationship. Use it to add some freshness and flavor in your relationship. When you feel like you have lost that, then you are in a relationship that needs fixing.

                            7.    You are always on a disappointment mode

                            There is nothing that your partner seems to get right. None of your needs are met. This causes you disappointment all the time. It maybe a sign that maybe you are with the wrong person, or you need to revise your expectations. Evaluate your demands, what has changed? Are they different from what they were initially? Why did they change? These are some of the questions you can probe to try fix this problem.

                            8.    You get jealousy fits

                            When you don’t want to see your partner talk to anybody else, then this is a cause to worry you. This kind of insecurity is a sign of other deeply unsettling issues in your relationship. You need to sit and get to the root cause of this mistrust. There may be a bigger problem that should be arrested before things get out of hand.

                            9.    There are restrictions to your life

                            If you have restrictions on when and who you can see in your family, or among your friends, then you have a cause to worry. If your partner puts a ceiling on your goals and ambitions, then this is a relationship that needs fixing.

                            10. You are bored

                            Relationships are not supposed to be drama filled or action movies. You can afford to doze on and off and still have a great relationship. But if you are bored senseless, then that is a worrying sign. Find things to keep you interested in your partner. You only live twice, so make your current life better than your after life.

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                          4. Making your Relationship Last

                            Posted: September 12, 2009, 7:04 am by Daniel Ngari

                            Some relationships are single serving like airline food. Others last a life time. How do you make your relationship edge closer to a life time relationship? I don’t have all the answers, but following these rules can only be good for your relationship. 1 – Communication

                              Communication is the lubricant of the relationship machine. It is one of the major corner stones of a relationship. Without proper and clear communication, a relationship may be as good as a shell. You need to let your partner in on what you are going through.

                              Learning to communicate with your partner will have gone a long way in improving a relationship. However, it has to be two way, both have to make time for listening and empathizing with each other.

                              2 – Work at it

                                Some people love the thrill of the chase but get bored senseless when it comes to the day to day operations of the relationship. Do you still do the sweet little things that you used to do in the early days of the relationship? Sloppiness and laziness damage relationships. Relationships are hard work so fold up your sleeves and get to work.

                                Be keen to make your partner feel good about themselves.  Consciously working to improve the relationship is what keeps the fire burning.

                                3 – Make time

                                  In the current world, people have to work for long hours or even take up several jobs. This however does not mean that your relationship should be left unattended. Learn to create time daily or weekly to spend with your partner, and connect with them as at a personal level. Be careful not to spend this time talking about the children or bills. Utilize it to enjoy each others company and connect with them and what they are going through as individuals.

                                  4 – Support each others decisions

                                    When your partner has an idea, for instance starting a business or buying something, be there to help them and offer them the support that you can. Be a pillar to your partner and you will be surprised how such will bring you closer together.

                                    5 – Do not force them to change

                                      Trying to change your partner may cause more harm than good in your relationship. Instead focus on their good traits and reinforce them. Learn to live with their flaws but do not force your partner to be something they are not, just because that is what you want, or that’s how you expect them to behave.

                                      6 – Take care of yourself

                                        Before you can take care of your partner you need to take care of yourself. You need to watch your health, and make sure you are living responsibly. Only when you are in good shape can you be able to take care of your partner. This will also help you remain desirable and maintain the good image your partner saw when you were starting out.

                                        7 – Do not judge harshly

                                          Criticism can cause a rift between you and should be approached very carefully. When correcting your partner do so with love and gently, shouting and belittling your partner may not serve your intended purpose.

                                          8 – Evolve with your relationship

                                            Change is a constant in life; needs and expectations are not static. Your relationship changes with time too. And for you to keep it going, you have to be aware of the changes taking place and adjust accordingly. Simply put, keep renewing your contract, to make sure your changing needs and your partners are met.

                                            9 – Make decisions jointly.

                                              If you start running your own show in your relationship then you are just spelling out disaster. This is because you will start having things that your partner has no idea about. Consult with your partner before you make any decisions, they will feel needed and loved when you solicit their input and their thoughts about any issue.

                                              10 – Courtship should last a lifetime

                                                You remember the effort you put to make your partner happy when your relationship was young? The gifts, compliments, loving embraces – those little things that you initially did, go a long way in helping you bond more. They have the best effect if they are surprises. Your relationship will continue to grow everyday.

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                                              1. How to Build and Sustain Trust

                                                Posted: September 11, 2009, 4:13 am by Daniel Ngari

                                                Trust is one of the great essentials for healthy relationships. We shall go through some of the ways of cultivating and maintaining trust in a relationship.

                                                Trust is simply reliance on the integrity, strength, ability, or surety of someone or something. Trust does not just happen, it is cultivated over a long period of time. The little things that you do everyday are the little trust deposits. It takes years to do this.

                                                1. Choose between secrets and trust.

                                                Unless you are in the CIA, remember that secrets are not good nourishment for your relationship. Secrets erode a tremendous amount of energy and trust. The richer your secrets warehouse, the poorer your trust granary. The energy used in deciphering and hiding secrets could be better used in enriching your relationship. Take it upon yourself to open up before secrets eats your relationship like a hungry swine.

                                                2. The devil is in the details.

                                                A relationship is an investment. Respect your investment partner through a detailed product disclosure statement.  Leaving out vital details can erode trust faster than you can say sorry.

                                                3. Predictability may be boring but it is not evil

                                                Let your partner know where you are and what you are up to. Clear any questions or any doubts your spouse may have about you. If possible stick to a schedule and be consistent. The minute he/she starts questioning what you are up to, or what you did with the last paycheck then problems are bound to arise.

                                                4. Timely and clear communication

                                                Incase there will be a change in the norm communicate early enough to your partner. Keep them on the loop on what is happening. Let them in on your progress. This way you drive out any fears or doubts that your partner may have. This may seem boring but trust me it’s works. Drop an sms every so often. Let your significant other in on what is going on. If you intend to make a major investment, talk about it early enough.

                                                5. Have some faith in the other person

                                                When someone knows that you have some faith in them and you do believe in their competence, then they will be more open to trusting you. Learn to compliment your partner and give them credit when it’s due. When trying to correct them do not do so in a manner to make them feel put down. They are more likely to trust you and feel safe with you when you use such an approach.

                                                6. Walk the talk

                                                Make sure your words match you actions. Mean what you say and say what you mean. When you learn to fulfill what you say, you will be making progress in terms of building trust.

                                                7. Speak out

                                                This is real life my friend, not Hansen and Gretel. Don’t drop hints like breadcrumbs and hope that your partner will find his way to your mind. Ladies, do yourself a favor and just lay it out. What you expect from your partner?  Ambiguity breeds inaction. If you want this or that, then just speak it out. This way, your expectations will be met with minimal fuss. In the process trust is built and maintained.

                                                8. Unveil your personality

                                                Let you partner know what kind of person you are without a doubt. What makes you mad or what makes you tick. Unfortunately many people are a bit hesitant with this. They dread their partners figuring them out (might be a wise move, in some cases). However, if something offends you or makes you uncomfortable then state it clearly. Abraham Lincoln wisely said “to sin by silence when they should protest makes cowards of men.”

                                                9. Be reliable

                                                Reliability is the long haul trick to solid trust. Trust is built over time, just like rivers and trees. Keep the small promises, keep time, and show up for meetings.  This closely ties with keeping your word. When you say you are going to do something do not let them down, make sure that it is done.

                                                10. Be honest

                                                Avoid lying even about the very small things. It’s that small lie that will lead to a bigger one and to bigger one and you are tied up in a frenzy of lying. Covering up lie with a lie makes you lie low. Pause and ask yourself, is it really worth it?

                                                Trust is like a balloon, one little prick and its all gone. Years and years spent creating it can all go up in smoke. It is something that anyone in a relationship should guard fiercely. George MacDonald said in one his quotes ‘to be trusted is a better compliment than to be loved” I could not agree more.

                                                I would love to hear what you have to say about the sensitive topic of trust through your comments.

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                                              2. Revealed: 7 Relationship Myths

                                                Posted: September 9, 2009, 4:51 pm by Daniel Ngari

                                                Relationships often fail because of having the wrong mind set. We have the wrong idea of how things should be. There are several theories about relationships that are taken as gospel truth and yet people wonder why things never improve.

                                                In today’s post we uncover some relationship myths that may be holding us back. Hopefully you will be inspired to approach relationships from a new angle.

                                                Myth 1: A great relationship depends on a seamless connection of the minds.

                                                It is important to remember that you are two different people. You may have different outlooks in life but the kind of relationship you have has nothing to do with this. You will not avoid conflict by supposedly thinking alike. You should not bend backwards and start thinking like the other person in the belief that you will have a happy relationship. On the contrary you will become a very unhappy person.

                                                Myth 2: You require very high problem solving skills in a relationship otherwise it won’t work.

                                                You will be surprised how many problems are actually unsolvable in relationships. This is for the simple reason that you are historically different in your beliefs on some issues. And there is nothing wrong with that. When you are different, problems will keep arising and not all are solvable, but this doesn’t mean you can’t have a good relationship. You just get to a level where both of you can let it go. Learn to live with the differences.

                                                Myth 3: You need to have common interests that hold you together forever.

                                                You don’t need to have common interests to get your relationship working. Creating time for each other is the most important thing to do, not forcing your partner into golf or a book club because that is what you like.

                                                Myth 4: A great relationship has to be peaceful.

                                                Arguments are a part of life and there are times you will feel like setting your partner on fire. But that does not mean your relationship wont work. On the contrary you will be able to settle your differences and perhaps become better people after a very heated argument. Do not feel the temptation to suppress your true feelings when you disagree with your spouse about something

                                                Myth 5: You are able to totally speak your mind in a great relationship.

                                                When words leave your mouth, there is no way you can ever take them back. Whether you have the best relationship in the world, some things that you spurt out may harm your relationship forever. Before you let out those words consider that effect they will have in your relationship, be wise enough to think objectively even when you are very angry.

                                                Myth 6: If you have flaws then you cannot have a great relationship.

                                                No person is perfect. We all have shortcomings in one way or the other. There are some with more visible flaws than others, if your partner has a few problems, learn to work around them. Always focus on the things that attracted you to them in the first place. Work on your relationship and you can achieve nirvana with that same person.

                                                Myth 7: There is a universal way of making a relationship great

                                                There is no single road map to a successful relationship. There are many ways as there are people in the world. This is not to say that the fundamentals of a healthy relationship such as communication be abused. But do not try to blindly do what you read in a book; work with what is good for you and your partner. There is not a standard way of making your relationship great.

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                                              3. 10 Surefire Ways of Destroying a Relationship.

                                                Posted: September 9, 2009, 8:42 am by Daniel Ngari

                                                Yesterday we talked about the importance of relationships in our lives. Today we look at some actions that can make great relationships elude you.

                                                1 – Plant the wrong seeds.

                                                Program your mind to expect the worst. Visualize bad things in the relationship. When you create scenarios of quarrels and breakups in your mind, then guess what my friend this is what will eventually happen.

                                                2 – Have a reckless mouth.

                                                When the other party rubs you the wrong way even in very little incidences, don’t hold back. Spit out the meanest things you have learnt since grade school. Then if you still have a little sympathy left you can apologize all you want but your work is done, the damage is already done

                                                3 – Get a big head.

                                                When you are complimented by your partner, use that chance to rub in how good you are than they are and brag about it all you want. Belittle them then thank them for realizing your potential or your beauty. The only problem is that you may not be getting one of these anytime soon.

                                                4 – Assume your partner is a mind reader

                                                When you don’t speak out your mind and assume that the other person knows what you expect of them or what you want them to do for you, then you can be sure to destroy yourself and your relationship. This is because you will often be disappointed and angry at things you imagine the other party has psychic powers to detect.

                                                5 – Forget the word ‘sorry’.

                                                Even when it is proven beyond reasonable doubt that you are on the wrong, don’t give a hoot about anything. Just don’t utter those magic words ‘am sorry’ they will sabotage your mission.

                                                6 – Be a fault finder.

                                                We are humans and so is your partner, and we are far from perfect if you look for something to put you off you will definitely find not just one but several.

                                                7 – Belittle your partner.

                                                Make jokes to put them down when you are out for a drink with your friends. Laugh at physical faults that your partner may have publicly.

                                                8 – Break every promise.

                                                You know the things that matter most to your partner, go ahead and not fulfill them, even when you had made a promise to. Make those things the least of your concerns.

                                                9 – Assume you are always right

                                                Refuse to accept any other views from your partner. Stand your ground rigidly even when you are not very reasonable. You are always right after all!

                                                10 – Listen with your ears wide shut.

                                                When they are telling you about their day or a problem they have just stare at them look like you are listening when going through the errands you will be running tomorrow in your mind.

                                                Summary

                                                The above habits are enough rope for anyone craving to put their house on fire. Now get to work my friend, work on your relationship instead of destroying it.

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                                              4. 10 Reasons why Relationships Matter

                                                Posted: September 8, 2009, 7:19 am by Daniel Ngari

                                                In the last series, we were talked of Getting Ahead in life. From my experience, the fastest way of succeeding and sustaining success is growing and nurturing relationships. Be they business, social, family or dating relationships, how you relate with others determines how high you ascend or how low you sink.

                                                The people you interact with have a deep impact on how you feel and who you eventually become. No matter what stage in life you may be in, you need other people. Cultivating relationships is a powerful skill to add to your success arsenal.

                                                This series will be exploring various relationships and aspects of relationships. But before we do that, let’s get clear on why relationships matter. Why do we even need to bother fostering great relationships?


                                                1. Relationships give lasting happiness

                                                We are social animals. We need people around us to be happy. The people around us ignite happiness, cultivate it and share in it. This is the only way to have lasting happiness. You may enjoy your own company and be happy alone but this is very limited. The happiness in isolation has a ceiling. You can be happy enjoying you wealth alone, and maybe enjoy bashing and walking on everyone around you, and gain great satisfaction from that. But the sad news is, this kind of happiness can only go on to a point. It is through the relationships you, be it family or friends or colleagues that one derives true and sustainable happiness. There is joy in sharing other people’s successes and helping them in times of need.

                                                2. You get help through relationships.

                                                No man is an island. No man is self sufficient. You cannot have everything you need in your life and it doesn’t matter how rich you become. From time to time, you will need other people in your life. It is the people that you relate with that you will talk to when you have a problem and need help. It is through relationships cultivate that you get a helping hand in your hour of need.

                                                3. Relationships are a source of learning.

                                                Through our different relationships we get to learn about life, about ourselves and about other people as well. The relationships that we keep are a great source of knowledge, insight, and influence. We learn a lot from the people we relate with regardless of age, race, gender. There is something to learn from everyone we relate with.

                                                4. Relationships offer opportunities

                                                One of the greatest assets when it comes to getting ahead in life is our networks. This is an asset that can really steer you into achieving your goals. These networks cannot exist in a vacuum neither can they be developed with non-human objects. They are based on relationships. And in your journey to success, your relationships may turn out to be o the best of your investments.

                                                5. Relationships are mirrors to our souls.

                                                A wise man said once, ‘show me your friends and I will tell you who you are’. The relationships we have are a direct reflection of who we are. Birds of a feather flock together, and chances are you will end up in circles of people with a mindset and behavior just like you. You are likely to develop relationships with people who reflect you in some way or the other.

                                                6. Relationships give you security.

                                                With good friends around, friends who are reliable, and friends that you can count on, there is a sense of security when you know that there are people out there that have your back. One of the great reasons why people get married is for this same reason. There is a feeling of security amongst both partners mentally and financially.

                                                7. Relationships drive our ambitions.

                                                One of the reasons why we work so hard everyday is so that we may guard some relationships that we have in our lives. Everybody wants the best for their children and will do great things to make sure they have met them. You want to impress a girl, you work very hard to afford that expensive car. Your friend has a PHD, you work tirelessly to get one too. Relationships shape our ambitions and world view. However, be careful on the kind of ambitions your relationships create in you. Keeping up with the Joneses blindly might not be your best move yet.

                                                8. Relationships offer a sounding board for our thoughts, ideas.

                                                When you have something in mind, there are people that you talk to. People who will give you a genuine opinion of whatever thought or idea you may have. It may be your wife or best friend or mentor who will listen and tell you what they think about your ideas. It is through these relationships that one is able to improve on the same or forget about it all together. Relationships provide a platform for this. You are able to tell if you are still on the right track by soliciting feedback from the people around you.

                                                9. Relationships keep you sane

                                                Life is full of pressures left, right, and center. But when you have stable relationships networked around you, you are able to maneuver each day with renewed power. Through sharing with friends, or getting that smile from your daughter. You can imagine how this life would be without having those relationships. Total darkness.

                                                10. Relationships are success

                                                One way to measure your success is by analyzing the kind of relationships you have. If you have a trail of failed relationships and people that you have let down, I wonder how successful you can term yourself to be. There is victory and joy in having stable and mature relationships, be it at work, or with your family, or even with your friends. Your relationships are a measure of your true success.

                                                Summary

                                                Relationships do matter to everybody under the sun. You cannot live in a world of your own and be truly successful. We all need each other. I hope you now have an extra incentive to get back on the drawing board and improve a couple of your relationships.

                                                If you like this article, please share with your friends. I would also love to hear from you through the comments.

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                                              5. What is Kaizen?

                                                Posted: September 6, 2009, 4:33 pm by Daniel Ngari

                                                Kaizen is the process of reaching your goals in life by harnessing the amazing power of baby steps. It is a simple concept imported from Japan, that can transform your life if you apply it.

                                                According to Wikipedia, “Kaizen (continuous improvement) is a Japanese philosophy that focuses on continuous improvement throughout all aspects of life. When applied to the workplace, Kaizen activities continually improve all functions of a business, from manufacturing to management and from the CEO to the assembly line workers.”

                                                Instead of focusing on giant leaps towards your life goals, you can apply the principles of Kaizen to better yourself each and every day. Kaizen is all about making small changes and monitoring results, then adjusting. Instead of big overwhelming goals, you can have smaller goals, which can be rapidly adapted and accomplished.

                                                Kaizen requires continuous improvement through standardization and improvement of processes. Let us look at practical ways of applying this concept to some aspects of your life:

                                                1. Physical Health
                                                2. Job & Career
                                                3. Finances
                                                4. Relationships
                                                5. Mind

                                                1. Physical Health

                                                Your physical health determines the quality of your life. You may decide to loose weight or train in a particular sport for example. Instead of setting overly ambitious goals that may dampen your spirit if you don’t meet them, why not set smaller achievable goals?

                                                Instead of driving to work, you may consider cycling instead. This is not only good for the environment, but it may be a good “standardized process” that will help you get to your goal of weight loss or fitness.

                                                Focus on areas of your life that you can turn into little standardized processes that take you towards your goal. Then focus on improving those processes over time. In our earlier example of cycling, you can improve that “process” by investing in a better equipped bike and appropriate cycling gear.

                                                2. Job & Career

                                                The job market is constantly changing and you need to continuously improve your qualifications and abilities to stay competitive. Get into the habit of applying Kaizen to your job and career.

                                                You can attend evening classes, short courses or seminars. You can also subscribe to relevant newsletters and magazines to stay abreast of changes in your industry and to stay on top of your game.

                                                Kaizen can also be applied in the area of networking with people in your field. You can use Kaizen to refine your contacts building strategy.

                                                Think of all the little ways you can improve your job and career every day. From time management to mastering specialized skills. There are a lot more ways of applying Kaizen to your career than I can list in a single blog post. Take out a notebook and write down at least 10 things you can do to improve your career prospects, not by giant leaps but by simple baby steps (Kaizen).

                                                3. Finances

                                                To become financially free, you need to have a plan. This would be a great place to apply Kaizen.

                                                Kaizen is all about standardization of processes and continually improving those processes. Think of all the standardized processes you can apply to your finances.  I will give you a few examples:

                                                • Setup an automatic investment account and deposit 10% of your pay before you even see it. Invest in mutual funds, stocks or whatever. But do it every month.
                                                • Create a monthly budget. Many people don’t create and stick to an earnings and spending budget. You will be ahead of the pack if you create a budget and continuously improve your spending habits to maximize your quality of life and minimize wastage.
                                                • Create a new stream of income. Consider turning a hobby into a side business that brings you some extra cash to take you towards your financial freedom.

                                                4. Relationships

                                                Relationships love Kaizen. You can apply Kaizen to your love life, your friends and your family. Continuously improve how you relate with other people. You can read books on this, or learn by observing others.

                                                Spending quality time with your partner and listening to them can do wonders to your relationship. It is the little things that count (or so I have heard). Find lots of these little things and apply Kaizen on them, every day.

                                                5. Mind

                                                Your mind is your biggest asset. Improve your mind by feeding it everyday and planting good seeds in your brain. They will germinate and grow and determine the level of success you will get.

                                                Success or failure is all in the mind. Think of all the little things that you can do to improve your mind. Is your mind clouded by jealousy or fear? Fight that battle. One battle at a time.

                                                Kaizen can be applied in the following areas:

                                                Summary

                                                Kaizen – A concept imported  from Japan, is a process of continuously improving your life by making incremental changes in your life. It involves turning your actions into standardized processes. Instead of making giant leaps, you improve your life everyday in small baby steps.
                                                //

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                                              6. What to do when you Lose it all?

                                                Posted: August 27, 2009, 1:56 pm by Daniel Ngari

                                                Stockbrokers have been known to commit suicide when the going gets tough. When the markets nose-dive, some prefer to jump off skyscrapers rather than face the consequences. Do you attach too much meaning and personal involvement in your material possessions?

                                                Imaginary Losses

                                                It is very easy to fall into the trap of imagining that the worst will happen. If you keep your mind focused on what could go wrong, then you might just precipitate it. You can create your worst fears by constantly thinking about them. I am not saying that you sink your head in the sand and assume that nothing bad will happen; far from it. What am saying is that you should not overly live in fear of the worst. Fear of failure or loss paralyzes action.

                                                We are talking about getting ahead in life in this series of articles. To be able to get ahead, minimize your imaginary loses. Many people die so many times in their own heads. They have so many divorces in their minds. They fail so many exams, have accidents, have their houses broken into… all in their minds. Imaginary loses can reduce your lifestyle and quality of life. In addition, they can steal the fighting spirit and the zeal to succeed. Be aware. You have been warned.

                                                Cumulative Losses

                                                Some people lose it all and they think that that was a bad day or a bad month. But the reality was that they were on a losing streak all along, they just did not realize it. Losing, just like winning, is not an event but a process. If for example you have a habit of drinking and driving, having a road accident might seem like it was “sudden” but it really wasn’t. Falling deeply in debt does not happen overnight. It is the cumulative effect of spending habits and financial discipline.

                                                You can reverse your fortunes by having an early warning system in place. For example, if you continuously miss your targets in your business, it should serve as a warning is not late. If you are in a relationship and your communication is almost nil, then you should be aware of the impending disaster. Pay attention to the details. Losses, just like success, rarely happen overnight.

                                                Spread Your Risk

                                                Daniel Ngari is more than this blog. If this blog was no more, I would still survive and thrive. Many people place too much emphasis on one aspect of their lives. They put too many eggs in one basket. They put their sanity at risk by investing too heavily in one aspect of life. Spread your risk of total loss by finding solace in diverse areas of your life.

                                                Have hobbies and people who you can fall back on if the worst comes to the worst. It may be a cell group at your church or people you play a sport with. Have a place you belong other than your work or business.

                                                Keep a portion of your income for a rainy day. Do not be driven by instant gratification. Consuming today without regard for tomorrow can exacerbate the pain of losses. View money as a game. Play to both win and enjoy. Use your money wisely and remember to pass the ball (giving). You get back what you give out.

                                                Disaster Recovery Plan

                                                In the software development industry, having a disaster recovery plan is a smart way of minimizing loses. What would you do if your computer got a virus? What would you do if your USB thumb drive stopped working?

                                                Hope for the best but prepare for the worst. The worst could happen without any warning. Having given thought to your action plan in such an event can mean the difference between a temporary setback and total ruin.

                                                Starting all Over Again

                                                The best thing you can do if you lose it all is to take time to reflect on where you went wrong. Don’t dwell too much on it, but don’t avoid this important stage. Make sure you do not make the same mistake twice.

                                                After you have identified what went wrong, create a game plan. Have a plan on how you are going to bounce back to where you were and beyond. Take small but consistent steps towards the attainment of your goals.

                                                If you ever have to start again after failure, do not give up. Be persistent. “Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan “press on” has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race”. Calvin Coolidge (30th President of the United States of America, 1872-1933).

                                                No matter what challenges you may be facing in your life today, take heart; persist. That which cannot kill you will only make you stronger. The size of the victory depends on the size of the opponents.

                                                Regardless of how deep in hell you may be, if you look inside yourself, you will see that a hero lies in you. The strength of your character and your hunger to bounce back can help you overcome adversity. Many people give up on the first sign of trouble, but the art of bouncing back is what separates successes from failures.

                                                In Summary

                                                Losing all that you have worked for can be a painful experience. Unfortunately, many people let the fear of potentially losing it all paralyze their actions. Focus on the bright side of life. Know that even if you lost it all, you could still bounce back.

                                                Every cloud has a silver lining, make sure you learn from your mistakes or understand the reasons for your loss, then quickly attempt to bounce back. Take well thought out action steps, persistently, to re-build and re-brand you.

                                                If you like this article, please share it with a friend. I would love to hear your comments on the topic of bouncing back after losing it all.

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                                              7. Succeed through Making a Contribution

                                                Posted: August 26, 2009, 5:50 pm by Daniel Ngari

                                                I had a friend in high school, let us call him Alexander. He wrote on the toilet wall “Alexander was here 1994-1997”. The next day they painted the school toilets. They wiped out his contribution.

                                                How relevant are you? What do you do that has enduring value? Bill gates can say his dream of having a personal computer in every home and every office has largely been realized (in the developed world at least). What are you going to be remembered for? Your legacy is directly proportional to your contribution.

                                                Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children…to leave the world a better place…to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.”

                                                We are talking about getting ahead in this series of articles. What better way of getting ahead in life than making the lives of others better? The universe provides abundantly to those with an abundant mindset. The universe keeps away its goodies from those with a scarcity mindset. Thinking you cannot succeed by improving the lives of others is a self limiting belief.

                                                Do not wait until you get rich for you to make a contribution. Make giving part of getting rich. Give until it hurts. Giving will open floodgates of blessings. Align your goals, actions and habits with making a contribution to others. I try my best on this blog to make a contribution in my readers’ lives. I want my success to be intricately tied to your success.

                                                Succeeding by building others up is the most sustainable way of succeeding. If I work really hard to write great articles that will change your life, you are most likely going to keep coming back for more and maybe invite your friends to this site. It is the same in business and other areas of life. If you build other people up, they will be happy with you and spread the word on your behalf saving you big bucks in advertising costs.

                                                Teachers Contribution

                                                Teachers are some of the most under-appreciated contributors in society. I will dedicate some space for all the teachers today. I love teachers; maybe it has something to do with my dad having been a teacher and the fact that my sister is a teacher. I previously shared this video on the blog post about succeeding through building others up.

                                                Video Transcript

                                                By Taylor Mali
                                                www.taylormali.com

                                                He says the problem with teachers is, “What’s a kid going to learn
                                                from someone who decided his best option in life was to become a teacher?”
                                                He reminds the other dinner guests that it’s true what they say about
                                                teachers:
                                                Those who can, do; those who can’t, teach.

                                                I decide to bite my tongue instead of his
                                                and resist the temptation to remind the other dinner guests
                                                that it’s also true what they say about lawyers.

                                                Because we’re eating, after all, and this is polite company.

                                                “I mean, you¹re a teacher, Taylor,” he says.
                                                “Be honest. What do you make?”

                                                And I wish he hadn’t done that
                                                (asked me to be honest)
                                                because, you see, I have a policy
                                                about honesty and ass-kicking:
                                                if you ask for it, I have to let you have it.

                                                You want to know what I make?

                                                I make kids work harder than they ever thought they could.
                                                I can make a C+ feel like a Congressional medal of honor
                                                and an A- feel like a slap in the face.
                                                How dare you waste my time with anything less than your very best.

                                                I make kids sit through 40 minutes of study hall
                                                in absolute silence. No, you may not work in groups.
                                                No, you may not ask a question.
                                                Why won’t I let you get a drink of water?
                                                Because you’re not thirsty, you’re bored, that’s why.

                                                I make parents tremble in fear when I call home:
                                                I hope I haven’t called at a bad time,
                                                I just wanted to talk to you about something Billy said today.
                                                Billy said, “Leave the kid alone. I still cry sometimes, don’t you?”
                                                And it was the noblest act of courage I have ever seen.

                                                I make parents see their children for who they are
                                                and what they can be.

                                                You want to know what I make?

                                                I make kids wonder,
                                                I make them question.
                                                I make them criticize.
                                                I make them apologize and mean it.
                                                I make them write, write, write.
                                                And then I make them read.
                                                I make them spell definitely beautiful, definitely beautiful, definitely
                                                beautiful
                                                over and over and over again until they will never misspell
                                                either one of those words again.
                                                I make them show all their work in math.
                                                And hide it on their final drafts in English.
                                                I make them understand that if you got this (brains)
                                                then you follow this (heart) and if someone ever tries to judge you
                                                by what you make, you give them this (the finger).

                                                Let me break it down for you, so you know what I say is true:
                                                I make a goddamn difference! What about you?

                                                In other words…

                                                No matter what you do in life, whether you are a teacher or a lawyer, a cleaner or a business man, you can succeed by making a contribution. Find what others need and give them exceptional value. Always ask yourself, “what can I do to build this person or people up?.

                                                Take stock of your life; are you making a contribution to others? Is the achievement of your goals going to be humanity’s nightmare? Be on the look out for ways you can make a contribution to the lives of others. Ask not, what others can do for you, but what you can do for others.

                                                In Summary

                                                There is no better way of getting ahead in life than aligning your success with that of others. You will not only enjoy your success journey, but you will sleep soundly at night after you make it.

                                                If you like this blog post, please be kind enough to share it with your friends. Make a contribution to their lives by sharing this blog post (or am I pushing it? Haha!)

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                                              8. Is your Belief System screwing you up?

                                                Posted: August 25, 2009, 6:45 pm by Daniel Ngari

                                                Today has been a very humbling experience for me. I stepped back and reflected on the last eight months since launching this blog. I re-read some of my earlier blog posts, and the dear readers’ comments. The support from my dear family, friends and readers has been nothing short of amazing. I really appreciate everyone who has joined me in this journey of personal growth and discovery.

                                                This year, I have been unshackling myself from mental slavery. I earmarked 2009 as the year of unparalleled professional and personal growth. It has meant getting rid of some beliefs that were royally screwing my life and preventing me from getting ahead.

                                                I decided to start this blog to share my experiences, lessons and thoughts with others…why? To inspire you to be the best you can be. It has not been an easy road exposing my life to people I might never meet. But it is a small prize to pay to make a positive contribution in your life. I might never meet you in person, but it is my hope that your success will inspire others too.

                                                Early this week, I posted a blog post about setting up systems to serve you. If you have a good belief system… a collection of ideas, outlook, habits, and action triggers, you will succeed. The kind of belief system you set up will determine how high you rise and how far you go. To succeed, you have to let go of self limiting beliefs.

                                                Will Smith is one of my favorite actors of all time. You can watch him on a video I posted in January 2009 on the about page of this blog. He said that he believes whole-heartedly that our thoughts, our feelings, our dreams; our ideas are PHYSICAL in the universe. Your belief system WILL manifest itself in your physical life.

                                                I am living testimony that positive thoughts can transform a life. I had reached the depths sheol and did not like it down there. My beliefs and ideas were keeping me down. I tried the positive thinking “nonsense” and it surprisingly made absolute sense to me. I urge you to give it a try my friend. Commit yourself to a complete renewal of your mind through positive thoughts. What you think, you become. What you believe, you get.

                                                Let us look at a few areas of life that a shaky belief system can cost you (and what to do about it).

                                                Finances
                                                • Generosity – What are your thoughts on giving? I have found that the more you give the more it comes back to you. Do not hoard the little you have thinking that you will start giving when you “get there”. Commit a certain percentage of your time and resources for generosity. If you cannot give $10 to your church when you have $100, it is unlikely that you will give them a hundred grand when you make a million.
                                                • Sow and Reap – As a man soweth, so shall he also reap. What kind of seeds are you planting in your life right now? Whether you realize it or not, you are a farmer. You are always planting and harvesting. If you plant an extravagant lifestyle on credit, you will reap massive debt. If you sow an automatic investment strategy, then you will reap compounded returns.
                                                • Don’t work for money – Do you believe that you have to work for money? That is not cool. Let money work for you instead. Don’t rock up to a job you hate every day for the rest of your life just for the paycheck. Find your passion, do what you like to do, not what money makes you do. The irony is that the more you do what you enjoy doing, the more money you will get.
                                                • The quickest path to happiness – I have said previously on this blog that those who say money cannot buy happiness don’t know where to shop. I maintain that view, but let me add something… you can still be happy without spending your money. The quickest path to happiness is contentment.
                                                • Gain Financial Literacy – Do you bury your head in the sand and let your accountant crunch the numbers for you? Do you say that you are not good with numbers or that finance is too complicated? Such a belief system can cost you a fortune. Get busy now and acquire financial literacy. Celebrities who hand over their money to money managers at times end up in the poor house if they do not pay attention to the details of their financial standing.
                                                Career
                                                • Flexible goals – Some people believe that just because their biology teacher said it, they have to become doctors. Just because you were good in math does not mean you should be an accountant. Be flexible and adaptable to changing times and opportunities in your career.
                                                • It may take time to succeed – Career success does not happen overnight. Be prepared to put in the hours, effort and perseverance. Success is normally found just after others give up. Push yourself, don’t give up.
                                                • Formal qualifications are not the “alpha and omega” of career success. You can succeed in a career that you did not earn a degree. I am a graduate in Business (Marketing & Information Systems) but what I do has little to do with what I studied at uni. I know a lot of people who have had career success in what they trained in. I also a lot of others that have succeeded in areas of their passion even though they do not have any formal training.
                                                • Work on your strengths – In school we are taught to focus on our weak areas. To repeat until we get it. But real life is a little different. Work on your strengths instead of wasting your time on what you are not good at. You can always subcontract your weak areas if you find success on what you are good at.
                                                • It is never too late – I recently read a story about a middle aged lady that had gone back to university to study law. She had been running a clothing store for 20 years. She went on to become a successful lawyer. Do not be stuck in a rut for fear of change. As long as you are not six feet underground, you can do whatever you put your mind to.
                                                Relationships
                                                • Treat yourself nice – How you treat and perceive yourself will have a dramatic effect on how others treat you. Think about it, when you meet new people, you treat them according to how they present or express themselves. Put your best foot forward and others will treat you accordingly.
                                                • Relationships are forever – Think of creating win-win situations with others. Whether you are talking with your customers or wife, treat them with respect and set a foundation for an ongoing relationship.
                                                • Birds of a feather – You will be judged by the company you keep. People you surround yourself with can infect you with their enthusiasm for life or their morbid desire for punishment.
                                                • Stereotypes – Do not succumb to stereotyping yourself or others. Take time to listen and learn about others before making sweeping statements.

                                                In Summary

                                                You can do whatever your put your mind to. Your beliefs affect your relationships, your finances, your health and much more. Think positively and constantly re-evaluate your belief system.

                                                Kindly share this article with your friends. I would love to hear your thoughts and comments on this topic. For the readers who have supported this blog in the last eight months, I say a big thank you. I appreciate you.

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                                              9. Chasing the Wind of Success

                                                Posted: August 24, 2009, 5:37 pm by Daniel Ngari

                                                Ok my friends, let us change gears today. We are still in the “get ahead series”, but let us try and attach meaning to our quest for success. Sometimes chasing success can be like chasing the wind. The more you get the more you want. When is it ever enough? But on the other hand, is chasing the wind such a bad thing, anyway?

                                                Many of us are always looking to climb higher. Unfortunately, the higher you climb the more you realize how far you still to go. Do you spend your life looking for the next promotion, the next relationship, the next success?

                                                I like a quote by Will Smith, he said “Too many people spend money they haven’t earned, to buy things they don’t need, to impress people they don’t like.” Breaking your back to amass a collection of luxuries you don’t need, to impress people you don’t care about sounds silly, but a surprisingly high number of people do that year in year out.

                                                Internal Congruence

                                                To be truly successful, you need to have internal congruence. Your mind and soul needs to be convinced that what you are doing is a worthy pursuit. Wouldn’t it be nice to find the quickest path to happiness instead of perpetually chasing the wind?

                                                If one part of you wants to succeed and the other part says “hey man, is it really worth it?” then you are going to have problems. You are going to sabotage yourself more than Al-Qaeda operatives in Iraq sabotage Americans. You will be your own enemy in your success battles.

                                                Finding Balance

                                                Do you have an insatiable desire for wealth that is detrimental to your values and relationships? Taking business and success too seriously can lead to stress and emotional turmoil that can ruin everything else.

                                                Since launching this blog, I have been writing on a wide array of topics ranging from Personal Branding, to Emotional Mastery to Relationships and Getting Rich. It is all about finding balance instead of chasing success in one aspect of life to the exclusion of all else. How would you like to gain the whole world and lose your soul? How would you feel if you became the richest man in your city and lose you family?

                                                Take a piece of piece of paper and set your goals in all aspects of your life. Re-evaluate your quest for success and decide if you are paying a fair price. Is your job worth your family life? Is your night out worth your school grades? Is your career worth a little grass or more?

                                                And the Bible Says…

                                                Today I will leave you with the  scripture that inspired the title of this post.

                                                Ecclesiastes 1 (New International Version)

                                                1. The words of the Teacher, son of David, king in Jerusalem:

                                                2        “Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher. “Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless.”

                                                3        What does man gain from all his labor at which he toils under the sun?

                                                4        Generations come and generations go, but the earth remains forever.

                                                5        The sun rises and the sun sets, and hurries back to where it rises.

                                                6        The wind blows to the south and turns to the north; round and round it goes, ever returning on its course.

                                                7        All streams flow into the sea, yet the sea is never full. To the place the streams come from, there they return again.

                                                8        All things are wearisome, more than one can say. The eye never has enough of seeing, nor the ear its fill of hearing.

                                                9        What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.

                                                10    Is there anything of which one can say, “Look! This is something new”? It was here already, long ago; it was here before our time.

                                                11    There is no remembrance of men of old, and even those who are yet to come will not be remembered by those who follow.

                                                12    I, the Teacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem.

                                                13     I devoted myself to study and to explore by wisdom all that is done under heaven. What a heavy burden God has laid on men!

                                                14     I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

                                                15     What is twisted cannot be straightened; what is lacking cannot be counted.

                                                16    I thought to myself, “Look, I have grown and increased in wisdom more than anyone who has ruled over Jerusalem before me; I have experienced much of wisdom and knowledge.”

                                                17     Then I applied myself to the understanding of wisdom, and also of madness and folly, but I learned that this, too, is a chasing after the wind.

                                                18    For with much wisdom comes much sorrow; the more knowledge, the more grief.

                                                Parting Shot…

                                                I would love to hear from you regarding your thoughts about chasing the wind of success and finding balance. Your comments are highly appreciated. Kindly share this blog post with your friends on Facebook and other social Media.

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                                              10. Why set up your own Pipelines?

                                                Posted: August 23, 2009, 4:33 pm by Daniel Ngari

                                                Money is the exchange of value, the more value you create and deliver; the more you will get paid. In this “Get Ahead” series, we continue to look for smart ways to rise from financial mediocrity to financial freedom. Setting up your own value distribution system is a great way of achieving financial freedom.

                                                I was inspired by a story told by Robert Kiyosaki and I will share that with you today.

                                                Instead of creating and delivering value in person, you can set up systems to serve you. Package your value and find a way of delivering that value to the people who need it. For example, companies like Coca-cola and Pepsi thrive even if they do not have their own shops. They seek partners in delivering their refreshments. You can do the same in your life; you can work with others to deliver value for you, just like Pepsi does.

                                                Here is that brilliant story by Robert Kiyosaki.

                                                Once upon a time there was this quaint little village. It was a great place to live except for one problem. The village had no water unless it rained. To solve this problem once and for all, the village elders decided to put out to bid the contract to have water delivered to the village on a daily basis.

                                                Two people volunteered to take on the task and the elders awarded the contract to both of them. They felt that a little competition would keep prices low and ensure a back-up supply of water.

                                                The first of the two people who won the contract, Ed, immediately ran out, bought two galvanized steel buckets and began running back and forth along the trail to the lake which was a mile away. He immediately began making money as he labored morning to dusk hauling water from the lake with his two buckets.

                                                He would empty them into the large concrete holding tank the village had built. Each morning he had to get up before the rest of the village awoke to make sure there was enough water for the village when it wanted it. It was hard work, but he was very happy to be making money and for having one of the two exclusive contracts for this business.

                                                Business Owner Thinking

                                                The second winning contractor, Bill, disappeared for a while. He was not seen for months, which made Ed very happy since he had no competition. Ed was making all the money.

                                                Instead of buying two buckets to compete with Ed, Bill had written a business plan, created a corporation, found four investors, employed a president to do the work and returned six months later with a construction crew.

                                                Within a year his team had built a large volume stainless steel pipeline which connected the village to the lake. At the grand opening celebration, Bill announced that his water was cleaner than Ed’s water.

                                                Bill knew that there had been complaints about dirt in Ed’s water. Bill also announced that he could supply the village with water 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Ed could only deliver water on the weekdays–he did not work on weekends.

                                                Then Bill announced that he would charge 75% less than Ed did for this higher quality and more reliable source of water. The village cheered and ran immediately for the faucet at the end of Bill’s pipeline.

                                                In order to compete, Ed immediately lowered his rates by 75%, bought two more buckets, added covers to his buckets and began hauling four buckets each trip. In order to provide better service, he hired his two sons to give him a hand for the night shift and on weekends. When his boy s went off to college, he said to them, “Hurry back because someday this business will belong to you.” For some reason, after college, his two sons never returned.

                                                Eventually Ed had employees and union problems. The union was demanding higher wages, better benefits and wanted its members to only haul one bucket at a time.

                                                Bill, on the other hand, realized that if this village needed water then other villages must need water too. He rewrote his business plan and went off to sell his high speed, high volume, and low cost and clean water delivery system to villages throughout the world. He only makes a penny per bucket of water delivered, but he delivers billions of buckets of water, and all that money pours into his bank account. Bill had developed a pipeline to deliver money to himself as well as water to the villages. Bill lived happily ever after and Ed worked hard for the rest of his life and had financial problems forever after.

                                                That story about Bill and Ed has guided me for years. It has assisted me in my life’s decision making process. I often ask myself, “Am I building a pipeline or hauling buckets?” “Am I working hard or am I working smart?”

                                                In Summary

                                                Are you capable of creating a “pipeline” to be delivering value for you? What do you need to do before you can deliver value to others 24/7? To get ahead in life, you have to be more like Bill and less like Ed.

                                                Please share this blog post with your friends on Facebook and other social media. I would also love to hear from you about practical areas of life that one can setup a distribution system (pipelines).

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                                              11. Set Up Systems to Serve You

                                                Posted: August 19, 2009, 3:58 am by Daniel Ngari

                                                We only have 24 hours in a day. We are limited in time, resources, abilities, talents and experience; but we want to get ahead in life. How can you get more out of those 24 hours, resources, talents and experiences? You set up systems to serve you.

                                                Henry Ford capitalized on the assembly line system to produce cars more efficiently. He designed his manufacturing system to introduce efficiency and help roll out affordable cars faster from his production lines.

                                                What kind of systems can you set up to be working for you 24/7 to introduce efficiency and effectiveness in your life or venture? This blog for example, is a simple system working for me. It is able to deliver value to my readers in 90 countries, 24 hours a day / 7 days a week.

                                                Footballers earn a lot of money, so do musicians, but have you ever spared a thought about the people who own the systems… the football franchises, the recording industry magnates etc. These people working behind the scenes earn a lot more; in fact they are the ones who pay the footballers and the musicians.

                                                Having systems work for you is a major leverage for getting ahead in life. Unfortunately not many people obsess over setting up their own systems. If you do not obsess about setting up systems to serve you, you will be limited on how high you can ascend. Your own flesh and blood can only do so much.

                                                Decide what vehicle you want to use to deliver value to others, and employ smart systems to serve you around the clock. Your system might be a computer program like in the case of this blog, or it may be a monthly arrangement with a professional e.g. a bookkeeper or cleaner.

                                                Aim to have systems around what you do. Free your time for creativity and growing your venture, not getting stuck in a rut. What if you had hundreds of systems working for you 24/7/365 days?

                                                The Internet is a good place to setup systems to serve you. You could setup a simple blog to act as your CV. You could setup a shop on the internet to be selling your goods and services even when you sleep. Please check out a couple of articles I wrote on how you can use the internet to serve you; 1) How to use Social Media for Personal Branding, 2) How to use Blogging for Personal Branding.

                                                Think about your daily activities, especially if you run a business. Are there some of your actions that can be automated, delegated or outsourced? Could you create a system to do what you did yesterday? Aim to create a new system per week to make your work more efficient or effective. Examples of systems working for others include classified advertising, production lines, websites, subcontracting work, personal budgeting, automatic investment plans etc.

                                                In Summary

                                                To get ahead in life you need to release yourself from the mundane and repetitive tasks that can be done by someone else. Think of building systems and processes to serve you and multiply your efforts, ideas, talents and resources.

                                                If you like this blog post, please share with your friends on Facebook, or via email. I would love to hear from you through the comments system with ideas or questions about setting up systems to serve you.

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                                              12. Succeed through Authenticity

                                                Posted: August 17, 2009, 6:09 am by Daniel Ngari

                                                You are a unique person, with unique experiences and unique talents. You can get ahead in life faster by embracing your uniqueness. Spending time and money trying to be like someone else may seem like a good idea at times, but it robs you of your authenticity.

                                                Someone once said “find that which you love to do and you will never have to work a day in your life”. There is truth in that statement. When you do things you love, though you may physically or mentally get tired, you will enjoy what you do, and it will feel less like work and more like fun.

                                                If you are going to spend equal amounts of energy hating your job (but pretending to like it) and doing your job, think twice my friend. Doing something you hate just for the money is the quickest way to mediocrity. Nobody becomes a class act by hating their job.

                                                Success through authenticity means embracing your uniqueness. It also means investing your time and efforts in ventures that are in alignment with your uniqueness. If you do not find the passion for your job or career – quit. You will hardly get ahead if you do something you loathe anyway. Lack of authenticity produces moderate results at best.

                                                Who are you?

                                                To confidently call yourself authentic, you need to know who you really are. Take time to list your unique characteristics, culture and beliefs, experiences, training etc. Do a SWOT analysis of yourself before embarking on a new venture. (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats).

                                                What are you talents? What do you do with ease that others struggle in? What do you aspire to do or what does your heart desire? Combining your unique talents, with a strong desire to succeed in an area of life can propel you to success.

                                                Why are you on this planet? What is your mission in life? Let your actions, career, relationships and ventures be guided by your mission in life. Just like corporations, you should have a mission statement that will guide you and tell you when you are on the right track or not.

                                                Your father being a lawyer does not mean you should become one as well. You don’t have to become a writer just because your English teacher said you should. What you do should come from within. If you are thrust into something by external forces, it will show. People can tell a phony from the real deal.

                                                There is more than one avenue for success. Find the avenue that is the closest match to your uniqueness. Trying to change your core to become like someone else is harder than finding a matching career in the long term. Authenticity breeds happiness.

                                                Are you genuinely interested?

                                                To succeed in a venture or relationship, you must throw yourself into it fully. To succeed in a venture, you have to live your venture full time. Undertaking half measures slows down your success journey or derails you.

                                                Are you genuinely interested in your career, job, business or investment? Without genuine interest in what you do, you would not have internal congruence. Lack of internal congruence can introduce conflicting thoughts that hinder progress. You may not be able to apply yourself fully if you are not genuinely interested. Real growth only happens when your interest level is on a high.

                                                I realized early on in life that I do not like taking orders, and neither do I like seeing blood. That ruled out the military and medicine as career options for me. There are many other unique things about me that have directed my career choices. What are you unique characteristics, like and dislikes? Use your uniqueness to your advantage.

                                                If you find that you are continuously forcing yourself to do your job or run a business, perhaps it is high time to evaluate what you are doing. Not all of us can be doctors, bricklayers, cooks, preachers or mechanics. There is something for everyone. Take your time to find your passion and dedicate yourself to what you are good at.

                                                In Summary

                                                Stop trying to keep up with others or to do what society dictates. If you that which you love, are passionate about, and are genuinely interested in, you will soar to greater heights of success and achievement.

                                                I would love to hear from you through your comments. Do you know someone who can succeed more if they followed their passion and unique gifts in life? Please share this blog post with them, your Facebook friends or other friends via email.

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                                              13. How and When to Buy Influence

                                                Posted: August 14, 2009, 9:24 am by Daniel Ngari

                                                Influence is like a magic wand for getting ahead in life, politics and business. But how many times have you ever sat down and thought… “I need to be more influential”? I bet not many times. Not many people consciously focus on becoming influential. Very few will admit to having contemplated buying influence. We are talking of “getting ahead” in life, in this series, so I will endeavor to leave no stone unturned.

                                                First, let us see what Google has to say about the word “buy”.

                                                • Obtain by purchase; acquire by means of a financial transaction; “The family purchased a new car”; “The conglomerate acquired a new company”

                                                • Bribe: make illegal payments to in exchange for favors or influence; “This judge can be bought”
                                                • Acquire by trade or sacrifice or exchange; “She wanted to buy his love with her dedication to him and his work”

                                                While we are at it, let us have a quick look at what “influence” is all about.

                                                • A power to affect persons or events especially power based on prestige etc; “used her parents’ influence to get the job”
                                                • Causing something without any direct or apparent effort
                                                • Determine: shape or give direction to; “mold public opinion”
                                                • Charm: induce into action by using one’s charm; “She charmed him into giving her all his money”

                                                Why Become Influential?

                                                To get ahead in life, you will need to influence others to do things for you. You may need to influence people to buy from you. You may need to influence people to vote for you. There are all sorts of ways to influence people. Once you have influence, you will cause things to happen without any direct or apparent effort.

                                                One of the most influential people in the world is Oprah Winfrey. Bill O’Reilly once said: “I mean this is a woman that came from nothing to rise up to be the most powerful woman, I think, in the world. I think Oprah Winfrey is the most powerful woman in the world, not just in America. That’s — anybody who goes on her program immediately benefits through the roof. I mean, she has a loyal following; she has credibility; she has talent; and she’s done it on her own to become fabulously wealthy and fabulously powerful”

                                                In July 2007 TV Guide reported that Winfrey was the highest paid TV entertainer in the United States during the past year. She earned an estimated $260 million during the year. That amount was more than 5 times what had been earned by the person in second place (Wikipedia). In 2008, Oprah was said to be worth US$2.7 million.

                                                The more influential you are, the richer you will be (in most cases). Wealth makes people influential, but influence can precede great wealth. Gaining influence, by whatever means available to you, can open up doors that are closed to many.

                                                Being influential makes life easier. You can do what you desire, shape the direction of events, be in control, and be happy. At any one moment in time, you are either influencing others or being influenced in some way.

                                                Buying Influence

                                                Going by the definitions of buying above, I choose to focus on buying as being “acquire by trade or sacrifice or exchange”. To get influence, you have to trade something you value or make sacrifices . Influence is a worthy purchase. Now let us a look at 10 ways of buying influence.

                                                1 – Tell a Compelling Story

                                                Unless you are going to brandish a gun and force people to do your bidding, you need to articulate what is in it for them. Inspiring people into action through stories is one of the most powerful ways of gaining influence. The most read book in history, the bible is a collection of stories with lessons galore.

                                                Taking time to develop a compelling story can give you a master key to influencing people. Whether you are a marketer, a politician, a union leader or a preacher, your story is what will create your following. Do people resonate with what you are telling them? Do they believe your story? Do they trust you to guide them?

                                                Your story needs to be told and re-told. Great brands are just a repetition of a compelling story. The story does not have to be a long winded narrative. It can be an association, a memory, a reason to take action. Articulating your vision is the first step to influencing people.

                                                2 – Unite People

                                                Power comes from people. If you can find a way of uniting people towards a common goal, then you will be powerful and influential. Perhaps you could start by bringing together people, people who share a hobby, passion, or profession. You would become the cornerstone of the group and that is how influence begins.

                                                If you take your time and put thought into what people really need or want to unite in, then you can tap on those emotions, needs or circumstances to become influential. A good example that comes to mind is Malcom X. He tapped on the racial tensions between blacks and whites in America to become very influential. (Disclaimer: the following is text is a quote by Malcom X, not my opinion or thoughts).

                                                Malcolm X: Brothers and sisters, I am here to tell you that I charge the white man.

                                                I charge the white man with being the greatest murderer on earth. I charge the white man with being the greatest kidnapper on earth. There is no place in this world that this man can go and say he created peace and harmony.

                                                Everywhere he’s gone he’s created havoc. Everywhere he’s gone he’s created destruction. So I charge him. I charge him with being the greatest kidnapper on this earth! I charge him with being the greatest murderer on this earth! I charge him with being the greatest robber and enslaver on this earth! I charge the white man with being the greatest swine-eater on this earth. The greatest drunkard on this earth!

                                                He can’t deny the charges! You can’t deny the charges! We’re the living proof of those charges! You and I are the proof. You’re not an American, you are the victim of America. You didn’t have a choice coming over here. He didn’t say, “Black man, black woman, come on over and help me build America”. He said, “Nigger, get down in the bottom of that boat and I’m taking you over there to help me build America”. Being born here does not make you an American. I am not an American, you are not an American. You are one of the 22 million black people who are the victims of America.

                                                You and I, we’ve never see any democracy. We didn’t see any democracy on the-the cotton fields of Georgia, wasn’t no democracy down there. We didn’t see any democracy. We didn’t see any democracy on the streets of Harlem or on the streets of Brooklyn or on the streets of Detroit or Chicago. Ain’t no democracy down there. No, we’ve never seem democracy! All we’ve seen is hypocrisy! We don’t see any American Dream. We’ve experienced only the American Nightmare!

                                                Crowd: [shouting] Malcolm! Malcolm! We want Malcolm! We want Malcolm!

                                                The crowd had just been given a reason to unite… and who was there to lead them? Who was there to influence them? Of course, Malcom X! If you can find an angle to unite people (along the lines of something that meets your and their objectives), then my friend, you will have just purchased a truckload of influence.

                                                3 – Meet a Need

                                                Take time to do your homework on what people need. It is easier to influence people who need you than people who can do without you. Make yourself indispensable or highly desirable. Invest some time to get in tune with the needs of others. There are different types of needs and Abraham Maslow summed them up nicely in five levels.

                                                • Physiological needs – These are the basic needs that each person has. Meeting these needs can give you leverage and influence. These needs include the need for food, sleep, sex, shelter, clothing etc. If someone depends on you for shelter for example, you are more likely to influence them than someone who does not. Think of how you can align your offering with the needs of the people you want to influence. They may be basic needs, but they are very powerful needs that many people will go to great lengths to meet.
                                                • Safety needs – Once people have their physiological needs sorted, they start looking for some form of security or protection. Insurance companies pry on these needs. They target people who are just above being driven by physiological needs alone. They urge them to protect what they have. You can position yourself to be the protector and provider of security and gain influence because of that. Some unscrupulous people can gain influence through manipulation, by playing on the fear factor. For example, extortionists can offer to protect a business and if the business owner refuses to pay, they can use scare tactics to influence the owner to comply.There are different types of safety needs including: personal safety, financial security and good health. You can get ahead in life by just focusing on meeting just one need. For example, you could build a business around providing information about healthy living for young families.
                                                • Social needs – When people have a roof over themselves in a safe house/neighborhood, they start paying attention to higher level needs such as intimacy, family and friendship. Think of ways you can gain leverage by being the antidote for loneliness. The need for friendship and acceptance can provide you with a window to influence someone or people.
                                                • Esteem – You can gain influence by providing a sense of belonging to people. This is where starting a professional association, sports team, sub-culture and a membership club can make you influential. You can influence people through the emotion of wanting to belong. People with low self esteem are more easily influenced. Think of ways you can build up others, meet their need to belong, the need to be recognized, accepted and feel important. Blend that with your business or activities to gain influence and get ahead in life.
                                                • Self-Actualization – This need is not for everyone. It is for those who have conquered the above needs. This is a need that only the cream of society can actually call a pressing need. Self actualization is the desire for someone to reach their full potential and be the master of their destiny. You will hit jackpot if you can position yourself as the self-actualization guru. If you can help people meet this need, then my friend, you will be influencing the cream. And now, that is influence.
                                                4 – Become an Authority

                                                People respond to authority. One of the most powerful ways of propelling your influence to the stratosphere is through positioning yourself as an authority. Becoming an authority can eliminate doubts about your abilities and marshal people around your ideas.

                                                You just don’t wake up one day and decide that you are an authority on the diplomatic relations between Australia and China. You gain that authority status through recognition by peers. If you are a doctor, you cannot just say you are the best. Other experts like you have to think you are the best. It is not easy getting authority status.

                                                Authority status is not acquired overnight. Be persistent in your aspiration for authority status in your chosen field. Continuously develop your career. Learn the ropes. Learn the people.

                                                You can gain authority status without starting from the bottom by aligning yourself with experts in your field. A man by the name Rich Schefren took the internet marketing community by storm. He seemingly came from nowhere and became the go to guy in internet marketing coaching by getting strong endorsements from known big names. He stood on the shoulders of giants and became the giant that he is today.

                                                Gaining influence by becoming a known authority on a subject matter is a powerful way especially in a knowledge economy. Find something you love and specialize. Dig deeper than most people dare. Decide to learn, experience, practice, perfect and master your area. Work with others in the area, be helpful and let them be the ones to let the world know who the “big dog” in that subject matter is.

                                                5 – Pre-Plan your Influence

                                                I will let you in on a secret. You can influence anyone if you focus on influencing them, plan it and run over your moves before they even realize it. Teachers meet in the staff room to decide how they are going to influence students. Government economists influence the spending habits of consumers by cutting or increasing the official interest rate. Advertisers influence people into making purchase decisions by pre-planning their moves.

                                                Get smart on this and you will thank me later. Spend time thinking of what kind of power or influence you want to have over someone or a group of people. Then like a chess game, plan your moves prior to making them. Do not just go with the flow. Think about what you want to accomplish and the steps you will take before you can influence people.

                                                6 – Limited Time Offers

                                                Direct marketing experts are good at telling a compelling story about a product or service, and then make you want it NOW. People will tend to procrastinate if they do not have to do something NOW.

                                                Again this calls for prior planning. Think about what you want people to do and create a time limit for a decision. Do you want your child to have dinner now? Creating a limited time offer can modify their behavior. This works not just for children but staff, groups, congregations and partners. Spend time showing people why they need to do something and create a small window of opportunity for them to take action.

                                                7 – Focus on the Long Term

                                                Align yourself with nature. Nature develops slowly. Unless you are Jack and the bean stalk, when you plant some beans, it will take time for them to germinate and grow. You will have to cultivate the land, weed the garden, then wait for nature to take its course, then harvest.

                                                If you look at the greatest rivers, first they start with small tributaries on the mountains. Those tributaries eventually form a river, as the river progresses towards the ocean, it becomes more and more powerful. You can use that analogy to grow your influence in different areas. It is not the one big action that you take that will make you influential… it is the small steady tributaries that make you a force to reckon with.

                                                Your tributaries may come in the form of offering a helping hand to a friend in need. Or it may be that you have solved someone’s need. My influence on this blog will come as a result of each blog post or effort I make over time. Your influence in your business or industry will depend on lots of little steps over a long time. Plan your game plan and with time you will be influential in whatever area you choose.

                                                8 – Friendship

                                                People are more likely to respond to those they like. Whether you are a student doctor or a teacher, cultivate friendships with people in your area and beyond. Those friendships will come in handy. Do not just become a friend to someone when you need something from them. Be genuinely interested in friendship for the sake of friendship and that will come across. It is easy to spot a phony and people do not like fake or opportunistic friends.

                                                A friend in need is a friend indeed. Be there at the hour of need when your friends need you. Invest in your friendships by spending time and resources to cement your bonds. A friend is more likely to do what you want them to than an enemy or stranger. Friendships are developed over time, so start early.

                                                9 – Favors

                                                Make sure you dish out more favors than you take in. In my favorite movie “The Godfather”, Don Coleone was asked for a favor to dispense justice. He said “Someday, and that day may never come, I’ll call upon you to do a service for me. But until that day accept this justice as gift on my daughter’s wedding day”. By giving that favor for free, he put himself in a position of influence on the man who needed justice done.

                                                Think of ways you can give people favors according to their needs. Again this calls for prior planning. It may be a tip you give to a club bouncer or your mechanic, or it may be working a few hours extra for free when your boss was really stressed or over worked.

                                                Be constantly on the lookout on how you can make people owe you instead of the other way out. It is easier to influence people who owe you. Your favors do not have to be monetary. You can be there in person for a person when they really needed a friend. You can go an extra mile for them, even if it is part of your job.

                                                Don’t get into the habit of collecting your favors before you need them. Just like the Godfather, be willing to let some favors slide. Be ready to help and forget, but be helping anyway. This theory works whether you are in the most corrupt country in the world or the opposite. People are the same world over. They will bend to do more for those they have accepted favors from. Having said that, make sure you do not run contrary to the laws governing you on your quest for influence through favors.

                                                10 – Listening Skills

                                                Some people have ears but they do not hear. Not because they do not have the ability to hear but because they are too busy waiting for the turn to speak. Listening lets you in on the motivations, needs, strengths and weaknesses of others. God gave you two ears and one mouth. Use them in that proportion.

                                                Developing your listening skill is one of the most powerful ways of influencing people. Whether you are a politician or a husband, you need to learn to listen. You need to know the prevailing mood of the people you want to influence and adapt where required. Listening multiplies your opportunities for influencing others. When people speak, they are telling you how to influence them. Learn to listen deep, get the deeper meaning of what people speak up or decide to censor. Understand people’s body language, posture, written word and actions. Take time to internalize that before taking actions to influence them. Get ahead through developing your listening skills.

                                                In Summary

                                                Getting ahead calls for increasing your influence. The time to start making progress towards gaining influence in now. It takes time and effort to be really influential. Influence open doors that would otherwise be closed. It is a worthy asset to develop or even purchase. You do not have to spend money or be corrupt to gain influence. You gain influence through understanding people and their motivations and needs.

                                                If you like this blog post, please share with your friends. I would love to hear from you through comments or via the contact form on this blog.

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                                              14. Gaining and Sustaining Success Momentum

                                                Posted: August 12, 2009, 5:46 am by Daniel Ngari

                                                The first million is the hardest to make. Once you make it, you will find a lot more doors opening up for you. World class actors such as Angelina Jolie or Keanu Reeves will not star alongside a nobody. Fellow actors have to first accumulate a few box office hits before they can even be considered. In one of my favorite movies staring Al Pacino, actor Simone suddenly got fellow actors wanting to star alongside her as soon as “she” made a hit.

                                                It takes 10 years of focused effort, steady determination and hard work to achieve world class expert status. It takes at least a few years of running a business for it to pick up. The early years are full of sweat and tears but with time things get easier. Many people give up before they gain momentum. I hope to inspire you to get ahead in life, by gaining and sustaining the momentum for success.

                                                Gaining Momentum

                                                Momentum = Mass x Velocity.

                                                As we have seen above, momentum is a product of mass and velocity. It therefore follows that gaining some mass can increase your momentum. It is easier to stop a cow than it is to stop an elephant if they are running at the same speed. Take your time before speeding. Take some time to gain some mass, otherwise you may be blown by the wind. Accumulate some assets, experiences and resources before you increase your velocity.

                                                Ok Daniel, slow down, let us start at the beginning…

                                                To gain the momentum for success, you have to get off your backside and take some action. Last year I was busy planning this blog, checking out the competition, carrying out endless research before I launched this blog. I contacted fellow Kenyan blogger, based in Melbourne, Australia. He was already running a successful blog called “the Displaced African”.

                                                His blog is focused on providing new and prospective migrants with information about studying or settling in Australia. His name is Mwangi. I asked him for advice on how to launch and run a successful blog. He gave me lots of tips but the advice that has stuck with me and made a big impact on this blog is to take action. It is easy to get into “paralysis analysis”, if you do not have a bias for action.

                                                This blog was bigger than it is but that was only in my mind. I had lofty dreams of the millions upon millions of people who would be coming here to listen to a young man who grew up in a small farm near the Kenyan Capital, Nairobi. I was busy fantasizing about the rave reviews the blog would be getting. All that and more before even having written a single blog post! Mwangi saved me from self delusion by triggering me into action and once again I say thank you Mwangi!

                                                To gain the momentum for success requires one to do proper homework. You might not have liked the term “homework” in school but you have no choice when it comes to success. I advocate having a bias for action, but I am quick to note that it is better to “aim, fire, aim”, rather than “fire fire fire” or “aim aim aim”. You have to strike a balance between research and action.

                                                You would not set out to sea without a compass. Likewise, do not set out to succeed without direction, without clarity and a plan. Take your time to determine where you want to be, do your homework on what is required of you, and then take action in the right direction.

                                                Identify areas of our life that could do with some momentum. Gain some mass in the form of resources, experiences, facts and knowledge. Then take action in the correct direction.

                                                Sustaining Momentum

                                                • We are creatures of habit. Consciously set up the right habits in order to sustain your momentum. If you succeeded because of waking up early and putting in more time when your competition slept, do not slacken when things start moving along nicely. Think of all the habits that led to your initial success and keep doing what works.

                                                • Find leverage. Find something that will push you ahead. There is a limit on how far you can grow your business if you work alone. Leverage the resources, money, time and ideas of others to create win-win situations.

                                                • Automate and Delegate – The human body is faint. To be able to sustain your momentum for success may call upon you to automate or delegate responsibilities to ensure that things keep getting done even when you get big. Plan for automation and delegation when you start a new venture.

                                                • Avoid distraction. Identify people or things that keep you from your chosen path and learn how to manage them. Do not let anyone or anything stand in the way of making progress, if you want to sustain your momentum.

                                                • Put controls in place. You can sustain momentum by knowing when to turn, brake or accelerate. Success is a journey, momentum will keep you moving.

                                                In Conclusion

                                                Proper planning and taking action are the first steps of gaining the momentum for success. The first steps (or years) are the hardest but as you gain more experience and resources, the journey becomes easier. There are various ways that you can sustain the momentum of your success including leverage, delegation and avoiding distractions.

                                                If you like this blog post, please share it with your friends, invite them to have a look. I would love to hear from you through your comments. Have a good day.

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                                              15. Building a Strong Foundation for Success

                                                Posted: August 10, 2009, 11:12 am by Daniel Ngari

                                                A sky scraper’s foundation is different from that of a single floor house. The kind of success you desire must have a matching foundation. Invest in a good foundation to build lasting success.

                                                Think through that which you want to build. Reflect on the implications of your success. Visualize on the magnitude of the success you desire. If you have big dreams, then you should have a strong foundation.

                                                Spend the time learning the ropes, training and getting experiences. I have been in situations where I have succeeded without having properly built a foundation. It is not a good feeling when you have to live with the fear of your success crumbling. My experience has taught me that it is better to wait to succeed than succeed when you are not ready.

                                                Core Values for Success

                                                What are your core values? Have you ever given serious thought to developing values as a way of building your foundation for success? It is good to consciously think of the set of values that you would not compromise on. Examples of such values are honesty, integrity and trust.

                                                Running for the office of the USA president requires one to have a character that is beyond reproach (atleast in theory). The media and opposition looks for any shreds of evidence of hidden weaknesses and past mistakes. The core values and character foundation requirements for the United States president are different from that of a long distance truck driver.

                                                What do you want to be and what are the moral requirements? Think of the core values that will ensure your success in your ventures. What kind of foundation are you standing on? Who are the key people in your life? What does your history and past actions say about you?

                                                From this point forward, assuming you want to get ahead in life; what do you need to do? What changes do you need to make in your life? You are as strong as your weakest link. If you have skeletons in your closet, they can come back to haunt you.

                                                A Strong Foundation in Business

                                                To get ahead in business, you need to have a strong foundation. Many people focus too much on what they can get out of business instead of first laying a strong foundation.

                                                Do you know who your customers really are? Do you know what their most pressing needs? How are you going to meet and exceed their expectations? Conducting proper marketing research is a great way to build a firm foundation for your business.

                                                Take time to understand the people you are going to serve. Take time to know what value they are seeking. Identify their evolving needs and be proactive in serving them. It is said that the customer is always right. They have the right to spend their money with whom and on whatever they deem fit. Become a close fit to their expectations and desires.

                                                Do not put your needs before those of your customers. That is myopic and a recipe for failure. Let your value proposition reflect the wishes of your customers. Understand your competition and position yourself in the minds of your customers as being the best supplier.

                                                Another way of setting up a good foundation for business is to understand the numbers. Cash flow is everything in business. Manage your payments, receipts, income and expenses prudently. If you do not have the know-how, employ the services of a good accountant or book keeper.

                                                Find a balance between providing value for your customers and getting paid. When you get paid, have systems in place to re-invest the profits. Treat the business like a baby. It needs nourishment. You cannot keep taking from your business and expect it to thrive. To create a sustainable business, have a strong budgeting process, cash flow projections and multiple streams of income.

                                                A Strong Foundation in Relationships

                                                You do not want to be in a relationship with someone who is “still finding themselves”. They will betray you and jump off the relationship if they find out that it is not you they were after. Are you that kind of person? Are you still finding yourself?

                                                Take time to know yourself. Know what you want in a partner. Know what you seek in a relationship before you commit to one. Understanding and clearly communicating your needs and expectations of each other is one very important foundation stone of relationships. Be sure you understand each other’s fears, likes, hopes, dislikes, circumstances and customs.

                                                Many people jump into relationships without proper dating or courtship. That can be a recipe for disaster. It is easy for a relationship to cloud your judgment if you jump in too soon. Wherever possible, take time to develop a friendship and understanding before committing to a relationship.

                                                If you are already in a relationship, and you think that that relationship is doomed, then get out now. There is no honor in staying in a relationship that is not going anywhere because of the fear of being single. There are so many other people out there and you may be surprised to find that true happiness is not beyond you.

                                                In the event that you find yourself in a relationship that has the hope of working, then take it upon yourself to do what you can to make it work. Lay a good foundation for your relationship by creating bonding opportunities, having shared values, expectations, aspirations and memories. Build and maintain trust; it is the foundation of healthy relationships. Broken trust is hard to recover so if you find someone trusting you do not abuse it. If you have failed your partner then think of ways of making it up to him or her and hope that time will heal. If your partner has abused your trust and you want the relationship to work, find it in you to forgive and rebuild the trust. Without trust, it is impossible to love truly.

                                                A Strong Foundation in your Career

                                                You can have a strong foundation for long term career success by getting into a career that matches your talents and desires. Find that which you love to do and pursue it for a career.

                                                You can set yourself up for success through proper training and gaining of experiences. For example, if you wanted to be a successful small business owner, make sure you learn all there is to do with your offering. Also make sure you learn skills such as marketing, finance, human resource management etc that will be useful for you running your business successfully. You can learn through formal education, learning from other small business owners, attending seminars or through self education.

                                                Networking and contacts building is another smart way for setting yourself up for career success. As Confucius once said “dig the well before you thirst”. Make friends with people in your industry and related industries before you need them. Build your networking strategy to be a win-win relationship. Bring something to the table when you go networking.

                                                A Strong Foundation in your Finances

                                                To succeed in finance, you have to understand the time value of money. Live within your means. Watch you outgoings and worry about the cents and the dollars will take care of themselves. Learning to live within your means especially when you are starting out is one of the best ways of securing your financial future. Many people, perhaps due to peer pressure, end up spending more than they can earn, or saving less than they should. Remember that your early choices will influence your future significantly.

                                                Another way of setting yourself up for financial success is to invest in your financial education. You may be a musician, doctor, brick layer or mechanic, but you still need to learn how the world of finance works. You need to take the time to understand various investment options available to you. Do not let a third party make all the decisions for you. Their interest and your long term interests may not always align.

                                                When building your financial empire, remember that there are things that are beyond you that could go wrong and hand you financial ruin. Become adequately insured. Good income protection policy, medical cover, life insurance policy and other covers can come in handy for you and your family if things go pear shaped.

                                                Fundamental Habits

                                                We are creatures of habits. The kind of habits you have will influence your long term success. Think of the habits you form as the foundation for your success.

                                                • Focus – Avoid distractions. Set clear goals on what you want to achieve and focus on that until you get the results you desire. Work on your ability to concentrate and see things to completion.
                                                • Hard work – Nothing in life comes easy, not success anyway. Be prepared to work for your success. You need to develop that ability to work hard. Make it a part of you to put in the hours and effort that it takes to succeed in what you set your mind on.
                                                • Sleeping Habits – Do you get adequate sleep? Sleep deprivation can lead to loss of productivity. On the other hand, sleeping too much can reduce the time available to you to work on your ventures. They say “early to bed, early to rise, makes someone healthy, wealthy and wise”. Are you an early riser? Many successful people have a regular sleeping patterns and wake up early. The early bird catches the worm. (sshhh…don’t talk about the early worm!).
                                                • Persistence – Do you jump from one venture to another? Do you jump from one investment to another? Do you jump from one relationship to another? Staying put long enough to accumulate success is a vital habit that can bear good dividends.
                                                • Listening – God gave us two ears and one mouth each. Use them in that proportion. Develop good listening habits. Even the dull and ignorant people have their side of the story. Listening enables one to gain insight in the way others think and interpret situations. Accept that you will not always be right or know everything.
                                                • Follow Up – Many people can do something once, but very few have the tenacity to follow through on their commitments. It is not what you do once that matters. It is what you repeatedly follow up on that makes the difference. Whether you are developing a relationship with a partner or customer, following up can make all the difference.

                                                In Summary

                                                Decide upfront what kind of success you desire and set up an appropriate foundation. Setting out to succeed without a strong foundation is recipe for disaster.

                                                If you like this article and others on this blog, kindly invite your friends to read or subscribe. I would also love to hear you comments on the topic of setting up a strong foundation for success in life.

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                                              16. Duplicate Your Success

                                                Posted: August 9, 2009, 5:21 pm by Daniel Ngari

                                                Learning how to duplicate your success is like getting a license to print money. Many people who are ahead in life (financially) are people who have learnt to duplicate their successes.

                                                For example, the founder of McDonald’s Restaurants has the exact formula of replicating his success in one restaurant to another. McDonald’s has perfected the art of making a profit with one restaurant, and if you are going to open a McDonald’s restaurant, you will succeed, provided you follow their formula to the letter.

                                                People like Michael Jackson were able to become household names because they did something well, packaged it, duplicated it and sold it to millions. If you can package your success and photo copy it, or duplicate it in some way, then you can get rich.

                                                You may not be able to duplicate your success like a DVD, book, CD or website, but there are other ways of duplicating your success. Let us say you want to become an property investor… you can invest in one property, perhaps get a loan for it, improve the property by adding a fresh coat of paint and do the required repairs to add value to the property. Then get a tenant to rent your property. After you have paid off a portion of the property, you can duplicate the exact steps you made and get a second property. Over time you can have a healthy property portfolio if you stick to your winning formula.

                                                Document Your Success

                                                You will encounter challenges and find unique solutions to problems on your success journey. It is a good idea to keep a diary or some form of documentation for the steps you take to succeed.

                                                Using our earlier example of property investment, you can write down the exact steps you take to acquire the property, the surrounding legal issues, your contacts, your finance options, the obstacles you faced, the length of time each step takes, and your lessons along the way. This information would really serve you well if you were to try and get a second property.

                                                When I started this blog, I did some research on what others were doing in the personal development space. I watched countless videos, read numerous blogs and talked to a number of people who were running blogs successfully. I wanted this blog to be a success and to meet the objectives that I set out.

                                                There were many challenges I faced including looking for a good hosting company, blogging technology, branding and market research. I read a number of books and blogs on how to create a successful blog. I brushed up on my internet marketing skills to be able to drive traffic to the site. I made sure that I wrote down each step that I followed. It is still an ongoing project so I keep a record on what I learn and the choices I make, and the rationale behind them.

                                                Why do I document the steps I make as a blogger? If I was to create a second blog, or provide advice for someone who wants to start one, I would refer to my notes. Writing down the challenges and solutions to problems helps in reflection and gives me an opportunity to come back later and see the problems in new light.

                                                I work in the software development industry where documentation is not one of the favorite things to do, but one of the most important. When someone is writing a software package e.g. a ecommerce store, they have to write down the documentation for future developers and customers to make sense of the system. A computer programmer who goes back to inspect his or her own work after 12 months might not be able to remember why something works the way it is. Without proper documentation, they would find it hard to extend or fix problems with the system.

                                                You might not be a computer programmer or a property investor, but whatever you do, make time to document the steps you take to get to your destination. Without proper documentation, you will always be re-solving the problem afresh. If you document your process, not only will it make it easier for you in the future, but you will be able to teach someone else how to do it on your behalf.

                                                The Art of Delegation

                                                There is a bible story about a man called Moses. He was charged with the task of moving the Israelites to freedom from Egypt. They stayed in the wilderness for 40 years and they multiplied on the way.

                                                One day his father in law, a man called Jethro, observed Moses at work. Moses would wake up early and work till dusk being the judge over the growing population. With over 600,000 people looking up to him, his work was cut out for him.

                                                His father in law was worried that he was going to work himself to the grave. He gave him advice that you can apply in your life too if you want to get ahead. He told him to delegate. Up to that point, Moses had assumed that he was the only one who could do the job. But Jethro advised him to teach other noble men the teachings of God and put them in charge of 50 people, some in charge of 100 and others in charge of 500 people.

                                                All Moses had to do was document his art of judging and taught others under him how to do it too. It substantially reduced his work load and improved his effectiveness. His story reminds me of the story of a young lawyer who was working for 90 hours per week.

                                                When this young lawyer was asked why he worked so hard, he said that others could never do his job as well as he could. One senior partner at the firm where he worked then took him to a cemetery and showed him the graves. He said that it was likely that some of those graves were full of men and women who thought they were irreplaceable, or that the world would not go on without them.

                                                Do not hold on to stuff too close to your heart. Document your process of success and delegate where appropriate. You cannot do everything there is to do. Learn to delegate and empower others to share with the responsibility and the glory of what you do.

                                                Plans are underway to share the responsibility of updating and managing this blog.. I am looking for people who have a passion for inspiring others to join a small team that will be in charge of growing this to the next level. For that reason, I am documenting my ideas, obstacles, requests and comments to be able to empower my team to inspire others.

                                                Leverage Initial Success

                                                A struggling beginning musician would find it really hard to get his or her music played on radio. But as soon as they make a hit, everyone would want to play not just their hit song but their upcoming album.

                                                As an unknown person in your industry, it is rather difficult to get people to open doors for you. You have to kiss a lot of asses to get ahead. You have to work hard and hit the pavement. In Kenya, they call it “tarmacking”. Your shoe has to hit the tarmac for you to get any takers. It is ok, plan for that. It is a necessary part of success. Do not be discouraged.

                                                You should consider creating little successes of your own. Success thrives on success. Every time you succeed, use that success as a stepping stone to your next success. People are more likely to take you seriously if you prove you can do something.

                                                Many people starting or planning to start businesses quickly find that raising funds is not very easy. Lenders want to lend to people who have a proven track record. Many complain and wonder why they are not even being given a chance to create that track record. Unfortunately that is just the way life is. You have to succeed before people have the desire or willingness to invest in you. Many people and banks will lend you an umbrella when it is sunny and ask for it as soon as it starts drizzling.

                                                When you get that one chance to succeed and get ahead, maximize your opportunity. Use that success to create more successes. Play each success card well.

                                                Packaging Your Value

                                                Money is the exchange of value. The more value you provide, the more money you will make. To be able to deliver your value to others, think of ways of encapsulating your value into something “tangible”. If you can package your value into something that people can take with, and share with their friends, then you will get the packaged value working for you 24/7.

                                                If I was to talk to a group of 50 people and tell them the words and ideas that I have shared with you, many would be happy and maybe even pay for me to speak to them. But when I write these words down, you are able to read from your phone, computer or printout even though you might be thousands of miles away from you. Writing my ideas on this blog is way of packaging my value.

                                                Packaging value enables you to present that value to more people and you can duplicate it. We are living in extra ordinary times. You most likely have access to the internet. You can document the steps that lead you to success and share it with others. Musicians, authors, actors, trainers etc get rich through packaging their value in DVDs, audio CDs, books etc. Those books or DVDs are able to work for them even when they sleep.

                                                In Summary

                                                I have gone around in circles and touched on various ways of succeeding. It is my hope that you have gained some insight in how you can duplicate your success to get ahead in life. Document the process of succeeding, and package your value, then deliver it to the people who need it.

                                                Have the mentality of duplicating success even before you start a venture. Ask yourself how you are going to succeed, how you can translate that success into more successes. Do not become a slave to your business. Learn to delegate and make your work easier.

                                                If you like this article, please subscribe to be getting updates via email and share this blog with your friends. I would love to hear from you through your comments.

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                                              17. Of Good and Bad Debt

                                                Posted: August 6, 2009, 3:26 pm by Daniel Ngari

                                                Have a quick look at those two men over there; Steve and James. They have the same education; same job type, and are of the same age – but have different outcomes in life. Steve had a knack for accumulating credit card debt; James focused on wise investment loans. Today they live in different worlds; albeit next to each other.

                                                To get ahead in life, you have to really understand the difference between good and bad debt. Good debt takes you ahead in the long term while bad debt pulls you back.

                                                The Allure of Bad Debts

                                                As your income increases, credit card companies, car loan companies and other sharks will be baying for your blood. They will give you the most compelling offers. You see those offers all the time, if you cross a certain income bracket. For only a small monthly repayment, you can get to live in your dream house, have your dream accessories and drive your dream car.

                                                Graphic designers do booming business for the bad debt peddlers. They will come up with interesting ways of showcasing the kind of life you can live, the glory, the luxury, the majesty. They will play with emotions that you did not even realize you had.

                                                The fancy pitches of bad debt salesmen can blind you. They can get you to stop thinking about the future. Why wait when you can have it now? Why not get that new fridge on credit? Why not pimp up your brand new ride for a low monthly payment?

                                                Enter Steve …

                                                Steve got caught up in what I like to call the credit mess. He got a phone call from his bank telling him that he had been pre-approved for a car loan. He had not even thought of buying a car! Then they told him he had 2 months to think about it before the “pre-approval” expired. Instead of taking time to go think about whether it was right or wrong for him to get a car on loan, he started hitting the pavement to the dealerships.

                                                He took a friend with him and shopped with the confidence of a man who has the cash in his pocket. His demeanor changed, he walked with a spring. He was on cloud nine. The car sales men made him feel like a king. They were there to serve him. They showed him around the dealership. Was he looking for a used car or a new car? He did not care. He had the pre-approval to buy anything his heart desired.

                                                Even before the 2 months period elapsed, he had signed the dotted line. He had a brand new BMW, metallic paint, alloy wheels, tinted windows, leather seats and a million other add-ons that that the car salesman had suggested. The extras alone had cost a small fortune, but it was a “negligible” addition to the monthly payments over 5 years.

                                                As he drove off the dealership, he realized that he felt different. Same guy, different car – and people were already treating him different. He loved the attention of the ladies. Oh the power of debt. He felt like a rich royal. All he had to do was make the monthly payments and life would always be this good. He wound down his windows and saw all those flashy cars on the streets…he wondered…how many others are driving financed cars just like him?

                                                The good life …

                                                He got invited to more parties. More people wanted to hang out with him. He now felt like he had to upgrade his wardrobe. It was long overdue, he justified himself. What does he do at this point? He whips out his Visa credit card.

                                                After being invited to a few parties, he felt like he had to return the favor. He wanted to hold a birthday bash at his own house. Then it hit him that he lived in a very humble house compared to his friends. It was time to make a move. He moved to bigger house, it needed furnishing, nice furniture for a man with “class” like him. So he whipped out his MasterCard credit card.

                                                The deeper he got into debt, the more he enjoyed life. The more he enjoyed life, the more friends he made. All his new friends were in similar situations. They were all on a high. Debt is like a drug. It is addictive yet alluring, but with deadly consequences.

                                                What Steve did not realize was that one bad debt begets another. One spendthrift friend begets another. The banks love people like Steve. They are their bread and butter. They provide them with the insane profits; profits that make bank shareholders happy. What Steve pays as interest, they call it “income”.

                                                Good Debts to Get Ahead

                                                On the other hand, James preferred to live within his means. He got tempted all the time to take up credit card and car loan debts at very friendly terms, but he would hear none of it.

                                                To a person looking at Steve and James from a distance, Steve would have seemed to have made it. He had all the flashy possessions to prove he was “rich”. But if truth be told, James was content to live within his means. He was proud of his budgeting skills. He was proud that he was playing the financial system in his favor, not the other way round.

                                                James took the bus to work. Sometimes he would take his beat up Toyota to work. It was just a car that took him from A to B, but it was his. Not owned by a bank or a finance company. He made no monthly repayments for it and did not have to change his living conditions to accommodate the image brought by the car.

                                                He had good friends that had known him for years. Their social lives involved interactions based on a lot more than material possessions.

                                                James did have debts also, but his debts were geared towards investments. He borrowed from the banks to buy and build property. He was disciplined in making his repayments and maintaining a good credit history with his lenders. He never borrowed more than he could comfortably service.

                                                He would do his homework well before he signed the dotted line. He understood the time value of money. Sometimes he let some opportunities pass him by if he did not think that he understood fully what the investment would mean for his future cash flow.

                                                In Summary

                                                To get ahead in life, you need to seriously evaluate what kind of debts you get into. Are you buying an asset or a liability? Are you going to be able to service that debt without adversely affecting other areas of your life? Do you have to take that particular debt?

                                                You can leverage debt to get ahead in life, but be careful about car loans, credit card loans and other consumer loans. If you have to take on debt, lean on the side of investment loans and even then, make sure you do your home work well.

                                                Please share this article (and blog) with your friends. I would love to hear your comments. Please share your experience, thoughts and ideas regarding good and bad debts in life.

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                                              18. Do Not Re-Invent the Wheel

                                                Posted: August 5, 2009, 5:59 pm by Daniel Ngari

                                                What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done; There is nothing new under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 1:9 RSV). Are you breaking your back trying to get ahead using a unique new trick? Did you know that someone already figured out what you are scratching your head over?

                                                No matter how far, or how wide you go, you will always find someone with the exact same idea as you. That dream, that plan, that vision is not exclusively yours. Sorry to burst your bubble. There others just like you, smart like you, ambitious like you.

                                                You do not have to re-invent the wheel to get ahead in life. You can leverage the resources, experience, talents and discoveries of others. Instead of trying to solve the problems of the world, or come up with a unique design to solve problems, why not spend your time advancing what others before you have built?

                                                Stand on the Shoulders of Giants

                                                I work in the software development industry. There are many software “libraries” that make work easier. We use those all the time. If I want to sell a book on my blog, I do not have to worry about the intricacies of credit card processing, I would let a company that specializes in that, such as Paypal or e-junkie deal with that. I would use their systems and software libraries.

                                                Microsoft, Google, Sun Microsystems, Apple and other big companies spend millions in development of software libraries that software developers use to build applications. It would be foolish to build your own word processing software to produce your own newsletter if you run a small business. Why not let a giant like Microsoft or Google handle that for you?

                                                It is amazing how many people try to build things by themselves instead of using what has been created and proven by others. For a software developer, the time savings are obvious. But for some professions, say like teaching, the time savings might not be as clear cut. It is up to you to think of what giants there are in your industry. Then ask yourself how you can leverage them. What would be the benefits of standing on their shoulders? How far can you see from that vantage point?

                                                The giant upon whose shoulders you stand might be a mentor, a bank, a family member or a friend. Before you start your own venture, think of others who are better than you. Is there someone who is a better book keeper than you? Is there someone who is a better lawyer than you? Is there someone who is a better writer than you?

                                                Do not be afraid to harness the creativity and potential of others. Bill Gates realized early on that if he was to become rich by meeting the software needs of his clients, he had to leverage the talents of others. He did that alright. Look around you, upon whose shoulders can you stand on to get ahead?

                                                Research made Easy

                                                Not too long ago, finding information about your competition was rocket science. The Internet has now made it easy to spy on your competition. You do not have to sift through their garbage to find out what they are up to.

                                                Some people might not even realize they are your competition. All you need to do is plan your game plan, plan your angle and get busy on Google. Within a few clicks you can unravel what would have been a mystery a few years ago.

                                                For example, using a site like Google Keywords Suggest, you can find out what search terms people use to search for stuff on the Internet. If I wanted to start a “free SMS”service on the Internet, I would use the Google Keywords Suggest tool to find out that 2.7 million people sought to send out free SMS last month. I could drill down and find what destination they wanted to send the SMS to. For example, 110,000 wanted to send free SMS to India.

                                                I could then use Google or other search engines to research the business model of the competition. How do they make their money? How many free SMS messages do they allow before they tell their free users to upgrade?

                                                Being the first one in the market makes it hard to know what customers want. But if you follow the leader, you can learn a vast amount of information at a fraction of the time, and cost. You do not have to re-invent the wheel. Use research tools tools to find out exactly what your competition is up to.

                                                If you are not as tech savvy, you can still use research to get ahead. You can talk to people who have run that kind of business before. If people do not perceive you to be a direct competitor or threat, they will be more likely to talk to you and reveal little nuggets of wisdom to you.

                                                Success is a Bad Teacher

                                                Talk to people who have attempted to do what you want to do and failed. If you are planning to start a “matatu” business in Kenya for example (private bus transport), it would pay to talk to people who have tried that business and failed. If you talk to the people who have made it, they may not give you all the information you need.

                                                The people who have failed can give you insights on what to avoid. The people who succeed sometimes get arrogant and maybe not pay as much attention to the details.

                                                Build a Better Mouse Trap

                                                Innovation is the key to success. You may not re-invent the wheel, but if you want to get ahead of the competition, you better invent a better way of using that wheel.

                                                Ralph Waldo Emerson is credited with the quote in favor of innovation: “Build a better mousetrap, and the world will beat a path to your door.”. If you build a better way of serving your customers, word will get around and customers will beat a path to your door. Invent a better way of reaching your objectives using the talents, resources and experience of others.

                                                In Summary

                                                Take time to research your venture. Talk to the people who have been there, tried that, failed or succeeded. Read on your market and use research tools. Do not be content at copying what others have done. Innovate.

                                                If you like this article and others on this blog, kindly invite your friends to have a look too. I would love to hear your comments.

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                                              19. Start Succeeding Early

                                                Posted: August 4, 2009, 5:27 pm by Daniel Ngari

                                                If you started investing $500 per month at the age of 18 in an investment paying you 10% per annum interest, compounded monthly, by the time you turned 65 you would have $24,871,691. If you waited until you were 30, then by age 65 you would have $2,123,819. If you chose to wait even longer and start at age 45, then you would only have $225,967 at 65. Starting early makes all the difference.

                                                The Power of Compounding

                                                If you work hard and invest wisely when you are young, you will get the power of compounding working in your favor. Nature has a way of adding to those who start early. Albert Einstein is quoted as having said, “The most powerful force in the universe is compound interest.”. In finance, nothing is more powerful than time. If you have time on your side, more power to you. And remember, time is a non-renewable resource. Use it wisely.

                                                The power of compounding does not only apply in finance. It applies in all spheres of life. It works in relationships, career development and networking. If you start building good relationships with your customers early, then continually deposit goodwill into each relationship, word will get out and your business will grow. Do not start building relationships with people just when you need them. Start early my friend.

                                                The Thief of Time

                                                Procrastination is the thief of time. If you postpone saving, developing quality relationships, increasing your skills, starting your own business or any of your dreams, you will be robbing yourself. Decide where you want to be, who you want to become, and start early.

                                                Don’t postpone gaining and applying wisdom. Do you think that you will become more generous the older you become? I have news for you my friend; if you cannot give a tithe (10%) to the church or to the poor when you only have $10, then don’t kid yourself that you will be comfortable shelling out $100,000 when you make your first million.

                                                Teaching an old dog new tricks is not very easy. If you train yourself to live a life of success from an early age, you will always be successful. If you postpone getting rich, or getting good habits and good character, you may lose the opportunity for life.

                                                The Fountain of Youth

                                                There is not much point in waiting for gray hairs to start doing something with your life. Drink from the fountain of your youth. Stretch yourself when you are still young and you will live a beautiful life. Get ahead in life when you are still young and live a more fulfilling life.

                                                Do you waste your time with a bunch of losers? What do you do with your time? What do you do with your money? The fruits of your actions will be reflected in your life sooner than later. How much is “having a good time” costing your future?

                                                I have had my fair share of fun in this world, but sometimes I look back at some of the things I did, and wish I never did them. I do not want to look back in 10 years and find myself struggling with the same issues I am today. Every step you make, will have a bearing on your future. Watch your step!

                                                Success or failure is all in the mind. Change your mentality about the future. Spare a thought on what will happen tomorrow and the years ahead of you. Look around you – people who started succeeding early, where are they now? What are their future prospects? What quality of life are they having?

                                                The Cost of Distractions

                                                The cost of early distractions is really high. Early distractions can change the trajectory of your success in a big way. Stay focused on what will help you get ahead. Quit trying to chew more than you can swallow.

                                                Taking a few hundreds from your small business may not seem like much now, but what if you re-invested that money instead. What if you did not go drinking with your petty cash? What if you did not let the temporary problems ailing your family members distract you from your savings plan?

                                                To get ahead in life, you have to think about the path you want to follow. Everything and anyone who comes in the way is a distraction. People handle distractions differently. But at the very least, be able to identify distractions. An early financial distraction in the life of a small business can bring it to its knees.

                                                Accumulate and Record Successes

                                                Start accumulating successes under your belt before jumping to another venture. The profits and resources you gain from each early success will make you stronger. Each success will give you more confidence, experience and desire to tackle more challenges.

                                                Record your early successes and failures. When starting out in a venture, write down how you feel, what you do, why you do things. When you look back in time, you will either laugh about it or gladly share with others to inspire them to also succeed.

                                                Even in sports, to get ahead and to move into the big league, you have to win a few matches. Progressively accumulate successes and they will in turn open more doors for you. People like associating with winners.

                                                Summary

                                                The earlier you start getting ahead in life the better it will be. You can get much further in life by starting early.

                                                If you like this blog post, please share it with your friends, subscribe to my blog updates via email or share your thoughts with other readers by commenting. I would love to hear from you.

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                                              20. Find your Own Angle for Success

                                                Posted: August 3, 2009, 5:06 pm by Daniel Ngari

                                                I get people asking me all the time about what kind of business they should start. Many people want to start a business but have no idea what they need to do. My answer is always simple…”find an angle”. You need to find an angle to serve your market, you need to find an angle to differentiate yourself from the competition.

                                                This series is all about getting ahead. Do you want to get ahead in business? Do you want to get ahead in your career or the dating game? Well my friend, you need to find an angle. Even when starting this blog, I had to seriously think about what angle I was going to position it, write and promote it. Many people start off without really thinking about the angle they are going to pursue.

                                                This blog is dedicated to inspiring my friends to be the best they can be. I neither an expert nor am I trained in psychology, finance, relationships or many of the topics I cover. My angle is to approach issues from a regular guy perspective. I lean on the side of common sense and share what I believe and have experienced.

                                                My message resonates with my readers because many of them have had the same challenges, aspirations and hopes. I choose to inspire people through positive words and share my own personal experiences. The angle and goal is to build this into a community of positive people that can share ideas and positive energy.

                                                The Bread Angle

                                                When I was a university student, I used to work for an Italian Bakery that was run by a very smart family. They realized that Western Australia bread market was dominated by three big bakeries that supplied the big supermarket chains. Instead of despairing or accepting a life of mediocrity in business, they chose to find an angle to get ahead.

                                                They decided to contact offices, hospitals, schools, news agents, supermarkets or anyone that could buy a handful of bread from them. They sent someone around to talk to the small guys and give them personalized service and a listening ear that you would only expect to see with big companies approaching other big companies.

                                                Each small business buying their bread was granted their very own account manager. In addition, they offered to deliver the bread, even if it was just a few loaves. They were also promised fresh bread every morning. What more do bread eaters want?

                                                Then they hired drivers to be delivering fresh bread every morning. The bread cost only a dollar or so more than the big companies’ bread, but it was well worth it to their customers. Eventually they were able to sell tens or hundreds of thousands of bread daily.

                                                Whatever you do, remember that Italian Bakery. They faced insurmountable odds but they found an angle and exploited it. Always ask yourself empowering questions on how you can position yourself, how you can put yourself in a unique position for prosperity. Do not be like everyone else. Do not give up when others do.

                                                The Copy Cat Angle

                                                When growing up in Kenya, I would hear of horror stories of someone who invested their last dollar to start a business, their neighbor would study them for a week, and start the exact same business. Some people would start “doing well” and word would get around that there was money in such and such. Everyone and their dog would then flock to that business opportunity and they would all sink. It reminded me of a bible story where all the possessed pigs jumped off the cliff.

                                                The quickest way of staying behind is trying to blindly copy what others are doing. Give yourself some credit and exercise your creativity. Do not rely on others to pave the way for you. Find new ground. Find a unique way of solving problems. Do not do what everyone is doing.

                                                I have no problem with people who look around and find things that are not being done right and improve upon them. If you come to this blog and decided that I am undeserving the market, and you can improve on a few things, by all means go for it. But do not be a mini-me. Do not copy exactly what am doing. Find an angle, find an edge. Find a way of helping you get ahead.

                                                On the other hand, do not start a business that no one else has ever attempted. Do not start a selling microwaves in the middle of the Sahara just so you be unique. There is probably a very good reason why people are not doing that. You will likely find that an area of business that has competition is also very profitable. Just don’t go in with the same message and angle as everyone else.

                                                The Rich Jerk Angle

                                                A few years ago, I was running up and down the information super highway when I came across a person calling himself the “Rich Jerk”. I read his sales page and I was really pissed off. How dare he speak to me like that? Does he even know me? What a punk! How could he be so rude? Who allowed him to put such profanities on the good world wide web? But I still preceded to buy his book to learn more. Curiosity did me in.

                                                Have a look at some of the stuff he said (and still says! On his website).

                                                Don’t Waste My Time…

                                                Let’s get something straight. I’m a jerk. I’m obnoxious. And I’m lazy.

                                                And I don’t care, because I’m FILTHY RICH.

                                                I’m much too important to even be sitting here writing this right now. So I’ll keep it short.

                                                I make several million dollars every year on the internet, doing almost nothing. You can see some proof here but please keep the drooling to a minimum.

                                                Have you seen proof like that anywhere else? Didn’t think so.

                                                Do you make that much money? Didn’t think so.

                                                So Who the Hell Am I?

                                                I’m the guy you see driving down the street in a Ferrari with the top down, and you think to yourself, “What an ass!” And you know what? You’re right. But so what? Do you really think I value your opinion? I’m a rich jerk, so I couldn’t care less.

                                                I cut through the BS. If you find me too offensive, obnoxious, or whatever….feel free to leave my website at anytime.

                                                Face it….if you want to be rich like me, this is your chance. Think about your current situation. Are you satisfied being a total loser? If so, move on. If not, get my program NOW. It’s as simple as that. The fact is, you need me more than I need you. I’m already rich. You’re not.

                                                Whatever you decide, I’ll be sipping martinis by the pool. And by the way, if you do happen to see me out in the real world, do me a favor and don’t talk to me. I’m far too rich and important to be seen with you.

                                                To Being Obnoxious, Filthy Rich, and Disgustingly Good-Looking Rich Jerk!

                                                Do not be afraid to going beyond what others may consider normal. Find an angle to meet your objectives. The Rich Jerk wanted to sell his program. And I bought it, many others did. Do not be like everyone else. That is the only way of getting ahead my friend. Be wild. Go to the extremes. Just don’t be ordinary.

                                                Final Thoughts.

                                                You do not have to re-invent the wheel. You can find out what others are doing and improve upon it. Break down your value proposition. Understand what it is that you want to offer your customer, prospective partner, employer, friend etc. Then do a SWOT Analysis. Analyze your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. Then position yourself appropriately.

                                                Capitalize on your strengths and work on your weaknesses. Have a bias for action, not empty talk or plans. Stick with your angle long enough and you will see the fruits of your labor.

                                                If you like this blog post, please be sure to check back on the blog often, share it with your friends and share your thoughts on the comments section.

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                                              21. How to Get Ahead in Life

                                                Posted: August 2, 2009, 4:06 pm by Daniel Ngari

                                                I just got back to Australia from Kenya where I had gone home for family matters and to recharge my batteries. For the time I was gone, I really missed my blog readers and friends I have made on this blog.

                                                My mind was like I sponge. I was taking in lessons like you would not believe. I was constantly thinking of you, my dear reader. I found myself asking; what can I learn from this situation to share with my readers? How can I inspire my friends through what has just happened to me today? Would my friends like to hear about this? I have good news for you.

                                                I came back with a suitcase of inspiring messages. Lessons with the potential to change lives, re-kindle passions, and fuel the desire to get ahead in life.

                                                The Get Ahead Series

                                                I went to various parts of Kenya and spoke to hundreds of people, many of them my neighbors and family. Even people who do not have much in the way of formal education seem to be getting ahead in life. They seem to have ingenious ways of spotting opportunities and getting ahead, given their limited resources.

                                                It got me asking myself lots of questions. For the last 11 years that I have been in Australia, I have seen people with so much more in the way of resources, talents and opportunities. However, they do not seem to have that fire, that energy, that desire to get ahead. Not in the way people I met in Kenya are anyway.

                                                Australia is a laid back country with lots of opportunities compared to Kenya. Some call it the lucky country although the government prefers us to think of it as the clever country. The traffic lights work, the rules are obeyed, the taps never run dry, the crime rate is really low, there is universal health care… in other words, life is good. This perhaps makes some people relax.

                                                Many are content to go to school, get a job, have a few beers over the weekend, watch footy with some mates and call it a week. There are many in Australia that are getting, and staying ahead of the game, even compared to Kenya, but the common man in Kenya seems more obsessed and in need of getting ahead than a typical Aussie.

                                                I decided to write a “Get Ahead” series for my friends, both in Kenya and in Australia, that want to be inspired to learn how, why and when to make a difference with their lives. In this series, I will be looking at various factors that lead to success.

                                                I will focus mainly on success as defined in money terms. I will look at success as making money, enough money, to do all that your heart desires, and to have more left over.

                                                How many of us would do with more money? What would an extra $15,000 a month do to your lifestyle? What would a few assets to your name do to your confidence? If you are in debt, how would it feel to wake up and find that the debts are gone?

                                                This series will be my candid talk on what money means to me and to our society. I will be drawing lessons from both Kenya and Australia.

                                                A Man named Desire

                                                I went to high school with a friend that I shall name “Desire”, for the purpose of this blog post. He is a regular reader of this website. We sat with him at a Nairobi pub and had a talk about his life since high school, and my life here in Australia.

                                                This man desired to be rich. He purposed to make it in life and in school, he would tell me of all the crazy business ideas that he had for the future. Without realizing it, we used to “bond” on our desire for success. We were young minds more than 10 years ago but with a passion for getting ahead.

                                                Talking to him on that sunny Thursday in Nairobi reminded me of his brilliance and gave me ideas for more than 10 blog posts that will form the backbone of this series I told him “hey man, do you realize am going to be writing about the stuff you are saying?”, he was like “yeah, whatever, do you what you need to do”.

                                                It is with much gratitude that I say thank you man, for the inspiration you gave to me. I will freely share with my readers just as you shared with me.

                                                For your information, this man with a desire to succeed, has succeeded beyond his wildest dreams. He has done well for himself and his family. I hope his lessons will inspire you to be the best you can be.

                                                The Road Ahead

                                                Are you still working for the big man? For many of the people I met who are doing great things in Kenya, and here in Australia, massive financial success mainly comes from working for yourself.

                                                Working for someone else has a way of stifling creativity. Working for someone is a good way to get started, but to really get ahead of the curve financially, you have to become a business owner or an investor. More about that later in the series.

                                                Other areas we shall look at in this series include the desire for freedom, coping with debt, living your dreams and facing your fears. We shall talk of getting ahead as being the master of your own ship, controlling your destiny and being happy.

                                                Nothing in this series is rocket science. In fact, you may find that you already knew 99% of the stuff that we shall look at. But am willing to bet that you are probably only applying a very small portion of the lessons in this series.

                                                Commit to applying the lessons coming to you over the next few weeks and you will make a big difference in your life. Success comes at a price. We shall be exploring the price that needs to be paid to get ahead in careers, finances, relationships and other goals in life.

                                                Your Views

                                                I would love to hear from you regarding getting ahead in life. Are you stuck in a rut? Do you know people who have gotten ahead in life? What lessons can you share? Your comments will help shape the rest of the series. Please share this blog post with your friends on facebook, and other social sites.

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                                              22. Chapter 17: Summary of the Science of Getting Rich

                                                Posted: July 15, 2009, 2:50 am by Daniel Ngari

                                                THERE is a thinking stuff from which all things are made, and which, in its original state, permeates, penetrates, and fills the interspaces of the universe.

                                                A thought in this substance produces the thing that is imaged by the thought. Man can form things in his thought, and by impressing his thought upon formless substance can cause the thing he thinks about to be created. In order to do this, man must pass from the competitive to the creative mind; otherwise he cannot be in harmony with the Formless Intelligence, which is always creative and never competitive in spirit.

                                                Man may come into full harmony with the Formless Substance by entertaining a lively and sincere gratitude for the blessings it bestows upon him. Gratitude unifies the mind of man with the intelligence of Substance, so that man’s thoughts are received by the Formless. Man can remain upon the creative plane only by uniting himself with the Formless Intelligence through a deep and continuous feeling of gratitude.

                                                Man must form a clear and definite mental image of the things he wishes to have, to do, or to become; and he must hold this mental image in his thoughts, while being deeply grateful to the Supreme that all his desires are granted to him. The man who wishes to get rich must spend his leisure hours in contemplating his Vision, and in earnest thanksgiving that the reality is being given to him. Too much stress cannot be laid on the importance of frequent contemplation of the mental image, coupled with unwavering faith and devout gratitude. This is the process by which the impression is given to the Formless, and the creative forces set in motion.

                                                The creative energy works through the established channels of natural growth, and of the industrial and social order. All that is included in his mental image will surely be brought to the man who follows the instructions given above, and whose faith does not waver. What he wants will come to him through the ways of established trade and commerce.

                                                In order to receive his own when it shall come to him, man must be active; and this activity can only consist in more than filling his present place. He must keep in mind the Purpose to get rich through the realization of his mental image. And he must do, every day, all that can be done that day, taking care to do each act in a successful manner. He must give to every man a use value in excess of the cash value he receives, so that each transaction makes for more life; and he must so hold the Advancing Thought that the impression of increase will be communicated to all with whom he comes in contact.

                                                The men and women who practice the foregoing instructions will certainly get rich; and the riches they receive will be in exact proportion to the definiteness of their vision, the fixity of their purpose, the steadiness of their faith, and the depth of their gratitude.

                                                About

                                                The Get Rich Series is based on The Science of Getting Rich. It  is a classic book by Wallace D. Wattles. It is a practical manual intended for the men and women whose most pressing need is for money; who wish to get rich first, and philosophize afterward.

                                                Discussion

                                                I would love to hear you ideas and opinion on this chapter. Your comments are highly appreciated.

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                                              23. Chapter 16: Some Cautions, and Concluding Observations

                                                Posted: July 14, 2009, 2:47 am by Daniel Ngari

                                                MANY people will scoff at the idea that there is an exact science of getting rich; holding the impression that the supply of wealth is limited, they will insist that social and governmental institutions must be changed before even any considerable number of people can acquire a competence.

                                                But this is not true.

                                                It is true that existing governments keep the masses in poverty, but this is because the masses do not think and act in the Certain Way. If the masses begin to move forward as suggested in this book, neither governments nor industrial systems can check them; all systems must be modified to accommodate the forward movement.

                                                If the people have the Advancing Mind, have the Faith that they can become rich, and move forward with the fixed purpose to become rich, nothing can possibly keep them in poverty.

                                                Individuals may enter upon the Certain Way at any time, and under any government, and make themselves rich; and when any considerable number of individuals do so under any government, they will cause the system to be so modified as to open the way for others.

                                                The more men who get rich on the competitive plane, the worse for others; the more who get rich on the creative plane, the better for others.

                                                The economic salvation of the masses can only be accomplished by getting a large number of people to practice the scientific method set down in this book, and become rich. These will show others the way, and inspire them with a desire for real life, with the faith that it can be attained, and with the purpose to attain it.

                                                For the present, however, it is enough to know that neither the government under which you live nor the capitalistic or competitive system of industry can keep you from getting rich. When you enter upon the creative plane of thought you will rise above all these things and become a citizen of another kingdom.

                                                But remember that your thought must be held upon the creative plane; you are never for an instant to be betrayed into regarding the supply as limited, or into acting on the moral level of competition.

                                                Whenever you do fall into old ways of thought, correct yourself instantly; for when you are in the competitive mind, you have lost the cooperation of the Mind of the Whole.

                                                Do not spend any time in planning as to how you will meet possible emergencies in the future, except as the necessary policies may affect your actions today. You are concerned with doing today’s work in a perfectly successful manner, and not with emergencies which may arise tomorrow; you can attend to them as they come.

                                                Do not concern yourself with questions as to how you shall surmount obstacles which may loom upon your business horizon, unless you can see plainly that your course must be altered today in order to avoid them.

                                                No matter how tremendous an obstruction may appear at a distance, you will find that if you go on in the Certain Way it will disappear as you approach it, or that a way over, through, or around it will appear.

                                                No possible combination of circumstances can defeat a man or woman who is proceeding to get rich along strictly scientific lines. No man or woman who obeys the law can fail to get rich, any more than one can multiply two by two and fail to get four.

                                                Give no anxious thought to possible disasters, obstacles, panics, or unfavorable combinations of circumstances; it is time enough to meet such things when they present themselves before you in the immediate present, and you will find that every difficulty carries with it the wherewithal for its overcoming.

                                                Guard your speech. Never speak of yourself, your affairs, or of anything else in a discouraged or discouraging way.

                                                Never admit the possibility of failure, or speak in a way that infers failure as a possibility.

                                                Never speak of the times as being hard, or of business conditions as being doubtful. Times may be hard and business doubtful for those who are on the competitive plane, but they can never be so for you; you can create what you want, and you are above fear.

                                                When others are having hard times and poor business, you will find your greatest opportunities.

                                                Train yourself to think of and to look upon the world as a something which is Becoming, which is growing; and to regard seeming evil as being only that which is undeveloped. Always speak in terms of advancement; to do otherwise is to deny your faith, and to deny your faith is to lose it.

                                                Never allow yourself to feel disappointed. You may expect to have a certain thing at a certain time, and not get it at that time; and this will appear to you like failure.

                                                But if you hold to your faith you will find that the failure is only apparent.

                                                Go on in the certain way, and if you do not receive that thing, you will receive something so much better that you will see that the seeming failure was really a great success.

                                                A student of this science had set his mind on making a certain business combination which seemed to him at the time to be very desirable, and he worked for some weeks to bring it about. When the crucial time came, the thing failed in a perfectly inexplicable way; it was as if some unseen influence had been working secretly against him. He was not disappointed; on the contrary, he thanked God that his desire had been overruled, and went steadily on with a grateful mind. In a few weeks an opportunity so much better came his way that he would not have made the first deal on any account; and he saw that a Mind which knew more than he knew had prevented him from losing the greater good by entangling himself with the lesser.

                                                That is the way every seeming failure will work out for you, if you keep your faith, hold to your purpose, have gratitude, and do, every day, all that can be done that day, doing each separate act in a successful manner.

                                                When you make a failure, it is because you have not asked for enough; keep on, and a larger thing then you were seeking will certainly come to you. Remember this.

                                                You will not fail because you lack the necessary talent to do what you wish to do. If you go on as I have directed, you will develop all the talent that is necessary to the doing of your work.

                                                It is not within the scope of this book to deal with the science of cultivating talent; but it is as certain and simple as the process of getting rich.

                                                However, do not hesitate or waver for fear that when you come to any certain place you will fail for lack of ability; keep right on, and when you come to that place, the ability will be furnished to you. The same source of Ability which enabled the untaught Lincoln to do the greatest work in government ever accomplished by a single man is open to you; you may draw upon all the mind there is for wisdom to use in meeting the responsibilities which are laid upon you. Go on in full faith.

                                                Study this book. Make it your constant companion until you have mastered all the ideas contained in it. While you are getting firmly established in this faith, you will do well to give up most recreations and pleasure; and to stay away from places where ideas conflicting with these are advanced in lectures or sermons. Do not read pessimistic or conflicting literature, or get into arguments upon the matter. Do very little reading, outside of the writers mentioned in the Preface. Spend most of your leisure time in contemplating your vision, and in cultivating gratitude, and in reading this book. It contains all you need to know of the science of getting rich; and you will find all the essentials summed up in the following chapter.

                                                About

                                                The Get Rich Series is based on The Science of Getting Rich. It  is a classic book by Wallace D. Wattles. It is a practical manual intended for the men and women whose most pressing need is for money; who wish to get rich first, and philosophize afterward.

                                                Discussion

                                                I would love to hear you ideas and opinion on this chapter. Your comments are highly appreciated.

                                                Other articles you may enjoy :

                                                1. Chapter 17: Summary of the Science of Getting Rich THERE is a thinking stuff from which all things are...
                                                2. Chapter 15: The Advancing Man WHAT I have said in the last chapter applies as...
                                                3. Chapter 12: Efficient Action YOU must use your thought as directed in previous chapters,...
                                                4. Chapter 13: Getting into the Right Business SUCCESS, in any particular business, depends for one thing upon...
                                                5. Chapter 11: Acting in the Certain Way THOUGHT is the creative power, or the impelling force which...
                                                6. Chapter 14: The Impression of Increase WHETHER you change your vocation or not, your actions...

                                              24. Chapter 15: The Advancing Man

                                                Posted: July 12, 2009, 1:46 am by Daniel Ngari

                                                WHAT I have said in the last chapter applies as well to the professional man and the wage-earner as to the man who is engaged in mercantile business.

                                                No matter whether you are a physician, a teacher, or a clergyman, if you can give increase of life to others and make them sensible of the fact, they will be attracted to you, and you will get rich. The physician who holds the vision of himself as a great and successful healer, and who works toward the complete realization of that vision with faith and purpose, as described in former chapters, will come into such close touch with the Source of Life that he will be phenomenally successful; patients will come to him in throngs.

                                                No one has a greater opportunity to carry into effect the teaching of this book than the practitioner of medicine; it does not matter to which of the various schools he may belong, for the principle of healing is common to all of them, and may be reached by all alike. The Advancing Man in medicine, who holds to a clear mental image of himself as successful, and who obeys the laws of faith, purpose, and gratitude, will cure every curable case he undertakes, no matter what remedies he may use.

                                                In the field of religion, the world cries out for the clergyman who can teach his hearers the true science of abundant life. He who masters the details of the science of getting rich, together with the allied sciences of being well, of being great, and of winning love, and who teaches these details from the pulpit, will never lack for a congregation. This is the gospel that the world needs; it will give increase of life, and men will hear it gladly, and will give liberal support to the man who brings it to them.

                                                What is now needed is a demonstration of the science of life from the pulpit. We want preachers who can not only tell us how, but who in their own persons will show us how. We need the preacher who will himself be rich, healthy, great, and beloved, to teach us how to attain to these things; and when he comes he will find a numerous and loyal following.

                                                The same is true of the teacher who can inspire the children with the faith and purpose of the advancing life. He will never be “out of a job.” And any teacher who has this faith and purpose can give it to his pupils; he cannot help giving it to them if it is part of his own life and practice.

                                                What is true of the teacher, preacher, and physician is true of the lawyer, dentist, real estate man, insurance agent–of everybody.

                                                The combined mental and personal action I have described is infallible; it cannot fail. Every man and woman who follows these instructions steadily, perseveringly, and to the letter, will get rich. The law of the Increase of Life is as mathematically certain in its operation as the law of gravitation; getting rich is an exact science.

                                                The wage-earner will find this as true of his case as of any of the others mentioned. Do not feel that you have no chance to get rich because you are working where there is no visible opportunity for advancement, where wages are small and the cost of living high. Form your clear mental vision of what you want, and begin to act with faith and purpose.

                                                Do all the work you can do, every day, and do each piece of work in a perfectly successful manner; put the power of success, and the purpose to get rich, into everything that you do.

                                                But do not do this merely with the idea of currying favor with your employer, in the hope that he, or those above you, will see your good work and advance you; it is not likely that they will do so.

                                                The man who is merely a “good” workman, filling his place to the very best of his ability, and satisfied with that, is valuable to his employer; and it is not to the employer’s interest to promote him; he is worth more where he is.

                                                To secure advancement, something more is necessary than to be too large for your place.

                                                The man who is certain to advance is the one who is too big for his place, and who has a clear concept of what he wants to be; who knows that he can become what he wants to be and who is determined to BE what he wants to be.

                                                Do not try to more than fill your present place with a view to pleasing your employer; do it with the idea of advancing yourself. Hold the faith and purpose of increase during work hours, after work hours, and before work hours. Hold it in such a way that every person who comes in contact with you, whether foreman, fellow workman, or social acquaintance, will feel the power of purpose radiating from you; so that every one will get the sense of advancement and increase from you. Men will be attracted to you, and if there is no possibility for advancement in your present job, you will very soon see an opportunity to take another job.

                                                There is a Power which never fails to present opportunity to the Advancing Man who is moving in obedience to law.

                                                God cannot help helping you, if you act in a Certain Way; He must do so in order to help Himself.

                                                There is nothing in your circumstances or in the industrial situation that can keep you down. If you cannot get rich working for the steel trust, you can get rich on a ten-acre farm; and if you begin to move in the Certain Way, you will certainly escape from the “clutches” of the steel trust and get on to the farm or wherever else you wish to be.

                                                If a few thousands of its employees would enter upon the Certain Way, the steel trust would soon be in a bad plight; it would have to give its workingmen more opportunity, or go out of business. Nobody has to work for a trust; the trusts can keep men in so called hopeless conditions only so long as there are men who are too ignorant to know of the science of getting rich, or too intellectually slothful to practice it.

                                                Begin this way of thinking and acting, and your faith and purpose will make you quick to see any opportunity to better your condition.

                                                Such opportunities will speedily come, for the Supreme, working in All, and working for you, will bring them before you.

                                                Do not wait for an opportunity to be all that you want to be; when an opportunity to be more than you are now is presented and you feel impelled toward it, take it. It will be the first step toward a greater opportunity.

                                                There is no such thing possible in this universe as a lack of opportunities for the man who is living the advancing life.

                                                It is inherent in the constitution of the cosmos that all things shall be for him and work together for his good; and he must certainly get rich if he acts and thinks in the Certain Way. So let wage-earning men and women study this book with great care, and enter with confidence upon the course of action it prescribes; it will not fail.

                                                About

                                                The Get Rich Series is based on The Science of Getting Rich. It  is a classic book by Wallace D. Wattles. It is a practical manual intended for the men and women whose most pressing need is for money; who wish to get rich first, and philosophize afterward.

                                                Discussion

                                                I would love to hear you ideas and opinion on this chapter. Your comments are highly appreciated.

                                                Other articles you may enjoy :

                                                1. Chapter 14: The Impression of Increase WHETHER you change your vocation or not, your actions...
                                                2. Chapter 16: Some Cautions, and Concluding Observations MANY people will scoff at the idea that there is...
                                                3. Chapter 17: Summary of the Science of Getting Rich THERE is a thinking stuff from which all things are...
                                                4. Chapter 13: Getting into the Right Business SUCCESS, in any particular business, depends for one thing upon...
                                                5. Chapter 12: Efficient Action YOU must use your thought as directed in previous chapters,...
                                                6. Chapter 11: Acting in the Certain Way THOUGHT is the creative power, or the impelling force which...

                                              25. Chapter 14: The Impression of Increase

                                                Posted: July 10, 2009, 1:19 am by Daniel Ngari

                                                WHETHER you change your vocation or not, your actions for the present must be those pertaining to the business in which you are now engaged. You can get into the business you want by making constructive use of the business you are already established in; by doing your daily work in a Certain Way. And in so far as your business consists in dealing with other men, whether personally or by letter, the key-thought of all your efforts must be to convey to their minds the impression of increase.

                                                Increase is what all men and all women are seeking; it is the urge of the Formless Intelligence within them, seeking fuller expression.

                                                The desire for increase is inherent in all nature; it is the fundamental impulse of the universe. All human activities are based on the desire for increase; people are seeking more food, more clothes, better shelter, more luxury, more beauty, more knowledge, more pleasure– increase in something, more life.

                                                Every living thing is under this necessity for continuous advancement; where increase of life ceases, dissolution and death set in at once.

                                                Man instinctively knows this, and hence he is forever seeking more. This law of perpetual increase is set forth by Jesus in the parable of the talents; only those who gain more retain any; from him who hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.

                                                The normal desire for increased wealth is not an evil or a reprehensible thing; it is simply the desire for more abundant life; it is aspiration.

                                                And because it is the deepest instinct of their natures, all men and women are attracted to him who can give them more of the means of life.

                                                In following the Certain Way as described in the foregoing pages, you are getting continuous increase for yourself, and you are giving it to all with whom you deal.

                                                You are a creative center, from which increase is given off to all.

                                                Be sure of this, and convey assurance of the fact to every man, woman, and child with whom you come in contact. No matter how small the transaction, even if it be only the selling of a stick of candy to a little child, put into it the thought of increase, and make sure that the customer is impressed with the thought.

                                                Convey the impression of advancement with everything you do, so that all people shall receive the impression that you are an Advancing Man, and that you advance all who deal with you. Even to the people whom you meet in a social way, without any thought of business, and to whom you do not try to sell anything, give the thought of increase.

                                                You can convey this impression by holding the unshakable faith that you, yourself, are in the Way of Increase; and by letting this faith inspire, fill, and permeate every action.

                                                Do everything that you do in the firm conviction that you are an advancing personality, and that you are giving advancement to everybody.

                                                Feel that you are getting rich, and that in so doing you are making others rich, and conferring benefits on all.

                                                Do not boast or brag of your success, or talk about it unnecessarily; true faith is never boastful.

                                                Wherever you find a boastful person, you find one who is secretly doubtful and afraid. Simply feel the faith, and let it work out in every transaction; let every act and tone and look express the quiet assurance that you are getting rich; that you are already rich. Words will not be necessary to communicate this feeling to others; they will feel the sense of increase when in your presence, and will be attracted to you again.

                                                You must so impress others that they will feel that in associating with you they will get increase for themselves. See that you give them a use value greater than the cash value you are taking from them.

                                                Take an honest pride in doing this, and let everybody know it; and you will have no lack of customers. People will go where they are given increase; and the Supreme, which desires increase in all, and which knows all, will move toward you men and women who have never heard of you. Your business will increase rapidly, and you will be surprised at the unexpected benefits which will come to you. You will be able from day to day to make larger combinations, secure greater advantages, and to go on into a more congenial vocation if you desire to do so.

                                                But in doing all this, you must never lose sight of your vision of what you want, or your faith and purpose to get what you want.

                                                Let me here give you another word of caution in regard to motives.

                                                Beware of the insidious temptation to seek for power over other men.

                                                Nothing is so pleasant to the unformed or partially developed mind as the exercise of power or dominion over others. The desire to rule for selfish gratification has been the curse of the world. For countless ages kings and lords have drenched the earth with blood in their battles to extend their dominions; this not to seek more life for all, but to get more power for themselves.

                                                Today, the main motive in the business and industrial world is the same; men marshal their armies of dollars, and lay waste the lives and hearts of millions in the same mad scramble for power over others. Commercial kings, like political kings, are inspired by the lust for power.

                                                Jesus saw in this desire for mastery the moving impulse of that evil world He sought to overthrow. Read the twenty-third chapter of Matthew, and see how He pictures the lust of the Pharisees to be called “Master,” to sit in the high places, to domineer over others, and to lay burdens on the backs of the less fortunate; and note how He compares this lust for dominion with the brotherly seeking for the Common Good to which He calls His disciples.

                                                Look out for the temptation to seek for authority, to become a “master,” to be considered as one who is above the common herd, to impress others by lavish display, and so on.

                                                The mind that seeks for mastery over others is the competitive mind; and the competitive mind is not the creative one. In order to master your environment and your destiny, it is not at all necessary that you should rule over your fellow men and indeed, when you fall into the world’s struggle for the high places, you begin to be conquered by fate and environment, and your getting rich becomes a matter of chance and speculation.

                                                Beware of the competitive mind!! No better statement of the principle of creative action can be formulated than the favorite declaration of the late “Golden Rule” Jones of Toledo: “What I want for myself, I want for everybody.”

                                                About

                                                The Get Rich Series is based on The Science of Getting Rich. It  is a classic book by Wallace D. Wattles. It is a practical manual intended for the men and women whose most pressing need is for money; who wish to get rich first, and philosophize afterward.

                                                Discussion

                                                I would love to hear you ideas and opinion on this chapter. Your comments are highly appreciated.

                                                Other articles you may enjoy :

                                                1. Chapter 17: Summary of the Science of Getting Rich THERE is a thinking stuff from which all things are...
                                                2. Chapter 16: Some Cautions, and Concluding Observations MANY people will scoff at the idea that there is...
                                                3. Chapter 15: The Advancing Man WHAT I have said in the last chapter applies as...
                                                4. Chapter 13: Getting into the Right Business SUCCESS, in any particular business, depends for one thing upon...
                                                5. Chapter 11: Acting in the Certain Way THOUGHT is the creative power, or the impelling force which...
                                                6. Chapter 12: Efficient Action YOU must use your thought as directed in previous chapters,...

                                              26. Chapter 13: Getting into the Right Business

                                                Posted: July 9, 2009, 1:14 am by Daniel Ngari

                                                SUCCESS, in any particular business, depends for one thing upon your possessing in a well-developed state the faculties required in that business.

                                                Without good musical faculty no one can succeed as a teacher of music; without well-developed mechanical faculties no one can achieve great success in any of the mechanical trades; without tact and the commercial faculties no one can succeed in mercantile pursuits. But to possess in a well-developed state the faculties required in your particular vocation does not insure getting rich. There are musicians who have remarkable talent, and who yet remain poor; there are blacksmiths, carpenters, and so on who have excellent mechanical ability, but who do not get rich; and there are merchants with good faculties for dealing with men who nevertheless fail.

                                                The different faculties are tools; it is essential to have good tools, but it is also essential that the tools should be used in the Right Way. One man can take a sharp saw, a square, a good plane, and so on, and build a handsome article of furniture; another man can take the same tools and set to work to duplicate the article, but his production will be a botch. He does not know how to use good tools in a successful way.

                                                The various faculties of your mind are the tools with which you must do the work which is to make you rich; it will be easier for you to succeed if you get into a business for which you are well equipped with mental tools.

                                                Generally speaking, you will do best in that business which will use your strongest faculties; the one for which you are naturally “best fitted.” But there are limitations to this statement, also. No man should regard his vocation as being irrevocably fixed by the tendencies with which he was born.

                                                You can get rich in ANY business, for if you have not the right talent for you can develop that talent; it merely means that you will have to make your tools as you go along, instead of confining yourself to the use of those with which you were born. It will be EASIER for you to succeed in a vocation for which you already have the talents in a well-developed state; but you CAN succeed in any vocation, for you can develop any rudimentary talent, and there is no talent of which you have not at least the rudiment.

                                                You will get rich most easily in point of effort, if you do that for which you are best fitted; but you will get rich most satisfactorily if you do that which you WANT to do.

                                                Doing what you want to do is life; and there is no real satisfaction in living if we are compelled to be forever doing something which we do not like to do, and can never do what we want to do. And it is certain that you can do what you want to do; the desire to do it is proof that you have within you the power which can do it.

                                                Desire is a manifestation of power.

                                                The desire to play music is the power which can play music seeking expression and development; the desire to invent mechanical devices is the mechanical talent seeking expression and development.

                                                Where there is no power, either developed or undeveloped, to do a thing, there is never any desire to do that thing; and where there is strong desire to do a thing, it is certain proof that the power to do it is strong, and only requires to be developed and applied in the Right Way.

                                                All things else being equal, it is best to select the business for which you have the best developed talent; but if you have a strong desire to engage in any particular line of work, you should select that work as the ultimate end at which you aim.

                                                You can do what you want to do, and it is your right and privilege to follow the business or avocation which will be most congenial and pleasant.

                                                You are not obliged to do what you do not like to do, and should not do it except as a means to bring you to the doing of the thing you want to do.

                                                If there are past mistakes whose consequences have placed you in an undesirable business or environment, you may be obliged for some time to do what you do not like to do; but you can make the doing of it pleasant by knowing that it is making it possible for you to come to the doing of what you want to do.

                                                If you feel that you are not in the right vocation, do not act too hastily in trying to get into another one. The best way, generally, to change business or environment is by growth.

                                                Do not be afraid to make a sudden and radical change if the opportunity is presented, and you feel after careful consideration that it is the right opportunity; but never take sudden or radical action when you are in doubt as to the wisdom of doing so.

                                                There is never any hurry on the creative plane; and there is no lack of opportunity.

                                                When you get out of the competitive mind you will understand that you never need to act hastily. No one else is going to beat you to the thing you want to do; there is enough for all. If one space is taken, another and a better one will be opened for you a little farther on; there is plenty of time. When you are in doubt, wait. Fall back on the contemplation of your vision, and increase your faith and purpose; and by all means, in times of doubt and indecision, cultivate gratitude.

                                                A day or two spent in contemplating the vision of what you want, and in earnest thanksgiving that you are getting it, will bring your mind into such close relationship with the Supreme that you will make no mistake when you do act.

                                                There is a mind which knows all there is to know; and you can come into close unity with this mind by faith and the purpose to advance in life, if you have deep gratitude.

                                                Mistakes come from acting hastily, or from acting in fear or doubt, or in forgetfulness of the Right Motive, which is more life to all, and less to none.

                                                As you go on in the Certain Way, opportunities will come to you in increasing number; and you will need to be very steady in your faith and purpose, and to keep in close touch with the All Mind by reverent gratitude.

                                                Do all that you can do in a perfect manner every day, but do it without haste, worry, or fear. Go as fast as you can, but never hurry.

                                                Remember that in the moment you begin to hurry you cease to be a creator and become a competitor; you drop back upon the old plane again.

                                                Whenever you find yourself hurrying, call a halt; fix your attention on the mental image of the thing you want, and begin to give thanks that you are getting it. The exercise of GRATITUDE will never fail to strengthen your faith and renew your purpose.

                                                Other articles you may enjoy :

                                                1. Chapter 14: The Impression of Increase WHETHER you change your vocation or not, your actions...
                                                2. Chapter 17: Summary of the Science of Getting Rich THERE is a thinking stuff from which all things are...
                                                3. Chapter 16: Some Cautions, and Concluding Observations MANY people will scoff at the idea that there is...
                                                4. Chapter 15: The Advancing Man WHAT I have said in the last chapter applies as...
                                                5. Chapter 11: Acting in the Certain Way THOUGHT is the creative power, or the impelling force which...
                                                6. Chapter 12: Efficient Action YOU must use your thought as directed in previous chapters,...

                                              27. Chapter 12: Efficient Action

                                                Posted: July 8, 2009, 1:10 am by Daniel Ngari

                                                YOU must use your thought as directed in previous chapters, and begin to do what you can do where you are; and you must do ALL that you can do where you are. You can advance only by being larger than your present place; and no man is larger than his present place who leaves undone any of the work pertaining to that place. The world is advanced only by those who more than fill their present places.

                                                If no man quite filled his present place, you can see that there must be a going backward in everything. Those who do not quite fill their present places are dead weight upon society, government, commerce, and industry; they must be carried along by others at a great expense. The progress of the world is retarded only by those who do not fill the places they are holding; they belong to a former age and a lower stage or plane of life, and their tendency is toward degeneration. No society could advance if every man was smaller than his place; social evolution is guided by the law of physical and mental evolution. In the animal world, evolution is caused by excess of life.

                                                When an organism has more life than can be expressed in the functions of its own plane, it develops the organs of a higher plane, and a new species is originated.

                                                There never would have been new species had there not been organisms which more than filled their places. The law is exactly the same for you; your getting rich depends upon your applying this principle to your own affairs.

                                                Every day is either a successful day or a day of failure; and it is the successful days which get you what you want. If everyday is a failure, you can never get rich; while if every day is a success, you cannot fail to get rich.

                                                If there is something that may be done today, and you do not do it, you have failed in so far as that thing is concerned; and the consequences may be more disastrous than you imagine.

                                                You cannot foresee the results of even the most trivial act; you do not know the workings of all the forces that have been set moving in your behalf. Much may be depending on your doing some simple act; it may be the very thing which is to open the door of opportunity to very great possibilities. You can never know all the combinations which Supreme Intelligence is making for you in the world of things and of things and of human affairs; your neglect or failure to do some small thing may cause a long delay in getting what you want.

                                                Do, every day, ALL that can be done that day.

                                                There is, however, a limitation or qualification of the above that you must take into account.

                                                You are not to overwork, nor to rush blindly into your business in the effort to do the greatest possible number of things in the shortest possible time.

                                                You are not to try to do tomorrow’s work today, nor to do a week’s work in a day.

                                                It is really not the number of things you do, but the EFFICIENCY of each separate action that counts.

                                                Every act is, in itself, either a success or a failure.

                                                Every act is, in itself, either effective or inefficient.

                                                Every inefficient act is a failure, and if you spend your life in doing inefficient acts, your whole life will be a failure.

                                                The more things you do, the worse for you, if all your acts are inefficient ones.

                                                On the other hand, every efficient act is a success in itself, and if every act of your life is an efficient one, your whole life MUST be a success.

                                                The cause of failure is doing too many things in an inefficient manner, and not doing enough things in an efficient manner.

                                                You will see that it is a self-evident proposition that if you do not do any inefficient acts, and if you do a sufficient number of efficient acts, you will become rich. If, now, it is possible for you to make each act an efficient one, you see again that the getting of riches is reduced to an exact science, like mathematics.

                                                The matter turns, then, on the questions whether you can make each separate act a success in itself. And this you can certainly do.

                                                You can make each act a success, because ALL Power is working with you; and ALL Power cannot fail.

                                                Power is at your service; and to make each act efficient you have only to put power into it.

                                                Every action is either strong or weak; and when every one is strong, you are acting in the Certain Way which will make you rich.

                                                Every act can be made strong and efficient by holding your vision while you are doing it, and putting the whole power of your FAITH and PURPOSE into it.

                                                It is at this point that the people fail who separate mental power from personal action. They use the power of mind in one place and at one time, and they act in another place and at another time. So their acts are not successful in themselves; too many of them are inefficient. But if ALL Power goes into every act, no matter how commonplace, every act will be a success in itself; and as in the nature of things every success opens the way to other successes, your progress toward what you want, and the progress of what you want toward you, will become increasingly rapid.

                                                Remember that successful action is cumulative in its results. Since the desire for more life is inherent in all things, when a man begins to move toward larger life more things attach themselves to him, and the influence of his desire is multiplied.

                                                Do, every day, all that you can do that day, and do each act in an efficient manner.

                                                In saying that you must hold your vision while you are doing each act, however trivial or commonplace, I do not mean to say that it is necessary at all times to see the vision distinctly to its smallest details. It should be the work of your leisure hours to use your imagination on the details of your vision, and to contemplate them until they are firmly fixed upon memory. If you wish speedy results, spend practically all your spare time in this practice.

                                                By continuous contemplation you will get the picture of what you want, even to the smallest details, so firmly fixed upon your mind, and so completely transferred to the mind of Formless Substance, that in your working hours you need only to mentally refer to the picture to stimulate your faith and purpose, and cause your best effort to be put forth. Contemplate your picture in your leisure hours until your consciousness is so full of it that you can grasp it instantly. You will become so enthused with its bright promises that the mere thought of it will call forth the strongest energies of your whole being.

                                                Let us again repeat our syllabus, and by slightly changing the closing statements bring it to the point we have now reached.

                                                There is a thinking stuff from which all things are made, and which, in its original state, permeates, penetrates, and fills the interspaces of the universe.

                                                A thought, in this substance, Produces the thing that is imaged by the thought.

                                                Man can form things in his thought, and, by impressing his thought upon formless substance, can cause the thing he thinks about to be created.

                                                In order to do this, man must pass from the competitive to the creative mind; he must form a clear mental picture of the things he wants, and do, with faith and purpose, all that can be done each day, doing each separate thing in an efficient manner.

                                                About

                                                The Get Rich Series is based on The Science of Getting Rich. It  is a classic book by Wallace D. Wattles. It is a practical manual intended for the men and women whose most pressing need is for money; who wish to get rich first, and philosophize afterward.

                                                Discussion

                                                I would love to hear you ideas and opinion on this chapter. Your comments are highly appreciated.

                                                Other articles you may enjoy :

                                                1. Chapter 11: Acting in the Certain Way THOUGHT is the creative power, or the impelling force which...
                                                2. Chapter 15: The Advancing Man WHAT I have said in the last chapter applies as...
                                                3. Chapter 17: Summary of the Science of Getting Rich THERE is a thinking stuff from which all things are...
                                                4. Chapter 16: Some Cautions, and Concluding Observations MANY people will scoff at the idea that there is...
                                                5. Chapter 14: The Impression of Increase WHETHER you change your vocation or not, your actions...
                                                6. Chapter 13: Getting into the Right Business SUCCESS, in any particular business, depends for one thing upon...

                                              28. Chapter 11: Acting in the Certain Way

                                                Posted: July 7, 2009, 1:09 am by Daniel Ngari

                                                THOUGHT is the creative power, or the impelling force which causes the creative power to act; thinking in a Certain Way will bring riches to you, but you must not rely upon thought alone, paying no attention to personal action. That is the rock upon which many otherwise scientific metaphysical thinkers meet shipwreck–the failure to connect thought with personal action.

                                                We have not yet reached the stage of development, even supposing such a stage to be possible, in which man can create directly from Formless Substance without nature’s processes or the work of human hands; man must not only think, but his personal action must supplement his thought.

                                                By thought you can cause the gold in the hearts of the mountains to be impelled toward you; but it will not mine itself, refine itself, coin itself into double eagles, and come rolling along the roads seeking its way into your pocket.

                                                Under the impelling power of the Supreme Spirit, men’s affairs will be so ordered that some one will be led to mine the gold for you; other men’s business transactions will be so directed that the gold will be brought toward you, and you must so arrange your own business affairs that you may be able to receive it when it comes to you. Your thought makes all things, animate and inanimate, work to bring you what you want; but your personal activity must be such that you can rightly receive what you want when it reaches you. You are not to take it as charity, nor to steal it; you must give every man more in use value than he gives you in cash value.

                                                The scientific use of thought consists in forming a clear and distinct mental image of what you want; in holding fast to the purpose to get what you want; and in realizing with grateful faith that you do get what you want.

                                                Do not try to ‘project’ your thought in any mysterious or occult way, with the idea of having it go out and do things for you; that is wasted effort, and will weaken your power to think with sanity.

                                                The action of thought in getting rich is fully explained in the preceding chapters; your faith and purpose positively impress your vision upon Formless Substance, which has THE SAME DESIRE FOR MORE LIFE THAT YOU HAVE; and this vision, received from you, sets all the creative forces at work IN AND THROUGH THEIR REGULAR CHANNELS OF ACTION, but directed toward you.

                                                It is not your part to guide or supervise the creative process; all you have to do with that is to retain your vision, stick to your purpose, and maintain your faith and gratitude.

                                                But you must act in a Certain Way, so that you can appropriate what is yours when it comes to you; so that you can meet the things you have in your picture, and put them in their proper places as they arrive.

                                                You can really see the truth of this. When things reach you, they will be in the hands of other men, who will ask an equivalent for them.

                                                And you can only get what is yours by giving the other man what is his.

                                                Your pocketbook is not going to be transformed into a Fortunata’s purse, which shall be always full of money without effort on your part.

                                                This is the crucial point in the science of getting rich; right here, where thought and personal action must be combined. There are very many people who, consciously or unconsciously, set the creative forces in action by the strength and persistence of their desires, but who remain poor because they do not provide for the reception of the thing they want when it comes.

                                                By thought, the thing you want is brought to you; by action you receive it.

                                                Whatever your action is to be, it is evident that you must act NOW. You cannot act in the past, and it is essential to the clearness of your mental vision that you dismiss the past from your mind. You cannot act in the future, for the future is not here yet. And you cannot tell how you will want to act in any future contingency until that contingency has arrived.

                                                Because you are not in the right business, or the right environment now, do not think that you must postpone action until you get into the right business or environment. And do not spend time in the present taking thought as to the best course in possible future emergencies; have faith in your ability to meet any emergency when it arrives.

                                                If you act in the present with your mind on the future, your present action will be with a divided mind, and will not be effective.

                                                Put your whole mind into present action.

                                                Do not give your creative impulse to Original Substance, and then sit down and wait for results; if you do, you will never get them. Act now. There is never any time but now, and there never will be any time but now. If you are ever to begin to make ready for the reception of what you want, you must begin now.

                                                And your action, whatever it is, must most likely be in your present business or employment, and must be upon the persons and things in your present environment.

                                                You cannot act where you are not; you cannot act where you have been, and you cannot act where you are going to be; you can act only where you are.

                                                Do not bother as to whether yesterday’s work was well done or ill done; do to-day’s work well. Do not try to do tomorrow’s work now; there will be plenty of time to do that when you get to it.

                                                Do not try, by occult or mystical means, to act on people or things that are out of your reach.

                                                Do not wait for a change of environment, before you act; get a change of environment by action.

                                                You can so act upon the environment in which you are now, as to cause yourself to be transferred to a better environment.

                                                Hold with faith and purpose the vision of yourself in the better environment, but act upon your present environment with all your heart, and with all your strength, and with all your mind.

                                                Do not spend any time in day dreaming or castle building; hold to the one vision of what you want, and act NOW.

                                                Do not cast about seeking some new thing to do, or some strange, unusual, or remarkable action to perform as a first step toward getting rich. It is probable that your actions, at least for some time to come, will be those you have been performing for some time past; but you are to begin now to perform these actions in the Certain Way, which will surely make you rich.

                                                If you are engaged in some business, and feel that it is not the right one for you, do not wait until you get into the right business before you begin to act.

                                                Do not feel discouraged, or sit down and lament because you are misplaced. No man was ever so misplaced but that he could not find the right place, and no man ever became so involved in the wrong business but that he could get into the right business.

                                                Hold the vision of yourself in the right business, with the purpose to get into it, and the faith that you will get into it, and are getting into it; but ACT in your present business. Use your present business as the means of getting a better one, and use your present enviornment as the means of getting into a better one. Your vision of the right business, if held with faith and purpose, will cause the Supreme to move the right business toward you; and your action, if performed in the Certain Way, will cause you to move toward the business.

                                                If you are an employee, or wage earner, and feel that you must change places in order to get what you want, do not ‘project” your thought into space and rely upon it to get you another job. It will probably fail to do so.

                                                Hold the vision of yourself in the job you want, while you ACT with faith and purpose on the job you have, and you will certainly get the job you want.

                                                Your vision and faith will set the creative force in motion to bring it toward you, and your action will cause the forces in your own environment to move you toward the place you want. In closing this chapter, we will add another statement to our syllabus:–

                                                There is a thinking stuff from which all things are made, and which, in its original state, permeates, penetrates, and fills the interspaces of the universe.

                                                A thought, in this substance, Produces the thing that is imaged by the thought.

                                                Man can form things in his thought, and, by impressing his thought upon formless substance, can cause the thing he thinks about to be created.

                                                In order to do this, man must pass from the competitive to the creative mind; he must form a clear mental picture of the things he wants, and hold this picture in his thoughts with the fixed PURPOSE to get what he wants, and the unwavering FAITH that he does get what he wants, closing his mind to all that may tend to shake his purpose, dim his vision, or quench his faith.

                                                That he may receive what he wants when it comes, man must act NOW upon the people and things in his present environment.

                                                About

                                                The Get Rich Series is based on The Science of Getting Rich. It  is a classic book by Wallace D. Wattles. It is a practical manual intended for the men and women whose most pressing need is for money; who wish to get rich first, and philosophize afterward.

                                                Discussion

                                                I would love to hear you ideas and opinion on this chapter. Your comments are highly appreciated.

                                                Other articles you may enjoy :

                                                1. Chapter 17: Summary of the Science of Getting Rich THERE is a thinking stuff from which all things are...
                                                2. Chapter 12: Efficient Action YOU must use your thought as directed in previous chapters,...
                                                3. Chapter 16: Some Cautions, and Concluding Observations MANY people will scoff at the idea that there is...
                                                4. Chapter 14: The Impression of Increase WHETHER you change your vocation or not, your actions...
                                                5. Chapter 15: The Advancing Man WHAT I have said in the last chapter applies as...
                                                6. Chapter 13: Getting into the Right Business SUCCESS, in any particular business, depends for one thing upon...

                                              29. Chapter 10: Further Use of the Will

                                                Posted: July 6, 2009, 1:02 am by Daniel Ngari

                                                YOU cannot retain a true and clear vision of wealth if you are constantly turning your attention to opposing pictures, whether they be external or imaginary. Do not tell of your past troubles of a financial nature, if you have had them, do not think of them at all. Do not tell of the poverty of your parents, or the hardships of your early life; to do any of these things is to mentally class yourself with the poor for the time being, and it will certainly check the movement of things in your direction.

                                                “Let the dead bury their dead,” as Jesus said.

                                                Put poverty and all things that pertain to poverty completely behind you.

                                                You have accepted a certain theory of the universe as being correct, and are resting all your hopes of happiness on its being correct; and what can you gain by giving heed to conflicting theories?

                                                Do not read religious books which tell you that the world is soon coming to an end; and do not read the writing of muck-rakers and pessimistic philosophers who tell you that it is going to the devil.

                                                The world is not going to the devil; it is going to God.

                                                It is wonderful Becoming.

                                                True, there may be a good many things in existing conditions which are disagreeable; but what is the use of studying them when they are certainly passing away, and when the study of them only tends to check their passing and keep them with us? Why give time and attention to things which are being removed by evolutionary growth, when you can hasten their removal only by promoting the evolutionary growth as far as your part of it goes?

                                                No matter how horrible in seeming may be the conditions in certain countries, sections, or places, you waste your time and destroy your own chances by considering them.

                                                You should interest yourself in the world’s becoming rich.

                                                Think of the riches the world is coming into, instead of the poverty it is growing out of; and bear in mind that the only way in which you can assist the world in growing rich is by growing rich yourself through the creative method–not the competitive one.

                                                Give your attention wholly to riches; ignore poverty.

                                                Whenever you think or speak of those who are poor, think and speak of them as those who are becoming rich;as those who are to be congratulated rather than pitied. Then they and others will catch the inspiration, and begin to search for the way out.

                                                Because I say that you are to give your whole time and mind and thought to riches, it does not follow that you are to be sordid or mean.

                                                To become really rich is the noblest aim you can have in life, for it includes everything else. On the competitive plane, the struggle to get rich is a Godless scramble for power over other men; but when we come into the creative mind, all this is changed.

                                                All that is possible in the way of greatness and soul unfoldment, of service and lofty endeavor, comes by way of getting rich; all is made possible by the use of things.

                                                If you lack for physical health, you will find that the attainment of it is conditional on your getting rich.

                                                Only those who are emancipated from financial worry, and who have the means to live a care-free existence and follow hygienic practices, can have and retain health.

                                                Moral and spiritual greatness is possible only to those who are above the competitive battle for existence; and only those who are becoming rich on the plane of creative thought are free from the degrading influences of competition. If your heart is set on domestic happiness, remember that love flourishes best where there is refinement, a high level of thought, and freedom from corrupting influences; and these are to be found only where riches are attained by the exercise of creative thought, without strife or rivalry.

                                                You can aim at nothing so great or noble, I repeat, as to become rich; and you must fix your attention upon your mental picture of riches, to the exclusion of all that may tend to dim or obscure the vision.

                                                You must learn to see the underlying TRUTH in all things; you must see beneath all seemingly wrong conditions the Great One Life ever moving forward toward fuller expression and more complete happiness.

                                                It is the truth that there is no such thing as poverty; that there is only wealth.

                                                Some people remain in poverty because they are ignorant of the fact that there is wealth for them; and these can best be taught by showing them the way to affluence in your own person and practice.

                                                Others are poor because, while they feel that there is a way out, they are too intellectually indolent to put forth the mental effort necessary to find that way and by travel it; and for these the very best thing you can do is to arouse their desire by showing them the happiness that comes from being rightly rich.

                                                Others still are poor because, while they have some notion of science, they have become so swamped and lost in the maze of metaphysical and occult theories that they do not know which road to take. They try a mixture of many systems and fail in all. For these, again, the very best thing, to do is to show the right way in your own person and practice; an ounce of doing things is worth a pound of theorizing.

                                                The very best thing you can do for the whole world is to make the most of yourself.

                                                You can serve God and man in no more effective way than by getting rich; that is, if you get rich by the creative method and not by the competetive one.

                                                Another thing. We assert that this book gives in detail the principles of the science of getting rich; and if that is true, you do not need to read any other book upon the subject. This may sound narrow and egotistical, but consider: there is no more scientific method of computation in mathematics than by addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division; no other method is possible. There can be but one shortest distance between two points. There is only one way to think scientifically, and that is to think in the way that leads by the most direct and simple route to the goal. No man has yet formulated a briefer or less complex “system” than the one set forth herein; it has been stripped of all non-essentials. When you commence on this, lay all others aside; put them out of your mind altogether.

                                                Read this book every day; keep it with you; commit it to memory, and do not think about other “systems” and theories. If you do, you will begin to have doubts, and to be uncertain and wavering in your thought; and then you will begin to make failures.

                                                After you have made good and become rich, you may study other systems as much as you please; but until you are quite sure that you have gained what you want, do not read anything on this line but this book, unless it be the authors mentioned in the Preface.

                                                And read only the most optimistic comments on the world’s news; those in harmony with your picture.

                                                Also, postpone your investigations into the occult. Do not dabble in theosophy, Spiritualism, or kindred studies. It is very likely that the dead still live, and are near; but if they are, let them alone; mind your own business.

                                                Wherever the spirits of the dead may be, they have their own work to do, and their own problems to solve; and we have no right to interfere with them. We cannot help them, and it is very doubtful whether they can help us, or whether we have any right to trespass upon their time if they can. Let the dead and the hereafter alone, and solve your own problem; get rich. If you begin to mix with the occult, you will start mental cross-currents which will surely bring your hopes to shipwreck. Now, this and the preceding chapters have brought us to the following statement of basic facts:–

                                                There is a thinking stuff from which all things are made, and which, in its original state, permeates, penetrates, and fills the interspaces of the universe.

                                                A thought, in this substance, Produces the thing that is imaged by the thought.

                                                Man can form things in his thought, and, by impressing his thought upon formless substance, can cause the thing he thinks about to be created.

                                                In order to do this, man must pass from the competitive to the creative mind; he must form a clear mental picture of the things he wants, and hold this picture in his thoughts with the fixed PURPOSE to get what he wants, and the unwavering FAITH that he does get what he wants, closing his mind against all that may tend to shake his purpose, dim his vision, or quench his faith.

                                                And in addition to all this, we shall now see that he must live and act in a Certain Way.

                                                About

                                                The Get Rich Series is based on The Science of Getting Rich. It  is a classic book by Wallace D. Wattles. It is a practical manual intended for the men and women whose most pressing need is for money; who wish to get rich first, and philosophize afterward.

                                                Discussion

                                                I would love to hear you ideas and opinion on this chapter. Your comments are highly appreciated.

                                                Other articles you may enjoy :

                                                1. Chapter 17: Summary of the Science of Getting Rich THERE is a thinking stuff from which all things are...
                                                2. Chapter 16: Some Cautions, and Concluding Observations MANY people will scoff at the idea that there is...
                                                3. Chapter 11: Acting in the Certain Way THOUGHT is the creative power, or the impelling force which...
                                                4. Chapter 12: Efficient Action YOU must use your thought as directed in previous chapters,...
                                                5. Chapter 14: The Impression of Increase WHETHER you change your vocation or not, your actions...
                                                6. Chapter 13: Getting into the Right Business SUCCESS, in any particular business, depends for one thing upon...

                                              30. Use the Will to Get Rich

                                                Posted: July 6, 2009, 3:52 am by Daniel Ngari

                                                TO set about getting rich in a scientific way, you do not try to apply your will power to anything outside of yourself. You have no right to do so, anyway.It is wrong to apply your will to other men and women, in order to get them to do what you wish done.

                                                It is as flagrantly wrong to coerce people by mental power as it is to coerce them by physical power. If compelling people by physical force to do things for you reduces them to slavery, compelling them by mental means accomplishes exactly the same thing; the only difference is in methods. If taking things from people by physical force is robbery, them taking things by mental force is robbery also; there is no difference in principle.

                                                You have no right to use your will power upon another person, even “for his own good”; for you do not know what is for his good. The science of getting rich does not require you to apply power or force to any other person, in any way whatsoever. There is not the slightest necessity for doing so; indeed, any attempt to use your will upon others will only tend to defeat your purpose.

                                                You do not need to apply your will to things, in order to compel them to come to you.

                                                That would simply be trying to coerce God, and would be foolish and useless, as well as irreverent.

                                                You do not have to compel God to give you good things, any more than you have to use your will power to make the sun rise.

                                                You do not have to use your will power to conquer an unfriendly deity, or to make stubborn and rebellious forces do your bidding.

                                                Substance is friendly to you, and is more anxious to give you what you want than you are to get it.

                                                To get rich, you need only to use your will power upon yourself.

                                                When you know what to think and do, then you must use your will to compel yourself to think and do the right things. That is the legitimate use of the will in getting what you want–to use it in holding yourself to the right course. Use your will to keep yourself thinking and acting in the Certain Way.

                                                Do not try to project your will, or your thoughts, or your mind out into space, to “act” on things or people.

                                                Keep your mind at home; it can accomplish more there than elsewhere.

                                                Use your mind to form a mental image of what you want, and to hold that vision with faith and purpose; and use your will to keep your mind working in the Right Way.

                                                The more steady and continuous your faith and purpose, the more rapidly you will get rich, because you will make only POSITIVE impressions upon Substance; and you will not neutralize or offset them by negative impressions.

                                                The picture of your desires, held with faith and purpose, is taken up by the Formless, and permeates it to great distances-throughout the universe, for all I know.

                                                As this impression spreads, all things are set moving toward its realization; every living thing, every inanimate thing, and the things yet uncreated, are stirred toward bringing into being that which you want. All force begins to be exerted in that direction; all things begin to move toward you. The minds of people, everywhere, are influenced toward doing the things necessary to the fulfilling of your desires; and they work for you, unconsciously.

                                                But you can check all this by starting a negative impression in the Formless Substance. Doubt or unbelief is as certain to start a movement away from you as faith and purpose are to start one toward you. It is by not understanding this that most people who try to make use of “mental science” in getting rich make their failure. Every hour and moment you spend in giving heed to doubts and fears, every hour you spend in worry, every hour in which your soul is possessed by unbelief, sets a current away from you in the whole domain of intelligent Substance. All the promises are unto them that believe, and unto them only. Notice how insistent Jesus was upon this point of belief; and now you know the reason why.

                                                Since belief is all important, it behooves you to guard your thoughts; and as your beliefs will be shaped to a very great extent by the things you observe and think about, it is important that you should command your attention.

                                                And here the will comes into use; for it is by your will that you determine upon what things your attention shall be fixed.

                                                If you want to become rich, you must not make a study of poverty.

                                                Things are not brought into being by thinking about their opposites. Health is never to be attained by studying disease and thinking about disease; righteousness is not to be promoted by studying sin and thinking about sin; and no one ever got rich by studying poverty and thinking about poverty.

                                                Medicine as a science of disease has increased disease; religion as a science of sin has promoted sin, and economics as a study of poverty will fill the world with wretchedness and want.

                                                Do not talk about poverty; do not investigate it, or concern yourself with it. Never mind what its causes are; you have nothing to do with them.

                                                What concerns you is the cure.

                                                Do not spend your time in charitable work, or charity movements; all charity only tends to perpetuate the wretchedness it aims to eradicate.

                                                I do not say that you should be hard hearted or unkind, and refuse to hear the cry of need; but you must not try to eradicate poverty in any of the conventional ways. Put poverty behind you, and put all that pertains to it behind you, and “make good.”

                                                Get rich; that is the best way you can help the poor.

                                                And you cannot hold the mental image which is to make you rich if you fill your mind with pictures of poverty. Do not read books or papers which give circumstantial accounts of the wretchedness of the tenement dwellers, of the horrors of child labor, and so on. Do not read anything which fills your mind with gloomy images of want and suffering.

                                                You cannot help the poor in the least by knowing about these things; and the wide-spread knowledge of them does not tend at all to do away with poverty.

                                                What tends to do away with poverty is not the getting of pictures of poverty into your mind, but getting pictures of wealth into the minds of the poor.

                                                You are not deserting the poor in their misery when you refuse to allow your mind to be filled with pictures of that misery.

                                                Poverty can be done away with, not by increasing the number of well to do people who think about poverty, but by increasing the number of poor people who purpose with faith to get rich.

                                                The poor do not need charity; they need inspiration. Charity only sends them a loaf of bread to keep them alive in their wretchedness, or gives them an entertainment to make them forget for an hour or two; but inspiration will cause them to rise out of their misery. If you want to help the poor, demonstrate to them that they can become rich; prove it by getting rich yourself.

                                                The only way in which poverty will ever be banished from this world is by getting a large and constantly increasing number of people to practice the teachings of this book.

                                                People must be taught to become rich by creation, not by competition.

                                                Every man who becomes rich by competition throws down behind him the ladder by which he rises, and keeps others down; but every man who gets rich by creation opens a way for thousands to follow him, and inspires them to do so.

                                                You are not showing hardness of heart or an unfeeling disposition when you refuse to pity poverty, see poverty, read about poverty, or think or talk about it, or to listen to those who do talk about it. Use your will power to keep your mind OFF the subject of poverty, and to keep it fixed with faith and purpose ON the vision of what you want.

                                                About

                                                The Get Rich Series is based on The Science of Getting Rich. It  is a classic book by Wallace D. Wattles. It is a practical manual intended for the men and women whose most pressing need is for money; who wish to get rich first, and philosophize afterward.

                                                Discussion

                                                I would love to hear you ideas and opinion on this chapter. Your comments are highly appreciated.

                                                Other articles you may enjoy :

                                                1. Resist Poverty and He will Flee from You TO set about getting rich in a scientific way,...
                                                2. What makes People Rich? It is easy to assume that a rich person got...
                                                3. The Certain Way of Getting Rich Before setting out on your journey for prosperity, be clear...
                                                4. What has Gratitude got to do with Getting Rich? Let us say two of your friends are moving house....
                                                5. Personal Branding for Rich Men Most of my theories on personal branding would not resonate...
                                                6. Chapter 17: Summary of the Science of Getting Rich THERE is a thinking stuff from which all things are...

                                              31. Resist Poverty and He will Flee from You

                                                Posted: July 2, 2009, 12:48 pm by Daniel Ngari

                                                TO set about getting rich in a scientific way, you do not try to apply your will power to anything outside of yourself. You have no right to do so, anyway. It is wrong to apply your will to other men and women, in order to get them to do what you wish done.

                                                It is as flagrantly wrong to coerce people by mental power as it is to coerce them by physical power. If compelling people by physical force to do things for you reduces them to slavery, compelling them by mental means accomplishes exactly the same thing; the only difference is in methods. If taking things from people by physical force is robbery, them taking things by mental force is robbery also; there is no difference in principle.

                                                You have no right to use your will power upon another person, even “for his own good”; for you do not know what is for his good. The science of getting rich does not require you to apply power or force to any other person, in any way whatsoever. There is not the slightest necessity for doing so; indeed, any attempt to use your will upon others will only tend to defeat your purpose.

                                                You do not need to apply your will to things, in order to compel them to come to you.

                                                That would simply be trying to coerce God, and would be foolish and useless, as well as irreverent.

                                                You do not have to compel God to give you good things, any more than you have to use your will power to make the sun rise.

                                                You do not have to use your will power to conquer an unfriendly deity, or to make stubborn and rebellious forces do your bidding.

                                                Substance is friendly to you, and is more anxious to give you what you want than you are to get it.

                                                To get rich, you need only to use your will power upon yourself.

                                                When you know what to think and do, then you must use your will to compel yourself to think and do the right things. That is the legitimate use of the will in getting what you want–to use it in holding yourself to the right course. Use your will to keep yourself thinking and acting in the Certain Way.

                                                Do not try to project your will, or your thoughts, or your mind out into space, to “act” on things or people.

                                                Keep your mind at home; it can accomplish more there than elsewhere.

                                                Use your mind to form a mental image of what you want, and to hold that vision with faith and purpose; and use your will to keep your mind working in the Right Way.

                                                The more steady and continuous your faith and purpose, the more rapidly you will get rich, because you will make only POSITIVE impressions upon Substance; and you will not neutralize or offset them by negative impressions.

                                                The picture of your desires, held with faith and purpose, is taken up by the Formless, and permeates it to great distances-throughout the universe, for all I know.

                                                As this impression spreads, all things are set moving toward its realization; every living thing, every inanimate thing, and the things yet uncreated, are stirred toward bringing into being that which you want. All force begins to be exerted in that direction; all things begin to move toward you. The minds of people, everywhere, are influenced toward doing the things necessary to the fulfilling of your desires; and they work for you, unconsciously.

                                                But you can check all this by starting a negative impression in the Formless Substance. Doubt or unbelief is as certain to start a movement away from you as faith and purpose are to start one toward you. It is by not understanding this that most people who try to make use of “mental science” in getting rich make their failure. Every hour and moment you spend in giving heed to doubts and fears, every hour you spend in worry, every hour in which your soul is possessed by unbelief, sets a current away from you in the whole domain of intelligent Substance. All the promises are unto them that believe, and unto them only. Notice how insistent Jesus was upon this point of belief; and now you know the reason why.

                                                Since belief is all important, it behooves you to guard your thoughts; and as your beliefs will be shaped to a very great extent by the things you observe and think about, it is important that you should command your attention.

                                                And here the will comes into use; for it is by your will that you determine upon what things your attention shall be fixed.

                                                If you want to become rich, you must not make a study of poverty.

                                                Things are not brought into being by thinking about their opposites. Health is never to be attained by studying disease and thinking about disease; righteousness is not to be promoted by studying sin and thinking about sin; and no one ever got rich by studying poverty and thinking about poverty.

                                                Medicine as a science of disease has increased disease; religion as a science of sin has promoted sin, and economics as a study of poverty will fill the world with wretchedness and want.

                                                Do not talk about poverty; do not investigate it, or concern yourself with it. Never mind what its causes are; you have nothing to do with them.

                                                What concerns you is the cure.

                                                Do not spend your time in charitable work, or charity movements; all charity only tends to perpetuate the wretchedness it aims to eradicate.

                                                I do not say that you should be hard hearted or unkind, and refuse to hear the cry of need; but you must not try to eradicate poverty in any of the conventional ways. Put poverty behind you, and put all that pertains to it behind you, and “make good.”

                                                Get rich; that is the best way you can help the poor.

                                                And you cannot hold the mental image which is to make you rich if you fill your mind with pictures of poverty. Do not read books or papers which give circumstantial accounts of the wretchedness of the tenement dwellers, of the horrors of child labor, and so on. Do not read anything which fills your mind with gloomy images of want and suffering.

                                                You cannot help the poor in the least by knowing about these things; and the wide-spread knowledge of them does not tend at all to do away with poverty.

                                                What tends to do away with poverty is not the getting of pictures of poverty into your mind, but getting pictures of wealth into the minds of the poor.

                                                You are not deserting the poor in their misery when you refuse to allow your mind to be filled with pictures of that misery.

                                                Poverty can be done away with, not by increasing the number of well to do people who think about poverty, but by increasing the number of poor people who purpose with faith to get rich.

                                                The poor do not need charity; they need inspiration. Charity only sends them a loaf of bread to keep them alive in their wretchedness, or gives them an entertainment to make them forget for an hour or two; but inspiration will cause them to rise out of their misery. If you want to help the poor, demonstrate to them that they can become rich; prove it by getting rich yourself.

                                                The only way in which poverty will ever be banished from this world is by getting a large and constantly increasing number of people to practice the teachings of this book.

                                                People must be taught to become rich by creation, not by competition.

                                                Every man who becomes rich by competition throws down behind him the ladder by which he rises, and keeps others down; but every man who gets rich by creation opens a way for thousands to follow him, and inspires them to do so.

                                                You are not showing hardness of heart or an unfeeling disposition when you refuse to pity poverty, see poverty, read about poverty, or think or talk about it, or to listen to those who do talk about it. Use your will power to keep your mind OFF the subject of poverty, and to keep it fixed with faith and purpose ON the vision of what you want.

                                                About

                                                The Get Rich Series is based on The Science of Getting Rich. It  is a classic book by Wallace D. Wattles. It is a practical manual intended for the men and women whose most pressing need is for money; who wish to get rich first, and philosophize afterward.

                                                Discussion

                                                I would love to hear you ideas and opinion on this chapter. Your comments are highly appreciated.

                                                Other articles you may enjoy :

                                                1. Use the Will to Get Rich TO set about getting rich in a scientific way,...
                                                2. Chapter 11: Acting in the Certain Way THOUGHT is the creative power, or the impelling force which...
                                                3. What makes People Rich? It is easy to assume that a rich person got...
                                                4. Chapter 17: Summary of the Science of Getting Rich THERE is a thinking stuff from which all things are...
                                                5. Chapter 15: The Advancing Man WHAT I have said in the last chapter applies as...
                                                6. Chapter 16: Some Cautions, and Concluding Observations MANY people will scoff at the idea that there is...

                                              32. The Certain Way of Getting Rich

                                                Posted: July 1, 2009, 4:37 am by Daniel Ngari

                                                Before setting out on your journey for prosperity, be clear on where you want to go. Paint a complete mental picture of what it is that you want to achieve. Be consistent in the image you formulate in your mind. And behind your clear vision must be the purpose to realize it; to bring it out in tangible expression.

                                                A story is told of a shy young man who wanted to succeed. He saw an older man from his home town fishing. He mustered some courage and approached the highly successful old man and asked, “What is the secret to your success?”. Without saying as much as a word to the young man, the old man grabbed him and pushed him down into the lake.

                                                The young man struggled to free himself, but the old man was strong and held him down. After a few minutes of a shockingly fierce struggle the old man pulled out the young from the water. The young man was belligerent and held the old man by the neck. “Why were you trying to kill me?”, he asked.

                                                The old man looked at the young man straight into his eyes and said “You see how much you wanted to breathe while under the water. If you shall desire success with such intensity, then my son success shall be right there waiting for you.

                                                Chapter 7 – Thinking in the Certain Way

                                                TURN back to chapter 6 and read again the story of the man who formed a mental image of his house, and you will get a fair idea of the initial step toward getting rich. You must form a clear and definite mental picture of what you want; you cannot transmit an idea unless you have it yourself.

                                                You must have it before you can give it; and many people fail to impress Thinking Substance because they have themselves only a vague and misty concept of the things they want to do, to have, or to become.

                                                It is not enough that you should have a general desire for wealth “to do good with”; everybody has that desire.

                                                It is not enough that you should have a wish to travel, see things, live more, etc. Everybody has those desires also. If you were going to send a wireless message to a friend, you would not send the letters of the alphabet in their order, and let him construct the message for himself; nor would you take words at random from the dictionary. You would send a coherent sentence; one which meant something. When you try to impress your wants upon Substance, remember that it must be done by a coherent statement; you must know what you want, and be definite. You can never get rich, or start the creative power into action, by sending out unformed longings and vague desires.

                                                Go over your desires just as the man I have described went over his house; see just what you want, and get a clear mental picture of it as you wish it to look when you get it.

                                                That clear mental picture you must have continually in mind, as the sailor has in mind the port toward which he is sailing the ship; you must keep your face toward it all the time. You must no more lose sight of it than the steersman loses sight of the compass.

                                                It is not necessary to take exercises in concentration, nor to set apart special times for prayer and affirmation, nor to “go into the silence,” nor to do occult stunts of any kind. There things are well enough, but all you need is to know what you want, and to want it badly enough so that it will stay in your thoughts.

                                                Spend as much of your leisure time as you can in contemplating your picture, but no one needs to take exercises to concentrate his mind on a thing which he really wants; it is the things you do not really care about which require effort to fix your attention upon them.

                                                And unless you really want to get rich, so that the desire is strong enough to hold your thoughts directed to the purpose as the magnetic pole holds the needle of the compass, it will hardly be worth while for you to try to carry out the instructions given in this book.

                                                The methods herein set forth are for people whose desire for riches is strong enough to overcome mental laziness and the love of ease, and make them work.

                                                The more clear and definite you make your picture then, and the more you dwell upon it, bringing out all its delightful details, the stronger your desire will be; and the stronger your desire, the easier it will be to hold your mind fixed upon the picture of what you want.

                                                Something more is necessary, however, than merely to see the picture clearly. If that is all you do, you are only a dreamer, and will have little or no power for accomplishment.

                                                Behind your clear vision must be the purpose to realize it; to bring it out in tangible expression.

                                                And behind this purpose must be an invincible and unwavering FAITH that the thing is already yours; that it is “at hand” and you have only to take possession of it.

                                                Live in the new house, mentally, until it takes form around you physically. In the mental realm, enter at once into full enjoyment of the things you want.

                                                “Whatsoever things ye ask for when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them,” said Jesus.

                                                See the things you want as if they were actually around you all the time; see yourself as owning and using them. Make use of them in imagination just as you will use them when they are your tangible possessions. Dwell upon your mental picture until it is clear and distinct, and then take the Mental Attitude of Ownership toward everything in that picture. Take possession of it, in mind, in the full faith that it is actually yours. Hold to this mental ownership; do not waiver for an instant in the faith that it is real.

                                                And remember what was said in a proceeding chapter about gratitude; be as thankful for it all the time as you expect to be when it has taken form. The man who can sincerely thank God for the things which as yet he owns only in imagination, has real faith. He will get rich; he will cause the creation of whatsoever he wants.

                                                You do not need to pray repeatedly for things you want; it is not necessary to tell God about it every day.

                                                “Use not vain repetitions as the heathen do,” said Jesus said to his pupils, “for your Father knoweth the ye have need of these things before ye ask Him.”

                                                Your part is to intelligently formulate your desire for the things which make for a larger life, and to get these desire arranged into a coherent whole; and then to impress this Whole Desire upon the Formless Substance, which has the power and the will to bring you what you want.

                                                You do not make this impression by repeating strings of words; you make it by holding the vision with unshakable PURPOSE to attain it, and with steadfast FAITH that you do attain it.

                                                The answer to prayer is not according to your faith while you are talking, but according to your faith while you are working.

                                                You cannot impress the mind of God by having a special Sabbath day set apart to tell Him what you want, and the forgetting Him during the rest of the week. You cannot impress Him by having special hours to go into your closet and pray, if you then dismiss the matter from your mind until the hour of prayer comes again.

                                                Oral prayer is well enough, and has its effect, especially upon yourself, in clarifying your vision and strengthening your faith; but it is not your oral petitions which get you what you want. In order to get rich you do not need a “sweet hour of prayer”; you need to “pray without ceasing.” And by prayer I mean holding steadily to your vision, with the purpose to cause its creation into solid form, and the faith that you are doing so.

                                                “Believe that ye receive them.”

                                                The whole matter turns on receiving, once you have clearly formed your vision. When you have formed it, it is well to make an oral statement, addressing the Supreme in reverent prayer; and from that moment you must, in mind, receive what you ask for. Live in the new house; wear the fine clothes; ride in the automobile; go on the journey, and confidently plan for greater journeys. Think and speak of all the things you have asked for in terms of actual present ownership. Imagine an environment, and a financial condition exactly as you want them, and live all the time in that imaginary environment and financial condition. Mind, however, that you do not do this as a mere dreamer and castle builder; hold to the FAITH that the imaginary is being realized, and to the PURPOSE to realize it. Remember that it is faith and purpose in the use of the imagination which make the difference between the scientist and the dreamer. And having learned this fact, it is here that you must learn the proper use of the Will.

                                                About

                                                The Get Rich Series is based on The Science of Getting Rich. It  is a classic book by Wallace D. Wattles. It is a practical manual intended for the men and women whose most pressing need is for money; who wish to get rich first, and philosophize afterward.

                                                Discussion

                                                I would love to hear you ideas and opinion on this chapter. Your comments are highly appreciated.

                                                Other articles you may enjoy :

                                                1. Chapter 17: Summary of the Science of Getting Rich THERE is a thinking stuff from which all things are...
                                                2. Use the Will to Get Rich TO set about getting rich in a scientific way,...
                                                3. Chapter 11: Acting in the Certain Way THOUGHT is the creative power, or the impelling force which...
                                                4. What has Gratitude got to do with Getting Rich? Let us say two of your friends are moving house....
                                                5. Chapter 12: Efficient Action YOU must use your thought as directed in previous chapters,...
                                                6. Your Right to Be Rich I have been rich, and I have been poor. Believe...

                                              33. What has Gratitude got to do with Getting Rich?

                                                Posted: June 29, 2009, 1:42 am by Daniel Ngari

                                                Let us say two of your friends are moving house. Like a good friend that you are, you decide to help them with the moving. It is back-breaking work, one friend (Jack) is moving on Monday, and the other (Alex) on Tuesday.

                                                After the move, Jack goes quiet for a couple of months. On the other hand, Alex sends you a thank you card, with a bottle of champagne and calls you for a house warming party. You realize that even Jack had a house warming party, only you were not invited. With all things being equal, who would you feel closer to?

                                                Gratitude connects the giver and the receiver. If God gives you blessings and you show gratitude, you will be more connected to Him. Gratitude allows you to focus on the good of the giver and the good of what you have been given. The mind dwells on what you are grateful for. Whatever your mind dwells on will increase in your life. What are you grateful for?  How do you show gratitude to those that shower you with blessings?

                                                Chapter 6 – Gratitude

                                                THE illustrations given in the last chapter will have conveyed to the reader the fact that the first step toward getting rich is to convey the idea of your wants to the Formless Substance.

                                                This is true, and you will see that in order to do so it becomes necessary to relate yourself to the Formless Intelligence in a harmonious way.

                                                To secure this harmonious relation is a matter of such primary and vital importance that I shall give some space to its discussion here, and give you instructions which, if you will follow them, will be certain to bring you into perfect unity of mind with God.

                                                The whole process of mental adjustment and atonement can be summed up in one word, gratitude.

                                                First, you believe that there is one Intelligent Substance, from which all things proceed; second, you believe that this Substance gives you everything you desire; and third, you relate yourself to it by a feeling of deep and profound gratitude.

                                                Many people who order their lives rightly in all other ways are kept in poverty by their lack of gratitude. Having received one gift from God, they cut the wires which connect them with Him by failing to make acknowledgment.

                                                It is easy to understand that the nearer we live to the source of wealth, the more wealth we shall receive; and it is easy also to understand that the soul that is always grateful lives in closer touch with God than the one which never looks to Him in thankful acknowledgment.

                                                The more gratefully we fix our minds on the Supreme when good things come to us, the more good things we will receive, and the more rapidly they will come; and the reason simply is that the mental attitude of gratitude draws the mind into closer touch with the source from which the blessings come.

                                                If it is a new thought to you that gratitude brings your whole mind into closer harmony with the creative energies of the universe, consider it well, and you will see that it is true. The good things you already have have come to you along the line of obedience to certain laws. Gratitude will lead your mind out along the ways by which things come; and it will keep you in close harmony with creative thought and prevent you from falling into competitive thought.

                                                Gratitude alone can keep you looking toward the All, and prevent you from falling into the error of thinking of the supply as limited; and to do that would be fatal to your hopes.

                                                There is a Law of Gratitude, and it is absolutely necessary that you should observe the law, if you are to get the results you seek.

                                                The law of gratitude is the natural principle that action and reaction are always equal, and in opposite directions.

                                                The grateful outreaching of your mind in thankful praise to the Supreme is a liberation or expenditure of force; it cannot fail to reach that to which it addressed, and the reaction is an instantaneous movement towards you.

                                                “Draw nigh unto God, and He will draw nigh unto you.” That is a statement of psychological truth.

                                                And if your gratitude is strong and constant, the reaction in Formless Substance will be strong and continuous; the movement of the things you want will be always toward you. Notice the grateful attitude that Jesus took; how He always seems to be saying, “I thank Thee, Father, that Thou hearest me.” You cannot exercise much power without gratitude; for it is gratitude that keeps you connected with Power.

                                                But the value of gratitude does not consist solely in getting you more blessings in the future. Without gratitude you cannot long keep from dissatisfied thought regarding things as they are.

                                                The moment you permit your mind to dwell with dissatisfaction upon things as they are, you begin to lose ground. You fix attention upon the common, the ordinary, the poor, and the squalid and mean; and your mind takes the form of these things. Then you will transmit these forms or mental images to the Formless, and the common, the poor, the squalid, and mean will come to you.

                                                To permit your mind to dwell upon the inferior is to become inferior and to surround yourself with inferior things.

                                                On the other hand, to fix your attention on the best is to surround yourself with the best, and to become the best.

                                                The Creative Power within us makes us into the image of that to which we give our attention. We are Thinking Substance, and thinking substance always takes the form of that which it thinks about.

                                                The grateful mind is constantly fixed upon the best; therefore it tends to become the best; it takes the form or character of the best, and will receive the best.

                                                Also, faith is born of gratitude. The grateful mind continually expects good things, and expectation becomes faith. The reaction of gratitude upon one’s own mind produces faith; and every outgoing wave of grateful thanksgiving increases faith. He who has no feeling of gratitude cannot long retain a living faith; and without a living faith you cannot get rich by the creative method, as we shall see in the following chapters.

                                                It is necessary, then, to cultivate the habit of being grateful for every good thing that comes to you; and to give thanks continuously.

                                                And because all things have contributed to your advancement, you should include all things in your gratitude.

                                                Do not waste time thinking or talking about the shortcomings or wrong actions of plutocrats or trust magnates. Their organization of the world has made your opportunity; all you get really comes to you because of them.

                                                Do not rage against corrupt politicians; if it were not for politicians we should fall into anarchy, and your opportunity would be greatly lessened.

                                                God has worked a long time and very patiently to bring us up to where we are in industry and government, and He is going right on with His work. There is not the least doubt that He will do away with plutocrats, trust magnates, captains of industry, and politicians as soon as they can be spared; but in the meantime, behold they are all very good. Remember that they are all helping to arrange the lines of transmission along which your riches will come to you, and be grateful to them all. This will bring you into harmonious relations with the good in everything, and the good in everything will move toward you.

                                                About

                                                The Get Rich Series is based on The Science of Getting Rich. It  is a classic book by Wallace D. Wattles. It is a practical manual intended for the men and women whose most pressing need is for money; who wish to get rich first, and philosophize afterward.

                                                Discussion

                                                I would love to hear you ideas and opinion on gratitude and wealth creation. Your comments are highly appreciated.

                                                Other articles you may enjoy :

                                                1. Chapter 17: Summary of the Science of Getting Rich THERE is a thinking stuff from which all things are...
                                                2. The Power of Gratitude Employ the power of gratitude to turbo charge yourself to...
                                                3. The Certain Way of Getting Rich Before setting out on your journey for prosperity, be clear...
                                                4. Use the Will to Get Rich TO set about getting rich in a scientific way,...
                                                5. Chapter 11: Acting in the Certain Way THOUGHT is the creative power, or the impelling force which...
                                                6. The Power of Thoughts and Wealth Creation We live in a thinking universe. Thoughts are the only...

                                              34. How Riches Come to You

                                                Posted: June 28, 2009, 3:00 pm by Daniel Ngari

                                                Do you give more than you take? It is possible to have fair business transactions and yet give more than you take. The more seeds you plant the more your granaries fill up. We live in an amazing universe with an unlimited supply of riches in store for those who learn how to tap into it.

                                                Chapter 6 – How Riches Come to You

                                                WHEN I say that you do not have to drive sharp bargains, I do not mean that you do not have to drive any bargains at all, or that you are above the necessity for having any dealings with your fellow men. I mean that you will not need to deal with them unfairly; you do not have to get something for nothing, but can give to every man more than you take from him. You cannot give every man more in cash market value than you take from him, but you can give him more in use value than the cash value of the thing you take from him. The paper, ink, and other material in this book may not be worth the money you pay for it; but if the ideas suggested by it bring you thousands of dollars, you have not been wronged by those who sold it to you; they have given you a great use value for a small cash value.

                                                Let us suppose that I own a picture by one of the great artists, which, in any civilized community, is worth thousands of dollars. I take it to Baffin Bay, and by “salesmanship” induce an Eskimo to give a bundle of furs worth $500 for it. I have really wronged him, for he has no use for the picture; it has no use value to him; it will not add to his life.

                                                But suppose I give him a gun worth $50 for his furs; then he has made a good bargain. He has use for the gun; it will get him many more furs and much food; it will add to his life in every way; it will make him rich.

                                                When you rise from the competitive to the creative plane, you can scan your business transactions very strictly, and if you are selling any man anything which does not add more to his life than the thing he give you in exchange, you can afford to stop it. You do not have to beat anybody in business. And if you are in a business which does beat people, get out of it at once.

                                                Give every man more in use value than you take from him in cash value; then you are adding to the life of the world by every business transaction.

                                                If you have people working for you, you must take from them more in cash value than you pay them in wages; but you can so organize your business that it will be filled with the principle of advancement, and so that each employee who wishes to do so may advance a little every day.

                                                You can make your business do for your employees what this book is doing for you. You can so conduct your business that it will be a sort of ladder, by which every employee who will take the trouble may climb to riches himself; and given the opportunity, if he will not do so it is not your fault.

                                                And finally, because you are to cause the creation of your riches from Formless Substance which permeates all your environment, it does not follow that they are to take shape from the atmosphere and come into being before your eyes.

                                                If you want a sewing machine, for instance, I do not mean to tell you that you are to impress the thought of a sewing machine on Thinking Substance until the machine is formed without hands, in the room where you sit, or elsewhere. But if you want a sewing machine, hold the mental image of it with the most positive certainty that it is being made, or is on its way to you. After once forming the thought, have the most absolute and unquestioning faith that the sewing machine is coming; never think of it, or speak, of it, in any other way than as being sure to arrive. Claim it as already yours.

                                                It will be brought to you by the power of the Supreme Intelligence, acting upon the minds of men. If you live in Maine, it may be that a man will be brought from Texas or Japan to engage in some transaction which will result in your getting what you want.

                                                If so, the whole matter will be as much to that man’s advantage as it is to yours.

                                                Do not forget for a moment that the Thinking Substance is through all, in all, communicating with all, and can influence all. The desire of Thinking Substance for fuller life and better living has caused the creation of all the sewing machines already made; and it can cause the creation of millions more, and will, whenever men set it in motion by desire and faith, and by acting in a Certain Way.

                                                You can certainly have a sewing machine in your house; and it is just as certain that you can have any other thing or things which you want, and which you will use for the advancement of your own life and the lives of others.

                                                You need not hesitate about asking largely; “it is your Father’s pleasure to give you the kingdom, ” said Jesus.

                                                Original Substance wants to live all that is possible in you, and wants you to have all that you can or will use for the living of the most abundant life.

                                                If you fix upon your consciousness the fact that the desire you feel for the possession of riches is one with the desire of Omnipotence for more complete expression, your faith becomes invincible.

                                                Once I saw a little boy sitting at a piano, and vainly trying to bring harmony out of the keys; and I saw that he was grieved and provoked by his inability to play real music. I asked him the cause of his vexation, and he answered, “I can feel the music in me, but I can’t make my hands go right.” The music in him was the URGE of Original Substance, containing all the possibilities of all life; all that there is of music was seeking expression through the child.

                                                God, the One Substance, is trying to live and do and enjoy things through humanity. He is saying “I want hands to build wonderful structures, to play divine harmonies, to paint glorious pictures; I want feet to run my errands, eyes to see my beauties, tongues to tell mighty truths and to sing marvelous songs,” and so on.

                                                All that there is of possibility is seeking expression through men. God wants those who can play music to have pianos and every other instrument, and to have the means to cultivate their talents to the fullest extent; He wants those who can appreciate beauty to be able to surround themselves with beautiful things; He wants those who can discern truth to have every opportunity to travel and observe; He wants those who can appreciate dress to be beautifully clothed, and those who can appreciate good food to be luxuriously fed.

                                                He wants all these things because it is Himself that enjoys and appreciates them; it is God who wants to play, and sing, and enjoy beauty, and proclaim truth and wear fine clothes, and eat good foods. “it is God that worketh in you to will and to do,” said Paul.

                                                The desire you feel for riches is the infinite, seeking to express Himself in you as He sought to find expression in the little boy at the piano.

                                                So you need not hesitate to ask largely.

                                                Your part is to focalize and express the desire to God.

                                                This is a difficult point with most people; they retain something of the old idea that poverty and self-sacrifice are pleasing to God. They look upon poverty as a part of the plan, a necessity of nature. They have the idea that God has finished His work, and made all that He can make, and that the majority of men must stay poor because there is not enough to go around. They hold to so much of this erroneous thought that they feel ashamed to ask for wealth; they try not to want more than a very modest competence, just enough to make them fairly comfortable.

                                                I recall now the case of one student who was told that he must get in mind a clear picture of the things he desired, so that the creative thought of them might be impressed on Formless Substance. He was a very poor man, living in a rented house, and having only what he earned from day to day; and he could not grasp the fact that all wealth was his. So, after thinking the matter over, he decided that he might reasonably ask for a new rug for the floor of his best room, and an anthracite coal stove to heat the house during the cold weather. Following the instructions given in this book, he obtained these things in a few months; and then it dawned upon him that he had not asked enough. He went through the house in which he lived, and planned all the improvements he would like to make in it; he mentally added a bay window here and a room there, until it was complete in his mind as his ideal home; and then he planned its furnishings.

                                                Holding the whole picture in his mind, he began living in the Certain Way, and moving toward what he wanted; and he owns the house now, and is rebuilding it after the form of his mental image. And now, with still larger faith, he is going on to get greater things. It has been unto him according to his faith, and it is so with you and with all of us.

                                                About

                                                The Get Rich Series is based on The Science of Getting Rich. It  is a classic book by Wallace D. Wattles. It is a practical manual intended for the men and women whose most pressing need is for money; who wish to get rich first, and philosophize afterward.

                                                Discussion

                                                I would love to hear you ideas and opinion on how to attract riches. Your comments are highly appreciated.

                                                Other articles you may enjoy :

                                                1. Chapter 17: Summary of the Science of Getting Rich THERE is a thinking stuff from which all things are...
                                                2. Chapter 11: Acting in the Certain Way THOUGHT is the creative power, or the impelling force which...
                                                3. The Certain Way of Getting Rich Before setting out on your journey for prosperity, be clear...
                                                4. The Power of Thoughts and Wealth Creation We live in a thinking universe. Thoughts are the only...
                                                5. What has Gratitude got to do with Getting Rich? Let us say two of your friends are moving house....
                                                6. Why Prosperity Gospel Turns me On That which makes a seed grow also makes you rich....

                                              35. Rest in Peace Michael Jackson

                                                Posted: June 26, 2009, 5:48 am by Daniel Ngari

                                                Michael Jackson reportedly collapsed at a home he was renting in west Los Angeles. Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics responded to a 911 call at 12:21 pm local (Pacific) time and arrived at 12:30 pm. Jackson was reportedly not breathing and CPR was quickly performed.  He fell into a coma and died shortly after being rushed to UCLA Medical Center.  The cause of death is reported to be cardiac arrest.  Jackson was pronounced dead at about 2:26 pm local time.

                                                A Life of Achievement

                                                In the early 1980s, he became a dominant figure in popular music and the first African-American entertainer to amass a strong crossover following on MTV. The popularity of his music videos airing on MTV, such as “Beat It”, “Billie Jean” and Thriller—credited for transforming the music video into an art form and a promotional tool—helped bring the relatively new channel to fame. Videos such as “Black or White” and “Scream” made Jackson an enduring staple on MTV in the 1990s. With stage performances and music videos, Jackson popularized a number of physically complicated dance techniques, such as the robot and the moonwalk. His distinctive musical sound and vocal style influenced many hip hop, pop and contemporary R&B artists.

                                                One of the few artists to have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice, his other achievements include multiple Guinness World Records—including one for “Most Successful Entertainer of All Time”—13 Grammy Awards, 13 number one singles in his solo career—more than any other male artist in the Hot 100 era—and the sales of over 750 million albums worldwide. Cited as one of the world’s most famous men, Jackson’s highly publicized personal life, coupled with his successful career, made him a part of popular culture for almost four decades.

                                                Prior to his death, Jackson had been scheduled to perform 50 sold-out concerts to over one million people, at London’s O2 arena, from July 13, 2009 to March 6, 2010. During a publicity press conference, Jackson made suggestions of possible retirement.  Randy Phillips, president and chief executive of AEG Live, had stated that the first 10 dates alone would have earned the singer approximately £50 million.

                                                -Wikipedia

                                                For all Michael Jackson’s fans out there, it is a sad day. Let us pray for his family at this time of mourning.

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                                              36. Why Prosperity Gospel Turns me On

                                                Posted: June 25, 2009, 1:12 am by Daniel Ngari

                                                That which makes a seed grow also makes you rich. There is no higher power conspiring against you to keep you poor. It is God’s desire that you be rich. And nobody tells this story line better than prosperity preachers. They are inspiring and turn congregations into believers.

                                                Prosperity gospel proponents stress the importance of thoughts in wealth creation. They quote all the right bible verses on why we should live in plenty here on earth. But they are quick to stress that the prosperity should be used for good. Riches should be used for increasing life not diminishing it.

                                                Chapter 5 – Increasing Life

                                                YOU must get rid of the last vestige of the old idea that there is a Deity whose will it is that you should be poor, or whose purposes may be served by keeping you in poverty.

                                                The Intelligent Substance which is All, and in All, and which lives in All and lives in you, is a consciously Living Substance. Being a consciously living substance, It must have the nature and inherent desire of every living intelligence for increase of life. Every living thing must continually seek for the enlargement of its life, because life, in the mere act of living, must increase itself.

                                                A seed, dropped into the ground, springs into activity, and in the act of living produces a hundred more seeds; life, by living, multiplies itself. It is forever Becoming More; it must do so, if it continues to be at all.

                                                Intelligence is under this same necessity for continuous increase. Every thought we think makes it necessary for us to think another thought; consciousness is continually expanding. Every fact we learn leads us to the learning of another fact; knowledge is continually increasing. Every talent we cultivate brings to the mind the desire to cultivate another talent; we are subject to the urge of life, seeking expression, which ever drives us on to know more, to do more, and to be more.

                                                In order to know more, do more, and be more we must have more; we must have things to use, for we learn, and do, and become, only by using things. We must get rich, so that we can live more.

                                                The desire for riches is simply the capacity for larger life seeking fulfillment; every desire is the effort of an unexpressed possibility to come into action. It is power seeking to manifest which causes desire. That which makes you want more money is the same as that which makes the plant grow; it is Life, seeking fuller expression.

                                                The One Living Substance must be subject to this inherent law of all life; it is permeated with the desire to live more; that is why it is under the necessity of creating things.

                                                The One Substance desires to live more in you; hence it wants you to have all the things you can use.

                                                It is the desire of God that you should get rich. He wants you to get rich because he can express himself better through you if you have plenty of things to use in giving him expression. He can live more in you if you have unlimited command of the means of life.

                                                The universe desires you to have everything you want to have.

                                                Nature is friendly to your plans.

                                                Everything is naturally for you.

                                                Make up your mind that this is true.

                                                It is essential, however that your purpose should harmonize with the purpose that is in All.

                                                You must want real life, not mere pleasure of sensual gratification. Life is the performance of function; and the individual really lives only when he performs every function, physical, mental, and spiritual, of which he is capable, without excess in any.

                                                You do not want to get rich in order to live swinishly, for the gratification of animal desires; that is not life. But the performance of every physical function is a part of life, and no one lives completely who denies the impulses of the body a normal and healthful expression.

                                                You do not want to get rich solely to enjoy mental pleasures, to get knowledge, to gratify ambition, to outshine others, to be famous. All these are a legitimate part of life, but the man who lives for the pleasures of the intellect alone will only have a partial life, and he will never be satisfied with his lot.

                                                You do not want to get rich solely for the good of others, to lose yourself for the salvation of mankind, to experience the joys of philanthropy and sacrifice. The joys of the soul are only a part of life; and they are no better or nobler than any other part.

                                                You want to get rich in order that you may eat, drink, and be merry when it is time to do these things; in order that you may surround yourself with beautiful things, see distant lands, feed your mind, and develop your intellect; in order that you may love men and do kind things, and be able to play a good part in helping the world to find truth.

                                                But remember that extreme altruism is no better and no nobler than extreme selfishness; both are mistakes.

                                                Get rid of the idea that God wants you to sacrifice yourself for others, and that you can secure his favor by doing so; God requires nothing of the kind.

                                                What he wants is that you should make the most of yourself, for yourself, and for others; and you can help others more by making the most of yourself than in any other way.

                                                You can make the most of yourself only by getting rich; so it is right and praiseworthy that you should give your first and best thought to the work of acquiring wealth.

                                                Remember, however, that the desire of Substance is for all, and its movements must be for more life to all; it cannot be made to work for less life to any, because it is equally in all, seeking riches and life.

                                                Intelligent Substance will make things for you, but it will not take things away from some one else and give them to you.

                                                You must get rid of the thought of competition. You are to create, not to compete for what is already created.

                                                You do not have to take anything away from any one.

                                                You do not have to drive sharp bargains.

                                                You do not have to cheat, or to take advantage. You do not need to let any man work for you for less than he earns.

                                                You do not have to covet the property of others, or to look at it with wishful eyes; no man has anything of which you cannot have the like, and that without taking what he has away from him.

                                                You are to become a creator, not a competitor; you are going to get what you want, but in such a way that when you get it every other man will have more than he has now.

                                                I am aware that there are men who get a vast amount of money by proceeding in direct opposition to the statements in the paragraph above, and may add a word of explanation here. Men of the plutocratic type, who become very rich, do so sometimes purely by their extraordinary ability on the plane of competition; and sometimes they unconsciously relate themselves to Substance in its great purposes and movements for the general racial upbuilding through industrial evolution. Rockefeller, Carnegie, Morgan, et al., have been the unconscious agents of the Supreme in the necessary work of systematizing and organizing productive industry; and in the end, their work will contribute immensely toward increased life for all. Their day is nearly over; they have organized production, and will soon be succeeded by the agents of the multitude, who will organize the machinery of distribution.

                                                The multi-millionaires are like the monster reptiles of the prehistoric eras; they play a necessary part in the evolutionary process, but the same Power which produced them will dispose of them. And it is well to bear in mind that they have never been really rich; a record of the private lives of most of this class will show that they have really been the most abject and wretched of the poor.

                                                Riches secured on the competitive plane are never satisfactory and permanent; they are yours to-day, and another’s tomorrow. Remember, if you are to become rich in a scientific and certain way, you must rise entirely out of the competitive thought. You must never think for a moment that the supply is limited. Just as soon as you begin to think that all the money is being “cornered” and controlled by bankers and others, and that you must exert yourself to get laws passed to stop this process, and so on; in that moment you drop into the competitive mind, and your power to cause creation is gone for the time being; and what is worse, you will probably arrest the creative movements you have already instituted.

                                                KNOW that there are countless millions of dollars’ worth of gold in the mountains of the earth, not yet brought to light; and know that if there were not, more would be created from Thinking Substance to supply your needs.

                                                KNOW that the money you need will come, even if it is necessary for a thousand men to be led to the discovery of new gold mines to-morrow.

                                                Never look at the visible supply; look always at the limitless riches in Formless Substance, and KNOW that they are coming to you as fast as you can receive and use them. Nobody, by cornering the visible supply, can prevent you from getting what is yours.

                                                So never allow yourself to think for an instant that all the best building spots will be taken before you get ready to build your house, unless you hurry. Never worry about the trusts and combines, and get anxious for fear they will soon come to own the whole earth. Never get afraid that you will lose what you want because some other person “beats you to it.” That cannot possibly happen; you are not seeking any thing that is possessed by anybody else; you are causing what you want to be created from formless Substance, and the supply is without limits. Stick to the formulated statement:–

                                                There is a thinking stuff from which all things are made, and which, in its original state, permeates, penetrates, and fills the interspaces of the universe.

                                                A thought, in this substance, produces the thing that is imaged by the thought.

                                                Man can form things in his thought, and, by impressing his thought upon formless substance, can cause the thing he thinks about to be created. About

                                                The Get Rich Series is based on The Science of Getting Rich. It  is a classic book by Wallace D. Wattles. It is a practical manual intended for the men and women whose most pressing need is for money; who wish to get rich first, and philosophize afterward.

                                                Discussion

                                                I would love to hear you ideas and opinion on prosperity gospel and about this chapter on increasing life. Your comments are highly appreciated.

                                                Other articles you may enjoy :

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                                                3. Chapter 17: Summary of the Science of Getting Rich THERE is a thinking stuff from which all things are...
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                                              37. The Power of Thoughts and Wealth Creation

                                                Posted: June 25, 2009, 3:23 am by Daniel Ngari

                                                We live in a thinking universe. Thoughts are the only way to produce wealth from the formless substance that exists in the universe. Everything you see around you is a thought. The formless stuff becomes physical upon thoughts. You become what you think about.

                                                Man can form things in his thought, and, by impressing his thought upon formless substance, can cause the thing he thinks about to be created.

                                                Chapter 4 – The First Principle in The Science of Getting Rich

                                                THOUGHT is the only power which can produce tangible riches from the Formless Substance. The stuff from which all things are made is a substance which thinks, and a thought of form in this substance produces the form.

                                                Original Substance moves according to its thoughts; every form and process you see in nature is the visible expression of a thought in Original Substance. As the Formless Stuff thinks of a form, it takes that form; as it thinks of a motion, it makes that motion. That is the way all things were created. We live in a thought world, which is part of a thought universe. The thought of a moving universe extended throughout Formless Substance, and the Thinking Stuff moving according to that thought, took the form of systems of planets, and maintains that form. Thinking Substance takes the form of its thought, and moves according to the thought. Holding the idea of a circling system of suns and worlds, it takes the form of these bodies, and moves them as it thinks. Thinking the form of a slow-growing oak tree, it moves accordingly, and produces the tree, though centuries may be required to do the work. In creating, the Formless seems to move according to the lines of motion it has established; the thought of an oak tree does not cause the instant formation of a full-grown tree, but it does start in motion the forces which will produce the tree, along established lines of growth.

                                                Every thought of form, held in thinking Substance, causes the creation of the form, but always, or at least generally, along lines of growth and action already established.

                                                The thought of a house of a certain construction, if it were impressed upon Formless Substance, might not cause the instant formation, of the house; but it would cause the turning of creative energies already working in trade and commerce into such channels as to result in the speedy building of the house. And if there were no existing channels through which the creative energy could work, then the house would be formed directly from primal substance, without waiting for the slow processes of the organic and inorganic world.

                                                No thought of form can be impressed upon Original Substance without causing the creation of the form.

                                                Man is a thinking center, and can originate thought. All the forms that man fashions with his hands must first exist in his thought; he cannot shape a thing until he has thought that thing. And so far man has confined his efforts wholly to the work of his hands; he has applied manual labor to the world of forms, seeking to change or modify those already existing. He has never thought of trying to cause the creation of new forms by impressing his thoughts upon Formless Substance.

                                                When man has a thought-form, he takes material from the forms of nature, and makes an image of the form which is in his mind. He has, so far, made little or no effort to co-operate with Formless Intelligence; to work “with the Father.” He has not dreamed that he can “do what he seeth the Father doing.” Man reshapes and modifies existing forms by manual labor; he has given no attention to the question whether he may not produce things from Formless Substance by communicating his thoughts to it. We propose to prove that he may do so; to prove that any man or woman may do so, and to show how. As our first step, we must lay down three fundamental propositions.

                                                First, we assert that there is one original formless stuff, or substance, from which all things are made. All the seemingly many elements are but different presentations of one element; all the many forms found in organic and inorganic nature are but different shapes, made from the same stuff. And this stuff is thinking stuff; a thought held in it produces the form of the thought. Thought, in thinking substance, produces shapes. Man is a thinking center, capable of original thought; if man can communicate his thought to original thinking substance, he can cause the creation, or formation, of the thing he thinks about. To summarize this:-

                                                There is a thinking stuff from which all things are made, and which, in its original state, permeates, penetrates, and fills the interspaces of the universe.

                                                A thought, in this substance, Produces the thing that is imaged by the thought.

                                                Man can form things in his thought, and, by impressing his thought upon formless substance, can cause the thing he thinks about to be created.

                                                It may be asked if I can prove these statements; and without going into details, I answer that I can do so, both by logic and experience.

                                                Reasoning back from the phenomena of form and thought, I come to one original thinking substance; and reasoning forward from this thinking substance, I come to man’s power to cause the formation of the thing he thinks about.

                                                And by experiment, I find the reasoning true; and this is my strongest proof.

                                                If one man who reads this book gets rich by doing what it tells him to do, that is evidence in support of my claim; but if every man who does what it tells him to do gets rich, that is positive proof until some one goes through the process and fails. The theory is true until the process fails; and this process will not fail, for every man who does exactly what this book tells him to do will get rich.

                                                I have said that men get rich by doing things in a Certain Way; and in order to do so, men must become able to think in a certain way.

                                                A man’s way of doing things is the direct result of the way he thinks about things.

                                                To do things in a way you want to do them, you will have to acquire the ability to think the way you want to think; this is the first step toward getting rich.

                                                To think what you want to think is to think TRUTH, regardless of appearances.

                                                Every man has the natural and inherent power to think what he wants to think, but it requires far more effort to do so than it does to think the thoughts which are suggested by appearances. To think according to appearance is easy; to think truth regardless of appearances is laborious, and requires the expenditure of more power than any other work man is called upon to perform.

                                                There is no labor from which most people shrink as they do from that of sustained and consecutive thought; it is the hardest work in the world. This is especially true when truth is contrary to appearances. Every appearance in the visible world tends to produce a corresponding form in the mind which observes it; and this can only be prevented by holding the thought of the TRUTH.

                                                To look upon the appearance of disease will produce the form of disease in your own mind, and ultimately in your body, unless you hold the thought of the truth, which is that there is no disease; it is only an appearance, and the reality is health.

                                                To look upon the appearances of poverty will produce corresponding forms in your own mind, unless you hold to the truth that there is no poverty; there is only abundance.

                                                To think health when surrounded by the appearances of disease, or to think riches when in the midst of appearances of poverty, requires power; but he who acquires this power becomes a MASTER MIND. He can conquer fate; he can have what he wants.

                                                This power can only be acquired by getting hold of the basic fact which is behind all appearances; and that fact is that there is one Thinking Substance, from which and by which all things are made.

                                                Then we must grasp the truth that every thought held in this substance becomes a form, and that man can so impress his thoughts upon it as to cause them to take form and become visible things.

                                                When we realize this, we lose all doubt and fear, for we know that we can create what we want to create; we can get what we want to have, and can become what we want to be. As a first step toward getting rich, you must believe the three fundamental statements given previously in this chapter; and in order to emphasize them. I repeat them here:-

                                                There is a thinking stuff from which all things are made, and which, in its original state, permeates, penetrates, and fills the interspaces of the universe.

                                                A thought, in this substance, Produces the thing that is imaged by the thought.

                                                Man can form things in his thought, and, by impressing his thought upon formless substance, can cause the thing he thinks about to be created.

                                                You must lay aside all other concepts of the universe than this monistic one; and you must dwell upon this until it is fixed in your mind, and has become your habitual thought. Read these creed statements over and over again; fix every word upon your memory, and meditate upon them until you firmly believe what they say. If a doubt comes to you, cast it aside as a sin. Do not listen to arguments against this idea; do not go to churches or lectures where a contrary concept of things is taught or preached. Do not read magazines or books which teach a different idea; if you get mixed up in your faith, all your efforts will be in vain.

                                                Do not ask why these things are true, nor speculate as to how they can be true; simply take them on trust.

                                                The science of getting rich begins with the absolute acceptance of this faith.

                                                Discussion

                                                I would love to hear you ideas and opinion on the power of thoughts  in wealth creation. Your comments are highly appreciated.

                                                Other articles you may enjoy :

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                                                2. How to Tune Your Mind to become Rich Money is the exchange of value. The more value you...
                                                3. Chapter 11: Acting in the Certain Way THOUGHT is the creative power, or the impelling force which...
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                                              38. How to Tune Your Mind to become Rich

                                                Posted: June 24, 2009, 3:49 am by Daniel Ngari

                                                Money is the exchange of value. The more value you give, the more money you get. Does anyone have a monopoly on value creation and distribution? I don’t think so. Is there an opportunity for you to provide value to others today? Is there an opportunity for you to get rich through providing exceptional value to others?

                                                Your becoming rich does not mean taking from someone else. We live in an abundant universe. There is enough for each of us. Not even your enemies can keep opportunities from you.

                                                If one door is shut, a million others will open. This is especially true in our current interconnected world. You can access markets in North America even if you are in Africa. You can provide a service to people in Canada even if you are in Brazil.

                                                Secondly, opportunities are all in the mind. Thoughts are things. You become what you think about. If you want to be rich, you must know exactly what you want and ask our abundant universe for it. Visualize exactly what you want and be open to receive it. Do not blame others for locking you out of opportunities. Do not sabotage yourself through self limiting beliefs. Believe that you can and go for it.

                                                Chapter 3 – Is Opportunity Monopolized?

                                                NO man is kept poor because opportunity has been taken away from him; because other people have monopolized the wealth, and have put a fence around it. You may be shut off from engaging in business in certain lines, but there are other channels open to you. Probably it would be hard for you to get control of any of the great railroad systems; that field is pretty well monopolized. But the electric railway business is still in its infancy, and offers plenty of scope for enterprise; and it will be but a very few years until traffic and transportation through the air will become a great industry, and in all its branches will give employment to hundreds of thousands, and perhaps to millions, of people. Why not turn your attention to the development of aerial transportation, instead of competing with J.J. Hill and others for a chance in the steam railway world?

                                                It is quite true that if you are a workman in the employ of the steel trust you have very little chance of becoming the owner of the plant in which you work; but it is also true that if you will commence to act in a Certain Way, you can soon leave the employ of the steel trust; you can buy a farm of from ten to forty acres, and engage in business as a producer of foodstuffs. There is great opportunity at this time for men who will live upon small tracts of land and cultivate the same intensively; such men will certainly get rich. You may say that it is impossible for you to get the land, but I am going to prove to you that it is not impossible, and that you can certainly get a farm if you will go to work in a Certain Way.

                                                At different periods the tide of opportunity sets in different directions, according to the needs of the whole, and the particular stage of social evolution which has been reached. At present, in America, it is setting toward agriculture and the allied industries and professions. To-day, opportunity is open before the factory worker in his line. It is open before the business man who supplies the farmer more than before the one who supplies the factory worker; and before the professional man who waits upon the farmer more than before the one who serves the working class.

                                                There is abundance of opportunity for the man who will go with the tide, instead of trying to swim against it.

                                                So the factory workers, either as individuals or as a class, are not deprived of opportunity. The workers are not being “kept down” by their masters; they are not being “ground” by the trusts and combinations of capital. As a class, they are where they are because they do not do things in a Certain Way. If the workers of America chose to do so, they could follow the example of their brothers in Belgium and other countries, and establish great department stores and co-operative industries; they could elect men of their own class to office, and pass laws favoring the development of such co-operative industries; and in a few years they could take peaceable possession of the industrial field.

                                                The working class may become the master class whenever they will begin to do things in a Certain Way; the law of wealth is the same for them as it is for all others. This they must learn; and they will remain where they are as long as they continue to do as they do. The individual worker, however, is not held down by the ignorance or the mental slothfulness of his class; he can follow the tide of opportunity to riches, and this book will tell him how.

                                                No one is kept in poverty by a shortness in the supply of riches; there is more than enough for all. A palace as large as the capitol at Washington might be built for every family on earth from the building material in the United States alone; and under intensive cultivation, this country would produce wool, cotton, linen, and silk enough to cloth each person in the world finer than Solomon was arrayed in all his glory; together with food enough to feed them all luxuriously.

                                                The visible supply is practically inexhaustible; and the invisible supply really is inexhaustible.

                                                Everything you see on earth is made from one original substance, out of which all things proceed.

                                                New Forms are constantly being made, and older ones are dissolving; but all are shapes assumed by One Thing.

                                                There is no limit to the supply of Formless Stuff, or Original Substance. The universe is made out of it; but it was not all used in making the universe. The spaces in, through, and between the forms of the visible universe are permeated and filled with the Original Substance; with the formless Stuff; with the raw material of all things. Ten thousand times as much as has been made might still be made, and even then we should not have exhausted the supply of universal raw material.

                                                No man, therefore, is poor because nature is poor, or because there is not enough to go around.

                                                Nature is an inexhaustible storehouse of riches; the supply will never run short. Original Substance is alive with creative energy, and is constantly producing more forms. When the supply of building material is exhausted, more will be produced; when the soil is exhausted so that food stuffs and materials for clothing will no longer grow upon it, it will be renewed or more soil will be made. When all the gold and silver has been dug from the earth, if man is still in such a stage of social development that he needs gold and silver, more will produced from the Formless. The Formless Stuff responds to the needs of man; it will not let him be without any good thing.

                                                This is true of man collectively; the race as a whole is always abundantly rich, and if individuals are poor, it is because they do not follow the Certain Way of doing things which makes the individual man rich.

                                                The Formless Stuff is intelligent; it is stuff which thinks. It is alive, and is always impelled toward more life.

                                                It is the natural and inherent impulse of life to seek to live more; it is the nature of intelligence to enlarge itself, and of consciousness to seek to extend its boundaries and find fuller expression. The universe of forms has been made by Formless Living Substance, throwing itself into form in order to express itself more fully.

                                                The universe is a great Living Presence, always moving inherently toward more life and fuller functioning.

                                                Nature is formed for the advancement of life; its impelling motive is the increase of life. For this cause, everything which can possibly minister to life is bountifully provided; there can be no lack unless God is to contradict himself and nullify his own works.

                                                You are not kept poor by lack in the supply of riches; it is a fact which I shall demonstrate a little farther on that even the resources of the Formless Supply are at the command of the man or woman who will act and think in a Certain Way.

                                                About

                                                The Get Rich Series is based on The Science of Getting Rich. It is a classic book by Wallace D. Wattles. It is a practical manual intended for the men and women whose most pressing need is for money; who wish to get rich first, and philosophize afterward.

                                                Discussion

                                                I would love to hear from you on how one can tune himself or herself for riches. How do we condition our minds for success? How do we let unlimited wealth flow into our lives from the abundant universe? Your insights, thoughts and ideas are most welcome.

                                                Other articles you may enjoy :

                                                1. Chapter 17: Summary of the Science of Getting Rich THERE is a thinking stuff from which all things are...
                                                2. What has Gratitude got to do with Getting Rich? Let us say two of your friends are moving house....
                                                3. Use the Will to Get Rich TO set about getting rich in a scientific way,...
                                                4. The Power of Thoughts and Wealth Creation We live in a thinking universe. Thoughts are the only...
                                                5. What makes People Rich? It is easy to assume that a rich person got...
                                                6. Why Prosperity Gospel Turns me On That which makes a seed grow also makes you rich....

                                              39. What makes People Rich?

                                                Posted: June 22, 2009, 1:00 am by Daniel Ngari

                                                It is easy to assume that a rich person got rich because of their upbringing, opportunities, education, capital or talents. But the truth is that there are people with similar opportunities, in the same location, in the same profession, with the same IQ – one ends up being rich and the other poor. What makes one person rich and the other poor?

                                                Chapter 2 – The Science of Getting Rich

                                                THERE is a Science of getting rich, and it is an exact science, like algebra or arithmetic. There are certain laws which govern the process of acquiring riches; once these laws are learned and obeyed by any man, he will get rich with mathematical certainty.

                                                The ownership of money and property comes as a result of doing things in a certain way; those who do things in this Certain Way, whether on purpose or accidentally, get rich; while those who do not do things in this Certain Way, no matter how hard they work or how able they are, remain poor.

                                                It is a natural law that like causes always produce like effects; and, therefore, any man or woman who learns to do things in this certain way will infallibly get rich.

                                                That the above statement is true is shown by the following facts:

                                                Getting rich is not a matter of environment, for, if it were, all the people in certain neighborhoods would become wealthy; the people of one city would all be rich, while those of other towns would all be poor; or the inhabitants of one state would roll in wealth, while those of an adjoining state would be in poverty.

                                                But everywhere we see rich and poor living side by side, in the same environment, and often engaged in the same vocations. When two men are in the same locality, and in the same business, and one gets rich while the other remains poor, it shows that getting rich is not, primarily, a matter of environment. Some environments may be more favorable than others, but when two men in the same business are in the same neighborhood, and one gets rich while the other fails, it indicates that getting rich is the result of doing things in a Certain Way.

                                                And further, the ability to do things in this certain way is not due solely to the possession of talent, for many people who have great talent remain poor, while other who have very little talent get rich.

                                                Studying the people who have got rich, we find that they are an average lot in all respects, having no greater talents and abilities than other men. It is evident that they do not get rich because they possess talents and abilities that other men have not, but because they happen to do things in a Certain Way.

                                                Getting rich is not the result of saving, or “thrift”; many very penurious people are poor, while free spenders often get rich.

                                                Nor is getting rich due to doing things which others fail to do; for two men in the same business often do almost exactly the same things, and one gets rich while the other remains poor or becomes bankrupt.

                                                From all these things, we must come to the conclusion that getting rich is the result of doing things in a Certain Way.

                                                If getting rich is the result of doing things in a Certain Way, and if like causes always produce like effects, then any man or woman who can do things in that way can become rich, and the whole matter is brought within the domain of exact science.

                                                The question arises here, whether this Certain Way may not be so difficult that only a few may follow it. This cannot be true, as we have seen, so far as natural ability is concerned. Talented people get rich, and blockheads get rich; intellectually brilliant people get rich, and very stupid people get rich; physically strong people get rich, and weak and sickly people get rich.

                                                Some degree of ability to think and understand is, of course, essential; but in so far natural ability is concerned, any man or woman who has sense enough to read and understand these words can certainly get rich.

                                                Also, we have seen that it is not a matter of environment. Location counts for something; one would not go to the heart of the Sahara and expect to do successful business. Getting rich involves the necessity of dealing with men, and of being where there are people to deal with; and if these people are inclined to deal in the way you want to deal, so much the better. But that is about as far as environment goes.

                                                If anybody else in your town can get rich, so can you; and if anybody else in your state can get rich, so can you.

                                                Again, it is not a matter of choosing some particular business or profession. People get rich in every business, and in every profession; while their next door neighbors in the same vocation remain in poverty.

                                                It is true that you will do best in a business which you like, and which is congenial to you; and if you have certain talents which are well developed, you will do best in a business which calls for the exercise of those talents.

                                                Also, you will do best in a business which is suited to your locality; an ice-cream parlor would do better in a warm climate than in Greenland, and a salmon fishery will succeed better in the Northwest than in Florida, where there are no salmon.

                                                But, aside from these general limitations, getting rich is not dependent upon your engaging in some particular business, but upon your learning to do things in a Certain Way. If you are now in business, and anybody else in your locality is getting rich in the same business, while you are not getting rich, it is because you are not doing things in the same Way that the other person is doing them.

                                                No one is prevented from getting rich by lack of capital. True, as you get capital the increase becomes more easy and rapid; but one who has capital is already rich, and does not need to consider how to become so. No matter how poor you may be, if you begin to do things in the Certain Way you will begin to get rich; and you will begin to have capital. The getting of capital is a part of the process of getting rich; and it is a part of the result which invariably follows the doing of things in the Certain Way. You may be the poorest man on the continent, and be deeply in debt; you may have neither friends, influence, nor resources; but if you begin to do things in this way, you must infallibly begin to get rich, for like causes must produce like effects. If you have no capital, you can get capital; if you are in the wrong business, you can get into the right business; if you are in the wrong location, you can go to the right location; and you can do so by beginning in your present business and in your present location to do things in the Certain Way which causes success.

                                                About

                                                The Get Rich Series is based on The Science of Getting Rich. It  is a classic book by Wallace D. Wattles. It is a practical manual intended for the men and women whose most pressing need is for money; who wish to get rich first, and philosophize afterward.

                                                Discussion

                                                I would love to hear you ideas and opinion on why some people get richer than others, even when they have the same education, same opportunities, same abilities, same environment etc. Your comments are highly appreciated.

                                                Other articles you may enjoy :

                                                1. Your Right to Be Rich I have been rich, and I have been poor. Believe...
                                                2. Use the Will to Get Rich TO set about getting rich in a scientific way,...
                                                3. Personal Branding for Rich Men Most of my theories on personal branding would not resonate...
                                                4. How to Tune Your Mind to become Rich Money is the exchange of value. The more value you...
                                                5. The Certain Way of Getting Rich Before setting out on your journey for prosperity, be clear...
                                                6. What has Gratitude got to do with Getting Rich? Let us say two of your friends are moving house....

                                              40. Your Right to Be Rich

                                                Posted: June 21, 2009, 3:55 pm by Daniel Ngari

                                                I have been rich, and I have been poor. Believe me when I tell you, rich is better. Being rich allows you to have freedom and flexibility to do what your heart desires. Even though there are problems that come with being rich, if you are rich, you get to arrive to those problems in style.

                                                I have said on this blog previously that those who say that money cannot buy happiness  (and are in good health), don’t know where to shop. The purpose of this blog is to inspire you to be the best you can be. Money can really help in personal development when used wisely.  Money is power; the power to  lead to the life you want; the power to develop your talents and make a contribution to others.

                                                It is your right to be rich. I want to be rich and I want you to be rich too. This new series (Get Rich Series) will walk you through The Science of Getting Rich. It  is a classic book by Wallace D. Wattles. It is a practical manual intended for the men and women whose most pressing need is for money; who wish to get rich first, and philosophize afterward.

                                                Chapter 1 – The Right To Be Rich

                                                WHATEVER may be said in praise of poverty, the fact remains that it is not possible to live a really complete or successful life unless one is rich. No man can rise to his greatest possible height in talent or soul development unless he has plenty of money; for to unfold the soul and to develop talent he must have many things to use, and he cannot have these things unless he has money to buy them with.

                                                A man develops in mind, soul, and body by making use of things, and society is so organized that man must have money in order to become the possessor of things; therefore, the basis of all advancement for man must be the science of getting rich.

                                                The object of all life is development; and everything that lives has an inalienable right to all the development it is capable of attaining.

                                                Man’s right to life means his right to have the free and unrestricted use of all the things which may be necessary to his fullest mental, spiritual, and physical unfoldment; or, in other words, his right to be rich.

                                                In this book, I shall not speak of riches in a figurative way; to be really rich does not mean to be satisfied or contented with a little. No man ought to be satisfied with a little if he is capable of using and enjoying more. The purpose of Nature is the advancement and unfoldment of life; and every man should have all that can contribute to the power, elegance, beauty, and richness of life; to be content with less is sinful.

                                                The man who owns all he wants for the living of all the life he is capable of living is rich; and no man who has not plenty of money can have all he wants. Life has advanced so far, and become so complex, that even the most ordinary man or woman requires a great amount of wealth in order to live in a manner that even approaches completeness. Every person naturally wants to become all that they are capable of becoming; this desire to realize innate possibilities is inherent in human nature; we cannot help wanting to be all that we can be. Success in life is becoming what you want to be; you can become what you want to be only by making use of things, and you can have the free use of things only as you become rich enough to buy them. To understand the science of getting rich is therefore the most essential of all knowledge.

                                                There is nothing wrong in wanting to get rich. The desire for riches is really the desire for a richer, fuller, and more abundant life; and that desire is praise worthy. The man who does not desire to live more abundantly is abnormal, and so the man who does not desire to have money enough to buy all he wants is abnormal.

                                                There are three motives for which we live; we live for the body, we live for the mind, we live for the soul. No one of these is better or holier than the other; all are alike desirable, and no one of the three–body, mind, or soul–can live fully if either of the others is cut short of full life and expression. It is not right or noble to live only for the soul and deny mind or body; and it is wrong to live for the intellect and deny body or soul.

                                                We are all acquainted with the loathsome consequences of living for the body and denying both mind and soul; and we see that real life means the complete expression of all that man can give forth through body, mind, and soul. Whatever he can say, no man can be really happy or satisfied unless his body is living fully in every function, and unless the same is true of his mind and his soul. Wherever there is unexpressed possibility, or function not performed, there is unsatisfied desire. Desire is possibility seeking expression, or function seeking performance.

                                                Man cannot live fully in body without good food, comfortable clothing, and warm shelter; and without freedom from excessive toil. Rest and recreation are also necessary to his physical life.

                                                He cannot live fully in mind without books and time to study them, without opportunity for travel and observation, or without intellectual companionship.

                                                To live fully in mind he must have intellectual recreations, and must surround himself with all the objects of art and beauty he is capable of using and appreciating.

                                                To live fully in soul, man must have love; and love is denied expression by poverty.

                                                A man’s highest happiness is found in the bestowal of benefits on those he loves; love finds its most natural and spontaneous expression in giving. The man who has nothing to give cannot fill his place as a husband or father, as a citizen, or as a man. It is in the use of material things that a man finds full life for his body, develops his mind, and unfolds his soul. It is therefore of supreme importance to him that he should be rich.

                                                It is perfectly right that you should desire to be rich; if you are a normal man or woman you cannot help doing so. It is perfectly right that you should give your best attention to the Science of Getting Rich, for it is the noblest and most necessary of all studies. If you neglect this study, you are derelict in your duty to yourself, to God and humanity; for you can render to God and humanity no greater service than to make the most of yourself.

                                                Discussion

                                                I would love to hear your comments regarding the contents of this chapter and the whole topic of getting rich. Your comments are most appreciated.

                                                Other articles you may enjoy :

                                                1. The Certain Way of Getting Rich Before setting out on your journey for prosperity, be clear...
                                                2. What makes People Rich? It is easy to assume that a rich person got...
                                                3. How to Tune Your Mind to become Rich Money is the exchange of value. The more value you...
                                                4. Use the Will to Get Rich TO set about getting rich in a scientific way,...
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                                              41. Personal Branding for Rich Men

                                                Posted: June 20, 2009, 1:49 pm by Daniel Ngari

                                                Most of my theories on personal branding would not resonate well with people in the little village I come from  in Kenya. Bob Marley said “a hungry man is an angry man”. I say a hungry man has little time for personal branding. Personal branding seems to work better for rich men, and for good reason.

                                                Personal branding is one of the last things in the minds of poor people. I have lived with people without running water or electricity. Telling a person in that situation to launch their own personal branding blog or attend expensive networking events would make little sense.

                                                What would you do if you were languishing in poverty? Would you buy bread or a Swiss watch? Would you take a second shower or buy high end colognes?

                                                If at 29 I was still living with my parents, I reckon my personal brand would suffer. People would talk behind my back saying that I had “failed to launch”. I could have valid reasons for living there e.g. being jobless, but the world would hear none of it.

                                                You do not have to be Bill Gates to have an effective personal brand. But sleeping on the streets won’t help you either. Being financially able to build your personal brand is rarely spoken about as a core element of personal branding. It is the missing link in many personal branding lessons. Heck, it even costs money to hire great personal branding coaches such as Lethia Owens.

                                                I read and re-read my personal branding articles, they are great lessons, but they may not apply to everyone. Personal branding on an empty pocket or hungry stomach is an exercise in futility. Personal branding calls for confidence and self belief. Unfortunately, when poverty comes in through the door, confidence escapes through the window.

                                                Making money or getting rich is a practical confidence building tactic in a capitalist world. If you are reading this, you are most likely not poor per se, but you are also, most likely, not Donald Trump or Richard Branson either. We have learned how to build a powerful personal brand in this series. In the next series, we shall look at how to fund a powerful personal brand.

                                                The new series, starting tomorrow, will be about the science of getting rich. Yes there is a science to getting rich. I want to become rich and I want you to become rich too. Together we shall explore the road to riches. Together we shall eliminate the obstacles and lay the ground work to making some money.

                                                Join me for the brand new “Get Rich Series” coming to you from tomorrow!

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                                              42. Personal Branding Outside your Comfort zone

                                                Posted: June 19, 2009, 2:39 am by Daniel Ngari

                                                Real growth is only experienced when you step out of your comfort zone. Going out of your comfort zone does not guarantee success by itself. However, staying put at your comfort zone only guarantees getting similar results, not more. Today’s blog post is dedicated to people who have recently or are planning to step out of their comfort zone.

                                                I have experienced a few big changes in comfort zones in my life. I will share a couple of those experiences with you in the hope that you may see some parallels in your life. I hope you will be able to learn a thing or two about branding yourself outside your comfort zone.

                                                In 1998 at the age of 18, I left Kenya to study in Perth, Western Australia. I had just finished high school and had hardly ever spent a night away from home. Up to that point I had outsourced the thinking about life to my parents. I had been living under their roof, eating their food, wearing clothes bought by them, being guided in everything. Then I found myself in a new city where I did not know anyone. I had to learn fast. I had to survive.

                                                Who was Daniel Ngari in 1998? I was an international student with an attitude. I always told myself that Australia came looking for me, not the other way round. In my young mind, I was a valuable international student that brought in the much needed foreign exchange. I could vividly remember the Australian consultants selling the country (and universities) to us in my high school in Kenya.

                                                That attitude helped me navigate the new city with confidence. Some of the people I met in Perth in my early days were under assumption that all Africans in Australia were asylum seekers funded by the government (not that there is anything wrong with being an asylum seeker). I met and made friends with a few African international students that were living so meekly, it was not funny. They had allowed the society to intimidate them. Here were international students paying top dollar for their education, yet they were being forced into submission by society’s perceptions. I was not about to let that happen to me.

                                                You may be called upon to leave your city or the comfort of your environment. Whenever you go, decide in advance how you want to tune people’s perception of you (personal brand). You are the master of your own ship my friend. Do not let others tell you who you are. Decide for yourself then package yourself as you would like to be perceived.

                                                When you step out of your comfort zone, find something about yourself that will give you every inch of confidence. You will need it. It may be something in your background, your looks, your charisma, your education, your attitude etc. Find something within yourself and use it as the springboard to branding yourself in the new environment.

                                                Becoming a Blogger

                                                I launched this blog six months ago on 5th of January 2009. On that day I wrote a short blog post that I will re-post below. It took me another week before I mustered the courage to post a second blog post. I was getting out of my comfort zone and it felt really strange in the unfamiliar waters.

                                                This is what I wrote on that first blog post:

                                                For the better part of 2008, I was thinking of starting this blog as a way of connecting with my friends online, not as an anonymous advertiser that I have been for the last 7 years, but as a human being with a name, as a friend, and as a family member.

                                                A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. This blog post is the beginning of this site’s journey. A site dedicated to bring out the best of you through the power of positive thinking

                                                I am not some sort of guru, philosopher, psychologist etc. I am just a regular guy trying to improve my life, and eager to share my lessons with others with the hope that it will inspire you.

                                                Although I have known about blogging for a while, this is the first time I have dived into the blogging waters, if you notice some missteps, please let me know and I can improve with time.

                                                Is there anything you have been postponing? Is there something that has the potential to change your life, that is within your power to do, but you have been putting off? In that case, my friend, just do it. Everything that you see around you started as an idea. You can create tomorrow’s reality by turning your ideas into actions. Ideas without action are not worth much.

                                                I wish you all the best for 2009. Please post a comment below to let me know you visited.

                                                Cheers.

                                                Though I had been making a living on the internet for 7 years, I had no personal brand on the net to speak of. I had previously been making a living as an anonymous affiliate marketer and advertiser. But I knew that for me to build something of value, and to grow as a person, I had to launch this blog and build from here.

                                                My friend, the first trick is to take action. The second trick is to take small bold baby steps. Don’t wait to have all the answers. Get started and learn as you go. I am still learning the ropes when it comes to blogging, inspiring people and build online communities.

                                                If you are still operating in your comfort zone because of fear of failure, I encourage you to take action. Apply the power of Kaizen (baby steps) in your personal branding efforts outside your comfort zone. A little here, a little there, you will find yourself with a powerful and effective personal brand.

                                                Summary

                                                Staying at your comfort zone may look attractive in the short term. However, real growth only comes to those that step out of their comfort zones. Do not be afraid of testing new waters. Find something within you or around you that you can use as a springboard for confidence into the new zone. Start small but grow through taking action and active baby steps.

                                                Other articles you may enjoy :

                                                1. 10 Steps to Personal Branding Success Today’s blog post walks you through 10 simple steps that...
                                                2. Personal Branding for Rich Men Most of my theories on personal branding would not resonate...
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                                              43. 7 Habits of Highly Effective Personal Brands

                                                Posted: June 18, 2009, 3:34 am by Daniel Ngari

                                                We all have personal brands by default. However, to get an effective personal brand, one that gets results, we need to do more. Today’s post looks at 7 habits that will propel your brand to effectiveness.

                                                1 – Right Direction

                                                People with effective personal brands decide in advance what direction they want to take. They do not just let things happen. They have well written, clear goals of what they want to achieve.

                                                There is no point investing time, money and energy in personal branding efforts if you are not clear on where you are headed. Setting a clear path enables one to know when they are falling behind or going off track.

                                                2 – Continuous Improvement

                                                Rome was not built in a day and neither are effective personal brands. The best way to build your personal brand is to continuously improve one aspect at a time.

                                                You can focus on improving your wardrobe for example, one shoe or shirt at a time. You can also choose to improve your career, one course or certification at a time. The trick is to start early and stay at it. Get the power of compounding working for your personal brand through continuous improvement.

                                                3 – Emotional Mastery

                                                A little talked about habit of successful people is emotional mastery. Did you know every personal brand disaster can be traced back to an emotion that went unchecked? Many become alcoholics not for the pure love of the taste but because of emotional problems.

                                                Do emotions rule your life? What does the word “delayed gratification” mean to you? How do you deal with the emotions of anger, fear, jealousy, love or betrayal?

                                                4 – Listening and Learning

                                                Personal branding means creating, maintaining, correcting and leveraging perceptions. How do people perceive you? You have to listen to what people tell you and what they do not dare put in words. Listen to both verbal and non verbal communication.

                                                Seek to learn how to improve your personal brand. Listen to your peers, mentors, coaches and people you admire. Learn from them. If you are not natural when it comes to fashion, listen and learn from those that are better than you in that area.

                                                5 – Patterns and Systems

                                                Effective personal brands require good patterns. We all have patterns; good and bad. You need to recognize the patterns in your life. Do you always miss deadlines? Do people keep breaking your heart? Do you find it hard holding on to a goal for more than a day? Those are all patterns. Get rid of bad patterns in your life.

                                                You also need to have a systematic way of doing things. For example, do you get a haircut every Saturday? Schedule that in your diary. Do you have a blog that you post to once a week? Do you give 10% of your pay to charity? Find all the things you do (or should do) and group them in to “systems”. Understand what each system is about, its objectives and how it affects and relates to other systems.

                                                6 – Smart Networking

                                                No man is an island. You need to continuously meet and develop quality contacts to succeed in life. Learn to know who should be in your address book. Group your contacts in a way that is meaningful to you, and develop each relationship, or one group of relationships at a time.

                                                Let us say for a moment that you are a football player. You would need to develop a contacts strategy that brings in contacts from the following areas: other footballers (peers), coachers, sponsors, journalists, trainers etc. Don’t treat your contacts as though they came from the same production line.

                                                People do business with those they trust. Networking is not just a numbers game. You have to develop quality and gain trust. There is no magic pill in gaining trust. It takes time and effort. You can however speed up trust building by becoming more useful, by being more of the giver than the receiver.

                                                7 – Articulate Communication

                                                Effective personal branding calls for articulate communication. The words that come from your mouth or keyboard, your actions, your dressing etc all form the message that you send out.  Are you sending out the right message? Are you sending out a strong message? Are you sending out mixed signals?

                                                Speak confidently, be a good listener and send out a unified message with all forms of communication. Articulate communication is more than mere words. It is the total picture you send out to others through your actions, looks, words, smell, posture, habits and grooming.

                                                Summary

                                                We are creatures of habits. Add the above habits to your life to develop an effective personal brand. I would love to hear your comments and suggestions about other habits that lead to a successful personal brand.

                                                Other articles you may enjoy :

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                                              44. How to Ruin Your Personal Brand

                                                Posted: June 17, 2009, 2:31 am by Daniel Ngari

                                                Personal branding is not easy for the vast majority of people. However, over the years I have noticed that some people end up ruining perfect personal brands. If you really, really need to ruin your personal brand, you will be pleased with today’s blog post.

                                                1 – Be Selfish

                                                Assume the world revolves around you and everybody is here to serve you. Make everything all about you. Don’t care about other people. Don’t be attuned to their feelings.

                                                Develop a reputation as a selfish person. Give less than you receive. Don’t listen to what others have to say. Just wait for your turn to speak and tell them how you feel. Dazzle them with your intelligence and insight. You are a great man or woman after all. You know so much and they know so little.

                                                2 – Be Inconsistent

                                                Be completely random. Don’t let mere mortals know what you stand for. Be polite to people in one moment and completely rude the next morning. Say hello to someone and behave like you have never seen them, a few hours later.

                                                Dress immaculately in business suits in the morning and like a thug in the afternoon. Forget what you stood for yesterday. Give people mixed signals. Train people to expect the unexpected with you. Laugh with delight as you see people wonder who you really are. Keep them on their toes. Keep them guessing.

                                                3 – Have a don’t care attitude

                                                Stop paying attention to little details and little people. Do not care about what made you successful in the first place. You have arrived. You have it all. Nothing else matters.

                                                Do not think about the future. Live for the moment. Tomorrow will take care of itself. Behave as if today is the end of life. Don’t save any money, blow the little you have on luxuries you can hardly afford.

                                                Be guilt free. Do not be tied by a little thing called conscience. Be rough with people. Do what your heart desires without regard for consequences on you and on others. Do not be empathetic at all.

                                                4 – Try and please everybody

                                                Be a double dealer. Keep everyone happy regardless of what that does to your reputation. As long as everyone is happy, be happy. Don’t worry about being true, honest or authentic. Focus on keeping everyone happy and everything will be alright.

                                                Don’t have any set boundaries. Shift your boundaries when your values and rules come in the way of pleasing others. Borrow from Tom to pay Ken. Shuffle people around like a deck of cards. They are happy after all.

                                                5 – Be a mini-somebody else

                                                Identify someone you admire. Learn everything you can about them. Learn a whole lot about that one person. Forget who you were and become a mini version of that person. Let that person be surprised and flattered when they see how good a disciple you are.

                                                Follow their every move and attempt to be like them. Let others acknowledge that you are really a mini version of that other guy. Make sure people can’t even tell the difference between you and the person you aspire to be like. (The only difference being that you are the “mini” version)

                                                6 – Be ordinary

                                                Be the opposite of remarkable. Blend in with the crowd. Be invisible. Do not draw any attention to yourself. Let people be shocked when you tell them you went to the same party with them last Saturday. Make sure no one can remember you. Do not be funny. Do not be interesting. Do not standout at all.

                                                Do just enough at your job to avoid being fired. Do half baked jobs. Have a neutral reputation. Do not have an angle, or a defining characteristic that would make you exciting or interesting.

                                                7 – Disappoint people

                                                Have fun with this one. Build people’s expectations, then boom, drop the bombshell. They have been duped. Do not deliver what you said you will. Manage expectations in a weird way. Let people expect so much from you, then give them so little. Make people trust you, and then betray them.

                                                Be a cold liar. Be a snake oil salesman. Lower your own standards every time you deal with people. Be the scum of the earth. Let people see a new form of low every time they deal with you.

                                                8 – Easily Give up

                                                Just relax and stop trying so damn hard! Find something easy to do, avoid anything challenging. Do not follow up on matters. If it takes too long, get bored. It is your right to get bored. Develop a reputation as a person who wants it now. Have zero patience, perseverance and persistence.

                                                9 – Be Ignorant

                                                Forget even the little you knew. Be stagnant. Stop learning new stuff. You already know enough. Why gained specialized knowledge? What for?

                                                Make sure when people want to hide something from you, all they have to do is write it down in a book. Don’t read any book, or ask any questions that may make you learn something new. Your brain is too precious to be exercised and filled with new junk.

                                                10 – Have a couple of bad habits

                                                I saved the best one for last. Get an addiction! Think of all the bad things you can be addicted to. Maybe cigarettes, or alcohol… but everyone does those ones. Why not try something harder like heroine or cocaine? Or if you are not into drugs, why not try watching porn everyday, or too much television?

                                                There are many bad habits you can pick. Maybe simple ones like picking your nose in public or talking with food in your mouth. Or if you really want to ruin your personal brand, why not commit a felony? Be a criminal. Break into someone’s house or kill your enemy.

                                                Summary

                                                You should now have at least two or three neat ways of ruining your personal brand after reading this blog post. You are now aware of what the above actions do to your personal brand. All the best in your mission; whatever it may be.

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                                              45. 10 Steps to Personal Branding Success

                                                Posted: June 15, 2009, 8:19 pm by Daniel Ngari

                                                Today’s blog post walks you through 10 simple steps that guarantee personal branding success. Excellence in personal branding takes time. The following steps will save you time and agony in your branding efforts.

                                                1 – Who am I?

                                                Personal branding is the sum total of perceptions that others have of you. To be able to change how others perceive you, you must understand yourself first. Who are you? What are your core values? What is your character based on your history? What are your talents, passion or experiences? What kind of personal brand image do you currently have?

                                                2 – Brand Vision

                                                Sit back and think about the kind of personal brand you want to have. What do you want people to think of you? Visualize where you want to be. Define what you consider as the apex of personal branding. How can you get there? What is your mission in life and how does it fit with your desired personal brand?

                                                3 – Target Audience

                                                Do not flatter yourself that everyone is a candidate for your personal brand. You have to select who you want to be the target of your personal branding efforts. Think of those people you want to target. Give them a name, talk to them, be with them, and understand how they currently feel about you.

                                                Consider segmenting your target audience for various personal branding messages. For example, you can communicate one aspect to your work friends, and a different aspect to your church friends.

                                                4 – Dropping Excess Baggage

                                                Think of all the things that currently limit your personal brand from thriving. Do you have the fear success or failure? Do you have confidence issues? Eliminate your fears and work on boosting your confidence. Avoid self limiting beliefs and self sabotage.

                                                We are creatures of habit. You may want to avoid some habits that are detrimental to your personal brand. There may also be people that pull you down; decide how you want  to deal with them.

                                                5 – Personal Cheering Squad

                                                Find people who believe in you and foster relationships with them. This can help you improve your confidence and enhance your personal brand. Find people you admire and get them to mentor you.

                                                Your cheering squad can become evangelists of your personal brand. Give them good reasons to talk about you. It may mean doing more than your call of duty. Give them a simple way to talk about you. Consider getting a slogan for your personal branding.

                                                6 – Personal Brand Packaging

                                                A present that is nicely wrapped up has a higher perceived value. It shows care, effort and dedication. Decide how you want to package your personal brand. Wrap yourself up nicely in nice clothing, signature way of doing things or memorable words. Find an angle and package yourself in a way that is attractive to your target audience.

                                                7 – Be Yourself

                                                Be happy in your own skin. Accept yourself for who you are. Let your confidence shine through in everything you do. Being yourself does not mean settling for less.

                                                8 – Personal Branding Action Plan

                                                Create a step by step action plan for developing various aspects and qualities of your personal brand. Do not let things just happen; plan your personal brand to excruciating details. Many people do not this. Be ahead of the pack.

                                                Plan exactly how you are going to go about creating your personal brand. Plan your brand message and packaging. Determine how you are going to fund your branding efforts (you know it is not free right?). Decide how you are going to spend money on your personal brand (e.g. haircut, clothes, training, travel, dining etc). Think through all aspects of your personal brand and how they interrelate and chart a path forward.

                                                9 – Personal Brand Evaluation

                                                Evaluate your personal branding at strategic intervals. Check to see if you are following your action plan. Get feedback from your target audience. Ask a trusted friend or a professional to help you evaluate your personal brand. You may be surprised by what you learn.

                                                10 – Continuous Improvement

                                                Improve gradually based on what you learn during the evaluation step. Conduct a SWOT analysis of your personal brand. Keep improving your style, confidence, networks and skills.

                                                Summary

                                                The road to personal branding success begins with a single step. I hope this blog post has given you some pointers on where to start. I would love to hear your comments.

                                                Other articles you may enjoy :

                                                1. Personal Branding for Rich Men Most of my theories on personal branding would not resonate...
                                                2. Personal Branding Outside your Comfort zone Real growth is only experienced when you step out of...
                                                3. What is Personal Branding from Within? The truth outs. The truth about who you really are...
                                                4. 13 Personal Branding Mistakes There is a right way for building a personal brand,...
                                                5. Personal Branding Salad Bar In today’s post, you will be able to fill your...
                                                6. How to use Blogging for Personal Branding I always wondered why people  try to convert others to...

                                              46. Personal Branding Salad Bar

                                                Posted: June 14, 2009, 8:17 pm by Daniel Ngari

                                                In today’s post, you will be able to fill your personal branding plate from a salad bar. Please feel free to take as many ideas and tips as possible. Working on your personal brand helps create brand equity that can help you foster relationships, advance your career and put cold hard cash in your bank account. I hope you enjoy the salad bar choices, from A to Z.

                                                A – Action

                                                Choose action over inaction. You cannot wish your way to a powerful personal brand. Your actions are the seeds of your personal brand. What you do determines people’s perceptions of you.
                                                B – Blog

                                                Blogging is a powerful way of building a personal brand. It enables you to connect with your audience. It enables you to communicate your personal brand 24/7 even when you are sleeping. Blogging helps you engage others and get feedback for your personal brand.
                                                C – Communication

                                                Communication means shedding light on your personal brand. It means letting others know through your words or actions about what your personal brand entails. You can communicate about your personal brand verbally or none verbally through what you wear, where you hang out, who you hang out with etc.
                                                D – Diversity

                                                Do not put all your personal branding eggs in one basket. Spread your risks in a few areas of your life. Do not only be known as the blogger, or the hockey player. Expand your interests and friendship networks. There is more to life than what you are currently engaged in. Embrace diversity of ideas.
                                                E – Emotions

                                                Master your emotions. Learn how to manage emotions such as fear, jealousy, pride and anger. Do not be controlled by your emotions. Exercise self control. How you deal with your emotions affect your personal brand.
                                                F – First Impressions

                                                First impressions matter. It takes only about 3 seconds for people to decide how to classify you. Be careful how you present yourself to strangers. It may take years to change initial perceptions.
                                                G – Goals

                                                Set SMART goals for your personal branding efforts. Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Time bound.
                                                H – Handicap

                                                Do not let your handicaps ruin your personal brand. Analyze your perceived weaknesses and work around them. Find an angle that matches your character, personality, ability, experience and resources.
                                                I – Identity

                                                Do not be a mini version of someone else. Be your own person. Do not try to copy others. Embrace your uniqueness and nurture what is good about you. Believe in yourself and celebrate your individual qualities, experiences and quirks.
                                                J – Job

                                                When you embark on a job, do your best. The quality of your work determines your personal brand. Give your best on your job and word will get out. What you give out comes back to you tenfold.
                                                K – Knowledge

                                                Seek knowledge. Be thirsty for specialized knowledge that will enhance your value proposition. If you do not know something, ask or go read about it. Ignorance is not a defense for personal branding disasters.
                                                L – Language

                                                The words that come out of your mouth say a lot about you. Be careful about how you speak to others. Be polite and use the appropriate language for the kind of personal brand that you want to create.
                                                M – Marathon

                                                Personal branding takes time. It is like running a marathon. Do not sprint and wear yourself out with spikes of effort. Maintain consistency in your personal branding efforts. It is not what you do today but what you do day in day out that will count over the long haul.
                                                N – Networking

                                                Have good contacts building strategies. You will need other people in order to reach the apex of your success. Call it standing on the shoulders of giants or what you may. Contacts building strategies are vital for personal branding. A winning contacts building strategy focuses on quality & sustainability not just numbers for the sake of numbers.
                                                O – Occupation

                                                As much as you may want to shake it off, you will be tagged by many based on what you do for a living. Are you a doctor or cleaner? Are you a teacher or financial planner? People will inevitably stereotype you based on your occupation. Do you do what you love? Is your occupation doing justice to the kind of personal brand you want to develop?
                                                P – Positive Attitude

                                                Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference. Winston Churchill

                                                The mind is very powerful. You become whatever you think about or envision. Positive thinking means changing the predominant thoughts in your mind to pleasant and empowering thoughts.

                                                Q – Questions

                                                The kind of questions you ask yourself determine the kind your destiny. Ask yourself the right kind of questions today and experience a shift in your mindset and fortunes.
                                                R – Reputation

                                                Let your reputation precede you. Your reputation is shaped by what you do on and off the job. A good reputation is worth more than diamonds. Reputation takes years to build but can be destroyed overnight. A good reputation will open doors for you and allow you to command higher compensation.
                                                S – Scandal

                                                You may spend years building your personal brand and end up making a mistake that may cost you your good name. What do you do when faced with adversity? You may spend years building your personal brand but see it evaporate overnight. What do you do in the morning? Do you pick up the pieces and start again or do you run for the mountains?

                                                T – Talent

                                                Talent is a good place to start in building a personal brand. If you are talented in an area of life, develop it. Use your talents. Spend time discovering your talent. However, talent alone is not enough. You still need to put in hours of practice to improve and perfect your game.
                                                U – Umbilical Cord

                                                To build a personal brand you need to let your individuality shine. You may need to break ties with some friends, business, occupation, circumstances etc to build your personal brand.
                                                V – Victory

                                                Win with humility and lose with dignity. Victory is the sum result of your experience, effort and a bit of luck. Victory can be a bad teacher. Do not dwell on past victories as that can hinder your progress. Focus on your next win and do everything required to prepare for it.
                                                W – Wardrobe

                                                Be careful about your dressing. Your choice of attire determines what people think about you, especially in during initial meetings (first impressions).
                                                X – X-Ray

                                                Who are you on the inside? What can others not see about you with their naked eyes? Hint: Character

                                                When a man loses every single earthly possession all he has to fall back on is his character. The strength of character consists of virtues such as integrity, courage, fortitude, honesty, and loyalty, good behaviors or habits. Character is what determines a person’s ultimate personal brand and destiny.
                                                Y – Yesterday

                                                Do not dwell on past mistakes or past victories too much. I like this quote by Nelson Mandela about how we should approach the past.

                                                I have walked the long road to freedom. I have tried not to falter; I have made missteps along the way. But I have discovered the secret that after climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb. I have taken a moment here to rest, to look back on the distance I have come. But I can rest only for a moment, for with freedom come responsibilities, and I dare not linger, for my long walk is not yet ended.
                                                Z – Zombie state

                                                You may have stagnated in your life. You may have stopped making progress in life. Perhaps you have been caught up with life. Things just seem to happen instead of you making them happen. Wake up the giant within, get off zombie state

                                                Summary

                                                There you go my friend – a full salad bar for you to pick ideas for your personal brand. Personal branding is a lifelong process but can be enhanced by equipping yourself with the right ideas.

                                                Please post your ideas on what else we can add to the personal brand salad bar. Your comments are most welcome.

                                                Other articles you may enjoy :

                                                1. What is Personal Branding from Within? The truth outs. The truth about who you really are...
                                                2. Personal Branding for Rich Men Most of my theories on personal branding would not resonate...
                                                3. 13 Personal Branding Mistakes There is a right way for building a personal brand,...
                                                4. 10 Steps to Personal Branding Success Today’s blog post walks you through 10 simple steps that...
                                                5. Personal Branding Outside your Comfort zone Real growth is only experienced when you step out of...
                                                6. How to use Blogging for Personal Branding I always wondered why people  try to convert others to...

                                              47. Bouncing Back From Adversity

                                                Posted: June 13, 2009, 7:38 pm by Daniel Ngari

                                                You may spend years building your personal brand but see it evaporate overnight. What do you do in the morning? Do you pick up the pieces and start again or do you run for the mountains?

                                                No matter how deep in hell you may be, if you look inside yourself, you will see that a hero lies in you. The strength of your character and your hunger to bounce back can help you overcome adversity. Many people give up on the first sign of trouble, but the art of bouncing back is what separates successes from failures.

                                                Shapes that adversity may take

                                                Some people say that when poverty comes through the door, love escapes through the window. Just like poverty, when adversity strikes through the door, self confidence, personal brand and respect may escape through the window.

                                                The following are some of the forms and shapes of adversity.

                                                1) Illness or Death

                                                Adversity may be strike in the form of the grim reaper. Death is inevitable, however losing a close family member or friend can have devastating effects on a person. It causes all sorts of emotions and can inflict extreme pain. Death of a loved one can cause loneliness and depression.

                                                Being diagnosed with a terminal disease can cause depression as well. It can cause fear that one will become a burden to their family and fail to provide or be there for their loved ones.

                                                Overcoming the adversity of death or illness is not easy. Keeping a positive mental attitude can help you cope. Being diagnosed with a terminal disease such as HIV may be the end of life as you know it, but not the end of living, in absolute terms. One can still bounce back to living well, through proper medical care, exercise and eating right.

                                                Dealing with the emotions of loss, loneliness and depression is not easy. You may want to seek professional counseling, or allow time for the pain to subside. Remember that life goes on and you need to bounce back to life even after bad news. It may not be easy but every effort counts.

                                                2) Relationship Breakdown

                                                Relationships are built over time and breaking up is difficult to say the least. You may have great hopes for a relationship, be it a personal or business relationship. If that does not work out, or there is betrayal involved, it can cause a lot of pain.

                                                Betrayal is very painful for the person betrayed in a relationship. It is the violation of the mutually agreed-upon rules or boundaries of a relationship that leads to heartache, anger and resentment.

                                                The break down of a relationship can cause loss of trust and confidence. It can result in loss of productivity and motivation in life. It can cause loneliness and regret.

                                                Bouncing back from a relationship breakdown, while not easy, is vital. I wrote an article recently on 10 Powerful Strategies for Dealing with Heartache. Stay positive and be wise on the choice of your next relationship partner. Take time to heal and focus on other matters or people instead of dwelling on the broken relationship.

                                                3) Loss of a job/income

                                                You may be in a job today and at a jobless corner next week. The bills will not take a break. You may owe money on your credit cards. Being out of job can create a feeling of helplessness, not being able to help the people who depend on you or pay bills.

                                                Job loss can be bruising to the ego. Many people build their personal brands around their jobs. One way of insulating yourself against the pressures of job loss is to maintain a balance in life. Have a strong identity that is not defined by your job. This will help protect your sanity and self esteem if you lose your job.

                                                Having an active number of good contacts can help you in bouncing back. Your contacts can help you find another job or provide another avenue of generating an income. Being confident of your expertise and specialization can help you in bouncing back.

                                                4) Business failure

                                                You may invest a lot of money and time in developing a business. Then the environment changes because of competition, new trends or new legislation. It is very easy to feel like a failure. A business failure can mean loss of income and sliding into debt. Just like a job loss, it can bruise your ego. Other people may lose their jobs or income.

                                                Having your own business is a source of pride for most people. Losing your business or having to shut down your doors stings at the core of a business owner. Fortunately for many business owners, they have a thick skin. They know how to bounce back.

                                                Bouncing back may entail stepping back and looking at your reason for failure. Did you have weak systems? Were you a bad manager? Did you have problems with your cash flow? Was it a result of new competition or changes in the marketplace?

                                                Whatever the reason for failure in business, do not let it paralyze you. Many successful businessmen and businesswomen have probably had it tougher than you. Reflect on your past success and failures and learn from them.

                                                It takes time to jump start a failed venture. You may have to walk away, cut your loses and move on to something else. Do not repeat the same mistakes. Find a new angle to get back in the game. You can only win by getting back in the ring not by becoming a spectator.

                                                An Example of Bouncing Back – Steve Jobs

                                                Steven Paul Jobs (born February 24, 1955) is an American businessman and co-founder, and CEO of Apple Inc. Jobs is the former CEO of Pixar Animation Studios.

                                                He co-founded Apple in his parents’ garage when he was 20. He worked hard, and in 10 years Apple had grown from just him and his partner in a garage into a $2 billion company with over 4000 employees.

                                                They had just released their finest creation – the Macintosh – a year earlier, and he had just turned 30. And then he got fired. How does one get fired from a company he started? Well, as Apple grew they hired someone to run the company, but their visions of the future began to diverge and eventually they had a falling out. The Board of Directors sided with the other guy. So at 30 Steve Jobs was out. And very publicly out. What had been the focus of his entire adult life was gone, and it was devastating.

                                                It turned out that getting fired from Apple was the best thing that could have ever happened to him. The heaviness of being successful was replaced by the lightness of being a beginner again, less sure about everything. It freed him to enter one of the most creative periods of his life.

                                                During the next five years, He started a company named NeXT, another company named Pixar. Pixar went on to create the worlds first computer animated feature film, Toy Story, and is now the most successful animation studio in the world. In a remarkable turn of events, Apple bought NeXT, He returned to Apple, and the technology they developed at NeXT is at the heart of Apple’s current renaissance.

                                                None of this would have happened if he hadn’t been fired from Apple. It was an awful tasting medicine, but I guess the patient needed it. Sometimes life hits you in the head with a brick. Don’t lose faith.

                                                If you ever fall from grace, or find yourself in a tough position, remember Steve Jobs. Do not lose faith. Live to fight another day. Let your personal brand bounce back.

                                                Summary

                                                Bouncing back from failure or adversity can determine how your personal brand is perceived. No matter how deep your losses may be, stay positive. Adversity is a part of life but how we deal with it is what makes the difference. Stay true to your mission in life and personal brand, even when the tide turns against you.

                                                Other articles you may enjoy :

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                                              48. What does all Talk and No Action make You?

                                                Posted: June 11, 2009, 1:49 am by Daniel Ngari

                                                We all know “all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy”. But what does “all talk and no action” make you?  What impact does talking without follow-through have on your personal brand? What impact does making false promises have on your reputation?  Today’s post is dedicated to those amongst us that are action impaired.

                                                The Art of Satisfaction

                                                Once upon a time, a man planned a date on a revolving restaurant in a big skyscraper in the heart of the city. He spoke to a friend who had been to that restaurant and was assured that that was one of the best restaurants in his city. He went to their website and loved everything he saw. They had a flashy presentation on the delightful dining experience. He was sold. He called the restaurant and reserved a table for Friday evening…

                                                Come Friday, he and his date went out for the dinner date. The restaurant had valet parking and after getting off the car, they walked up to the lift. Everything about this restaurant was romantic, she thought. Then they got to the 60th floor where the restaurant was located.

                                                They were made to wait for a table for 30 minutes (standing). Then they sat down and waited for another 30 minutes for the waiter to notice them again. As if that was not enough, they waited for way more than an hour for their food to arrive. She kept reminding herself that it was not a fast food restaurant, but boy, was she hungry!

                                                How satisfied people are with you depends on the promise you sold them. Did your impressive resume impress your boss so much but your performance on the job has not matched up to expectations? No wonder she is not satisfied.

                                                Satisfaction is the difference between expectations and actual performance. It is a delicate balancing act. The trick is to under promise and over deliver. If you are big on making threats and promises, then be bigger in implementing them. Be bigger in taking action.

                                                Have a Bias for Action

                                                I am a computer programmer. One of the problems that many programmers have is that they tend to over analyze and over think of the most creative ways of solving a particular problem. This may come at the expense of the actual writing of the software. We call it analysis paralysis.

                                                Don’t spend a disproportionate amount of time and effort analyzing how to solve your problem or how to get to your goal. Instead, have a bias for action. Borrow from our friends at Nike – “Just Do It!”.

                                                Every step you make towards your goal (action), will give you more confidence and lessons, even if you fail. Like this blog for example. I spent so much time last year thinking of what kind of features to have, what kind of community to cultivate etc. Those were just delaying tactics, I later realized. That is why this year, I decide to just do it. It may not be perfect, but at least it is out there, touching the lives of a few people.

                                                Does your talk match your punch?

                                                I have always admired Mohammad Ali. He unleashed a sharp mouth to the American public in the 1970s. But luckily for him, he could match his talk with the punches in the ring. What impact do you think it would have had on his personal brand if he did not have the punch to match his words? Here are a few of his words…

                                                “I am America. I am the part you won’t recognize, but get used to me. Black, confident, cocky — my name, not yours. My religion, not yours. My goals, my own. Get used to me.”  Muhammad Ali

                                                “I’m the king of the world, I am the greatest, I’m Muhammad Ali. I shook up the world, I am the greatest, I’m king of the world, I’m pretty, I’m pretty, I’m a bad man, you heard me I’m a bad man. Archie Moore fell in four, Liston wanted me more, so since he’s so great, I’m a make him fall in eight, I’m a bad man, I’m king of the world! I’m 22 years old and ain’t got a mark on my face, I’m pretty, I easily survived six rounds with that ugly bear, because I am the greatest.” Muhammad Ali

                                                Just before the fight in Manila, Thriller in Manila, Ali tounted  Joe Frazier saying “It’s gonna be a chilla, and a killa, and a thrilla, when I get the Gorilla in Manila.”

                                                My friend, think carefully about your words. Make sure you can back them up. Don’t talk like Ali if you don’t have the punch. It may be better to be known as a quite achiever than the big mouth without the punch.

                                                Inspiring Action Quotes

                                                The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing. - Albert Einstein.

                                                Trust only movement. Life happens at the level of events, not of words. Trust movement. Alfred Adler

                                                Action may not always bring happiness, but there is no happiness without action. Benjamin Disraeli

                                                You cannot change anything in your life with intention alone, which can become a watered-down, occasional hope that you’ll get to tomorrow. Intention without action is useless. Caroline Myss

                                                A little knowledge that acts is worth infinitely more than much knowledge that is idle. Kahlil Gibran

                                                “Do-so” is more important than “say-so.” Pete Seeger

                                                Good thoughts are no better than good dreams, unless they be executed. Ralph Waldo Emerson

                                                Summary

                                                Do you want to be a talking brand or a doing brand? It is your choice. Your personal brand image is the difference between what you make people expect (using your words for example), and what you actually deliver (through your actions).

                                                Other articles you may enjoy :

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                                              49. 10 Ways to Stamp Authority in your Career

                                                Posted: June 8, 2009, 8:27 pm by Daniel Ngari

                                                Today we take personal branding to your career doorstep. One of the most powerful ways of propelling your career to the stratosphere is through positioning yourself as an authority. You can eliminate doubts about your abilities, marshal people around your ideas through smart professional and personal branding. Here is how…

                                                Freedom from Fear

                                                To stamp your authority in your career you need to eliminate all forms of fear and live courageously. Get rid of the fear of failure, fear of punishment, fear of making mistakes and even the fear of being told “you are fired”.

                                                Fear paralyzes and causes inaction. It modifies behavior and keeps people in their comfort zones. You need to break free from your comfort zone if you are to become an authority in your chosen career. Eliminate the fear of the unknown through constant learning, asking questions and throwing yourself in new and challenging situations.

                                                I like this quote on fear by Marianne Williamson, from her 1992 book, “Return to Love”.

                                                “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God.

                                                Your playing small doesn’t serve the world. There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do.

                                                We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

                                                Specialized Knowledge

                                                Enhance your personal brand by becoming highly skilled in your chosen career. You can gain expert status in you field through extensive reading, attending seminars or even apprenticeship. Dig deeper into your field than your peers. Stay in the bleeding edge of innovation in your area of work.

                                                Power of Persuasion

                                                In my favorite movie of all time, The Godfather, Don Corleone made Jack Woltz an offer he could not refuse. I will not get into the details of the offer but sometimes it is necessary to sweeten your offer for you to get ahead in life. People act out of the desire to eliminate pain and desire to gain pleasure. Learn how to use a balance of those two motivations to create an offer that people cannot refuse.

                                                Know who to make the offer to, when and how. You need to practice to become more persuasive if it does not come naturally to you. Listening skills are vital in becoming more persuasive. Learn to listen to both what people say and what they do not say. Learn to read people’s body language and hidden message (like in this section of this blog post).

                                                Unparalleled Value

                                                Don’t just turn up to work. Ask yourself what you can do for your employer, more than you ask yourself what your employer can do for you. Understand and articulate the needs of your customers better than anyone else.

                                                Learn to anticipate their needs and obsess about providing value. Be generous and give until it hurts. Seek feedback from your employer or customers on how your value has impacted them and seek to provide more value based on that feedback.

                                                Remember that money is only a medium of exchange and has no intrinsic value.  The paradox of money is that the sooner you ask for it the less of it you will receive in the long run. Worry about giving value and money will take care of itself. Worry about value creation and delivery more than you worry about pay rises and getting paid.

                                                Power Networking

                                                Meet the key people in your industry. Do not be proud of just accumulating business cards in your rolodex. Make sure your personal brand and first impressions are working to your advantage.

                                                Seek to be friends with your contacts. People love to do business with their friends. It is not corruption, it is human nature. Rarely do people enjoy playing golf with people who have a one track mind - business, more business and yet more business.

                                                Do not pressure people in your networking efforts. Be desirable. Package yourself nicely. Let others seek you for your appeal instead of you pushing yourself to them.

                                                Leadership Skills

                                                Learn, internalize and practice leadership skills. Be good in goal setting, project management and be good with people. Develop your people skills by seeing the good in them, and seeking to bring out the best in others.

                                                Develop your leadership skills through attending leadership seminars, talking with other leaders, reading books, blogs and watching DVDs on leadership skills development. Go out there and learn to lead by doing. Leading even the smallest of teams will develop more of your leadership skills than a seminar would.

                                                Mentoring

                                                Chart your own career path. Decide what is important for you. You do not want to wait for a mentor to tell you what is good for you. They will guide you based on their world view, past experiences and warped ideas of who you are.

                                                Do not have just one mentor. Find many people who you admire and find little things about each that you can implement in your life. Do not become a clone of someone else.

                                                To become an authority in your field and to prosper your personal brand, consider mentoring others. Share your lessons that you have learned over time. Give whoever you are mentoring genuine value. Be genuinely interested in helping the people you mentor.

                                                Outlast Competition

                                                Authority status is not acquired overnight. Be persistent in your aspiration for authority status in your chosen field. Continuously develop your career. Learn the ropes. Learn the people. Ingrain yourself in the culture. Be an insider. Speak the lingo.

                                                Outlasting your competition does not mean staying with the same company or line of business all your life. But it does mean immersing yourself in one general area of business for years on end. Remember that rolling stones gather no moss. You need to stick around for the harvest. Authorities do not plant then leave immediately.

                                                Believe in Yourself

                                                Others may doubt you, do not join them. Conduct a SWOT analysis of yourself. Learn your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. You cannot be everything. Find an angle and stick with it. Become really good at what you do using your own unique angle.

                                                There will always be people who are better than you in something just as there will always be people you are better than. Do not let the success of others make you jealous or diminish your belief in yourself.

                                                Be happy in your own achievements, however humble. Count your blessings everyday. Build your confidence by achieving and celebrating your milestones on your career journey.

                                                Befriend the Rule Book

                                                Each profession operates within confines of the law and standards. Know the limits in your careers. Stretch the limits but do not break them. Ignorance is not a defense. Find advisors to guide you when you get to ETC (end of thinking capacity).

                                                Summary

                                                To become an authority in your chosen career, you must first believe in yourself. Know the rules and network expertly. Gain specialized knowledge and use it to give unparalleled value. Be free from fear and develop your leadership. Authority status does not happen overnight so be prepared to work for it.

                                                I would love to hear your comments on how to achieve authority status and other ways of enhancing your personal brand in a career setting.

                                                Other articles you may enjoy :

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                                              50. The Value of Consistency

                                                Posted: June 7, 2009, 6:01 pm by Daniel Ngari

                                                “In essence, if we want to direct our lives, we must take control of our consistent actions. It is not what we do once in a while that shape our lives, but what we do consistently” - Athony Robbins.

                                                A powerful personal brand is consistent. Consistency does not mean stagnation. It does not mean lack of growth. It does not mean doing the same thing over and over. Consistency in personal branding means sending a uniform message to your target audience. It means maintaining a standard and avoiding actions that could damage your personal brand.

                                                One of the quickest ways to damage a personal brand is through inconsistency. When people stop paying attention to their personal brand, the results can be disastrous. They slide back to old habits or do things that damage people’s perception of them. For example, a successful businessman can damage his personal brand by being charged in court for domestic violence. An elite footballer can damage his personal brand by being exposed as having a drug problem.

                                                To maintain a consistent brand image, it is important to set giant personal branding goals. These goals can then be broken down into sub goals. Consistent achievement of those sub goals over time gives a consistent brand direction. Those baby steps add up.

                                                Powerful personal brands take years to develop. It is not the radical changes that you make to your personal brand that count. It is the small, gradual, never ending improvements that shape people’s perception f you.

                                                Consistency Applied

                                                • Health - Consistency in exercise and good eating habits help maintain a healthy body and mind. Regular exercise helps develop discipline and good health. This manifests itself in other areas of life and directly impacts on personal branding efforts.
                                                • Finances - Having a consistent investment/saving plan helps protect a person in times of hardships. Putting aside a percentage of your earnings will ensure your personal brand is protected in tough times.Financial difficulties can be damaging to a personal brand. Being consistent in the way you prudently manage finances is insurance for your personal brand.
                                                • Networking - Consistently meeting new people and developing existing relationships has a big impact on personal branding. It helps improve recognition and trust. It takes time for people to trust new contacts. It is not enough to attend one business networking meeting, collect business cards, and call it a day.Think of contacts as an investment. Think of how you can benefit from each other over the long term. Work on solidifying your relationship over time. Follow up with your contacts regularly by providing value or friendship. Do not just approach your contacts when you need something from them. Let the power of compounding work in your favor. Be consistent in the way you approach networking.
                                                • Mind - You need to put your thoughts on a leash. Don’t let them wander off too far from where you want them to be. You can do this through constant affirmations and consistently reminding yourself what it is that you want to achieve.If you let your thoughts wander too far from your control, you will miss the bus. The bus that leads to success. This is one area of life where you are allowed to be a dictator. Dictate your thoughts. Consistently feed your mind with empowering thoughts that will help in your self improvement efforts and personal branding.
                                                • Relationships - The best relationships are built through consistent communication. Consistent actions such as love, honesty and generosity are rewarded through fulfilling relationships. It is not what you do once in a while that builds a fabulous relationship. It is the small consistent things done regularly that count.
                                                • Character - This is the area of lasting success that is unfortunately ignored by many who aspire to be successful. Setting and reaching character goals will make you a better person. Character is who you are when nobody is looking. Are you a man or woman of honor? of integrity? are you honest? Are you self disciplined?Character is different from talent, it is shaped over time by the events, decisions you make and actions that you take. The strength of someone’s character refers to their inner person, whom they really at the core.When a man loses every single earthly possession all he has to fall back on is his character. The strength of character consists of virtues such as integrity, courage, fortitude, honesty, and loyalty, good behaviors or habits. Character is what determines a person’s ultimate destiny.
                                                • Contribution - Giving value to others is the perfect way of building a personal brand. Developing a consistent habit of giving to others is like planting seeds of a powerful personal brand. Be a cheerful giver. Give something of value to people you meet. Not necessarily money but what you have in your reserves.When you give you are making a deposit in your spiritual account and you will reap your rewards with the same measure you give out. Obsess on consistently giving to others; whether it is through your time, ideas, money or gifts.

                                                Summary

                                                Consistency means sending out a consistent message regarding your personal brand. It means avoiding extremes and focusing on growth through taking baby steps.

                                                It is the small steps that you take consistently in business, health, mind, relationships, finances etc that make the ultimate difference. Protect your personal brand through consistency.

                                                I would love to hear your comments regarding the value of consistency. How has consistency helped you in your life? What areas of life do you think can improve if you were consistent? Your comments are most welcome.

                                                Other articles you may enjoy :

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                                                2. Personal Branding Salad Bar In today’s post, you will be able to fill your...
                                                3. 7 Habits of Highly Effective Personal Brands We all have personal brands by default. However, to get...
                                                4. 13 Personal Branding Mistakes There is a right way for building a personal brand,...
                                                5. Personal Branding for Rich Men Most of my theories on personal branding would not resonate...
                                                6. What is Personal Branding from Within? The truth outs. The truth about who you really are...

                                              51. 10% of Your Actions Define 90% of Personal Brand

                                                Posted: June 4, 2009, 9:09 am by Daniel Ngari

                                                Transform your personal brand by identifying the key 10% of your actions and habits that shape people’s perception of you. Obsess about that 10%. Make positive changes. Laser target your efforts.

                                                Read the above paragraph again. This is my shortest blog post ever,  and the most important, atleast in the personal branding series.

                                                Other articles you may enjoy :

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                                                2. Personal Branding for Rich Men Most of my theories on personal branding would not resonate...
                                                3. How to Get Results Using Your Personal Brand Why go through the trouble of personal branding? Why spend...
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                                              52. 13 Personal Branding Mistakes

                                                Posted: June 2, 2009, 10:49 pm by Daniel Ngari

                                                There is a right way for building a personal brand, and there is a wrong way. Watch out for the following traps on the wrong road to personal branding. Today we look at how to avoid the common mistakes in personal branding efforts.

                                                1 - Insularity

                                                Insularity is the state of being isolated or detached. It means being lost in your own little world; not paying attention to what others are doing. You are part of a dynamic world; you cannot afford to ignore what is happening in the world around you.

                                                Learn from others who are better than you. Learn to avoid the mistakes of others too. As a blogger, I cannot afford to be insular. I have to constantly understand the environment within which I work. My readers visit other sites and blogs too. That is the reality. I have to constantly visit those blogs too to know what is out there.

                                                2 - Inconsistency

                                                Powerful brands are consistent. Coke tastes the same world over. McDonalds Restaurants have the same quality of service (with minor localization options) worldwide.

                                                Avoid the temptation to flip from one extreme to another. Be consistent in the message you send to the world through your words, appearance or actions.

                                                For this blog to become a powerful brand, I have to stay on course with my stated mission of inspiring you to be the best you can be. I cannot suddenly start writing about politics or pornography and expect to retain my audience and brand image.

                                                3 - Ambiguity

                                                Powerful brands are specific in what they bring to the table. The clearer you are about what your brand is about, the more powerful it will be. Be clear about the message you send to others about your personal brand. If you cannot describe your personal brand in a few words, others won’t be able to either.

                                                4 - Ignorance

                                                Ignorance is not a valid defense in a court of law. Neither is it a valid defense in the court of public opinion. Find all you need to find about personal branding. The more actionable information you have, the more likely you are to build a strong brand.

                                                Be aware of your online reputation. What you post on the internet is never really deleted. It can come back to haunt you in 20 years when you are running for president. Be aware of what others are saying about you online by using web monitoring tools such as Google Alerts.

                                                5 - Stagnation

                                                You may read a personal development book or blog and feel really pumped up to make positive changes in your life. For a few days you may step up your game and make some changes. Then you stop. You are not alone. Many people get a spike of motivation and inspiration then stagnate. Stagnation is a personal brand killer.

                                                In a dynamic society that we live in, you should seek to constantly improve your personal brand. If you are a regular reader of this blog, you may have heard me talk about Kaizen. Kaizen is a Japanese management philosophy that can be applied to many aspects of life. It means making small continuous improvements instead of stagnating.

                                                6 - Self Limiting Beliefs

                                                You can only achieve as much as you think you can. You will face external obstacles in your personal branding efforts. Do not add to the obstacles through your own self limiting beliefs.

                                                Believe that you are capable of building a powerful personal brand. It does not matter if you are black or white, young or old. It does not matter if you have a degree or not, or whether you are charismatic or not. You can always find an angle that suits you and exploit it with good effect.

                                                7 - Asking the Wrong Question

                                                The kind of questions you ask yourself will determine the kind of answers you get. Ask questions such as “How can I be a more valuable member of my team?” or “How can I achieve financial freedom?”

                                                Ask empowering questions instead of questions that create self doubt. If you keep asking yourself the same questions, you will get the same answers you have always got. If you want to get different results, step back from your situation and ask different questions.

                                                8 - Expecting Instant Results

                                                Many people want to be overnight millionaires. They want to have instant personal brands. It does not quite work that way. Instead, find something that you love and stick with it for the long haul.

                                                Overnight success may take 15 years of preparation. Building a good reputation, a business, a career, a relationship takes time. Be prepared to put in the hard work for extended period of time. Many people expect instant results. Differentiate yourself by setting yourself up for the long haul. Be long distance runner not a sprinter when it comes to personal branding.

                                                9 - Lack of Preparation

                                                90 minutes of an elite soccer game is preceded by thousands of hours of preparation. 90 minutes of a movie is preceded by thousands of hours of footage. Be prepared to put in the hours required to build a personal brand. Prepare meticulously for the crowning moment of your personal brand.

                                                10 - Lack of a Story

                                                Every powerful personal brand has a back story that is repeated over and over. What is your story?

                                                Bill Gates story says that he was a smart kid in school who reluctantly gave up college education to pursue his software empire dream. Barack Obama made sure he told his back story over and over before he ran for president. He even wrote a book called “Dreams of My Father” to tell his back story. Almost every voter knew Obama’s roots before they cast their ballots. It was not accidental; it was all part of personal branding.

                                                11 - Impulse Branding

                                                It may be OK to impulsively buy gum at a supermarket checkout but it is not OK to impulsively build your personal brand. Think through the kind of personal brand you want to create. Exercise due diligence; Do not blindly copy others. Chart your own path.

                                                12 - Part-time Personal Branding

                                                Be vigilant about protecting your personal brand even when nobody is watching. Make personal branding a fulltime job. Doing the right thing only when others are watching is a surefire way to court personal branding disasters.

                                                13 - First Impressions Disasters

                                                You do not need a second chance to make a first impression. The kind of first impression you make can last a life time. It is almost impossible to change disastrous first impressions. Pay extra attention every time you have to make a first impression. Bad first impressions leave a permanent stain on an otherwise bright personal brand.

                                                Summary

                                                We have explored common mistakes that pave the road to bad personal branding. We have also looked at how to avoid those mistakes.

                                                I would love to hear your comments on what other mistakes stand in the way of personal branding and how they can be avoided. Your comments are most welcome.

                                                Other articles you may enjoy :

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                                              53. How to Get Results Using Your Personal Brand

                                                Posted: June 1, 2009, 5:37 pm by Daniel Ngari

                                                Why go through the trouble of personal branding? Why spend time, money and energy building your profile and personal brand? It is because a good personal brand gets results. It makes people take action. It opens doors that would otherwise be closed. Astute marketers use a model called AIDA to get results; and so can you.

                                                AIDA

                                                Research has shown that before customers buy a product or service, they go through a series of steps. Before they take action, they go through the following steps: Attention, Interest, Desire and then Action.

                                                Attention

                                                Companies spend millions trying to attract customers and to gain attention in crowded marketplaces. They put their advertising on TV; give away free samples just to get noticed. They invest in attention seeking campaigns.

                                                To maximize the advertising dollars, companies laser target their customers to minimize the cost of getting attention. If a company wants to attract accounting staff, they place advertising in places where accountants are likely to be reading, watching or hanging out.

                                                To get attention to your personal brand, determine what you want to communicate and to whom. Do something different. Do not be like everyone else. Avoid being invisible by becoming a purple cow.

                                                Determine what your target audience needs and communicate that aspect of your personal brand. People are driven by the desire to avoid pain and the desire to gain pleasure. Communicate aspects of your personal brand to help people avoid pain and gain pleasure.

                                                Create awareness for your personal brand through networking and delivering upfront value to others. Be a resource and a value giver.

                                                Interest

                                                People take very little time before deciding if a product or service is of interest to them. That is why you should seek to make a brilliant first impression. With so many choices, today’s consumers are spoilt for choice. They watch many TV stations, listen to numerous radio stations, visit a gazillion websites, watch hundreds of movies and have friends a phone call away.

                                                Companies may gain the attention of consumers through aggressive advertising campaigns. But sustaining interest is a different ball game. To be truly interested, the product or service needs to meet the unique needs of the customer.

                                                You may be able to gain attention and awareness but you will only be able to sustain interest of people if you offer clear benefits to their most pressing problems.

                                                If you are looking to sell a book, you will only get sustained interest if your subject matter talks directly to the needs and wants of the potential readers. What is it about your personal brand that uniquely meets the needs of others? Communicate your benefits in a clear way. Raise interest by showing specific benefits.

                                                Desire

                                                What makes people open their wallets to buy a pair of expensive sports shoes? What makes someone pick up the phone and call that special person they met at a party?

                                                Peoples’ desire to avoid pain and/or gain pleasure is what drives them to take action. Companies spend time, money and effort to attract attention, create interest and desire for their products and services. They do this by communicating how their products are able to help consumers gain pleasure or avoid pain.

                                                For people to desire your personal brand, you must attract attention and cultivate interest. Position yourself as the answer to their problems. Communicate how you are going to solve their problems. Borrow a leaf from marketers and make yourself the object of your target audience’s desires.

                                                Summary (Action)

                                                Whether you want to get a particular job or start a new relationship you can use the marketing concept called AIDA.

                                                Get better results using your personal brand by walking people through the stages of Attention, Interest, Desire and Action. It is a simple principle that works well in sales letters and in selling products and services. It can work wonders in your life too.

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                                              54. 7 Quick and Dirty Ways to Become a Charmer

                                                Posted: May 31, 2009, 5:06 pm by Daniel Ngari

                                                Charming your way to people’s minds and hearts will bring love, joy and prosperity to your life. It is the simple things you do that enhance your personal brand. Charmers are attractive; they make people feel good and bring out the best in others.

                                                Not all charmers are magicians, but they all cast a magic spell on others. They induce others to act. They persuade others to do what they want them to do. Welcome to my little, quick and dirty guide to becoming a charmer.

                                                Genuine Interest

                                                Each of us is different; with unique quirks, experiences and world views. To become a charmer, you need to accept and embrace the fact that people are different. Be genuinely interested in what makes a person unique instead of relying on stereotypes. Develop empathy - be willing and able to put yourself in the shoes of others.

                                                Ask questions that can give you answers to what makes the person unique. Asking questions in a friendly, warm tone can open up conversations and give you insight into what makes a person tick. Remember the answers to the questions you ask. Do your best to remember peoples’ names, birthday, careers, preferences and other facts.

                                                Pet Topics

                                                Pet topics are topics that you can immerse yourself in and talk about for hours. What is your pet topic? What do you love to talk about? What are you at ease talking about?

                                                Develop a set of pet topics that can help you connect with others. Have topics that bring out the best in others. Appreciate other people’s pet topics and be willing to listen as they go on and on.

                                                Examples of good pet topics include music, movies, sports, fashion, jokes etc. Be careful about making politics and religion your pet topics. Those two topics are more likely to cause divisions than find common ground.

                                                Positive Attitude

                                                Look out for the best in people. Look at the glass as half full instead of half empty. Make people feel good about themselves. Focus on positive stories, issues and moments. Show appreciation and gratitude when good things happen.

                                                Magic Words

                                                Use words to charm your way into peoples’ hearts, and minds. Develop charming vocabulary. Make words like “thank you”, “sorry”, “please” easy to roll off your tongue. Be creative in finding charming words that make people feel at ease.

                                                Practice

                                                Like all good things, charm takes practice. Practice makes perfect. If you are not at your charming best at present, take heart. If you keep practicing, taking baby steps, you will eventually get there. Try charming one person at a time, try making one person feel good about themselves. Your charming ways may not always work, in your charm fails you, do not worry too much. Try again. The more you practice being charming, the better you become at it.

                                                Repetition of the same thought or physical action develops into a habit which, repeated frequently enough, becomes an automatic reflex. Norman Vincent Peale

                                                Generosity

                                                Give unexpected gifts. People love generous souls. Brand yourself as generous. Complement people genuinely and generously. Feed peoples’ egos. Give your time and your attention to the person you want to charm. Be there at their hour of need.

                                                How do you make people feel? After a long period of time people generally don’t remember what you said but rather how you made them feel. Give people the gift of love and respect. Give kind words and encouragement in tough times.

                                                Be a cheerful giver. Give something of value to people you meet. Not necessarily money but what you have in your reserves. When you give you are making a deposit in your spiritual account and you will reap your rewards with the same measure you give out.

                                                “Give and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over will be poured to your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measure to you” – Luke 6:38

                                                Summary

                                                Becoming a charming person is good way of getting more out of life. Charming people are more easily able to influence others and get people to like them. They are more likely to make friends.

                                                Watch charming people. Learn from them. Do not reinvent the wheel. Read, watch, listen and observe what makes them so charming. Then start improving, one aspect of your communication and personal brand at a time.

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                                              55. What is Personal Branding from Within?

                                                Posted: May 27, 2009, 2:49 pm by Daniel Ngari

                                                The truth outs. The truth about who you really are eventually comes out. You can fool some people sometimes, you can fool some people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time. The best way to enhance your personal brand is to change your internals; your thoughts, your emotions, your habits and your character.

                                                Thoughts

                                                Your mind is very powerful. You become whatever you think about or envision. Positive thinking means changing the predominant thoughts in your mind to pleasant and empowering thoughts. Some people think of it as self hypnosis, while others think of it as a way of connecting with the mystic of the universe. If you populate your mind with positive messages, you will see a fundamental shift in your fortunes, feelings and outcomes; and ultimately your personal brand.

                                                If you hang around people who are optimistic in life, you will most likely end up looking at the glass as half full. If you hang out with pessimists, you will always see the glass as half empty. Your friends will influence how you think whether you realize it or not.

                                                It may be the way they look at you when you say something, or how they behave when you do something. Be careful about the people you let into your life. They can make or break you even without you realizing it. Surround yourself with positive people and their positive energy will radiate to you. Become more positive and you will impact the people around you and gain their respect for your personal brand.

                                                Character

                                                Character is the attributes that determines your moral and ethical actions and reactions. Character is different from talent, it is shaped over time by the events, decisions you make and actions that you take. The strength of someone’s character refers to their inner person, whom they really at the core.

                                                When a man loses every single earthly possession all he has to fall back on is his character. The strength of character consists of virtues such as integrity, courage, fortitude, honesty, and loyalty, good behaviors or habits. Character is what determines a person’s ultimate personal brand and destiny.

                                                The good thing is that the strength of character can be developed, just as iron is turned into steel. Iron is made stronger by removing impurities and stress hardening. You can develop strength of character by getting rid of negative influences and behaviors in your life (impurities) and stress training (getting out of your comfort zone).

                                                Character can also be developed by learning from others through observation, reading or listening. Just as iron is converted to steel in different stages, you can develop your strength of character progressively.

                                                Emotions

                                                You can use the power of positive emotions to enhance your personal brand. I have learned to harness some positive emotions with good results in my life. Understanding positive emotions can help you bring more of them in yourself and others. Emotional state management is a powerful skill to add to your success arsenal.

                                                Emotions determine our mood, our mood affects our choices, our choices affect our actions and our actions determine our success.

                                                Habits

                                                We are creatures of habit. There is no way you are going to achieve different results if you keep doing things in the same old fashioned way. To achieve any goal in life, you need to change some habits. Think of the goal you want to achieve, and decide what habits would keep you from achieving that.  Then change those habits.

                                                Summary

                                                Personal branding from within is all about self mastery. Self mastery means becoming the master of your own ship. It means becoming the primary guiding force to your destiny. It is the ability to reign supreme on your desires, impulses, emotions, appetite and mind.

                                                This ability cannot be bought with money or fame, but can be developed through discipline. Self mastery means being in control of yourself and not letting your emotions and impulses dictate your life.

                                                P.s - I would love to hear from you how we can enhance our personal brands through self mastery.

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                                              56. 17 Habits that Radiate Success

                                                Posted: May 25, 2009, 1:07 am by Daniel Ngari

                                                You probably know that if you radiate success people will treat you better. Today we look at 17 habits and ideas that project an image of prosperity. You can prosper by branding yourself as successful. Let us get down to business…

                                                 1 - Game Theory

                                                 Treat personal branding as a game. Looking good is a game. Learn to play the game. If people think you are successful, they will treat you better. They will want to be associated with you; they will make you feel better. If you feel better, your dominant thoughts will be empowering. You will gravitate towards positive thoughts. You become what you think about. Play this game right and you will be on your way to success.

                                                 2 - Body Image

                                                 A sexy body is nice to look at. Do you have a sexy body? Does your body make you cringe when you look at yourself in the mirror or does it light up your face with pride? You can attain a better body through exercise, eating right and stay clear of vices such as drugs and alcohol. Work out towards your dream body. Stay in shape. Above all, be happy with the way you look, others can tell if you are happy with your body or not.

                                                 3 - Skin Deep

                                                 I went to a national school in Kenya that had students from diverse backgrounds and from different parts of Kenya. I noticed after my second year of high school that I had the uncanny ability of being able to tell someone’s social-economic background just by looking at them. The tell tale signs were in the skin texture.

                                                 Then when I came to Australia, though not as marked as in Kenya, I noticed that people from different parts of town had different skin textures. Do you look like you have had a tough life or do you look like you spend time on a day spa? Are you hard yakka or a yuppie? Are your hands soft and smooth or are they tough and rough?

                                                 A little moisturizer and lotion does the trick. Use the right kind and you will be on your way to skin deep personal branding. If you are black like me, I do not recommend you try this: get a sun tan. A sun tan makes white people look better in my humble opinion.

                                                4 - Face Value

                                                You may get to meet people online, on email, through correspondence or via phone. But finally a day comes when you put a face to the character. What does your face say about you? Do you have a successful looking face? Do you look confident?

                                                Smiling in 42 languages is a great way of enhancing your face, putting people at ease and propping up your personal brand. It is a great way to make a perfect first impression.

                                                5 - Barber Shop

                                                For men, trimming your hair and shaving regularly helps project a better image. Set a date with your barber regularly.

                                                For ladies, spend time making that hair look good. Having a bad hair day? Not doing your hair right can affect how you feel and how you carry yourself. Do your personal brand a favor and get the best hairstyle you can afford. Get a hairstyle suitable for the occasion, your body type, your skin color etc.

                                                6 - Dress to Kill

                                                Thou shalt not kill unless it is done through perfect dressing. Make sure you wear the appropriate attire for the occasion. Be comfortable in what you wear. Only wear clothes that suit your body type. Buy twice as expensive clothes and buy half as many. Expensive clothes are generally more durable, but be sure to dress within you budget.

                                                7 - Different Car

                                                A great car speaks volumes about the driver. Same guy, different car, will attract more attention from the ladies. Yes I said it. Think of cars like Porsche, BMW, Hummer, Ferrari, Mercedes etc. They radiate success and project prosperity.

                                                Decide early what a car means to you. Do you want to rent, buy or lease? A car is a depreciating liability. Do not overreach for the sake of image. It can cost you more than the marginal gain in image that you might gain. Think of your financial position before splurging on a top car.

                                                8 - Neighborhood watch

                                                Have you seen the Eminem movie 8 Mile? What side of 8 mile do you live in? What does your pad say about you? What does it communicate about you even before you open your mouth? Where you hang out, shop or work also determines your image.  Before you pack your belongings and move to a better neighborhood, think of your long term viability. There is nothing worse than leaving a bad hood, going to live in Malibu or Beverly Hills, and then having to move back when your fortune dwindles.

                                                9 - Subtle Bragging

                                                Open braggarts are such a turn off. They are universally despised but might be tolerated. Avoid massaging your own ego. Do not show off your possessions especially to those who might be less fortunate as you. Be humble.

                                                In the other hand, subtle bragging can get you noticed. It can work wonders in your personal branding efforts. Have you noticed any form of subtle bragging on this blog? lol. You can weave your achievements into stories. Casually drop an accomplishment in conversation without making the accomplishment the center of your conversation.

                                                You can also accomplish landmark achievements that leave others talking about you. Let others brag about you on your behalf.

                                                10 - Be Scarce

                                                You are familiar with the laws of supply and demand right? The more available you are to people, the more likely they are to take you for granted. Increase your value by being scarce. Go MIA (Missing in Action). Familiarity breeds contempt. Learn to excuse yourself after you have met your objectives. You are a busy man (or woman) remember?

                                                11 - Communication 501

                                                Learn the right words for the right situation. Increase your vocabulary. People can tell a lot about you by the kind of words that come from your mouth. Your words can give away your social economic background even when you may look like a million bucks.

                                                Learn to listen. You have two ears and one mouth. Use them in that ratio. Take a genuine interest in others and seek to find out what makes them tick. Be informed about various topics that can help you sustain conversation even with strangers. What is your pet topic? What do you default to?

                                                12 - Finer Things

                                                The finest things in life are priceless. But there are a few big ticket items and ideas that can make you seem more successful. Be a connoisseur of the finer things in life. Perhaps you could play polo, have a cigar, and immerse yourself in the world of art. Just be careful not to live a champagne lifestyle on a beer income. It may come back to haunt you.

                                                13 - Birds of a Feather

                                                Show me your friends and I will tell you what kind of person you are. If you hang out with crooks and losers, people will brand you guilty by association. Be careful whom you let into your space. Network with successful people and re-engineer yourself to be comfortable around successful people, if you are not naturally comfortable around the.

                                                14 - Good Manners

                                                Good manners don’t cost you a thing. People probably miss to see your good manners, but if you replace good manners with bad, people are bound to remember.

                                                Open doors for the ladies, learn to say the magic words “thank you” and “please”. Look people in the eyes when talking to them. When greeting others, offer a firm handshake. Do not interrupt when others or talking or give the impression that you are just waiting for our turn to speak.

                                                15 - Travel the World

                                                Go to exotic destinations and talk about it. Have a global network of friends; take photos with them in their locations. Come back to your local with tales from different cities. Enthrall others with your travel stories and bond with others who have had similar experiences. Carry souvenirs from various continents, countries and cities.

                                                16 - Attitude is everything

                                                Thoughts are real. You become what you think about. Fill your mind with empowering thoughts and a winning attitude. Think you are a winner, look like a winner, behave like a winner and you will become a winner. Success or failure is all in the mind.

                                                17 - Be Yourself

                                                Be happy in your own skin. Do not fake like, you only live once. Do not be a mini version of someone else. Embrace your originality, quirks and personality. Be confident in yourself. Do not doubt your own abilities. If you are not self assured, how are others expected to be confident of you? Accept yourself just as you are. That is the biggest gift you can give to yourself.

                                                Summary

                                                 We have looked at various habits and ways of projecting a more attractive personal brand. Radiating success brings success to your life. Not all habits are good or applicable to you, but I hope you have picked something that you can put to use.

                                                would love to hear your comment on this blog post and the question of projecting a successful image even before you succeed. Any story will be most welcome.

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                                              57. How to use Blogging for Personal Branding

                                                Posted: May 24, 2009, 7:06 am by Daniel Ngari

                                                I always wondered why people  try to convert others to their way of thinking and way of doing things. A real estate developer may try to influence you to invest in property. A preacher may try to get you to say goodbye to a life of sin. And then there are bloggers (like me) trying to get you to start your own blog. Why is that?

                                                 When people get to do something, they get a deeper understanding of it. They see the insider benefits more clearly. I have seen the effects of blogging on my personal branding efforts. I will present the case for blogging to you; with the hope of inspiring you to start a blog today.

                                                 My Blogging Lessons

                                                 I used to run a web design business. Getting clients was not easy. I did not have an ad on the yellow pages nor was I listed in the web designer directories online. I relied on word of mouth and that was slow at best. Every time I finished one job, I had to hit the tarmac, or pick up the phone trying to find the next job. It is not the smartest way to run a business or build a brand.

                                                 When I started this blog in January 2009, I set out on a personal development journey. I wanted to learn to be more positive, and to inspire others. Over the years, I had accumulated experiences, both good and bad; that I thought could benefit others if I shared. My end goal was to grow, and to help others grow. I also wanted to meet new friends and “future business contacts”. Nobody had told me about the power of blogging in personal or even business branding. I experienced it, and as usual, I will share with you freely.

                                                 The blog started slowly, I was not sure what direction to take the site. I did not have many visitors at first, but my friends Paula, Philip, Brenda Njeru and Nyomi were always there, encouraging me to keep going. I would get home after work, tired but knowing there were a few people waiting to read my blog the next morning made me write something to inspire them.

                                                 Then I started promoting the blog on a few places online. More people started coming, they seemed to like what I was writing and invited a few of their friends as well. Soon enough, I met incredible people who I have no doubt will be my life long friends. I started getting requests for consulting, and help with web design from people from different countries. This was without even me trying. I was subtly giving hints about my expertise on the blog, but that was not the main objective. The side effect of blogging turned out to be bigger than I anticipated. I knew about blogging since my uni days in 2001. Why had I never taken action and started one?

                                                 Going by the number of inquiries I have got from readers of this blog, I can tell you with authority that blogging is a powerful personal branding tool. People email asking me to give them advice on immigration to Australia, about relationship matters, about social media, about online marketing, about starting a blog, etc. Others ask me to mentor them and give them advice on one area of life or another. I do my best to help, but I feel like I cannot do everything for all the people who send me requests. With time I will develop this site to offer more help on the areas that people ask me about…but I digress

                                                 If during my web design days I had a blog, I reckon I could have got a lot more business than I did. Blogging has proven itself to be a good way of connecting with friends and am sure it can be used for connecting with partners, customers, suppliers and media. You do not have to be a business owner to benefit from blogging. You can be a student and start a blog; you can be a career person and start a blog. Whatever you do in life, think of how blogging can help you.

                                                 How to Brand yourself using a Blog 

                                                • Your Objectives - A road to anyplace leads to a town called nowhere. If you want to achieve any kind of goal, you need to precisely plan where you want to go and how you are going to get there. What kind of brand image do you want to communicate using your blog? What are you trying to get out of it? Write down your objectives on a piece of paper. Review them a few times before you even write your first blog post.
                                                • Your Target Audience - One man’s meat is another man’s poison. What I write on this blog may be appealing to you but boring or annoying to another person. Do not try to be everything to everyone. The quickest way to erode your personal brand is to try and please everyone. Think clearly who you want to target with your blog and obsess over meeting their needs. I have a particular type of target on this blog and I think day and night about how to meet their needs. Every time I hear something on TV or read something on another blog that can be of benefit to my target audience I write it down. I am obsessed with meeting the needs of my target audience.
                                                • Get Your Angle - Website and blog readers are like ancient Egyptians. Ancient Egyptians had many gods, each god provided them with something unique e.g. fertility, rain, wealth etc. They worshiped the god that met their particular objective. If you are not meeting an objective of your website visitors and target audience, they will turn elsewhere. If you provide the same information as another god (or blog), you will be fighting for scarce attention. Take time to define your angle. Your brand will shine brighter if you have a unique angle instead of copying someone else.
                                                • Communicating Ideas - A blog is a means of communicating ideas. In a war or in case of disasters, government spokesmen have a clear objective of communicating. They are responsible of keeping citizens informed and assured. You may not be a government spokesman but you are the spokesman for your brand. Think clearly how you want to communicate with your target audience. Communicate with them in terms that make sense to them. Do not talk down on them. Do not be too technical if they are not. Use the right lingo to communicate your ideas. You may communicate your ideas through written word, videos or podcasts. Be the perfect spokesman or woman for your brand using your blog.
                                                • Getting Feedback - I celebrate every time I get both positive and negative feedback on my blog. Writing and getting no comments or feedback would be lonely. I do not think I would be able to do it with the same dedication if I did not have the feedback. Feedback comes in many forms. It may be in the form of blog comments, website statistics or comments from other bloggers and my friends. Seek to improve your blog and brand by actively soliciting feedback from your target audience especially at the beginning of your blog’s journey.
                                                • Promoting Your Brand - It is not a matter of build it and they will come. Even after pouring your heart out with great content for your blog, you have to promote it. You have to get people to know that your blog exists. There are a number of ways of promoting your blog that are beyond the scope of this article. Let it suffice to say that you can promote your blog through paid advertisements, search engine marketing, viral marketing, link exchanges, and content syndication amongst hundreds of other ways. 

                                                Bloggers and Personal Branding 

                                                1. Gary Vaynerchuk - WineLibrary.com 

                                                Gary Vaynerchuk brought wine appreciation to the masses. He is a blogger who has attracted a cult-like following of more than 80,000 viewers a day. To break down the barriers, stereotypes, and misperceptions that otherwise prevent people from exploring and enjoying the exciting and rewarding world of wine. Vaynerchuk’s informal style, described as “unpretentious, gonzo approach to wine appreciation” is in contrast to conservative wine industry norms. Vaynerchuk refers to his followers as “Vayniacs” and “Vayner Nation”. He has built one of the most powerful personal brands using blogging and in particular video blogging as his platform. Customers depend on Gary for his advice and within five years, Wine Library grew from a $4 million dollar business to a $45 million business. 

                                                1. Brian Clark - Copyblogger.com 

                                                In January 2006, a former attorney, Brian Clark founded one of my favorite blogs on the net. Brian built three successful offline businesses using online marketing techniques before switching to a producer model that involves building, monetizing, and occasionally selling online media properties. He is a very good writer and shares his best information with his blog readers. Copyblogger has over 55,000 subscribers and more than 150,000 unique monthly site visitors. He continues to grow his personal brand as an authority in copy writing and generosity. 

                                                1. White African - WhiteAfrican.com

                                                One of my favorite bloggers is Erik Hersman (Hash). He grew up in Kenya like yours truly but now lives with his family in America. He writes on WhiteAfrican.com, which is a blog about technology and his thoughts on how technology is impacting, and can change Africa. He has built his personal brand and in the process earned the respect and admiration of visitors from 1200 cities who visit his blog every month. 

                                                1. Mario Armando Lavandeira -  PerezHilton.com 

                                                Amongst the most popular gossip blogs is PerezHilton.com. This is a blog by celebrity blogger Mario Armando Lavandeira.  He writes under the pseudonym Perez Hilton. On his website, Lavandeira posts gossip items about musicians, actors and celebrities. He often posts tabloid photographs over which he has added his own captions or “doodles.” 

                                                1. Heather B. Armstrong  - Dooce.com 

                                                Dooce.com chronicles the life of Heather B. Armstrong from a time when she was single and making a lot of money as a web designer in Los Angeles, to when she was dating the man who would become her husband, to when she lost my job and lived life as an unemployed drunk, to when she married her husband and moved to Utah. 

                                                In 2002, Armstrong ignited a fierce debate about privacy issues when she was fired from her job as a web designer and graphic artist because she had written satirical accounts of her experiences at a dot-com startup on her weblog, dooce.com. This action has led to what is commonly known as to be “dooced” - to be dismissed from one’s job as a result of one’s actions on the Internet. 

                                                She writes under the pseudonym of Dooce. Armstrong explains that “Dooce” came from her inability to quickly spell “dude” during IM chats with her former co-workers. 

                                                Setting up a Blog 

                                                Ok, you have heard all about how blogs can help you achieve success in personal branding. You have even sat through as I shared stories about 5 bloggers that I admire. Yes you now know that it is important to have a blog and it can make your personal brand popular. But where do you start? How do you launch your blog today? 

                                                1. Blogger - You can setup your own blog on Blogger.com within 10 minutes. Blogger is a blog publishing system. It is owned by Google. The service itself is located at www.blogger.com, and blogs that do not publish to their own websites are hosted by Google at subdomains of blogspot.com. 
                                                1. Wordpress.com - This is a free service by the makes of the free open source Wordpress software that powers this blog. It is an easy to use system with over 4.5 million blogs hosted. You can get started in 10 minutes or less on http://www.wordpress.com 
                                                1. Livejournal - Express Yourself, Share Your Life, Connect with Friends Online. You can use Livejournal in many ways: a private journal, a blog, a discussion forum or a social network. Check out http://www.livejournal.com 
                                                1. Typepad - TypePad is a blogging service from the company Six Apart Ltd, and the largest paid blogging service in the world. Originally launched in October 2003, TypePad is marketed to non-technical users and includes additional features like multiple author support, photo albums and moblogging. The service is available in several languages and countries around the world, but in the United States is sold at three different subscription levels. TypePad is currently used by many large organizations and media companies to host their weblog, such as ABC, MSNBC, the CBC, the BBC and Sky News. Check out http://www.typepad.com 

                                                Buying Your Own Domain Name 

                                                A great way of building your own brand is to use your own name or brand name when registering starting your blog. This name is called the domain name. Examples of domain names is danielngari.com, copyblogger.com, whiteafrican.com etc 

                                                A domain name costs about $10 USD per year if it had not been registered before. If the name you want to buy is already owned by someone else, it is likely that they will ask for payment upwards of thousands of dollars. Spend time on domain registration websites to find out if your name is already registered. Alternatively, start a blog using the free blog services above, and they will provide you with a blog name for free. 

                                                Summary 

                                                Blogging is a fantastic way of building your personal brand. I hope you have been inspired through this blog post to test the waters when it comes to creating your own blog. It may seem daunting before you start but once you get to write a few posts, it gets easier. The trick is to define your objective upfront and not expect overnight results. Have fun blogging and add value to the lives of people who read your blog.

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                                              58. How to Use Social Media for Personal Branding

                                                Posted: May 21, 2009, 10:54 pm by Daniel Ngari

                                                Gone are the days when you had to wait to be featured in a magazine, newspaper or TV program to become a household name. You now can propel your personal brand to the stratosphere in a very short time. You can use the power of social media to easily and quickly communicate your personal brand message to your target audience. Here is the “how-to” guide.

                                                What is Social Media?

                                                Social media are internet based tools for sharing and discussing information. These tools are designed to encourage participation and rely on users for their content (as opposed to an editorial team).

                                                Social media websites allow sharing of opinions, insights, experiences and perspectives. They have become a popular stop for many internet users. There are not many ways of building your personal brand online, which are as effective as by using social media.

                                                1 - Video Sharing

                                                You can use YouTube or other video sharing sites to enhance your personal brand. Starting a video blog is real easy if you have a good message or engaging personality.

                                                YouTube has revolutionized video usage on the internet. It allows millions of users worldwide to watch video clips daily. You do not even need to be logged in to use YouTube. Creating an account allows you to add video, save favorite videos, create play lists, share play lists and create video channels.

                                                Creating a YouTube video channel will put you at par with TV stations or other big brands. YouTube levels the playing field for brands and content creators. They even carry the cost of bandwidth and provide the service for free.

                                                If you are good with video or not camera shy, you can really extend your brand, get your message across and engage your audience. YouTube has built in viral marketing features.

                                                It allows viewers to be able to share videos by embedding them on other sites. YouTube also allows other websites to programmatically access their catalog, thus giving you wider exposure for your personal brand.

                                                Check out YouTube on http://www.youtube.com

                                                2 - MySpace

                                                MySpace is a social networking website with an interactive, user-submitted network of friends, personal profiles, blogs, groups, photos, music and videos.

                                                You can use MySpace to build your network of friends and associates. You can use MySpace to build your Profile Page. The site allows you to customize your profile with music, colors, images and layouts.

                                                Though no longer the most popular social networking website, it features over 100 million users and provides an array of features ideal for personal branding. If you are interested in bands and music, MySpace is the place to be. You can build a fan page and an outlet for letting out your music to a wide audience.

                                                Check out MySpace on http://www.myspace.com

                                                3. Facebook

                                                Facebook users can join networks organized by city, workplace, school, and region to connect and interact with each other. People can also add friends and send them messages, and update their personal profiles to notify friends about themselves.

                                                It is the most popular social networking website on the planet. The site provides an excellent array of features and privacy controls. You can make new friends on Facebook or keep a network of only close friends and family.

                                                You can build your personal brand using the sites features such as Profiles, Fan Pages, Groups and Events. One of the most popular applications on Facebook is the Photos application, where users can upload albums and photos. Facebook allows users to upload an unlimited number of photos.

                                                Check out Facebook on http://www.facebook.com

                                                4. Twitter

                                                Twitter is the new kid in the block of social media. It has taken the internet by storm. Twitter’s growth, according to Nielsen Online indicates that the site grew 1,382% year-over-year in February 2009. Twitter has Facebook scared and is said to have been the root cause of Facebook changing its page design recently.

                                                Twitter is a micro-blogging service that allows users to share messages in 140 characters or less. A Twitter user is called a “Tweep”. A twitter user can “follow” others; they can also “unfollow” someone. If you are following me for example, you will be able to see my status updates. The status updates are called “Tweets”.

                                                Big and small brands are heading to twitter. If you do not have a Twitter account, consider creating one and figure out the system from within. Once you create a Twitter account, please “follow” me [twitter.com]

                                                Many celebrities, brands and even countries are using Twitter including Ashton Kutcher, Oprah, BBC and Israel. Creating Twitter account takes 5 minutes at most and opens up a world of real time interactivity and personal brand building.

                                                5. LinkedIn

                                                LinkedIn is a business-oriented social networking site founded in December 2002 and launched in May 2003 mainly used for professional networking. As of May 2009, it had more than 39 million registered users, spanning 170 industries.

                                                The purpose of the site is to allow registered users to maintain a list of contact details of people they know and trust in business. The people in the list are called Connections. Users can invite anyone (whether a site user or not) to become a connection.

                                                This list of connections can then be used in a number of ways:

                                                • A contact network is built up consisting of their direct connections, the connections of each of their connections (termed second degree connections) and also the connections of second degree connections (termed third degree connections). This can be used to gain an introduction to someone you wish to know through a mutual, trusted contact.
                                                • It can then be used to find jobs, people and business opportunities recommended by someone in one’s contact network.
                                                • Employers can list jobs and search for potential candidates.
                                                • Job seekers can review the profile of hiring managers and discover which of their existing contacts can introduce them.

                                                The “gated-access approach” (where contact with any professional requires either a preexisting relationship or the intervention of a contact of theirs) is intended to build trust among the service’s users. (Source: Wikipedia)

                                                Create a LinkedIn Account to start building connections and promote your personal brand. It is a wildly popular professional networking site especially in the United States.

                                                Check out LinkedIn on http://www.linkedin.com

                                                6. Google

                                                Behind the simplicity of the Google homepage is an array of power & social media features. Google is one of the most powerful brands in the world today and you can use their free services to enhance your personal brand.

                                                • Google Alerts - You can set up Google Alerts to be notified instantly when someone mentions your name or anyone’s names on the internet.
                                                • Google Groups - You can setup a group of like minded people to share views, opinions, documents, links or opinions. It is a good way of enhancing your personal brand in small targeted way. Highly recommended.
                                                • Google Reader - It is a way of subscribing to multiple blogs using a technology called RSS (Really Simple Syndication). It helps you keep in the loop of what is going on in your area of interest.
                                                • Google Calendar - A great calendar that I love. You can create to do lists, setup reminders and share your daily activities with colleagues.
                                                • Google Mail - Gmail is a web based email from Google that has a search-oriented interface and a “conversation view” similar to an Internet forum.

                                                7. Online Forums

                                                Online forums, also called bulletin boards or message boards are a great way to connect with others and build a profile online. People participating in an Internet forum may cultivate social bonds and interest groups for a topic may form from the discussions.

                                                If you are passionate about a subject, find internet forums that talk about that topic. You can only build your personal brand on a forum if you participate as opposed to being a “lurker”.

                                                Forums are “hang outs” on the internet. People spend hours upon hours on online forums talking, debating and sometimes arguing. Be careful what you say online forums. It may come back to haunt you and your personal brand.

                                                An example of an online forum is http:/www.webmasterworld.com which is an online forum for people who build websites or make a living online.

                                                8. Social Bookmarking

                                                Do you have an overflowing list of bookmarks on your computer? Or do you use a public computer? Did you know that you could store your bookmarks on certain websites? You can then access those bookmarks from any computer and share them with your friends.

                                                Social Bookmarking is a method for Internet users to store, organize, search, and manage bookmarks of web pages on the Internet with the help of metadata, typically in the form of tags.

                                                You can build your personal brand by being active on Social Bookmarking sites such as Digg, Delicious, Reddit, Propeller, StumbleUpon or Technorati.

                                                9. Photo Sharing

                                                A photo is worth a thousand words. You can use photos and images to communicate various aspects of your personal brand. You may want to showcase your latest holiday or your latest contacts. Whatever your reasons for wanting to share your photos, you can use the following sites effectively.

                                                • Flickr - Flickr is an image and video hosting website, web services suite, and online community platform. It claims to host more than 3 billion images.
                                                • Picasa Web - Picasa Web Albums (PWA) is a photo-sharing web application from Google. It allows users with accounts at Google to store and share 1 GB of photos for free.

                                                10. Niche Media

                                                Depending on what kind of personal brand you seek to build online, you can find small websites that will allow you to build your credibility, give and get value, and reach your target audience.

                                                For example, if you run a small business, you may want to list your business in directories that are related to your business. For example, if you run a Web Design company and live in Toronto, you can list your business on a directory targeting “Toronto Web Designers“. That way, people searching for web design services in that city will be able to click to your website.

                                                You can also visit and comment on blogs and websites related to your industry. You can sign up for newsletters or join mailing lists in your niche market.

                                                There also some big sites that you can find a corner dealing with whatever you love. For example, a site like Amazon is huge, but has little corners for all sorts of niche ideas. You could be interested in books to do with Home beer brewing, or Hitler… whatever your interest you can find a group of people who share your interest in sites such as Amazon.com or Ebay.com

                                                Summary

                                                I hope this blog post has inspired you to dig into a couple of social media sites to make new friends and promote your personal brand. Go Social. Build your brand.

                                                Other articles you may enjoy :

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                                                3. Personal Branding for Rich Men Most of my theories on personal branding would not resonate...
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                                              59. How Low Can You Sink?

                                                Posted: May 20, 2009, 7:26 pm by Daniel Ngari

                                                My sister says that I swim like sediment. I tell myself that I am a pretty good swimmer; problem is, I cannot float. But as soon as I learn to float, I will be swimming from coast to coast. The last time I tried swimming at Cottesloe Beach in Western Australia, I sunk like the titanic. And that was just after watching Ghosts of the Abyss. Have you ever seen that movie? It is my all time favorite 3D movie.

                                                In the movie Ghosts of the Abyss, master storyteller James Cameron journeys back to the legendary wreck of the Titanic.  He captivates 3D moviegoers with vivid sights of the majestic Titanic. The movie goes deep into the ocean floor to the wreckage, inside and out, as never seen before. Using state of the art technology, Cameron and his crew explore the insides of the wreckage, interspersed with imagery of the ship as it looked like before sinking. It was a site where 1,500 souls perished; the depths of the ocean where you do not want to sink your personal brand.

                                                How low you sink your personal brand determines how people remember you, think of you. As much as Bill Clinton was a great president, he will always be remembered for what he did with one Monica Lewinsky at the Oval office. You may spend years building your personal brand but ruin it overnight with an error of judgment. Thinking in advance about how low you can sink will help you set personal standards and limits on what you can and cannot do.

                                                1. Physical Health and Wellness
                                                2. Work & Career
                                                3. Financial Freedom
                                                4. Home & Family
                                                5. Mind & Emotions
                                                6. Social & Relationships
                                                7. Values & Character

                                                1. Physical Health and Wellness

                                                You may spend time building your personal brand at your place of work and ruin it at an alcohol fueled Christmas Party. Think in advance what you may or may not do. Decide whether or not you will be ruled by the bottle or not. What is your take on taking drugs and alcohol?

                                                Unless you are planning to be a sumo wrestler, you need to watch your weight for health and aesthetic reasons. Overly overweight people do not make brilliant personal brands. How much time are you willing to spend at the TV with a can of beer and pizza? Are you ok with spending a few months without exercise? Are you ok eating junk food instead of healthier choices? Watch your physical health and wellness, it has a big impact on your personal brand my friend.

                                                2. Work & Career

                                                I once met a lady who was working at a job she loathed. She was a talented writer but was stuck in an accounting role that she hated. She did it just for the money. What are you willing to do just for money? Are you willing to sacrifice your passion just to get paid? Are you compromising your career aspirations because of fear? How low will you sink your dreams and hopes?

                                                Some people are so ambitious, they will sleep their way up the ladder. Does it bother you to use your sex appeal to climb up the corporate ladder? What limits have you imposed on yourself to protect your personal brand in the work place? How low can you sink for the sake of expediency?

                                                3. Financial Freedom

                                                There are few things that are more confidence sapping than a mountain of debt. Getting into debt does not happen overnight. It begins with lack of paying attention to the numbers. It grows on ignorance of financial matters. It thrives on consumption without regard for implications. How low are you willing to sink for instant gratification? How much are you willing to compromise your future for the sake of a little fun today?

                                                Bank robbers know where the money is. They go for it and are proud to be bank robbers. But there are other robbers in business suits. There are people willing to embezzle public funds as long as they think they will not be caught. Are you willing to compromise your brand by being caught with your hand in the cookie jar? Set your standards even when you may need the money. The damage to your personal brand may take eternity to recover.

                                                How well do you balance your chasing the mighty dollar with your family life? Do you sink as low as not spending quality time with your family as you chase the dough? Do you find yourself stressing about money when in the bedroom with your lovely wife or husband? Do you find yourself using sex as a weapon when things do not go your way financially? How low can you sink when you do not have money? Does love run out the window when poverty comes through your door?

                                                4. Home & Family

                                                With rampant divorce statistics, I sometimes wonder how low people are willing to sink as far as family life is concerned. Divorce is rarely done on impulse unless you got married drunk in Vegas. What are the signs of relationship trouble? Do you reckon a marriage counselor can help your case? Are you willing to make the relationship work for the sake of your kids?

                                                Are you willing to stay in an abusive relationship for fear of what people will say? What is your standard on home life? What can you do and what can you let  others in your family do to you? Your personal brand is affected by your home and family life. Decide in advance how low you are willing to sink.

                                                5. Mind & Emotions

                                                Your emotions affect your personal brand. Do you let the emotions of rage, jealousy, fear or anxiety control your destiny? Do you take active steps to control your emotions or are you willing to sink to the ocean floor because of your emotions?

                                                What kind of thoughts run through your mind? Do you let crippling negativity rule supreme in your mind? How much airtime do you give to negative imagery and imagination? Do you let negative people influence you? What is your standard, your boundary on what emotions or thoughts you can allow in your mind. Remember success or failure is all in the mind.

                                                6. Social & Relationships

                                                What do you do when everyone around you is hurtling towards self destruction? Do you join the bandwagon or do you protect yourself and jump out? Do you have a tipping point where you say enough is enough of negative influence from friends? How low can you sink if your friends are leading you astray?

                                                Are you loyal to your family and partner? Are you willing to compromise your integrity and betray your partner? You probably have heard of people who seemed to have it all, but could not keep their love on a leash. How low are you willing to sink to have a good time tonight? How low are you willing to sink even when it may cost you your friends or love?

                                                7. Values & Character

                                                I feel like I have been ranting today. We all have our weak moments but some moral decay is inexcusable. My moral compass might be different from yours. But without setting a boundary we are not any different from animals. How low are you willing to sink as far as your morals go?

                                                Do you have self limiting beliefs, taboos or traditions that have no place in your personal branding efforts? Why are you still holding on to them? Why are you not on the look out for empowering personal beliefs?

                                                Character assassination is akin to murder. Are you willing to put others down to get ahead in life? Do you empower others on your journey for success or do you put them down so you can get their faster by stepping on them? How low are you willing to sink to get ahead in life?

                                                Summary

                                                There will be no conclusion today. Make your own. Hehe.

                                                Other articles you may enjoy :

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                                                2. Personal Branding for Rich Men Most of my theories on personal branding would not resonate...
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                                              60. 10 Personal Branding Lessons from Legends

                                                Posted: May 19, 2009, 4:35 pm by Daniel Ngari

                                                What better way of enhancing your personal brand than learning from legends. I hope the legendary exploits of the 10 individuals in today’s blog post will inspire you to move your brand a notch higher. Apply one or more of the lessons in this post and you will have a more powerful personal brand.

                                                1 - J.K. Rowling - Passion / Rags to Riches

                                                J.K Rowling is a classic rag to riches story. She was on welfare while writing the first Harry Potter book. What many people do not know is that she was really passionate about writing from an early age. She pursued her passion by first starting to write short stories as a young girl.

                                                In a 2001 BBC interview, Rowling denied the rumor that she wrote in local cafés to escape from her unheated flat, remarking, “I am not stupid enough to rent an unheated flat in Edinburgh in midwinter. It had heating.” Instead, as she stated on the American TV program A&E Biography, one of the reasons she wrote in cafés was because taking her baby out for a walk was the best way to make her fall asleep.

                                                Within 5 years, she moved from welfare to multi-million dollar status by following her passion. Her book was first rejected by 13 publishers, before being taken in by Bloomsbury who advised her “to get a day job, since she had little chance of making money in children’s books.”

                                                Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows was released on 21 July 2007 and broke its predecessor’s record as the fastest-selling book of all time. It sold 11 million copies in the first day of release in the United Kingdom and United States. Harry Potter is now a global brand worth an estimated $15 billion and the last four Harry Potter books have consecutively set records as the fastest-selling books in history.

                                                No matter what your talent is, if you follow your passion, you will build an incredible brand. Be passionate about what you do, do what you are passionate about. The results will speak for themselves.

                                                2 - Richard Branson - Leverage

                                                Richard Branson’s first successful business venture was in 1968 at the age 16, when he published a magazine called Student. After the magazine became popular, Branson looked at the demographics of readers and decided to leverage that and start another business.

                                                He started advertising on his magazine for his Mail Order business selling Music. They were toying for ideas on what to call the new company when one of the girls there suggested the name “Virgin”. They were complete virgins in business although another of the girls in the room was quick to remind all that there was no longer a virgin in the room.

                                                In 1970 he opened the first Virgin record shop in Oxford Street. In 1972 he opened a recording studio. In 1973 Virgin Record Label was launched, signing Mike Oldfield whose album Tubular Bells became the best selling album for a decade.

                                                In 1980 he started expanding Virgin to Overseas markets. In 1983 he launched Virgin Vision to distribute films and videos. He has since extended his brand to include Virgin Atlantic Airways, Virgin Group comprising of Music, Retail, Property and Communications divisions.

                                                You may start with a humble venture; a small brand, but look for ways of extending your brand. Look for ways of leveraging your success to provide more value, to reach more people, to solve more problems. And the money will follow.

                                                3 - Winston Churchill - Courage and Leadership

                                                He was a British politician known chiefly for his leadership of the United Kingdom during World War II. He served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1940 to 1945 and again from 1951 to 1955.

                                                Churchill’s speeches were a great inspiration to the embattled British. His first speech as Prime Minister was the famous “I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears, and sweat”.

                                                On another famous speech he said “… we shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender.”

                                                He once said “One ought never to turn ones back on a threatened danger and try to run away from it. If you do that, you will double the danger. But if you meet it promptly and without flinching, you will reduce the danger by half.”

                                                To be able to develop your personal brand, do not shy away from positions of leadership. Do not let fear paralyze you. Take the bull by its horns. Live courageously. Taking action when others are afraid will set you apart and let your personal brand shine.

                                                4 - Sean Connery - Career Choice

                                                Sir Thomas Sean Connery (born August 25, 1930), best known as Sean Connery, is an Academy Award, Golden Globe, and BAFTA Award winning Scottish actor and producer who is best known as the first actor to portray James Bond in cinema, starring in seven Bond films.

                                                Sean Connery started as a keen footballer. According to reports, he was even offered a football contract worth £25 a week. He admits that he was tempted to accept the offer, but he recalls “I realized that a top-class footballer could be over the hill by the age of 30, and I was already 23. I decided to become an actor and it turned out to be one of my more intelligent moves.”

                                                 Think through your career choice. You may be tempted to take a career because your parents said so, because your friends say so or because you are good in something. Take time to think of where YOU want to be in say 20 years. Plan your career well. This has a big impact on your personal brand. Do you want to be a footballer or James Bond?

                                                6 - Barack Obama - Networking

                                                The Barack Obama Presidential Campaign in the 2008 elections was innovative in the way it allowed grassroots groups to train, organize and mobilize. Each group had unique responsibilities and allowed tapping of unique talents.

                                                They used a website my.barackobama.com to recruit, train and communicate with volunteers. If you want to grow your personal brand, think of using social media such as online forums, blogs, twitter, Facebook, Myspace etc to grow your brand.

                                                7 - Bill Gates - Foresight

                                                William Henry “Bill” Gates III (born October 28, 1955) is an American business magnate, philanthropist, author, and chairman of Microsoft, the software company he founded with Paul Allen. He is ranked consistently one of the world’s wealthiest people.

                                                Bill Gates’ foresight and vision for having a personal computer in every home and every office has been central to the success of Microsoft and the software industry.

                                                Microsoft became the owner of 86-DOS and adapted it for the PC renaming it as PC-DOS. Microsoft exchanged it for a lowly one-time fee of $50,000 to IBM (read foresight).

                                                Gates did not offer to transfer the copyright on the operating system, because he believed that other hardware vendors would clone IBM’s system. They did, and the sales of MS-DOS made Microsoft a major player in the industry.

                                                Take a moment to think through your future. You cannot drift to success. Find an angle and pursue it ruthlessly. Microsoft took only $50,000 for their operating system when they could have asked for more. But they had a game plan. Eventually their game plan paid off. Do not think of just today and tomorrow. Play your cards well with the future of your personal brand in mind.

                                                8 - Sylvester Stallone - Persistence

                                                One of the most inspiring stories I have ever heard on the topic of persistence is Sylvester Stallone of the Rocky Movies.

                                                Sylvester Stallone is an Academy Award-nominated American actor, director, producer and screenwriter. One of the biggest box office draws in the world from the 1970s to the 1990s, Sylvester Stallone is an icon of machismo and Hollywood action heroism. He has played two characters that have become a part of the American cultural lexicon: Rocky Balboa, the boxer who overcame all odds to fight for love and glory, and John Rambo, a courageous soldier who specialized in very violent rescue and revenge missions.

                                                It was not an easy climb to the top for Sylvester Stallone. In his early days as an aspiring actor, he was so broke but would not take an average job as it would interfere with his hunger to be an actor. His wife pressurized him to get a job but Stallone would not hear of it. He kept trying to audition for parts but kept being rejected.

                                                Then one day (March 24, 1975), Stallone saw the Muhammad Ali-Chuck Wepner fight which inspired the foundation idea of Rocky. Chuck Wepner was clearly the underdog but he kept on going. He was quite persistent and that impressed Stallone who got busy that night and started writing the script for Rocky. He wrote the script for over 20 hours continuously. After that he tried to sell the script without much initial success.

                                                He kept trying to sell but kept getting rejected. By that time he was so poor that he decided to sell his dog. He was devastated for having to do this but he felt he had no choice. After desperately looking for strangers to buy his dog, he finally found a buyer outside a liquor store and sold it for $25.

                                                After persistently trying to sell his script, someone got interested in buying but only if Stallone did not star in it! Even though he was broke, he knew what he wanted and did not sell out. They had offered to buy the script for $100,000 but they kept upping the offer until they got to $400,000 but Stallone would hear none of it.

                                                Eventually they agreed to have him play the lead role, but only for $25,000. He accepted and as soon as he got his money, he went to buy back his dog. The new owner refused to sell it to him! Again Stallone persisted until the guy sold it back to him for $15,000 and the right to appear in the movie! That guy is in the Rocky movie apparently. But guess what? Stallone and the dog, his best friend, were also in the film.

                                                The film, made for only $1.1 million and shot relatively fast in 28 days, was a sleeper hit; it made over US$117.2 million, and won three Oscars, including Best Picture. The film received many positive reviews and turned Stallone into a major star. It spawned five sequels: Rocky II, III, IV, V, and Rocky Balboa.

                                                Do not give up even when the going gets tough. “Nothing in the world can take the place of Persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan ‘Press On’ has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race”. Calvin Coolidge

                                                9 - Don Lafontaine - Anonymity

                                                Donald LaFontaine (August 26, 1940 - September 1, 2008) was an American voiceover artist famous for recording more than 5,000 film trailers and hundreds of thousands of television advertisements, network promotions, and video game trailers. His nicknames included “Thunder Throat” and “The Voice of God”. He became identified with the phrase “In a world…” which has been used in movie trailers so frequently that it has become a cliché.

                                                See and hear him on [www.youtube.com]

                                                Though his voice was famous, very few people really cared to find out who the voice belonged to. You may be very good in your job, but have few people ever recognizing you for your work. Say for example you have a cleaning company responsible for cleaning a hospital or a shopping centre. Many people might not notice you or spare a thought about your work. That is ok too.

                                                Don Lafontaine did well for himself. Many people did not spare a thought about him but he was a legend to the people that mattered. The lesson here is to target your personal brand to the people who matter. You may be obscure to everyone else, but make sure you shine to the people who matter. Don Lafontaine shone in the eyes of movie directors, producers and promoters.

                                                10 - Steve Jobs - Bouncing Back

                                                Steven Paul Jobs (born February 24, 1955) is an American businessman and co-founder, and CEO of Apple Inc. Jobs is the former CEO of Pixar Animation Studios.

                                                He co-founded Apple in his parents’ garage when he was 20. He worked hard, and in 10 years Apple had grown from just him and his partner in a garage into a $2 billion company with over 4000 employees.

                                                They had just released their finest creation - the Macintosh - a year earlier, and he had just turned 30. And then he got fired. How does one get fired from a company he started? Well, as Apple grew they hired someone to run the company, but their visions of the future began to diverge and eventually they had a falling out. The Board of Directors sided with the other guy. So at 30 Steve Jobs was out. And very publicly out. What had been the focus of his entire adult life was gone, and it was devastating.

                                                It turned out that getting fired from Apple was the best thing that could have ever happened to him. The heaviness of being successful was replaced by the lightness of being a beginner again, less sure about everything. It freed him to enter one of the most creative periods of his life.

                                                During the next five years, He started a company named NeXT, another company named Pixar. Pixar went on to create the worlds first computer animated feature film, Toy Story, and is now the most successful animation studio in the world. In a remarkable turn of events, Apple bought NeXT, He returned to Apple, and the technology they developed at NeXT is at the heart of Apple’s current renaissance.

                                                None of this would have happened if he hadn’t been fired from Apple. It was an awful tasting medicine, but I guess the patient needed it. Sometimes life hits you in the head with a brick. Don’t lose faith.

                                                If you ever fall from grace, or find yourself in a tough position, remember Steve Jobs. Do not lose faith. Live to fight another day. Let your personal brand bounce back.

                                                Summary

                                                I hope you gained an insight on the people who inspire me. I hope you have been inspired and will apply some of those lessons to build your personal brand.

                                                Who inspires you? What lessons have you learned from others in regards to building a thriving personal brand? I would love to hear your comments.

                                                Source: Wikipedia Bio Data

                                                 

                                                P/s - If you have a friend who might be inspired by this article, please it with them.

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                                              61. Why SWOT Your Personal Brand?

                                                Posted: May 18, 2009, 3:58 pm by Daniel Ngari

                                                You are the CEO of a brand called YOU. Imagine calling a board meeting to discuss how best to enhance and communicate your brand. Think of you as a brand, just like Nike, Rolex, Gillette, Google or Guinness. What does your brand represent? What makes you different?

                                                For your personal brand to shine, you have to SWOT it good. Getting attention is increasingly difficult. You need a powerful brand that lends itself to communication with others. That is the only way to get attention in a busy world. Just like big companies do when faced with competition, you need to do a SWOT analysis of your brand.

                                                 

                                                • Strengths: helpful attributes that can help you achieve your objectives.
                                                • Weaknesses: harmful attributes that can prevent achievements.
                                                • Opportunities: external conditions that support achieving your objectives.
                                                • Threats: external conditions that could do damage to your personal brand. 

                                                Know Your Strengths

                                                 Take time to reflect on your personal brand. What is your strong side? What do you do that gets others to complement you? Take a blank writing pad and get to work. Write each of your strengths down. Write each of your talent, skill, personality attributes etc. Create a brand statement based on your areas of strength. Use your core strengths to enhance your brand image.

                                                 Use the power of baby steps (Kaizen) to enhance your strengths. For example, if you are good in writing, start off by sending letters to the editor for your local papers. If you are good at organizational skills, start by organizing a retreat for your friends, or start a group with set objective. Do not start climbing Mount Everest from the top. Find a few of your strengths and grow them.

                                                 For effective brand building, look at your strengths with a long term view. Develop your assets and link them to your long term branding efforts. Communicate your strengths with others through application of your strengths. Manage your brand assets well. Your brand assets include your talents, friends, knowledge and motivation.

                                                 Know Your Weaknesses

                                                 We all have weaknesses. Be aware of your own weaknesses before others become aware of them. Take a hard look at your past experiences, be really honest with yourself and identify your weaknesses.

                                                 Look for weaknesses in various areas of life. Do you have a weakness in your thought patterns? Do you have self limiting beliefs? Is your self confidence high or low? How well do you manage your emotional state? Do you get angry, jealous, afraid, anxious etc.

                                                Conduct a thorough skills assessment on yourself. How do you rate your people skills? How do you rate your technical skills? Are you proficient in skills that set you apart from your competition?

                                                 Use the power of Kaizen to improve your weak areas. Do not overly focus on your weaknesses. Identify your weaknesses and develop a plan of improvement.

                                                 Know Your Opportunities

                                                 What stage are you at in life? Are you about to finish your studies? Are you on the verge of starting a business? Are you in a new relationship? Have you made new friends lately? Has something changed in your life that may impact your personal brand?

                                                 The changes in your environment and people around you may present opportunities. What connections have you made? Be on the look out for new opportunities. Do not chase after each and every opportunity, but do not let valid opportunities for enhancing your brand pass you by.

                                                 Know Your Threats

                                                 What external barriers are threats to your brand image? Do you face stiff competition? Is the state of the economy affecting you? Do you have internal barriers such as self sabotage?

                                                 Many people have a problem with balancing work and life issues when pursuing success. Protect your brand by creating balance in your life. Pursue your career but do not neglect your health, friends and family.

                                                 Think of all the external hurdles that you may have to jump before you can propel your brand to success.

                                                 Summary

                                                 You can improve your personal brand by conducting a SWOT analysis of your personal brand just like big companies do. Assess your current brand image; look for your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. Use the Kaizen Principle to improve your brand image, step by step.

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                                              62. Are You A Purple Cow?

                                                Posted: May 16, 2009, 3:04 pm by Daniel Ngari

                                                I recently read Seth Godin’s new book, Purple Cow. The book talks about transforming your business by being remarkable. In today’s competitive world, you cannot afford to be ordinary. Ordinary is the new invisible. You’re either a Purple Cow or you’re not. You’re either remarkable or invisible. Make your choice.

                                                Here is what Seth Godin wrote:

                                                “While driving through France a few years ago, my family and I were enchanted by the hundreds of storybook cows grazing in lovely pastures right next to the road. For dozens of kilometers, we all gazed out the window, marveling at the beauty. Then, within a few minutes, we started ignoring the cows. The new cows were just like the old cows, and what was once amazing was now common. Worse than common: It was boring.

                                                Cows, after you’ve seen them for a while, are boring. They may be well-bred cows, Six Sigma cows, cows lit by a beautiful light, but they are still boring. A Purple Cow, though: Now, that would really stand out. The essence of the Purple Cow - the reason it would shine among a crowd of perfectly competent, even undeniably excellent cows - is that it would be remarkable. Something remarkable is worth talking about, worth paying attention to. Boring stuff quickly becomes invisible.”

                                                Become Remarkable

                                                You become remarkable by daring to be different. You become remarkable by stepping up your game. If you do things the same as everyone else, you will get the same results. I encourage you to find your angle. Bring something different to the table. Do not conform to what everyone else does, especially in business and careers. Be remarkable. Be different. Be the best you can be.

                                                Yesterday we talked about the benefits of beefing up your personal brand. A good personal brand increases your perceived value and makes people pay a premium to be associated with you. They may not necessarily pay you money, but they will give you the attention, trust, remembrance, forgiveness and opportunities.

                                                A strong personal brand enables you to be confident in your own abilities and person. It helps you become influential in many spheres of life and opens up a world of opportunities. Being a purple cow is one of the quickest and most powerful ways of building a durable personal brand. How do you become a purple cow?

                                                1 - Core Values

                                                Do you have concrete core values or do you go with the flow? Have you defined who you are, what you can and cannot do?

                                                There is nothing that defines a purple cow better than someone with different core values. If everyone around you is corrupt, if that is against your core values and belief, then be different; that will set you apart. Core values influence our actions and habits. Our habits determine our destiny.

                                                Do a quick review of your value system. What guides your behavior? Where did your values come from? Were they instilled by your parents or society? Can you change or add something to your core values?

                                                Personal branding starts from within. Define your core values and you will be on your journey to a consistent personal brand. Personal branding is not about showing a phony side of you, it is about developing a deep understanding of yourself, improving yourself and communicating the better you.

                                                2 - Leadership

                                                Herbert B. Swope said “I cannot give you the formula for success, but I can give you the formula for failure: which is: Try to please everybody”. Great leaders are purple cows. They do not try to please everyone. I have great respect for Nelson Mandela. He was a great leader that did not always seek to please everyone but pursued what he believed to be right.

                                                Most of the examples you will hear about success, or success quotes are by great leaders. Have you ever asked yourself why? It is because great leaders are purple cows. They were remarkable and stood up above the crowd.

                                                Do not shy away from leadership roles. In fact, seek out leadership roles. It may be as the head of your alumni association or your football team. It may be a political position or an online forum moderator. Leadership skills development helps you rise above the average and gives you a chance to be remarkable.

                                                3 - Peer Pressure

                                                The opposite of leadership is following the crowd. Avoid mob thinking. The quickest way to reduce your personal brand value is to be influenced by others to erode your brand.

                                                You can avoid peer pressure by defining boundaries, by knowing who you are, what you stand for and how far you can go in any situation. Developing self mastery and discipline will help you avoid peer pressure.

                                                Peer pressure is not restricted to kids in schools. Even adults are influenced to do things that they would otherwise not do. That is why you find some people spending to keep up with the Joneses. Many relationships are broken by peer pressure. Invest in developing a personal brand that is devoid of peer pressure.

                                                4 - Dominant Thoughts

                                                You are what you think about. Are you dominant thoughts empowering? Do you think about helping others or do you think only about your own needs? You become whatever you think about.

                                                Thoughts are things. They are tangible. If you can think it then you can do it. You only achieve as much as you think you can, never more. You cannot drift to the top of a mountain. If you want to rise above, to have a powerful brand, then you have to purpose it in your mind. You become a purple cow by making it the dominant thought in your life. Describe in your mind what a purple cow is, and then make that your dominant thought.

                                                Your dominant thoughts end up becoming your pet topics. People think you are what you talk about. If you are always talking about clubbing, people will brand you as a clubber. If you are always talking about immoral subjects, people will brand you as immoral. Be careful about the kind of thoughts you allow into your mind. They define your brand.

                                                5 - Overall Presentation

                                                How you present yourself to the world represents your visible brand. Sometimes all people have to judge you is your presentation. If you are always dressed smartly, people will think of you differently. Pay attention to your wardrobe if you want to be a purple cow.

                                                Where you hang out, who you hang out with gives a picture of who you are. There are many factors that determine your overall presentation. These may include your dressing, your mannerisms, your speech pattern, your written words etc. Be careful of the vibe you give to others through your lifestyle and presentation.

                                                6 - Solutions Provider

                                                Purple cows are solution providers. They identify problems that people have and they seek ways of solving them. You do not have to be a business to be a solution provider. You could be a friend who is good at listening. You could be a family member who is always willing to help. You could be a teacher who takes time to understand her students better.

                                                Whatever your position in life may be, seek to be a solution provider. Identify a need and do your best to fill it. Many people seek ways of meeting their own needs. Turn into a purple cow by focusing on the needs of others. It will be a powerful brand statement.

                                                7 - Reliability

                                                In the movie “Armageddon” the character by the name of Rockhound said “You know we’re sitting on four million pounds of fuel, one nuclear weapon and a thing that has 270,000 moving parts built by the lowest bidder. Makes you feel good, doesn’t it?”

                                                That statement served to create doubt on the reliability of their mission. When people doubt your reliability to deliver the goods, it erodes your brand image.

                                                If you want to be a purple cow, you need to be reliable in what you do. You need to keep your promises and deliver the goods. Think about it, your best friends are people you can rely on. If you doubt the reliability of a product you do not buy it. If you doubt the reliability of a partner, you do not go into business with them. Make your personal brand consistent and reliable.

                                                8 - Knowledge & Expertise

                                                Your applicable knowledge and expertise can make you a purple cow when the stars align. In the movie “Snakes on a Plane”, the unlikely happened. There were snakes on a plane and agent Hank Harris ordered his staff to find him the biggest snake expert in their time zone within 20 minutes.

                                                Seek to develop your total expertise in one field and gain as much knowledge as you can. Gain a reputation as the biggest snake expert in your time zone and an opportunity might just present itself. Gain a reputation as the best painter in your locality and business will flow. Develop your expertise in something that gives you an edge. Do not do what everybody else is doing. That is a recipe for mediocrity and invisibility.

                                                9 - Empathy

                                                Empathy helps you connect with people deeply. Empathy helps avoid conflict and increase mutual respect. Empathy helps you succeed with people. If you understand how a person is feeling, you are better able to adjust your words or behavior to avoid confrontation or upsetting that person.

                                                You can apply empathy in relationships, friendships, business, and careers and even in blogging. I have to put myself in your shoes to be able to communicate my ideas clearly and inspire you to be the best you can be. It is not always easy but I hope to become better at it with time.

                                                In your human relationships, work on developing a good emotional barometer of the person or people around you. Without understanding each others’ emotional states, it is hard to communicate and move along in harmony.

                                                In business, you need to be empathetic to the emotional states of your customers. Why do customers buy Harley Davidson motorcycles? It is for the sense of belonging to the club. Understand the motivation behind your customers and stakeholders. Understand your customers’ emotional states in various situations, seasons or state of the economy.

                                                Empathy makes you a purple cow. People think of your personal brand highly if you seek to understand them. Develop empathy as a way of connecting with others, earning their trust and developing long lasting relationships.

                                                10 - Generosity

                                                I found out at an early age the relationship between personal branding and giving. Without even trying, I remember people who give me something. I appreciate receiving gifts. Many people do.

                                                If you are a generous soul, you will get people praising you and having positive feelings towards you. Smart companies give something of value to their customers. Once customers have a taste of the good value, they tend to stick around.

                                                Ask not what others can do for you. Instead ask what you can do for others. Do not be selfish; have a giving spirit. The more you give, the more it will come back to you. Set yourself apart from those who just want to take and take. Be more of a giver than a receiver.

                                                A farmer gets a kilo of beans. If he stores it in his granary, that is the maximum he will ever have. On the other hand, if he plants the seeds, that is, if he lets go of the seeds, then he will get more when they germinate and grow.

                                                It is the same with blessings. If you keep it to yourself that is the maximum you will ever get. But if you share it, bless others, plant the seeds in others, then you will get back more into your life. Designate yourself as a giver. There are two types of people in life; givers and takers. Be a giver more than a taker.

                                                11 - Communication Skills

                                                God gave us two ears and one mouth. Use them in that ratio. Many people do not listen. They wait for their turn to talk without paying attention to what the other party is saying. Dare to be different. Listen to what others have to say. Even the lowly in life have their story.

                                                Now seems to be a good time to copy and paste my all time favorite poem. It is called The Desiderata; written by Max Ehrmann in the 1920s.

                                                Go placidly amid the noise and the haste,
                                                and remember what peace there may be in silence.

                                                As far as possible, without surrender,
                                                be on good terms with all persons.
                                                Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
                                                and listen to others,
                                                even to the dull and the ignorant;
                                                they too have their story.

                                                Avoid loud and aggressive persons;
                                                they are vexatious to the spirit.

                                                If you compare yourself with others,
                                                you may become vain or bitter,
                                                for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

                                                Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
                                                Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
                                                it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

                                                Exercise caution in your business affairs,
                                                for the world is full of trickery.
                                                But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
                                                many persons strive for high ideals,
                                                and everywhere life is full of heroism.

                                                Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection.
                                                Neither be cynical about love,
                                                for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment,
                                                it is as perennial as the grass.

                                                Take kindly the counsel of the years,
                                                gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
                                                Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
                                                But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
                                                Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

                                                Beyond a wholesome discipline,
                                                be gentle with yourself.
                                                You are a child of the universe
                                                no less than the trees and the stars;
                                                you have a right to be here.
                                                And whether or not it is clear to you,
                                                no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

                                                Therefore be at peace with God,
                                                whatever you conceive Him to be.
                                                And whatever your labors and aspirations,
                                                in the noisy confusion of life,
                                                keep peace in your soul.

                                                With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
                                                it is still a beautiful world.
                                                Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.

                                                Summary

                                                I hope you have been inspired to become a purple cow and to improve your brand image from within. If you have any practical examples of improving your personal brand by being a purple cow, by being remarkable, please share with us.

                                                Other articles you may enjoy :

                                                1. The Curse of Conformity What if you dared to be different? What if you...
                                                2. 10 Steps to Personal Branding Success Today’s blog post walks you through 10 simple steps that...
                                                3. How to Get Results Using Your Personal Brand Why go through the trouble of personal branding? Why spend...
                                                4. Why SWOT Your Personal Brand? You are the CEO of brand called YOU. Imagine calling...
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                                                6. 10+ Reasons to Beef Up Your Personal Brand When I first came to Australia, my shopping trolley was...

                                              63. 10+ Reasons to Beef Up Your Personal Brand

                                                Posted: May 16, 2009, 2:01 am by Daniel Ngari

                                                When I first came to Australia, my shopping trolley was always overflowing with gold. My salt was Black and Gold, my sugar was Black and Gold, my whole shopping trolley was Black and Gold. I always wondered why anybody would buy anything other than Black and Gold.

                                                Black and Gold is a value for money generic brand for hundreds of essential items on supermarket shelves in Australia. Yet few affluent people will be caught with black and gold products on their shopping baskets. It makes me ask myself, why is it that people world over are willing to pay a premium for beefed up brands. How can you beef up your personal brand? Why should you?

                                                1 - Influence

                                                A powerful personal brand can help you get things done. People respond to prestige and powerful personal brands. You will be harder to ignore and your opinions will count. One of the most powerful personal brands is Oprah Winfrey.

                                                Oprah is an American media personality, Academy Award nominated actress, producer, literary critic and magazine publisher, best known for her self-titled, multi-award winning talk show.

                                                She is regarded as the most influential woman on earth. She has the power to cause enormous market swings and radical price changes with a single comment. Her endorsement of Barrack Obama is said to have added over 1 million votes to his vote basket. An obscure book quickly moves to best seller status once she reviews it on her book club.

                                                You may not have the influence to rival Oprah, but revving up your personal brand will make you more influential in your area of life. Being influential enables you to get things done seemingly effortless. Developing a powerful personal brand takes time but it is worth it, just on this one count.

                                                Charismatic preachers who start mega-churches first develop a strong personal brand. They plan in detail how their brand is going to be defined, communicated, represented, extended, associated etc. They reap the benefits of having strong brand through loyalty and become very influential on the lives of their congregation.

                                                Pay attention to your brand image and you will increase your influence in your family, career, business and social situations.

                                                2 - Attention

                                                The world has become a busy place. We are constantly interrupted by thousands of advertising messages daily. Many people have a wide selection of things they could be doing at any one time. I feel privileged that you are reading this blog. Attention is scarce and businesses (and blogs) have to constantly work hard for a slice of your attention.

                                                If you have a generic brand you will be ignored; you will be just another commodity. If you want to command attention and remain relevant, develop your personal brand. People with good personal brands are sought highly sought after and given attention.

                                                3 - Trust

                                                A known quantity is easier to trust than a wild card. If people know what you stand for, they are more likely to trust you than an unknown person. When Americans’ travel abroad, many trust McDonald’s food more than local food outlets in foreign countries, even though they might not eat much fast food at home.

                                                People love and trust those they are familiar with. Developing a good brand within your target market helps you gain trust. Without trust it is hard to get business or meaningful relationships.

                                                4 - Opportunities

                                                When people know what you represent, they bring to your attention relevant information, opportunities and contacts. If you are known as a good web designer, people will refer their friends to you when they need websites.

                                                A powerful personal brand helps you interact with valuable contacts that would have perhaps ignored without a strong personal brand. Developing a powerful brand opens a lot of doors and brings opportunities to your door step.

                                                5 - Competition

                                                In a competitive society you need to differentiate yourself to get ahead. A good personal brand helps in your differentiation efforts. You will always win over weaker and inconsistent brands if you take time to nurture your personal brand.

                                                Google developed a powerful brand by focusing on quality search results and a minimalist approach to their page design. Google tops the Brandz list of most powerful brands in the world and is said to be worth $100 billion. Google’s brand image has enabled it to fight off deep pocketed competition such as Microsoft to retain its search business market share.

                                                Investing in a powerful personal brand will be handy for you down the line to keep the competition at bay.

                                                6 - Leverage

                                                Richard Branson has leveraged the Virgin brand highly. The brand name “Virgin” arose when Branson and a partner were starting their first business, a record shop. They considered themselves virgins in business.

                                                According to his book “Losing my Virginity”; Richard Branson is no longer a virgin in business but a successful entrepreneur. He has extended his brand to Virgin Records, Virgin Games, Virgin Atlantic Airways, Virgin Holidays, Virgin Trains, Virgin Mobile, Virgin Cosmetics, Virgin Money, and Virgin Mega stores amongst others.

                                                Tiger Woods perfected his brand image as a top golf player and all round good guy. He now has leveraged his brand to get endorsements for many products earning him hundreds of millions of dollars. The sky is the limit once you have a powerful brand.

                                                Once you are known as an authority in one thing, it is easier to leverage your brand to do something else. Do not try to be a jack of all trades at first. Focus on one core area and build your name, then use that to spring on to something else, then something else after that.

                                                7 - Memorability

                                                The King of Rock ‘n’ Roll, Elvis Presley died in August 1977; he had many admirers and critics. More than 30 years after his death he is still regarded as an icon and his estate is still making money that would put many living artistes to shame.

                                                If you are an average generic brand, people will forget you as soon as you are out of sight. People make an effort to remember those who they perceive as worth the effort; those who represent value.

                                                You may not really care about being remembered after you die, but being forgotten as soon as you walk out the door can cost you opportunities and relationships when you are still here on earth with us. Developing a strong personal brand will make people remember you and perpetuate your legacy.

                                                8 - Perceived Value

                                                Having a strong personal brand will increase people’s perception of what you bring to the table. People are generally self serving and will seek to interact with those they regard as good value. Perception is everything, it is the new reality.

                                                You will be treated as people perceive you. It is therefore imperative that you develop a good brand, and communicate with others, letting them know, perhaps in subtle ways, what your brand is about.

                                                In his book, The Idea Virus, Seth Godin says that “it’s the idea of Air Jordan sneakers, not the shoe that permits Nike to sell them for more than $100. It’s the sizzle, not the fit. The idea makes Nike outsized profits.”

                                                What brand image are you communicating with the world? Are you selling the shoe or the sizzle? Are you perceived as being of high value?

                                                9 - Loyalty

                                                With an array of choice, consumers could pretty much pick a different brand of biscuits or ice cream from supermarkets, but after a while, they settle down on a handful of brands.  It is like that in relationships, people end up being loyal to a select few friends. If you develop a reputation as a good friend, as a good brand, you are more likely to attract loyalty.

                                                Smart companies realize that they get the most value from repeat business than in constantly paying for advertising to get new customers. If you develop a good personal brand, people are more likely to stick with you for the long term. There are life long benefits of building a strong brand.

                                                Many people are not willing to pay the cost of switching. They stick with familiar brands and resent new brands. They would rather stay at their comfort zone. Having a good personal brand will position you in people’s comfort zone.

                                                10 - Forgiveness

                                                Sometimes things do not work out as planned. If something goes wrong or you mess up, you are more likely to be forgiven if you had developed a consistent brand image. People might be more likely to understand, forgive and give you a second chance if you have a good personal brand. But don’t count on it; try not to mess up.

                                                11 - Confidence

                                                You will walk with your head high when people recognize and respect your personal brand. If your brand reputation precedes you, it will open doors and make life easier. A good brand earns respects and does wonders to one’s confidence.

                                                A good personal brand will give you a level of control on outcomes. Knowing what to expect or how people will react to you is confidence inspiring. This confidence is able to manifest itself in other areas of your life, further enhancing your personal brand.

                                                Summary

                                                I hope you have been inspired to beef up your personal brand. A good personal brand increases your perceived value and makes people pay a premium to be associated with you. They may not necessarily pay you money, but they will give you the attention, trust, remembrance, forgiveness and opportunities.

                                                A strong personal brand enables you to be confident in your own abilities and person. It helps you become influential in many spheres of life and opens up a world of opportunities.

                                                I would love to hear from you about how a good personal brand has worked for you or anyone that you know. Thanks in advance.

                                                Other articles you may enjoy :

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                                              64. 3 Seconds First Impression

                                                Posted: May 14, 2009, 7:49 pm by Daniel Ngari

                                                You don’t need a second chance to make a first impression. In fact you only have 3 seconds to make a first impression. Changing that first impression is harder than learning a new language. If you absolutely must make a lasting impression, you need to pack the best of you in those 3 seconds. Have I used up my 3 seconds yet?

                                                Whether in business or social situations, people take an average of 3 seconds to evaluate and rank others. If someone perceives you to be of lower status than them, they will treat you with indifference, disdain or outright hostility. If you are perceived to be of higher status, you will be accorded respect, adoration, mild worship and regarded as a valuable contact.

                                                In relationships, people struggle and stress about making a good first impression; and for good reason. The first few seconds of a couple meeting can be the deal maker or deal breaker. It can mean the difference between going north and going south. There are tricks from the seduction community that seem to work like a charm, but long term relationships are by and large determined by those first seconds.

                                                An interview panel is likely to judge a book by its cover as soon as the interviewee walks in. Many people decide at a glance if they are going to do business with you or not. What you say after they see you might not really make them change their mind. It is sad but true. We can sit back and moan this fact or we can rise up and do something about it. Let us look at a few ways of making those 3 seconds count.

                                                1 - Smile

                                                Richard Branson was once called the “grinning pullover”. He is a happy fellow who smiles a lot more than his fellow billionaire Donald Trump.

                                                Smiling quickly puts people at ease. It is an easy way of improving the first impression. Smiling makes one look more attractive. Attractive people have an easier time attracting attention. Smile and make people attentive.

                                                2 - Be Yourself

                                                Have you seen the movie “Meet the Parents”? If you have you probably know how awkward it looks when someone is trying to put on an act when faced by unfamiliar situations.

                                                If you can help it, be yourself. Let people see the real you. If you find yourself trying to change yourself to fit in, ask yourself the following questions.

                                                • Is it worth it for me to put on a front?
                                                • Am I hanging out with the wrong people?
                                                • Is there a better way of reaching my goals without being a fake?
                                                • What do I need to change for me to fit in naturally?
                                                • Who am I? What do I represent?

                                                3 - Always on Time

                                                If you mean business do not be late for meetings. It leaves a sour taste in the mouths of those you keep waiting. Being on time will add a few points and being late will subtract the little goodwill you might have had.

                                                Do your best to respect other people’s time. Plan in advance. Schedule meetings and set reminders. Develop a reputation of being a good time manager. If you are currently not good with time, start small. Be early for your next meeting, then the next, and then the next one. With time, that will become a habit and come to you effortlessly.

                                                4 - Presentation

                                                How you present yourself to others will dramatically influence how they view you. Personal grooming and lifestyle have a big impact on first impressions.

                                                A few years ago, I hailed a taxi on St George’s Terrace in Perth, Western Australia. I was wearing an Italian business suit that would have made tailors in Italy proud of me.

                                                The taxi driver stopped and took me around town as I handled my business. I felt like Tom Cruise in the movie “Collateral”. The only difference was that my weapon of choice was sharp dressing and good presentation.

                                                The taxi driver looked at me for 3 seconds and instantly trusted me. He drove me around and a few times I left his taxi to go to my marathon appointments around town. He patiently waited in the car with nothing more than my promise to be back. I got back and gave him a healthy tip.

                                                The next day was a Friday. I went to Northbridge, Western Australia with a couple of my Kenyan friends. After a few hours of clubbing we got tired and tried to catch a taxi home. All the taxis zoomed past us, completely ignoring us. It sure felt different from the previous day’s treatment.

                                                Finally one taxi drive stopped, looked at us for 3 seconds and demanded money upfront which is not the norm in Western Australia. You see my friend; here we were three black guys dressed in jeans and T-Shirts in Northbridge on a Friday night. We looked “suspicious”. Are you “suspicious” looking? Do you hang out in “suspicious” places?

                                                5 - Preparation

                                                People will brand you with what you present to them the first time you meet. You may have an arsenal of personality traits. What trait do you choose to bring to the table today? Preparation can help you adapt your personality traits for the situation. This does not mean being fake. It means choosing what side of you to emphasize.

                                                If you are going for meetings you need to prepare and do your part. Nothing makes someone look unprofessional like lack of preparation. You have been warned.

                                                6 - Confidence

                                                The way you walk, the way you talk and present yourself is impacted by your level of confidence. Seek to develop your self confidence. It will make a big difference in how you interact with others and how they perceive you.

                                                 Even the way you shake people’s hands or address them can reveal how confident you are. Confidence is a first impression masterstroke.

                                                Summary

                                                First impressions are very hard to erase. If making a lousy first impression is going to cost you relationships and opportunities, then you need to change how you approach this issue.

                                                The first impression is the first point of interaction with your personal brand and you should do your utmost best to make it the best.

                                                I would love to hear your experiences and thoughts about first impressions. Your comments are most welcome.

                                                Cheers.

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                                              65. How I Became a Chameleon

                                                Posted: May 14, 2009, 2:56 am by Daniel Ngari

                                                I grew up on a small farm on the outskirts of Nairobi, Kenya. As a little boy I used to do what now reeks of animal cruelty. On Saturdays when I had time on my hands, I would grab six towels for my crazy experiment. Red, Blue, Green, Orange, Yellow and Grey.

                                                Then I would go to the bushes behind out house and spend an hour or four looking for a chameleon. They were hard to find for the same reason I was seeking them (camouflage). I was sinfully fascinated with how they would change color. Placing the poor reptile on the red towel turned it red; green turned it green. Little did I know that one day, I would turn into a chameleon.

                                                Marketing on the Internet

                                                On my last year of university, I took a class called Marketing on the Internet. Up to that point, I was not really sure what I wanted to pursue for a career. I was doing a business degree with a double major in marketing and information system. I was divided between marketing and IT. I got clarity when our lecturer invited a guest speaker from AdultShop.com to talk to us.

                                                He was a charismatic communicator who implanted in me the desire to combine my IT skills with marketing. He talked about the “real” world of eCommerce. Most of my classmates were more intrigued with his statistics about the percentage of Australian women who owned a sex toy or three. I was interested in his talk about GoTo.com.

                                                Goto.com was the first company to successfully provide a pay-for-placement search service. It was an innovative company that allowed marketers to bid for placement on leading websites. AdultShop.com was using the service with good results. GoTo.com later became known as Overture, and is now known as Yahoo Search Marketing. It was the company that remotely triggered the chameleon in me.

                                                I immersed myself in learning all about performance based marketing online. I dug deep and wide into what sells on the internet. I learned how to drive targeted traffic to websites. But something kept bugging me. Why were some companies spending so much money on branding campaigns instead of results based marketing? I figured they were probably not as stupid as they looked. Perhaps there was value in building a brand? I asked myself.

                                                Turning into a Chameleon

                                                I found selling on the internet fun but without a strong brand behind me, I had to turn into a chameleon. I could morph into whatever I wanted to be in any given situation. I would read voraciously to understand the market I was targeting. For example, if I was selling toys to middle aged women, I would literally become one of them. I would turn red when the towel was red.

                                                It was funny but sad when some middle aged women would write to me and thank me for telling it as it is. They imagined that I was one of them and with needs too.

                                                If I was promoting a web hosting package to website owners, I would immerse myself into their world and talk like them, write to them. I would turn yellow when the towel was yellow.

                                                Then I came to understand the power of brands. The best brands are not chameleons. They are consistent and they have value. Google and Coca-Cola are some of the world’s most powerful brands. They are not chameleons. Coca-Cola tastes the same in Kenya as it does in Australia. I got tired of being a chameleon. I wanted to taste the same everywhere. It was time to develop my own personal brand.

                                                Personal Branding

                                                When I first came to Australia, people would ask me what my name was. I would say “My name is Ngari, Daniel Ngari“. Within a very short time, I realized that that did not quite sound like “My name is Bond, James Bond“. So I dropped my Bond act and became “just” Daniel Ngari. Since then, I have always introduced myself as Daniel Ngari; not Dan, not Danny, not Daniel.

                                                Your branding effort starts with your name. What is your name? How does your name sound to your ears? What image or memories does your name evoke in your friends, associates, or customers? A good name is worth more than diamonds. By a good name, I mean the person, the image, the meaning behind the name.

                                                Do you have a powerful personal brand? Does your reputation precede you? What kind of first impression do you make? Do you have a consistent brand image that gets the results you desire? Do you project an image of success or hardship? These are some of the questions that we shall be answering in this new series. Welcome to the Personal Branding Series!

                                                I am happy in my own skin. It feels good to finally be myself without becoming a chameleon online. Over the years, I have met people who are master chameleons in life. They turn red, green, and then yellow at the drop of a hat. They don’t even wait for the towel.

                                                A time has come in my life where I have had to grant myself the freedom to be myself. IT feels good to be myself around anyone. Are you happy in your own skin? Are you the same person at home and at work? Do you feel the need to put on an act? Do you taste the same world over? We shall be exploring these issues, looking at the pros and cons, in this series.

                                                Summary

                                                The purpose of this blog is to inspire you to be the best you can be. In this new personal branding series, I will share with you my lessons on perfecting a brand called YOU.

                                                I invite you to join me in this series with an open mind and with the aim of enhancing your image, name, reputation, perception and self packaging. A strong personal brand will open a world of opportunities for you.

                                                What do you think about personal branding? I would love to hear your comments. I may use some of the comments on the blog posts in this series.

                                                Other articles you may enjoy :

                                                1. 10% of Your Actions Define 90% of Personal Brand Transform your personal brand by identifying the key 10% of...
                                                2. 13 Personal Branding Mistakes There is a right way for building a personal brand,...
                                                3. How to Get Results Using Your Personal Brand Why go through the trouble of personal branding? Why spend...
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                                                5. Why SWOT Your Personal Brand? You are the CEO of brand called YOU. Imagine calling...

                                              66. 100 Blog Posts Milestone!

                                                Posted: May 12, 2009, 1:05 am by Daniel Ngari

                                                A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. A single blog post on 5th of Jan 2009 was what set this blog in motion. I set out on a self discovery journey, with the aim of freeing myself from negative energy and to inspire my friends in the process.

                                                The last four months have been an exciting journey for me. I have learned so much about the power of positive thinking and shared most of what I have learned. When you share something, it comes back to you, in good measure, pressed and well shaken.

                                                Inspiring Friends

                                                I genuinely care about my friends and the new friends I have made on this blog. The purpose of this blog, as you probably have heard me say before, is to inspire you to be the best you can be. We are still a long way from reaching the pinnacle of this blog, but so far so good.

                                                Friends, who have posted comments on this blog, sent me encouraging emails and Facebook messages have been my inspiration to continue. Inspiring friends was something I did on and off over the years. But this year, I decided to take it online and have been making a post on this blog almost daily; I have been able to reach out to more people.

                                                21,261 unique people from 86 countries have been able to read this blog in the last four months. They have collectively spent more than 2,500 hours on this site. I truly hope that that time has been well spent and has made a positive impact in their lives. I hope the time you have spent on this blog has been worth it and has made a contribution to your life.

                                                The blog has attracted more 1,198 comments at the time of writing this post. I would like to thank the people who have posted comments and encouraging messages. A community of regulars has evolved, and I will continue to foster it.

                                                If you have not posted a comment, please do and let me know what you think of my work, and connect with other readers. Eventually I will build a virtual community around the blog for friends to inspire each other.

                                                Personal Growth

                                                My biggest lesson since launching this blog is that it is not the big ideas that we have that make the difference. It is not the desire to become better that makes us better. It is the small regular steps that we take that make all the difference. It is our habits that determine our destiny.

                                                Do you find yourself dreaming up what could be if only this or that worked out in your life? I was in that situation not long ago. But slowly, I am transforming from a talker to a doer. It does not happen overnight but the journey has started.

                                                I would like to encourage you to join me on this journey of personal growth. Personal growth does not happen overnight, it is the small steps that you take, such as reading inspiring blogs that eventually help you put the pieces together. Eventually you will be able to connect the dots if you keep hearing positive messages.

                                                Secret Weapon

                                                Soon after launching this blog, I met a secret weapon that has been instrumental to the success of this blog and has kept me on my toes. My secret weapon has assured me that I have no option but to keep inspiring people and bring joy to their lives; through inspiring positive messages.

                                                Blog Series

                                                 In January and early February 2009, my mind was racing with ideas of what I wanted to go onto this blog. I filled notepads with blog topics ideas. My list of topics ranged from business to health, relationships to money, and from emotions to careers.

                                                I realized that I had to have a better way of organizing information and present it to you in a meaningful way. A month or so after launching the blog, I decided to organize my ideas in series. This h as helped me plan up to 3 years in advance how I will present my ideas to you. This is the progress so far:

                                                •  Success Series - This series defined what success is and featured powerful tips and ideas for succeeding in life. This is the original series that set the foundation for this blog.
                                                • Power Series - Powerful arsenal for turbo charging you to success. Includes discipline, follow up, commitment, action and many more.
                                                   
                                                • People Series - Inspiring series about relating with other people. No man is an island. Succeed by bringing out the best in others.
                                                   
                                                • Mind Series - Success or failure is all in the mind. This series focuses on ways of getting more out of our minds for success.
                                                   
                                                • Health Series - Articles ranging from depression, eating habits, exercise, alcohol etc. Health is an integral part of success. Tips on healthy living.
                                                   
                                                • Emotions Series - These are inspiring articles dealing with emotions. Includes tips for understanding, managing, and harnessing emotions for success.
                                                   
                                                • Sports Series - Eye opening series with insights from the world of sports. Practical lessons on success based on sports.

                                                The Road Ahead

                                                I have made a living on the internet for the last 7 years. However, it is a different ball game when you use your real name. I was thriving on being anonymous. I could launch hundreds of websites and if they were not profitable I would move on and nobody would ever know.

                                                But with this blog, I am giving my readers the real me. My regular readers include my family and closest friends and acquaintances. Some think I give out too much personal information or too many gems of wisdom gained through years of struggle.

                                                It is true I have shared very private details about my life on this blog. My reason for sharing my stories is for people to make inferences to their own life. It is for you to draw parallels with your own life and hopefully be more inspired than you would if you read a textbook.

                                                I will continue sharing more of me in the months ahead. I will continue sharing more of me with my readers in the years ahead. It is for a good cause, I tell myself. It has been fun writing on this blog and connecting with my friends and making new friends.

                                                The future of this blog is bright. It will grow using the very same lessons that I have been teaching you. For example I have used the power of focus, the power of commitment, and kaizen (baby steps).

                                                I have been teaching people about the power of taking action, time management, seeking specialized knowledge etc. My plan is to use all the lessons on this blog to grow it so that it can reach more people.

                                                So far I have been posting almost daily. I promised my readers 300 blog posts this year, and I intend to keep that promise to you. Stay tuned my friend, 200 new blog posts are coming to a computer near you this year.

                                                What is in it for you?

                                                Are you a positive thinker? Do you want to have a better life? Do you want to make positive change in your business, career, family, relationship, health or emotions? Then you are in the right place. This blog will continue inspiring you to take control of your life, to leave courageously and succeed more in your endeavors.

                                                A daily dose of this blog will be an added ingredient in your success equation. If you are new to this blog, please read through the old articles. Go through them month by month starting in January 2009 to get a firm grounding of the how this blog has grown and the direction it will take.

                                                As I said earlier, I am in the process of creating a community area for blog members to connect with each other, share inspiring stories and make new friends. I hope you will be part of that community.

                                                Vote of Thanks

                                                I would like to thank all the people who have subscribed to be getting this blog daily via email. If you have not subscribed to get the blog via email, please use the email subscription form that is at the top of every page on the blog. If you receive the blog via email, please forward it to a friend or two. Thank you also if you have shared this blog on Facebook and other social media sites.

                                                I would also like to take a moment to thank the top commenters on the blog ranked by the number of comments posted: Paula, Joy, Brenda Njeru, Charity, Nyomi, Prince Miyake, philip w, Alen, james karuku, m. mwangi, carol,John, Tommy Adebayo, Rachel, James Gitau, Antony Ngari, Sam, Ken Mwangi, Doba, Ikechukwu Anthony Nwaodu, David Hamilton, Steve Njau (Kybs) and gitau.

                                                Other people who have commented on the blog, thank you so much you have been my inspiration.

                                                Abdullatif Manjothi, Afolabi Albert, aileen veleci, aisha,akams, Alen, Alen Wekesa, Alfred, alicia, allan lucumay, amelia mwendwa, Amo, Amos, andrew muasya, Andrew Njuguna, andrson, Angeey, Ann Kibunja, Anne, Anthony, Antony Mbugua Ngari, ANTONY NGARI, Atef, Atieno, South Korea, Austine,  viera, ayo FADUMIYE, babu, Ben Gathogo,Benn Rono, Bikundo, Billy Ombima, Bob Skilnik, Boston Gym, boyfulani, BRENDA NJERI, Brenda Njeru, carol, Carol Achieng Otieno, CAROLYN, Cate, Catherine, Cathy Nyawira, cecilia kabura, Cee, Charity, Charles, charles oloo, Charles Simba, Chike Ibe, christine magati, christine pamba, Colin, damaris, Dan Mahiri, DANIEL, Daniel “Jeshi-X” Ngari - KENYA., Daniel Ngari, David Hamilton, David Kamau, David M, Dennis Muchiri, Diana, dickson mwangangi, Doba, Dobah,Downunderhater.

                                                Edu, eimong, Elly, Emile, Emily A, Eric M, Eric muema Kiilu, ERICAH KIPTOO, Esther, Esther Kinene, Eston, Eva Kamiri, Evah, Fahreen, Faiza, Felix, ford sink, fred michori, Fred Nyakundi, Gabriel Kemboi, Gabriel Olofu, Gathoni Kimuyu, George, George Mutale, Georgia Atieno, Gicharu, Giny-D, gitau, Gladys Maina, GOOD WORK, Gorata, grace

                                                Hildah, Humphrey Mburu, i.ali, Ibe Arua, Ibrahim, Ifects, Ikechukwu Anthony Nwaodu, Iman Ali, Irene, IRENE KORIR, Irene Y, irungu, irungu wagura, Jacinta Wambui, jackie, Jafeni, James Adolwa,James Court, James Gitau, james karuku, James Muriuki, james mwendwa kivuva.

                                                Jamez, Jamleck, janet, Jazz, Jedz, Jeri, Job kungu, JOEY W, John, john kaburi, John Makau, John Onyango Rare, John Tedesco, Joram, Joseh, Joseph, Joseph Karuga, Josephine Macharia, Joses, Josphine njeri, Joy, JOYCE, JT, Jude A, Judy, juliana mburu, Juliet, june, kadani, Kageniii, kahora, kamama, Kamau Warui, kami wa nyina wa macua, Kanai, Kanja Paul, karanja, karanja kamotho, Karen, karuga, KAY, Ken, Ken Mwangi, Kennedy Kamau, Kepher, kim anointted, Kimaku, Kip, Kristjan-Olari Leping, Kuria Steve, kybs.

                                                Linda, Linda K. Mugo, Linet Kerubo, Liz, lloyd kikunzu, lorna, louise nyaboke, lucie, Lucy Mundia, lucynd, Lydia, Lydia Muriithi, lynne, lynnette, Lyre, m. mwangi, m.ali, m.mwangi, Macharia, Manciny NeeMoh Migwi, Mandi, Marcel Masaga, Maria, Martha, Martin Muchira, Martin W, Marto, Mary, mavis, max, Mayoress, mel, Meli, Michael, michael m g, MICHAEL MURITHI, Michael Mwaniki, michelle m, mike, mike kamanu, Milly, Miriam Ruff, Moboh, molara, Molly, Morris, Moses Waruiru, Motivational, Mukonyo, Mumbi, munga, Muthoka, Mutuma Timothy, MWALIMU, mwangangi, Mwangi, Mwangi - the Displaced African

                                                Myrna A. Niedo, Nancy, NANCY KARIUKI, Narasha, Natty Dread, natural sleep aids, Ndiku, ndugi, nellie, Nelly, Nelson, Ngige Benson, nich, Nick Tumbo, Nimo, Njau, njeri, Noha, Nwaodu Anthony Ikechukwu, Nya, nyayiemi, Nyomi,  Nyomi Graef, Obamayowa, onesmus makori

                                                Pam, Parto, PATRICK, Patrick Odhiambo, Paul Gitonga, PAUL NGO’NG’A, Paula, Paula May, Pauline Mwaniki, Peter Mburu, Peter Nduati, Peter Ngunyi, Philip D.W.N, philip w, Philip w.n., phoebe,  Prince Miyake, racheal wangari Njeru, Rachel, Rachel Akinyi, RaiulBaztepo, Rajab, Rebecca Munga, regina, Renee M, reu, reuben, Robert Wilkins, Rofem, ronald, ronald n.ngugy, rosemary njeri

                                                Roy, saeed, sally, Sam,  Asbestos, SHADRACK, shomyz, simon, simon kanoga, SK Usman, slimjess, Sophie, stan, Steve, Steve Kybs, steve nick, Steve Njau (Kybs), Sublimity, Sulaiman, Sumi Akumu Assumpter,  susan, Susannah, thaka, Tj, Tola, Tom, Tom Kabau, Tom Miller, Tommy Adebayo, Toni, tony, tony ngari,

                                                victor, Vikky, wamahium, Wanja, Wanjiru, william, Wilson Odhiambo, Winnie, Woji Christian C., xtine, Xtine Dida, Yomi Oloko, Zippy 

                                                Celebration

                                                Celebrate good times,come on! (Let’s celebrate)
                                                Celebrate good times, come on! (Let’s celebrate)

                                                There’s a party goin’ on right here
                                                A celebration to last throughout the years
                                                So bring your good times, and your laughter too
                                                We gonna celebrate your party with you

                                                Come on now

                                                Celebration
                                                Let’s all celebrate and have a good time

                                                Celebration
                                                We gonna celebrate and have a good time

                                                It’s time to come together
                                                It’s up to you, what’s your pleasure

                                                Everyone around the world
                                                Come on!

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                                              67. A - Z of Sports and Success

                                                Posted: May 12, 2009, 2:07 am by Daniel Ngari

                                                The final whistle has been blown on the Sports Series. We have a few minutes of extra time and I think it is a good idea to end the series with a recap of the basics of sports and success. Today we look at the ABCD to Z of powerful ideas and lessons that we can take with us.

                                                Action

                                                Without action there would be no sports; you cannot sport in bed. You need to have a bias for action in order to succeed in life and in sports. Action is the opposite of laziness. Your actions determine your results. Stay active lest you lose your skills. Your prowess depends on how much action you put in.

                                                Baggage

                                                Players leave their baggage in the changing room. Do not get into the game of success with baggage. Leave your baggage such as anger, bad memories, negative self talk, fear, bad company etc outside. Emancipate yourself from mental baggage.

                                                Concentration

                                                Playing in sports with your mind else where can result in dismal results or even death, in boxing. How well you do is directly proportional to your intensity of concentration. Concentrate on sharpening your strengths and improving areas you may be falling behind in.

                                                Discipline

                                                A disciplined player does not wait for their coach to call them to turn up for practice. They are self starters with little need for supervision. Be disciplined in your undertaking. Make a schedule and stick with it. Discipline is doing the right thing at the right place at the right time to achieve the desired goals.

                                                Effectiveness

                                                Effectiveness means hitting the nail on the head. It means being smart about how you work instead of working hard for the sake of working hard. Focus on outcomes and deliverables. Refine your strategies to be more effective. Eradicate ineffective actions and habits.

                                                Failure

                                                Failure is part of sports. Sometimes you will win, other times you will lose. Do not let the fear of failure paralyze you. Failure should act as a reminder for the need to improve. Failure is also a message to move away from your comfort zone. If you fail, the only way you can win is by doing things different. Take failure as a hint to reflect and analyze your performance, goals and your success journey.

                                                Goals

                                                Sportsmen and women are very goal oriented. You should set clear goals to help you succeed faster. You should set SMART goals - Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Time bound. Setting and writing down goals helps in setting an action plan that will drive you to success.

                                                Habits

                                                Sports people have set habits that they keep to attain their goals. The habits of a rugby player are different from those of a long distance runner. We are creatures of habits. You become what you do everyday. Habits have a bigger impact on your success than desire. Get rid of bad habits and develop new habits that are empowering and that take you closer to your goals.

                                                Individual

                                                Nobody can succeed alone, not in a significant way anyway. Embrace people and teams. Leverage the experience, knowledge, passion and resources of others. Individual talent and action counts for something and is rewarded. Do not suppress that what makes you unique. Seek to embrace your individuality but develop a good working relationship with others.

                                                Jealousy

                                                When some sports people do well, they may attract jealousy from fellow players or other people. Jealousy is a green eyed monster that should be shunned. Professional jealousy can also be as a result of one person or company experiencing a higher level of success. Instead of being jealous of others, it is best to carve your own niche and succeed on your terms. Jealousy is a negative emotion that has been on earth since time immemorial. It is like a boomerang, if you let it rule your life it will come back to bite you.

                                                Knowledge

                                                Knowledge about sports opens up opportunities and doors that would otherwise remain closed. Good sports people gain deep knowledge of the people and environment under which they operate. Learn who are the trusted sources of knowledge and learn as much as you can from them. Understand the rules and standards that govern your sport or career. Gain specialized knowledge. This will set you apart from others and allow you to deliver more specific value.

                                                Lessons

                                                Experience is the best teacher. Sports people are always taking lessons with each practice session or game. Learn from both success and failure. Learn from your own mistakes and those of others. Never stop learning. Keep improving by taking more lessons, coaching and training.

                                                Mind

                                                Success or failure is all in the mind. If you tell your mind that you are weak then your body will respond accordingly. A positive mental attitude will help you improve yourself. Win first in the mind and it will manifest itself in the physical or monetary equivalent.

                                                Novelty

                                                When a new star player joins a team, fans are excited but the novelty quickly wears off. People get bored of doing the same thing over and over. Unfortunately success calls for doing something over and over even when it gets boring. Keep playing even when the novelty wears off. Innovate and look for ways to stay fresh.

                                                Opportunity

                                                Take time to evaluate the pros and cons of opportunities. Rolling stones gather no moss. If a player wants to gather some credibility, they cannot afford to be jumping ship on their teams mid season. Stay focused on your job. Do not become an “opportunity seeker”; it is like chasing the wind. Stick with something long enough but at the same time do not let good opportunities for growth pass you buy. Be judicious.

                                                Poison

                                                Some people can poison an entire team. Get rid of bad apples from your team or quarantine them. Toxic ideas and people are hurdles to success and can bring you down. Do not sabotage yourself. Be discerning about what keeps you from achieving your goals and get rid of that poison.

                                                Quit

                                                Quitting is not an option if you want to achieve your goals. Be persistent. Good players never quit and when they quit they do it in their own terms. Choose to retire when you are on a high instead of being hounded from office. Do not let your mind play with the idea of quitting. Leave quitting for failures.

                                                Reputation

                                                Let your reputation precede you. Your reputation is shaped by what you do on and off the job. A good reputation is worth more than diamonds. Reputation takes years to build but can be destroyed overnight. A good reputation will open doors for you and allow you to command higher compensation.

                                                Self Belief

                                                If you think that you can, then you can; if you think you cannot then you are right too on that one. Self belief is an important ingredient for success in sports, business, career and relationships. Build your confidence step by step. Give yourself credit for each of your achievements however small. Do not beat yourself too much for your failures. Learn from them and avoid making the same mistakes every time.

                                                Talent

                                                Talent is a good place to start for players in sports. If you are talented in an area of life, develop it. Use your talents. Spend time discovering your talent. However, talent alone is not enough. You still need to put in hours of practice to improve and perfect your game.

                                                Underdog

                                                Being the underdog means you are playing a more experienced opponent and your chances of victory are rated as limited. Sometimes crowds support the underdog. If that happens to you be thankful and do your best to create an upset (surprise victory). Mohammed Ali was the underdog in the “Rumble in the Jungle” but he was able to snatch victory by changing his strategies and outlasting George Foreman. Remember that the size of your victory depends on the size of your opponent.

                                                Victory

                                                Win with humility and lose with dignity. Victory is the sum result of your experience, effort and a bit of luck. Victory can be a bad teacher. Do not dwell on past victories as that can hinder your progress. Focus on your next win and do everything required to prepare for it.

                                                Weight

                                                Fat people do not play in most sports apart from sumo wrestling and a few other sports that I don’t know of. Be mindful of what you eat. Be away of the number of calories your body needs, what you consume and what you burn through exercise. Have a consistent exercise regime.

                                                Xenophobia

                                                Not many words start with X. Xenophobia means the fear of strangers and foreigners. Many sports are multicultural with players from all races and countries. Unfortunately every now and again, some fans or team mates may be intolerant to people of different backgrounds. If you want to succeed, you must shun mediocrity by embracing diversity.

                                                Youth

                                                Take advantage of your youth. Drink from the fountain of your youth. Youth is a time window to achieve your goals. Many sports have a short time window for success. Use your youth wisely.

                                                Zeal

                                                Do what you are passionate about and you will never have to work again for a day in your life. Zeal is a feeling of strong eagerness and prompt willingness to go for goals. Have zeal for training, preparation and perfection. The kind of zeal you put in your work will be reflected in your results.

                                                Summary

                                                I hope you have enjoyed the sports series. I have shared many analogies for success drawn from the world of sports. Please feel free to re-read the articles and share them with friends.

                                                Stay tuned for the next series coming to a computer near you.

                                                Have a beautiful day.

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                                              68. How to Transition from Amateur to Professional

                                                Posted: May 10, 2009, 6:09 pm by Daniel Ngari

                                                Are you an amateur or a professional? Do you get paid to play with what you love? Tiger Woods gets paid to play Golf, Kobe Bryant for Basketball and Lewis Hamilton for racing. Professionals make a living doing what they love, well; some of them don’t really love what they do, but that’s another story.

                                                 Mass media and increased leisure time has allowed sports men and women to command high pay as professional players. These players are able to make sport their primary career and gain immense opportunities for training and skill development. Going pro opens a whole world of opportunities. Transitioning from amateur to professional can be a little tricky though.

                                                 Decide

                                                 Muhammad Ali was one of the greatest heavyweight fighters of all time. Sports Illustrated named him Sportsman of the Century in 1999. He started his boxing career at the age of 12 in Louisville, Kentucky. It took someone stealing his bicycle to set in motion his desire to fight. He quickly rose through the ranks of boxing and in 1960 won the light heavyweight boxing at the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome.

                                                 Soon after, he decided that if anyone was going to watch him fight, they better be willing to pay. And with that, he went pro.  He won his first professional fight in November 1960.

                                                 To be able to advance to the next level of sports, business or career, you have to decide. Zero in on exactly what you want to do and go for it.

                                                 Apprenticeship

                                                 To transition to a professional in any field of endeavor one needs a guide. Whether you want to be a professional golfer, professional preacher, professional dancer or whatever, you will save yourself time and money by getting a mentor.

                                                 Identify someone who has already accomplished what you want. Make contact with them and develop a mentor relationship. Work under their tutelage and learn from them. It would be best to be coached face to face, but in the event that is not possible, bury yourself in books, DVDs or websites to learn from the professionals. There are some jobs that you can teach yourself by learning from experts, but a good majority of them require that you be under direct apprenticeship to be able to turn pro.

                                                 Are you still studying in order to do a particular job? Are you struggling to start a blog or a business? Identify someone who already does it, someone who makes a living doing what you want to do and ask them to coach you. Many people would be flattered to be regarded in high esteem and would be happy to teach or mentor at no cost. Others might charge for it. Decide what a fair price is for your lessons. Regard this as one of the most important step of going pro.

                                                 Attention to Details

                                                 Going pro requires that you pay attention to details that do not bother amateurs. You may need to comply with more laws or comply with certain standards. Do your homework. Find the rule book for what you aspire to do and master it.

                                                 If you are running a hobby and decide you want to make a living from it, you may need to start paying attention to how to make money, how to be efficient, how to scale, customer care etc. Cover all the bases.

                                                 Market Forces

                                                 Going pro in sports requires that you understand the sport better and the environment in which you will be playing. For example, a young football player could be having a time of his life kicking a football and be completely driven by the desire to win. However, once they go pro, they now have to think about providing a good return for investment to the team that hired him. They have to think of what other players in his category or quality are getting paid.

                                                 Going pro requires that you spend time understanding your environment. Professionals do not operate in a vacuum. Find what other people in your industry or profession are up to. Utilize the internet to research the competition and the market in which you will be operating. Ignoring market forces can lead to missed opportunities and stunted professional growth.

                                                 Processes and Systems

                                                 Moving from amateur to professional requires better time management. The best way of managing time is to have systems and processes to make one efficient. For example, many professional golfers, basketballers, or footballers have their own agents and managers to handle their off pitch issues. This allows them to focus on what they do best.

                                                 When you decide to go pro, be ready to delegate some of your non essential duties. You may need to cede control of some aspects of your life, but that is the only way you can be efficient and effective.

                                                 Compensation

                                                 Going pro is all about getting paid. Make sure you are paid for what you are worth. You can increase your level of payment by acquiring specialized skills and being an integral part of your team. Understand what others in the industry are paid and negotiate a winning contract.

                                                 Remember money is the exchange of value. You are only paid as much as the value you provide. Package yourself nicely and promote yourself to get the best deal that the market can withstand. Focus on improving your value proposition and perfect your ability to communicate to others what you are good for.

                                                 Let your reputation precede you. You will command higher compensation if clients or teams come looking for you and vice versa.

                                                 Feedback

                                                 Once you turn pro, you must be willing to listen to your team mates, customers and market. Do not be a silo. Solicit feedback from people who will be honest with you. Improve your value proposition based on this feedback.

                                                 Be willing to accept criticism. Learn to take advice and correct your mistakes. Whether you are running a business, running for public office, or playing pro in golf, you need feedback, both good and bad to ensure your upward spiral is sustained. Failure to listen is a quick way of falling from grace. Falling from grace may not happen overnight, but every ignored advice or suggestion can cost long term success.

                                                 All the best in your desire to go pro.

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                                              69. 7 Time Management Lessons From Sports

                                                Posted: May 9, 2009, 10:53 am by Daniel Ngari

                                                With only 24 hours in a day, time is a finite resource that has to be well managed. If you manage to think through all aspects of sports, you will realize that there are many lessons in sports on time. Sports and time are natively interlinked. 

                                                Every minute counts in sports. The last five minutes of a world cup soccer game keeps fans at the edge of their seats. This is especially true if the game is hotly contested. In boxing, every micro second counts. It can be the difference between life and death.

                                                1 - Preparation

                                                 There is a time for everything; a time to practice and a time to play; a time to be coached and a time to implement. Behind every crowning moment of glory is hours upon hours of sweat and tears of practice. Top form in sports does not come easy. Reflexes have to be trained. Bad habits have to be eliminated before competing. It takes tough mental, emotional and physical preparation to succeed in life.

                                                 Do you happen to just do things in life or do you prepare for success? Have you prepared what you are going to do tomorrow? How often do you set aside practice and preparation time for your major goals? Did you know that failing to prepare is akin to preparing to fail?

                                                 You will never get anything new in life if you keep doing the same things over and over. Your current situation is the sum result of the preparation you have had so far. If you want to become something, or be elsewhere, you need to set aside time to prepare for that.

                                                 2 - Schedule

                                                 Before a football, basketball, hockey, tennis etc season begins; a detailed schedule of matches is prepared. The schedule lists all the teams playing, when they are playing, where they will play and who they will be playing against.

                                                 In the case of soccer world cup, the teams are grouped into… you guessed it “Groups”. Each group is assigned specific match dates and the winners progress to the next round. 

                                                 You should set up a schedule for your commitments to ensure you are not over stretching yourself and are moving towards your goals. Setting a schedule for your goals and plans will set you aside from 90% of people who do not do it. Write down your goals and allow yourself ample time to achieve your goals. Set a schedule of what needs to be done, by whom and when. Then stick with it.

                                                 3 - Prioritize

                                                 Sports men and women are forced to set their priorities. What comes first? Playing for your country or playing for your team? Shall you attend the wedding or shall you go and play for your team? Coaches and players alike are forced to make hard choices in the allocation of their time and resources.

                                                 80% of your results will come from 20% of your efforts. It is up to you to decide where to allocate your time. Decide in advance what tasks you will attend to and what you will delegate or outsource.

                                                 Set up a daily to do list and arrange your priorities according to the order of importance to your mission. Spend your valuable time on tasks that make a difference.

                                                 4 - Deadlines

                                                 Some people love the whooshing sound of deadlines as they zoom past them. What is your take on a little dirty word called procrastination? Do you put off to tomorrow what you could or must do today?

                                                 Remember that yesterday is gone and tomorrow never comes. By the time we get to tomorrow, it will have changed its name to today. Take action everyday towards your goals. Understand yourself and your speed when setting deadlines. Unrealistic deadlines can frustrate you and make you less effective.

                                                 Sports have strict deadlines; everything has to be done before the final whistle. You may get a few minutes of extra time, but once the whistle is blown, the game is over. Take a similar approach to your life. Set deadlines that you can stick with.

                                                 When your imaginary whistle is blown, just stop. Hopefully you will have finished what you had to do. Practice meeting deadlines and it will become second nature. There is no such thing as unrealistic goals, only unrealistic timelines. Learn to set deadlines that you can meet.

                                                 5 - Breaks

                                                 All work and no play makes jack a dull boy. Are you working yourself to an early grave? Working for hours on end is not good for your health. Try taking scheduled breaks from your workstation. Working without breaks can lead to stress, injury or sickliness.

                                                 Taking breaks rejuvenates ones body and mind. Breaks are a tremendous time to reflect on how far you have come and to check if you are still on course.

                                                 If you work on a computer all day, then you need to find activities away from the computer. Take time to stretch, move and focus your eyes on longer distances.

                                                 Taking a vacation is a great way to recharge your batteries. Work hard and play hard. Many sportsmen and women take breaks in between matches, rest after the end of a game and go have a blast at the end of the season.

                                                 Taking breaks from work or business helps create a healthy work / life balance. You can spend time with your family and friends when taking breaks from work.

                                                 6 - Routine

                                                 We are creatures of habits. We become what we think and do everyday. Think about it, what did you do today? Run through your day. What time did you wake up? What did you have for breakfast, lunch or dinner? Did you exercise? Did you talk to any of your family members? Did you check if you are still on track to meet your goals?

                                                 Understand the habits that you need to have to be able to meet your objectives. Kill off bad habits and nurture good habits. If you do not master your habits, they will master you, and control your destiny.

                                                 Top athletes know the value of routines. They turn up for practice or fitness training on a regular basis at set times. That routine over time creates phenomenal success. What is your routine? Does it take you closer or further from your goals?

                                                 7 - Precision

                                                 The final lesson from sports about time is precision. Most games kick off precisely at the appointed time (there may be delays, true). If it is a soccer game, it will run for 90 minutes.  Australian rules footballs runs for four quarters of half an hour each. Most games have a precise order of doing things. Do you?

                                                 Get a good watch and alarm clock to move your time management up a notch. Do not be late for meetings or appointments. Be precise with your goals and management of your time. Set precise goals with time limits. Record how long it takes you to complete a given task and aim for gradual improvement. Do not guess, record precisely.

                                                 Summary

                                                 Time is a finite resource that needs to be harnessed for success. We have looked at 7 lessons from sports. These are: preparation, scheduling, prioritizing, deadlines, breaks, routines and precision. Time is money. Do not embezzle time.

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                                              70. Its Your Choice: Make Progress or be Relegated

                                                Posted: May 6, 2009, 8:16 pm by Daniel Ngari

                                                Just like in sports, you can be relegated to lower ranks if you do not prove your worth in business, relationships, money and careers. Promotion and relegation in sports takes place at the end of each season. It involves teams being transferred between divisions. 

                                                The best-ranked teams in each division are promoted to the next-highest division, and at the same time the worst-ranked teams in the higher division are relegated (or demoted) to the lower division. In the English premier league, the bottom three teams are relegated. I hope today’s blog post inspires you to avoid the bottom positions. If you are not making progress, you risk being relegated.

                                                What is Progress? 

                                                To make progress means advancing in a positive way. Are you making progress in your career? Are you making progress in your business? Are you making progress in your relationship? 

                                                Progress means the gradual development or growth towards your goals. You have goals don’t ya? You have them written down, right? Progress means achieving your goals. It means looking back at how far you have come and being proud about your rise and rise. Do you feel like you are making progress in your life? Do you feel like you are moving ahead as fast as you would like?

                                                 The earth moves around the sun at about 67,000 miles per hour. We do not even feel that movement. On the other hand if a car overtook you at 100 miles per hour on a 60 zone, you would think it was moving pretty fast. Progress and speed is relative. It depends on where you are in life and who is assessing your progress.

                                                 There is such thing as perceived progress. To avoid relegation, you need to become a master of making both real and perceived progress. You need to identify what matters and excel in that. In soccer, to avoid relegation, a team must score goals. Technical brilliance on the pitch, as entertaining as it may be, does not prevent relegation.

                                                 Perceived progress can make all the difference between success and failure. Say two people are both equally qualified mechanics. One is perceived to be more experienced, more knowledgeable than the other.  Who would get the better paying jobs?

                                                 Sometimes perceived progress is not worth much. What good is living in a giant mansion when you cannot afford your son’s school fees? What good is your Rolex if you cannot afford bus fare? Should you even be on the bus? Real progress is more solid and long lasting. Aim for real progress but do not ignore the value of perceived progress.

                                                 The following six tips will help you make real or perceived progress and help you avoid relegation.

                                                1.      Master the Basics

                                                2.      Gain Knowledge

                                                3.      Keep the Score

                                                4.      Communicate

                                                5.      Network

                                                6.      Mental Shift

                                                1 - Master the Basics 

                                                To become a black belt in martial arts, one has to master the basics of say karate. Learn all the offensive and defensive techniques. Even in golf, one has to master his or her golf swing before claiming to be good in golf. 

                                                What do you want to be good at? Let us say you want to be a good accountant. You need to understand the basic terminologies, accounting methods and standards. You need to understand the business and legal environment under which you will be operating. 

                                                Without understanding the basics, you are bound to make costly mistakes. Take time to understand what it is that you want to pursue. There is no need of setting off to sea without a compass. 

                                                To be able to run a blog successfully, one has to master the basics of writing, driving traffic to a website, managing blog comments, syndication and subscriptions. It is hard to move to the upper echelons of blogosphere without understanding and mastering the basics. 

                                                Are you a master of the basics? Have you covered all angles as far as the foundation of your success goes? This is an important step. 

                                                2 - Gain Knowledge 

                                                You need to gain knowledge of yourself and be a master of your emotions. You need to control you. Do not let you run amok. Practice self mastery and gain an intimate knowledge of the inner lady or gentleman within. Be at peace with yourself and only embark on a journey that is within your mission in life and in harmony with your aspirations. Without being congruent internally, you will end up sabotaging your progress. 

                                                Have you conducted a SWOT analysis of your venture? SWOT stands for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats. What are you talents? What makes you tick? What core strengths and advantages do you have?

                                                 A SWOT analysis helps you assess yourself against the competition. It helps you identify your angle and how to present yourself. If say you are good with people, you can seek out roles and positions that bring out that part of you. If you do not like traveling away from your family, do not take on a role that requires moving from city to city or country to country.

                                                 Understand your opportunities for growth and potential obstacles (threats). A detailed SWOT analysis is something I highly recommend for career, business and even relationships. You want to date that person? What can you do to get their interest? What can you do to keep off the competition? 

                                                3 - Keep the Score 

                                                You will win some and you will lose some. That is the name of the game. Just make sure you do not lose too many times. Keep a score of how well you are doing. Money is a pretty good score card for business. If you are running your business and the numbers tell you that you are winning, then that is good. If on the other hand the numbers tell you that you are sinking money in a bottomless pit, it is time to make changes before you are relegated. 

                                                4 - Communicate 

                                                If you keep making progress and the relevant people do not know about it, then you are missing out on the benefit of that progress. Let us say for example you run a charitable organization and you raise money to help disabled kids. If every month you donate x amount of money and do this or that for the kids, then you need to communicate that with your donors. You need to have an open line of communication with your stakeholders. Otherwise you will be perceived as not making progress. 

                                                Once you make progress, package your progress nicely and communicate the nature of the progress to stakeholders. Let say for example you have just finished your distance learning degree; you need to get the higher ups at your work place to know about it. Every time you add a new skill or capability, let the relevant people know. 

                                                5- Network 

                                                To make progress in careers and in business you need to network with others. The more people you network with the more likely you are to be of use to them and find people who are of use to your career progression. There are two types of networking that you can use to make career progress. 

                                                • Vertical Networking - This means building a network of people above you and below you in your company or industry.
                                                • Lateral Networking - This means reaching out to people outside your domain. If you are a writer for a newspaper, you can network with people in Radio, magazines, bloggers, graphic designers, computer programmers, business people, publishers etc. 

                                                6 - Mental Shift 

                                                Success or failure is all in the mind. You need to prepare yourself for moving up the ladder. You need to know how the game is played at the next level. Otherwise you might find yourself out of your depth and end up being relegated back to where you came from. 

                                                Let us say you are transitioning from an employee to a self employed person. There are things that you need to adjust in order to be successful. You need to develop self promotion skills that you might not have needed in your previous job. You need to become more confident and independent from the security of corporate environment. You may need to learn to swim with sharks. 

                                                Summary 

                                                Making real and perceived progress can help you avoid being relegated to lower ranks. Relegation occurs when one is not perceived to be pulling in their weight. We have looked at 6 tips to avoid relegation: master the basics, gain knowledge, keep the score, communicate, network and have a mental shift to the next level.

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                                              71. How to Make Money like Elite Athletes

                                                Posted: May 5, 2009, 8:00 pm by Daniel Ngari

                                                A certain businessman was leaving home for a six months around the world trip. Just before his taxi to the airport arrived, he left called three of his employees, Mike, John and Frank. He gave Mike five hundred dollars, gave John two hundred dollars and one hundred dollars to Frank. Then he left.

                                                Mike had a degree in marketing and had an interest in web and mobile marketing. He visited a few forums, read a few blogs and decided that his business idea could work. All he needed was a software product to help him start a premium SMS horoscopes business. He acquired the software for $97, bought a domain name for $10, built a website using a free website builder.

                                                He acquired a 13,000 horoscopes database in an excel spreadsheet for $46 and loaded them to his software. Then he started placing targeted classified ads on his local newspapers, magazines and websites. People started subscribing to his service for $1 per message. By the time his boss came back, he had spent $498 and made $1,032.

                                                His boss was really impressed with his creativity and hard work. He rewarded him by telling him to keep the whole $1,032. Last time I heard of Mike, his business was growing rapidly. He had over 2000 paying subscribers for daily horoscopes and had acquired a writer to help pumping out the horoscopes daily.

                                                John on the other hand was a carpet cleaner. He bought a vacuum cleaner and some cleaning equipment at a garage sale. Then he started knocking door to door and making some calls to drum up business. Times were tough in the economy and everyone preferred to do their own cleaning. But he still managed to make to make $450 from his cleaning services business. His boss was impressed and just like Mike, he was allowed to keep all the money.

                                                Frank on the other hand went to chill out with the boys at the local pub. He was good in playing pool so he spent his days there. He was very happy that the master was gone. He took his $100 buried it under his son’s bed. When the boss came back, he was shocked at how fat Frank had become from all the fish & chips he had been eating and the copious amounts of alcohol he had been consuming.

                                                The boss was furious. He asked for his $100 and Frank rushed to get it. He was such a slob. He went to his daughter’s bedroom and started looking for the money. He cursed her when he did not find it. But by good luck he remembered that he had put the money in his son’s room. The boss was still waiting outside and was wondering what was taking Frank so long. He was getting angrier by the minute.

                                                When Frank came out the boss said “You wicked and slothful punk. How could you hide my money in your own house? Did you not even have the sense to put it in the bank where you could have earned a few cents in interest? Hey Mike, take away that $100 from this punk. To everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance, but from him who doesn’t have, even that which he has will be taken away.”

                                                Taken Away

                                                My friend, the way to earn big money just like the top athletes do is to use your talents. Don’t tell me you do not have a talent. Each of us has a talent. Maybe you have not found out what your talent is (YET), but do not say that you do not have a talent.

                                                If you do not practice or use your talent, you will forever be struggling. Painful but true. We were taught in school to work on our weak areas. If you were not good in math you were told to stay longer and practice and improve on your weak area. Shun that mentality. You only live once. Play up your strengths.

                                                The trick with elite athletes is that they focus on their sport of strength. You do not find Tiger Woods trying to compete in long distance running. You do not find long distance runners trying to compete for swimming championships.

                                                Why then do you spend so much time trying to improve your weak areas? Be brutal. Use your talents or lose them.

                                                Have a look at the numbers below, from Sports Illustrated about athletes who focused on their strengths and are now earning big bucks.

                                                • Tiger Woods - He has been the top earning sportsman for five years in a row. He is a pro golfer and focuses on it. In 2008 he earned $128 million in salary and endorsements. At only 32 years of age, he has earned over $800 million in his illustrious 13 year career.
                                                • Phil Mickelson - Yet another pro golfer. He took earned $62,372,685 in 2008.
                                                • LeBron James - Made $40,455,000 from playing basketball in 2008.
                                                • Floyd Mayweather - Made $40,250,000 from Boxing in 2008.
                                                • Kobe Bryant - The Los Angeles Lakers star made $35,490,625 in basketball in 2008.

                                                Believe in yourself. You are good in something. Find your talent. Carve your niche and perfect your angle.

                                                I spoke to a wise old man who had made an obscene amount of money in Australia and he told me the trick to making it big and earning more money than football stars is:

                                                a)      Give Something of Value

                                                b)      Build a Distribution Network

                                                c)      Repeat Ad Infinitum

                                                a)      Give Something of Value

                                                Money is the medium of exchange of value. If you have little or no money, it is in most cases an indication of how much value you have given to others. Tiger Woods earns that kind of money because of the value he brings to the companies he endorses. Star basketball players provide entertainment to millions.

                                                What are you good at? What can you do to provide value to others? There are many ways of providing value and getting paid for it. That will be a topic for another blog post. For now, just think of what you can do for others. Ask not what others can do for you but what you can do for others. Sounds cliché but it is so true.

                                                b)      Build a Distribution Network

                                                I like innovative charitable organizations. Some of the most successful charitable organizations are masters of building their donor networks. You will find their donation boxes in schools, companies, churches etc. They realize the power of a distribution network.

                                                Say for example you operate a small bakery. Instead of focusing all your energy in making better bread, why not spend some of your time building up your distribution network? You could contact small supermarkets, big companies, churches, government departments etc to be buying your bread on a regular basis. Once your distribution network is in place, you can ramp up production and quality.

                                                Elite athletes use the power of cable TV to bring entertainment to millions of homes. That is how they are able to entertain so many of us and get paid those huge numbers. In all due respect, brick layer will not get paid the same amount of money as a bakery owner with a huge distribution network.

                                                A charismatic speaker who speaks at seminars will not make as much money as one who focuses on DVD and tapes production. The DVDs can be distributed and provide value without him being there. They can be plugged into his distribution network. Find a way of delivering value without you being there.

                                                c)      Repeat Ad Infinitum

                                                To make the really good money, you need to be able to provide that value and distribute it on an ongoing basis. In our example above, Mike has a better business model than John because he is providing his value to more people and is building a good distribution network. In addition he can deliver that value even when he is a sleep.

                                                Summary

                                                I hope you have got the significance of this blog post in terms of boosting your earning capacity. Remember to use your talents to create and deliver value on an ongoing basis.

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                                              72. How to Achieve Peak Performance in 30 Days

                                                Posted: May 4, 2009, 8:57 pm by Daniel Ngari

                                                Today’s post is a little different. We look at a specific case of someone who wants to achieve a home business goal. A boxer stepping into the ring while at their peak is a dangerous machine. A tennis pro playing at their peak makes for exciting TV. Achieving peak performance has real benefits and provides a near certain path for goals attainment. I hope to inspire you to achieve peak performance in the next 30 days. Find out how.

                                                Samantha is my dear imaginary friend. She has met the man of her dreams and he has just proposed. They plan to get married in exactly 18 months. Her mind is racing, exploding with ideas. She wants to make her marriage work. She wants to have the best wedding ever and a honeymoon to remember. There is only one problem. They are not so well financially grounded. She is finance major and does the projections. What does she find out? They cannot afford their dream wedding at their current level of income.

                                                What to do? She decides to start a website that will kill two birds with one stone. She decides to start a wedding website that will make money to supplement their income. She wants to make money from it and sell it just before the wedding. She calls on me to help her and guide her through the process. Over coffee, this is what we come up with.

                                                Daniel Ngari: Congratulations on your engagement.

                                                Samantha: Thanks Dan. I really want to make this website succeed. You are experienced in internet marketing. How do I pull this off?

                                                Daniel Ngari: First you have to decide why you want to build the website. Then you need to provide genuine value to your visitors. Then promote it like crazy.

                                                Samantha: I don’t have much time for building the website. Plus I do not have much experience in web marketing. I have read a few articles on the web but the whole process seems so daunting.

                                                Daniel Ngari: It is not that hard. It is not that easy either. You have a big enough reason for doing it. There is plenty of useful information online to help you.

                                                Samantha: Getting started seems like the hardest part to me.

                                                Daniel Ngari:  Yeah, it usually is for most people. But without taking action, it is almost impossible to win in anything.

                                                Samantha: Please run me through what I need to do to make this work.

                                                Daniel Ngari: Ok. It is good that you have a general idea of what you want. I hope the following information will be useful to you. Just like in sports, you need to perform at your peak to achieve your goals in a short period of time. How about you try the following six steps in the next 30 days?

                                                Samantha:  Ok.

                                                1.      Decide

                                                2.      Clarity

                                                3.      Preparation

                                                4.      Baggage

                                                5.      Action

                                                6.      Automation

                                                1  - Decide

                                                It is good that you have already decided why you want to run this website. Many people want to succeed without having a big enough why. It seems like you are already clear on why you want to do this and how. That is a big plus.

                                                Like all good things in life, it will not come easy. You must be willing to pay the price. When you are burning the midnight oil working on your site, think about your wedding and your honeymoon. Think about the rewards for your labor as you plough ahead. It is hard work but if you have a good reason for doing it, you will be willing to pay the price.

                                                2 - Clarity

                                                Begin with the end in mind. I remember last time we talked you mentioned that you want to use this as a learning experience for your own wedding planning. You also mentioned the exact amount you want to make from this site. That sounds like a reasonable amount.

                                                Many people forget to set clear goals and an achievable path to attainment of their goals. You need to have a clear road map for the next 18 months. Spend the next 30 days being exactly clear on all facets of marketing and technologies that you shall be using. Be clear of exactly what work needs to be done and when.

                                                3 - Preparation

                                                You mentioned your fear of the work ahead. Don’t worry you are not alone; it is like that for even the best of the best. You can fight fear by adequately preparing yourself. You said that you are already reading a few articles on web design. That is great.

                                                Did you check out those links I sent you for wedding websites? Spend the next 30 days understanding your competition and try and find an angle. It is a big market; there are lots of people looking for wedding information online.

                                                Do your market research and come up with good keyword lists. Find out exactly what people are looking for and assess your monetization options. Get as much knowledge and intelligence on your market as possible. Understand the people you will be serving.

                                                Plan your value proposition and how you shall communicate with your visitors, advertisers, affiliates and suppliers. Create a checklist of exactly what you need to do to launch the site. Things like logo, email address, domain name, branding, content, links, products etc. Do not leave any stone unturned.

                                                Also be sure to create a good physical and mental working environment. If you find that you cannot work at home, maybe try going to the library. Create a section on your computer where you shall store all the relevant resources that you shall be coming across.

                                                4 - Baggage

                                                I have already talked about fear. Fear of failure is paralyzing. It can be eliminated by positive self talk and preparation. Drop all the baggage like negativity, self doubt and self sabotage. You know you can do this. You have to do this; remember? Believe in yourself. If you do not believe in yourself no one will.

                                                5 - Action

                                                At the end of the day, you want to make money from your website. The only way you can make money from it is if it is out there. Writing hundreds of articles and creating videos and leaving them on your computer is not going to do you much good.

                                                Create a step by step guide on how you are going to move from A to B. Set your priorities right and remember to align your actions with your goals. Keep checking that your actions are taking you closer to your goals. The only actions that matter are those that are adding value to your visitors.

                                                Research will be of help to you, but jumping from one wedding website to another for days will not help you. Only when you add stuff to your own site will it make a difference. Know when to draw the line with your research and surfing.

                                                6 - Automation

                                                To be able to perform at your peak, you need to have a system. All great sports men have a system. Their system may be as simple as setting aside a time for practice, diet or exercise regime.

                                                You need to create a set of habits and let yourself work on autopilot. If you decide to be writing 3 articles a day, and spending the evening promoting your site, do it. Follow your system. You can either do it yourself or outsource it to someone else. Use the first 30 days to setup everything, be creative, and then get on autopilot mode (peak performance).

                                                Summary

                                                Achieving peak performance in any field of endeavor requires setting goals with clarity. You need to have a big reason for doing something that it propels you to take action. Action is the only way of achieving goals.

                                                Have a system for performing at your peak. Use the first thirty days to prepare and build momentum then follow the autopilot system. Avoid self doubt and get rid of any excess baggage that may block your road to peak performance.

                                                You can apply the same lessons to achieve peak performance in any area of your life, including business, sports, career, relationship or hobby. I wish you all the best.

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                                              73. Get the Most from Your Personal Cheering Squad

                                                Posted: May 3, 2009, 7:24 pm by Daniel Ngari

                                                Have you ever had a group of people cheering you on wildly? I experienced the feeling in high school when I played hockey. The wild roar of a cheering squad shouting your name is a powerful energizer. It propels individuals or teams to give their best. It can make all the difference in crucial matches. In crucial moments of your life, your cheering squad will encourage you and inspire you to greater heights.

                                                A baby’s first cheering squad is her parents. They cheer her on when she makes her first step. They are overjoyed when she makes it through the first day of school. She continues to have parents and teachers cheering her on through out school life. Then she finds other cheering squads as she goes through life.

                                                Give them something to cheer about

                                                Cheering squads love winners. They are loyal to their teams and encourage them when in a winning match. But sustained losses makes cheering squads disappear one at a time. To maintain a cheering squad, you have to constantly improve and exceed their expectations. Limit their disappointments.

                                                Internet poster child Google Inc has plenty of cheering squads. They have to give the cheering squads something to cheer about constantly to maintain relevancy and grow their market share. Their constant improvements act as fodder for their cheering squads.

                                                Every player knows that to keep the cheering squads on their toes, they have to push themselves and give their best shot. Do the same in your life.

                                                Your personal cheering squad

                                                Whether you realize it or not you have your own cheering squads. You may call them friends, your gang, your group, your partner etc. Even bullies in schools have their cheering squads. Cheering squads can propel you to redemption or damnation. They can lead you to succeed or fail.

                                                Think about it, there is always that person around you in crucial moments in life. They are there when you start a new relationship. They are there when you start a new career. They are there for you during tough times. They are part of your cheering squad.

                                                If you play sports or work on a job that is not anonymous, you will have people celebrating your achievements. They are part of your cheering squad. If you sleep on the job, their silence can deafen you. They will walk away from you one by one. I have people who admire my blogging. If I stop blogging or sleep on the job, they will suddenly get busy, get on with their life.

                                                Understanding your cheering squad

                                                Who you are and what you do determine what kind of cheering squad you attract to your life. Robert Mugabe attracts a different cheering squad from Oprah Winfrey. Charismatic preachers have different cheering squads from prominent porn stars.

                                                Do you take stock of your friends and people in your life? Why are they in your life? What do they encourage you to do more of? Are you addicted to the roar of your cheering squad as they urge you on? Cheering squads do not (or should not) set your direction in life. But they sure do push you forward in the direction you are headed.

                                                Understand your cheering squad before accepting their support wholeheartedly. Seek out a cheering squad that shares your values. You may lose everything in life including your cheering squads, but your values will remain with you. Is your cheering squad congruent with your values? Are they cheering you closer or further from your values and mission in life?

                                                Appreciate your cheering squad

                                                Cheering squads support you out of love and passion. Seek to understand your cheering squad and know why they are cheering you; show them some love and appreciation. Nothing pisses off a cheering squad an unappreciative artist, sportsman or movie star. Celebrities who do not sign autographs are hated and quickly lose some fans when word gets out. You may not be called upon to sign autographs, but you can still show appreciation.

                                                Show your cheering squad that you appreciate them. You can tell them or show them via your actions. Behave yourself well on and off the pitch. Sportsmen’s off pitch antics are likely to piss of fans depending on their severity.

                                                You do not want to hear that your church pastor accused of passing out in a strip joint. Do ya? Give your cheering squad more reasons to cheer you along. Be your best at what you do. Be worthy of a cheering squad.

                                                Define boundaries

                                                Those white lines on a football pitch mean something. They define the border line between players and spectators. Do not let your cheering squad cross the line. If you do not set boundaries with people around you, you are setting yourself up for failure. You are unknowingly precipitating a crisis. The ball cannot flow if the cheering squad steps into the pitch. As much as you would love to bond with your cheering squad, remember to draw the line.

                                                Loyalty to the team

                                                The cheering squad may be shouting your name and expecting you to score. You may get the temptation to shine at the expense of the team. Do not fall for it. Pass the ball when appropriate. Be loyal to your team. Be a team player.

                                                Should you let your cheering team set your agenda? Should you allow your cheering squad too close to your private affairs? Reserve your loyalty to your team. Your team may be your husband, wife, company, friends or family. Do not let well meaning outsiders meddle in your affairs. Be strong and set your own agenda. Be loyal to your team.

                                                Manage Expectations

                                                People who support you expect you to perform at a certain level of excellence. They will cheer you along if you do. If you meet and exceed their expectations they will be happy and excited. If perform below expectations they will leave. The trick is to manage their expectations. Do not promise what you cannot deliver. Keep your word. Let your word be your bond. If you promise that you will turn up for a particular meeting, be there, and on time. Be sure to under promise and to over deliver.

                                                Take a long term view

                                                I advocate for a long term view of success. Overnight success takes 15 years of preparation. Cultivate a cheering squad that will be with you for the long haul. Invest in the selection of a good cheering squad and stick with them.

                                                Some people may come to your life, bring a lot of excitement and leave a wave of destruction like a hurricane. Long term friends and partners may not be as exciting but they are dependable. Cultivate long term relationships with people who are congruent with your long term goals and values.

                                                Summary

                                                This has been yet another way of looking at people around us. Just like sportsmen and women, we all have our cheering squads. Who you are and what you do determine the people you attract to your life.

                                                You can get the most from your cheering squad by understanding yourself and your relationship with them. Define your boundaries and be loyal to your team. Manage your cheering squad’s expectations and take a long term view of your relationships to get the best out of your cheerers and admirers.

                                                Have cheerful day my friend.

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                                              74. The Untold World of Success Coaching

                                                Posted: May 2, 2009, 7:24 pm by Daniel Ngari

                                                Its getting late the sun is about to set. You find yourself reflecting on how your life has been lately. You think back over the last 10 years. You remember the dreams and hopes that you had. Memories and thoughts of missed opportunities. What went wrong? What can you do to improve things in your life? Maybe your motivation is running on low. You do not feel like taking action. You wish you had a coach. You wish that someone could come along and give you a magic pill. Someone to tell you do this or do that and everything will be alright.

                                                Life has its ups and downs. Sometimes when experiencing hardship or tough times you may lack the will to forge ahead. You may run out of ideas on how to improve your life. Take heart my friend. You are not alone. We all have our tough moments.

                                                During tough moments people tend to doubt their ability to perform. Performing at your peak state requires self belief. If you do not believe in yourself it is hard to succeed in anything. Even elite athletes who doubt their ability end up missing their goals. Luckily for them, their coaches come to their rescue. How about you and I?

                                                Do you need a coach in your life or business? A coach is a person who observes, gives feedback, teaches and helps to develop a plan of action. A coach helps a person, team or group to be responsible for their actions and commitments.

                                                Are you committed to a mission in life but the reality seems to be a distant cousin of your goals?  A coach helps in the interpretation of reality. A good coach will help alter your perception of reality.

                                                What is reality? It is our interpretation of events and happening. Two people may experience the same circumstances but interpret them differently. What they call “reality” will be different. A coach helps one use the power of their mind to correctly interpret circumstances and determine outcomes.

                                                If you want to solve a problem in your life, ask yourself the right kind of questions. Asking the same questions that you have been asking will lead to the same answers. You have to ask yourself different and empowering questions to be able to alter your perception of reality. A coach can help you do that.

                                                The Role of Coaches

                                                Coaches in sports help bring out the best in teams and individual players. A coach is responsible for directing and training groups of people to achieve their goals.

                                                You can succeed in life by getting yourself a coach to guide you and help you develop skills and techniques. Just like coaches in sports, your coach can help you in clarifying your goals and developing a viable plan of achievement.

                                                Many people call themselves life coaches promising to transform your life with a few magic words. A good coach is one that listens to your situation, has empathy and is well trained. Sports coaches are normally retired former players or are extensively trained in the sport. Demand the same from your coach. A coach with deep insight and experience in your area of need will be best suited to propel you to achievement.

                                                Business and Career Coaches

                                                Is your business or career stagnated? Do you need a new direction or energy? Have you lost your focus lately? Are you achieving less than stellar results in your business or career? You may need a coach.

                                                I once had a business coach come to my office selling his services. He had a questionnaire asking me all types of textbook questions about business. He asked me about my goals and when I told him he thought I was crazy. He left and promised to call. He never did. Within 12 months I had achieved double the results that he said were not possible.

                                                Despite my limited and bad experience with a business coach, I believe that a good business or career coach can help you improve your effectiveness. A company can benefit from business coaching through leadership training, teamwork enhancement, and motivation and employee accountability. A career coach can help you in skill & job matching, presentation, communication skills and career development opportunities.

                                                Health Coaching

                                                I found out recently that there is a profession called “health coaching”. Health coaches help individuals manage their illness and conditions. I guess that profession will experience boom times with the ageing population in developed nations.

                                                A more common type of health coach is a gym instructor or personal trainer. They help an individual meet their physical fitness goals and keep motivated. Diet coaches help people manage their healthy weight through calorie control. They help people eat the right kind of foods for their weight targets.

                                                Dating Coaching

                                                Dating coaches will set you back between $100 and $150 per hour in the USA. They train people to improve their success in dating. They help individuals identify the missing ingredients in their dating efforts.

                                                People have mixed feelings about dating coaches. Some say that people should not need a dating coach and should approach dating from a “natural” perspective devoid of coaching. Yet some people love the dating coaches and are willing to pay a premium for their services.

                                                Are you looking for a long term partner but are too busy for the singles bars and events? Have you been out of the dating game for a while and you need to make a comeback? Are you recently divorced or broken up? A dating coach might just be what the doctor recommended.

                                                Dating coaches help in interpersonal skills improvement. They guide their customers through the art of flirting, fashion, overcoming emotional barriers to dating and also in setting dating goals.

                                                Need to pick up a new date? The pickup artist industry is booming online. There are countless pickup art websites teaching people how to pick up in bars, nightclubs, weddings, bus stops etc. Next time you meet someone who says all the right things and “picks you up”, spare a moment to wonder what website he learned that technique from. Hehe.

                                                Summary

                                                Sometimes in life you will hit a brick wall. You may get to a point where you are not getting the results you want fast enough. There are people willing, able and trained to help you jump over the mental hurdles to success. Keep in mind that there is a whole world of life, business, sports, health and dating coaches that can help you jump to the next level.

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                                              75. How to Avoid Distractions and Greener Grass

                                                Posted: April 30, 2009, 8:26 pm by Daniel Ngari

                                                Are you a scatter brain? Do you easily get bored and have your mind racing towards the next big thing, the next shiny thing? What happens when the novelty of self improvement wears off? Distractions can cost you success. Elite athletes avoid distractions in the game and during the preparation period. If you are preparing yourself for success, now is a good time to tame distractions.

                                                Governments world over spend millions warning people to avoid distractions when driving. Unfortunately that message does not seem to filter through to everyone. Yesterday on my way to work I saw this lady with her daughter in the car. She was busy applying makeup at the traffic lights. Then she picked up her phone and started calling. I couldn’t help but think that she was dialing “D” for the disaster waiting to happen. Or perhaps she was calling her daughter’s maker. Avoid distractions my friend.

                                                What are distractions?

                                                Distraction is the failure to pay attention. It can happen without warning but in most cases there are warning signs. Have you ever found yourself lacking interest in what you previously loved and adored? What happens when your partner is no longer attractive to you? Does the grass suddenly seem greener on the other side?

                                                Distractions can be as a result of external stimuli. Your new neighbor might just be too loud and annoying, distracting your peace of mind. Or you may be distracted by the hot or cold weather. You might be distracted in church by the sound of the young man who had too much dinner.

                                                You may also be distracted internally by thoughts, feelings, memories or fantasies. Do you find yourself fantasizing about something or someone else? Do your thoughts race back and forth when listening to a boring speech? Do you have bad memories or past experiences that prevent you from enjoying your present life? Are there a couple of your emotions that you have not quite mastered? How are they distracting you from your success and happiness?

                                                The Effects of Distractions

                                                Can you imagine working without distractions; both internal and external distractions? What would that do to your productivity? How would that affect other areas of your life such as relationships, careers, finances etc? What is the true cost of distractions in your life?

                                                It takes time to get back to the flow state after distractions. I found that out when I was in college. It was more productive to set aside huge blocks of time for my assignments than short periods with breaks.  Taking breaks or distractions would mean about 15 minutes wasted before regaining sharp focus or peak state.

                                                Distractions also lead to procrastination. It is easy to stop taking action after interruptions and tell yourself that you will get back to it later. Some times “later” never comes.

                                                Is the grass greener on the other side?

                                                Rolling stones gather no moss. If you want to attract and retain good things in life, keep your thoughts and focus on the leash. Constantly chasing shiny new objects and ideas only makes one feel empty. Don’t get me wrong, I am all for chasing success but am also for contentment and gratitude. Exercise self control and be wary of chasing the wind.

                                                Now let us look at how distractions affect some areas of our lives.

                                                1) Home and Family

                                                Let’s say that you are a nice family man going about your business of providing for your family. Then a distraction comes to you. It may come to you in the form of your nagging wife. As a matter of fact the bible says that it is better to sleep on the roof of a house than share a bed with a nagging wife (or husband?). Keep on the straight and narrow regardless, for the sake of your family.

                                                You may also be distracted from an optimal family life by work and financial issues. Learn to keep those distractions in their places. Address them one by one and avoid sabotaging your family.

                                                2) Relationships

                                                Some people will tell you that “same same daily” is boring. But what else is there to do in a relationship apart from seeing the same face daily, talk, laugh, eat, have sex and maybe 50 other things. Then repeat, change a few things, then repeat that for years on end. That may sound like a cynical view of relationships but it really isn’t. Even elite sports people  do the same things over and over and they love it. What else is there to do on a boxing ring or a hockey field? Where is the variety? True happiness in relationships is learning to love the monotony. Learn to love that face you wake up to, learn to love the peculiar habits of your partner.

                                                Obsessing over forbidden fruits and greener grass takes the mojo out of relationships. Relationships have their ups and downs. There are potholes and bumps on the road ahead. The last thing you want is a slow puncture in the form of eye candy on the sly. The pain of betrayal is difficult to erase. Communicating honestly and regularly helps protect a relationship from distractions.

                                                3) Health and Wellness

                                                I feel like I have demonized the word distraction. Not all distractions are bad. In fact I quite love the 1% of good distraction. I reckon that that 1% is found in dental surgeries. Dentists distract their patients with bad music or stiff small talk before inflicting pain.

                                                Let’s get back to the 99% of distractions. Diet plans are interrupted by eating out or holiday food. It is hard to watch calories when everyone around you is having a time of their life at the Christmas lunch table.

                                                Having an exercise partner or coach can help avoid internal distractions. Focusing on your health goals can help you avoid distractions and lower barriers to exercise.

                                                4) Business

                                                If you are running a business you may be distracted by media reports about the state of the economy. You may be distracted by what your competition is doing or even bad customers. Keep focused on what value you provide to your market. Do not ignore what is happening around you but take charge; do not stay in reactive mode.

                                                Success can also distract from total commitment to your customers or stakeholders. Keep your feet on the ground even when your business begins to take off.

                                                Your business will only take off if you focus on your area of competence and deliver true value. Do not be an opportunity seeker chasing every business opportunity. Pick your angle and stick with it. Make your first million before diversifying to other opportunities.

                                                5) Work and Careers

                                                Are you bored with your current job? Do you find yourself looking for other career prospects even when you should be working? Give the devil his dues especially the when the devil is your boss. Give quality to your job.

                                                Be wary of all forms of distractions that may lower your productivity on your job. Know what steals your time. Other employees may distract you or your time may be lost through endless web surfing. How much time do you spend on non work email? How much time do you spend on Facebook at work?

                                                Summary

                                                A little distraction can cost your success. Avoid distraction and flee from the temptation to try out every shiny object that comes your way. You can enhance your family life, career prospects, relationship and business by being more focused and by avoiding distractions.

                                                What kind of distractions do you encounter in your day to day life? How do you deal with them? I would love to hear your comments.

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                                              76. How to Win with Humility Lose with Honor

                                                Posted: April 28, 2009, 9:09 pm by Daniel Ngari

                                                In sports, sometimes you win sometimes you lose. It is the name of the game. Winning feels better. Winning triggers positive emotions such as happiness and excitement. Losing on the other hand causes disappointment, anxiety and even depression. How you conduct yourself after winning or losing determines your long term level of success. This is especially true in life, more than in sports.

                                                 When was the last time you saw your team winning? Do you remember the feeling? Do you remember the feeling when your team lost? Inevitably, there will always be winning days and losing days in life. Bill Gates says that success is a bad teacher. People relax when they succeed and ponder when they lose.

                                                 It is easy to become obnoxious and full of pride when on a winning streak. Losing is not too good either. Losing can extinguish the fighting spirit and cause long term damage to self confidence. I hope to inspire you today to be more balanced in your ups and downs.

                                                 Winning with Humility

                                                 Humility is lack of false pride. Many top athletes try and maintain a modest demeanor when they win. I have observed many media savvy winners thanking the opposition for a game well played. They downplay their achievement and for good reason. Not many people are attracted to people who think too highly of themselves. Smart winners let the results speak for them as they become magnanimous.

                                                 The Deadly Sin of Pride

                                                 Pride comes before a fall. A bloated ego as a result of winning can obstruct common sense. Pride causes lack of respect for others and ultimately lack of respect for oneself. Some people feel invincible and indispensable after winning. Such pride can prevent good work relations with team members and other stakeholders. Losers are more likely to listen than proud winners. It is imperative that you contain your pride especially after winning or reaching your targets.

                                                 Winning and Losing in Business

                                                 There was once a company that started business on the premise of delivering quality service to their customers. Word got out that this company was offering exceptional value at a fair price. People started flocking to the company to buy their merchandise. The competition was left so far behind as the company skyrocketed in sales and success.

                                                 Then something happened. The business owner forgot about what was driving her success. She became obnoxious and lazy. She started traveling around the world and not keeping a close eye on her business. Her managers got increasingly frustrated.

                                                Her ego was bigger than the company. She talked for hours on end about the excellent reviews she was getting from business magazines. She forgot the basics and even became rude to customers.

                                                 Then word started getting out and one by one the customers started leaving. Last I heard of her, the bank was also leaving her. They wanted to kick her out actually. She let pride come in the way of success. Do you know anyone who lets pride come in the way of their success?

                                                 Then there was this other business woman. She was running a successful fashion business. All her friends knew what she did and she was immensely proud of her achievements. She was a member of several business and community organizations.

                                                 A big department store selling a similar line of products moved to her street. Customers were now spending more time and money at the department store. Because of her pride, she refused to move. She wanted to keep the impression that she was still in business and would succeed despite what everyone else said. She ignored her numbers and the day of reckoning came when the auctioneers moved in. Pride surely comes before a fall.

                                                 Winning and Losing in Careers

                                                 Your career may be going really well. You may have got that coveted promotion. Your long years of service and hard work may finally be paying off. If that is the case, please remember a little word called humility. It goes a long way.

                                                 Some people get a big head when they advance in careers. They start ignoring people in lower ranks perhaps calling them minions. They start ignoring invisible people.

                                                 On the other hand, when people lose jobs, they feel so useless and worthless. In tough economic times, more people are likely to lose their jobs. But even in tough times, losing a job is not the end of the world. When one door shuts, another one opens. Losing a job should not drive you into hiding. Instead, re-invent yourself, sharpen your focus and bounce back. It may take time but do not rest on your laurels when you could be busy getting on with the next phase of your life.

                                                 Winning and Losing in Relationships

                                                 Sometimes the stars may align and you meet the man or woman of your dreams. If that happen, count your blessings and thank your God. Do not shove it down everyone’s throat. Understandably, it is hard to contain the excitement, but if you keep telling people who may not be in marital bliss how happy you are, you may attract resentment. Be judicious when sharing the good news.

                                                 If you lose a loved one, regardless of the circumstances, do not mope and moan for the rest of your life. Pick up the pieces and move on. It may not be easy to eliminate the heartache but every step along the way counts. Do not cry to, crawl back or stalk your ex. Move on with your honor intact.

                                                 Winning and Losing in Finances

                                                 If you make a bunch of money, be modest. Flashing your new found wealth may attract jealousy and resentment. Spare your friends the agony of being reminded how well you are doing and they are not.

                                                 On the other hand if you lose your money do not jump off the cliff or a tall building. Live to fight another day. Build your fortune back up again. It may take time but you did it the first time, you can do it again.

                                                 Tall Poppy Syndrome

                                                 This is the social phenomenal of bringing others down as a way of leveling society. It is when the short dogs make the tall German shepherd feel bad for being tall.  I first heard of this phrase in Australia. Many Australians will be quick to point out that the tall poppy syndrome is not unique to Australia. I agree, it happens everywhere in the world including Kenya where I come from.

                                                 The tall poppy syndrome means that people who win and are boastful about it are cut down to size. Unfortunately, this syndrome is not restricted to people who are boastful or proud. Even humble achievers are criticized and resented. However, you can reduce your probability of falling victim by being modest.

                                                 Crab Mentality

                                                 If you put crabs in a bucket, they tend to pull each other back, every time one wants to get out.  It is like that in life. Some people have a myopic view of life. They are short sighted. Instead of helping each other get out of a rut or bad situation, they pull each other down when one wants to get out. You should be careful about the kind of people you let in your life. Some friends can pull you down in the pretext of helping you.

                                                 Summary

                                                 Give your best shot in life. Do your best. Plan to win and play to win. When you win, be humble in your victory. Remember that sometimes you will win and other times you will lose. Life is like that.

                                                 If you lose, do so with dignity. Losing is not the end of life. You may lose in business, career, relationships, health or financially, but as long as you are alive you can live to fight another day.

                                                 Be aware of the tall poppy syndrome, some people may have the crab mentality but do not let that put you down. You can minimize the effects of the tall poppy syndrome by winning with humility and losing with honor.

                                                 would love to hear your opinion about this topic. Do you have examples of winning with pride or losing with honor? Has the tall poppy syndrome or crab mentality ever showed up in your life or in the life of someone you know?

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                                              77. Competition and Obstacles Only Make You Stronger

                                                Posted: April 27, 2009, 8:54 am by Daniel Ngari

                                                What cannot kill you can only make you stronger. The team at the top had to beat the toughest competition. The guy who made it through the tough times came out stronger. Seeking the easy path in life, avoiding making tough choices only makes one weaker.

                                                My friend, do not fear competition, embrace it as a necessary evil for your success journey. Today we look at how to use competition and obstacles to your advantage.

                                                What are obstacles?

                                                Obstacles are physical or mental barriers to success. Examples of physical obstacles are diseases, physical barriers, distance etc. Examples of mental obstacles include fear, ignorance or negativity.

                                                In sports, obstacles can be in the form of the opposing team e.g. in rugby, or hurdles in steeplechase. Talking of steeplechase, did you know that the Kenyan team (where yours truly comes from) has dominated the 3000 meters Olympics steeplechase since 1968?

                                                The official world record in the 3000-meter steeplechase for men is held by Saif Saaeed Shaheen of Qatar (formerly Stephen Cherono of Kenya) at 7:53.63. The first person to run the steeplechase in under eight minutes was Moses Kiptanui of Kenya, who ran it in 7:59.18 on August 16, 1995 in Zürich, Switzerland. Kenyans had a clean sweep of the steeplechase medals at the 2004 Olympics Games. Oops, what were we talking about before we started talking about Kenya?

                                                Oh yes, we were talking about steeplechase. It is an obstacles race in athletics that is usually 3000 meters. Each runner encounters a total of 28 barriers over the course of the race, as well as 7 water jumps.

                                                On your success journey, you will encounter 28 or more obstacles. The purpose of this blog is to inspire you to win your success race and overcome obstacles. Some obstacles in life might be as little as bumps on the road that require you to slow down and exercise caution. Others will be like mountains that you can hike up or give up if need be. Yet other obstacles will be like walls, all you need to do is find the door.

                                                Real vs. Imaginary Obstacles

                                                You receive in your mind whatever channel you tune in to. If you believe that you cannot get ahead in life because you grew up in a single parent family, then that becomes your reality.

                                                If you believe that you have it in you to achieve great success in business, then that too becomes your reality. I believe that many of us experience more imaginary obstacles in life than the real ones.

                                                Before I launched this blog, I was telling myself how hard it is to write and create an audience without much experience. I was using lack of experience as an imaginary obstacle to keep me from doing what I love. Many people are adept at finding reasons why things will not work, but struggle to find the reasons for making things work.

                                                I am not naïve enough to believe that there are no roadblocks to success like racism or poverty. But I do believe that if you overcome challenges, it makes you stronger, it makes you wiser. The trick is to not let your obstacles and hurdles paralyze you into inaction.

                                                If you have been reading this blog for a while now, you will notice that I advocate having a bias for action. Success lies in the actions you take, the small baby steps you take daily towards your goals.

                                                Progressive Training

                                                You will rarely find a team playing in the big league without having won in the junior leagues. Even boxers have to fight lesser boxers before they can take on challenging fighters that enable them to move up the ladder in the boxing world.

                                                Do not try and overcome your biggest challenges first. Focus on the small problems first and have a few wins under your belt. Armed with that, you will get the confidence to take on weightier issues and challenges.

                                                I find that the human mind is wired to rest at a comfort zone. Unfortunately if you stay for too long in a comfort zone you will stop making progress. Recognize what your current comfort zone is and try and move up the ladder. Do not try and move from zero to a million overnight. Instead focus on having an actionable plan and stick with it even when others would give up.

                                                In the area of physical health, you can gain more through progressive exercise. You can start by running daily for 5 minutes a day, and then move to 20 minutes, then 30 minutes, then an hour perhaps. If you are lifting weights do not start with the heaviest. Progressively work your way up as your muscles grow.

                                                Overcoming obstacles and learning from your mistakes helps build confidence. You should get into a habit of recording your successes and building on them. Learn to appreciate yourself, count your blessings and celebrate your victories.

                                                Do not do the same thing over and over; there is not much learning in that. Instead focus on doing something better every time. Build on your successes.

                                                Embracing the Competition

                                                I have been studying business and politics for the last decade. On thing I have noticed is that there are no permanent enemies in politics and business. As long as the long term, or even short term interests align, many people in business and politics are not allergic to working together.

                                                In the modern world, you cannot afford to be a silo. You need to interact with others who might have been previously regarded as the competition. Especially in these tough economic times, many companies are doing deals with their competition to remain relevant, deliver more value to their customers and line their lean pockets.

                                                Do not be bound by jealousy or envy. If you find someone who has what you want, you can approach them and offer to work together. They may be able to help you if you offer something of value to them in return. Many people limit themselves by being insular (narrowly restricted in outlook or scope).

                                                There is a lot to be gained by opening up and sharing with others. To be able to thrive on the long term, you cannot survive by putting other’s down. Find a way of embracing the competition in your life. (Of course that advice will not apply in every situation).

                                                Compete for the Long Haul

                                                I see many companies with stationary that says “Since 1922″ or “Started in 1897″. Such words speak volumes about those companies. They assure their customers and investors that they are not fly by night operations.

                                                When you compete for the long haul, you gain a lot. You gain respect and visibility in the market. You gain experience in running your business. You build systems and a culture that enables the business to prosper.

                                                Over 90% of small businesses fail in their first 5 years. Many of those small business owners were probably focusing on short term profits and maybe took too much debt or delivered too little long term value to their customers and investors.

                                                Many people look at timelines of two to five years when planning to succeed. In Harvey Mackay’s book Swim with the Sharks Without Being Eaten Alive: Outsell, Outmanage, Outmotivate, and Outnegotiate Your Competition he writes:

                                                We heard from the top officers of Honda, Sony, Mitsubishi, and the head of the biggest enterprise of all, the eighty-eight-year-old president of Matsushita Electric:

                                                Question: “Mr President, does your company have long range goals?”

                                                Answer: “Yes”.

                                                Question: “How long are your long range goals?”

                                                Answer: “Two hundred fifty years”.

                                                Question: “What do you need to carry then out?”

                                                Answer: “Patience.”

                                                You may not have two hundred year goals, but 10 years or 20 year goals will help you outlast the competition. Long term planning and action pays handsome dividends.

                                                Many people who started a blog at the start of this year will probably give up before the end of the year if they have not already done so. If I keep writing this blog every day for 20 years, one does not have to be a rocket scientist or a fortune teller to tell that it will achieve a phenomenal level of success.

                                                Whatever you do, do it for the long term. Outlast your competition. Persist and you will win in life. Let me finish with a quote by Calvin Coolidge.

                                                “Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan “press on” has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race”.  Calvin Coolidge (30th President of the United States of America, 1872-1933)

                                                Summary

                                                No matter what challenges you may be facing in your life today, take heart; persist. That which cannot kill you will only make you stronger. The size of the victory depends on the size of the opponents.

                                                You cannot claim victory if you area the size of a sumo wrestler fighting with a little boy. Up your game, progressively take on bigger challenges and build your strength. It takes time to succeed, be there for the long term. Take consistent action and press on.

                                                I would love to hear your comments on this article or if you have anything to share about overcoming obstacles and competition. If you think this article will inspire your friends, please consider forwarding it as an email or share it with them on Facebook.

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                                              78. 10 Simple Truths About Goals and Winning

                                                Posted: April 26, 2009, 7:16 pm by Daniel Ngari

                                                Do you set goals and find yourself not achieving them? Today we look at ways of improving your success rate, to help you win more and achieve your set goals.

                                                Just like in sports, life rewards winners. Top athletes attract sponsorship deals and have more fans. Winning and achieving your goals will have a cascading effect on other areas of your life. Success breeds success. Let us look at 10 simple truths about goals and winning.

                                                1 - You don’t have to set goals

                                                 Contrary to what they told you in school, you do not need to have goals. You do not need to set new years resolutions. Why bother if you are not going to achieve them anyway? Why bother if you are only going to feel guilty for not achieving your goals? Why put yourself in the agony of setting goals if you have no real incentive to get up and do something to achieve your goals?

                                                I know of people who watch self improvement DVDs, listen to tapes, or attend seminars and then get on an emotional high. When on that high they think that the sky is the limit and they set lofty goals that they then forget about when tomorrow comes. Why bother in the first place? Why set goals if you know you are not going to get off your butt and achieve them. Setting such goals just makes one feel like a failure. Not cool.

                                                Other people write goals down with no real intention of achieving those goals. The act of setting goals makes them feel like they are doing something with their lives. Looking at the grand plans makes some people feel like they are about to make a major breakthrough in life. But then the goals just sit there and gather dust. Why bother writing those goals in the first place, really? Setting goals for the sake of setting goals is just plain dumb. Pray that you do not fall into that temptation.

                                                2 - Do not contradict other goals

                                                Setting goals that contradict each other can be as good as not having goals at all. Can you imagine setting a goal to be celibate and another goal to find the most gorgeous wife by the end of this year? Sounds crazy but there are people who set contradicting goals. Contradicting goals create internal incongruence and can lead to inaction. Without action you can not achieve your goals.

                                                Your goals may not contradict each other in a major way. But it pays to write down your goals and look for any contradiction. Your December holiday goal may contradict your credit card payment goal. Your spiritual goals may contradict some business ideas. Be your own judge, look for goals that are not in sync with each other or with your mission in life and get rid of them.

                                                3 - Live your goals

                                                To achieve your goals faster, you need to make them part of your life. You cannot afford to doze in and out of consciousness of your major goals in life. In fact, you should align your major life goals with your mission in life. That way it will become easier to immerse yourself fully. Think about it, someone like Tiger Wood or Oprah must immerse themselves fully in their area to be able to achieve that level of success.

                                                It is hard achieving major life goals if you take them on half-heartedly. For example, I want this blog to be a success. I want to be able to inspire readers to be the best they can be. I want to teach people to be positive thinkers and achievers. The only way I can do that is to be positive myself. If I was a negative person and only try to be positive when I write an article, it would shine through my work.

                                                To be able to succeed and be world class in any sports, business, or sphere of life, you have to immerse yourself fully and make your goal to be a big part of your existence.

                                                4 - The devil is in the details

                                                I met this lady that had super goals. She wanted to be this or that. She had a brilliant mind and could come up with ideas that would propel her to success if she followed through.

                                                Unfortunately she did not pay attention to details. She let things slide. She could see the future and what future held for her success, but she forgot about the details of how to get there. As you can expect, she did not achieve most of her goals because the details bogged her down and frustrated her beyond words.

                                                To succeed in any goal involves paying attention to the details. Flying to outer space would not be possible if the astronauts did not pay attention. Movie makers pay extreme attention to detail before making a movie. Pay attention to the details or else something may come back to bite you.

                                                5 - Set achievable yet challenging goals

                                                I had this friend who has some sort of genius in school. He could grasp complex subjects easily. He had a brilliant academic brain but really got bored with the lessons and assignments given. He would finish his assignments very quickly. Then he started getting bored; started loving drugs and alcohol and today, his is a pale shadow of his former self. His story reminds me of what a waste one can become if they are not mentally challenged however intelligent they may be.

                                                On the other hand, some people set goals that are so high that they ignore them. This reminds me of a story about rabbit called Stan. Stan on his way to school used to look at this tall avocado tree and admire the fruits above. He loved avocadoes and everyday on his way to school, he would look up and try to reach for one. He kept trying for many days. He tried every trick in the book to reach out for the avocadoes. But they were too high for him. One day he told himself “ona ti meru!!” (Meaning - they are not even ripe!!). Stan gave up on the hope of reaching for the avocadoes and justified his giving up. Are you trying to reach goals that are beyond your capacity? Perhaps those goals are not even good for you.

                                                There is no honor in pushing on with a goal that is clearly unachievable. There is no point for trying to go to the moon without the expertise. It is ok to give up on some goals. Some goals are just not achievable. Wise people and rabbits know that J

                                                6 - It is all in the mind

                                                Success or failure is all in the mind. If you think and behave like a winner, you will win and succeed beyond your wildest dreams. There are many fine athletes that could win championships but are intimidated by opponents with a winning attitude. Have a winning attitude and you will enjoy success.

                                                Many winners in life visualize their success in their minds until it becomes real to them. The real battles are fought in the mental realm. If you absolutely believe that you are going to win, and put in the requisite effort and preparation, then you will win by a big margin.

                                                7 - Measure and track your goals

                                                Did you know that a plane from Los Angeles to Sydney, Australia is off course 95% of the time? Luckily the pilots have computers that tell them every time they get off course. They then adjust and get back on course. The winds and clouds may force of them off their track, but they know where they are headed and keep getting themselves back on track.

                                                How closely do you keep a tab of your goals and plans? Do you fall off when you get off the charted path or do you regain focus and move back on track?

                                                Marketing on the internet has taught me the importance of testing, tracking and constant improvement. It is a way of life online. Even on this blog, I constantly keep track of the number of comments per post, links, sources of visitors, time on site, page views, click through rates etc. Armed with that information, I am able to make improvements.

                                                Make it a point to measure and track your progression towards your goals. Have a firm grasp of how fast you are moving towards your goals. Have a way of detecting when you go off track. Avoid surprises. Surprises are over rated.

                                                8 - Time your goals

                                                Smart goals have a time component. Saying that you want to make a million dollars is different from saying that you want a million dollars in five years. The time limits you impose on your goals determine your level of action and intensity.

                                                9 - Procrastination is the thief of time

                                                Do you love the whooshing sound of deadlines as they pass you by? Do you put off until tomorrow for work that you could have done today? Do you postpone an important phone call when you could have made it now 3 minutes flat? Procrastination steals success like a thief in the night.

                                                Proverbs 6:6-11: “Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest. How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? When wilt thou arise out of thy sleep? Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: so shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.”

                                                 If you want to achieve true success and greatness, you need to eliminate procrastination from your life. It starts out in a very small way, but if you keep postponing things in your life, small anthills can turn into mountains.

                                                10 - Be a starter and a finisher

                                                To be effective in goal setting, you need to begin your undertakings with the end in mind. Why are you dating her? Do you want to marry her or sleep with her? Why are you taking that university course? Why are you starting that business? Why are you going to Mexico? Why are you buying that hen; is it for the eggs or for the meat?

                                                Instead of having so many unfinished goals, learn to set small goals and pursue them to their logical conclusion. For example, you can start your own business and have a goal of running it for three years, then sell it. It is your business; you can sell it, close it, profit from it or do whatever you want with it. You can run it for learning, earning or keeping busy. Be clear within yourself about why you are setting your goals and see to it that you get to the destination you intended.

                                                Summary

                                                This is the third article in the sports series. We are looking at ways to extract lessons from sports and apply them in our lives. Most sports such as soccer, basketball, hockey and tennis are very goals and winning oriented. A winning attitude in life requires us to set smart goals and achieve them.

                                                I wish you all the best in your goals in life. I would love to hear your comments or more ideas in goal setting and achievement.

                                                Other articles you may enjoy :

                                                1. The Joy of a Winning Mindset A winning mindset will bring joy to your life. If...
                                                2. A Winning Contacts Building Strategy You will need other people in order to reach the...
                                                3. Do you have a Blueprint for Success? Success does not just happen. You must first purpose it...
                                                4. How to Achieve Peak Performance in 30 Days Today’s post is a little different. We look at a...
                                                5. Run your life like a Corporation. I am  eager to inspire you to be the best...
                                                6. 7 Time Management Lessons From Sports With only 24 hours in a day, time is a...

                                              79. The Lazy Man’s Guide to Practice and Eminence

                                                Posted: April 24, 2009, 4:49 am by Daniel Ngari

                                                Who wants to work hard when there is an easier way out? Not me. Who wants to remain average when they can achieve greatness? Not me. Who wants to break their back for the sake of success in life? Not me.

                                                I have previously admitted on this blog that I am lazy. With time there will be a population explosion of a lazy man’s guides to success on this blog. I will feed you with what I eat. I will not preach water to you before I head out to Margaret River for a wine tasting tour.

                                                One of the reasons why I love sports is the unmistakable success and adrenaline rush associated with it. It is great watching 90 minutes of a soccer game. What we do not see however is the sweat and tears that precede those 90 minutes. We see the joy of winning on athletes faces, but completely ignore the thousands of hours it took to get there.

                                                To be able to get to the top in any field you have to give it your best. You have to practice and constantly improve. Tiger Woods spends hours upon hours improving his golf. Will Smith practices his lines on the mirror hundreds of times. Winston Churchill practiced his speeches many times. Martin Luther King burnt midnight oil before telling the world that he had a dream.

                                                What is Eminence?

                                                Eminence is standing high and above others in quality and superiority. It comes from the word eminent which means prominent, noteworthy, remarkable, distinguished or important. It takes a lot to be eminent. Nelson Mandela is eminent. Bob Dylan was eminent. David Beckham is Eminent, Oprah is Eminent. I want to become eminent, and inspire you to be eminent too.

                                                Achieving Eminence

                                                It is not easy becoming eminent. It does not happen by accident and certainly not overnight. The first step to achieving eminence is deciding that you want to be eminent and choosing an area of life that you want to be eminent in. It is possible to be eminent in more than one area of life but please pick one first. Once you achieve eminence in one area, you can leverage it to achieve eminence in another area.

                                                I will share with you a part of my life and intentions on this blog post. I think it will help me illustrate my points and connect with you on a more personal level.

                                                I have recently set out on a journey to become an eminent blogger. I hope to be a better writer and promoter of my blog. It is not an easy task. It is even harder because I am lazy. I am in a dilemma. I want eminence, but I am lazy. What to do?

                                                Finding an Angle

                                                To become eminent in your chosen field you have to carve your niche. You have to differentiate yourself from the competition. You should aspire to be unique and build your eminence on an area of your strength.

                                                Each of us is unique in our own way. Your life experience is different from mine. Your life weaknesses are different from mine and so are your passions. Let me continue sharing about my life in the hope that it lights up ideas in your mind.

                                                I have an abundant mindset. I believe that there is enough good in the world for each of us. My life does not diminish when I share something of value with you. In fact, the opposite is true. I love inspiring people to be the best they can be. The more people I inspire, the more blessings I experience in my life.

                                                So one day when I was brainstorming on how to kick start my publishing empire, I stumbled upon the idea of inspiring my friends through a blog. I started writing articles that I think my friends would find inspiring. I wanted to create something that would be applicable to others in the future. I decided to launch a personal development blog with timeless content.

                                                To find an angle find an angle for your quest for eminence, look within yourself and ask yourself the following questions. What do I enjoy doing? What can I do for an extended period of time where others would give up? What area can I perfect my skill in and be of great value to others? What are my talents? What is my training? Such questions can help you brainstorm an angle for you to achieve eminence.

                                                Practice Makes Perfect

                                                Michael Jordan was one of the greatest basketballers in history. He practiced his game for hours on end. The legendary Don Bradman of Australia was the greatest cricket batsman ever. Again he practiced for thousands of hours to perfect his skill. To achieve perfection and eminence, there is no short cut. You have to practice and prepare.

                                                Practice does not mean doing the same thing over and over. It means setting goals for improvement and committing to that. You need to continuously push yourself to practice and improve. Tiger Woods does not just take a basket of golf balls and hit them aimlessly. He improves an aspect of his game at every practice session.

                                                To improve as a blogger, I have been trying to improve one aspect of this blog at a time. There are many things to learn, from marketing to technical stuff. I practice daily. Perfection does not happen overnight. It may take a minimum of 10 years to achieve eminence. Can you wait that long?

                                                The Ten Year Rule

                                                If becoming eminent is going to take me 10 years, I can live with that. I do not want the complexity of being an overnight sensation. The media loves overnight sensations so that they can tear them down anyway.

                                                People like Tiger Woods took 10 years to reach their eminent state. His father introduced him to golf as a toddler. Bill Gates started programming more than 10 years before he made his first million. That is million with an m, not b.

                                                Many people want success to happen too quickly. They lack the patience and tenacity to put together the solid building blocks. They build their temporary eminence on quicksand. Do not be tempted to go that route.

                                                Outsourcing to the Subconscious

                                                Another lazy man’s tip is to outsource all your hard stuff to your subconscious mind. For example, when one learns to drive they focus consciously on the road and the controls in the car. But as they gain more practice and experience, they do it without even thinking.

                                                I do not suppose David Beckham stresses too much when bending the ball to the goal as a rookie would. As a lazy person, I choose to outsource my hardest jobs to the subconscious mind. That way, my mind is free to be lazy without guilt. As long as am moving ahead towards my goals, I do not care if I do so consciously or unconsciously.

                                                Let me give you an example that is related to this blog. To be able to inspire you and not run out of ideas, I have to constantly keep learning. I love learning but since I am lazy, I try and outsource that to my subconscious mind.

                                                It takes me one hour to drive to work (oh traffic jam in the city). It also takes me one hour to ride a long the cycle path that is traffic jam free. So when am driving or riding to work I pick up my IPod, fully loaded with marketing materials, sermons, inspirational Podcasts and MP3s.  Do you realize how lazy yet productive that is? Let us do the math.

                                                I work for 5 days a week. It takes me 2 hours of commuting to and from work per day. That is 10 hours per week. It works out to about 40 hours per month. That is the equivalent of one week of fulltime work in most countries. Over a period of one year, I will be able to listen to quality self improvement and marketing material that is equivalent to 3 months of fulltime work.

                                                If I do that for 10 years, then I will gain an equivalent of two and a half years of fulltime work in that period. No wonder I already have (written down) ideas for blog posts for the next 3 years assuming I only post one article per day.

                                                How much down time do you waste? Could you possibly allocate some of your idle time to subconscious activities that will lead you to eminence?

                                                Incremental Improvements (Kaizen)

                                                Kaizen means making gradual improvements to your master plan everyday. Forget those giant leaps to stardom and focus on gradual improvement. Many people are too hardworking for their own good. They are willing to break their backs and the bank to make giant strides. But a lazy sod like me goes for Kaizen. It is easier that way. Just improve a little everyday.

                                                I improve this blog slightly everyday. Most of the changes are really minute. Many readers do not see the marketing or technical improvements. But they do see the new articles which is an improvement in itself.

                                                Building Momentum

                                                As you persist on your quest for eminence, your job will become easier over time. They say that the hardest money to make is the first million. But once you have that first one, you can leverage it to make more.

                                                Focus on achieving small goals. Get accustomed to winning. It will build your confidence. Many cumulative wins will do more for your confidence than an elusive giant victory. Those small wins will gain momentum when the power of compounding starts working on your favor.

                                                Fruits of Eminence

                                                Whatsoever a man soweth so shall he also reap. If you purpose in your heart to achieve greatness and plant the right seeds, you shall reap a bumper harvest.

                                                Tiger Woods started out hitting golf balls. Now he hits golf balls and endorses products to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars. Success breeds success. If you achieve success in your chosen area, it will open more doors and opportunities. Focus on planting the right seeds for your success.

                                                Summary

                                                There is no such thing as a 100% lazy way of doing things and achieving eminence. At the end of the day success belongs to those who take action. It takes effort to take action.

                                                However, you can choose to take the smart road to eminence. The smart road does not require too much willpower or forcing yourself to do something against your will. The smart road means doing what you love, practice, patience, realistic timelines and gradual improvements.

                                                I wish you well in your quest for eminence. If you have any questions, comments, suggestions or a story to share, I (and other readers) would love to hear from you.

                                                Other articles you may enjoy :

                                                1. The Power of Hard Work Don't throw in the towel if you need to succeed...
                                                2. 7 Time Management Lessons From Sports With only 24 hours in a day, time is a...
                                                3. The Amazing Power of Compounding Your bank thrives on the amazing power of compounding. You...
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                                              80. 10 Forgotten Teamwork Secrets to Success

                                                Posted: April 23, 2009, 8:12 am by Daniel Ngari

                                                The first time I went for an orchestra performance I got bored and slept within the first 10 minutes. It was at Perth Concert Hall in a sold out concert. It was “a bit” different from the Hip Hop and RNB clubs that I was used to. My friend who was sitted next to me must have heard me snore. He elbowed me on my ribs and hissed in Swahili “Wewe amka!”. I woke up startled.

                                                Then I started paying attention. I opened my eyes and heart and started enjoying the performance. It was a masterful teamwork performance. The performers worked together to entertain their clientèle in ways they would not have done as individuals. I quite enjoyed the show. You can use teamwork to propel you to greater heights  in life.

                                                If you have orchestra tickets, please let me know. I promise not to go to la-la land again :).

                                                A team is a group of people with a unity of purpose. A team of people working together can perform complex tasks with interdependent subtasks. For example, a team of footballers consists of attackers, defenders, goalkeeper etc. Each of those tasks are interdependent but could not all possibly be preformed by an individual.

                                                I have heard the word TEAM defined as “Together Each Achieving More”. Being part of a team helps create leverage for your skills and brings a good mix of talent to the table. Together, everyone in the team gets more than they could if they were alone.

                                                When I was a student, I used to tell myself that the statement “Behind every successful man is a woman” meant that successful men had to leave women alone and not chase skirts in order to be successful. As I grew older, I got to understand that the statement meant that the support of a good woman can make or break a man. Together a husband and wife team can achieve more. Gentlemen, I hope you got that.

                                                1 - Love Your Team

                                                To be able to give the best to your team, you have to absolutely adore your team. Can you imagine a Brazilian Soccer Player who is not proud to wear the yellow jersey? Or an Aussie swimmer who will not do his best to wear the gold and green swimsuit at the Olympics?

                                                If you really are serious about succeeding in life, focus on doing what you love. You will be more productive that way. There is no point slaving your way in a job that you loathe. Why turn up for practice to play for a team that you hate or are not excited to play for. Cut yourself some slack and only do that which you love.

                                                If you are in a relationship that puts you down and you are straining your neck trying to reach out for the greener grass out there, get out. If you are stuck in a rut at your job or business because you feel it is not your calling, get out. Do not put your team members at risk, you might be dead weight at sea if you are not pulling your weight.

                                                Do what you love, even jumping out of your team might do your team good. If you are there to stay, stay and give it your absolute best. Yes, nothing but the best, or else get out. Sorry for being so blunt, but it is true.

                                                Do not just work for money. Henry Ford once said that a company that only makes money is a poor family. Do not turn the best part of you day and your life to a job or career that you are doing it for the money.

                                                Follow your passion and discover the giant within you. You will achieve more and make a bigger impact with your life if you are passionate about your teams and ventures, as opposed to being there only for the money.

                                                If you really love your team, you will be more productive and will be willing to make sacrifices. You may be part of various teams at any one time. Look closely in your life. Are you part of some teams that you do not love?

                                                2 - Team Bonding

                                                Football team members bond during practice sessions. That is when they discover each other’s personalities and create a harmonious relationship. No man is an island. Try and spend time with your team. The more you bond with your team the more likely you are to work together.

                                                Do you have a favorite radio team? I love Hamish and Andy, radio team in Australia. Listening to them on Radio in their show “Driving you home”, reminds me of how team bonding can enhance performance. I think that duo spends a lot of time together and are good friends and that comes across in their work.

                                                If you are thinking of having a good working relationship with someone, try and bond with them in as many spheres of life as appropriate.

                                                3 - Play Your Part

                                                Lets say you are a striker for football team and you spend most of your time near your own goalkeeper. You will still be counted as being in the pitch, but you will not be playing your part. Know your number, your role, and do your part. Do not let the team down by sleeping on the job. Live to your end of the bargain.

                                                Use every opportunity to refine your skills to enable you to become a valuable team member. Perform your role like no one else can. Give to your team till it hurts. Be the best at your station in life. Give your best and hope everyone else does their best. Do not be the weakest link in your team. Your competition is watching your team. If they detect a weak midfield or defense, they will be sure to exploit that. Do not be the point of exploitation.

                                                4 - Understand Each Others’ Roles

                                                A good footballer needs to make a split second decision before passing the ball. You need to have a firm grasp of what your team members roles and capacities are. Do not pass the ball to the wrong person in a situation. That may cost your team victory or loss of opportunities.

                                                If you are working with a business partner, for example, you must understand each other’s strengths and weaknesses. Say you are running an online business, you need to understand who in your teams is good with customer service, technical stuff, accounting etc. Let others shine in their area of expertise. Do not try to be everything.

                                                5 - Manage Expectations

                                                Every fan prays for their team to win. Unfortunately not everyone can win in the same match. There will be times you will lose and there are times you will win. The stake holders such as fans, sponsors, advertisers, competition etc might not see things from your perspective. You need to become adept at managing expectations.

                                                Satisfaction is the difference between results and expectations. If you promise too much, you are more likely to disappoint. If you promise little and deliver more, then your stakeholders will be elated. Always attempt to over deliver instead of over promising.

                                                Clear communication is the only way of managing expectations. This is true in sports teams, business teams, relationships and even in a family setting. Be sincere on your strengths and weaknesses and you will avoid disappointing people. Do not chew more than you can swallow.

                                                6 - Shared Goals and Values

                                                Team members must have a unity of purpose for success. Good teams share goals and values. They respect the team and set the interests of the team before individual goals. Team members that no longer share the vision will sabotage the team.

                                                It is of little wonder that companies ask their potential employees about their future goals. If you are in Nairobi and your goal is to head to America in the next six months, then you will not be the best team member for a job that requires long term commitment. Unfortunately many people lie about their goals and values in order to get to the team.

                                                If you are looking for a potential team member or partner, be careful about the person’s true objectives before making a commitment to add them to your team.

                                                8 - Stay Positive

                                                Teams have ups and downs. You do not want a team member who defects to the opposition when her team is losing. Do not be that person. Stay with your team through tough times and be the beacon of hope.

                                                Some team members may be toxic and spread negativity to the whole teams. If you are the team leader, you need to identify those members and do what you can to save the team. Attitude is a big part of teams and you cannot afford to have negativity spread through your team unchecked.

                                                9 - Team Leadership

                                                Talking of team leadership, a good team need to have a strong, unwavering leader that will be a good steward of the team’s vision. A leader needs to have empathy with team members but be firm to ensure that the team members are pulling in their weight.

                                                A power structure needs to be devised for the team, team members should not lack direction or experience a power vacuum. At the same time, shun dictatorship and have a leadership style that suits the team, and that brings out the best from each member.

                                                Team members should be empowered to make decision in their areas of expertise. In a complex medical procedure, the doctor needs to give power to the nurses who might be more specialized in various aspects of the procedure.

                                                How can you enhance your leadership skills to be of better use to your team? Are you happy with the leadership in your teams? What would you improve? What impact would your improvements have on the team?

                                                10 - Celebration & Achievement

                                                I love watching soccer when Manchester United is winning. The euphoria of celebration and the moment of glory makes me happy beyond words. I love celebrating achievement in sports and in life. Have you ever noticed how grown men pinch each others asses on the pitch, jump on top of each other, do funny things to celebrate a goal?

                                                Does your team have a culture of winning? How do you celebrate achievement? Your team may not have the adrenaline rush of a world cup final but you still need to learn how to celebrate milestones and objective that your team sets and meets.

                                                Rewarding and recognizing team members shows appreciation and gratitude. It encourages a winning culture and gets more from your team. Regardless of what kind of team that you are involved with or want to start, make sure you make a provision for celebration of achievement.

                                                Lastly, do not celebrate too long. Even in football, there is only so many minutes or seconds that are dedicated to celebration while the game is in progress. Even after the final whistle, there other challenges in life and celebration should not go on and on. This is particularly important piece of advise for small business owners. If your business makes some headway and wins a few “matches”, do not rest on your laurels. Instead, think of how to streamline your processes and assure a future winning streak.

                                                Summary

                                                I hope you have learnt something about team work and how you can get the most out of your teams. There are many hidden success secrets in sports and we shall explore many of them in this series.

                                                I am not sure what kind of team you are involved with, but I do know that if you love your team, spend time bonding and do your part, have good leadership etc together you will achieve more.

                                                If you have enjoyed this blog post please share it with your friends. If you have any ideas of specific strategies for enhancing team work in a particular kind of team, please feel free to post your comments below.

                                                I would love to hear your thoughts. You can talk about any type of team, from sports to music, from business to family and from associations to virtual teams…any team, any tips to enhance teamwork.

                                                Other articles you may enjoy :

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                                              81. The Agony of an Own Goal in Sports and Life

                                                Posted: April 22, 2009, 2:07 am by Daniel Ngari

                                                A gun man approached Andrés Escobar outside a bar in a Colombian suburb and shot him. The gun man shouted “Gooooooooooooool!”, then shot him again, and then shouted again. He shot him 12 times in what was seen as punishment for scoring an own goal in the 1994 FIFA World Cup causing Colombia to be eliminated in the first round. That criminal act sent chills to players who feared accidentally scoring an own goal, especially in crucial matches. No player wants to score an own goal. It negates all the good done on the pitch. It makes fans and team mates go mad. Scoring an own goal for football players is a cause of shame and is not easily forgotten.

                                                Today we kick off the sports series. We look at what we must really avoid; scoring an own goal.

                                                An own goal occurs in football and other goal-scoring games when a player scores a goal that is registered against his or her own team. It is usually accidental, and may be a result of an attempt at defensive play that failed or was spoiled by opponents. Own goals occur in our lives either by accident, error on our part or outside influence. Own goals can cost us success and so we shall look at ways of minimizing the potential of own goals. We shall also look at what to do in the event that we score an own goal.

                                                Imagine watching your favorite football team play at the highest level. You have been following the team and they are undefeated. You are pretty sure that they shall win the cup. Then during extra time, one of your team’s players kicks or is kicked by the ball and the referee calls it a goal. How would you feel? Imagine the pain, feel the pain… that is the pain you should be feeling every time you sabotage your own success. We sabotage our success in a million ways but 99.9% of the time we are oblivious to it. We do not feel the pain until it is too late. We need to see the signs; we need to know the triggers of self sabotage.

                                                Let us look at some ways we can score own goals; sabotaging our success. We shall also look at pitfalls to avoid.

                                                1. Physical Health and Wellness
                                                2. Work and Careers
                                                3. Financial Freedom
                                                4. Home and Family
                                                5. Social and Relationships
                                                6. Mind and Character
                                                7. Spiritual Life

                                                1 - Physical Health and Wellness

                                                Many people score an own goal in the area of physical health. It is said that you are what you eat. If you eat fatty food, you will get fat. If you do not eat a balanced diet, you may be sabotaging your long term health and ability for your body to fight diseases.

                                                Sitting down all day (even when working on your computer) counts as an own goal. You need to exercise your body daily. Find some physical activities to do and make it part of your daily habits.

                                                Own goals happen accidentally, and so do accidents. If you do not have health insurance you may be limiting your ability to afford quality health care. You can avoid financial devastation for you and your loved one by taking on insurance.

                                                Smoking may look cool in the movies but if you do not pay attention to the ministry of health warnings on cigarettes, you may be doing more than scoring an own goal. You may be burning your lungs and inducing cancer. Drugs and alcohol also limit your health and should be avoided.

                                                2 - Work and Careers

                                                Ever heard of the saying “find what you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life?” If you are working in a job you hate just to pay the bills, you may be limiting your creativity and output. That is self sabotage. You cannot thrive unless you do what you love and what you are enthusiastic about.

                                                Another way that people sabotage themselves professionally is by taking cover on the mental illusion called job security. Thinking that you have a secure job and sitting pretty on your comfort zone is a time bomb.

                                                Talking of comfort zones, if you are not actively building your professional network, you may be limiting yourself. Think up of a good contacts building strategy that suits you and work it.

                                                There are many other ways of scoring an own goal in your professional life. For example, bad time management skills, low productivity at work, lack of specialization, procrastination, lack of focus , and falling for distractions e.g. Facebook at work.  If you have any of those items in your professional world, consider yourself warned before someone shouts “Gooooooooooooool!”

                                                3 - Financial Freedom

                                                If you aspire to be financially free, you do not want to have an own goal in the financial arena, do ya? Make sure you gain financial literacy or/and get sound financial advice from professionals.

                                                One of the ways many people meet their financial waterloo is by trying to keep up with the Joneses. Have your own financial plan that is independent of what your friends think or are doing. Focus more on saving and investing as opposed to free spending. Build assets instead of liabilities. Increase your income and lower your expenses. Find financial common sense that happens to be not so common with many.

                                                Do not sabotage your financial future by thinking, investing or planning for the short term and forgetting the long term. Financial intelligence says that those who invest for the long term get the power of compounding working for their favor. Start investing early, do not fall for the fallacy that you will invest more, later when you have better income.

                                                Always remember that money is the medium of exchange of value. The more value you deliver, the more money you make. Focus on delivering value efficiently and deliver it to many people. That is why movie stars and elite athletes get paid a lot. They provide astounding entertainment to millions of people. The more people you can provide value to, the more you will get paid.

                                                I will not name names but I have met people who have sabotaged themselves financially because of what their parents said about money. If you grew up believing that money is the root of all evil and that all rich people are devil worshiping evil incarnates, then you need to flush those thoughts away. You need to fill your mind with a positive attitude to money. Money, just like humans, likes to live where it is appreciated. Clean up your mind to receive financial freedom and money will come. If you try attracting money before, it will elude you without even telling you why.

                                                The worst own goal you can have in the area of money and finances is getting too much of it before you are ready. They say that a fool and his money are soon parted. Do not be the fool who wins lotto and is homeless five years later. Get a good financial education and prepare yourself mentally for success.

                                                4 - Home and Family

                                                A family that prays together stays together. A family that spends time together will have more opportunities for bonding and growing than one that spends time apart. Do not sabotage a good family life by avoiding your family members. Remember that we need balance in life. No matter who your relatives or family members are, create time for them. Improve your listening skills, be more empathetic and improve communication with your family members.

                                                At the end of life, you do not want to look back and count how many opportunities you missed for bonding with your family. Instead, create opportunities for bonding with your family members and bring your digital camera with you. Take photos of weddings, funerals, parties or even just random moments with your family members. Those photos can be your treasured memories of your loved one when they are no longer around.

                                                Creating a family financial blueprint can help a family move ahead in life. If you have kids create a saving plan for their education and consider taking more insurance, and setting money aside for rainy days.

                                                One other type of own goals you can score in the family front is family disputes. You can avoid family disputes by managing expectations. Do not make promises you cannot keep. Set your boundaries and let your family members know where you stand on issues. Be loving but firm.

                                                5 - Social and Relationships

                                                It may look like fun stretching your neck to reach out for the greener end on the other side but betrayal in a relationship is one of the worst own goals you can score. If someone entrusts you with their heart and trust, do not abuse it.

                                                Have you ever realized that the people around you have quite an impact on you over the long term? Choose carefully who you associate with. Choosing the wrong company of friends can bring an avalanche of negativity to your life that can have cascading effects in all spheres of your life.

                                                Sweeping things under the carpet and not addressing them when they arise is setting yourselves up for future failure. Believe me you do not want to do that. Make sure you address issues. Do not go to bed angry with each other. Stay up and fight J

                                                There is always the temptation of comparing your loved one to others. Do not do it. There will always be someone “better” than you wife or husband out there. Comparing your relationship with that of others just fuels lack of satisfaction and diminishes the quality of your life. Focus on improving your own relationship instead of obsessing over your friends’ relationships.

                                                6 - Mind and Character

                                                Use it or lose it. The more you use your brain the sharper it becomes. Challenge yourself constantly. Allowing yourself to sit on a comfort zone is a recipe for an own goal. Focus on growing your mind and character. Associate with people who will help you grow, read books or watch DVDs that will help you grow. Spend your time on the internet on websites and blogs that inspire you to be the best you can be J

                                                Integrity is the undivided or unbroken completeness or totality with nothing wanting. Aspire to be a man or woman of integrity. Develop your character to have honor and integrity even when nobody is looking. Karma is a bitch, what you give to others comes back to you.

                                                Another area of the mind and character that you should safe gourd and avoid an own goal is reputation. Take your reputation seriously. It takes years to build and moments to rip to shreds. Avoid compromising situations that might cost your good name.

                                                And finally on the area of mind, work on your level of confidence. The higher your confidence, the higher you will soar in life. Eliminate the own goal called self doubt. Believe in yourself. Use positive affirmations daily to tell yourself that “yes you can!” You only achieve as much as you believe you can. Never more.

                                                7 - Spiritual Life

                                                We have not talked much about the issue of religion and spirituality on this blog. Allow me to add my two cents on this topic.

                                                Religion can be an own goal for your success. If you let religion restrict your free thought and social interactions, it may cost your success here on earth. Perhaps that is not important for you. But if it is, be sure to use religion judiciously.

                                                On your spiritual journey, you may find that certain friends or circumstances limit you. Think about it and make a choice that you can live with. Old habits die hard, you may want to kill off some habits to achieve success in the spiritual arena.

                                                One last point on religion; some religions introduce divergent views on success that may make you not live congruently. Religion and success are very individual things. Find what is acceptable for you and stick with it. Find answers to questions such as Is money evil? Is prosperity gospel fine by me? Find those answers before you set out looking for a financial fortune. Avoid all elements of personal incongruence caused by religious teachings. Chart a path between your religion and your other areas of life. Do not be driven by fear but by a sound mind.

                                                Summary

                                                This has been a long article warning us about scoring an own goal in various areas of our lives. Own goals have signals and I hope this article has helped you spot the signs of own goals and has given you ideas on how to tackle the challenges.

                                                Scoring an own goal is not the end of life. We all make mistakes. If you are reading this article it means you are of sound mind and you can have another chance to keep playing in the game of life and success.

                                                I sincerely wish you well in your life. This blog’s purpose is to inspire you to be the best you can be. This series in particular will use sports analogies to inspire you. If you know someone, a friend, colleague or family members that would be inspired by this blog, please consider sharing it with them.

                                                I would love to hear your comments about issues discussed in this article or anything I may have left out. Cheers my friend!

                                                Other articles you may enjoy :

                                                1. Introducing the Sports Series Every four years billions of people worldwide are transfixed on...
                                                2. 7 Time Management Lessons From Sports With only 24 hours in a day, time is a...
                                                3. Run your life like a Corporation. I am  eager to inspire you to be the best...
                                                4. A - Z of Sports and Success The final whistle has been blown on the Sports Series....
                                                5. Optimism for Upward Spirals in Life When you look out for the brighter side of life,...
                                                6. The Quickest Path to Happiness For the last couple of months I have been writing...

                                              82. Introducing the Sports Series

                                                Posted: April 21, 2009, 3:20 am by Daniel Ngari

                                                Every four years billions of people worldwide are transfixed on their TV sets to watch 22 grown men kick a piece of leather at the world cup. For a magical 90 minutes, billions of eye balls including mine will be watching the world cup finals in South Africa in July 2010.  The city of London will spend £9 Billion to host the 2012 Olympics games. People love sports, love it, love it, love it. Welcome to the brand new series that will use the power of sports to illustrate life changing lessons.

                                                Sports Passion

                                                I am neither a sports player nor a sports fanatic but I am always surrounded by many. The energy is contagious. The wild roar of a cheering squad is very uplifting. How does watching your team play make you feel? For many it elicits all sorts of emotions. Seeing your team win can make you extremely elated. A score by the opponent can deflate your mood faster than you can say “I love Daniel Ngari”

                                                I grew up in Kenya and we had a black & white television. Every Saturday night we would be glued on the TV watching “Football Made in Germany”. Regardless of what teams were playing I always supported the team in “black” (could have been blue or red, but black according to our TV). My sister always supported the team in “white” and we would passionately watch the game before going to bed, either very happy or really sad. The winner would still be gloating the next morning as we went to Sunday school (church).

                                                Living in Western Australia has exposed me to a maniacal level of passion for sports. Australia is a great sporting nation and many people here adore Cricket and Australian Rules Football. If you want to see real passion for sports head to Subiaco Oval during a Western Derby (Fremantle Dockers vs West Coast Eagles Game).

                                                I am sure you understand what am talking about here about sports passion. No matter where you are in the world, you can tell the power of sports in rallying people together. Perhaps you have experienced the excitement and passion of being at a live game or even on television. I found it amusing listening to Kenyans in Nairobi pubs arguing about English premier league matches. You would be forgiven for thinking that they had been attending the live matches as paid-up club members for years! Such is the passion. Sports has a million lessons to do with personal development and success that we shall explore in detail, in this series.

                                                Relate to Sports

                                                I chose this series because we can all relate to sports albeit at different levels. I will explore aspects of sports and draw powerful lessons to inspire you to be the best you can be. I will not be writing in too much detail about any one sport or team. We can fight about our favorite teams at another platform. My intention for this series is to teach and to learn to better ourselves in life using sporting analogies.

                                                Sports Success

                                                What I love about sports is the unmistakable success and the associated joy of winning. You can either win or lose. The statistics are there to prove it, the scores are kept. Sports makes legends. People like Diego Maradonna , Don Bradman, Michael Jordan, Kipchoge Keino etc are likely to remain in history books for a long time to come. Let me not give way too much about what the series will contain. All I can say to you my friend is that this is not the series to miss. I can confidently say that it will be the most powerful series in the blog’s history. Please be checking in daily for updates and remember to share the articles with your friends.

                                                Other Series

                                                In case you had missed it, this blog is organized in “series”. Each series consists of about 10 - 20 articles that are closely related in one subject area. The following are the series we have covered so far.

                                                • Success Series - This was the original series that set the foundation for this blog. If you have not read the blog since January 2009, please read this highly inspirational series of articles. You will truly be inspired to succeed in your life.
                                                • Power Series - This series has proved to be a major hit with blog readers. Many new and old visitors end up reading all the articles in this series according to my blog statistics. You will find a powerful arsenal of ideas such as the power of persistence, the power of action, the power of hardwork and the power of follow up.
                                                • People Series - No man is an island. We need each other to succeed in life. This series focused on how to relate with other people on your success journey. We looked at topics such as contacts building, gossip etc.
                                                • Mind Series - This is my favorite series. If you have not read it please consider doing so. Success or failure is all in the mind. This series explored various aspects of harnessing the power of the mind to succeed in life. Success battles are first won in the mind.
                                                • Health Series - Health is wealth. What good is all the money in the world if you do not enjoy good health? This series is a bit on the serious side of life, yet it is very important. You will find a diverse range of topics from Alcohol to Exercise, from Sexual Health to Depression. Check it out if you love your health
                                                • Emotions Series - This was the hardest for me to write. It probably shows in my writing but I don’t care; I had to get the message out. It is hard as a guy to get in touch with your emotional side let alone communicating with others about emotions. Anyway, I will let you be the judge on that one.

                                                Sports Quotes

                                                • I love the sports series - Daniel Ngari :)
                                                • “Sooner or later, those who win are those who think they can.”  -Richard Bach
                                                • “I’ve never known anybody to achieve anything without overcoming adversity.” -Lou Holtz
                                                • “The power of the human will to compete and the drive to excel beyond the body’s normal capabilities is most beautifully demonstrated in the arena of sport.” -Aimee Mullins
                                                • “When all is said and done, it’s not the shots that won the championship that you remember, but the friendships you made along the way.” -Unknown
                                                • “Sports remain a great metaphor for life’s more difficult lessons. It was through athletics that many of us first came to understand that fear can be tamed; that on a team the whole is more than the sum of its parts; and that the ability to be heroic lies, to a surprising degree, within.” -Susan Casey
                                                • “An athlete is a normal person with the gift of an undying passion to be the best and achieve greatness.”  -Amanda Ring
                                                • “When you are out there on the soccer field playing, nothing else matters at the time. It’s like the whole world has disappeared, and you and your teammates are all that matters.” -Amber Massey
                                                • “The difference between a good athlete and a top athlete is the top athlete will do the mundane things when nobody’s looking.” -Susan True
                                                • “It may sound strange, but many champions are made champions by setbacks.” -Bob Richards
                                                • “To achieve in sports you first have to have a dream, and then you must act on that dream. The best athletes are those who truly enjoy what they are doing and display a tremendous amount of work ethic. They continue to persevere in spite of setbacks and never lose sight of their ultimate goal.” - Dianne Holum
                                                • “Winning is only half of it. Having fun winning is the other half.” -Bum Phillips

                                                 Summary

                                                The purpose of this blog is to inspire you to be the best you can be. I hope to inspire you through sports analogies in this series. If you have a friend who loves sports or needs inspiration, please share this blog post with them. If you have a Facebook profile, please post this blog post in particular to your profile so your friends may see it and begin the journey with us.

                                                If you have anything to say about sports and success, the time is now. Please post your comments. I will incorporate some of the comments in the articles. Cheers!

                                                Other articles you may enjoy :

                                                1. A - Z of Sports and Success The final whistle has been blown on the Sports Series....
                                                2. 7 Time Management Lessons From Sports With only 24 hours in a day, time is a...
                                                3. The Agony of an Own Goal in Sports and Life A gun man approached Andrés Escobar outside a bar in...
                                                4. Health Series Summary I hope you were inspired to make healthier choices in...
                                                5. Power Series Summary - A Personal Story This website is a story, a story of a young...

                                              83. Rekindle your Dormant Passion!

                                                Posted: April 19, 2009, 10:52 pm by Daniel Ngari

                                                Like dormant volcanoes, we all have passions that are just there; not active, not extinct. Dormant passions take away a piece of us. You sit there and think how things could have been but are not. You sit there and wish you had taken a different turn in life. Unfortunately, wishing alone won’t ignite the fire within, or awaken the giant in you. Wishing just makes you feel empty and unsatisfied. Today’s blog post is dedicated to inspiring you to find satisfaction in your soul by rekindling your passion.

                                                Being passionate about something or someone gives you boundless energy, a winning attitude, strong emotions and desire to succeed. It is very difficult to succeed in any field of endeavor if you are not passionate about it. There is no way you will be an exceptional school teacher if you loathe kids. If you are passionate about your partner, you will do everything to make the relationship work. You will have fun while crossing mountains to be with them.

                                                The road to success has many obstacles; there are mountains to cross and the obstacles are many. Be passionate about what you do and you will succeed beyond your wildest dreams. Realize your dreams by being passionate. “Follow your passion” is the timeless advice given to would be entrepreneurs, writers, singers, actors and in fact all of us.

                                                What is your passion?

                                                What makes you wake up at 4.00am in the morning? Well, maybe nothing for most us. Let me ask again. What do you love to do? What are your interests? Are you passionate about sport? Are you passionate about your husband? Are you passionate about your family? Are you passionate about your job? What is it that gets you going where others would give up?

                                                For many people, it is hard to define what their real passion is. If you have trouble defining your passion, don’t sweat it. You can discover your passion by exploring your life in a few minutes. Be completely honest with yourself and ask yourself the following questions. You can ask a friend to help if you get stuck.

                                                • What makes you happy?
                                                • If you had enough money to not have to work again in your life, what would you do?
                                                • What do your friends and family think you are good at?
                                                • What do you do with ease that others struggle? E.g. public speaking, writing, sports, making friends, photography etc
                                                • What excites you? What do you do for hours on end just because you love it?
                                                • What do you wish you could be doing with your life?

                                                Examples from my life

                                                I will share a couple of my passions and show you my struggles, dreams and hope. I hope my sharing is not in vain. I hope to inspire you to think about your own situation and get ideas on how to rekindle your passion. To help you light the fire and to keep it burning until you achieve your goals.

                                                My two passions are publishing and real estate. Your passions may be different, but I am sure you could draw some lessons from my story.

                                                1. Publishing

                                                When I was in high school, I discovered my passion for writing after winning an interschool essay competition. My writing according to my English teacher was “basic but elegant”. She told me that I could communicate ideas, not in big words, but clearly. She advised me to find something I was passionate about and just write about it. That was all I needed to become passionate about writing.

                                                I got busy and started writing a magazine called “The Crossroads”. I got carried away with my little project and found myself writing articles for my magazine even in physics and chemistry classes. One of my physics teachers found me writing and screamed words that still haunt me. He said: “Young man, why are you writing that in my class? You have no manners, not even bad ones. Go! You are mannerless!” hahaha!

                                                The time spent away from that physics class was like manna from heaven. I went to the school library and wrote for four hours without a break. I wrote my first business plan for my future publishing empire at the school library that afternoon.

                                                The business plan revealed that creating a publishing empire was a much bigger project than simply writing. That evening,  I borrowed a few  books from the library and researched on the printing process, marketing of magazines, interviewing techniques, desktop publishing, subscriptions management, distribution networks, editorial policies, legal issues, profit and loss statements, circulations and ratings. As you can imagine I was overwhelmed. I humbly crawled back to my physics class the next day and graduated from high school with a dormant passion for publishing.

                                                After high school, I left Kenya and came to Perth, Western Australia. I briefly rekindled my passion for running a publishing empire by spending a lot of time in the city library learning about publishing and media. I read all I could about Rupert Murdoch (News Corporation), Ted Turner (CNN), Richard Branson (Virgin), Kerry Parker (PBL) and many others who had made it in the media and publishing worlds.

                                                Have you ever given up on your passions because the going seemed tough? Many people give up because of lack of a clear path of attainment. My passion for success in publishing waned because I thought it was too complicated. But I later learnt that you do not need to see the whole staircase to be able to take the first step. You could travel for 100 miles in your car even though your headlights only shine for less than a quater mile. You just need to see enough to make the first few steps. Success is like eating an elephant. You do it piece by piece.

                                                My magazine in high school “The Crossroads” was about inspiring people to be the best they could be. It has been my passion to inspire people to be the best they can be through my writing, interviews and sharing personal stories of victory and overcoming adversity. This year I decided to take a step of faith and launch this blog; to inspire you to be the best you can be. At the moment the site only gets a handful of people everyday but I very excited that I finally can live my dream of sharing my heart and mind with people through my writing.

                                                The going might be tough for you at times. You may not see the full path to your goals. But I encourage you to take a step of faith to follow your passion. Spend a few minutes and discover what makes you happy. You may not start out as the best in what you do, but with practice and focus, with the power of compounding applied to it, you will succeed. No doubt about that.

                                                I did not start my publishing in high school or earlier in life because of lack of knowledge, experience or maybe it just was not the right time in life. You most likely have some goals or desires that you have not accomplished because the time was not right. I encourage you to weigh in and see if this is the right time for you to take the first steps towards your passion.

                                                My second passion is long term and I will illustrate to you how to fight internal demons and keep the fire burning after you rekindle your passion.

                                                2. Real Estate

                                                Growing up in Kenya gave me first hand experience of the daily struggle of millions who are in the jaws of poverty. I remember when I was 12 years old I went to Kibera, one of the biggest slums in Africa and my tears flowed freely when I saw the squalor conditions that people there were living in. I teamed up with one of my friends and we did a rich vs. poor tour of Nairobi, the Kenyan capital. The gap between the rich and the poor was so wide and unacceptable to my innocent eyes. I felt the unmistakable urge of wanting to do something about it.

                                                Then I discovered a side of me that I thought of as evil at the time, but have since reconciled with. My tears turned into saliva as I salivated at the idea of building low cost, quality affordable housing for the poor and profiting from it. A part of me believed in social justice but another part of me was a hard nosed capitalist. I felt guilty for having those two ideas, but I have since learned to live with myself so it is not a biggie any more.

                                                Sometimes you may find that internal conflict is what is keeping you from achieving your goals. Fight those demons by aligning your passion with your mission in life. I rationalized it that I am not the government, and by providing housing to people at a profit, I am more likely to reach more people than by doing it purely for charity.

                                                I have not yet realized my dream of providing thousands of affordable housing. But I am keeping the fire burning by learning all I can about investments, real estate and affordable housing strategies. It may take me another 10 years before I get to my goal, but I am working on it step by step. You may not be able to get to your goal tomorrow, but keep the fire burning by doing something about it, whether it is learning or doing a small part of your passion. Your passion may be to start your own business but you still work for the big man. You can keep the passion going by working on it a few hours a week when you are not at work. You can spare a few hours in the evening instead of watching TV for hours on end.

                                                Closing Remarks

                                                Finding your passion in life is very important for your success. If you do something that you love, you will be happier and more likely to succeed. I have shared my personal story in the hope that you may learn from my mistakes and desire to succeed. I encourage you to take the first steps in discovering or rekindling your passion. Then have a plan and then take action.

                                                P/s- I wanted to delete this blog post straight after writing it, I felt that I had shared too much personal thoughts and information but after seriously thinking about it, I thought it was worth it. It will be a small price to pay if even just one person (You), uses this blog post as a trigger to rekindle a dormant passion. I want to inspire you to be the best you can be, sometimes I will have internal conflicts about what I can and cannot write about. I hope my choices will always lean towards inspiring you to be the best you can be.

                                                Sharing: If you have a friend who could benefit by rekindling their passion, please share this blog post with them.


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                                              84. How to Boost your Emotional Intelligence by 300%

                                                Posted: April 19, 2009, 6:51 pm by Daniel Ngari

                                                Research has shown that Mike will be more successful than Robert. They both have the same level of IQ (Intelligence Quotient) but Mike has a higher EI (Emotional Intelligence) than Robert.

                                                In 1998, a smart guy by the name Goleman made some claims about Emotional Intelligence that helped people understand why Mike will be more successful than Robert. He said that emotional intelligence is the capacity to recognize one’s own feelings, and those of others, for motivating oneself, and for managing his or her emotions and relationships.

                                                The National US Department of Labor carried out a survey that showed that corporations are increasingly listing emotional intelligence as a primary criterion in the hiring process. More companies world over are paying closer attention to emotional intelligence as a way of boosting profits. Many companies spend time and money training employees on how to be more emotionally intelligent in order to boost productivity.

                                                IQ is no longer the only determinant for success in life or in the workplace. Goleman and others have made people dig deeper in all issues emotional, and their relationship with success. The good thing about emotional intelligence is that it is not fixed at birth. Parents, individuals and Robert can plant the right seeds to grow their emotional intelligence.

                                                Self Awareness

                                                The first step of improving your emotional intelligence is by understanding yourself and how you currently deal with emotions. You need to be self aware, recognize patterns and feelings in your life. You need to understand how emotions influence who you are, how you react, and how you relate to other people.

                                                Emotions are the gateway to souls. Emotions such as fear, optimism, love, happiness and pride affect our performance and output in life. The purpose of this blog is to inspire you to be the best you can be. Being aware of your emotions and how they affect you and others is a verified first step and determinant for success.

                                                You can begin understanding your emotional state by taking note of your feelings, their causes and your reactions. Then develop the ability to detect emotions in faces, pictures, voices of others. Understanding your emotions and those of others is a basic aspect of emotional intelligence.

                                                Harnessing Emotions

                                                The second way of boosting your emotional intelligence is by harnessing your emotions to think about and act to meet your objectives. From our example above, Mike is more emotionally intelligent than Robert.  Mike capitalizes on his changing moods and feelings to get ahead in life. Robert reacts to situation without being aware of his influencing emotions. He does not see them coming, and neither does he plan around his changing moods. Note that they both experience the same emotions, but Mike chooses to manage his emotions better. Robert may allow fear to paralyze him, but Mike sees fear as a sign to change, improve or secure his position, and take positive actions.

                                                Mike understands that emotions are not static, they evolve over time. He understands his emotions and those of his colleagues and employer at work. He is able to plan his meetings and interaction to take advantage of his emotional state and those of others. He is a master of reading tone variation and facial expressions of others. His emotional intelligence serves him well at work and in life.

                                                Emotional Intelligence Tests

                                                There are many emotional intelligence tests that you can take online such as this one. Emotional Intelligence tests (EI-Q tests) helps in revealing things about how one handles emotions. If Mike and Robert did the same test, their answers would reveal their differences in the ability to deal with emotions.

                                                The EI-Q tests would also help them understand their areas of strength in mood control, dealing with obstacles, and empathy. I highly recommend doing an emotional intelligence test for my blog readers. EI-Q tests help in evaluating various aspects of your emotional intelligence and may suggest ways of improving your weak areas.

                                                You can also work with a mentor to help you improve your emotional intelligence. Many companies invest in emotional intelligence mentors to help employees boost their EI.

                                                There are many emotional intelligence training companies many of them specializing in training leaders and managers. There are many emotional intelligence certification programs that provide training and mentoring for EI. Such certification and training helps in increasing personal and professional effectiveness.

                                                Summary

                                                Even if you do not have the budget for a mentor or formal emotional intelligence certification, the following tips will surely help you boost your EI-Q.

                                                • Realize the importance of emotional intelligence in your life and career.
                                                • Understand your current emotional state and feelings. Learn to detect how emotions originate and morph in your life.
                                                • Understand the emotions of others and learn how to read the signs of the emotional feelings of others by listening to them, watching them and interpreting their words and actions.
                                                • Harness emotions, both positive emotions and negative emotions to meet your desired goals.
                                                • Develop empathy - Develop your ability to put yourself in the shoes of others, to understand how they feel, and react accordingly.
                                                • Take an emotional intelligence test and improve on your weak areas.
                                                This is the last article in the emotional series. I hope you enjoyed this series and learned something new. I would love to hear you comments on emotional intelligence or about emotions in general and how they affect lives and success.

                                                Stay tuned for the next series, coming to you soon.


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                                              85. The Quickest Path to Happiness

                                                Posted: April 18, 2009, 9:16 pm by Daniel Ngari

                                                For the last couple of months I have been writing on various aspects of success and how to attain it. Today’s post is different. We look at a more direct way of being happy. The previous blog posts have been seeking happiness through determination, effort and hard work.

                                                Since we are dealing with the mind in this series, I think it would be prudent of me to share with you what I have recently learned about happiness and how it is connected with the mind.

                                                Happiness is a state of well-being characterized by emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy. The quickest way of being happy is to decide to be happy. Tell your mind to be happy. Do not put conditions to your being happy. Just resolve to be happy today, not in future.

                                                Many personal development or self improvement blogs such as this one, and even books, seminars, tapes and workshops teach you ways of attaining success. They propose that following their doctrine will make you happy. Fortunately for you and I, there is a faster way of being happy, and that is by conditioning your mind to be happy.

                                                You do not need to drive a Ferrari to be happy. You do not need to married to be happy. You do not need to have a degree to be happy. You do not need to be out of debt to be happy. You do not need to be in good physical condition or health to be happy.

                                                I have found myself postponing my happiness many times in my life. I told myself that I will be happy once I score highly in my high school exams. I told myself that I will be happy when I graduate. Then I told myself that I would be happier when I start my own business, get a life partner or buy this or that.

                                                Unfortunately as I achieved one goal in my life, there was always something more to do. For years I traded my present happiness for the hope of a better tomorrow. Many ambitious people like me end up making that mistake. Have you been limiting your present happiness until you achieve a goal or something happens? Have you postponed your happiness my friend?

                                                I started this blog to be able to inspire my friends to be the best they can be. But I have other goals for it too. I want this blog to become popular. I want people to know about it, visit and leave comments. I want to build a thriving online community around this blog, for like minded fellows like you and me to meet, discuss what is happening in our lives and encourage each other. However, it is not an easy job. I have to put in hours upon hours, maybe even years, to make it all happen. I could postpone my happiness to the day my ideas and hopes become reality. But instead I choose to be happy today. I choose to be happy that YOU are reading this today. It is easier and better for me to rejoice with each new reader or commenter on this blog, than to wait for a million visitors that may or may never come.

                                                Let us now look at how you can have a quick path to happiness in a few areas of life.

                                                1) Health & Wellness

                                                Many people who are out of shape (read fat or obese) postpone their happiness until after they get to their weight goals. It may take months or years to reach your desired goals in how you look. Why waste that time by being unhappy, in the hope you will be happy once you lose the weight? Many fat people avoid socializing, buying themselves nice clothes and being confident. They tell themselves that one day soon, they will live their dream life and be happy. If you are in that position my friend, my advice is really simple. Quit dreaming and be happy today. Life is too short to be lived in future tense.

                                                2) Work (Jobs & Careers)

                                                It is very easy to postpone happiness until you get a particular job or career. It is also very easy to postpone happiness to until you quit your job if you are unhappy with it.

                                                We spend at least a quarter of our lives working every day. Why be unhappy at the job? Why ruin 25% of your life with something you can mentally control (in many cases)? You can control whether to be happy or not. It is a state of mind. Look at the glass as being half full in regards to your job and you may increase your happiness.

                                                3) Financial Freedom

                                                I believe that money can buy happiness if you know where to shop. But I also believe that in some cases, the money we come across the more problems we get. The best you can do is to de-link your happiness from the size of your bank account. It is easier said than done, but always bear in mind that you are not your money. You will still exist even without money. Be happy even when you have crippling debt. Have a plan for financial freedom and work to meet your financial goals and obligations, but do not let money come between you and happiness. You deserve more out of life.

                                                4) Home & Family

                                                You do not have to wait until you buy your own home for you to be happy. You can be happy whether you are married, single, with or without kids. Strive to be happy regardless of the home or family situation. Do not postpone your happiness until you make major strides in your home and family life.

                                                5) Relationships

                                                Relationships are like butterflies. They go through different phases and cycles. Learning to be happy at each phase of a relationship can save a relationship and even help the relationship thrive. What kind of relationships are you in (friendships included)? Are you happy or are postponing your happiness?

                                                What a Fisherman Taught A Wall Street Guru about Happiness

                                                I was once told a story about a Wall Street guru who made a bunch of money and decided to take a holiday to a Caribbean Island with his family.

                                                He met a fisherman who showed him and his family around the Island. They got to talk about various issues. The Wall Street professional told the fisherman that if only he was ambitious like him, he would achieve a lot in his life.

                                                Wall Street Guy: If I were you, I would get a couple of people to help me with the work, sell the fish to a bigger merchant, re-invest the profits and get a second boat, then maybe a third and a fourth boat.

                                                Fisherman: Oh man! And what would you do with all them boats?

                                                Wall Street Guy: I would be making so much money and would use some of that money to find out all I can about selling to bigger markets like the United States.

                                                Fisherman: That’s one big market. It would be very tiring selling to all those people.

                                                Wall Street Guy: You won’t have to get tired, in fact you could go to the bank and borrow against your business and expand it with other people’s money.

                                                Fisherman: I fear other people’s money. I won’t sleep well at night if I owe people money.

                                                Wall Street Guy: A lot of people run their businesses with other people’s money. You could even make a killing by listing on the stock market and retire rich.

                                                Fisherman: What kind of money are we talking about here?

                                                Wall Street Guy: Millions. Untold millions.

                                                Fisherman: And what would you do if you had those millions?

                                                Wall Street Guy: I would retire to a nice island with my family, spend my time relaxing and fishing.

                                                Fisherman: And why do you want me to go to all that trouble just to end up where I am, doing exactly what I am doing?

                                                Sometimes we take the long road to happiness. You may be chasing the wind with some dreams. Take a moment to reflect on what will really make you happy. Cut the fluff and just be happy. The road to happiness does not have to be that long.

                                                Summary

                                                A beautiful mind is one that gets results. Many people do things to either avoid pain or gain pleasure. In other words people do things in order to be happy. Do yourself a favor and find the quickest way to happiness. Hint: It is all in the mind.


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                                              86. Why Unclench and Release Negative Emotions?

                                                Posted: April 15, 2009, 6:29 pm by Daniel Ngari

                                                I recently saw two old ladies fighting. The smaller lady told the big one: “unclench your buttocks and release the bitterness”. It got me thinking, we need to unclench our negative emotions in order to enjoy success and prosperity. We need to release the emotions of fear, anger, insecurity, anxiety and many other negative emotions. Let freedom ring in your heart today. Unclench, release and be free of negative emotions my friend.

                                                Like clutter in the house, negative emotions take up space and are not attractive. The purpose of this blog is to inspire you to be the best you can be. To be the best you need to get rid of negative emotions. Today we look at various classes of negative emotions, their effects and how to get rid of them.

                                                Dignity and Self Respect

                                                There are many negative emotions associated with dignity and self esteem. If you feel that people have disrespected you or unjustly criticized you, you need to forgive and let go of the anger. Do not give much airtime in your mind to people who disrespect you or insult you. Carrying the emotions of inferiority and insults will hurt your self confidence. Do not feel worthless because someone disrespected you. Understand your own value, love yourself and do not let anyone mock you or humiliate you.

                                                Loss of dignity and self respect reduce the quality of life and prevents us from forming healthy relationships. Seek to transform negative emotions such as criticism and disrespect into positives.

                                                Freedom and Control

                                                To succeed in life, you need to be in control of your destiny. You need to be free to do what your heart desires without being bossed around or being emotionally manipulated by others. If you have feelings of restriction, inhibition, entrapment, and powerlessness you need to focus more on regaining your freedom and control of your life.

                                                Emotional blackmail, entrapment and powerlessness lead to rebellion. You need to be able to spot the signs and get rid of circumstances that rob you of your freedom and control.

                                                Love and Connection

                                                 We all have the need to be loved and to connect with others. You may feel lonely or deprived of deep and meaningful connection with others. You may feel abandoned, ignored, invisible or insignificant. The trick is to understand yourself and not look for validation from outside but from within.

                                                Do not be discouraged, find your passion and do what you love. Attract like minded fellows and form bonds of friendships with them. Seek to understand others then to be understood, not the other way round. Support others and they will in turn support you. Get rid of feelings of rejection by accepting yourself and others.

                                                Reach out to others and care for others. Give and it will come back to you. Love and you will be loved back. Forgive and you will find forgiveness. Make other people feel good about themselves. Be slow to criticize and quick to complement.

                                                Truth and Justice

                                                We all seek the truth and fairness. Emotions of being lied to or getting a raw deal are negative and manifest themselves in many areas of life. Nobody wants to be lied to, falsely accused or misled. Surround yourself with positive people who will not lead you on the wrong path.

                                                Safety and Trust

                                                The fear of betrayal is a negative emotion that can be expensive and detrimental to human relationships. If you find yourself overly guarded or skeptical, it may be an indication that you are untrusting or suspicious about the intentions of others. These are negative emotions that may be a sign that you need to re-evaluate your relationships or change your attitude.

                                                Summary

                                                 There are many negative emotions that relate to dignity, freedom, love, truth and safety. To be able to enjoy success we must get rid of negative emotions. Negative emotions are toxic. They can poison the bearer, friends and family. Getting rid of negative emotions one by one is a worthwhile exercise.

                                                What negative emotions have you experienced lately? How do you get rid of negative emotions? What are the most dangerous negative emotions according to you? What tips can you offer about transforming negative emotions into positive ones? I would love to hear from you. Please post your comments.

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                                              87. How to Harness the Power of Positive Emotions

                                                Posted: April 14, 2009, 2:12 pm by Daniel Ngari

                                                You can use the power of positive emotions to propel yourself to success. I have learned to harness some positive emotions with good results in my life. Understanding positive emotions can help you bring more of them in yourself and others. Emotional state management is a powerful skill to add to your success arsenal.

                                                Emotions determine our mood, our mood affects our choices, our choices affect our actions and our actions determine our success. I would like to encourage you to harness positive emotions in your life.

                                                Appreciation

                                                The greatest human need is to be appreciated. The emotion of being appreciated is a powerful one. You can harness it to lead you to success. Have you ever noticed that you feel most appreciated when you do something out of the ordinary? Keep doing things that are beyond your call of duty. You can drive more appreciation your way by giving better service to your customers, employee or even your partner in a relationship. Do something creative and that meets the needs of others to gain appreciation. The more you do this, the more likely you are to succeed.

                                                Other people too love being appreciated. Make them feel good for doing something for you. Be truly grateful and find creative ways of showing your gratitude. You can show gratitude by simply saying thank you, sending a thank you note or doing something for that person that would show your appreciation. Showing appreciation helps you bond with people and leave a good impression.

                                                Love/Connection

                                                The kind of person or people you choose to surround yourself with affect your level of success. Be careful on who you choose to love and allow into your space. Build deep and meaningful connection with the right people. Focus on long term relationships with people by committing to the friendship or relationship. People are more likely to do business with their long term friends. See the best in people, and bring out the best in them. They will in turn bring out the best in you leading you to success.

                                                Enthusiasm

                                                Enthusiasm is contagious. Be full of energy, flowing with eagerness and love of life. People who are enthusiastic are more likely to make friends than dull and boring ones. Find out what motivates you and do more of that. Do not work just for money. Find something that drives you. Find something that keeps you up at night. Develop your interests towards your natural inclinations and you will be happier that way.

                                                Optimism

                                                Always look at the positive side of life. Encourage the feeling of optimism by covering the downside. Do not just think positive about situations and forget to conduct due diligence. It is good to feel that all is going to turn out alright. Take action, do not just think positive.

                                                Respect

                                                The emotion of being respected is soothing to the spirit. You can cultivate that emotion and harness it for success. Conduct yourself in a respectable manner. Show respect to others. Choose your words carefully. Be watchful of your actions and association.

                                                Another component of respect is self mastery. Respect yourself by gaining control of yourself through self mastery. Self mastery means becoming the master of your own ship. It means becoming the primary guiding force to your destiny. It is the ability to reign supreme on your desires, impulses, emotions, appetite and mind.

                                                Vital/Important

                                                Nobody wants to feel insignificant or invisible. To succeed you must make some noise. Do not be ordinary. Become essential by providing exceptional value. Find your angle in life.

                                                Do not fall into the trap of false self importance. This may lead to being cut down to size by society or result in a broken ego when things do not turn out well. Exercise humility and quiet confidence without rubbing your importance on other people’s faces. Let others recognize your good deeds instead of blowing your own trumpet. But in a competitive society, you need to have subtle ways of self promotion, branding and marketing.

                                                Summary

                                                Positive emotions bring out the best in us. Seek to get more positive emotions and use them to propel yourself to success.

                                                What other positive emotions can you use to propel yourself for success? I would love to hear your comments.

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                                              88. Exposed: Loneliness in a Busy World!

                                                Posted: April 13, 2009, 1:33 pm by Daniel Ngari

                                                A few years ago I went to Bangkok on my way to Kenya from Australia.  Bangkok is one of the largest cities in the world. It has a registered population of 8 million people, but is said to have as many as 15 million people, most of whom are unregistered workers from neighboring countries. It is a heavily urbanized triangle of skyscrapers and busy people. The problem was, I did not know anyone there and most of the people I met did not speak English. Looking outside at all those people walking up and down, and not a soul that I could talk to over coffee made me feel lonely. It got me thinking; how many people are lonely yet they are surrounded by people?

                                                Loneliness is a feeling where people experience a powerful surge of emptiness and solitude. Loneliness is more than the feeling of wanting company or wanting to do something with another person. It can be described as the absence of identification, understanding or compassion. It can be experienced anywhere; classroom, bedroom, boardroom, busy street etc.

                                                I came to Australia right after high school in Kenya. I did not know anyone in Perth at the time and felt a powerful need to make friends to fight loneliness. Many people who move away from home feel lonely and this may manifest itself in the feelings of isolation, insecurity, anxiety, hopelessness, unworthiness, and meaninglessness. I joined churches, joined clubs, and talked to strangers to fight loneliness.

                                                Being lonely is not the same as being alone. Being alone is by choice and can be a very enriching experience. I at times take time out to be alone to reflect and indulge myself in the pleasure of my own company. Taking time to meditate and to listen to yourself can give you insights in life that you would not get if you spend all your time surrounded by people. Many religions recommend time alone in order to connect with God or be in tune with one’s spirit.

                                                Loneliness on the other hand is a negative emotion that can lead to depression. You can be lonely even when surrounded by people. If you think back, there was that one kid in school or your neighborhood that was always lonely; devoid of connection with others. What you probably never noticed is the loneliness of supposedly popular people. Many people put on a brave face and avoid showing the fight within.

                                                On your journey for success, you may find yourself in a lonely position where you lack people you can identify with. Many successful executives may be surrounded by people but could be quite lonely. This type of loneliness is hard to tell and has negative consequences. People who are lonely in a busy world are likely to be unfulfilled and unhappy in the long term. They may appear to be “fine” but may be developing resentment and anger within. Lonely people are more likely to fall prey for confidence tricks. Concealed loneliness can prevent people from developing healthy relationships.

                                                People become lonely for various reasons. Lack of meaningful friendships is a common cause of loneliness. Busy people may be too focused on what they are doing that they forget to form healthy relationships with likeminded people. Relocation or breakups can lead to loneliness as they interrupt one’s comfort zone and upset meaningful order of friendships. It may take a while for some people to cement bond with others leading to prolonged periods of loneliness.

                                                Finding a passion or activities that involve others is a good way of fighting loneliness. Knowing yourself and attracting likeminded people is the way to go. If you love beer, find your nearest pub and some drinking buddies. If you love soccer find some people you can watch games together and talk about it. Find friends based on common interests and develop those friendships.

                                                Sometimes loneliness may be a symptom of deep seated problems like depression and lack of trust. You must address those issues by talking to an appropriate healthcare professional.

                                                Loneliness can also be caused by loss or grief. A person who loses a job is likely to feel lonely as is someone who loses a loved one to death. Finding a new job and making new friends may help fight loneliness in the case of a job loss. In the case of grief, time heals but the feeling of missing the person may be prolonged.

                                                The sheer number of people that I came across in Bangkok reminded me how lonely I was. People in big cities are very likely to experience loneliness. If you are in a big city you can join groups based on your interests or meet people online. Most big cities have websites dedicated to connecting people who may be in your situation.

                                                It is common for lonely people to feel that others have more friends. This may lead to loss of confidence and perpetuate loneliness. You need to be aware that there are others who may be sailing in the same boat as you. Making just one new friend can mean opening up a whole new world of opportunities for meeting others. Start by finding one, then two friends.

                                                Summary

                                                It is normal to experience loneliness even in busy cities. You may be surrounded by millions of people yet feel lonely. Loneliness is different from choosing to be alone. Loneliness means lack of identity while being alone is a choice.

                                                Have you ever been lonely in a crowd? What tips could you share about meeting new friends for people in new surroundings? What tips could you share about meeting new partners in case of relationships breakup? I would love to hear from you about how one can be less lonely in a busy world. Your comments are most welcome.

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                                              89. Betrayal and the Enemy

                                                Posted: April 12, 2009, 2:31 pm by Daniel Ngari

                                                Happy Easter my friends! I have just been reading the story of Judas Iscariot. He was one of the disciples of Jesus in the bible. His job description was to watch the money bag. Unfortunately he got tempted with a few pieces of silver and betrayed Jesus. This act assured him a place in history books as the most famous betrayer. He betrayed Jesus with a Kiss hence the phrase “the kiss of Judas”. The poor guy felt so bad for doing it that he committed suicide. Betrayal is a sad act for the person betrayed and the betrayer. It is not easily forgiven and has the tendency to end friendships, tarnish reputations or turn friends into enemies.

                                                Betrayal is the breaking of a social contract (trust, or confidence) that causes conflict between individuals or between corporations. Have you ever been betrayed? Have you ever felt that someone you trusted acted against you or aided your enemies? Have you ever been “stabbed in the back”? How do you look upon people who betray their friends?

                                                Forms of Betrayal

                                                • Infidelity - This is the most commonly talked about form of betrayal. It is very painful for the person betrayed in a relationship. It is the violation of the mutually agreed-upon rules or boundaries of a relationship that leads to heartache, anger and resentment.
                                                • Betrayal in Friendships - Friends can stab each other in the back. Be careful of how much trust you put in your friends and who you let in your circle of trust. People are mainly self serving and your interests and theirs may not always be in line.
                                                • Betrayal in Politics - Politicians may betray their electorates or country. They may renege on their pre-election promises. They may defect from one party to another or support motions in parliament that break the trust of their supporters.
                                                • Betrayal in Family - Family members may break each others’ trust by speaking ill of each other behind backs. They may lie to each other or not support each other at hours of need.
                                                • Financial Betrayal - Many investors risk their money to companies that may betray their trust by not being open about the true state of their investments or profitability.
                                                • Workplace Betrayal - Employees may betray the trust given to them by their employers and engage in activities not benefiting the companies. Employers on the other hand may betray hardworking employees with false promises for the sake of using the employees.
                                                • Childhood Betrayal - Parents may betray their children by not disciplining them or not being there for them. People in positions of trust (e.g. clergy, teachers, adults etc) have been known to abuse children and this leads to long term negative effects on the lives of children.

                                                The Fear of Betrayal

                                                Suspicion of potential betrayal is detrimental to quality relationships. A couple that fears broken trust is likely to spend more time looking for evidence of betrayal than in building the relationship. The fear of betrayal is a self-fulfilling prophesy. The more one looks for the signs of betrayal, the more likely they are to precipitate betrayal.

                                                The fear of betrayal is paralyzing. It can be very consuming and cause people to spend time and money trying to confirm or allay their fears. The private investigation business thrives based on this fear. Being too complacent is dangerous and you should know where to draw a line between fearing betrayal and working on a relationship. It is better to walk away from an unsatisfying relationship than constantly suffer from anguish of potential betrayal.

                                                From Friend to Enemy

                                                Betrayal can lead to permanent enmity. Previously kindred spirits can become sworn enemies because of broken trust. It is a painful emotional blow to be betrayed by a trusted partner, family member or friend. The pain of betrayal can cause maniacal acts of revenge.

                                                Bouncing Back from Betrayal

                                                It is rarely easy bouncing back from betrayal. It might take time to regain trust once eroded. Care should be taken to avoid betrayal in the first place but if it happens the following tips can help in rebuilding bridges.

                                                • Remorse - The betrayer has to show remorse. They have to show that they are genuinely sorry for their action.
                                                • Reassurance - The betrayer must make an effort to ensure that it does not happen again and communicate this in the most sensitive way possible.
                                                • Healing - The betrayed person must be allowed to feel the pain, and then take time to heal.
                                                • Forgiveness - The betrayed person must forgive the betrayer and not constantly remind them of the act. They should fully forgive if they want to bounce back.
                                                • Punishment - The betrayer must be punished for their betrayal. Punishment, however minor helps in the healing process.
                                                • Root Cause - The root cause of the betrayal must be addressed to avoid reoccurrence.

                                                Betrayal Quotes

                                                • Anything may be betrayed, anyone may be forgiven, but not those who lack the courage of their own greatness. Ayn Rand
                                                • We have to distrust each other. It is our only defence against betrayal. Tennessee Wellians
                                                • One should rather die than be betrayed. There is no deceit in death. It delivers precisely what it has promised. Betrayal, though … betrayal is the willful slaughter of hope. Steven Deitz

                                                • Each betrayal begins with trust. Phish
                                                • Betrayal is about learning not to idealize external sources. Linda Talley

                                                Summary

                                                Trust is like a balloon. One prick and it is gone. It is very easy to make enemies in former friends by breaking trust. The fear of broken promises or betrayal can reduce the quality of friendships. Betrayal takes many forms, with infidelity being the most common form. It is not easy to bounce back from betrayal but forgiveness, punishment, and remorse can help in the healing process.

                                                If you have any example of betrayal, and how it affected you or someone you know, please feel free to share with us. What tips can you give the victims of betrayal? Have you got an idea of how to overcome betrayal in relationships? I would love to hear from you.

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                                              90. Emotional Blackmail and Freedom

                                                Posted: April 11, 2009, 3:00 pm by Daniel Ngari

                                                We never think of ourselves as blackmailers or extortionists. We never think of ourselves as victims or potential victims of blackmail. But when you scratch deeper than the surface, you realize that blackmail is alive and well in many relationships. Emotional blackmail is a common form of blackmail that has serious consequences. Unfortunately, very few of us understand it. Today we dissect this silent killer.

                                                The purpose of this blog is to inspire you to be the best you can be. We are currently looking at the emotions series, learning how to control our emotional states for success in life. Emotional blackmail steals away this control. The emotional blackmailer gains control of their victim; controlling how they feel, behave or act. To succeed in life and to have healthy relationships we must understand emotional blackmail and be free from it.

                                                Understanding Emotional Blackmail

                                                Emotional blackmail is another word for manipulation. Emotional blackmailers play with the feelings, fears and weaknesses of their victims. The book Emotional Blackmail by Susan Forward, says Emotional blackmail is a powerful form of manipulation in which people close to us threaten, either directly or indirectly, to punish us if we don’t do what they want… Our blackmailers make it nearly impossible to see how they’re manipulating us, because they lay down a thick fog that obscures their actions. We’d fight back if we could, but they ensure that we literally can’t see what is happening to us.

                                                You may not realize it, but your friends, relative or partner could be manipulating you emotionally. It is also possible that you could be manipulating them emotionally. You may also be manipulating yourself through self sabotage by punishing yourself because of your weaknesses and fears.

                                                Emotional blackmail in relationships leads to pain and lack of fulfillment. It creates a feeling of emptiness and resentment. Emotional blackmail reduces happiness and could lead to relationship breakups.

                                                Blackmailers’ Favorite Emotions List

                                                Susan Forward uses the acronym FOG to stand for fear, obligation, and guilt. These are the three tools of the blackmailer’s trade, and most of us can’t figure out how to escape them. Understanding this helps us see through the fog.

                                                • Fear - Emotional blackmailers exploit common fears in people to get them to do their bidding. For example, an employer can manipulate employees’ fear of retrenchment in a recession economy to give them a raw deal. Couples in a relationship can manipulate each other through the fear of breakup or divorce.
                                                • Obligation - Emotional blackmailers use obligation or duty to manipulate their victims.
                                                • Guilt - Guilt trips is an emotional blackmailer’s old trick. If you feel guilty of taking certain actions e.g. leaving your wife at home to go to the pub with the boys, you may end up being a victim of emotional blackmail. An emotional blackmailer can cause one to feel guilty of being selfish if they do not put the blackmailer’s interests first.

                                                Spotting an Emotional Blackmailer

                                                It is not always easy to spot an emotional blackmailer. Sometimes they may use very subtle methods. The following are types of emotional blackmailers you might recognize (Adapted from the book, Emotional Blackmail).

                                                • The Punisher–very direct about their demands, clearly state the consequences
                                                • The Self-Punisher–uses threats of self harm to manipulate the resistant one through fear, obligation and guilt
                                                • The Sufferer–the martyr who believes they’ve done everything for others and suffered because of it and don’t hesitate to remind them so they will feel sorry for them
                                                • The Tantalizer–uses bribery, knowing they have something the other wants.

                                                Emotional blackmailers never take time to understand others. They instead seek out to be understood. They may not even realize they are emotionally blackmailing others.

                                                Emotional blackmailers like blaming everyone but themselves when things go wrong. They have fluctuating moods and may be emotionally unstable, resulting to threats, throwing tantrums, crying or making you feel guilty when you do not do what they want.

                                                Emotional blackmailing is not restricted to relationships. It can be found in professional settings, in families and even churches. Some kids learn to be emotionally manipulative from a young age.

                                                Gaining Emotional Freedom

                                                • Understand Emotions - You must understand how emotions affect how you feel and your level of success.
                                                • Know Emotional Blackmailers - Learn the difference between being requested to do something and being forced to do something through emotional manipulation.
                                                • Detachment - Look at situations in different perspectives. Ask yourself the right questions. Why is she really crying? Why is he shouting? Why is he not talking to me? Understand motivations behind people’s actions and insulate yourself from emotional blackmail.
                                                • Break the Cycle - Emotional blackmail is a cycle. It starts with someone making the demand that may or may not be unreasonable. That person uses emotional tricks to get you to do something you would not have otherwise done. They may use threats of some sort and apply pressure until you comply. If you agree to do what they want, they may do it again and again. You can break the cycle at any stage, either by walking away from that person or increasing your resistance to manipulation.

                                                Summary

                                                Are you an emotional blackmailer or does anyone blackmail you? Emotional blackmail leads to unhealthy relationships and should be avoided. Understanding emotional blackmailers and their tricks helps in building resistance to manipulation.

                                                Have you ever been involved with an emotionally manipulative person? Do you know anyone who is in an emotionally abusive relationship? What tips can you share with us about emotional blackmail and how to avoid it?

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                                              91. Laughter is the Best Medicine

                                                Posted: April 9, 2009, 6:46 pm by Daniel Ngari

                                                I remember sitting down with my friends at various points in life for sessions of “Mchongwano”. I always laughed my head off. Mchongwano was a way of Kenyan kids making fun of each other using parody. Some of my friends were masters of it and always left us in stitches. I love jokes, I love laughter. I enjoy reading jokes and humor online. I enjoy listening to funny people and comedians. Laughter is surely the best medicine for me. Can we have a laugh today?

                                                The emotions series would not be complete without looking at one of the best emotions; cheerfulness. Laughter is a way of expressing cheerfulness. Life is short. Let us not take ourselves too seriously. Have a laugh, enjoy life.

                                                Brewed to go with the good times

                                                Some of the best jokes are shared in pubs and bars world over. If drinking did not have so many negative consequences, I would be preaching for everyone to head to the pub for a laugh. I find that many people get funnier when drunk. Or maybe it is just me who thinks they are funny when am drunk. I was about to share a dirty joke I heard in the pub the other day, but I suddenly got cold feet. Maybe it is not that funny J

                                                Laughing at other people’s expense

                                                Laugher is music to the soul but can be nasty when done at people’s expense. You can show appreciation by laughing with people, but be completely nasty and bring out the worst in them while laughing at their expense.

                                                Gossip combined with jokes is a favorite pastime for many. Unfortunately when done excessively, it can lead to negativity.

                                                Laughter Quotes

                                                Laughter and tears are both responses to frustration and exhaustion. I myself prefer to laugh, since there is less cleaning up to do afterward. — Kurt Vonnegut

                                                Laughter gives us distance. It allows us to step back from an event, deal with it and then move on. — Bob Newhart

                                                Laughter is a tranquilizer with no side effects. — Arnold Glasow

                                                Laughter is an instant vacation. — Milton Berle

                                                Laughter is the corrective force which prevents us from becoming cranks. — Henri Bergson

                                                Laughter is the sensation of feeling good all over and showing it principally in one place. — Josh Billings

                                                Laughter is the shock absorber that eases the blows of life. — Author Unknown

                                                Laughter is the shortest distance between two people. — Victor Borge

                                                Laughter is the sun that drives winter from the human face. — Victor Hugo

                                                Laughter on one’s lips is a sign that the person down deep has a pretty good grasp of life. –Hugh Sidey

                                                Jokes and Humor Sites

                                                There are times when I just need to have a quick laugh. So I jump on to a few jokes sites and read a few jokes. They make me laugh; they make me cry in joy at times. Jokes bring good cheer to my life. A joke is a humorous anecdote or remark intended to provoke laughter. There are many types of jokes that you can find online.

                                                Examples: Bar Jokes, Blonde Jokes, Courtroom Jokes, Doctor Jokes, Fun Jokes, Government Jokes, Holiday Jokes, Marriage Jokes, Political Jokes, Practical Jokes, Race Jokes, Relationship Jokes, Telemarketer Jokes, and Workplace Jokes.

                                                Below are some of my favorite jokes sites.

                                                Summary

                                                If you have a joke to share, please feel free to share them on this post. Also if you have a funny story or link to something funny that can give us a laugh, please post in the comments section. Be the good doctor and give us a dose of the best medicine.

                                                Cheers.

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                                              92. Music and Emotional Rollercoasters

                                                Posted: April 8, 2009, 5:27 pm by Daniel Ngari

                                                I am not a music connoisseur, but that does not prevent me from recognizing the potency of music in changing emotional states. Today’s post is an interactive post, to hear from readers what kind of music is best for what emotional state. What music do you listen to when you are lonely? What music do you listen to when in love? What songs do it for you when you have a broken heart?

                                                According to the Psychology Press, music is a complex acoustic and temporal structure that induces a large variety of emotional responses in listeners. Music can make you high. Music can make you sad. Listening to and playing music alters how the mind and body functions.

                                                Movie makers are masters of using music to enhance the emotional experience of viewers. The kind of music played at horror movies is different from that played in happy flicks. The kind of music played in different scenes in movies creates suspense.

                                                Great soundtracks like that of the Titanic movie, works wonders to connect with viewers on an emotional level. One of my favorite movies of all time is Armageddon, featuring Bruce Willis. The soundtrack for that movie (Aerosmith - I Don’t Wanna Miss a Thing) just did it for me. I love it.

                                                Depending on your emotional state, you may be able to find solace in music. Having a music collection for various occasions is a good way of controlling your emotions and getting more out of life. Unfortunately, I cannot prescribe what kind of music you should listen to for what emotional state. Music is a very individual thing. Various countries have different tastes in music. We have readers from more than 80 countries on this blog so I cannot presume to have the fix for everyone.

                                                Doctors use music in hospitals to soothe patients and help speedup the recovery process. Churches use uplifting music during worship. Cheering squads use music to feel an emotional high and to support their teams. Beer drinkers have an array of beer songs that help them have more fun and feel good. Mourners use music to connect with each other and help in the grieving process. Music has been used for generations in various cultures to enhance and communicate emotional states.

                                                Happy Music

                                                People in love or having a good time listen to a particular type of music. Many religious and cultural songs are happy songs that bring out good cheer in people. An example of an uplifting song is R Kelly’s song, I believe I can fly. The lyrics says it all.

                                                “I Believe I Can Fly”

                                                I used to think that I could not go on
                                                And life was nothing but an awful song
                                                But now I know the meaning of true love
                                                I’m leaning on the everlasting arms

                                                If I can see it, then I can do it
                                                If I just believe it, there’s nothing to it

                                                [1]
                                                I believe I can fly
                                                I believe I can touch the sky
                                                I think about it every night and day
                                                Spread my wings and fly away
                                                I believe I can soar
                                                I see me running through that open door
                                                I believe I can fly
                                                I believe I can fly
                                                I believe I can fly

                                                See I was on the verge of breaking down
                                                Sometimes silence can seem so loud
                                                There are miracles in life I must achieve
                                                But first I know it starts inside of me, oh

                                                If I can see it, then I can do it
                                                If I just believe it, there’s nothing to it

                                                [Repeat 1]

                                                Hey, cuz I believe in me, oh

                                                If I can see it, then I can be it
                                                If I just believe it, there’s nothing to it

                                                [Repeat 1]

                                                Hey, if I just spread my wings
                                                I can fly
                                                I can fly
                                                I can fly, hey
                                                If I just spread my wings
                                                I can fly
                                                Fly-eye-eye

                                                Angry Music

                                                Sometimes one may just want to vent and express their emotional state. There are various songs for that. There are songs for saying mean things to an ex, there are freedom songs for fighting inequality in society. One of the angriest songs I have ever heard is by Eminem, and again here are the lyrics.
                                                Intro:
                                                Where’s my snare?
                                                I have no snare on my headphones
                                                There you go
                                                Yeah
                                                Yo yo

                                                Verse 1
                                                Have you ever been hated, or discriminated against?
                                                I have, I’ve been protested and demostrated against

                                                Picket signs for my wicked rhymes, look at the times
                                                Sick is the mind, of the m****f****n’ kid that’s behind

                                                All this commotion, emotions run deep as oceans explodin’
                                                Tempers flarin’ from parents just blow ‘em off and keep goin’

                                                Not takin’ nothin’ from no one, give em hell long as I’m breathin’
                                                Keep kickin’ ass in the mornin’, and takin’ names in the evenin’
                                                Leave them with a taste as sour as vinegar in they mouth

                                                See they can trigger me, but they’ll never figure me out
                                                Look at me now, I bet ya probably sick of me now
                                                Ain’t you mama, I’ma make you look so ridiculous now

                                                Chorus (2x)
                                                I’m sorry mama
                                                I never meant to hurt you
                                                I never meant make you cry
                                                But tonight, I’m cleanin’ out my closet

                                                One More Time

                                                I said,
                                                I’m sorry mama
                                                I never meant to hurt you
                                                I never meant make you cry
                                                But tonight, I’m cleanin’ out my closet
                                                Ha!

                                                Summary

                                                Songs can be used at various points in the emotional rollercoaster that we call life. What kind of songs do you listen to? What kind of emotions does music bring out in you? I would love to hear your comments. Please share with other readers, any YouTube Clips or links that you love, and describe what emotions it helps you cope with or communicate.


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                                              93. Guilt and her Emotional Cousins

                                                Posted: April 7, 2009, 9:15 pm by Daniel Ngari

                                                Conscience is a powerful guilt-meter. When someone has a conscience they feel guilty for doing things that do not conform to their moral code of conduct. On the other hand, they get feelings of integrity when they do the ‘right thing’. Conscience is often referred as the little still voice within. Many people are deaf to this voice and lead a guilt free life. Guilt is a powerful emotion that has its place in human survival and success.

                                                Guilt is a product of social conditioning. People are conditioned from childhood about what is right and what is wrong. Excessive flaunting of material wealth may feel normal to one person, and make another feel absolutely guilty. One person may tell a lie with a straight face while another spends sleepless nights agonizing about it.

                                                The feeling of guilt is sometimes interpreted as a sign of weaknesses and can be used as a tool for emotional manipulation. If you easily feel guilty of taking a particular action, some people may use that to get you to take an action of their choice. To succeed in life, you need to understand the concept of guilt, have a clear conscience and not allow emotional blackmail.

                                                Tips on overcoming guilt

                                                • Accept guilt as a normal part of human emotions.
                                                • Accept that we all make mistakes.
                                                • Apologize for mistakes and move on, do not dwell too much on mistakes.
                                                • Atonement - Find a way of compensating for your wrong doing by doing good.
                                                • Forgiveness - Seek forgiveness from those you have wronged (if any) and forgive yourself.
                                                • Counseling - Seek professional help to handle guilt if you cannot shake off guilt.

                                                Manifestation of Guilt in Life

                                                • Physical Health - Many weight loss and health clubs have January as their biggest months. People normally feel guilty at the start of the year for the over indulgence in December. They make new years resolutions to eat healthier and exercise more. Then eventually they start missing out a gym session, or eat something not so healthy. At first they feel guilty, but soon this guilt fades away as they slide back to old habits.
                                                • Family - People feel guilty for not spending time with their families. A driven career person may spend a lot of time at work and outside work networking with people outside his family. He or she may feel guilty for not being there at critical moments in their family life. Depending on how one responds to the nagging guilt, they may take action to remedy the situation or become oblivious to it.
                                                • Relationships - The best relationships are based on trust and honesty. Sometimes one partner may be less than honest. This may eat away at them; make them want to come clean by sharing what is in their mind. Depending on the level of communication in the relationship they may open up or shun the guilt emotion altogether.
                                                • Career - Guilt may lead people to make or change career choices. For example, someone may feel guilty of not being in the career they wanted and this can affect their performance on the job. Some people feel guilty of being in positions that they feel they do not deserve. Such kind of thoughts can reduce productivity and cause one to lose focus.
                                                • Financial Freedom - Some people may feel guilty for succeeding where others have failed. This can lead to self sabotage. There is such a thing as fear of success and it is all to do with guilt. If you want to succeed in financial terms, you need to first reconcile thoughts of prosperity in your mind. In most cases, it is not your fault that someone else is poor and you are rich. Do not feel guilty for your success especially if you have worked hard for it, and made it through delivering value to others.
                                                • Character - People feel guilty for not being able to have self mastery or emotional control. You may find someone who argues or shouts and then feels guilty for doing so. You may find someone who swears and then feels guilty for doing so. Depending on your personal values, or normal society expectations, you may feel guilty of things that others don’t, and vice versa.

                                                Collective Guilt

                                                In the movie Hotel Rwanda, Joaquin Phoenix’s journalist character said “If people see this footage, they’ll go: ‘Oh my God! That’s horrible!’ and then go on eating their dinner.” People feel guilty of inequalities and atrocities that happen around the world. They feel guilty that they are living a good life while hell breaks loose elsewhere. Without this guilt, rich nations would not aid poor countries when disaster strikes. Without this guilt, rich people would not contribute to causes and charity. But just like in the movie, sometimes people may or may not feel guilty of the suffering of others. They just get on with their meals and block all else.

                                                There was decade long debate in Australia about collective guilt of White Australians over the Aboriginal Stolen Generation. Many people felt that modern Australians should not have to apologize for the mistakes of the previous generations or carry the tag of guilt.

                                                On Feb 12, 2009 Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd made the historic apology to Aborigines for injustices committed over two centuries of white settlement, saying he wanted “to remove a great stain from the nation’s soul.”

                                                Collective guilt, or at least debate about it, is a powerful catalyst for change in society.

                                                Buyer Remorse

                                                I studied marketing at university. One of the concepts that fascinated me was buyer remorse. Buyer’s remorse is an emotional condition whereby a person feels remorse or regret after a purchase. This is mainly after making an extravagant purchase of a high ticket item. People feel guilty for buying things at the spur of the moment, for higher prices, or even for buying on credit.

                                                A prospective buyer may get on an emotional high, thinking of the possibilities, the excitement and fun of making a purchase, but afterward feel really guilty. This may happen after they realize the financial implication or the opportunity cost of their purchase.

                                                Astute marketers spend considerable time and resources fighting buyer remorse. Buyer remorse is responsible for people asking for their money back and can negatively impact profitability. An often used trick for fighting buyer remorse is extending the money back guarantee period in the hope that buyer remorse will subside over time.

                                                If you often experience buyer remorse, you may want to look deeply about your beliefs on money or your spending habits. Buyer remorse is an emotional battle rooted in internal conflict about money. Do you experience buyer remorse?

                                                Summary

                                                Regret  and remorse are the emotional cousins of guilt.  Guilt is a feeling one gets when they do something that they believe is not in line with their character, position or values. Guilt is an emotion that can create societal changes and unearth deep seated beliefs. Guilt can manifest itself positively and negatively in different spheres of life.

                                                I would love to hear your comments on guilt. What kind of things make you feel guilty?

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                                              94. 10 Powerful Strategies for Dealing with Heartache

                                                Posted: April 6, 2009, 6:38 pm by Daniel Ngari

                                                In 2001 at the age of 21, my planet stood still. I was engulfed in a tide of darkness for a while there. My heart was paralyzed. I was in severe emotional pain and the pain was real. I would not wish that pain on anyone; the pain of a heartbreak. No matter how hard I tried to forget her, my efforts seemed futile.

                                                I had 2 weeks to go before my final uni exams. At a time when I needed to be absolutely focused, I lost my concentration. I lost my drive, I lost my appetite. Hey, I realize that men are not supposed to talk about this kind of stuff. But between you and me, let us say that the pain of a breakup does not easily walk away. It can be an impediment for success so we shall talk about it frankly. The purpose of this blog is to inspire you to be the best you can be. That includes being free from the pain of heartache and being well equipped to handle such pain.

                                                The pain of heartbreak is often said to be indescribable. It can lead to anxiety attacks, loss of appetite, partial or complete insomnia, anger or shock. Heart break leads to nostalgia and feelings of loneliness. It plays mind games with one’s self-esteem and could lead to depression. In some cases, heartbreak causes nausea, fatigue, feelings of emptiness and even death.

                                                I came up with a list of 10 strategies to cope with that pain. I would love to hear your comments and extra suggestions of how to get through the pain.

                                                1)      Forgiveness - No matter what the reason for the break up, you need to let go of anger. You need to forgive yourself and forgive the person whom you broke up with.

                                                2)      Counseling - If you can afford it, or if the situation calls for it, seek professional help or find someone whom you can trust and who can help you ease the pain. Two heads are better than one.

                                                3)      Acceptance - Avoid being in denial. If it is over, it is over. Thinking that things will go back to normal when they are clearly not going to, only exacerbates the pain.

                                                4)      People - Surround yourself with positive people. Try and see the good in people, do not spend too much time alone.

                                                5)      Healing - Allow yourself time for grieving. Then focus on healing the pain. Do what works for you to mend your heart.

                                                6)      Honesty - Be honest with yourself about the pain. What caused the pain? What caused the breakup? You can write down your thoughts, and perhaps create a journal of what you did, what your partner did, what went wrong etc.

                                                7)      Immersion - Immerse yourself fully in a new subject matter. Perhaps join a club, a church or start playing a sport. Get active. Find something to distract you.

                                                8)      Learn - Get busy. Learn something new, learn a language, visit a new place, learn about yourself, fiil your mind with new stuff.

                                                9)      Time - The best medicine for heartbreak is time, time and time. Time heals all heartbreaks. Allow yourself time to moan and time to heal. As the wise teacher said, there is a time for everything. A time to meet someone and a time to break up. There is a time to moan and a time to get over it. Do not rush time or try to turn the clock of time.

                                                10)  Music and Literature - There are so many songs about heartbreaks, love and commitment. Choose your media carefully and enjoy it fully. Get a collection of inspiring songs, movies, poems, books or blogs to give you solace.

                                                Summary

                                                The pain of a break up is real. It can impact negatively on personal and/or professional development. It is good to learn coping strategies.

                                                If you have suggestions of how to cope with heartbreak, please share with us. If you have songs to help ease the pain, poems or blogs please feel free to share.

                                                Go forth and find love my friends!

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                                              95. Love and the Appreciation Factor

                                                Posted: April 5, 2009, 6:07 pm by Daniel Ngari

                                                According to the late Mother Teresa “There is more hunger for love and appreciation in this world than for bread”. The greatest human need is the need to be appreciated. Showing love and appreciation to others implies abundance on your part. When you have an abundant mindset, you attract love and success to your life.

                                                What is Love?

                                                There are a million and three ways of defining love. Love is a strong positive emotion of regard and affection. It is a deep feeling of sexual desire and attraction. According to the bible, Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful.

                                                What is Appreciation?

                                                Appreciation is an expression of gratitude. It is the understanding of the nature or meaning or quality or magnitude of something. Appreciation is the opposite of taking things for granted. You can appreciate the good that others do. You can appreciate what your loved one, employee, employer, friend or parent does.

                                                How to Show Love

                                                • Empathy - You can show love to someone by understanding them and seeing things from their perspective. Putting yourself in someone’s shoes is a brilliant way of showing your love.
                                                • Speak Love - Tell your partner that you love them. Say the magic words. Let them hear you say it.
                                                • Time - Time is a finite resource. Spending time with someone is a great way of showing love. Do not do disappearing acts on those you love. Spending quality time with the one you love helps them feel special.
                                                • Communication - Talk openly, clearly and firmly with those you love. Do not give them conflicting messages. Set clear boundaries of what can or cannot be done and communicate that as clearly as possible. Use communication to manage expectations to avoid disappointments.
                                                • Actions - Actions speak louder than words. Show love by doing what you are expected to do, and beyond. Walk the talk.
                                                • Honesty - Be brutally honest with those you love. There is nothing that erodes love as fast as broken trust.
                                                • Affection - Depending on your culture or relationship, you can demonstrate your love through affection, either privately or publicly (PDA).
                                                • Gifts - Giving gifts is a good way of showing love. Give out of love and do not expect something in return. Do not give gifts only when you are obligated to give such as birthday or holidays.
                                                • Hour of Need - Be there at the hour of need when your friend or loved ones needs you. There is nothing worse than the feeling of being forsaken at the hour of need. Be careful not to be perceived as a fair weather friend.
                                                • Complements - Give genuine complements to your loved one. It is a good way of building that warm feeling and confidence. Learn the difference between flattery and genuine complements.
                                                • Compromise - Be flexible and willing to meet half way. Do not insist on only having your way. Do not let them walk all over you either.
                                                • Forgiveness - Do not hold grudges for longer than you have to. Learn to let go and forgive people for wrong doing. Give your loved one wiggle space if they find themselves on the wrong. Do not make them feel cornered. Give them a soft landing and an opportunity to rectify their  mistakes.

                                                How to Show Appreciation

                                                • Be creative - Do not do what is expected all the time. Take time to think of ways of showing appreciation, depending on what the person did. Appreciation does not have to be complex or expensive.
                                                • Tell them - The best way of appreciating someone is to tell them that you do. Be specific on what you are thanking them for.
                                                • Spend Time - Spend time with people you appreciate.
                                                • Recognition - Recognize people for their good deeds publicly or within your circle of friends. Genuine recognition can be a fuel for more good deeds.
                                                • Focus on the good side - Focus on the positive aspect of their actions. Talk about it with them, highlight what you like, and they may continue doing more of that.
                                                • Thank you notes - Send follow up thank you notes to people who go out of their way to make you happy or perform exceptional service.

                                                Summary

                                                Love one another, and appreciate those who do  good things. Appreciation is one of the deepest of human desires. Showing love and appreciation attracts good things to your life. Be more proactive in showing love and appreciation.

                                                I would love to hear of ways that you have used to show love or appreciation. Please post your comments (be specific on what kind of actions you took or recommend).

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                                              96. Massage Therapy for Broken Egos

                                                Posted: April 4, 2009, 8:30 pm by Daniel Ngari

                                                If I was to start a massage parlor, I would focus on massaging broken egos. My guess is that my clientele would be successful people who let their success get into their heads. I reckon I could say a few nice things to make them feel better. But since I do not own such a business I can freely talk about the dangers of inflated egos. I have no incentive for waiting until your ego is broken.

                                                Today’s post is different. I will tell a story of my friend Michael*. Michael started from very humble beginnings. He had to work really hard to make ends meet. He was very driven and really ambitious. He had a personality that endeared him to people. He made friends easily. Watching him interact with strangers was fascinating. You could be forgiven for thinking that they were old friends. Many said that he had a magnetic personality. He was very persuasive and easily influenced people.

                                                According to the ladies that hang out with Michael at the club house, Michael was gifted in the looks department. He was also very intelligent. Many referred to him as a walking encyclopedia. According to his former workmates, he was very skilled at his job.

                                                A bevy of beauties always surrounded Michael. His career was going well. He moved out of his old neighborhood as he rose through the ranks at the company where he worked. He amassed a group of hangers-on that served to reassure him of his importance.

                                                The old Michael was no more. The new Michael became obnoxious. He was always bragging about this or that accomplishment or array of possessions. His listening skills went out the window. He could never admit mistakes and had a massive sense of self worth and entitlement. He bragged to his drinking buddies that he was indispensable at the firm.

                                                Then the global recession happened. The company had to make some cutbacks. Michael became jobless. His former friends suddenly got busy. His girlfriends stayed on until his savings were depleted. As soon as they walked out, the bank called. The bank called in its loans, the car, the house, and the cards. Michael was broke. He was devastated.

                                                He called his friend Nathan*. He needed a place to stay. He needed a massage therapy for his broken ego. But all Nathan could offer was a place for Michael to stay for a few weeks.

                                                What can we learn from Michael? You can be on top of your game today and out in the trenches tomorrow. Do not step on others on your way up. You may need them on your way down.

                                                Ego is a dangerous emotion. The purpose of this series of articles is to inspire you to harness your emotions for success.  A big ego is related to pride. The antidote for a big ego is humility.

                                                Humility is not a sign of weakness or cowardice. A healthy ego can co-exist with humility. You may have the money, the looks, the smarts, the personality and the skills, but do not rub them on people’s faces. Avoid the temptation to inflate your self importance or ego.

                                                A young lawyer that always brought in the bacon for his firm was overworking himself. He was putting in about 100 hours per week in matters that he could have easily delegated. He however did not trust anyone to do the job as well as he thought he could. One day a senior partner at the firm pulled him aside and requested him to join him at the partner’s house over the weekend.

                                                The young lawyer took time from his busy weekend schedule at the office and made his way to the partner’s house. The partner took him for a drive, and they went to a local cemetery. The young lawyer kept looking at his watch wondering what the point of visiting the graveyard was. Then the partner said to him “all these graves are filled with men and women, some of whom thought that the world would not go on without them”. The young lawyer got the message. Did you?

                                                How to protect your ego

                                                • Be humble - Recognize your abilities and uniqueness from day one, but do not shove them down anyone’s throat.
                                                • Have a little insurance for your ego - Do not keep all your ego eggs in one basket. Do not define yourself with only one aspect of your life. Spread the risk. Be involved with more activities, people, hobbies and interests.
                                                • Have a support network - Cultivate relationships with people who love you and accept you for your basic self. If you get into a new relationship do not shun your old friends. If you get money do not divorce yourself from old friends or family.
                                                • Develop your personal values - Looks and money may fade away but the inner person will always be with you. Only do things that are congruent with your personal values.
                                                • Never give up - If what was working for you stops working, re-invent yourself. Do something else. Be a fighter. Die another day. Be persistent.

                                                Summary

                                                A healthy ego means confidence to go for goals. However, if the ego gets too big, it can get on the way of success.

                                                Humility is a virtue that protects us from a false sense of importance. Developing personal values and a support network helps protect us from the pain of a broken ego.

                                                Do you have any story to share about the pain of broken egos? Do you have any examples of ego gone bad? I would love to hear from you.

                                                * Names and other details have been changed to protect the identity of the people mentioned.

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                                              97. Smiling in 42 Languages

                                                Posted: April 4, 2009, 2:23 am by Daniel Ngari

                                                After my accident I could not work for a while so I spent a lot of time as a couch potato watching movies. One day I went to a video store in Subiaco, Western Australia to borrow some DVDs. The store staff member at the checkout was a lovely, truly lovely girl in her early twenties. She looked at me and started smiling, smiling flirtatiously I suppose. I smiled back with my eyes and lips tightly closed.

                                                Then she smiled some more and asked me a question. I had no choice but to answer her so I opened my mouth. She dropped the DVDs in panic and horror. She thought I was from a horror movie. You see my friend; I had lost two of my front teeth at the accident, but could still pull off a smile - as long as I kept my mouth shut. I was not a pretty sight.

                                                My mean side then took over for the next couple of weeks. I would go from shop to shop in Perth, smiling at shop assistants or other shoppers with my lips sealed. When I was sure they were hooked, I would open my mouth and smile widely. The looks on their faces were Kodak moments that will forever be etched in my memory!

                                                The wonders of modern dentistry were able to restore my normal smile, albeit at a high cost. I enjoy smiling and I hope to inspire you to smile today. Ok go ahead now, smile!

                                                A smile is a facial expression formed by flexing those muscles near both ends of the mouth. A smile can also be found around the eyes. It is an expression of the emotions of pleasure, happiness, or amusement.

                                                I grew up in Kenya where there are 42 tribes each with their own language. No matter what language one speaks in Kenya, or anywhere in the world for that matter, there is a universal power in smiling. You can and should smile, in any language.

                                                I was reminded of the power of smiling after my accident when I lost my ability to have a normal smile. Then a couple of days ago, one of my favorite blog readers, Brenda Njeru mentioned something about smiling. I smiled instantly and decided to write about the power of smiling; hence this blog post.

                                                Brenda said “I have always wondered why people are always smiling at me when I am walking in the streets, only with time did I realize I was the one smiling:)”. How true.

                                                Why Smile?

                                                • Smiling creates a good impression - Companies train their staff to smile in order to make a good impression to their customers. Smiling puts the other person at ease and changes the atmosphere. If you genuinely smile at people, they will like you and treat you much better than if you have a frown or a ’stone face’.

                                                • Smiling changes your emotional state - Smiling makes one happy and content. The physical act of smiling even in difficult times can help improve your emotional state. It can help you light up, relax and be cheerful.

                                                • Smiling makes you more attractive - I can only remember one period in my life that smiling did not make me more attractive (after my accident). Smiling makes people attracted to you because it projects external and internal beauty.

                                                • A smile changes other people’s state - Smiling is contagious. As Brenda experienced, when you smile at others, it makes them smile back at you. Try smiling at a baby and the baby will warm up to you. Try and smile at your partner or colleague and they will smile back at you. Smiling improves the environment for social interaction.

                                                • It is easier to smile than frown - You use more muscles frowning than you do smiling. It takes 43 muscles to frown but only 17 muscles to smile. Take the easy road my friend. Smile today.

                                                • Makes you seem more successful - Smiling helps project an image of satisfaction, contentment and happiness. A confident smile can do wonders for your career or relationships. People like being associated with successful people. Smiling improves your perceived level of success and therefore attracts people to your life.

                                                • Smile-leniency effect - I am not sure how many lawyers or criminals read this blog, but I found something that they may want to investigate further. Daniel McNeill, author of The Face: A Natural History says “though courtroom judges are equally likely to find smilers and nonsmilers guilty, they give smilers lighter penalties, a phenomenon called the ’smile-leniency effect.’”.

                                                The George Bush Smile

                                                George Bush Smile

                                                Enlightr.com has an article on smiling that talked of a “George Bush Smile”. Here is what the article author had to say:

                                                “President George W. Bush always has a permanent smirk on his face. Ray Birdwhistell found that smiling among middle-class people is most common in Atlanta, Louisville, Memphis, Nashville and most of Texas. Bush is a Texan and they smile more than most other Americans. As a result, in Texas, an unsmiling individual might be asked if he was ‘angry about something’, while in New York, the ’smiler’ might be asked, ‘What’s so funny?’ President Jimmy Carter was also a Southerner who smiled all the time. This worried the Northerners who feared that he knew something they didn’t.”

                                                Be careful who you smile at!

                                                Summary

                                                Count your blessings if you can smile without scaring people away. Use your beautiful smile to put people at ease, to improve your emotional state and make yourself more attractive. However, be careful about who you choose to smile to!

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                                              98. How to put Jealousy on a Leash

                                                Posted: April 2, 2009, 8:43 pm by Daniel Ngari

                                                Charley Reese said that if malice or envy were tangible and had a shape; it would be in the shape of a boomerang. A boomerang is a curved piece of wood; when properly thrown it returns to its thrower.  It returns to its initial position after going ‘full circle’. The word Boomerang comes from the Aboriginal language of Australia. I have thrown a few boomerangs in Australia, and if envy or jealousy is like a boomerang, we better watch out.

                                                Jealousy is a negative emotion and typically refers to the negative thoughts and feelings of insecurity, fear, and anxiety over an anticipated loss of something that the person values, such as a relationship. It consists of emotions such as anger, sadness, and disgust.

                                                Jealousy has been with us for as long as man has been on earth. Cain and Abel were the first and second sons of Adam and Eve in the religions of Christianity, Islam and Judaism. Cain, a farmer, committed the first murder by killing his brother Abel, a shepherd, because of jealousy concerning God’s favoritism of Abel.

                                                Many families with more than one kid experiences the emotion of jealousy as kids compete for their parent’s affection. If parents are not careful, sibling rivalry can get a life of its own leading to fights and mutual hatred of family members. Parents should be careful how they treat their kids to avoid planting the seeds of jealousy.

                                                The purpose of this blog is to inspire you to be the best you can be. Jealousy can destroy that which you are trying to build. Jealousy can reduce the quality of your life or cost you in more than one way. We shall look at how to control jealousy to avoid it coming back to bite you.

                                                Each of us is prone to jealousy but in different degrees. There are some people who constantly have feelings of insecurity because of fear of losing loved ones. Then there are those who seem so detached, with a devil-may-care attitude.

                                                Jealousy in Relationships

                                                Jealousy can occur when valued relationships are threatened. Many couples feel threatened by the possibility of heartbreak. Jealousy is rooted in fear and is self perpetuating. Jealous people tend to exaggerate the mistakes of others and become really creative at manufacturing scenarios where they may be hurt.

                                                However, a little jealousy helps couples bond. It is a show of love and caring. Wanting to keep a man for herself is seen as a lady’s way of showing love in some cultures. If a man is not jealous of his wife of girlfriend, he may be seen as weak in some culture. Jealousy in this case is seen as an affirmation of love.

                                                There is however a fine line between jealousy and domestic abuse. What may start as love may quickly turn to a hostage situation. Some couples go overboard with mutual suspicion of each others intentions and commitment. This leads to paranoia that leads to diminished trust and affection. Jealousy stems from fears and uncertainty and if those are not addressed it may lead to emotional instability, relationship breakup or crimes of passion.

                                                Crimes of passion are crimes like assault or murder, against a spouse or other loved one because of sudden strong impulse such as a jealous rage or heartbreak rather than as a premeditated crime.

                                                Professional Jealousy

                                                Professional jealousy refers to the negative emotions that result from perceived disparities in fortunes. It can lead to stunted professional growth.

                                                Examples of professional jealousy situations include, colleagues being jealous of one another because of missed promotions, salary levels, relationships with others in the workplace or awards & achievements.

                                                Professional jealousy can also be as a result of one person or company experiencing a higher level of success. Instead of being jealous of others, it is best to carve your own niche and succeed on your terms.

                                                Taming Jealousy

                                                • Trust - Lack of trust in relationships is a major cause of jealousy. Couples who do not trust each others commitment or love are most likely to be jealous. Trust is earned overtime and couples should focus on actively building and maintaining trust as a foundation for a loving relationship.
                                                • Communication - Without communication it is hard to understand each other. Without understanding each other, people are left to make assumptions about others. When you make assumptions about what the other person is up to, you may find yourself being jealous over matters that could have been sorted through communication.
                                                • Confidence - Jealousy is caused by insecurity and lack of confidence. If you fear that your loved one may leave you because of ABC or D, then fix those things. Instead of cowering in fear, rectify the situation. Do whatever it takes to build your self confidence. It is your responsibility to be self confident not your partners. Do what you have to do to become confident in your abilities, looks and personality. If you have to hit the gym, make more money, or be better groomed, just do it.
                                                • Acceptance - You have to accept that people are different and even in relationships; no two people ever merge to become one. You will always find something wrong in your partner if you look for it. Accept that there are some things that you cannot change about people and learn to live with it or move on.
                                                • Empathy - Empathy means seeing things from the other person’s perspective. Open yourself to the possibility that there is always another way of interpreting situations.
                                                • Abundance Mindset - Jealousy comes from a scarcity mindset. Change your mindset to one of infinite possibilities. There are many fish in the ocean, do not kill yourself over one at the pond.
                                                • Write Journal - Writing your daily thoughts will help you understand yourself and why you get jealous. Write down your feelings and reasons for acting in a particular way. Then apply the power of baby steps to take corrective measures to tame jealousy.

                                                Summary

                                                Jealousy is a negative emotion that has been on earth since time immemorial. It is like a boomerang, if you let it rule your life it will come back to bite you.

                                                You can tame jealousy by being more trusting, confident and empathetic. Writing a journal and having an abundant mindset can also help tame the green eyed monster called jealousy.

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                                              Fish cakes

                                              Alas a fish cake.

                                              Yet more fish cakes

                                              Guess what ... yeah ... fish cakes.

                                              The end of the fish cakes

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