Take a Peek at Goal Setting

As I've stated in my previous posts, I have a dream board. And, boy, the things I have on there make my toes twinkle!

But one thing I haven't done, until now, is write out specific goals. I know. I KNOW.  But starting today I'm changing that.

It makes me wonder how many other people know that goal writting is essential to success, but how many don't? Let's explore the 'requirements' of goal writing together and get them written down.

Based on an acronym I saw earlier today and Napolean Hill's book, 'Think and Grow Rich', We're gonna break it down into five steps.  Here's the acronym: S.M.A.R.T.

I'll break each letter down, and go over one each entry until we've gotten it all down and our goal written out completely.

Let's go through the first one:

S:  Specific. Your goal needs to be as specific as possible. Don't write down, "I want to be rich". Your brain and subconscious doesn't know what to do with that, it's too vague. Instead, write down a specific amount. Remember, these goals aren't set in stone. You can always change it.

State them as declarations of intentions, not items on a wish list.

 "I Am"  is far more powerful and focused than 'I want'.

So, since I started with a financial goal, let's use that as an example.

"I Am Earning $50K Monthly"

Now, one thing I have always done when manifesting something is leaving the amount open to being better than what I'm asking. So I always add, 'or more' to the end of my desires.

For example: "I am earning $50K, or more, monthly."

Sounds NICE, doesn't it?

Now, it doesn't have to be about finances. If you are in network marketing, you can say something to the affect of,

"I am signing ten new leaders, or more,  to my team monthly"

Or, "I am holding five, or more, highly profitable parties each month"

For everyday life a fitness goal can be "I am working out three times a week."

Ok! So I'll let you get started on the first step! Have fun and if you'd like, feel free to post your goal here. We'll discuss the next letter in my next entry.

Namaste'

The Dead Zone....errr, I Mean Comfort Zone

I was told once that HVAC techs called the thermostat settings between 69 & 72 degrees as the 'dead zone'. It's the most common setting all the time. It's the setting where the A/C or heater doesn't have to work.

One day, I had this revelation of how human behavior can be similiar to A/C and heaters, but instead of the dead zone, we call it our comfort zone, and here's how it works.

We all have a comfort zone. ALL of us. A place, mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually where we are comfortable. No conscious thinking involved, we're on autopilot in these zones. We just get to 'hang out.'

Now, when the temperature inside a home goes outside the dead zone settings, the system turns on and works JUST LONG ENOUGH to get the temperature inside the house back to the dead zone settings.

Most humans are the same way. When we recognize our surroundings are pushing us out of our comfort zone, we will actually work JUST LONG ENOUGH to bring our surroundings back into our comfort zone.

This can happen with our financial situations, our relationships, our careers, anything in our lives really.

Here's an example. A woman thinks her husband is lazy. Every now and then an argument will occur that will send their relationship into a tailspin. The husband, sensing his comfort zone has been knocked out of whack, does everything possible to bring his environment back into his comfort zone alignment.

He works around the house, he picks up extra shifts at work, and so on. But, he ONLY does it long enough to assuage his wife, calm her down and bring her back into alignment with his idea of his comfort zone.

Once he realizes his comfort zone is back, he stops doing all the 'extra' things that she expects from him. He is back into his dead zone, and all is good in his world, until his wife goes off on him again.

People take this approach in every aspect of their lives, whether they realize it or not.

Instead of expanding the comfort zone, instead of stepping out of their dead zone, they react over and over and over. There is no pro-active action in their lives.

With all of that said, what does your comfort zone look like? Is it pretty narrow? Are you wanting to widen it? Consider the idea of being comfortable with being uncomfortable.

What are your thoughts?

Focus, Focus, Focus

I worked in an office for years. I mean YEARS. I couldn't stand it, but I was good at it so I believed at the time it was what I would end up doing for the rest of my life. My 'belief' was I just had to find the right company. Problem was, I was going through jobs every few years hoping it would be the right company. Even my dream company ended up not being the right company. So NOW what was I to do?

I finally realized that running my OWN company was the right company for me. I just needed to focus.......a;sdlsdjs;jf

Sorry. I was leaning over the keyboard to do something else.

And that's a perfect example of what this post is about today. Multi-tasking. Or, perhaps the lack of.

I remember hearing once, 'no one can multi-task efficiently and properly. One task will always take precedent over the other.'

I was actually insulted when I heard that! I was a fantastic multi-tasker! Or, was I?

When I started working my business, I discovered first hand that, indeed that statement was true. Not only was it true, but I was having some SERIOUS problems focusing.

One thing led to another, to another, to another. I'd start one task, which led my brain to think, 'oh, I need to get that started', and I'd go do that, and that would remind me of something else and so on.

This pattern would have me all over the house until the last thought ended me right back to where I started, with the original task only started. I'd start the task again, where it would remind me of the next one, and then...well, you get it.

My multi-tasking days had trained me to not have focus. Or, even better, just keep it really diluted while fooling myself that I was accomplishing more. I don't think I'm the only one who operates this way either.

We try to text or talk on the phone while driving, we make the attempt to cook a meal while talking or watching tv, or talk on the phone while working on the computer.

After reading a friend's blog last evening, I've decided to do a 90 program along with her.

I'm going to accomplish at least ONE thing from beginning to end in regards to my business each day and then post it here.

My goal is, after 90 days to be able to show an improvement in my focus, as well as major growth within my business.

If you'd like to follow along as well, please post your one thing here that you focused on. This doesn't have to be work related, it can be in relation to anything in life. Just focus. And join me on this fun experiment!

I'd like to thank Debbie Wood for her idea, and focus on this project!

If You Can...You Must.

A few weeks ago, I took my kids out to dinner. (Honestly, we really don't go out that much! lol..)

Anyhoo, again, as the waitress, who was no more than 23, went to get our drinks, my six year old confided in me.

'Mom, I think her hair is really pretty.'

I looked at him and said, 'Ian, if you think so, tell her.'

He got all hunched over and put his hands to his mouth to cover his smile.

'No!', He said.

'Ian', I said, 'If you have a genuine compliment to give someone, it's your responsibility to give it. What good is the thought if you don't share it with that person? And, you never know, she may really need to hear something like that.'

Still, he said, 'no.'

After dinner, we were getting ready to leave. I approached the young waitress and said, 'my son thinks your hair is really pretty.'

I turned around to find my son hiding under the booth table. Jeez!

She went to the table, and crouched down and addressed my son.

'You know what?' She said, 'I just got my hair cut today and when I left I was crying because I thought it was the worst hair cut ever. I really, really needed to hear your compliment today. Come with me, I have something for you.'

My son followed, along with his younger sister, and the waitress produced two tootsie pops, one for each of them.

I looked at the waitress to say thank you. Instead, she thanked us. she looked at me and said, 'you have no idea how much I needed to hear that today.'

When we have a true compliment, when we see someone glowing, or has a bright smile, or whatever, our joyous response to it is wasted, if we don't share it with them.

Again, people crave to be recognized! So recognize them! Honestly, it's selfishly motivated, because I love giving compliments! I love seeing people light up, and again, it can be the beginning of a beyooootiful friendship!

Namaste'

I've Heard That One Before...

The other day I took my kids to the park to run off some energy. I found a seat on the bench at the edge of the playground, and settled in.

Kids ran back and forth, some parents chasing them, others just watching.

Then I saw a little girl gaining some speed across the playground. She was really smokin' too. Suddenly WHAM. She was layed flat out in .2 seconds. What she tripped over could have been just her own speed, she was going so fast.

She stood up, sniffling, and brushed herself off. A woman, I'm guessing to be her grandmother, bustled up to her and helped brush her off.

She said, 'See?? That's what happens when you run like that!'

Ugh. I cringed at the program that had just been re-enforced to this little girl.

A bit later, I saw the girl starting to gain speed again. This time her grandmother insisted that she slow down and shouted to her, 'SLOW DOWN! That's how you get hurt!'

Ugh again. Re-enforcement again.

It's been said that 50% of our beliefs, programs, and habits are learned by the age of three. THREE YEARS OLD.

Up to 80& of our beliefs, programs, and habits are learned by the age of SEVEN. SEVEN YEARS OLD.

These are beliefs on what relationships look like, religious beliefs, how we look at ourselves and others, physical beliefs, and more.

When I learned of this, I had a two year old child. I thought about how I talked to myself, because it would be an indication of how I spoke to my child.

How DID I talk to myself? It was pretty negative, I decided. Pretty sad, really.

And I was telling my child the same things about him. Not in a mean spirited way, but it was so subconscious that it never even dawned on me that I was saying these things. I was teaching him about himself, what I had been taught about myself.

Ouch. I thought, 'I have a year to install some positive programming.'

And the best way, I thought, to work on that, was to work on me. I had to start treating myself better, with more kindness, with compassion, with love. Love DOES start with me. I can't love anyone else without loving myself first, and the higher power of my understanding.

I heard Oprah once say, 'You know, every now and then when I see myself in the mirror I stop, look myself in the eye, smile, and say, 'hello, sweetie!'

How wonderful. What a wonderful and simple way to acknowledge the divine within us.

I've changed how I speak to my children, now ages six and four. I applaud their efforts, I encourage them to face their challenges, to dream big. And, I know, I tell them this because it's what I tell myself.

I hope one day at the playground to hear someone say to their child after that child has fallen, 'you're Ok..that was GREAT! You were really steamrollin'! What an amazing fall!'

Even if that parent is me.

Namaste'

Bikram Yoga & MLM #8

Wow, what a summer, huh? It flew by! Business is booming, as they say in the Network Marketing industry and life is good!

But I digress....let's get to business

#8 Visualize in your mind what you want to see in physical form. I love this one, and just learned more about it recently in regards to MLM, or Network Marketing.

In my mind, I see the perfect half moon pose, or the perfect bow pose, elegant and flowing like a swan's neck. My mind sees it so often that today, while at yoga, I did the bow pose more beautifully than I ever had before.

When I was done with the second set of the bow pose, I was grinning ear to ear. An elegant bow pose is my goal, and as I see it in my mind, I am now seeing it in physical form.

So goes Network Marketing. So goes EVERYthing in life, really. Images of leading a huge team, creating massive abundance in my life, and more is constantly running through my head. Not just pictures, but the emotions of what it is like to have these desires fulfilled. My heart wants to burst out of my chest with joy, pride of seeing others succeed, and more.

As Tony Robbins points out, first in the mind then in the physical realm. So what is on your mind?

~ Namaste'