Will This Happen to You?

You’ve probably heard the phrase ‘make it happen’ a lot, but how do we actually make it happen? More importantly, what should we make happen in the first place?! 

We all have a mission but it’s so very rare that anyone actually discovers what it is. Your mission is determined by your gifts- and we ALL have a gift. You’ll know what it is because you feel most like yourself when you’re using it. It’s like you’ve come home. If you won the lottery tomorrow, you wouldn’t stop doing it. And it doesn’t have to change the world, fit in with other peoples’ wishes or beliefs, or be anything grandiose- as long as it fills you up with lasting passion and joy.There never has been and never will be another one of you ever again, and your gift is just as unique; often, no-one else can understand why it means so much to you.Once you identify your reason for being, you’ll quickly realize two things:

1.  Working toward your goal and/or using your gift reinforces the best and deepest elements of yourself. 

2.  You love doing this so much that you simply can’t get enough of it.

Many people are excellent at setting goals in an attempt to “Make it happen”, but are those goals the kind that make them automatically look past discomfort and risk? The goal needs a ‘pilot-flame’ to keep the fire burning- if that goal is not self-perpetuating through passion, the result will, surprise, surprise, be NO ACTION. If you follow this logic, an interesting point arises: 

Most people believe that their dream goal is to acquire more wealth. But if that’s the case, why aren’t they more motivated to get it?Because it isn’t their dream goal- they just assume it is because they haven’t found their gift in life. 

Okay, so that sounds fine and dandy; just find your dream and the act of making it a reality will just come automatically. However, more often than not, your dream doesn’t just come to you while you’re sitting in your armchair. No, you need to get out and find it by trying as many new things as possible because: 

The more new things you experience in life, the more likely you are to find yourself! 

If you insist on doing the same mundane job, living in the same town, going on holiday to the same place etc. etc. don’t be surprised to find that real and lasting happiness eludes you! How will you know what you love and what you hate if you’ve never tried anything different?Change seems scary because there is a perceived risk involved. However, the greatest risk you face in life is not finding your true self! 

Which brings us right back to where we started: we need to take some form of action. There’s just no getting away from the fact.

I’m not going to lie to you here; some people are just born go-getters. They don’t even think this ability is that special because it just comes so naturally to them, but to the rest of the population, they’re perceived as having a mystical gift. They couldn’t even explain how they do what they do; it’s just branded into their nature through a mixture of genes and childhood experiences. 

So is that it then? Case closed; you either have it or you don’t? It may surprise you to discover that world-class athletes- a group of people often described as gifted- are not gifted at all. Their success is the result of discipline and hard work; their ‘gift’ only came about as a result of brute force. Is Arnold Schwarzenegger a gifted actor? Ummm, no. He found his passion, he knew what he wanted and set about getting it. 

So your first step is to eradicate this notion from your mind about either being a born go-getter or not! 

Let me tell you about the first skill in making something happen. It is something called visualisation. This technique has been used by people to gain wealth and freedom throughout the centuries, and indeed most of today’s millionaires have become wealthy by having this art at the core of everything they do.

This is what separates the rich from the poor.

First and foremost, before you set a goal, you must want it badly enough or you will not achieve it. Do you want freedom that badly?

Next, we must decide exactly what we want.

The next stage is to write down this objective on a piece of quality white paper, in ink.

The next part is the most vital though. After writing that you will achieve your freedom figure, you must put a deadline by when you will have achieved it by. 

If you don’t set a deadline then you give yourself an excuse to keep saying “Tomorrow” and never get anywhere. How many people do you know who say, “Oh, I’ll start that diet tomorrow” and never do??

And when I say set a deadline, I really mean it. Saying, “By the year 2015...” is not good enough. The deadline must be as exact as the “1st September 2015”.

I know, it sounds terrible doesn’t it?! You’re going to have that piece of paper staring at you every day making you feel unsettled about the task in hand. You’re going to want to rip it down and shout “impossible!” at it. Well, are you a man or a mouse? 

Now comes the real trick. I want you to close your eyes and VISUALISE yourself achieving your objective on schedule. Actually SEE the bank statement with a balance of this figure, FEEL the release as you become free of the grind, HEAR the champagne cork popping, SMELL the interior of your brand new car........ 

This takes some practice and concentration but the results are extraordinary. Can you see what you are doing here? You are re-educating your subconscious- you are taking the pieces of that puzzle it formed earlier on in life and smashing them to pieces! It’s no good just writing down a goal and reading it to yourself- your subconscious will laugh at you. That won’t do. You need the subconscious on your side to win because it is such a powerful player in this game. The subconscious does not respond to reason, only to emotions and feelings, which is why the power of visualisation is so effective. 

Some people say they find it hard to visualise. If you’re one of them, I want you to start reading a novel instead of watching a film because this will encourage you to visualise the images and characters in the story. Television is lazy because all the visualisation is done for you! 

Another thing to practice is this: sit yourself down quietly in a room on your own and look around taking in as much of the surroundings as possible. Then, close your eyes and try to picture how the room looked in your mind. This is exactly the same principle as visualising achieving your goal. 

I’m often asked how I felt the day I was able to break free of the need to work ever again, and my response often surprises when I explain that I didn’t really celebrate or anything. Does it surprise you? It wouldn’t surprise high-achievers to hear this either because they know where I’m coming from: 

Whenever I reach a landmark achievement I barely notice. Why?Because I’d already visualised it happening a thousand times before, to the extent that the actual event seemed like déjà vu! 

Maybe that de-glamorizes the whole experience of achievement somewhat, but that’s the reality I want you to take on board right here and now. You must not only know your goal, but also constantly visualise it so completely that it’s a foregone conclusion.

Do I mess about with ‘Plan Bs’ and contingency plans? NO! Why?

Because, failure simply isn’t an option. If things don’t proceed as planned I just change course until they do, like an aircraft dodging bad weather. 

So to answer the question we started with, NO, nothing will happen to you… unless you see it happening… 


Best Regards, 

Mark Patricks

The Ultimate No-Commute Job: How to Become a Virtual Assistant

Thanks to the amazing leaps in technology in the past couple of years, more and more people are finding it more economical – and more lucrative – to work from home. And one of the most highly sought-after jobs for these folks – and maybe you – is that of virtual assistant.

What's a Virtual Assistant?

That's a good question. Often, a virtual assistant does very similar work to an assistant in a conventional office environment, like scheduling meetings, screening calls for an executive, preparing reports, etc. Except, of course, they work remotely from home. They “telecommute” by email, online workspaces, phone, VOIP, instant message, even fax. This technology makes the virtual assistant’s job possible.

But because virtual assistants are usually employed by smaller companies, your role often expands, and you might be called up to do more than just answer phones and enter data into a spreadsheet. (There’s an increase in paycheck in it for you, too. More responsibility equals more money.)

You might be writing advertising copy one day, putting together press releases, updating the company website the next, or compiling lists of the best restaurants in town. It really depends on who you decide to work for.

And the decision is really yours. According to more than a few studies, virtual assistants are one of the fastest growing job markets today. And since most - if not all - your work will be completed on the computer and phone, you can work for just about anybody in the world… from anywhere in the world with a good Internet connection.

The Skills You Need

Aside from the basic, administrative skills a virtual assistant needs to have - think organization, communication, and exceptional writing skills - you'll find your opportunities and consequently your wage increase exponentially if you have additional expertise.

Can you speak more than one language? Proofread text? Be sure to advertise that. Are you proficient in complex software such as Adobe Photoshop? Highlight that in your resume. If you're good at graphic design, make sure you let it be known. Are you a whiz at spreadsheets? The more skills you have, the more selective you can be.

How to Find Work as a Virtual Assistant

You'll have the most success finding work as a virtual assistant online. And you’ll find opportunities in just about any industry you can think of: real estate, publishing, music, architecture, IT, web development… the list goes on and on.Here are a few great websites to check:

• www.elance.com
• www.craigslist.com
• www.monster.com
• www.job-hunt.org

Yes, these are the main job sites you have looked at before. But did you ever notice all the virtual assistant positions? There are tons. Many don’t say “virtual assistant.” Look for language like “telecommute” and “work from home.”

Some virtual assistant positions that you'll come across will be advertised as being temporary - usually three to six months. Don't be discouraged by this. Once you show what a great worker you are, chances are your employer will want to hold on to you. Think of the three to six months as more of a probationary period.

Building Your Virtual Assistant Business

If you're fully committed to making this a full-time job, here are a few pointers that are absolutely essential for you to consider:

1. Determine your business niche – try to narrow it down to two or three (direct marketing, administrative support, transcribing, website development, etc.).
2. Make sure you have the experience and qualifications to fulfill the obligations of your chosen business niche.
3. Go local – research the needs in your community first. It'll be easier for you to land a virtual assistant job from an employer if you can score a face-to-face interview.
4. Determine the needs of each niche you're qualified in and go after the one most in demand.
5. Make a survey of your home office. Is your current computer capable? Do you have a dedicated work space? Good Internet connection?
6. Be realistic about your project expenditures – and your expected earnings. Will it be enough to keep your virtual assistant business in the black?
7. Market yourself. Then market yourself some more. As a virtual assistant, even after you land a few clients, you don’t want to be stuck if one of your clients drops out. Having a full LinkedIn profile can help tremendously.
8. Don't be discouraged if your business starts slow. They all do. But keep yourself dedicated to a daily schedule, keep a positive attitude, and conduct yourself professionally. You'll be amazed how these simple steps put you ahead of so much of your competition.

The Benefits of Being a Virtual Assistant

Aside from going to work in your bunny slippers and comfiest pair of pajamas, being a virtual assistant offers a host of other benefits. The big one is you can usually set your own schedule. Unless your employer is in the same time zone as you, you can expect to have a great deal of flexibility when it comes to your actual work hours. This makes it an ideal job for stay at home moms or those looking for part-time work.

I once worked as a virtual assistant for a firm based in the UK. It wasn't rare for there to be a lag of a day or so in between communications. If you're a night owl, feel free to get your work done during the night. If you're the person who prefers the 9 to 5 schedule, that's totally your call to make.But there is a caveat: occasionally you might be asked to work odd hours. Say, if your employer has employees working for him or her across the globe, they might want to hold a Skype meeting with everyone and that might mean an early wake up call for you, or a late night. But that's to be expected in pretty much any business these days, and it's a small sacrifice to make in order to enjoy all the great benefits of being a virtual assistant.

And every industry out there - be it entertainment, media, legal, medical, etc. - is turning to virtual assistants as a necessary part of their business. Aside from the great potential earnings you can make as a virtual assistant, the other exciting aspect of this job is the sheer amount of opportunities that will become available to you. If you love to learn, this might be your dream job – because I guarantee you'll learn something new every day!

I wish you the best of luck!

Mark Edwards

P.S. I've just given you the insider's look into finding lucrative work as a virtual assistant. But here are a few more resources to help you find and hold onto that dream job.

Resources

Job Boards

- www.elance.com- www.craigslist.com- www.monster.com- www.job-hunt.org- www.virtualassistantjobs.com- www.indeed.com/q-Virtual-Assistant-jobs.html- www.virtualassistants.com

Virtual Assistant Tips

- http://www.wahm.com/articles/the-top-10-paying-virtual-assistant-opportunities.html- www.businessweek.com/articles/2012-09-04/when-your-personal-assistant-is-virtual

- www.ivaa.org/

- www.virtualassistantcommunity.com/

- www.virtualassistantforums.com/

- www.mybusinessassistant.com/

Why ‘I Have Nothing to Hide’ Isn’t a Good Reason to Not Care That the Government Is Spying On You

I knew the United States government was lying to me. I didn’t need Edward Snowden to tell me that. 

I just thought the lies were going to be about the existence of Area 51 or the promise of Social Security when I retire. I certainly didn’t expect that the lies the government is feeding me and the rest of America to concern the espionage of its own citizens. 

At first I didn’t care that the government was tracking my phone calls, reading my emails and keeping track of what websites I visited. My first thought was, “Well I’m not doing anything wrong and I have nothing to hide.” 

While I’m not happy with the U.S. government most days, I don’t plan on trying to overthrow it, nor do I want anyone else to.  I don’t engage in illegal activities either. I don’t deal drugs or sell firearms or steal from people. My business is in full compliance as well. I pay all my taxes, don’t sell anything illicit, and have all the correct documents and licenses in place to run my company. 

So I thought, “Let them look through my emails, my web history and my phone records. I’m not who they are looking for.” But then I heard that the U.S. government was tracking and spying on Tamerlan Tsarnaev, a.k.a. the Boston Bomber, before he decided to commit a terrorist attack against America. The U.S. government had files on him and they were mining his data. They recorded his phone calls, but didn’t analyze them. 

They had him on a list of known terrorists that was supposed to prevent him from getting on a plane in the U.S. Well then can someone explain to me how he flew to Chechnya in the year before the Boston bombing? What is all this data mining and espionage good for if it doesn’t prevent acts of terrorism? 

In essence the government has all this information about us, but they aren’t doing anything with it. They are just storing it.  In the wake of the Boston bombing the FBI and CIA were able to say that they did have files on Tamerlan, they had checked him out. A lot of good that did us. If the government is going to violate the constitution and my rights in the name of protecting American citizens against acts of terrorism, then it better actually start preventing them. 

Plus now I worry about all of this data that the government has on me and you. Can it be compromised? I mean we hear from time to time about the Chinese government and other rogue groups who hack into company’s databases and steal information or disrupt their service.  Could someone break into the governments databases and steal my information? I bet they could. And since I don’t know the full extent of the information the government keeps on me and everyone else I can’t say I feel confident that the information couldn’t be used against me one day. It seems to me that a record of where I’ve been, who I’ve talked to, what internet searches I’ve made and emails I’ve sent could be of high value to some company. It’s nothing but a liability to me. 

In addition to worrying about my information being hacked I also worry about what the government will do with it in the future. Right now they are just storing it. President Obama says don’t worry that we’re tracking your calls and internet habits because we only check it out if there are other factors that warrant an investigation. 

Beside the fact that President Obama is a known liar, I have to wonder if even he knows how my behaviors can be used against me.  And don’t think I’m just picking on Obama… This was all going on long before him and will be going on for a longtime after.  Regardless of who the next president is. 

Like I said before I’m not doing anything wrong so I shouldn’t worry right? I’m not so sure anymore. Do you know how many federal statutes that exist? Don’t worry if you don’t know, the government doesn’t either. They freely admit they can’t even tell us how many federal laws there are on the books. Literally there are too many to count. One telling fact is they require roughly 27,000 pages to detail all the federal laws that exist. And those are just the ones on the federal level! Not to mention the tens of thousands of business regulations that are in place and all the state and local laws that are on the books. 

Jeez! Suddenly I’m not so sure I’m not breaking any laws. If the federal government can’t even count how many laws are on the books then how can the average citizen be sure they aren’t violating one of them? Ask any lawyer and they’ll tell you that not being aware of a law is not a worthy defense against a crime. 

Combine this with the fact that the government has access to every email you’ve ever sent, every phone call you’ve ever made, every site you’ve ever visited, every online purchase you’ve ever made and you can be certain that they could find something you’ve done which violated one of the laws in those 27,000 pages. Are you so sure you have nothing to hide anymore? I’m not. 

Government officials will continue to tell us that in order for them to keep us safe they’ll need to violate our privacies in order to do so; they’ll tell us that it’s important to find a balance between the two sides. Fine I’m willing to take my shoes off when I go through security at the airport. What I’m not okay with is Big Government keeping track of my every move and every communication to one day use against me if they want. 

Citizens in the Middle East and other nations are afraid to speak out against their government because they are afraid of retribution. They don’t even discuss their personal feelings with their neighbors, co-workers or people outside their family. They are worried everyone is a government spy. People who speak out against the government there frequently receive retribution. 

I don’t want that to become the culture in America. Here we feel free to speak out against laws we don’t agree with and things our government does that we don’t like.  This ability is a major cornerstone of what makes America so desirable. Could this nation of free thinkers and speakers change if we start worrying that the government is spying on us and recording us? 

After learning that Big Government has all of this information on me, and that they have the power to do anything they want with it… I don’t see the upside to the argument that I have nothing to hide so I don’t care if the government is spying on me. If you have nothing to hide, you also have nothing to gain by being spied on and recorded. 

Food for thought. 


Mark Patricks

Becoming a Lifestyle Consultant

The typical person in today’s 9 to 5 world is always tired and a little unorganized. They come home from a busy day at the office and find a dozen more errands and chores waiting for them. A busy week leaves them feeling fried and ready for a margarita. 

It’s a sad fact. For far too many, their life doesn't feel balanced. They feel like they run around all day, working their tail off, and are left with little to show for it.

Hey, we've all been there at some point. 

Billions of working adults around the globe struggle with this basic balance of work and home. Many have yet to find harmony. In fact, according to CBS News, 1 million people skip work every day due to workplace stress.Think of the loss of productivity that results in for businesses large and small, not to mention the long-term mental and physical harm that has on the workers. Stress is a killer, contributing to heart disease and digestive problems like nothing else. And on the emotional side, it can lead to anxiety and depression. 

Okay, enough of that. I’m not here to get you down. I’m just setting the stage for a relatively new business opportunity.You see, a stressful work and home life is nothing new. People have been struggling with it for decades.  But only in the last couple of years have people decided that they don’t have to suffer through it. In short, they’re not going to take it anymore, to paraphrase Twister Sister. 

But they realize they can’t change their life by themselves. They need help from an impartial outsider who can recognize problem areas and make effective recommendations to improve their work-life balance. 

And that’s where you come in. 

As a lifestyle consultant (some prefer the term “life coach”), you’ll help people overcome the trials and tribulations of modern life by getting organized, reducing stress, and finding harmony in everything they do – or as close as they can get. 

Hold on, you might be saying, I’m just as stressed out as everyone else. Fair enough. 

But listen, as long you don't wake up with a stomach ache every morning and see nothing but dark clouds on your drive to work, you may very well have all the tools needed to become a lifestyle consultant. And you’ll learn the rest along the way. (A nice side benefit is that you’ll reduce any stress or issues you do have as you learn your coaching skills.) 

Just to be safe, here’s a quick questionnaire to see if you qualify as a lifestyle coach.

• You go to the gym at least three times a week
• You have a healthy sleep pattern (about seven hours a night)
• Your home is kept clean and organized
• You regularly contribute in company meetings
• You pay your bills on time
• You're five minutes early to appointments as opposed to five minutes late

If you answered in the affirmative to any of these items, you may well qualify as a lifestyle coach. If not, you have some work to do first. But keep reading as you’ll probably learn some great life skills. 

The Way of the Modern Lifestyle Coach 

Now, I'm not going to spout a bunch of feel-good New Age tropes at you or recommend a few Buddhist meditation books. That’s not going to help you help your clients. Striking a balance in our lives is much more involved than that. And, in a way, it is much simpler than that. 

A lifestyle coach recognizes that the working world is a hectic place. Stress is inevitable. Nothing is going to change that fact. But what a lifestyle coach does is try to help their clients find coping strategies to juggle work and family, exercise and diet, and rest and activity. 

Your job is to talk with your clients, identify those areas of their lives that are giving them trouble, and teach coping skills. You don't have to be a certified counselor or an occupational hypnotherapist to help people. You just have to be organized and positive and give people empowering strategies that will teach them to let go, to work hard for work's sake, and to pay less attention to petty office politics. 

It's easier than it sounds. Much of the advice you’ll give is commonsense that your clients just can’t recognize because they’re in the situation. Point out the “obvious” solution and you’ll be their hero. 

In fact, you probably have developed a few coping strategies over the years and you just don't know it.When you have a big presentation at work, how do you prepare for it? Do you study your note cards until they're memorized? Do you drink two cups of coffee that morning instead of one to keep your energy high? Do you make sure your lucky pen is in your pocket? 

Identify what works for you and suggest similar things to your clients. But to be a really great lifestyle coach, there is one attribute that is golden: listen, listen, listen. 

The Power of Listening 

As a lifestyle consultant, your job is to listen to others and find things that work for them. You have to be open and flexible. Your client is your best resource. Besides the tried and true actions proven to reduce stress (exercise, good diet, etc.) you should be on the look-out for that something special that speaks to your client’s inner voice. 

Maybe your client can only recharge his or her batteries by a weekend camping in the woods. If so, make sure you emphasize the importance to your client that if there are any big changes coming up at work, they'd better get to the woods instead of sitting at home over the weekend worrying. Worrying leads to stress and stress leads to poor work performance. That doesn't do anyone any good. 

So listen. Suggest what works for you. Ask questions.If they're music-lovers, maybe a little Beethoven before the big meeting will put them in that "zone" of confidence. And be practical. Tell you clients that there are limits to what one can do. Tell your clients that duties at home are important, but so are work duties. And preach cleanliness and organization. There's nothing that calms me more than having a clean home and organized work station. Find out what works and go forth. 

Landing Clients 

A great way to get your feet wet in the life coaching business is to start with friends, family, co-workers past and present, and acquaintances. Build up your experience and your bank of success stories. Anybody can benefit from a life coach: athletes, executives, managers, 9 to 5 workers, blue collar workers, students, stay at home moms… the sky really is the limit. 

Next, use your personal network to find new clients beyond people you know personally.After that it’s a snowball rolling down a hill as your successful clients recommend you to others and those folks recommend you to even more people.You should also have a comprehensive website detailing your services and areas of expertise. By adding articles, blog entries, or videos on life coaching topics your site will rise in the search engine rankings until people searching for a life coach will find you near the top of the results. It’s also important to include as many testimonials and stories from happy clients on your website as possible. This provides proof your services work. 

Start a weekly email newsletter in which you pass on life and career tips and advice for free but always offer the opportunity for personalized coaching for a fee. 

This will go a long way to positioning you as an expert in your field. So will writing a book on life coaching, even if it’s self-published and available as a free ebook on your website. It’s all about marketing yourself. 

Social media, like YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter are huge these days. You need a presence on these and other social networks to attract new clients and keep prospects engaged. Offering to answer questions for free is a great way to attract a following. 

Being active on forums and chat rooms dedicated to organization and other topics related to life coaching is also a great way to attract prospective clients.The key in anything you do is to be visible and let people know your services are available. 

By the way, you’re not limited at all to clients within driving distance. You can meet with your clients over the phone, on Skype, through instant messaging, email… whatever they prefer. It gives you a huge potential customer base – the whole world. 

And remember, if you’d like you can always specialize. Weight loss methods, stress management, home organization, business ownership… all are great niches for life coaches. 

And as far as fees go… when you’re starting out, charge $50 to $75 an hour. Once you gain experience, ramp up what you charge accordingly. Advanced coaches charge up to $400 an hour. 

The way to bring in a steady income is to build a “stable” of clients, say 15 to 20, who you work with on a weekly basis. That’s a nice chunk of change for a few hours’ work each day, don’t you think? 

I wish you the best of luck! 

John Hollister 

P.S. I just gave you all the tips you need to become a successful life/work coach. But here are some supplemental resources to help you be the best life coach you can be. 

Inspirational and Practical Resources 

http://www.lifecoaching.com/pages/life_coaching.html 

http://www.performancelifestyle.com/ 

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/29/fashion/should-a-life-coach-have-a-life-first.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0 

http://www.lifecoach.com/ 

http://www.fabjob.com/lifecoach.asp 

http://www.mylifecoach.com/ 

http://www.coachfederation.org/ 

http://newbeginningcoaching.net/

What is working smart?

BUSINESS MATTERS(BEYOND THE BOTTOM LINE) By Francis J. Kong (The Philippine Star)

Have you ever heard of managers barking out this cliché?

“Don’t just work harder, work smarter!”

Some, perhaps, think that they are smarter by telling their people to work smarter. Unless the manager trains his or her people by showing how to do it, then this action does not improve the worker’s performance.

Working smart is important. But how exactly do we work smart?

Some people equate working smart as taking short-cuts. They continuously find ways of superseding process, violating regulations, and not delivering requirements. They think that they are being “creative” and as such, smart.

They look at each requirement as a bureaucratic impediment, a legalistic obstacle that only delays results. This is not working smart.

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If you look at all of my writings and seminars, you would know that I am a firm believer of hard work. But we can work smarter without compromising our ethical standards. We can still manage to reach the top and enjoy.

Allow me to offer few practical ideas on how to work smart the right way.

1. BUILD PRODUCTIVE HABITS.

Habits are powerful; having a habit is like having a plan. Routines are powerful; having a routine is like having an alarm system that tells us it’s time to work.

I have my own routine. I wake up in the morning, do my quiet time, open the news channel, listen to podcast while dressing and preparing my lessons for the day’s training requirements.

I go home at night and spend time with the kids. When they retire to their own rooms, I work on my new book, write articles and make sure I do my To-Do list for the next day.

Every productive and creative person I know has a routine. A routine can free us from the unneeded and unexpected happenings that can potentially rob us the opportunity to be creative.

2. SEPARATE YOUR TO-DO LIST FROM YOUR TODAY LIST

Productivity expert David Allen says that, “Your mind is for having ideas not holding them.”

You may put those ideas in your To-Do list. However, your Today list contains the MOST (limit these) important things you MUST do today.  And when you go through the massive things contained in your To-Do list, you may spot certain things that you can put in your Some Day list.

Being swamped with many ideas in your To-Do list that do not necessarily add value to your success goals is actually a bad investment.

Check your To-Do list. Limit the items you want to add into the list. The top of the list should contain your most important tasks. Stick to them and do not be distracted. Write the list the night before. And remember, deal with your most important tasks first.

3. CREATE A ROUTINE AND WORK AROUND IT.

Having a routine does not mean everything is carved on stone. You need to determine what makes you waste time. Some of these activities may include choosing clothes too long or doing Facebook or checking out your favorite websites. These activities steal minutes away from your precious time. Try to track and study them; you’ll see how unimportant these activities are and how much they are wasting your time. Try to eliminate them.

4. CREATE HEALTHY HABITS AND STICK TO THEM.

Now that you have determined your most important tasks and have created a routine based on them, stick to this routine and do it first. Do it repetitively and over time, you begin to build healthy and productive habits.

5. EVALUATE YOUR RESULTS AND NOT THE TIME SPENT.

‘Working harder’ means putting more hours to the same activity every day.  ‘Working smarter’ means eliminating low-value activities and concentrating only on high-value work.

Some people may not be working as long as others, but they are delivering more results.

By creating productive habits, you are working smart.

How you spend your time is how you spend your life. Be smart.

The Lies We Tell Ourselves

Throughout history there have been numerous tales of fierce warriors and epic battles. One such story is about the Greek warriors. Their fierceness and prowess was legendary, not because of their training or weapons, but because of their resolve. Legend has it that when the ancient Greeks went to war the first thing their commanders would command them to do when they reached enemies coastline was to burn their boats.

They effectively stranded themselves to strengthen their resolve to win the battle. The message was clear there was no such thing as surrender or retreat. The choice was to win or die. With no other option than victory, the Greeks put everything they had into their battles. When failure is not an option, you have no choice but to succeed.

I burned my boats when I decided to get rich. I quit my cushy corporate job where I was guaranteed a paycheck every other week. I gave up the safety and security my job provided me in order to strengthen my resolve to succeed. I wanted there to be no other option than victory. 

I wouldn’t necessarily recommend the path I chose to get rich to everyone. There is merit to starting on the path to riches in a more conservative manner. But for me I was afraid I would never stop making excuses if I didn’t throw myself into the task.

For years I had been saying, “I want to get rich but…I don’t have the money…I don’t have enough time to do it…I’m getting married next year…I’m too old…I am afraid of failure. Basically I made up anything and everything to stop myself from moving forward on the path to true wealth.

Have you ever done that too? Make excuses as for why you don’t make more money? That you are stopping yourself from becoming the man you’ve always wanted to be?Believe me I’ve heard every excuse you can think of; most likely I’ve even said them myself.  Have you ever said...? 

I want to make more money but I don’t have enough in savings. Well that doesn’t make sense to me because each Friday I send you a letter detailing a new way to make money online that usually costs less than $100 to get started ( I also send this information to you free of charge).

I want to make more money but I don’t have enough time in my schedule to run a business. That can’t be it either because internet based businesses’ require very little time to run. They pretty much run their selves after the initial set-up. I work just a few hours a week on each of the web based businesses I am involved with. It’s not even necessary to work during the day or Monday through Friday. You can work in the evenings or for a few hours on the weekends.

I want to get rich but I’m afraid I won’t be successful and make any money in this business. That’s ludicrous. The margins in internet based business are the highest I’ve seen in any business. Without any training or specialized degrees my business made a million dollars a year within four years of starting up.

I want to make more money but I’m too old to change careers. I’ve missed my window of opportunity. That’s silly; Julia Child didn’t attend culinary school until she was 36 years old and didn’t become known for her fabulous French cuisine until she was 51. Colonel Sanders opened his first Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant at the ripe, old age of 65.In fact AARP reports that nearly 25 percent of all businesses in America in recent years were founded by entrepreneurs between the ages of 55 and 64. I consider older entrepreneurs to have advantages that younger ones don’t. Usually older entrepreneurs have more experience, patience, problem-solving abilities, better negotiating skills and a larger rolodex of business contacts. The odds of success are in your favor!

The excuse or reason behind not having taken that first step to becoming financially free and independently wealthy is no more than an avoidance tactic, plain and simple.  It’s a way to explain away our limitations. Instead of doing something we blame the outside world. If only the economy wasn’t so bad I could start working on my dream business. If only I didn’t have to work so many hours I could do it. If only I got that raise at work I could afford to start my own business.

Sure external circumstances might have put you behind the eight ball a bit. But you have the choice of whether you allow those limitations to hold you back or to rise above them.The first step to overcoming these excuses and getting rich is to admit you are making excuses. Becoming aware that there are only a few real limitations can put things into perspective. To be successful you’ve got to realize that making excuses will not move you forward on the path to becoming wealthy. The only difference between successful entrepreneurs and failed entrepreneurs is that successful people don’t take no for an answer.

You too can burn the boats by doing something that will force yourself into action. Sign up for a seminar. Register a URL. Put together a business plan. Sign up for a coaching program. Open up a business account at your bank. Invest in a business building product . Don’t let your fear hold you back any longer, jump in to get started.

Good luck! 

Sincerely, 

Mark Patricks

Don't Let Today Be Like Every Other Monday

I lounged in my cargo shorts and soft cotton t-shirt with a coffee in my hand, my iPad open to the sports section. After a minute I notice movement out of the corner of my eye. I look over to see my pool guy unloading his supplies. I glance at my watch, Monday 10 a.m., guess it’s time to head to the office for a couple hours. As I grab my keys and head out I kiss my wife on the cheek and make her a promise to be home no later than 3 o’clock. 

All the rumors you’ve heard about owning and running an internet based business are true. 

I DO work in my pj’s sometimes. 

I DO only need to work a couple of hours a day. 

I DO have the freedom to work on whatever projects I want and delegate everything else away. 

I DO have the flexibility to make my own schedule. 

I DO wake up on my own, never to the sound of an alarm. 

I DO enjoy not having a boss that I have to answer to or explain why I’m coming in late or leaving early. 

As far as jobs go, mine’s pretty sweet. Running an internet business is by far the best way to make a living and live stress free. As far as businesses go: 

It has high margins and low overhead. 

It allows me to spend more time with my family. 

It brings in money to my account even while I sleep. 

It doesn’t require a college education or years and years of on the job training. 

So if the ultimate goal is to make enough money so that you can live the kind of life you’ve always wanted, then I have to ask why haven’t you started an online business of your own yet? 

I know this is some heavy stuff for a Labor Day Monday morning, but if now isn’t the right time to talk about becoming wealthy, then when is? 

There is never going to be the exact right moment to start a new business. You’ll always have something on your plate that prevents you from moving forward…a car loan…an upcoming wedding…not enough savings…kid going to college next year. If you wait for the right time, you’ll be waiting forever because you’ll never find the exact right time to do anything. 

Too often we focus on the reasons NOT to do something when we are afraid. But I want today to be different. Today I want you to focus on all the reasons why right now is the exact right moment to start your own internet business and start down the path to becoming wealthy. 

If you think about it, just for a minute, I’m sure you can come up with at least one reason why you should do it. Let’s start with an easy one. Answer this next question honestly… 

Do you love what you do? If you are like most people the answer is a big fat NO! Most people HATE their jobs. I bet you’re not looking forward to the rest of the week. It’s only Monday but you are already dreading the work week ahead of you. Plus can you imagine doing this job for the rest of your life? 

You don’t have to. We get this one life. Do you want to spend most of it doing something you hate? Something that brings you absolutely no joy? Instead why not spend your days lounging in comfy clothes, working from the comfort of your house for just a few hours a day. Internet businesses provide the ideal money making opportunities that allow you to make great money while living the kind of life you’ve always wanted. 

Not to mention the amount of stress you’ll be able to let go of once you do take back control of your life and schedule. Let’s face it working for someone else in today’s corporate world is stressful. You constantly worry about deadlines and projects and that pain in the butt three cubicles over who you know wants your job. Plus the corporate world isn’t exactly the spitting image of stability these days. Plenty of people are still getting laid off or having their hours reduced. Not to mention the lack of meaningful raises that are being given out. 

The idea of a secure job is a thing of the past. Now, unless you are the one in charge, you are at risk of being let go. Rather than take the risk of being the one they let go, why not start your own business. 

Still not convinced? Well let’s talk more about the lifestyle working for an internet business provides. Tired of a long commute and continually rising gas prices? Work from home! Forget leaving your house 45 minutes before you have to be at your desk. Now you can roll out of bed, not to the sound of an alarm, but whenever you wake up and walk the ten steps to your office! 

Want to move to a different part of the country, closer to family, or where the cost of living is lower? You can. Buy that ranch out West that you’ve always wanted. Or live in the hippest downtown neighborhood and forget about the traffic woes because you won’t be commuting anymore. An internet based business allows you to work from literally anywhere! 

Owning an internet business provides you with the flexibility to do what you want. Take your kid to school in the morning without worrying about coming in late to the office, schedule a doctor’s appointment in the afternoon, or go to the gym in the middle of the day when it’s least crowded. The degree to which you take back control of your life when you are the one in charge should not be minimized. This is often the most rewarding factor of owning your own business. 

So if not now, when? When do you want to get started on living the kind of life you’ve always wanted to? Will tomorrow be more conducive? Next week? Next year? 

Don’t let this Monday be just like every other Monday. Make this Monday, the start of the week that you took control back of your life.