How to Shift Your Reality in Six Easy Steps

Regardless what we may encounter and experience in life, we have the ability to make the best out of any given situation for ourselves and everyone around us. We have the ability to transform our lives through maintaining inner harmonious integrity of our mind, heart, and gut feelings... and while it's not necessary to be a meditation master to achieve excellent results, it is helpful to start meditating in order to fully know oneself.

Step 1

Clearly Envision Your True Dreams. The first step to success in shifting to a reality you most fully enjoy is to clearly envision what you'd genuinely most wish your life to be like. This is your opportunity to discern the difference between something that "seems like a good idea at the time" and something you'll actually love for a long, long time without later regrets. The difference between living a dream-come-true and a fantasy-come-true tends to be that dreams-come-true are good for lots of people, whereas fantasies-come-true are often enjoyable for a short term before they leave one feeling empty and unfulfilled in deep and lasting ways. If you need help figuring out whether you've really got a dream-come-true in mind, ask yourself how many people will be thrilled for this dream coming true. The more people are genuinely ecstatic, the more likely you've got a genuine dream, and not a flash-in-the-pan fantasy. Start a dream journal by writing down the dreams you envision which most completely thrill and delight you... including pictures, words, and feelings to remind you of your new reality.

Step 2

Get Out of Your Own Way. Much of the reason we tend to get stuck at a certain point in our lives is that we have no concept of how self-limiting many of our assumptions and beliefs actually are. There is a very good reason that we have an expression called, "Beginner's Luck," and that is that most of us can accomplish a great deal if we don't know that such things are impossible. This idea of clearing all negative beliefs, assumptions and self-talk from our consciousness is so powerful that you will see amazing results every time you let go of ideas you have had about how things are "supposed to be" in order to be open to what actually is... seeing possibilities, supporters, and resources with completely fresh eyes and the blessing of a Beginner's Mind. Ask yourself "How good can this get?" and truly open your mind and heart to imagine... anything.

Step 3

Listen to Your Intuition Through Your Body. There is a great deal of wisdom available to you that you may not be fully conscious of unless you learn to listen to it... and it comes to you through feelings you may pick up if you get "cold feet," for example. The best way to shift to a preferable reality is to select a destination that every part of you agrees with, so you are fully and completely harmoniously aligned with the vision of your dream-come-true. If you notice some part of you feeling tense or agitated, take some time to tune those feelings in and ask yourself what you are afraid of. Once you've listened to your genuine concerns and feelings, you can then make an overall assessment regarding whether what you thought you desired is exactly right, or whether it might need a little fine-tuning. This is an excellent time to revise your vision of your dream-come-true, so you can energize it with the full power of every cell in your body and fiber in your being feeling inspired by where your reality next will be.

Step 4

Expect Your Dream-Come-True. By expecting what you most desire, and considering it a "done deal," you can fully relax into a natural state of appreciation for ways you can better be in alignment with the new reality. This means that everything you say, think, and do is now attuned to the fact that you fully expect to be living your dream-come-true... the one that actually is also best for everyone and everything around you. Just like expecting to find a parking spot where you need one, and being delighted to find it just fine -- you do amazing energetic work by expecting that you are now aligned with a completely new-to-you reality.

Step 5

Appreciate Every Moment. Now that you've locked in a clear vision of what you are intending to manifest in your life, and you are expecting that you're on course with this natural transition, the best attitude to maintain momentum here is one of maximum appreciation. Make a point of feeling grateful every day as much as possible... whether you are alone, or with others. Write gratitude lists and put them in your dream journal. At a mastery level of appreciation, learn to find joy and beauty in everything... so that no matter what is happening, you can imagine that this, too, is unfolding exactly as required, even though it may not fully make any sense at this time.

Step 6

Do Something Nice for Someone. Take actions in ways that serve others as they wish to be served; notice what someone needs that you can provide, and offer assistance in kind words, smiles, and actions. Your compassionate interactions with others will tremendously boost your energy level to the point that lots of your internal belief and assumption wiring will be overhauled... and you will find yourself feeling much happier, too. Remember that your most desired dreams-come-true are ones where others are happiest, too, and guide yourself and others forward by looking around every day with true longing to know "How good can it get?"

James Boehm ... 8K A Weeek ... Every Month A Million ... The Daily Dose Of Good

Fulfilling Your Dreams with the Seven Spiritual Laws of Success

This is another absolutely powerful lesson taught to me by Lori Duff one of my mentors here at Every Month A Million with our Daily Dose Of Good. I apply these laws in my life and have seen unbelievable results, and know you will also.

There are many aspects to success; material wealth is only one component. Moreover, success is a journey, not a destination. Material abundance, in all its expressions, happens to be one of those things that makes the journey more enjoyable. But success also includes good health, energy and enthusiasm for life, fulfilling relationships, creative freedom, emotional and psychological stability, a sense of well-being and peace of mind. Even with the experience of all these things, we will remain unfulfilled unless we nurture the seeds of divinity inside us. In reality, we are divinity in disguise, and the gods and goddesses in embryo that are contained within us seek to be fully materialized. Although I call the laws I'm about to discuss The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success, they could easily be called The Seven Spiritual Laws of Life. This is because they are the same principles that nature uses to create everything in material existence--everything we can see, hear, smell, taste or touch.

Success in life could be defined as the continued expansion of happiness and the progressive realization of worthy goals. Success is the ability to fulfill your desires with effortless ease. And yet success, including the creation of wealth, has always been considered a process that requires hard work, and it is often considered to be at the expense of others. We need a more spiritual approach to success and to affluence, which is the abundant flow of all good things to you. With the knowledge and practice of spiritual law, we put ourselves in harmony with nature and create with carefreeness, joy and love. True success is the experience of the miraculous. It is the unfolding of the divinity within us. It is the perception of divinity wherever we go, in whatever we perceive--in the eyes of a child, in the beauty of a flower, in the flight of a bird. When we begin to experience our life as the miraculous expression of divinity--not occasionally, but all the time--then we will know the true meaning of success.

Now let's go over The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success and see how we can apply them in our lives.

1) The Law of Pure Potentiality
This law is based on the fact that we are, in our essential state, pure consciousness. Pure consciousness is pure potentiality; it is the field of all possibilities and infinite creativity. When you discover your essential nature and know who you really are, in that knowing itself is the ability to fulfill any dream you have, because you are the eternal possibility, the immeasurable potential of all that was, is and will be. This law could also be called the Law of Unity, because underlying the infinite diversity of life is the unity of one all-pervasive spirit. There is no separation between you and this field of energy. One way to access the field is through the daily practice of silence, meditation and non-judgment. Spending time in nature will also give you access to the qualities inherent in the field: infinite creativity, freedom and bliss.

2) The Law of Giving
This law could also be called the Law of Giving and Receiving, because the universe operates through dynamic exchange. The flow of life is nothing other than the harmonious interaction of all the elements and forces that structure the field of existence. Because your body and your mind and the universe are in constant and dynamic change, stopping the circulation of energy is like stopping the flow of blood. Whenever blood stops flowing, it begins to clot, to stagnate. That is why you must give and receive in order to keep wealth and affluence--or anything you want--circulating in your life. If our only intention is to hold on to our money and hoard it--since it's life energy, we will stop its circulation back into our lives as well. In order to keep that energy coming to us, we have to keep the energy circulating. Thus, the more you give, the more you will receive. The best way to put The Law of Giving into operation is to make a decision that any time you come into contact with anyone, you will give them something. It doesn't have to be in the form of material things; it could be a flower, a compliment or a prayer. In fact, the most powerful forms of giving are non-material. The gifts of caring, attention, affection, appreciation and love are some of the most precious gifts you can give, and they don't cost you anything.

3) The Law of Karma (or Cause and Effect)
"Karma" is both action and the consequence of that action; it is cause and effect simultaneously, because every action generates a force of energy that returns to us in kind. There is nothing unfamiliar about the Law of Karma. Everyone had heard the expression, "What you sow is what you reap." Obviously, if we want to create happiness in our lives, we must learn to sow the seeds of happiness. Therefore, karma implies the action of conscious choice-making. Whether you like it or not, everything that is happening at this moment is a result of the choices you've made in the past. Unfortunately, a lot of us make choices unconsciously, and therefore we don't think they are choices--and yet, they are. If you step back for a moment and witness the choices you are making as you make those choices, then in just this act of witnessing, you take the whole process from the unconscious realm into the conscious realm. This procedure of conscious choice-making and witnessing is very empowering.You can use the Law of Karma to create money and affluence, and the flow of all good things to you, any time you want. But first, you must become consciously aware that your future is generated by the choices you are making in every moment of your life. If you do this on a regular basis, then you are making full use of this law. The more you bring your choices into the level of your conscious awareness, the more you will make those choices which are spontaneously correct--both for you and those around you.

4) The Law of Least Effort
This law is based on the fact that nature's intelligence functions with effortless ease and abandoned carefreeness. This is the principle of least action, of no resistance. This is, therefore, the principle of harmony and love. When we learn this lesson from nature, we easily fulfill our desires. In Vedic Science, the age-old philosophy of India, this principle is known as the principle of economy of effort, or "do less and accomplish more." Ultimately, you come to the state where you do nothing and accomplish everything. This means that there is just a faint idea, and then the manifestation of the idea comes about effortlessly. What is commonly called a "miracle" is actually an expression of the Law of Least Effort. Least effort is expended when your actions are motivated by love, because nature is held together by the energy of love. When you seek power and control over other people, you waste energy. When you seek money or power for the sake of the ego, you spend energy chasing the illusion of happiness instead of enjoying happiness in the moment. When your actions are motivated by love, your energy multiplies and accumulates--and the surplus energy you gather and enjoy can be channeled to create anything that you want, including unlimited wealth. There are three components to the Law of Least Effort--three things you can do to put this principle of "do less and accomplish more" into action. The first component is acceptance. Acceptance simply means that you make a commitment: "Today I will accept people, situations, circumstances and events as they occur." This means I will know that this moment is as it should be, because the whole universe is as it should be. The second component is responsibility. This means not blaming anyone or anything for your situation, including yourself. This allows you the ability to have a creative response to the situation as it is now. All problems contain the seeds of opportunity, and this awareness allows you to take the moment and transform it to a better situation or thing. The third component to the Law of Least Effort is defenselessness. This means that you have relinquished the need to convince or persuade others of your point of view. If you relinquish this need you will in that relinquishment gain access to enormous amounts of energy that have been previously wasted.

5) The Law of Intention and Desire
This law is based on the fact that energy and information exist everywhere in nature. A flower, a rainbow, a tree, a human body, when broken down to their essential components are energy and information. The whole universe, in its essential nature, is the movement of energy and information. The only difference between you and a tree is the informational and energy content of your respective bodies. You can consciously change the energy and informational content of your own quantum mechanical body, and therefore influence the energy and informational content of your extended body--your environment, your world--and cause things to manifest in it. The quality of intention on the object of attention will orchestrate an infinity of space-time events to bring about the outcome intended, provided one follows the other spiritual laws of success. Intention lays the groundwork for the effortless, spontaneous, frictionless flow of pure potentiality. The only caution is that you use your intent for the benefit of mankind.

6) The Law of Detachment
This law says that in order to acquire anything in the physical universe, you have to relinquish your attachment to it. This doesn't mean you give up the intention to create your desire. You give up your attachment to the result. This is a very powerful thing to do. The moment you relinquish your attachment to the result, combining one-pointed intention with detachment at the same time, you will have that which you desire. Anything you want can be acquired through detachment, because detachment is based on the unquestioning belief in the power of your true Self. Attachment comes from poverty consciousness, because attachment is always to symbols. Detachment is synonymous with wealth consciousness, because with detachment there is freedom to create. True wealth consciousness is the ability to have anything you want, anytime you want, and with least effort. To be grounded in this experience you have to be grounded in the wisdom of uncertainty. In this uncertainty you will find the freedom to create anything you want.

7) The Law of "Dharma" or Purpose in Life
The seventh spiritual law of success is the Law of Dharma. (Dharma is a Sanskrit word that means "purpose in life.") This law says that we have taken manifestation in physical form to fulfill a purpose. You have a unique talent and a unique way of expressing it. There is something that you can do better than anyone else in the whole world--and for every unique talent and unique expression of that talent, there are also unique needs. When these needs are matched with the creative expression of your talent, that is the spark that creates affluence. Expressing your talents to fulfill needs creates unlimited wealth and abundance. There are three components to the Law of Dharma. The first says that each of us is here to discover our true Self. The second component is to express our unique talents; the expression of that talent takes you into timeless awareness. The third component is service to humanity. When you combine the ability to express your unique talent with service to humanity, then you make full use of the Law of Dharma. The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success are powerful principles that will enable you to attain self-mastery. If you put your attention on these laws and practice the steps outlined above, you will see that you can manifest anything you want--all the affluence, money and success you desire. You will also see that your life becomes more joyful and abundant in every way, for these laws are also the spiritual laws of life that make living worthwhile.

How Having the Right Mindset Can Change the Results of Your Efforts

The right mind-set, especially of the way you think of yourself, can have many consequences in the results of your efforts. Those that acquire positive thoughts and can apply that sense to their lives and efforts made also acquire the greatest outcomes. It's a known fact that your thoughts control what you attract, whether negative or positive. It's a simple concept known as the "Law of Attraction". If you can master this law of attraction, the possibilities are endless. Doors that have been closed by resistance will open without effort.

You must believe that you have what it takes to achieve your goal. Napoleon Hill, author of "Think and Grow Rich", developed a self mastery in this subject and has been quoted in his book to say "What the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve." The success of all business entrepreneurs that have gone above and beyond in order to achieve and acquire their goals has been a total result of believing in themselves and NEVER giving up. Picture yourself as already reaching your goals and life has a mysterious way, better known as the Law of Attraction, of making them a reality.

Now, I have a question for you, are you a fence hopper or a fence sitter? The difference is whether you can make a quick decision or not when you are faced with an opportunity. The ability to keep moving forward and not be held back by indecisiveness can make the difference between success and failure. Most new entrepreneurs get stuck in "analysis paralysis" and become frustrated at the fact that they just don't seem to be getting any closer to reaching their goals. When an opportunity confronts you, do your analysis and make a decision. Once the decision is made, don't waste your energy on worrying if it was a good decision or not, it's called taking chances. And chances are what we take each and every day unconsciously. From driving, to shopping for the right product or service, to deciding on what foods to eat, etc. These are all decisions we make daily and we are taking chances at all of them. We have no way to know exactly what the outcome is going to be in every decision we make, so when offered an opportunity to make a big change in our lives, why do some still hesitate? The answer: Confidence!

Having confidence in you is one of the necessary success keys to an entrepreneur. Being able to walk tall without fear or doubt about what others think or say about you determines your level of success in anything you set your mind to. One of the biggest dream stealers in life is lacking the belief and confidence needed to do what it takes to be the person you want to be or do the things you've always wanted to do. No one, no matter who they are, were they're from, what background they have, should feel inferior to anyone else's success level. We are all the same and all have the same amount of time in a day as those with a high level of success. So lack of self-confidence should not exist in a life of abundance, were there is enough to go around for everyone.

Another aspect of mastering having the right mind-set is to set realistic expectations and hold yourself liable to those short term goals. Unrealistic goals can make a person question whether the actual goal is attainable. Don't lose the confidence and focus in your efforts to attain your goal by making this mistake. If, for example, your goal is to make $50,000, don't use a date that obviously is unrealistic unless you have set a definite plan of action in which you believe can be achieved. Instead, make the amount co-inside with the set time frame. That way it is more attainable and motivation will not be lost if the specific goal is not reached. You can always set a later date for the same goal and continue with your efforts in obtaining that goal. The key here is continuing to move toward your expectation with persistence and never quitting.

Most importantly, have Fun! If you're not enjoying yourself while working at reaching those expectations, you will lose motivation and your efforts will just seem to you work. That's the great thing about the day and age we live in. We can leverage technology to help acquire new friends and business partners if the time to physically perform this action is impossible. I've personally made more friends and business acquaintances through the use of online social networks than I've ever done personally. It just becomes impossible to physically be everywhere at once. Having created these awesome friends here at Every Month A Million gives me the necessary positive environment to keep focus on my goals and keep moving ahead in life. Whether it is in person or through the use of technology, enjoy the experience of meeting new people and making new friends. Doing so keeps your mind-set laser targeted, focused, motivated, and confident that what you want out of life you will get.

With that said, I'm looking forward to hearing from all of you so feel free to leave comments or share this blog with others.

Wishing You a Life of Abundance

Mind Change

I have come in contact with a great number of people who have exhibited a need for serious change in their lives. The problem is people have a hard time accepting the fact that mind change must come first. Mind change first life change follows.

The need for change now is greater than ever, couple that need with the fact that we are evolving as a human race to a much higher level of spiritual enlightenment and you should come to the understanding that now is the perfect time for you to do what you have been promising yourself you would do for soooo long…change your life.

Can you change everything? Absolutely EveryMonth A Million

People try to achieve happiness in reverse, they desire to be happy, and resolve to be once all their problems are solved. We would all be happy once our problems are solved, the problem is this approach actually means we are content to relinquish control and let life run us, and it will.

Mind change comes first, life change follows. In order to begin the process of changing our circumstance we have to change our way of thinking first, that’s the hard part. It’s hard to feel good when gloom and doom is everywhere, but it can be done. I’ve done it, and so have many others.

It actually doesn’t start with the decision to change anything. It starts with your ability to accept some things that may be difficult at first.

In order to make it simple let me say it like this. Newton was wrong; the world does not function as a giant clock, it is not a mechanism or mechanical by any means of the word, and he’s been wrong for over 200 years.

Here’s where you may have difficulty, here are the basic principal beliefs you need to accept in order to begin the mind change process.

Do you believe that you are solely responsible for everything that is part of your current circumstance?

That’s right, the good the bad and the ugly… you asked for it all.

Do you believe that by changing your thinking you can change your entire circumstance? That you can have more of what you want? Anything you want?

You can and you will

It’s important that I lay the ground work for you to be able to begin the mind change process, I want to give you a basic understanding, without going too far into the fascinating world of quantum Physics, in order for you to come to terms with the principle behind the necessity for you to change your thinking, in order to affectively change your circumstance.

We are in the midst of one of the most significant paradigm shifts mankind has ever encountered. We are seeing the end of Newton’s mechanical world view, which is being replaced by a new one that tells us we are nothing more than interconnected consciousness, and that matter is nothing more than a form of energy.

Newton’s Mechanical Clockwork

For more than two hundred years Newton’s ideas dictated our world view. Newton declared that everything operates mechanically and can be predicted like clockwork. Science in Newton’s view, being nothing more than the act of observing, meant that this world view was easily perpetuated by independent observers all over the world.

In the late 19th century, science entered into the era of subatomic physics, which changed everything. Scientists discovered that the so-called ‘subatomic particles’ were not particles at all. They behaved like particles when measured but the traveled like waves. Quantum theory has changed everything, because what was once a mechanical, external Universe has now become a web of intelligence. Science finally admits that the simple act of observing changes the result of any experiment and by extension, that the observer and the observed are not separate.

What follows from this new understanding is a completely different way of dealing with the world we perceive. Our old model of an objective world view has to be replaced with a new model that states everything is subjective, the observer influencing the observed.

The Quantum Paradox – The Wave-Particle Duality

Wave-Particle Duality is perhaps the most notable concept of the quantum world; and by extension, it is also the philosophical basis of modern thought. It is the defining characteristic of elementary physical entities, such as electrons, protons, neutrons, atoms, and molecules, which exist on the one hand in states which behave like waves when they are not being observed, and on the other hand behave like particles when observed.

The key is in the observation. In its wave-like state, the physical structure is typically extended in space, but then contracts abruptly to localized events or point- like particles when an observation is being made.

When unobserved, physical quantum systems behave in wave-like states and only represent tendencies or probabilities of actual events. On the other hand, when observation is made, the wave-like state changes abruptly, discontinuously, and unpredictably, in a quantum leap.

At the macro level, the process is seemingly ruled by chance alone, and thus there is the potential for a true choice to be made.

Perception and Reality from a Quantum Viewpoint

All that we see, hear, taste, touch, smell and feel has been created from the data received by our sensory organs. All we ever know of the world around us are the mental constructions we assemble from that data.

However real and external they may seem, these constructions are all phenomena within the mind. This simple fact is very hard to grasp; it goes against all our experience. If there is anything about which we feel certain, it is that the world we experience is real.

We can see, touch and hear it. It seems undeniable that out there, around us, independent and apart from us, exists as a physical world, utterly real, solid and tangible. But the world of our experience is no more Out there than are our dreams. When we dream, we create a reality in which events happen around us, and in which we perceive other people as individuals separate from us. In the dream it all seems very real. But when we awaken we realize that everything in the dream was actually a creation of our own mind.

The same process of reality-generation occurs in waking consciousness. The difference is that Now the reality that is created is based on sensory data, and bears a closer relationship to what is taking place in the real world. Nevertheless, however real it may seem, it is not actually, the real world. It is still an image of that World created in the mind.

Enter the Age of Conscious Science

The current meta-paradigm of the nature of reality assumes that space, time, and matter constitute the basic framework of reality and consciousness somehow arises from this reality. The truth, it now appears, is the very opposite. As far as the reality we experience is concerned-and this, remember, is the only reality we ever know-consciousness is primary. Time, space, and matter are secondary; they are aspects of an image of reality manifesting in the mind. They exist within the consciousness; not the other way around. If we consider the reality we experience, then we have to accept the final analysis, the new physicists are correct.

Consciousness is the essence of everything – everything in the known universe.

It is the medium from which every aspect of our experience manifests. Every form and quality we ever experience in the world is a construction within the consciousness.

The hard part is over. We never have to hear that again. The truth is you cannot be all consumed with the teaching, when all you really need is a basic understanding; the rest is in the technique. Manifesting change in your life is easy once you break down the barriers in your belief system which have resulted in your need to change in the first place.

Goal Setting: A Surefire Way To Achieve Your Goals.

Some people seem to be able to naturally achieve their important goals. They make it look easy -- like they were born to do it.

They wake up excited about the day ahead and can’t wait to get started. They work because they want to, not because they have to. They care deeply about what they are doing and how it affects other people, and they have a deep sense of fulfillment that is very energizing and inspiring.

I bet that goals don’t seem quite as simple or natural to you... at least not yet.

Here’s the first secret you need to learn about achieving your goals:

NATURAL GOAL ACHIEVERS ARE MADE... NOT BORN!

Natural goal achievers -- those people who know how to use goals to get what they want -- are NOT better than you. They’ve just mastered certain things that most other people never learn and they do certain things that most other people never do. Every natural goal achiever had to figure out the secrets of setting and achieving goals successfully.

Natural goal achievers discovered this important life skill themselves through years of trial and error, or they learned it from a great mentor who took them under their wing and showed them the ropes. They’ve just been doing it for so long that it’s become second nature to them... that’s why it seems like a talent they were born with.

This is great news because it means that YOU CAN DO IT TOO. Anyone can learn how to set and achieve inspiring, meaningful, life-changing goals if they really want to.

I will have much more on the secrets of setting and achieving your goals in future post,
but first the basics.....

Here is the SMART way to set and achieve your goals.

I encourage you to pick up a pen and a piece of paper and jot down the goals you want to reach. Look at each goal and evaluate it. Make any changes necessary to ensure it meets the criteria for SMART goals:

S = Specific
M = Measurable
A = Attainable
R = Realistic
T = Timely

Specific

Goals should be straight forward and emphasize what you want to happen. Specifics help us to focus our efforts and clearly define what we are going to do.

Specific is the What, Why, and How of the SMART model.

WHAT are you going to do? Use action words such as direct, organize, coordinate, lead, develop, plan, build etc.

WHY is this important to do at this time? What do you want to ultimately accomplish?

HOW are you going to do it? (By...)

Ensure the goals you set is very specific, clear and easy. Instead of setting a goal to lose weight or be healthier, set a specific goal to lose 2cm off your waistline or to walk 5 miles at an aerobically challenging pace.

Measurable

If you can't measure it, you can't manage it. In the broadest sense, the whole goal statement is a measure for the project; if the goal is accomplished, there is a success. However, there are usually several short-term or small measurements that can be built into the goal.

Choose a goal with measurable progress, so you can see the change occur. How will you see when you reach your goal? Be specific! "I want to read 3 chapter books of 100 pages on my own before my birthday" shows the specific target to be measure. "I want to be a good reader" is not as measurable.

Establish concrete criteria for measuring progress toward the attainment of each goal you set. When you measure your progress, you stay on track, reach your target dates, and experience the exhilaration of achievement that spurs you on to continued effort required to reach your goals.

Attainable

When you identify goals that are most important to you, you begin to figure out ways you can make them come true. You develop that attitudes, abilities, skills, and financial capacity to reach them. Your begin seeing previously overlooked opportunities to bring yourself closer to the achievement of your goals.

Goals you set which are too far out of your reach, you probably won't commit to doing. Although you may start with the best of intentions, the knowledge that it's too much for you means your subconscious will keep reminding you of this fact and will stop you from even giving it your best.

A goal needs to stretch you slightly so you feel you can do it and it will need a real commitment from you. For instance, if you aim to lose 20lbs in one week, we all know that isn't achievable. But setting a goal to loose 1lb and when you've achieved that, aiming to lose a further 1lb, will keep it achievable for you.

The feeling of success which this brings helps you to remain motivated.

Realistic

This is not a synonym for "easy." Realistic, in this case, means "do-able." It means that the learning curve is not a vertical slope; that the skills needed to do the work are available; that the project fits with the overall strategy and goals of the organization. A realistic project may push the skills and knowledge of the people working on it but it shouldn't break them.

Devise a plan or a way of getting there which makes the goal realistic. The goal needs to be realistic for you and where you are at the moment. A goal of never again eating sweets, cakes, crisps and chocolate may not be realistic for someone who really enjoys these foods.

For instance, it may be more realistic to set a goal of eating a piece of fruit each day instead of one sweet item. You can then choose to work towards reducing the amount of sweet products gradually as and when this feels realistic for you.
Be sure to set goals that you can attain with some effort! Too difficult and you set the stage for failure, but too low sends the message that you aren't very capable. Set the bar high enough for a satisfying achievement!

Timely

Set a time frame for the goal: for next week, in three months, by fifth grade. Putting an end point on your goal gives you a clear target to work towards.
If you don't set a time, the commitment is too vague. It tends not to happen because you feel you can start at any time. Without a time limit, there's no urgency to start taking action now.

Time must be measurable, attainable and realistic.

Everyone will benefit from goals and objectives if they are SMART. SMART, is the instrument to apply in setting your goals and objectives.

Every Month A Million

How to Live Consciously

Here is my follow up on yesterdays post I told you I would
do on How to Live Consciously. Hope you find it helpful.

Have you ever seen ants marching in search of food? They just follow one another in an almost endless game that seems to drone on and on. Does your life feel like an ant's life – as if you're going from day to day, doing the same thing, the same way, and nothing ever changes?

If so, then there's a very good probability you're not living consciously.

Conscious living is being aware of your life and the things you're doing. It's about taking the time to stop and smell the roses so you can see where you fit into the whole picture. Living consciously is a vital component in enjoying the fleeting moments we have on Earth.

It's important to take note of what's going on around us and be aware of what we're doing. Living consciously brings us an understanding of what we're capable of doing and paves the way for us to get where we want to go.

BENEFITS OF CONSCIOUS LIVING

Perhaps you're wondering, "What's in it for me?" Conscious living brings with it many benefits, which you may already be seeking in your life.

HERE ARE JUST A FEW OF THESE BENEFITS:

1.Relieve stress. Conscious living can be a great stress reliever. Not only does it make life more enjoyable when you alleviate your stress, but it also makes you healthier. Stress affects every process in our bodies and can cause serious disease if it builds up within us.

2.Expand your horizons. As you become more aware of your surroundings, you'll find that you can better understand the world and your place in it.

3.Live in the moment. Throughout the day, you'll be more focused on your work because you're consciously acting on a specific task in the moment.

4.Enjoy more passion in your relationships. While living consciously, your relationships will become more meaningful because you'll be appreciative of them as well as the other person. You'll be more in tune with your partner and aware of every want and need.

5.Know your importance. Your job will become more fulfilling because you're more conscious of your role in the grand scheme of things. You no longer just answer a phone or hand someone a photocopy, but you are consciously making a difference.

6.Bring color into your world. Your surroundings will become more vibrant because you'll notice things like the subtle differences between the shades of the trees and the direction of the soft breeze.

7.Being conscious of life makes life more fun. When you're living consciously, bad days are few and far between.

ACTION STEPS TO LIVING CONSCIOUSLY

Luckily, transforming your humdrum life into one filled with vibrant joy is easier than you may think! You can make some simple adjustments to your everyday routines to live consciously and more fully enjoy your life.

HERE ARE SOME ACTION STEPS YOU CAN TAKE TO BRING CONSCIOUS LIVING TO YOUR LIFE:

1.Stop. Take some time to stop throughout the day and look around. Be aware of where you are and what's around you. Become conscious of your surroundings and notice how you fit into them.

• Notice the details such as the green on the trees, or the condensation dripping down the side of the cup.

• Become in tune with what your body feels and actually search out the sensations of your fingers and toes while feeling your chest rise and fall with each breath.

2.Breathe. Take deep breaths and be in the moment. Don't think about what you've done or what you still have to do, just take a minute or two to just breathe!

3.Learn. Take a few minutes each day to try something new. Pick up a book you've wanted to read or learn a new skill. By doing this, you're starting to become conscious of your life and the things you can do with it.

There are many things you can do to live life to its fullest. Living consciously is one of the easiest changes to make on a day-to-day basis. Take a few of these ideas, integrate them into your routine, and begin enjoying the benefits of living consciously!

Every Month A Million

7 Benefits of Living Consciously

Ever since I realised I wasn’t taking control of my life I’ve been trying to be more conscious of my actions. For those of you who don’t know, living consciously is exactly that. Choosing the situations you are in and the direction in which you are headed, living a life which you control.

Probably the biggest conscious decision I’ve made was joining
Every Month A Million and quitting my job. Now that I’ve been living more consciously, I want to share the benefits I’ve received along the way.

Conscious Living

Are you happy with your current situation? Did you choose it or did it just fall into place as you went about your life? If you aren’t happy and aren’t in a situation you created then it’s likely you are living unconsciously.

Ultimately, conscious living is about taking life by the horns instead of waiting for life to take you.

Being conscious also applies to things like:
Being aware of your emotions as they arise
Observing your thoughts and mind-made feelings
Taking care in what you are doing
Realising how you are affecting / influencing others

I’ll be sure to do a post on how you can live more consciously, but for now I want to get into the main benefits of living a more conscious life. If they appeal to you then it’s more likely you’ll find the follow-up to this post more appealing.

7 Benefits to Living Consciously

It’s quite hard to put a time-frame on how long I’ve been living consciously, and to be honest it is something that only comes with practice and something you should keep up your whole life. I’m sure in my younger years I was planning my path and didn’t know what to call it.

In all honesty, I would say I’ve been conscious of living consciously (better word, anybody?) for the last 6 months and here is what I’ve experienced.

Although many people will disagree with me, I strongly link living consciously to living in the now. The reason for this is that once you are aware that all life happens in the present moment, you often make a conscious decision to be aware of this and give the present your utmost attention.

1. You Don’t Live in Reaction

One of the hallmarks to living unconsciously is living in reaction, taking what lands in our way and assuming that is our given path. Living in reaction can apply to the career choices you make, the relationships you have and even your life goals.

However, when you start to live consciously, all that disappears. Having a conscious pursuit of where you are headed and the aims for yourself are often enough to keep you on the right track. If you didn’t choose your current life situation then works towards one that you want.

No matter which direction you are headed, you are headed somewhere and it should be a conscious choice you have made. Living consciously means you no longer wait for things to happen before you take action (reacting).

2. More focus on the tasks at hand

When you are doing something consciously, it means you are aware of what you are doing and you have chosen to do it at a certain time. It may be a task that was given to you by someone else, but you can choose to be fully present and focused on the work in front of you.

Because this is a conscious decision and not just something that has happened, you find yourself giving everything you do a lot more focus, time and passion.

You can also be aware of any resistance that is inside you and see it for what it is, something that is mind-made. If you had the real choice would you sit and moan about something or would you just focus on it, enjoy the journey and then subsequently the end result?

I know what I would pick.

3. Better Control over your Emotions

Your emotions are a result of your mind-made thoughts, nothing more and nothing less. We only give them more substance when we try to resist them and give them a label which implies they are negative. Whenever you feel any negative emotions such as…
Fear
Worry
Stress
Nervousness

Be fully aware of what is going on inside you. This is something I’ve been working hard on and I’ve had some great results. Now, whenever I’m feeling any of the above, I’m often aware of it before the emotion takes over my thinking and my actions. Therefore, I can consciously be happy and not let my internal auto-responses control me.

4. You don’t depend on outcomes

Depending on the outcome of a situation is not only one of the easiest ways to stir up your own negative emotions, but it’s also one of the best ways to talk yourself out of doing something. Outcome dependence is basically needing something to go well to fill you with good emotions or for your life to stay on track.

We do this all the time but we rarely notice because we are doing it unconsciously. When you are living a conscious life you always accept what is, if something doesn’t go your way then you accept that. It is what it is. Because you are on your path and have your plans in place, it doesn’t matter what hurdles get in the way because you will just keep going.

Don’t depend on things going right in other areas of your life in order to be happy or in order to succeed at your goals. When you start to live consciously, you’ll realise this disappears by itself.

5. You are more open to learning

Have you ever read a book and been so lost in thought that you realise you’ve gone through a few pages and not actually read anything? I know I have, I still do that today but it’s happening less and less. When you are on a conscious path and think about the things that you want, you are more open to learning about those exact things.

For example, I’ve been reading a book recently which I really don’t enjoy but it was recommended very highly by someone I trust and respect. I didn’t necessarily choose it and I’ve found I’m drifting away from the content very easily. However, with something like ‘Do You by Russell Simmons‘ which I really wanted to read, I found myself completely immersed in it because it was relevant to the path I’m trying to take.

Simply taking the time to think things through about where you are headed is a great way to open yourself up to all the things you want / need to learn to help you get there.

6. You handle your finances better

This has been quite a big one for me and it makes perfect sense. I’ve been organising my finances very carefully (I run my own company in the UK) and have been speaking to an accountant to make sure everything is in check. Living consciously not only helps you keep your current situation in order, but you start to think more about your expenses.

Say for example, there was a computer game you wanted for $40, which isn’t too expensive. However, when you put it in relation to your income and think that you might have worked 4 hours of your life that you won’t get back just to make that money, it really doesn’t seem as appealing anymore. I’m not saying I don’t make unnecessary purchases but I also don’t want to be living paycheck to paycheck like most of the population. Putting things into perspective is one of the best ways to stay on the safe side.

7. You can live the life you want to live

I believe it to be true that the main reason people have fear and worry on their death-bed is not because the end of their physical life is imminent, but because they feel like they haven’t lived life to their full. About 2 months ago I spent 6 days in a private hospital room, and whilst I wasn’t in a life threatening situation it certainly made me think clearer about my life so this statement rings true with me.

Living consciously is all about making choices and not the choices making you.

Even if you take one path and it doesn’t work out well for you, it doesn’t mean you can’t change because that is the direction you chose. Life is an experience, and a journey, something to grab with both hands and make the most of. Living consciously will give you that benefit and will make sure that when your ‘time comes’, especially if you know about it, that you made the most of your opportunity here in the physical world.

Please feel free to share your own benefits in the comments below if you’ve been living a more conscious life! If you enjoyed this post, I would appreciate if you share it.

Leadership with Compassion

Leadership in its highest form does not exist without compassion. There are many definitions of leadership. For the most part each of us has our own understanding of leadership. For some leadership is about command and control. For others leadership is about being an example and hoping others follow, and yet for others leadership is about helping a group of people relinquish themselves from the oppression of another group. Leadership can be defined in many vast shades of black and white. Yet the highest and most noble form of leadership is only realized when compassion is the major operating paradigm.

Strictly speaking, compassion is deeply feeling the pains of others to a point of action. Having compassion for others is an essential attribute of leaders. In a social perspective, it is compassion that fuels the fire of great leaders. It is the pain of others that forces a creative mind to envision a future state. It was the oppression of the African American people that led Martin Luther King Jr. to envision a future where “individuals would not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.” It was watching the sick and old die on the streets of Calcutta that led Mother Teresa to create the City of Peace; a place where those who were forgotten could be remembered. It is the love that only comes through compassion, that moves great leaders like these to envision the world in a different way.

Leaders know how to mobilize others to envision a common future. Mobilizing others rests on a leader’s ability to understand those he or she is trying to mobilize. It is genuinely understanding and caring by a leader that deems a leader worthy of leading others. As followers we tend to be willing to follow those who we believe understand us.

Some argue that leaders have often led without caring or understanding their people. Perhaps this is true, but I would argue that these people were not leading, they were dictating. There is a fine line between leading others by helping them find voice to a common vision versus manipulating others to follow your vision. The issue is that most leaders and dictators start in a similar place. They begin by developing a personal vision, or an idealized future state. Their visions are based upon their own perceptions of the world. The confusing turning point distinguishing a leader and dictator is found at the point of resonation. The point of resonation is the event or experience when a leader gives voice to his vision. If at the point of resonation, the leader must use coercing and marketing, he is flirting with dictatorship. A leader's vision will resonate with the people, and speak to their needs and desires in such a way that they become mobilized as a group.

By having compassion for others a potential leader will qualify to become a leader. It is the deep caring for others that allows a leader to access the people he or she will someday be honored to lead. And it is this caring attitude coupled with action that makes a leader a leader. Every Month A Million

Have Faith in Yourself

How many times have you heard successful people say that one of the most important lessons they learned on their journey to success was having faith in themselves?

Now for many this is not only a tall order it's what blocks them from ever succeeding.

What does it mean to have faith in one's self?

Well basically it means the ability to recognize the value of what it is that you came here to contribute to this planet.

Now many might say that they don't even know what it is that they came here to contribute. If that is you, you are allowing yourself to fall into a state of self doubt that is undermining your connection to your inner wisdom and therefore the awareness of that purpose. You see everyone has a purpose in being here and you simply need to reconnect to it. More on that in another article.

Suppose that you do know what you came here to contribute but are struggling with the value of that contribution here is what you can do.

See yourself making that contribution in some way and then notice what you feel inside yourself and where you feel it.

If you feel any of the following there:

A feeling of lightness, joy, contentment, sense of peace, relief, expansive, open, clear, buoyant, present, energized, radiant, uplifted, inspiration etc.

Then ask yourself whether you like that feeling.

If you do then simply admit that to yourself.

Then notice how you feel.

You should feel even more anchored in the positive experience you were having before.

Let me explain what has just happened.

In this exercise you have reconnected to your inner wisdom and allowed it to verify for you the importance and value of your contribution here.

The value was communicated to you in the feelings you had when you went through the exercise itself. It is in that feeling that lays the desire and inspiration to propel you forward in achieving your goals and your dreams.

Now that you feel it remembers it and revisit it often. It will sustain you. In fact it is the source of all your passion for contribution and for life itself.

Allowing yourself to do this is what I mean by having faith in yourself.

Have Faith and Believe in Yourself

Lack of belief in oneself is a killer. It doesn’t help you at all. And you need no one else but yourself to turn things around. Here are a few encouraging words to help you put a little faith into yourself.

Think of your dream and imagine yourself reaching that. Always thinking that you’re capable of succeeding can help the thought sink into your subconscious. Remember, failure begins with disbelief.

Stop thinking of what you can’t do but begin to be think of the things that you can do. Be a “yes” type of person. At least to yourself.

When grabbing opportunities, place your heart into it. Again, believe that you’ll make things happen this time around.

Think BIG, believe BIG. As that realistic proverb says, “Aim for the roof, you fall on the floor. Aim for the sky and you fall on the roof.” But just concentrate on soaring upwards. At Every Month A Million we will get you there.

As you can see, it’s all in the mind. Start with positive thoughts and the rest will follow.

Mastering Your Mind Power

You have decided to make some positive changes in your life to master your mind power with the intention of producing more outcomes that are in alignment with what you desire. You have identified things, conditions, circumstances, and people you no longer want in your life.

You have also identified what things, conditions, circumstances, and people you desire to have in your life, as they are the exact opposite of what you DO NOT WANT. In addition, you have agreed that affirmations are a very powerful (FREE) tool available to you to instill new thoughts, images and beliefs in your mind so you have decided to begin a regimen using them.

Your DO WANT list is probably fairly long. I would strongly urge you to prioritize it and choose the top three items from your newly prioritized list with which to begin. Most credible teachers and authors recommend repeating your affirmations at least three times a day, upon arising, at midday and just before retiring. I concur and I would strongly suggest your repeating them more often if possible.

The question of how many repetitions should be in each set and how does one keep count of them often arises. I have yet to find anyone who offers a definitive, magical number of repetitions. You must choose that number for yourself. You are working with your own mind and it might take a little while to come up with a comfortable number. I personally chose to do 25 repetitions per set.

To keep count, I constructed a rosary-like, bead bracelet. I went to the notion section of a discount store, picked up some inexpensive beads, and a roll of stretch string. I put 25 beads on a section of string, tied a stop-knot at the end of it so as to leave about an inch of slide-space.

I would begin on either side of the slide-space and slide one bead forward as I completed an affirmation. The knot in the string indicated when I reached the 25th bead so I did not have focus on keeping count. The bracelet turned out to be a perfect fit for my wrist so I wore it 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

I can promise you that early on in you affirmation regimen, tail enders will make their appearance. A tail ender, is a term for the negative counter (or a reversal) to your affirmation, and it is one of the most effective tools used by your self image in its attempt to keep you in your DO NOT WANT world and to keep itself in control of your life.

If a tail ender is not addressed immediately, it gradually re-establishes itself as your TRUE affirmation. Thus you are stopped dead in your tracks on your new, life-changing journey. Like a powerful magnet, it will pull you back into the waiting arms of the old self image and your old consistent thoughts.

It is my belief, evidenced by my past experiences, that the lack of knowledge about tail enders and the absence of effective strategies and tools to counter them push most people off their positive, life-changing course and back into their DO NOT WANT world comfort zone soon after even the most promising beginnings.

Overcoming Fear

Most of the fears we experience are irrational. In other words, there is no valid reason that we should be influenced by them because they are not based on any real, physical event, person, or thing. The effect on the vast majority of people in our society, however, is poverty-mindedness and inability to enjoy the wealth that is all around. Fear is the single greatest reason that you and millions of other people have not and are not now living more of the lives you desire.

Irrational fear has become the filters through which your self image directs nearly every decision you make, especially if the decision involves finances. Irrational fear is a major factor that keeps 95% of the population either in poverty or struggling to live on paycheck to paycheck jobs. Since, in a the state of fear, calm, rational thinking is literally pushed aside, any decision you make in this state is generally not going to be in your best interest.

Obviously, in order for you to succeed at mastering your mind power and having more of the life you desire, some of your fears must be faced and overcome. Please do not despair. The overcoming of fear is not as difficult as it might sound, and I am not suggesting that you overcome all of your fears. Remember, some of them may be so deep seated that the services of a qualified, professional therapist might be required.

It is critical that you identify the fear or fears standing between you and your desires. Here is a process that worked for me. I began to consciously observe my reactions and feelings whenever (for example) money issues came up in conversations with my wife or other members of my family.

If something as simple as an extended vacation came up, I would begin to sense those fear feelings in the pit of my stomach that we would need the money that we would spend on the vacation for something more pressing, and I would produce various reasons why an extended vacation was not a good idea. If something as serious as starting a business or investing in capital properties entered our conversation, the fear of the possible loss of our hard-earned money would sometimes become so acute that I would have trouble sleeping at night.

One day it dawned upon me that I had learned from my studies that I needed to focus on my desires more than I focused on fear. Once I began to consistently imagine the joy of seeing and visiting with my family, old friends, and new places, the fear of needing the money for something more pressing faded more and more. There really was nothing more pressing.

As for starting a business, I reasoned that by choosing Every Month A Million I would be able to have all my desires, and dreams. In other words, the imagined gain and joy of achieving my desires became greater than the imagined fear.

You too must go through a process of your choosing to overcome the fear within you. Life on this planet is too short to give it over to fears, most of which do not exist in reality and never will. One of the saddest commentaries on human history is the abundant availability of great wealth but fear all too often succeeds in blinding us to the possibility of having that wealth.

However, this I know for sure. You can claim or re-claim control of your own mind power. You are the most miraculous of all living beings on earth. You are the owner of a mind that is so stupendous, that as you truly begin mastering your mind power and consciously using it, there is no dream that you can dream that you cannot achieve.

The Importance of Leadership With a Vision

In today's lesson you will learn the importance of Leadership with a Vision.
This was taught to me by one of my mentors Lori Duff here at
Every Month A Million with our Daily Dose Of Good

I dug a bit deeper and added more that I have been learning here.....

In the Book of Proverbs it is said, "Where there is no vision, the people perish." This is as true in business as it is in life. Organizations whose leaders have no vision are doomed to work under the burden of mere tradition. They cannot prosper and grow because they are reduced to keeping things the way they have always been; they are guided by the saying, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."

True leaders see things differently. They are guided by another belief more in keeping with the competitive world in which we live. They believe, "If it ain't broke, you're not looking hard enough." Realizing that there is always room for improvement, they believe that no one has ever done anything so well that it cannot be done better.

For leaders, a vision is not a dream; it is a reality that has yet to come into existence. Vision is palpable to leaders; their confidence in and dedication to vision are so strong they can devote long hours over many years to bring it into being. In this way, a vision acts as a force within, compelling a leader to action. It gives a leader purpose, and the power of the vision and the leader's devotion to it work to inspire others-- who, sensing purpose and commitment, respond.

While leaders come in every size, shape, and disposition--short, tall, neat, sloppy, young, old, male, and female---every leader I talked with shared at least one characteristic: a concern with a guiding purpose, an overarching vision. They were more than goal-directed.


To be a leader you have to lead people to a goal worth having--something that's really good and really there". That essential "something" is the vision.

A Definition


What is vision? Because it operates on many levels, vision is difficult to define simply. When we say that a leader has vision, we refer to the ability to see the present as it is and formulate a future that grows out of and improves upon the present. A leader with vision is able to see into the future without being far-sighted and remain rooted in the present without being near-sighted. We also speak of having a vision for an organization, which looks at it from a slightly different perspective. A vision is an idea of the future; it is an image, a strongly felt wish.

Vision is a tremendously powerful force in any walk of life, but in business it is essential. A vision is a target toward which a leader aims her energy and resources. The constant presence of the vision keeps a leader moving despite various forces of resistance: fear of failure; emotional hardships, such as negative responses from superiors, peers, or employees; or 'real' hardships, such as practical difficulties or problems in the industry.


Equally important, a vision, when shared by employees, can keep an entire company moving forward in the face of difficulties, enabling and inspiring leaders and employees alike. Moving toward the same goal, individuals work together rather than as disconnected people brought together because of having been hired coincidentally by the same organization. It can turn the stereotypical corporate hierarchy into a well-organized and harmonious matrix working together toward a common goal.

Vision refers to the force within a leader that spreads like wildfire when properly communicated to others. Vision refers to an image of the future that can be discussed and perfected by those who have invested in it. Vision is also the glue that binds individuals into a group with a common goal. This multiplicity of meanings does not weaken or obscure the concept; rather, it demonstrates how essential vision is to the success of a leader and to an organization.


Vision Adds Meaning to Corporate Life

When employees understand a leader's vision, they understand what the organization is trying to accomplish and what it stands for. Each employee can see what the future holds as a rational extension of the present. In addition, meaning is conveyed to each department, reaffirming that what individual departments contribute is crucial to organizational success. The vision must be logical, deductive, and plausible; at the same time it must be mind-stretching, creative, and able to capture the imaginations of individual contributors.

The role of a leader is not just to explain and clarify. Leaders "create meaning for people" by amassing large amounts of information, making sense of it, integrating it into a meaningful vision of the future, and communicating that vision so people want to participate in its realization. In this sense, visions have the power to lift employees out of the monotony of the daily work world and put them into a new world full of opportunity and challenge.


Visions excite people by appealing to their emotions. A vision is "something to rally around, a glue pulling the organization together". Because to some employees visions might seem almost impossible to meet, it is the leader's responsibility to bolster their courage with understanding. Experienced leaders do this so naturally that people do not even realize how courageous they are; their only concern is to do whatever is needed in pursuit of the vision. This is why leaders are so critical to the success of an organization. They have the ability to see through all the confusion in the workplace and focus on what matters. A vision helps leaders keep the frustrations of the workplace in perspective, enabling them to live with uncertainty in the short term because they can visualize accomplishment in the long term. They can then extend this ability throughout the organization.

Although vision guides a company in a particular direction, leaders do not typically produce specific "plans" for making a vision reality. They usually leave the more detailed planning to managers. However, "unless the leader has a sense of where the whole enterprise is going and must go, it is not possible to delegate... the other functions". It is as dangerous to leave others adrift by being too general as it is to cage them in by being too precise.

"Typically, a vision is specific enough to provide real guidance to people, yet vague enough to encourage initiative and to remain relevant under a variety of conditions".


Employee Buy-in and Commitment

To be effective, leaders cannot force their vision upon the organization. Imposing it will, in all likelihood, elicit rejection temporarily and, as a result, waste time and money. Additionally, this approach leads to frustration and anger, which can easily result in unnecessary failure. Under an autocratic leader, imposing a vision on the organization results in compliance rather than commitment, which is required for the long-term success of a vision. Ideally, a leader shares that vision with people in the organization. As employees come to comprehend the vision, they offer their commitment.


Having committed to a vision, organizational members begin to participate in shaping it, fashioning it to reflect their own personal visions-- pictures or images they have in their hearts and minds about their futures and their contributions to the organization. At this point, the leader's vision becomes a shared one, after which people in the organization become even more committed. Shared vision creates a commonality of interests that enables people to see meaning and coherence in the diverse activities of the typical workday. Furthermore, a shared vision causes people to focus on the future and what it holds-- not simply because they must, but because they want to.

The realization of a shared vision results in the "alignment of the individual energies" of all who take part. Realizing what an organization can achieve can generate a "unique rash of power," a level of energy high above what is considered normal that can be sustained for a relatively long period.
Possibly the most important variables contributing to a leader's success in implementing a vision is his level of commitment to it and the level of commitment it can inspire in employees. A leader who is wholly committed to a vision will find it much easier to motivate people and direct their energy toward making that vision reality.


Fear of Failure

Fear of failure prevents many otherwise capable people from pursuing their visions. Leaders must overcome their reluctance to risk falling on their face if they hope to succeed. Fear of failure is natural. True leaders, however, do not allow it to paralyze them and prevent them from pursuing their vision.

It does not matter not how many times you try and fail. Everybody fails. What matters is your ability to try again. A leader simply must expect and deal with failure because it is such a fundamental part of the learning process. Everybody fails while learning to master something. It is an unavoidable and essential part of a process that leads to success.

Consider this example: major league baseball. In the major leagues, if a player hits .300 he is a very good hitter. If he hits around .320 or .330, he is among the best in the league. A player who has a. 350 batting average is considered excellent. What this average actually means is that 65 percent of the time he either did not reach base, or he reached base as a result of an error. In major league baseball, a player who fails to get a hit 65 percent of the time is heading for the Hall of Fame. Interestingly, Babe Ruth is known as a great home run hitter. He was also a leader in strikeouts. Leaders must learn to deal with failure; they must master this experience. If they cannot cope with failure, they cannot lead.


Albert Einstein, who had great vision, was a leader in the scientific community. His theories changed the way we see the universe. But when once asked how many ideas he had in his lifetime, his answer was two. (Einstein considered ideas to be only those thoughts nobody had ever thought of before.)

A person can have an abundance of ideas, but success depends on what she does with these ideas, not on merely having them. Chances are that an idea believed to be original has already been conceived by somebody who has failed to do anything with it. It only takes one good idea to be a stunning success. Einstein is proof of this. The secret is to build on that idea. The fear of failure prevents many talented people from mentioning their ideas to others or from following through completely on them. What a shame! Because of the fear of failure, we deprive ourselves and others of so many benefits.


Nevertheless, many people believe that the key to success is to avoid failure. They stay with things they know, seldom trying anything new. These people fail because the surest way to fail in the long term is to continue doing what you did yesterday, to mindlessly follow proven tradition. Things are changing, and times are changing. If we do not change along with them, we will not succeed.

The willingness to confront and deal with failure is an important attribute of a leader. How many times should a leader try and fail before deciding it is time to quit. One? Two? Three? When Thomas Edison was working on the electric light bulb, he had to deal with much failure. He tried thousands of filaments before he found the one that worked. He did not quit after the first, 500th, or 1,000th try. He believed in his vision, and he wanted to succeed more than anything else. He dealt with his own daily failures and kept his eye on the long-term success. Today we all benefit because Thomas Edison did not choose to give up.


Challenging the Status Quo

Leaders must make certain their people do not give up, that they continue to strive for success. It is natural for people to quit; organizational pressures keep many people from trying out new ideas. John D. Rockefeller III wrote in The Second American Revolution, "An organization is a system, with a logic of its own, and all the weight of tradition and inertia. The deck is stacked in favor of the tried and proven way of doing things and against taking risks and striking out in new directions." How true!


The natural state of an organization is conservative, to maintain the status quo. Many people in firms that have been around a long time believe their primary responsibility is to protect the status quo. Leaders must learn to deal with these obstacles in the path of success and to protect those who question the way things are done. I believe that "divine discontent with the status quo" is an essential quality of a leader. People who have leadership talent have "a real fire in their belly... a fire that has to do with having an effect on the world." You can tell when leaders have been in a firm because they leave their mark and, as a result, affect the destinies of many others.

Ridicule: A Technique Used to Make Leaders Quit

When employees in most organizations encounter a person with a vision that is significantly different from the status quo, it is common for them to resist the suggested changes and to put obstacles in the way of success. Their rationale is easily understood. Change means work and exertion for them. By preventing change, they save time and energy in the short term. But in the long run, their strategy is dangerous.


If the leader refuses to quit, employees turn to ridicule in hopes that the pressure will be sufficient to prevent the leader from moving forward. Leaders must learn to deal with this. They must understand that great leaders before them faced ridicule and prevailed over it. Marconi probably encountered a tremendous amount of ridicule as he sought support for the wireless radio. Imagine him trying to sell his idea to a group of would-be investors. Marconi had to convince a room full of bankers that his invention was capable of capturing "little waves" out of the air that could not be seen and converting them to sound that would come from a little box. A fair number of them must have thought he was crazy.

It is natural for some people to exhibit disbelief when unusual ideas are presented to them. It is also natural for them to ridicule the people who present those ideas.


When You Succeed, They Say You Are Lucky

Suppose a leader develops a vision to which she is committed, shares it with people, accepts failure, deals with ridicule, and after working tirelessly for many years actually turns that vision into a reality. It is now time to reap the rewards and hear praise for an amazing accomplishment, right? Wrong. In all likelihood, what she will hear is, "Oh, you were just lucky"--meaning, of course, "If it wasn't just plain dumb luck, I would have done it myself." In this situation, a leader should find comfort in the words of Emerson: "Shallow men believe in luck, wise and strong men in cause and effect."

Luck cannot explain accomplishment. Winning the state lottery may seem like a matter of luck, but you have to buy a lottery ticket to win. Ara Parseghian, football coach at Notre Dame several years ago, led his team to beat the University of Alabama for the national championship two years in a row. Alabama was favored to win both times. Both years, Alabama took an early lead and held it until the end of the game. Both years, Notre Dame came back in the closing seconds of the game and won. When a reporter asked Parseghian after the second victory about "the luck of the Irish," he is reported to have said, "If by luck you mean the place where preparation meets opportunity, then we were lucky."


In this world, there is an abundance of opportunity for everyone. Parseghian knew that the Alabama football team was not infallible and that it would give his team opportunities to win. If his team prepared well and was ready for the game, it could take advantage of those opportunities. It took hard work and practice to be able to see and take advantage of the openings provided.
Preparation met opportunity.


Communicating Vision

A leader must communicate his vision to others for it to become a shared vision. To accomplish this, leaders should act in a manner consistent with the vision in everything they do. They must set a personal example; they cannot afford to send mixed signals by saying one thing and doing another.


The first step in communicating a vision to a group is to stress its importance so that people will take an interest in it. If they believe the vision is important and worthwhile, many of them will want be involved with it, even if they do not understand all the details. Most people will cooperate and follow the leader with only a vague idea of what their participation, contribution, and reward might be, if the leader's vision excites them.

Communication that motivates people to act tends to focus on the core values and beliefs that support the vision. Accurately communicating these values and beliefs simplifies implementation because it conveys simple images or words that make the vision easier to remember. In addition, repeating simple words and symbols communicates the message without clogging already overused communication channels. Written communication can be used in a similar manner to reinforce the vision by reporting progress for everyone to see, and progress toward achieving goals keeps peoples' spirits up and helps convince them they can do it.


Going From Communication to Commitment

After a vision has been explained simply and directly, people must decide whether they want to be a part of it. If they don't, they cannot be forced to produce quality results at competitive prices over the long term. They can be forced to do things in the short term, but they will abandon them as quickly as they figure out how to come out from under the strong arm of a leader who has not earned their commitment.


The day has almost passed when autocratic leaders can succeed over the long term. Strong-armed leaders typically do not last long; the cost of using this approach is too high in terms of the inferior quality output resulting from poor quality effort, lost employee loyalty and support, and money. Moreover, forcing people to do things they do not want to do requires a great deal of energy over the long term--more energy than most people can expend on a sustained basis.

Over the long term, most people are not motivated by being pushed. They are motivated by the desire to satisfy their own very basic human needs: those for achievement, belonging, recognition, self-esteem, control over their lives, and the sense of having lived up to their ideals. To be successful, leaders must connect with these human needs and let their people become excited about a vision. Further, they must involve people in deciding how to achieve the vision, or at least to achieve the part of it that is most relevant to them. Their involvement must be real, and the rewards and recognition they receive must be real as well.


To win continued support from a group, leaders must be willing to share their personal views, and to listen carefully to the group's ideas. Ultimately, leaders must be willing to assume a vulnerable position and ask a difficult question:
"Will you follow me?" In reality, they are asking another question: "Is this vision worthy of your commitment?" Being vulnerable in this manner is difficult for many people who have grown up during a time when employees were expected to comply with the leader's orders and not ask too many questions.

Although a leader is responsible for introducing the vision to the group, people want and need to become personally involved with the vision. As we have said before, they cannot do this unless it reflects, to some extent, their own personal visions. It is critical for leaders to keep their minds open to suggestions and ideas that can improve the vision. Too often leaders present their visions to employees as cast in concrete, sending the subtle (or not so subtle) message that there is no room for compromise. As a result, the employees either reject the vision or simply go through the motions of supporting it. In either case, it is doubtful the vision will ever become reality.

Introducing the word "compromise" may surprise many people because they have been led to believe that once the leader is committed to the vision, she cannot afford to be flexible. Although it is true that the leader's commitment to the vision must be strong and unwavering, it is also true that she is incapable of predicting in advance precisely what the future holds. As the leader and the group move together toward making the vision a reality, they both learn more about their vision, and they have opportunities to improve upon it. Compromise as the vision unfolds should not be interpreted negatively. The leader's willingness to accept suggestions that result in some change in the vision will benefit the leader and improve both the quality of the vision and the intensity of the employees' commitment to it.


Stated another way, the development of a vision is an evolutionary process. At any one point there will be a particular image of the future that is predominant, but that image will evolve. A vision should be constantly examined and modified to reflect important changes in the environment and ensure continued support and enthusiasm from everyone involved.

As people's commitment to the vision grows, it becomes more real to them; they will find it easier to dedicate the time and energy necessary to make the vision a reality. Those who have expertise in a particular field should be encouraged to use their knowledge to improve parts of the vision that are related to their specialty. The details, missing steps, and concerns that confront the leader's visionary goals. When leaders solicit input, they discover the knowledge, interest, and evident parameters of support they can expect from others." A leader should expect that although parts of the vision may undergo alteration, its essence will remain intact.


If a leader cannot see the value in compromises and is too inflexible to accept them, the vision will never achieve its full potential. When more people come to share a vision, the vision becomes more real in the sense of a mental reality that people can truly imagine achieving. They [the leaders] now have partners, co-creators; the vision no longer rests on their shoulders alone."

Empowering People to Do Their Jobs


Communicating the vision accurately and fully has the added advantage of creating the conditions under which employees can be empowered to do their jobs. The term "empowered" is used frequently today; unfortunately, many people using the term do not really understand what it means. Some who are familiar with management literature interpret empowerment to mean delegation of authority. The strict literalists will be quick to point out that a manager can delegate authority, but not responsibility. To them, empowerment is a formal (almost legalistic) passing down of a task from one level in the organization to another. Delegation is not empowerment, but empowerment does require good delegation.

Empowerment means giving employees jobs to do and the freedom they need to be creative while doing them. It means allowing employees to try new ideas, even ones that have never been considered or that have been previously rejected. It means allowing them to experiment and fail on occasion without fear of punishment.

Having said this, we must point out that leaders should avoid taking big risks without carefully considering the consequences. They must exercise judgment; as a general rule, they should establish an understanding with employees about the risks they are willing to take in the experimentation process. As we said earlier, experimentation is essential, so leaders must not be so restrictive that their employees fail to try new ideas. Empowerment means giving employees more than just the authority to do the job.


Leaders are not magicians, and they do not simply predict future events. They are strategic thinkers who are willing to take risks. Their actions, together with the actions of those who follow them, determine what the future will be. The point is, leaders do not create something out of nothing. They look at what they know to exist and search for relationships, the way things are meant to fit together. Once they find the connections, they share them with other people and work with them to bring about desired changes.

Leaders must maintain a balance between a clear understanding of the present and a clear focus on the future. Senge calls this balance "creative tension" and maintains that "an accurate picture of current reality is just as important as a compelling picture of a desired future."

How to Guarantee Your Success In Network Marketing

I'm going to start today with a quote......

"Desire is the key to motivation, but it's the determination and commitment to an unrelenting pursuit of your goal - a commitment to excellence - that will enable you to attain the success you seek."

All our lives, we have been taught by our parents, friends, and the media the same thing. Go to school. Get good grades so that you can get into the best colleges or universities around. If you follow that then you can get a ‘good’ job.

You will be set for life.

Not really true….

With Job cuts, corporate restructuring, and layoffs still being reported in the news almost every single day, it is not surprising that this concept of life isn't really true any more.

A lot of people are now looking to start their own business so that they can have more financial security, more freedom, more choices, and more time to be with their family. Every Month A Million gives you all that and a whole lot more.

As the economy continues to plummet and layoffs and bankruptcies fill the news, isn't it your time to take the bull by the horns and secure your and your family's financial future? Every Month A Million is your answer.

Here are 6 steps that you need to follow in order for you to be a successful network marketer:

1. You got to have patience. They don’t say 2-5 years for nothing. Many new people who do get involved in network marketing think that they will make a nice comfortable full time income in just a few months. Very few do that, but it will take you some time. So make sure that you give your business at least 2 years to succeed. If you don't, you are on the right track to FAILURE.

2. They have the persistence of a bulldog. The lack of persistence and consistency is one of the major causes of failure. Many people are good "starters" but very poor "finishers" of everything they start. They tend to give up at the first sign of defeat. Successful network marketers know that it is important to be persistent and consistent even though they work hard and don’t see any results for a while.

3. They set goals. Athletes, successful business-people, lawyers, doctors, and great achievers in all fields use goal setting. Statistics show people who write down their goals have over an 80% higher success rate of achieving them.

4. They set short-term goals. Short-term goals are usually simpler and easier than long-term goals. Why? Well, writing them can help you have more frequent victories, and building momentum with each one you complete. If you do that, you can have more excitement and more motivation as you reach those goals on time. When you do reach you short-term goals, don't forget to reward yourself and celebrate.

5. They write down their WHY. Why did they really get into network marketing for? What made them start their own business? Is it because they wanted to be their own boss? Is it because they wanted more freedom and time to spend with their family? More money? What ever their WHY is, they always know it so that it keeps them going when things are not going well for them.

6. They replace their negative self-talk. They know that they are the creator of their thoughts and beliefs. Successful network marketers know how to replace negative self-talk and change it to positive self-talk. People, especially friends and family, try to brain wash them along the way. They tell them that they will not succeed. They laugh at them. They tease them that it won't work. But they don’t listen. They work their business and make it work. At the end they become so successful that family and friend eventually join them too.

Here are some more insider secrets to how the average person like you and me make it big in network marketing:

*They market daily. In other words, they contact more people and they advertise more on a daily basis. They don't do this once a week or once a month. They work their business everyday.

*They believe that they will succeed, without a shadow of a doubt.

*They read motivational books on a daily basis.

*They train their first level downline members to duplicate their efforts. They show them how to use the products. They show them how to advertise. They show them what books to read and what tapes to listen to.

*They listen and learn from others, especially from their upline.

* They follow up on their leads at least six times. Don’t forget, the fortune is in the follow up.

*They are willing to step out of their comfort zone. Many people don’t like to step out of their comfort zone and that is why they never succeed in network marketing.

*A successful network marketer is no MLM junkie. An MLM junkie is someone who jumps from one network marketing company to another. These people never make it in network marketing.

The clock is ticking. Get into network marketing now and stick with it no matter what so that your future and the future of those you love is more secured.

Network marketing and the Internet were made for each other. Record-breaking growth has driven us to the top of Internet marketing businesses. You can build a profitable home-based business working part-time from your home computer! Training, support, Websites, and products all provided! Right here at Every Month A Million.

Relationship Building Is the Key to Your Network Marketing Success

Many of us get into the network marketing business because of a dream. The dream is defined a little differently from person to person. But each of us has a dream.

The dream not only draws us in but it is the incentive that helps us through the difficult times. In fact if we get discouraged we are often told that our dream just isn't big enough and we need to spend a night dream building.

My guess is your dream is big enough. The size of your dream is not the problem.

The problem is your dream is...

All about you.

Of course it is. That's how most dreams are. But instead of gritting your teach and holding on to a dream, try taking an about face. Take yourself out of the equation.

Think for a moment about the type of people that attract you. They are usually pleasant - of course. But they are more. They are generous people who are always giving. When you have a problem they are the type of people who help you solve your problems.

Now think of how you normally look for prospects. You think something like...

How can I get my friend to sign up?

Or...

What can I say to that person about my opportunity?

I'll bet you can come up with more. But each of these thoughts has the same annoying factor. It is all about you. But the problem is nobody out there cares.

What do you think your prospect is thinking? She is thinking...

What is in this for me?

It is time to do a 180. Instead of asking your prospects to conform to what you want them to do, think of how you can...

Give Your Prospects Everything They Need. That is exactly what we do at
Every Month a Million.

Contrary to what you may have been told, not everyone is your prospect. But there are many thousands of people who could be your prospects if you would completely change the way you approach business.

How do you do this?

By giving people what they need whether they are your prospects or not.

All of us have needs. We have problems. What we want more than anything is solutions to these problems. Therefore to be successful in network marketing become the leader that helps people solve their problems.

People are looking for leaders who will help them navigate this digital age. They want to have practical solutions to their business problems.

They need YOU.

They need someone who understands marketing and has the leadership they can lean on.

Teach people how they can be successful whether or not they are ever part of your business. Give them your expertise... your solutions to their problems. Be a faithful consultant to them and you will have prospects beating down your door to be a part of what you are doing.
　
Relationship Building Is the Key to Your Network Marketing Success

Every Month a Million is different

"You Don't have to change. You Don't have to get out there and sell. You Don't have to become this other person that you aren't right now.

"The truth is, YOU are perfect just like you are. Everybody on your team is perfect just like they are. They don't need to change. They don't need to become a pushy, aggressive salesperson.

Ninety-two per-cent of the world's population is sales resistant.

That Is NOT How To Build Your Business!

My belief is, just target the market and find people who already are looking for the business, people who already believe in network marketing. Don't go out and try to build them a dream to get them in the business.

Just go talk to the ones who already believe! Talk to the people who already believe, and are looking. Those people are warriors. Those people are ready to take action. Those people will build an empire. They will build a legacy income for you.

Those are the people you want. Build relationships with those people. Get them into your business, and never, never, never quit building the relationship with them!