It was an experimental wine that Thierry had been working on…

He thought it had potential, so he decided to share it with Guy.

He poured two glasses. They sipped it.

After they’d both appreciated it for a few minutes, Thierry declared in heavily accented English…

“Now zat iz what you call a phet best-ard!”

And so the wine — and Thierry’s winery — was named.
The point: Don’t be afraid of silly ideas…

That’s the advice Paul Arden gives in his book It’s Not How Good You Are, It’s How Good You Want to Be.

And it’s advice that I agree with big time.

Fat Bastard wine is just one example of a silly idea that turned out to be very successful. I mean, who in their right mind would call a wine Fat Bastard?

Yet, it worked brilliantly…

In just six years, it became an international success, selling hundreds of thousands of cases. In fact, the brand was described by BusinessWeek as a “marketing phenomenon.”

I actually remember first seeing a bottle of Fat Bastard in a Tesco in Grimsby a couple of years ago. And I’m not surprised it’s stuck in my memory…

Imagine looking along your typical supermarket wine shelf. There’s Chateau This and Chateaux That — and then, right in the middle, there’s a bottle of Fat Bastard!

It’s an absurd name — almost juvenile. But attention-getting… and unforgettable.

Arden quotes John Cleese as saying:

“High creativity is responding to situations without critical thought.”

That’s what happened with the wine… Thierry and Guy weren’t thinking critically when they decided to name the wine. They just went with it.

I bet there was a lot of critical thought afterward, as various “suits” undoubtedly told them it was a silly idea. But they stayed with it, and ended up with a hit on their hands.

Using Silly Ideas to Solve Your Problems

Arden also talks about how “thinking silly” can help you overcome a mental block…

This resonated with me, because it’s something I often do if I get stuck. You’re faced with a problem at work and you need to come up with a solution, but your brain just isn’t firing.

It happens to us all, right?

You sit there trying to figure it out, but you end up going round in circles.

The problem remains.

One of the reasons your brain might not be firing properly is because you’re being too critical of yourself… You’re so concerned with coming up with the right solution, first time, that you’re blocking your brain.

As Cleese said, “creativity is responding to situations without critical thought.” So, you need to dump that critical thought and start thinking freely, start thinking “silly.”

Arden’s approach, here, is two-fold…

First, he recommends doing the opposite of what the solution requires…

And second, he recommends looking out the window and using whatever catches your eye — be it a man in the street, a television aerial, whatever — as a possible solution to your problem.

Both ideas sound strange, but it’s exactly this kind of illogic that shakes up your brain and gets it thinking about your problem — and its solution — in a different way.

So whenever you’re struggling to come up with a solution to a problem you’re facing…

Follow Paul Arden’s advice and start “thinking silly”… Your silly idea might just turn out to be the best one you ever have.

Source: Glenn Fischer ETR

The Zero-State

In my own trading, I have found the essential state of mind I must be in to trade at an optimal level. I call it the “zero-state.”
For me, the zero-state represents an emotionally neutral condition that is neither happy nor sad, neither overconfident nor fearful. The adjective “calm” starts to come close to what I mean but the term lacks an important distinction. “Calm” is part of an adjective pair, whose partner has precisely the opposite meaning. “Stormy” is usually given as the antonym to “calm.”
The term “serenity” describes a state that comes even closer to describing the zero-state than calm. Serenity suggests a timeless eternity of “no-emotion,” where I am not connected to the outcome in a personal, meaningful way.
No conventional adjective, however, can fully describe the zero-state. An adjective describes a particular condition. I associate one adjective or condition as one half of a pair of opposites. Both words of the pair form poles on a continuum where I think of the exact center as “zero,” just as on a number line.
Conceptually, the Japanese term “mu” comes fairly close to this concept of center. “Mu” has been variously described as neither yes or no, a state in-between that does not acknowledge the question being asked as one that may be answered by either yes or no, with the answer existing in a different plane of reality.

Other Useful Mental States

Other traders I know have found different mental states useful. After all, trading from an emotion-free state (like the zero-state) may not be the best mental state for you. Consider the following options for your optimal mental state in your journey of self discovery and trading mastery.
I know traders who find it necessary and useful to achieve a state of emotional alpha male competitiveness in order to enter the “ring of combat.” These traders perceive the trading environment as combative and they interpret their role accordingly. They anticipate combat, they mentally prepare for it, and they experience trading in combative terms.

Another effective trader I know needs to see himself as a pure mechanical businessman, so he takes a different approach: that of disinterested observer. He remains so disinterested that he will not even watch the trades unfold lest he’s tempted to adapt his rules mid-trade.
His analysis showed that such behavior did not add value, so his optimal mental state was to be as far away from engagement as possible.
These are just two other examples of different mental states suitable for effective trading. There may be as many unique states as there are traders, which means that you must use introspection and self-knowledge to discover what works for you psychologically.
How will you know? Know thyself and consult with others you trust and respect. Above all else, however, make sure you trade with real money in very small position sizes. Doing so will help you assess the effects of market, system, money and self on your total trading performance. Without even a small amount of money on the line, you postpone the Day of Judgment. The sooner you get into the game, the sooner you will engage in real learning. In addition, you need to use trading strategies that suit your personality, time frame, risk profile and working hypothesis of market behavior. Trading in ways that fit you will help you maintain your optimal mental state for trading.
Now, let’s delve into my preferred state for effective trading—the zero-state.

The Zero-State Experience

For me, achieving the zero-state is a necessary precondition for trading at my peak. It is a place where adjective pairs of mental states cancel each other out, leaving only a moment of pure being. It is the space between the words that we know, a moment and a place of freedom, where all notes may be struck; the moment precisely before the next action occurs.

For a horn player, it is the moment where he has gathered his breath and is prepared to initiate the note—the pure balance point between inhale and exhale. A diver finds the moment of motionless serenity between ascent and descent.

Imagine a Cartesian coordinate semantic grid system with adjective pairs arrayed about the origin. Each word has its precisely paired antonym and the midpoint of the ray that connects them is bisected at the origin.

The pure form of the act of trading for me is to achieve a timeless correctness—to take actions or to refrain from actions in perfect balance with the needs of the market at that moment; to be nothing more or less than that which is required ideally.

When I trade from this moment, this place, my results generate neither joy nor sadness; they simply are what they are. This allows me to enter the next trade with no emotional charge. I find this state keenly important to my style of trading. I try to find the hesitation point in a channel trade or in a breakout, where price remains poised between fear and greed. At this point, bulls and bears are in timeless balance and the next leg of the move will begin just as the last leg ends.

When I am able, I stalk the price to that moment of harmony, that zero-state where momentum transitions so I can refine the entry point and the initial stop to be absurdly close. This enables me to minimize open risk and move to “no lose” trade conditions very quickly.

When I know (barring an interruption of connectivity or market discontinuity) that I will never do worse than break even, I enter an immensely freeing psychological state as a professional trader. Experiencing the zero-state provides spiritual nourishment and meaningful satisfaction of that moment provides a meaningful experience having had a brush with Truth and Perfection in a small way for a fleeting moment in my life.

In judo we speak of a moment in a throw where you and your partner are equally sure that the other judo player is throwing you with exactly the same force and skill as you are throwing them. In that moment the throws stop, time slows, and you are suspended in a moment of pure being.

My exercise of attaining the zero-state smoothes my equity curve and rewards my trading practice.

Source: Ken Long, founder of Tortoise Capital Management, www.tortoisecapital.com

OK, now chuck out questions 1 and 3. They don’t matter.

If you scored below 7 on questions 2 and 4, you are likely broke and will likely remain so.
Seriously?!
Yes.

There are many billionaires who don’t even have a formal university education.

However, with a couple of rare exceptions, all billionaires score extremely high in Persistence and Self Confidence.
The billionaires who don’t score high in those areas inherited their money – and will invariably lose it as easily as it came to them.

Can these two skills truly be acquired?
Short of a brain transplant, this is the fastest route available for personal change.
The answer is an unequivocal YES.

Click Here <--

And there is finally a scientific way to verify it.

Source: Mark Joyner, Founder of Simpleology

Quiet your logical mind. Your mind’s intuitive aspect will not overpower the logical side because you currently give more credence to logical thinking and the feeling of being in control. You can encourage access to the intuitive side, however, by creating a tranquil atmosphere in which you remove stimuli for the logical part of your mind. In the process, however, be sure that your logical mind does not become involved analyzing the beauty or activity that is happening around you.

Sit in a comfortable position: one in which you can relax but won’t fall asleep. There is no mystery in meditation; you simply create a neutral situation which does not stimulate your logical brain. If you find it difficult to sit and meditate, try doing something you love such as gardening or walking. When faced with very difficult situations, I find it helpful to do something with enough physical effort involved to keep my mind busy. If this does not work, I increase my physical activity until I get tired. Then I sit down to meditate. One sure way to access your intuitive mind to place yourself in a situation in which there is no seeming logical solution. An example would be one of imminent danger. In such situations the logical mind gives up after running out of solutions, now the intuitive mind can be heard. As effective as it is, I do not recommend people pursue imminently dangerous situations as a meditation method.

Watch your thoughts as you meditate. Do not try to consciously stop thinking or try to block out thoughts. This will only raise your anxiety level. Close your eyes and watch your thoughts but do not hold on to them. See your thoughts as a moving billboard, observe them and let them move on. As you do this, you will eventually come to a place where you are not aware of thinking. A helpful adjunct to this practice is to watch your breathing. Inhale deeply and then let the breath out slowly. Repeat this procedure for several minutes remaining aware of the inflow and outflow of air in your body. If you get to the place where you see colors, hear sounds or buzzing in your ears, or are startled by the realization that you have not had a conscious thought for some time, you are doing very well.

Create a routine for your meditation. It is best to meditate early in the morning before the “busy-ness” of the day intrudes on you. You can start by meditating for just a few minutes and then extend your time to 10, 15, or even 30 minutes. It is good to keep a note pad beside you for both interrupting thoughts and insights. If thoughts occur to you as you meditate, write them down so your mind can let them go. You may want to follow up this meditation time with a few moments of writing in a daily diary. This can create a nice stream of consciousness for future reference. Read what you have written down the following day.

Read from a spiritual or personally meaningful book before you enter mediation. This helps to set your mind in a good place and to create a theme for your meditation that day.

Write down insights that you receive during mediation or later during the day. This gives the insights more validity in your mind. Whenever possible, act on these intuitive thoughts or at least take steps that will lead to their incorporation in to your life. Meditation will always be a game if you treat it as such. If you have questions that you want answered, write the questions down before the meditation and ask to have clarity concerning them. Do not let them become the only reason for your meditation as this can focus your logical mind on problem-solving. Your logical mind would love nothing more than to interrupt your meditation as it struggles to solve the problem.

Don’t problem solve while mediating. Meditation is for quieting your mind and creating a clean slate on which you can receive new information. The answers will come in their own time and in their own form. They may or may not come in meditation and you may or may not recognize them when they arrive. Have faith that intuition works and that solutions will come. Often it has been my experience that I receive an answer in a very different form than what I expected. For example, I often find that the problem for which I am seeking a solution is not a problem after all. I can assure you that intuition works very well. Most of the great discoveries and technical breakthroughs are the result of intuition and not logic or formal experimentation. As Einstein said, “You cannot solve a problem at the level of the problem.” Intuition and creativity are ways of rising above the problem so it can be seen in a new light and from a different viewpoint.

Intuitive solutions are different from logical solutions. As I said before, intuitive solutions come in their own time and cannot be rushed. You may think you need to have an answer but intuition does not provide the solution until all aspects of the “problem” are ready. Intuition taps into universal knowledge and universal timing.

The intuitive solution is inclusive and universal—the information you receive includes everyone and everything involved. If you prefer, it is a cosmic or macro viewpoint. Logical thinking tends to look at the “problem” from your individual or micro point of view. Creativity looks at all aspects and all viewpoints and tends to see the total picture and not just one viewpoint. Logical thinking can seem much more appealing because it gives us the feeling of control while the opposite is true of intuitive thinking. Since intuition includes everyone and everything in the situation, you may feel like you are involved in something larger—something knowable but not controllable. The intuitive solution is quite different in form; it takes practice to recognize and utilize it.

Use your intuitive senses in small ways. As you put intuition to use in your life, you will begin to see the benefits it brings to you in terms of abundance and happiness. These benefits will increase your confidence in your intuitive ability. As you use and learn to trust this ability, it will become more natural for you to use it in more complicated situations. Again I caution you to not make this a game, a way of showing off, or a new form of behavior justification. Keep your intuitive sense to yourself and nurture it through application and commitment.

Be alert for intuitive information from all sources, all the time. I call this inner “listening” because all the time I am “listening” for messages, clarity, and insights. Discerning when you get these insights can be quite a challenge. The audio example I use is of an “Aha!” and the visual example is that of a light bulb going on. These are positive experiences as if one is suddenly aware of a new twist or dimension. They come as clarity or as all the pieces falling together in your mind. The information may be in a stream of meaningless material of which one part sticks in your mind or carries a very definite image. The source can be from what you may consider positive, but it also can arrive in a negative form. Inner “listening” is not the same as a fearful or cautious thought, though it may be in the form of taking care and not proceeding with a project. The hardest part is to differentiate between fearful or limited thinking and real intuition and insights. The first is based on past experiences; the source is your limited mind reminding you of potential pitfalls. Insights and intuition come from your contact with the unlimited source and leave you with a feeling of clarity and awareness. When I say be alert all the time, I mean while you are awake. Do not forego your sleeping time. If you have a strong or reoccurring dream, “listen” to its message. Make an effort to recall dreams in the morning and during meditation to ask if they held any messages.

Awareness is the key to inner “listening.” Honesty is required of all who choose to follow the intuitive path because most problems, while seeming to be outside of us, come from our own blocks to receiving the unlimited potential awaiting us. It is very easy to blame our problems on others or the current economic situation. If we do this, we will never hear the answers that come to help us change our thinking. We must also realize that we have the power to change our thinking and thereby our experience of any situation. Intuition and inner “listening” show us the mis-thinking that caused our problem, but only if we are willing to honestly assess how we created the results we have.

“Accepting” is an important step towards happiness and abundance.

Source: Listening, Accepting, Being, and Awakening by Lee Coit

Some of the things I took home from my Oscar run, that I also realize are just as important in my business:

. Never underestimate the challenge (and the competition). I thought that I would do ok this year without having to compete with a multi-billion dollar airline. I didn’t realize that this retail company was so damned aggressive in their pursuit of votes. They had 25 people with them at the awards ceremony … a sign of how serious they took it.

Looking forward, I know just what I would have to do if nominated next year … bust my ass getting votes! I see now where I went wrong … and would do my best to make sure it never happens again.

I have not failed.
I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.
-Thomas Edison

. Are you missing an accountability partner? I was. I should have had my assistant managing my campaign for votes. She could be making sure I had promotions going out, links being posted, videos being distributed, and so on.

Do you work alone? Maybe it’s time you find a solid assistant that can help you stay organized and get more things done. Hint: I found my exceptional project manager through odesk.com.

I don’t know the key to success,
but the key to failure is trying to please everybody.
– Bill Cosby

. Do you have a workable plan of attack in place? I didn’t. I winged it. Which I should have known better. This should’ve been treated like any marketing plan that had a chance at success.

The only way you can expect to succeed in your marketing is to have a day-by-day, week-by-week plan for what you will do, and how you will track the results of.

Basic? Yes.
Actually done? No.
As simple as this technique is, I would be willing to bet that seven out of ten entrepreneurs have zero actual marketing plan in place.
Do you?

You always pass failure on your way to success.
– Mickey Rooney

It can be as simple as a night out for dinner and dancing (well, you don’t want to see me dance, not a pretty site).
It can be a movie with my twin nine-year-old daughters (Avatar rocked!).
It can be a night out for a few cold ones with some friends.
They key is to make sure you have people who understand the life of an entrepreneur you can celebrate with. Then plan to celebrate … for good reasons or bad.

There is no failure.
Only feedback.
– Robert Allen

. No finger pointing allowed. That’s too easy. It always easy to find situations, people or places you can put the blame on. But that doesn’t help you out at all moving forward.

Take ownership of your actions and never lay blame when you could have learned a lesson.

Success in marketing and entrepreneurship IS about trying things, finding out what does and doesn’t work, then taking those lessons to the next phase of your business growth.

There is no failure except in no longer trying.
– Elbert Hubbard

You truly need to believe in yourself and your ability to achieve your dreams.
And you also need to understand and be prepared for many setbacks and failures along the way.
Just because an advertisement bombs, doesn’t mean advertising doesn’t work (like a lady I was talking to this week told me).
It means that the approach that was used didn’t work … and you are one step closer to finding an approach that WILL work.

Reward excellent failure. Punish mediocre success
-Tom Peters

One of your greatest assets you will have as an entrepreneur is the number of “tests” you did that didn’t work. The greater that number is, the closer you are to getting your next big winner.

Never forget that.

And get thicker skin along the way!

Never confuse a single defeat with a final defeat.
- F. Scott Fitzgerald

Failure is only the opportunity to begin again more intelligently.
- Henry Ford

I realize this was more of a motivational post than the usual, but I think it holds the key to understanding why some entrepreneurs succeed wildly … and others fizzle out and disappear.

Those who are willing to tough it out and fail forward faster, are the ones that ultimately always find the big winners along the way.

Henry Ford once hired an efficiency expert to go through his plant. Ford directed him to find the nonproductive employees and, he said, “I will fire them!”

When the expert finished his evaluation, he reported to Ford that he was particularly concerned with one of his administrators. “Every time I walked by, he was sitting with his feet propped up on the desk. The man never does a thing. I definitely think you should consider getting rid of him!”

Ford was curious to know who was using company time that way. Then the expert identified him, and Ford shook his head. “I can’t fire him. I pay that man to do nothing but think, and that’s what he’s doing.”

Even in this culture of downsizing, right-sizing, and just plain streamlining operations, no company can afford to lose its thinkers.

Most small to mid-sized companies probably can’t afford to hire a “staff thinker,” but among the larger, and likely the most successful companies, I’ll bet you’ll find someone with a title like strategic planner, researcher, creative engineer, visioner, or some similar version. At Disney, they’re called “imagineers.” (At Microsoft, they’re called “millionaires.”)

“What a job!” you’re thinking right about now. No measurable goals, no restrictive job descriptions, no pressure, because nobody can tell if you’re doing your job. But you must prove yourself over time.

Guess again. Some people get lost in thought because it’s such unfamiliar territory. And then look around your office and see if you can identify the person you’d go to first if you needed a great new plan or idea. There’s the thinker. The job title may not be a tip-off.

Minds are like parachutes — not much good unless they are open.
Source: Harvey Mackay

Use Your Head to Get Your Foot in the Door: Job Search Secrets No One Else Will Tell You

Swim with the Sharks Without Being Eaten Alive: Outsell, Outmanage, Outmotivate, and Outnegotiate Your Competition

Beware the Naked Man Who Offers You His Shirt: Do What You Love, Love What You Do, and Deliver More Than You Promise

We will review 3 reports on three studies that recently came in.

In the first, you find out whether giving bonuses is more effective at motivating employees than giving them merit raises. (You can see how that maps over to things other than money, yes?)

In the second, you get to see if avoiding punishment is its own reward. (That’s one of the big keys in marketing and selling, right?)

In the third, you’ll read a fascinating report where one of my favorite researchers, Steven Reiss, says that there is no such thing as intrinsic motivation. (In future, we’ll talk about how important that is for you and me to “know”, or at least consider.)

Using Your Pay System to Improve Employees’ Performance

Giving a 1 percent raise boosts employee job performance by roughly 2 percent, but offering that same money in the form of a bonus that is strongly linked to a job well done can improve job performance by almost 20 percent (!), finds a new Cornell study on the relationship between pay and performance. By changing the strength of the pay-for-performance relationship [awarding bonuses], you can improve performance by up to 19 percent.”

In other words, giving someone a 1 percent raise is 1/10 as effective as giving them a one time bonus of the same amount of money. The raise would likely carry into the future, of course, and a bonus is a one time only deal.

Is avoiding punishment its own reward? …

To give your child an incentive to cut the lawn, you might offer to buy her something, or you might threaten to withhold her regular allowance. Does the child respond the same way to reward as she does to avoiding punishment?

Psychologists have evidence from certain kinds of behavioral experiments to believe that avoiding punishment is itself a reward. The IRS has built the world’s largest scam by promising to punish people who don’t pay the money requested. (You can’t really “owe” taxes. You did nothing to have a debt. You simply pay or experience pain.)

Avoiding negative outcomes and receiving rewards amount to the same thing for the brain: achieving a goal.
Reward serves as an external signal that reinforces behavior associated with a positive outcome.

Does “Intrinsic Motivation” Even Exist?

Intrinsic motivation refers to motivation that comes from inside an individual rather than from any external or outside rewards, such as money or grades.

While some psychologists still argue that people perform better when they do something because they want to — rather than for some kind of reward, such as money — Steven Reiss suggests we shouldn’t even make that distinction.

Individuals differ enormously in what makes them happy – for some competition, winning and wealth are the greatest sources of happiness, but for others, feeling competent or socializing may be more satisfying. The point is that you can’t say some motivations, like money, are inherently inferior.

For example, the argument is that children are naturally curious and enjoy learning for the joy it brings them. Grades, they argue, are an extrinsic reward that fosters competition and makes learning less pleasurable. There are many children for whom the important reward to them is the grades they get, the competition among classmates. This goes against what some psychologists say, who think competition is bad and a non-competitive attitude is good, and that learning and curiosity are intrinsic values that everyone shares. They are pushing their own value system on to everybody.

Source: The study, “Using Your Pay System to Improve Employees’ Performance: How You Pay Makes a Difference,” is available at no charge from the Cornell Center for Hospitality Research

Book two covers the difference between amateurs and professionals. An amateur is somebody who does whatever they do for fun. A pro is somebody who does what they do for fun, and a living. It is amazing how this reliance upon personal finances has a peculiar way of focusing the mind.

Book three covers the invisible physic forces that support and sustain us in our journey towards ourselves.

Just read about Resistance and then Do Your Work
01. Resistance is invisible.
02. Resistance is internal.
03. Resistance is insidious.
04. Resistance is implacable.
05. Resistance is impersonal.
06. Resistance is infallible.
07. Resistance is universal.
08. Resistance never sleeps.
09. Resistance plays for keeps.
10. Resistance is fueled by fear.
11. Resistance only opposes in one dierction.
12. Resistance is most powerful at the finish line.
13. Resistance recruits allies.
14. Procrastination is the most common manisfestation of Resistance.
15. Resistance can become a habit.
16. Geeting ourselves into trouble is a sign of Resistance.
17. Self-dramatization is a sign of Resistance.
18. Self-medication is a sign of Resistance.
19. Victimhood is a sign of Resistance.
20. Resistance influences our choice of our mate.
21. Resistance feels like unhappiness; addiction; and then, clinical.
22. Resistance causes you to criticize others.
23. Resistance can take the form of wild self-confidence.
24. Resistance is experienced as fear.
25. Resistance is directly proportional to love.
26. Grandiose fantasies are a symptom of Resistance.
27. Workshops and support groups are Resistance.
28. Rationalization is Resistance’s right-hand man.
29. Resistance can be beaten.

Source: “The War of Art” by Steven Pressfield

Today, for a change, let’s talk about what you don’t need to succeed.
- You don’t have to be smart.
- You don’t have to be good-looking.
- You don’t have to be thin.
- You don’t have to be nice.
- You don’t have to be right — all the time.
- You don’t have to be even-tempered.

I’m not saying you shouldn’t be kind, sympathetic, and patient. You should try to be all of those things, because those qualities will make you a better and happier person.

But in remaking your personality into that of an automatic wealth builder, focus on enthusiasm, diligence, and determination. Set goals. And take action.
Now, this is a book that I strongly recommed to improve our efficiency at whatever we do: The 168 Hour Week by Kevin Hogan

Here is your current life script:
1. You want some thing or some stuff in life. You want to feel something good, get rid of feeling something bad, and you want to have meaning and significance. No one ever told you about breaking orbit.
2. You generally can point to what those things are that you want and have a hint of what would give your life meaning and significance.
3. You can generally write down those things (and we will in the future).
4. You can generally devise a plan or strategy to move in the direction of those “things.”
5. Then things go wrong in various parts of life.
6. Some of it is your fault. Some is the fault of the person you live with. Some of it is your boss’s fault. Some of it was a random act of “God.” But the key fact is BAD STUFF or UNPLANNED STUFF, HAPPENED.
7. Now you have COMPETING COMMITMENTS. The Daily Planner says to do X but life has just thrown a Q (Someone decides to invite you to their wedding) or a Z (someone dies, gets sick, the neighbor kids egged your car, or you get sick perhaps) at you and you either have to let X go, or you have to do it while navigating Q or Z.
8. You’ll have to clean the car, get well, go to the wedding (or not) AND get X done.
9. That causes OVERWHELM and STRESS.
10. That raises levels of anger, resentment, hostility, frustration and generates feelings of blame, guilt, shame and all kinds of other nonproductive …stuff.
11. You become difficult to work with/live with and your relationships are compromised.
12. It now takes additional time to repair what your emotions AND the emotions of others have mixed into the life cocktail. Now X doesn’t get done and neither does Q or Z.
13. You all but toss the Daily Planner aside and recognize that Time Management in it’s traditional sense, simply doesn’t work. (And it doesn’t.)
14. You go through life day by day, then month by month and YEAR BY YEAR missing out on number 1 and 2 above. There is very little meaning, very little significance. There is a minimum of good feelings and sadly plenty of stress and angst.
15. That’s how your life works.

And I’d like to change that now…if it’s OK with you…
What no one tells you, but you really do need is…momentum.

MOMENTUM
Remember those old pieces of footage from when NASA would launch an Apollo rocket to the moon? That big Saturn rocket that carried the teeny tiny lunar module on top…the one with Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, Jim Collins….that Saturn V rocket was over 350 FEET tall.

I’ve stood next to the lunar module that came back from the moon and it’s about 10 feet high and it’s hard to believe you could squish a few people in that little thing.
Back to the Saturn V, though.

I am not a rocket scientist but these missions fascinated me. Those huge rockets were actually built in three different parts (stages). The first stage was the big one. It was the base. It was what gave the initial burst of oomph to get the rocket and it’s passengers in the air.

That first stage was 138′ tall.

It burned 4.4 MILLION POUNDS of fuel in just 150 SECONDS.

That took the rocket a grand total of 42 miles on it’s 250,000 mile trip to the moon.

42/250,000…the first 42 miles and it used 80% of the fuel for a HALF MILLION mile trip!

Then the stage was ejected and it fell back to earth somewhere in an ocean. The rocket was now flying at over 6,000 miles per hour. Then stage two kicked in.

Stage two was 81′ tall and used 1 MILLION POUNDS of fuel in just 6 minutes and pushed the rocket another 109 miles to a speed of 15,000 miles+ per hour.

So you have this 350+ foot rocket and in the first 9 MINUTES 96% of all the FUEL was used to gain momentum were used for the first 109/250,000 of the mission TO the moon. (Remember the passengers had to get back home too!)

Stage three was 58 feet tall and this stage was a little more complex and I frankly don’t get how it all worked but basically it pushed the remainder of the rocket for about 6 MINUTES (as little as 2.5 minutes and as much as almost three hours) to get the rocket really rocking around the earth so it could “slingshot” out of earth’s atmosphere and off to the moon, then it would bring the passengers into orbit around the moon. (All of the science is beyond my comprehension.)

This final stage used 250,000 pounds of fuel, or about 4% of the total FUEL for 99.9% of the remainder of the trip there and back! That boggles my mind to this day.

When I was a little kid, my grandparents lived in Huntsville, Alabama and my brothers and myself would visit them in the summer time. One of the “stages” of the rocket(s) was kept in Huntsville at a NASA facility. We got a chance to see it and it triggered even further fascination into the idea of MOMENTUM.

When it ALL Happens
EVERYTHING HAPPENS in the first few SECONDS or MINUTES. If you break earth’s gravitational pull, inertia, then you can accomplish anything.

You have to get started, and CONTINUE. It’s hard at first then you break gravitational pull and the orbit of the STATUS QUO and you are OFF and the rest is almost easy.

Momentum is SO important. If you dedicate 10 hours per day, 7 days per week, to your project X for six weeks, it will be almost a sure thing that you will succeed over the next 10 YEARS with Project X. Your life will COMPLETELY change. You will be COMPLETELY transformed. You will be CAPABLE of just about anything that is humanly possible. But only a teeny tiny percentage of people will be willing to be that uncomfortable for say, six weeks.

Because most people can’t get past discomfort for any period longer than moments, few people accomplish…anything. There is no meaning to be had because there is no discomfort, there is no sense of unfamiliarity.

Am I Making You Uncomfortable?
Meaning comes when something is not comfortable.

You can use 95% of the energy on a project and fail, exhausted with the remaining third stage falling back to earth…or you can use the 96th% and break free from gravity…which is really just getting past inertia and started and then it’s not unfamiliar or uncomfortable anymore. Then it’s simply a wise use of time.

The great life lesson, perhaps the greatest and most important lesson is knowing this in advance: The danger is that you WILL feel unrewarded for the energy you expend on a project with no return.

People are used to getting a paycheck every two weeks and no table top business will return a dollar in the first two weeks but you’ll work two or three times as hard at the Coffee Table business as you are at work.

Your family will be upset with you because you are grumpy. You will be tired and have nothing to show for your work. The TEMPTATION to QUIT is OVERWHELMING ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE DOING WHAT WORKS… which is why it takes 5.5 MILLION POUNDS OF FUEL to go 109/250,000 miles and only 0.2 MILLION POUNDS OF FUEL to go 249,881 miles….AND BACK! No one knows that…except you.

Obviously this could be a relationship, a business, anything. All of the hardest work on your part is early when everything is unfamiliar and uncomfortable.

All of the smart work is the rest of the project.

A Daily Reminder
So isn’t it worth planning your day, your life so that you are constantly REMINDING YOUR SELF DAILY to CONTINUE if you are in the first 109 miles AND challenging yourself to do things that you would be proud of yourself for?

That is one of the fatal flaws of almost all (perhaps all) time planning systems in existence.

Nothing is more important than the advance reminder that the unfamiliar and uncomfortable is anticipated and prepared for. But no matter how much preparation or planning you do it WILL BE UNCOMFORTABLE & UNFAMILIAR.

You will feel like you want to jump back into your comfort zone. Period.
Much of the rest of this book is about fixing that!

Source: The 168 Hour Week by Kevin Hogan

Brain wave training has been found to yield excellent results in facilitation of human memory, attention span, and relaxation (Hutchinson, 1994). Furthermore, this research has been demonstrating brain-wave training as an effective intervention in impaired levels of functioning due to ADHD, learning disabilities, physical brain trauma, & psychological trauma (Ochs, 1993). Source: An Empirical Investigation into the Effect of Beta Frequency Binaural Beat Audio Signals on 4 Measures of Human Memory by Richard Kennerly. http://brain.web-us.com/bbmemoryindex.htm

Entrainment is the process of synchronization, where vibrations of one object will cause the vibrations of another object to oscillate at the same rate. External rhythms can have a direct effect on the psychology and physiology of the listener. Source: www.peyote.com/jonstef/brain.htm

“They (mind devices) are being used by scientists, educators, physicians and psychologists for everything from accelerated learning & athletic peak performance training to remediation of chronic medical and psychological problems. And all of these applications are based on the simple premise of making the brain more mentally fit – promoting awareness and control of the basic cycle of cortical relaxation and activation and the flexibility to move within the cycle at will. Source: Exercising Your Brain for Peak Performance by Dennis Campbell: Total Health, Aug 96, Vol. 18, Issue 4, pg. 34.

“Harold Russell, Ph.D. – reported research that showed L/S at Beta frequencies 18-21 Hz appeared to improve the cognitive functioning of ADHD children.” Reported at the Association of Applied psychophysiology & biofeedback annual meeting in Dallas, Texas – 1991. Source: The Clinical Guide to Sound & Light by Thomas Budzynski (see reference).

“The device [mind machine], with appropriately selected stimulation protocols has been observed by us to be an excellent neuropathway exerciser. … Furthermore, the long-term effects of regular use of the device on maintaining and improving cerebral performance throughout life and possibly delaying for decades the deterioration of the brain. Robert Cosgrave Jr. Ph.D., M.D. Source: Time Flashes: A Short History of Sound & Light Technology by Michael Hutchison, pg. 6

Audio Visual Stimulation

Audio Visual Stimulation (AVS) Technology plays a large role in the cognitive revolution that is sweeping through the 21st century. Although the use of sound and or light for healing, relaxation and achieving altered states of consciousness (ASC) has been used for centuries, it’s only recently that the scientific community has reawakened to its phenomenal potential.

AVS Technology is related to EEG Neurofeedback and Biofeedback technology. While EEG Neurofeedback is more of a precise system of brainwave stimulation (BWS) reading and delivery, AVS provides a more general application of BWS. EEG Neurofeedback is also much more complicated of a system to work with and as a result it requires specialized, extensive training for usage. Not to mention EEG Neurofeedback is also a much more expensive system to work with. The good news is that you can achieve similar results, though more general with an AVS system and if you decide to go into the field of EEG Neurofeedback, you will have learned much of the information through your study and experience with AVS technology.

There is a difference between biofeedback and AVS. Biofeedback is used to condition the nervous system, while AVS stimulates specific patterns of activity in the brain. With biofeedback you become aware of processes normally unavailable to conscious inspection. The awareness includes understanding how it feels to increase or decrease the selected process (a state of relaxation or arousal). In the end, both will get you to the same destination but the journey differs.

Benefits of Using AVS

Although results vary with the individual, the results on a whole have been favorable. Some of the benefits of sound and light brain entrainment reported are:
- Increases in I.Q. especially in children with ADD
- Improved memory and attention span
- Reduction of stress
- Better results in meditation (deeper trance achieved)
- Pain management and relief
- Addiction relief
- Replace lost sleep, reduce fatigue
- Higher scores on tests
- Improved cognitive ability
- Accelerated learning
- Easier access to hypnotic state

The more control you can acquire over your brain states, the more emotional and mental control you acquire over your life.

Brainwave Frequencies overview

A brainwave is an electrochemical rhythm which occurs across the surface of the brain known as the cerebral cortex. This rhythm measures cortical arousal which reflects a corresponding state of mind.

A brainwave is measured on the surface of the scalp where all the bioelectrical activity occurs. The cerebral cortex makes up 80% of the brain’s mass.

This biochemical electricity is produced in the brain through frequencies measured in hertz. “Hertz” is measured as beats per second.

We categorize groups of these frequencies according to the range that is associated with various states of mind.

These frequencies correspond to normally four measurable groups of frequencies – Beta, Alpha, Theta and Delta. Note: High Beta (24 – 70 Hz) is referred to as “Gamma”. Low Beta (12 – 15 Hz) is referred to as “SMR”.

Even though all four frequencies are found in the brain at all times, there will always be one or two dominant frequencies. Through entrainment, our goal is to make the desired frequency a dominant frequency at the desired time.

When creating a program, it’s best to use the range of frequencies in the target area instead of producing segments focusing on one frequency because A) habituation easily occurs when you only use one frequency, thus making the treatment less effective, and B) not every person responds the same way to a frequency. For example, while 10 Hz may produce the desired result in one person, 11 Hz will produce the same in another person.

Discover what BrainWave Evolution System can do for you today. Free Trial for 20 days!

Relaxation, meditation, learning peak performance, stress reduction and deeper sleep; these are just a few reasons why so many individuals worldwide are discovering the benefits of Audio Visual Stimulation (AVS) devices or light and sound machines. Also known as “Mind machines” these devices can gently guide your mind into desired states, such as helping you relax, sleep better, reach meditative states more quickly… and more.

Whether you are a long time follower of neurotechnology or are just discovering its powerful possibilities, we have something for you here. Light/Sound synthesizer Photosonix machines have made it easier for many to reach that elusive few minutes of calm.

Source:
MindPlace Photosonix InnerPulse Light Therapy Sound Machine
Photosonix Nova MindPlace Pro Light & Sound Machine Sensory with Colortrack Glasses

The book consists of an introduction and eight chapters, each of which is focused on different factors that can attract or repel people.

1. The conspicuous flaw factor
2. The visual preprogramming factor
3. The reptilian comfort factor
4. The sacred cow factor
5. The jackass factor
6. The biology of language factor
7. The biotuning factor
8. The mental real estate factor

One issue I have with the book is that it doesn’t have a lot of documentation for its theories. To quote Publishers Weekly, “Unfortunately, Kunkel’s evidence of these universals is vague and speculative.” But that’s probably because Kunkel is a communications consultant and not a researcher.

However, I realized I was getting tired of reading books that just went through research study after research study. Besides, a lot of the anecdotal evidence did ring pretty true. So here are the few that stood out to me.

The conspicuous flaw factor

I liked the section on “Ugly as a Design Element” because, when you think about it, most of the world’s favorite websites: Google, craigslist, eBay, Facebook, LinkedIn, mySpace, Twitter, etc. are all pretty lame when it comes to design and navigation. In many cases, they break all the standard rules. Kunkel posits that as a society we can be turned off by “slick websites,” as it gives us the impression that big companies are behind them. This is why we prefer the ugly ducklings.

The reptilian comfort factor

I found the discussion of “The principal of least effort” interesting because it stated that a more appealing sales pitch is not that a certain blender would help YOU chop, dice, etc. at the speed of light, but that the BLENDER chops, dices, etc. at the speed of light. We are basically lazy and do not want to do the work. This is why we are more likely to buy a blender that does the work for us.

I think this section hit home because at the time I read it, we were in the midst of choosing a new slogan, and I was reluctant to include the word “effortless” when it comes to networking. I know that networking is not effortless. However, according to the book Made to Stick (which makes a similar argument), as well as Instant Appeal, I should have gone with “effortless.” So this week, I’ve started including that word in our Google ads as a test. I’m curious to see what happens.

It’s funny: As I was reading this section, I kept thinking . . . this is the secret to The Secret. We don’t want to work for results. We prefer to just think nice thoughts. Sure enough, on the next page, that’s exactly the example Kunkel uses.

Another comfort factor that struck a chord with me is where she talks about the difference between the career application pages at Microsoft and Apple. The former is rather technical; the latter is user-friendly and more appealing in its design. Both are meant to cater to the audience they want to attract and hire. In this economy, where companies that actually have positions are inundated with applications, it might be worthwhile to see if you can weed out a few through your website alone.

The sacred cow and jackass factors

Unite around a common enemy. Kunkel defines “sacred cows” as protected ideologies that attract like-minded people; and the “jackass factor” is defined as the intentional repulsion of a portion of the audience by being unapologetically yourself.

“To gain supporters, you have to create enemies because, when you do that, you at the same time energize your base of loyalists and give them an external force to combat.” In some sense, this takes Seth Godin’s tribes a bit further. Not only do like-minded folk follow a charismatic leader, they are more solidified if they have to battle a common enemy. Looking back to our presidential election, one only has to think that Sarah Palin helped unite the Democratic Party behind Barack Obama.

This is an interesting thought for a company, one you can definitely see it at play between Microsoft and Apple. I was about to write that, as a company owner, I’m not ready to go there. But in fact we do market the Downtown Women’s Club as a fun and inclusive alternative to stale, bureaucracy-laden, exclusive and traditional networking associations. Over the years, we’ve had women denounce us as not being professional because we have spa nights and horoscopes or that we were focusing too much on technology and online networking. I used to try to find ways to engage those detractors, but then a few years ago I stopped because I stand by our fun factor, and our business model is proving that technology is key.

Who ya gonna turn off? This is the question Kunkel apparently asks clients to help them define their market better and increase their appeal. I have to agree here, as you can see from the above paragraph. I made a conscious decision to stand behind fun and technology when it comes to networking, and I really do not want to attract people who tell me that I need to “be more like other groups.”

Corporate individuality. This was a small section, but I think it has a lot more meaning in the social media era. “For a corporate personality to be believable, individual leadership personalities within that organization must be believable, too.” I’ve always felt that companies that slap a logo on their twitter personalities and then review everything their “social media representatives” say don’t do much to attract people. As Kunkel writes, “we’re in a creative economy now where the focus is on participation.” I would add that transparency and authenticity are big, too.

The whole section basically boils down to the following paragraph:

“The real appeal of a strong . . . leader boils down to one thing: confidence. We are drawn to people who know who they are, know what they want and go after it, and are so independent and self-assured that they don’t need or want the approval of anyone. They are comfortable in their own skin. They have found their own voices. Their strong and assertive nature is intoxicating and makes us feel safe in their company because we get the feeling that they can overcome anything.”

The biology of language factor.

Apparently popular books, songs, tv shows, etc. use “comfort language.” That is, most of the No. 1 songs include the same words at high frequencies. And best-selling authors like Dr. Seuss and Agatha Christie use very few words in total and a lot of repetition. I’m not sure I’m buying this one but, when thinking of corporate slogans, it might be worthwhile to keep it simple.

The mental real estate factor.

In this factor Kunkel also advocates keeping it simple because our brains can only function in so many different ways at one time. For example, it’s often the most basic, least creative commercials that get us to buy. The humorous and highly creative ones distract us from the core message.

In addition, audiences will only see the parts in a commercial that resonate most with them and will subconsciously ignore the rest. She has some interesting examples about kids and commercials. But this reminds me of a comment a friend made recently. “I know I just joined Facebook, so maybe that’s why I’m suddenly noticing how much it’s in the press. Yet maybe it was there before, and I just never noticed it.” She’s probably right. Clearly, coverage of Facebook and Twitter has increased in the recent past as more and more journalists use them, too. Yet it probably remains background noise for anyone who doesn’t use them.

Another small but good point in this section had to do with why it helps to dumb down your PowerPoint presentations. Too much info or special effects are distracting and detract from your message.

Source: “Instant Appeal: The 8 Primal Factors that Create Blockbuster Success” by Vicki Kunkel

Once you understand exactly how the brain works, you will be able to condition it to focus on reaching your dreams.

Ninety-eight percent of everything scientists know about the brain has been discovered since 1996. So even though I have degrees in biology and chemistry, I had to do some heavy research to be able to give you the latest findings that will help you
reach your goals.

The latest findings scientifically prove that by regularly writing your goals down, visualizing your intended result, and passionately saying affirmations you actually physically change your brain’s neurons and hard-wire your subconscious mind to focus like a guided missile on reaching your dreams and goals.

I love the fact that modern science has finally proven what successful athletes and entrepreneurs have known all along. That there are ways we can change ourselves to become the type of person capable of achieving our dreams.

This means that no matter how bleak you past has been, you can make a choice to have an unbelievably successful future because if we can change the wiring in our brain, the past does not have to equal the future.

If you are not into science and if you already buy into these findings and if you are already living the life of your dreams, don’t read any further. But if you really want to understand the nuts and bolts of how your mind works and how you can program it to work for you, read on.

How to use your subconscious mind to win more.

At the base of the brain, where it connects with the spinal cord is a region called the Reticular Activation System (RAS).

The RAS acts like a filter that decides which thoughts to focus on at any one time. We need this filter system because every second, there are about 8 million bits of information (subconsciously) flowing through our brain. There has to be a way to filter out the noise!

The RAS decides which messages will arrive at the brain. Once a message gets past the RAS filter and enters the cerebrum, it can turn into conscious thoughts, emotions, or both.

Even though the cerebrum is the center of thought, it will not respond to a message unless the RAS allows it. The RAS is like Google – there are millions of websites out there, but you filter out the ones you are not interested in simply by typing a keyword.

You can think of the RAS as the brain’s gatekeeper to conscious thought. It’s critical to your future that you learn how to get messages past the gatekeeper.

So what causes some of the messages to get through the RAS and others to get blocked out?

Whatever is important to you at the time and whatever you are currently focusing on gets through. If your focus is to buy a house in the Rockies, your RAS will automatically filter in thoughts that will help you get that house – people who might help you, opportunities to make it happen, or resources that you might need.

What that means is that the more you keep your goals “top of mind,” the more your subconscious mind will work to reach them.

That’s why writing your goals down every day, visualizing your intended outcome, and regularly saying affirmations is so important! Because doing those things help you focus your subconscious mind on what’s important to you.

Visualization taps into the creative powers of the subconscious mind. It gets the subconscious mind working 24/7 on helping you reach your goals.

Unless you visualize, you miss out on resources that are available to help you out. And by the way, five sixths of your thoughts are subconscious thoughts. You don’t want to ignore five sixths of your resources, do you?

If you want massive success, you need to learn how to get your subconscious mind to work for you. Visualization focuses your subconscious mind to look for those resources. It draws you to the people, resources, and opportunities that will help you reach your goals.

That is also why you need to trust your hunches, your gut feelings, and your intuition. Whenever you get a hunch, what has actually happened is that your subconscious has just detected that your outside circumstances are favorable to take action. The sum total of your subconscious memory has spotted an opportunity favorable to you. Don’t ignore your intuition or gut feelings!

Once you learn how to learn how to get your subconscious mind working for you, your life will start changing dramatically. You’ll find yourself waking up in the morning filled with great ideas that will help you reach your goals. You’ll start meeting people that can help you realize your dreams. You’ll be like a magnet that attracts favorable conditions. People will start saying
you are lucky!

Did you know that you can actually physically change your brain cells to help you realize your dreams?

Whenever you repeat an affirmation or visualize something using a lot of passion and emotion, new neural pathways are formed. Intense emotional experiences actually stimulate the growth of additional spiny protuberances on the dendrites of brain neurons, which result in more neural connections and stronger memory and retention of that thought.

That’s why people can remember what they were doing when JFK was shot, when the Challenger exploded, and on 9/11. Because those events were so emotionally charged, that new mental pathways were created. You want to create strong mental pathways that will help you realize your dreams. Doing so will turn you into a dream realizing machine! What you think about and act upon comes about.

But focus is the key.

If you focus on only one goal and don’t quit, you have a 95% chance of achieving it. If you focus on two goals, your chances drop to 65%. Focus on three, and you’re down to 25%. See why it’s critical to be single-minded?

By the way, this is a software I use to help me become laser focused on my dreams www.SuccessVisionBoard.com

Would you like to believe more in yourself? Beliefs are developed in the subconscious mind. If you don’t believe you can succeed, you need to change those beliefs by programming your subconscious mind.

The newest brain research shows that passionately repeating the same statements over and over forms new neural pathways that can eventually fire as “belief,” and when this belief fires, it triggers you to take the actions that will help you reach your dreams.

This is why your self talk and who you associate with are so crucial to your success. What you say to yourself and who you hang around with will determine what kind of neural pathways you are developing. What kind of neural pathways are you making? Will they lead you to success or to failure? It’s all up to you…

So get started right now. Schedule time daily to write your goals, to vividly imagine what success will be like for you, to get in front of a mirror and passionately tell yourself that you WILL MAKE YOUR DREAMS COME TRUE! And you will!

Make it an Olympic Day!

Source: TheOympicSpeaker

Ruben Gonzalez is the author of “The Courage to Succeed,” and the co-star of the personal development documentary “Three Feet from Gold.” His experiences as a three-time Olympian, business owner, and professional keynote speaker give him a unique perspective on how to conquer the corporate struggles of today.

There’s a Monty Python song that goes “Always look on the bright side of life” which basically says that life sucks.
And if that’s your view, then that’s what your life is going to be.

As far as “fooling your mind” think about it this way:

How can your mind fool itself? You can’t trick yourself into thinking positive.

You can change your habits, of course.

You can become more aware of when you complain and focus on negative things, and tell yourself “cancel” when they happen. Or you can consciously focus on something else. But you can’t really fool your subconscious mind.

If the negative beliefs are still there, it’s like a computer program–it will keep running the negative files over and over
again…

The only way to stop it is to rewrite the files. If you’re trying to “trick” yourself into thinking positive, I can tell you right now it’s not going to work. Because you haven’t changed anything on the subconscious level.

It’s like dressing up in a rabbit suit and pretending you’re the Easter bunny.
No one will mistake you for a real rabbit–you’ll just be a person in a rabbit suit.
You haven’t changed who you are–you’ve just put on a new mask.
So stop fooling around.

If you want to make a change, that’s great.
If you want to start being more positive, that’s great.
But don’t do it halfway, and don’t play “pretend” with your mind.
Real and rapid change is possible.
Success with the Law of Attraction is possible.

But you have to be ready to stop fooling around and be ready to go “all the way.”

Fortunately, there’s a way to make those positive changes you want–and make them on such a deep subconscious level that they become a permanent and natural part of who you are.

Hypnosis is the fastest way by FAR for personal change.

So when you use the Hypnotic Secret, you don’t have to “fool” yourself–or anyone else.

These recordings gently erase the negative messages and replace them with positive ones.
And within a short time, you notice yourself beginning to change.
You notice yourself attracting more and more positive things into your life.
And you notice just how easy it is to get what you want.
Ready for the real thing?

Source:
Discovering the Power of Self Hypnosis: The Simple, Natural Mind-Body Approach to Change and Healing by Stanley Fischer
Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol Dweck

1. A “normal” person is concerned with protecting his ego. When dealing with a problem he doesn’t really understand, he pretends he understands the contributing factors and doesn’t try to find out what anyone else thinks. A person with a multimillionaire mind asks questions inces-santly. He has no ego when it comes to learning. He knows that knowledge is power.

2. A “normal” person has a consumer mentality. He looks at a hot new product and thinks about how he would like to own one. A person with a multimillionaire mind has an entrepreneurial men-tality. He looks at it and thinks, “How can I produce this or something similar in my own industry?”

3. A “normal” person is wish-focused. He daydreams about making gobs of money. A person with a multimillionaire mind is reality-based. He is always analyzing his own success and the success of others and wondering how he could learn from it.

4. A “normal” person, when confronted with a challenging idea, thinks of all the reasons why it might not work. A person with a multimillionaire mind sees the potential in it and disregards the problems until he has a clear vision of how it might succeed.

5. A “normal” person resists change. A person with a multimillionaire mind embraces it.

6. A “normal” person accepts the status quo. A person with a multimillionaire mind is always looking to make things – even good things – better.

7. A “normal” person reacts. A person with a multimillionaire mind is proactive.

8. A “normal” person looks at a successful business owner and thinks, “That guy’s lucky.” Or “That guy’s a shyster.” A person with a multimillionaire mind thinks, “What’s his secret?” And, “How can I do that?”

Most importantly, a person with a multimillionaire’s mind likes living like a multimillionaire. He doesn’t shortchange himself when it comes to comfort and luxury. Rather than believing always that pain leads to gain, he thinks, “If I’m smart I can have my cake and eat it too.

You can start your mental transformation by studying this list and assessing your own impulses. Be honest. Identify the habits you don’t have and try to develop them. Rather than think of this process as work, think of it as fun.

I get rejected. I hurt.
Period.
You too.
It’s normal.
But, we can get rejected, hurt a lot less, and in some areas we can let rejection roll off our back….and…in some aspects of life we can’t…and I’ll show you all of this as we progress.

What is Rejection?
Kevin Hogan on Overcoming RejectionRejection is what happens when you perceive that someone or some group is pushing you away, saying “no”, not letting you be in-group or participating.

In short: You want them, or what they have…and they won’t let you have them or what they have.
That’s what rejection IS. That says nothing about how it FEELS or what YOU can actually DO about it.

Where is Rejection Felt?
Next, realize that rejection happens in at least two places when it happens. In the mind(s) of the rejector and in the mind(s) of the rejected.

The Connection Factor is how connected a person feels to a person or group.
The Feeling Factor is how a person feels about themselves after they have been rejected (or a perceived rejection).

The Rejection Factor Formula
The Rejection Factor is the difference between the two, allowing us to see the magnitude of where that person will be emotionally and self-esteem-wise and perhaps even the duration of that magnitude. As you can see, the further the “fall”, the more it hurts and the more intense the emotional reaction will be.

PERCEIVED Relational Value (PRV) is how YOU think/feel the other person/group thinks about YOU. Your perception could be right on the nose or you could be dead wrong.
Devaluation occurs when someone who once held you as close or important now treats you poorly, or even politely. Your “stock” has gone DOWN with them and THAT is painful.
The problem of being so connected to someone is that when your stock crashes, you have a long, long way to go down.

Thus you end up with the proverbial, “man that doesn’t want to commit,” for fear he just might commit….
Devaluing can happen in business, of course. You can be fired from the job and crash. You can fail to get a job after an interview (not so big of a crash, not so far to fall).

Sensitivity to Rejection
And there is another interesting phenomenon in the whole rejection piece. You can say the same exact thing to one person and they feel utterly rejected. To another it’s experienced as completely unimportant.

Some people are sensitive to rejection in general, across a broad spectrum of experiences and life scenes.
Typically these people include those with low self-esteem, narcissists, the socially anxious and depressed, or those who have an insecure attachment style. They often see more rejection in people’s behavior than is warranted.

That said, a lot of times being blown off by someone will bother you but not someone else because the other person couldn’t give a rip whether that person valued the relationship or not.

Can something that has such potential for self and other destruction…does rejection have benefits?
When people start to feel averse to certain situations, they tend to make a point of taking care of or repairing their current relationships.

People want to do things or dress in ways that will increase their chances of being accepted. We go a long way to get attention, approval and acceptance from others.

We all (almost all) want to be seen as likeable, attractive, competent and sometimes trustworthy.

AND, people also want to be seen as UNIQUE and IRREPLACABLE by anyone else in a group.

Is Rejection Inevitable?
Armed with all of this information, can we stop rejection?
Not in all cases.
We all want to be accepted but every day we reject others ourselves.
It often comes down to something as simple as time.

There are only so many hours in a day and you have to say “no” to someone, some groups, and things so you don’t become “over committed” and incredibly stressed out.
You can only give so much to so many people and then the battery runs out of juice.

You’re going to find out about handling rejection in the moment, making it hurt a little less, overcoming the inertia that is caused by rejection and talk some more about how we can get closer to those people we want to while creating a distance with others we don’t want to…with minimal damage.

Tips and Suggestions:
1. A successful outcome will depend on two things: how you are and what you say. How you are (centered, supportive, curious, problem-solving) will greatly influence what you say.
2. Acknowledge emotional energy – yours and theirs – and direct it towards a useful purpose.
3. Know and return to your purpose at difficult moments.
4. Don’t take verbal attacks personally. Help your opponent/partner come back to center.
5. Don’t assume they can see things from your point of view.
6. Practice the conversation with a friend before holding the real one.
7. Mentally practice the conversation. See various possibilities and visualize yourself handling them with ease. Envision the outcome you’re hoping for.

Source:
Difficult Conversations: How to Discuss what Matters Most by Douglas Stone
How to Tell Anyone Anything: Breakthrough Techniques for Handling Difficult Conversations at Work by Richard Gallagher

A number of thinkers have raised the possibility that quantum phenomena have their counterparts in the “real” world, that too many of our assumptions are untested and probably false and have drawn strong parallels between the world views of Eastern philosophy and quantum mechanics. Be aware that others vociferously oppose the implications of such comparisons and there are scientists of Nobel Prize winning caliber on both sides of the argument.

Leonard Shlain expresses it beautifully: “The new physics presently rests like a pea under the collective mattress of humankind, disturbing tranquil sleep just enough to begin to change how people think about the world.” What is indisputable is that there are few exercises more capable of stretching your mind than pondering the status of Schrodinger?s cat or the implications of the Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen experiment. Welcome to the mysterious world of Physics!

And let us not forget other branches of science – pure mathematics, chemistry, biology and biochemistry, genetics and many more. All these fields are in ferment and the distinctions between functional areas are breaking down. Complex linear programming problems have been solved by DNA computers leading to speculation that organic computers, vastly more powerful than their silicon based counterparts, may soon be among us. Quantum computing is looming in the background.

Even the merest exposure to what is happening “out there” in different fields will cause you to gape with wonder. Hold on to that feeling of awe, that amazement at where human thought has reached. You too will push the boundaries. That is what this course is all about.

Bohm, David Wholeness and the Implicate Order; Ark Paperbacks, Boston 1983
A renowned physicist and collaborator of Einstein, Bohm makes the point that scientists are too hung up on a fragmented world view in which thought and matter are separate and distinct and the thinker is different from what he thinks about. He postulates that the universe is an unbroken whole in which any element contains within itself the totality of the universe. He also explicitly discusses consciousness which is a subject most scientists shy away from. Reading level 2 with frequent jumps to 3.

Capra, Fritjof The Tao of Physics; Shambala, 1975
With the cult success of this book imitators swarmed in and there is now a “Tao” of everything from leadership to cooking. The author, a scientist in his own right, gives an overview of quantum physics and muses philosophically on its implications. It is well written and you do not have to possess much of a scientific background to understand it. He is particularly good at drawing and explaining parallels between Eastern mysticism and modern physics. You may also wish to explore his co-authored book, Belonging to the Universe. Reading level 1 to 2.

Casti, John L. Paradigms Lost: Images of Man in the Mirror of Science
William Morrow, 1989
Casti, a mathematician by training, discusses deep questions such as “What is the true nature of mankind?” He considers quantum reality, extraterrestrial intelligence and the origin of life. In each case he presents opposing viewpoints and the evidence for each and then puts on his judicial hat and plops on one side or the other. A particularly neat feature of this book is that Casti presents the social context in which many famous scientists worked and shows how their political and other beliefs contributed to their findings. Reading level 1, occasionally 2.

Dyson, Freeman Disturbing the Universe; Harper & Row, 1979
A physicist at the Institute for Advanced Studies at Princeton, Dyson worked with many of the most famous names in the field including Oppenheimer and Feynman. The title of the book comes from a T. S. Eliot poem and serves to illustrate the breadth of the author?s interests. He muses on many topics from inter-galactic colonization to nuclear and biological weapons and has a keen feel for political reality. His description of war years at Bomber Command in England is particularly worthwhile. Reading level 1 to 2.

Greene, Brian The Elegant Universe; Vintage Books, 2000
A marvelous exposition of the unexplained mysteries of physics with an especially lucid discussion of relativity. If Einstein?s famous discovery still leaves you bemused, this book will give you understanding. The author is a strong proponent of String Theory and he explains how this may well be the theoretical underpinning for the much sought after „theory of everything?. Reading level 1, very occasionally 2.

The Fabric of the Cosmos; Space, Time and the Texture of Reality
Alfred A. Knopf, 2004
A phenomenal book that gives you more insights into modern science and specifically quantum mechanics and astrophysics. He shows you how small anomalies in the real world have led to new theories that completely overthrew old scientific paradigms. This is a book that will make you gasp with awe at the power of the human mind, and the wonder of the universe. Science, especially physics, has never been so enthralling. Reading Level 1, sometimes 2.

Gribbin, John and Martin Rees Cosmic Coincidence: Dark Matter, Man and Anthropic
Cosmology; Bantam, 1989
A science writer and a physicist take you on an intriguing tour of some of the most revolutionary ideas to emerge from science: the particle zoo; black holes; cosmic strings; gravitational lenses; Copenhagen and Many Worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics; and much more. Clear writing. Reading level 1 to 2.

Heisenberg, Werner Physics and Beyond; Harper & Row, 1971
The debate is raging again about whether Heisenberg, head of the Nazi equivalent of the Manhattan Project, was a courageous scientist who sabotaged the effort or an incompetent manager who fell on his face. There is no doubt that he was one of the greatest physicists of all time and his uncertainty principle is a cornerstone of our understanding of the universe. He muses on politics, history, religion and other topics and reports on his conversations with other scientific greats like Einstein, Bohr and Schrodinger. Reading level 2.

Jahn, Robert G. and Brenda J. Dunne Margins of Reality; HBJ 1987
A former Dean of the School of Engineering at Princeton University and a NASA consultant Jahn had a towering reputation which did not prevent vociferous attacks when he chose to investigate, using rigorous scientific methodology, subjects which were taboo then and are still largely so. The subtitle of the book is The Role of Consciousness in the Physical World and he documents the results of his experiments showing that consciousness and matter interact in measurable ways. Reading level 2 with gusts of 3.

Morowitz, H. Cosmic Joy and Local Pain: Musing of a Mystic Scientist
Charles Scribner?s Sons, 1987
A Yale professor of biophysics muses on his field during a sabbatical and while on his sailboat in Hawaii. Many simple, and some quite complex, topics in science – the importance of water in organic life, energy flow and entropy – are made clear in simple language. Reading level 1.

Newberg, Andrew, Eugene D?Aquill and Vince Rause Why God Won?t Go Away:
Brain Science and the Biology of Belief Ballantine, 2001
Mystics in many traditions speak of powerful experiences of unity, of merging with the universe, of becoming one with the cosmos. Most persons dismiss such descriptions as metaphorical. But what if they are not? Modern science has provided us with ever more powerful tools to map the brain?s neuronic activity. The authors report on studies that show that there is, indeed, such a state of merging and it is associated with a unique brain map. Neurotheology is a new discipline and it poses interesting questions such as “Did God create the Brain or did the Brain create God?” Reading level 1, sometimes 2.

Pagels, Heinz R. The Cosmic Code: Quantum Physics as the Language of Nature
Simon And Schuster, 1982
Pagels, former president of the New York Academy of Sciences, does a pretty good job of explaining how quantum physics evolved from Newtonian physics. He clearly explains the experimental anomalies of the latter, which forced the “creation” of the former. He also does an excellent job of describing the individual contributions of the great physicists who flourished in the 1920s and how the theoretical work of each tied in with that of others and cumulatively evolved a fundamental shift in physics. Reading level 1, frequently 2.

Penrose, Roger The Road to Reality: A Complete Guide to the Laws of the Universe Alfred A. Knopf, 2004
A great physicist and professor of mathematics at Oxford, Penrose provides a panoramic view of the evolution of physics and mathematics. He shows you the subtle interplays between the disciplines and puts historic rivalries between scientists into context. It encompasses everything from quantum particles to multiple universes. The author does make heavy use of mathematics and his language is not always lucid. The book is more than a thousand pages long. Much of it is reading level 3.

Randall, Lisa Warped Passages: Unraveling the Mysteries of the Universe
Hidden Dimensions; Harper Collins, 2005
Because she is good looking Randall has been referred to as the “hottie” of physics which makes light of the fact that she is the first tenured woman theoretical physicist at both MIT and Harvard. She provides an excellent description of the state of physics and describes Einstein?s contribution in clear detail. She does a great job of explaining concepts like super-symmetry and Higgs mechanisms and the excitement is clear when she talks about her own work on string theory. And I love the fables that begin some chapters. Reading level 1 but frequently 2. Very occasionally 3 as well.

Schrodinger, E. What is Life? And Mind, and Matter?
Cambridge University Press, 1969
A Nobel Prize winning physicist ponders on the implications of his discoveries. Fate and free will; science and religion; the physical basis of consciousness; subject-object differentiation; and more. Reading level 2, sometimes 3.

Schwartz, Jeffrey M. and Sharon Begley The Mind and the Brain: Neuroplasticity And the Power of Mental Force HarperCollins 2002
The mind can shape the brain. What you intensely, deeply visualize can leave a permanent imprint on your brain. Many traditions say this, but until now you had to take it on faith. Now there is proof. Brain maps reveal that thinking does indeed create changes in brain waves. Also, the brain can rewire itself. The implications are profound and provide scientific rationale for the mental exercises propounded by religious teachers, sports coaches and many, many others. Reading level 1.

Talbot, Michael Beyond the Quantum: God, Reality, Consciousness in the New Scientific Revolution; Macmillan, 1986
Well written book that explains recent scientific experiments and why they are important. True, he selects only experiments that further his point of view, but they are fascinating anyway. His thesis is that science will one day explain, or at least accept, mysticism and the paranormal and explores why so many scientists oppose them viscerally. Reading level 1 to 2.

Wilbur, K (editor) Quantum Questions: Mystical Writings of the Worlds Great Physicists; New Science Library, 1984
Collection of writings from a pantheon of Nobel Prize winners: Heisenberg, Schrodinger, Einstein, de Broglie, Pauli, Planck and others. The book makes the case that, contrary to New Age thinking, contemporary physics does not “prove” mysticism. Nevertheless, every one of these giants was a mystic. It attempts to explore why. Fascinating reading as the towering figures of modern science reveal their personal beliefs and world views. Reading level varies from 1 to 3.

Zukav, Gary The Dancing Wu Li Masters; William Morrow, 1979
Wu Li is supposedly the Chinese word for physics. This is in the same tradition as Capra?s Tao of Physics and is very readable. The discussions of philosophical quandaries like whether Schrodinger’s cat is alive and the implications of the Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen experiment are well done. The last chapter, which deals with the limits of science, is fascinating. Reading level 1 to 2.

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Are you ready to succeed?
The Personal Mastery Program: Discovering Passion and Purpose in Your Life and Work (Audio Learning Course) by Srikumar Rao

Ackoff, Russell L. The Art of Problem Solving; John Wiley, 1978
Wharton School professor and father figure in operations research Russ Ackoff is brilliant and incisive. He has an uncanny ability to frame problems so the solutions pop out and is funny to boot. There are many parables in the text – a form of exposition to which I am partial – and these clarify some quite complicated analyses and lead to “morals” such as, “The less we understand something, the more variables we need to explain it”.
Management in Small Doses; John Wiley, 1986
Pretty much the same comments as above.
Both books are at reading level 1.

Adams, James L. Conceptual Blockbusting; Addison-Wesley, 1987
The author has a background as an engineer and Stanford professor. He defines various “blocks” to creativity such as stereotyping, judging etc. and suggests strategies to overcome them. The best parts are the exercises peppered throughout the various chapters. Be sure to try these. (Sample: Imagine the sensation of a long attack of hiccups). Reading level 1.

DeBono, Edward Lateral Thinking; Harper & Row, 1970
Vertical thinking, according to DeBono, is digging the same hole deeper. Lateral thinking is digging someplace else. Junior is bothering his aunt who is knitting a sweater. He feels constricted by the playpen and howls. Solution: put the aunt in the playpen where she can knit undisturbed while junior romps outside. Several sets of exercises are included. Reading level 1 with gusts of 2.
DeBono specifies hats of six colors, each associated with a different thinking mode. Putting on the white hat requires you to present facts and figures in a neutral, objective manner. The red hat requires you to present how you feel about “the proposal” emotionally, the black hat what your negative assessments are, and so on. The method is designed to switch thinking away from arguments into collaboration. Widely used techniques. Reading level 1.
Serious Creativity; Harper Collins, 1992
Prolific as he is it is easy to understand how DeBono can afford to live on his own private island. This book summarizes his other works and gives new anecdotes, business examples and exercises. Reading level 1.

Isakson, Scott G. and Donald J. Treffinger Creative Problem Solving: The Basic Course
Bearly Ltd., 1985
This is a workbook that comes in a three hole binder and provides detailed instructions on data finding, problem structuring, idea and solution finding etc. The checklists of questions are quite helpful though the text is somewhat boring. Reading level 1 but goes to 2 quite often.

Michalko,Michael Thinkertoys; 10 Speed Press, 2006
The original edition of this book was good and this one is better. The graphics are great and it has a friendly feel – you just want to flip through it and browse at length. Wonderful quotes from Sun Tzu at the start of each chapter. Michalko teaches you several techniques to challenge your assumptions. In “reversal” for example, you ask what happens if you change the order of things by say giving a onus to waiters before they start serving diners. Turns out that productivity actually increases. Reading level 1.

Miller, William The Creative Edge; Addison-Wesley, 1987
A consultant to major corporations, Miller does a fine job of showing how to enhance creativity in individual and group settings. His discourse on intuitive methods is good, as is his discussion of human values. Methods of achieving “win-win” solutions in the workplace are neat. Reading level 1, very occasionally 2.

Parnes, Sidney J. The Magic of Your Mind; Creative Education Foundation, 1981
Another book that talks about the creative process, what blocks it and how we can overcome the blocks. Many standard exercises are presented. The sans-serif type is none too easy to read but, to compensate, there is a profusion of cartoons most of which are very, very funny. Reading level 1.

von Oech, Roger A Whack on the Side of the Head; Warner 1983
A Kick in the Seat of the Pants; Harper & Row, 1986
Nobody would publish his first book so von Oech did it himself and created a block-buster success that is still being touted by purveyors of manuals on self publishing. It also established his reputation as a creativity consultant and he picked up many prestigious Silicon Valley clients including Apple Computers. Oversize and easy to read. Good graphics and pictures. Fun exercises. Reading level 1.

Admission to the clinic is highly competitive. It is only for driven individuals who are so drawn to it that they would, literally, be prepared to blast through brick walls to participate. DO NOT APPLY if you are not ready to disrupt your life considerably for the rare privilege of joining a group of highly talented managers in a collaborative life-changing experience.

There is no other program remotely like this one in format, intensity or effectiveness. Expect and be prepared for this clinic to completely take over your life for two months. You will be given, and learn to work with, transformation tools of great power. You will continue to work with them on your own after the formal end of the clinic until you have mastered their use. And you will find your life has altered beyond measure.

Read the program details below to determine if this clinic is for you. Pay particular attention to the clear descriptions of who should and should not apply and some of the possible outcomes of this concentrated happening.

This is not a program for the faint of heart or for those who are merely curious. The application alone will take you hours and there will be assignments you will have to complete before the first meeting. The clinic will take up virtually all your spare time while it lasts and it will seep into every part of your life. Embrace this intensity. This is what will enable you to make deep changes in your life.”

Recommend books about Experimetal Creativity by Srikumar Rao

1) FLOW: The Psychology of Optimal Experience by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
Harper & Row, 1990

FLOW is a state of intense absorption where the distinction between you and the work you are doing practically disappears. Time appears distorted with hours feeling like minutes or vice versa. Peak performers achieve this state regularly and it has been extensively studied in champion athletes and sports figures as well as performers in the arts. University of Chicago psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi has researched the phenomenon in other occupations and explored the conditions under which FLOW can be achieved by practically anyone. Extraordinary creativity routinely occurs in the flow state. You may also wish to explore The Evolving Self by the same author.
Inamori, the legendary founder of Kyocera, puts it beautifully, “I often tell a researcher who is lacking in dedication…unless he is motivated with determination to succeed, he will not be able to go past the obstacles…When his passion, his desire, becomes so strong as to rise out of his body like steam, and when the condensation of that which evaporated occurs…and drops back like raindrops, he will find his problem solved.”

2) Creativity in Business by Michael Ray and Rochelle Myers
Doubleday, 1986

Michael is the Stanford Business School marketing professor who was a pioneer in teaching creativity in a business school. The book contains many business anecdotes – now somewhat dated – and is very entertaining, but reading it like a novel will not do you much good. Practice the exercises he suggests, particularly those relating to the VOJ (voice of judgment) and in chapters 4 and 6.

3) Cracking Creativity by Michael Michalko
Ten Speed Press, 2001

The subtitle of this book is “The secrets of creative genius” and it is exactly that. The author is a creativity consultant with many Fortune 500 clients and the business examples he gives are highly instructive. I particularly like the layout of the book and its excellent graphics. Use this as you would a recipe book, to search for ideas when you don?t know what to cook. Pay particular attention to the strategies of thinking fluently and making novel combinations.

4) Leave it to Psmith by P. G. Wodehouse
Many editions. Try the one by Overlook Hardcover 2003 but others also work.

Many, including myself, believe Wodehouse is one of the greatest humorists of all time. There are few persons who will leave you with such belly bursting gales of laughter. Do not read this book on trains or planes unless you are OK with fellow travelers looking askance at you and silently questioning your mental stability. On a more serious note, evaluate the mental models used by Psmith and his cheery insouciance when faced with the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune. This is the spirit to cultivate and I cannot recommend this cultivation highly enough.

5) A Search in Secret India by Paul Brunton
Red Wheel/Weiser, 1990

Paul Brunton was a journalist on a quest and visited many parts of the globe. A Search in Secret Egypt is an earlier companion volume. The nature of his quest and the insistent questions that drove him may resonate with some of you. His observation is keen and his descriptions powerful. His matter of fact recital of some exceedingly strange experiences may leave some of you gasping. Suspend judgment and focus on the lessons he learned and would like to pass on.

6) The Art of Possibility by Rosamund Stone Zander and Benjamin Zander
Penguin Books, 2000

Benjamin Zander is a conductor, so passionate about music that he literally sways audiences into rapture. He is legendary for his pre-concert lectures where he educates his audience about the music about to be played. He also offers to refund the admission of any member who is not emotionally moved. This is the kind of conviction that permeates this book. You, too, can be equally passionate about what you do. This book shows you how.

7) What Got You Here Won?t Get You There: How Successful People Become Even More Successful by Marshall Goldsmith
Hyperion, 2007

Marshall is perhaps the world?s leading executive coach and he has distilled a lifetime?s learning into this book. Successful persons tend to forget that there are many things they do which are dysfunctional and turn others off. They are successful despite this. Marshall points out the most common flaws of hugely successful persons and shows you how to identify and eliminate them from your persona. There is no question that you, too, have flaws such as attempting to “win too much”. Read this book to find out what else you are guilty of.

Sources:
Are you ready to succeed?
The Personal Mastery Program: Discovering Passion and Purpose in Your Life and Work (Audio Learning Course) by Srikumar Rao

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