Prosper News: August 2007
Dear Student,
Last month, in the United States, we celebrated Independence Day. During this time we have the opportunity to celebrate the freedoms we enjoy. We hope that you have had the opportunity to realize all of the opportunities that are in front of you.
Just as the United States celebrates Independence Day, we want you to be able to celebrate your own independence day. This is the day that you decided that enough was enough. You decided to take the steps necessary to change your life. This day very well could be the day that you decided to enroll on one-on-one coaching.
Sincerely,
The Success Team
Believe and Achieve
The Power of Positive Thought
Henry Ford said, "If you think you can do a thing or think you can't do a thing, you're right." Many people do not realize the power that lies within their thoughts. The idea is simple; you can control many outcomes simply by deciding the outcome before you start.
This idea is not new; it has been taught and employed by many successful people. It empowers normal, everyday people to achieve extraordinary feats when they master the principles.
The power of positive thought provides the user with motivation and determination. These are two of the most important elements for investors and entrepreneurs regardless of the tasks they face. These elements allow them to succeed where others fail. However, it is not always easy to achieve or maintain a positive thought process.
There are many reasons that cause people to fall into the trap of negative thinking. Although the reasons are very diverse, the following strategies will help those who employ them to develop a positive mental outlook that will increase their chances for success:
Decide to Start Today
Procrastination kills a positive mental attitude. Although you may not like your current situations, the longer they are a part of your life, the more tolerance you develop toward them. This tolerance leads many to accept the situations and problems and believe that these conditions are out of their control. They often feel forced to play the hand that they have been dealt. In order to counteract this attitude, you must decide to start today. You must stop waiting for opportunities to come your way and begin looking for ways to create these opportunities in your own life. The key is to decide today that what you have is not what you want. You must believe that you can achieve something better.
Control Limiting Emotions
There are many emotions that lead to a negative mental attitude and eventually to failure. These include, among others, fear, self-pity, and apathy. These emotions will ultimately cause you to remain in your current state and will stunt your potential growth. Do not allow these emotions to stunt your growth and lead you into an unacceptable state. Do not allow these emotions to influence your decisions. You must identify when these emotions creep in and you must not allow them to control you; you must control them. Make sure to avoid using negative vocabulary towards yourself and others.
Create a Positive Mental Outlook
You will ultimately paint the picture that will become reality; if you accept the painting that is in front of you, that is where you will remain. Start painting the picture of your ideals today. Create a notebook explaining what you want to achieve. Take time to create your destination. Envision the things that you want in your life. Make this vision strong; write it out and revisit it daily. Associate positive feelings with your vision of the future. Define the reasons that you want to accomplish your vision. Determine that you must achieve it; failure is not an option.
Create a Roadmap
Once you have a destination clearly established you must create a plan to arrive there. This plan will be made up of goals. Setting, monitoring, and achieving goals will help you to arrive at your destination. You should create both short and long-term goals. In order for it to be an effective goal, you should make it measurable and create a date by which it should be accomplished. You should also revisit these goals often. Remember, that change is a process. As such, you will not be able to change everything all at once. Prioritize your goals and begin with the goals that have the highest return on investment. Incorporate other goals as you begin to master and accomplish previous goals.
Focus on Success Daily
Forgetting what you are trying to accomplish is one of the quickest ways to derail your motivation. Keep these ideals fresh in your mind by setting apart time each day to review your definition of success. You should think about where you want to be, and then determine the next step you need to take. Make sure to schedule this time each day. Do not expect to do it whenever you have time. You must make time to focus on success.
Build on Setbacks
Not everything will go exactly as planned. In fact, most plans will have a hiccup or two along the way. Your ability to overcome and build on these setbacks will help you to achieve success in a shorter amount of time and to ultimately be more successful. It is your decision to view setbacks as stumbling blocks or stepping-stones. Be flexible as you go through this process. Do not allow yourself to become discouraged. Move forward no matter the obstacles.
Learning to expect and demand your ideal level of success will help you to achieve it rather than accepting whatever comes your way. A positive mental attitude does not just happen. You must work to develop it; however, the rewards are only limited by your own thoughts.
