YOU Can Become Extraordinary

   

What do Martin Luther King Jr., Nelson Mandela, Ronald Reagan, Mother Theresa, Steve Jobs, Jim Rohn, and Princess Diana all have in common? They were all extraordinary people in different ways. All of them impacted the world in an extraordinary way. Whether it’s as a civil rights leader, business philosopher, lover of the poor, tech genius, or as president of the United States.

   They each had a definite major purpose in life and pursued it with all their hearts. Nothing was going to stop them. You may be thinking right now as you read this that these people were different. That they had certain qualities that allowed them to achieve extraordinary results. However, that is complete fiction.

   Anyone can achieve the same extraordinary results they did. You can have the same impact on the world around you. No? All of these people were in the same position you are. They may not have set out to move mountains in the beginning, but they became the type of person capable of doing it. Extraordinary performance occurs when you are the best person you are capable of becoming.

   It doesn’t matter if you are a homemaker, teacher, pastor, mechanic, or if you bag groceries at the supermarket. Extraordinary performance can happen anywhere. All of it depends on what you do. If you spend time being negative and complaining all the time then you can bet that becoming extraordinary will take a lot longer. But if you have a positive mental attitude then you can get there much faster.

   A positive attitude will get positive results and a negative attitude will get……It really is that simple. You must live your life finding ways to be positive because negativity destroys everything it touches and it’s a slow death. Negativity causes pain, stress, anxiety, and health problems. One myth about being positive is that you see no weeds in the garden. Well, if you are that way then you better pull the weeds because they will take your garden. A positive person doesn’t see sunshine in the rain, they just enjoy the rain.

   Many people also fail to become extraordinary because they lack confidence. Lack of confidence is the root cause of laziness. When you don’t have confidence then many times you will do nothing. This doesn’t mean you won’t have a job, or pay your bills. It just means that without confidence you will fail to take the steps necessary to do what you want to do with your life. People without confidence will make excuses why they can’t do something. They will never become extraordinary. Do you think extraordinary people lack confidence?

   Another reason is that you have a poor philosophy. If your philosophy is to do as much work as you get paid for then you will always get paid that much. If your philosophy is to sit and watch television instead of reading a book that could change your life then you can expect to stay right there on the couch. Or is it to spend time partying instead of getting a second job to pay off your bills?

   What is your philosophy on life? It’s very important to know this. Think long and hard about what you do daily, and the decisions you make, and have made. Then you will figure out what your philosophy is.

   Who are the people you spend time with? Are they extraordinary? You say, “Well all my friends and family can’t be extraordinary.” That’s true, but it doesn’t mean you have to spend a lot of time with them either. What happens when you spend time with extraordinary people? Two things; either you end up jealous and complain about them to other people who aren’t extraordinary and it brings you down further, or you feel uplifted and energized.

   The reason you feel great when you spend time with them is because extraordinary people do extraordinary things for others even if you just had a cup of coffee. Who in your life right now do you consider extraordinary? Model their behavior. Do what they do. Sound crazy? It really isn’t because when you learn about people that you admire you may try to do what they did to get there.

   Here’s the thing. It doesn’t matter who it is that you admire. They don’t have to be world renowned to be extraordinary. They can be the person next door, a co-worker, or your parents. Makes no difference.

   Now it is possible that you don’t have anyone in your life that you consider extraordinary. That was my issue. So I thought about who I thought was extraordinary, and I read, and read, and read about them. I looked to books for my extraordinary people and had no problem finding them. If you don’t read, then start. Read about the extraordinary people I mentioned above, or find other people you can model your life after.

      You can become extraordinary. It takes work on your part to analyze your life and see what you can do differently to change it. There is definitely something because if you don’t find anything then you aren’t being honest. The one major thing that sets extraordinary people apart is that they are constantly working to improve. You can start today. Make today the day you decide to become extraordinary, and have an impact on the world around you. It’s up to you!

Motivation Monday; Stop the Excuses

                           

“Excuses are the nails used to build the house of failure.” – Jim Rohn

   I’m too tired, I’m too busy, I don’t feel like it, it’s too difficult, and I’m not sure I can do it are all excuses. Excuses keep you from building the house of your dreams. They keep you from the house of success. Examine the times when you have wanted to do something important in your life and didn’t like go back to school, start a business, write a book, find a new job, or rebuild a torn relationship. Why didn’t you do those things? What excuses did you make to keep from doing it?

   After looking back on this how many excuses were valid. You may have called them reasons. There is a difference between reasons and excuses. Reasons are something out of your control that temporarily keep you from doing something. However, reasons don’t stop you like excuses do. Excuses are self-created that ultimately stop you from growing and moving forward in your life.

   Excuses are destructive because they have a great impact on your self-confidence because they will keep you right where you are if you let them. Instead of making excuses not to do something wonderful with your life find reasons TO DO IT. When you look for reasons to accomplish something you will find your life significantly more prosperous and joyful.

   Whatever it is that you want to do to change your life start now. Don’t make excuses. Just go for it. Don’t be afraid to fail because if you just make excuses and do nothing then you are in the same place you’re in now and won’t get out of life everything it has to offer. Try it! 

Difficulty is Necessary

 

 I am a big fan of Winston Churchill. I believe he is the greatest leader of people since Abraham Lincoln. This quote came across my desk the other day and surprisingly I had never read it before. The quote read, “Difficulties mastered are opportunities won.” It got me thinking about the past year in my life, and the difficulties I have faced over the year. At times I felt like my life was over and that nothing good would ever happen to me. What bothered me most about this type of thinking is that it isn’t what I believe or how I live.

   Fortunately this thinking wasn’t common, but when I read the Churchill quote it opened my eyes and thoughts in a new way. Difficulties are necessary in life. You cannot grow without them, or achieve any degree of success. Read a biography of a person you deem successful and see how easy their road was to get there. Anyone who has succeeded has gone through many difficulties. Churchill for example had a speech impediment his entire life despite his amazing ability to communicate to his people. He also left government as a failure due to the Galipoli Campaign, but then became Prime Minister and led his country through World War II. Inexplicably he was beaten in the 1945 election, but rebounded to win election again in 1951.

   Difficulties are a very important part of life. You MUST go through them to get where you want to be. They give you the opportunity to grow, get stronger, and become more. Instead of facing difficulties with apprehension and fear try welcoming them because despite how challenging they are you will be given an opportunity to become more in the process. The person who gets swallowed up by difficulty and challenge is the person who remains the same. Whatever difficulties and challenges you are going through today look at them as an opportunity to become better than you were before they happened.

When it Rains......

    

   Ever heard the phrase “When it rains it pours?” If you are over the age of ten you probably have. The phrase is usually used with a negative connotation meaning that when things go bad they just get worse. However, when people use this term they don’t think about what rain does. It makes things grow. Sure the flood can come, but it eventually recedes and goes away. When the rain of problems come your way don’t think of it negatively. Work on finding out how these problems will make you grow. What can you learn from it? How can you become more as a result of this?

   No matter what happens to you it gets better when you become better no matter what it is. Whether it’s the death of a loved one, loss of a job, or health problems. It’s what you become that matters. Ever had a problem that seemed like “the worst thing ever.” Of course you have. How is that problem now? Many times it gets fixed because of the effort YOU put into fixing it. It’s all up to you to take 100% responsibility for it whether it was your fault or not. That’s how you become more. That’s how it gets fixed.

   Take a look at your problems and figure out how to fix them instead of just thinking how bad everything is. Dwelling on the negative aspects of it don’t fix a thing and you will never grow. As the great Jim Rohn said “To have more you have to become more.” Think about that. 

Motivation Monday - Conquering Self

     

                    “If you don’t conquer self you will be conquered by self.” – Napoleon Hill

   Most people don’t get what they want out of life for one reason and one reason only. They are unable to conquer themselves. It’s easy to blame circumstances for not getting what you want. That’s what most people do. However, 3% of people take full responsibility for their lives. They make the decision not to let the nagging voice inside lead them to defeat and despair. It’s that voice that leads to negativity, laziness, and unhappiness.

   Why is that? It’s because what you want to do will take hard work on your part to get there. To do the things you have always wanted to do in your life takes a major commitment on your part not to let anything stand in your way. You stand there and look at how tall the mountain is and walk away instead of starting to climb. You climb a mountain no matter how tall it is one step at a time. If you don’t start climbing all you’re doing is staring at the summit. You have to get moving.

   When you wait for circumstances or people to change around you without doing anything yourself you wind up frustrated when it is your fault to begin with. It is up to you. You are the only one that can stop you. No matter what is happening around you it is still your responsibility to get there. Don’t let those voices stop you from getting through. Write the book, run the marathon, lose the weight, whatever it is. Get started. There is no reason you can’t do it if you put the work in.

   Anyone who says living the life you desire doesn’t take hard work is full of it. You meet anyone who has had any degree of success and they will tell you how hard and long they worked to get where they want to be. It’s that simple. However, the reason they were able to do it is because they conquered self first. They didn’t allow anything to stop them. They did it themselves. So whatever it is that you want from life you need to make it happen. Stop the excuses and go for it. It’s in there inside of you. Tap into it and change your life forever.

  

    

Video: The Strangest Secret

   I first learned about the Strangest Secret by Earl Nightingale from reading a book by Jeffrey Gitomer. He suggests in the book to listen to this daily for a month and then monthly after that. How often you listen is up to you. This is a life changing message learning the secret to help you experience total life change. Listen carefully, and take notes. You won't regret spending thirty minutes of your life listening and learning.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62DqsD2s5V8

Fear can be Your Friend

 

 Fear can be a killer. It can cause anxiety, stress, and health problems. Fear can also be your friend. This is a different view of fear. Fear is a warning that something may be wrong. It is a reaction to something you are facing. When you are starting something new, going somewhere, or doing something that makes you uncomfortable it causes fear.

   They key to dealing with fear is to do just that……deal with it. You have to do something about it. Sometimes fear means that you need a plan. Usually fear comes when you haven’t planned or prepared. Having a detailed plan can keep fear at bay and can build your confidence. When you use courage and fight the fear you are dealing with can take you to a new place with your confidence.

   Courage is needed to deal with fear. You need to be courageous to do certain things. It can be a small amount of courage or a large amount, but whatever it is your confidence will grow. Fear also comes when you lack confidence. If you are starting a new project that you may not have a lot of experience in can cause a great deal of fear.

   When you plan and prepare your fear will go away because you have shown courage and built confidence. When you avoid starting projects because of fear it can cause unnecessary stress. All you will do is find reasons why you shouldn’t start the project. This is because you have allowed fear to control you.

   Babe Ruth said, “Never let the fear of striking out get in your way.” I love that quote. He is known for his legendary home runs, but he struck out more than he hit home runs. You may too. The key here is to focus on the success you can attract by showing confidence and courage. Instead of expecting the project to fail you should focus on what can be done.

   Every person experiences fear on a daily basis. When this happens figure out what is causing it. Remember that fear is a warning that something needs to be done. When you figure it out then go for it. Andrew Jackson said, “One man with courage makes a majority.” Show courage and it will build your confidence. Don’t let fear dominate you. Allow fear to be your friend.

Motivation Monday: Diligence

   

“Diligence is the mother of good luck.” – Benjamin Franklin

   I met a guy who bought a house. He talked about all the work his wife and he had done to find the perfect house. Then he proceeded to tell me how lucky they got. There was no luck involved. They got the home because of the work they did. Why do people blame luck on something that they clearly worked hard for?

   People don’t give themselves enough credit. They give luck the credit when they should be patting themselves on the back. I think the reason is confidence. They don’t believe they were good enough to do it themselves. This is a lack of confidence. When diligence is what got it done for them. It was all the work they did.

   Don’t blame luck when good things happen. If you look back on what you did beforehand I guarantee you will find out it was something you had done to create the luck. You can find out exactly what you did so you can get done whatever you want. Don’t blame it on some myth that luck does it.

   You can make anything you want to happen with diligence. With hard work you will be amazed at what will happen for you. You will find that everything you want to do in life will come as a result of diligence. The hard work, the long hours, and confidence can get you anything when you put the work in.

  

Take 100% Responsibility

   

When most people think of taking responsibility they confuse it with taking blame. These are not the same things. Problems in life happen to everybody. However, what happens is that you think you’re the only one these problems happen to. This is incorrect. Problems happen to us all. No matter how well you’re doing you will always deal with various problems. They just happen.

   The thing is that whether or not the problem was your fault it is still your responsibility to take care of it regardless of what it is. It is up to you. You have to take responsibility to take care of whatever the problems are. The reason many people don’t take responsibility is because they don’t want to take the blame. They don’t want it to be their fault.

   Blame can be very discouraging. You feel like something that went wrong in your life was something you did. So as a result you end up doing nothing. You don’t think you should have to take care of it because you didn’t do it. If you lose your job regardless of why it happened it is up to you to find a way to fix it. You have to be responsible for anything that comes your way.

   When you get caught up in taking blame and whether or not it was your fault it keeps you from doing what you need to do. If you lose your job you have to find a new one. Maybe losing the job was the best thing that happened to you. This could be your chance to do something better. You don’t know that if you fail to take responsibility.

   The people who make the most of their lives are the ones who are responsible and make something happen for themselves. They decide to make it happen, and they don’t allow problems to keep them down. It becomes a matter of having goals and knowing what you want. When you have a mission and purpose then you will have no problem taking responsibility. The reason is because you know where you want to go. Nothing will stop you.

   Make the decision today to take responsibility for your life. That no matter what happened to you then you will deal with it. You won’t wait for it to go away. Grab the bull by the horns and go for it. You can do anything you want if you take responsibility for what you want to do. This will change everything you do because you have accepted the responsibility.

   When you have decided to be responsible it is a sign of real maturity. You don’t really become an adult until you do this. The person who blames everyone else but themselves for what happens will continue to go the same direction. They will continue to go nowhere because of it. The same thing will always happen to them because they have chosen to play the blame game. Don’t let this be you. Be the person who is responsible for what happens in their own lives. This will promote life change and you will help and inspire those around you.

Keys to Productivity

   How many times have you decided to procrastinate work that needs to be done around the house to sit on the couch to watch television? If you said “not me” then you are not telling the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Everybody has done this. I have been especially guilty during July and August here in Las Vegas when it gets extremely hot in the summer. Anyone that says they haven’t procrastinated at least once doesn’t know the definition.

The opposite of procrastination is productivity.

   I was at a party recently when my cousin mentioned to her friend that she never watched movies, and the friend said she felt unproductive when she did that. Amen sister! I couldn’t agree more because I need to feel productive each day or I am unfulfilled. My day starts by opening my journal and seeing what I have in store for me that day. Then I begin attacking it.

   When you aren’t productive during the day you fail to reach your potential. Each day that goes by where you don’t meet your potential is one day wasted. Add those days up and they become months and years WASTED! Whenever you don’t do what needs to be done each day you hold yourself back because now the stuff that didn’t get done today is added to tomorrows stuff. If you have to play catch up it keeps you from moving forward.

   One of the keys to productivity is to finish your to do list. One reason people get down on themselves is because they take thirty minutes to create a ten item list and do just four things. That is discouraging. When you make a to do list make sure each item can be done that day. Then make it your mission to complete it no matter what. Develop the habit of doing this each day and you will be more productive than ever.

   Another key is if television or video games are your problem then do something valuable instead. Read a book, take a walk, call family, or something else that will inspire you. Most people get bored and turn the TV on instead of opening a book. Don’t let this be you anymore. Instead of grabbing the remote and plopping on the couch start doing something that is going to help you make life changes.

   The third key is that once you have your goals written down you work towards them each day. It can be baby steps, but there should be progress. Your work during the day needs to point you towards your goals. When you add this discipline you will start to see your goals on the horizon and you will gain so much from becoming the person who could accomplish them.

   When you are productive it eliminates unwanted stress. How do you feel when you lack productivity? Usually not very good because you just put it off to whenever you decide to get around to it. Lack of productivity at work can get you fired, and lack of productivity in your personal life can lead to frustration, anxiety, and sadness.

   Today make a to do list and complete each item on it. Start small. Wait until you see what that small accomplishment does for your confidence. Daily productivity is a big step in making life changes. If you have the philosophy of procrastination then change it. You can do it! Make the decision to make each day as productive as you can. Nothing should stop you!

  

Your Personal Philosophy

                                                 

   Your philosophy is the wisdom you have gained throughout your life from various sources. Usually when you think of philosophy you think of Plato, Aristotle, Socrates, or William James. Even philosophy is in books like Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand. That book is dripping with her philosophy. Your personal philosophy comes in many different ways throughout your life. Your personal philosophy is a major factor in shaping your destiny.

   Your personal philosophy comes in two ways. It comes from your experience and other people’s experience. Your philosophy starts when you grow up. When you’re a child your philosophy is shaped by your parents. What they think and believe is instilled in you at an early age. There are many ways that can go. On the good side if you are taught the philosophy of hard work and doing your best that will shape you as you get older. However, if the philosophy is just trying to get by and blaming other people for your problems then you could go in another direction based on that philosophy.

  Your philosophy is as simple as walking around the block instead of watching television, or reading a book instead of going to happy hour. Each one of those is a different philosophy. To find out why you are where you are just look at your philosophy. What were the decisions you made based on it? Take a long look back and see. You may not like what you find.

   The first way to develop your own personal philosophy is by your habits. Good habits bring good things and of course bad habits bring bad things. Yes it’s that simple. If you develop the habit of working hard and putting in a good days work every day then you can expect your income to increase and promotions to follow. If your habit is to do just enough and complain about pay then you will struggle to make ends meet.

    Any person that doesn't do something because they don’t get paid enough will always make that amount of money because of their philosophy. Your philosophy leads you. If you are struggling right now and don’t feel your life is going anywhere then you need to examine your philosophy. What do you need to change? What do you need to read? Who can you talk to? These are just a few ways that can help you in changing your philosophy if the one you have is leading you down the wrong road.

   Many people play the blame game. Don’t let this be you. Instead of refining their philosophy to initiate life change they blame taxes, the government, their friends, their boss, and their family. It’s always someone else’s fault except theirs. These people do not take responsibility for their lives. They go nowhere because they refuse to change their philosophy and do it on their own. The people who blame others also want to wait on someone to come by and push them. What happens if they don’t show up?

   You can’t wait for someone else. You have to do it on your own. If you take the time to improve your philosophy you will see life change begin immediately. As you continue to change your philosophy it will give you a new level of confidence and get you going in the right direction.

   

Motivation Monday: Becoming Better

“Don’t wish it was easier wish you were better. Don’t wish for less problems wish for more skills. Don’t wish for less challenge wish for more wisdom.” – Jim Rohn

   How many times have you found your life spinning out of control and you didn’t know what to do? Probably a few times. Most people want things to be easier. If only the situation was easier then everything would be different. You have to be better. You have to rise to the occasion no matter what the situation is.

   When you wish for fewer problems and challenges then you aren’t making the kind of changes that will put you in a better position to handle them. If you are struggling to find a job then learn new skills. Learn skills that make you grow then when problems arise you will be far better equipped to handle them and they won’t seem nearly as difficult. Why? Because you will know what to do.

   Wisdom is achieved by learning from your experience and other people’s experience. Make a point to educate yourself in whatever your challenge is. Find ways to solve the problem. Don’t wish for it to go away because of the person you’ll become in conquering the challenge. Too often in hoping problems and challenges go away you can miss a glorious opportunity. Many times what seems like the worst thing ever can present you with opportunities you never expected.

   Be patient. Nothing usually goes as bad as you think it will if you take the time to improve yourself. Take 100% responsibility for your life. Make it a point today to get better, learn new skills, and gain more wisdom. Then when trials and tribulations happen you will be ready.

Take Action First - Do it Now!

      

For years I thought that I needed to feel good, or have the right frame of mind to get anything done. I had heard and read that you take action first and then your feelings and thoughts will change. I never believed it. Then I decided to try it. I didn’t feel like writing one day. Instead of just shutting down the laptop I decided to just start writing even though I wasn’t in the right “frame of mind.” What happened blew me away. When I took action I ended up writing for four hours and low and behold I felt like it.

   I had acted myself into feeling. I was amazed. That decision changed my whole perspective. Since that day I have taken action when I needed to get something done, and even though I may not be in the mood I was so glad it was done. When you take action you will almost automatically feel good about it. It will put a smile on your face.

   Taking action does many things like eliminate stress, improve self-confidence, stop laziness, and it will give you a feeling of accomplishment. When you take action on what is important in your life it will take you to another level. It will help you change your philosophy on getting things done. No longer will you rely on your thoughts and feelings first.

   W. Clement Stone coined a simple three word phrase that has had an impact on personal development since it was first coined. That phrase is “Do it Now.” Stone said by just uttering that phrase will get you to start moving. It sounds hokie and over simplistic. At least that’s what I thought. What I found was that it really does move you. It’s almost like you hear another voice pushing you to improve.

   Taking action on what is important will have a tremendous impact on your life. The feeling of success will overwhelm you. How good does it feel when you have a “to do list” and you are able to cross everything off? It feels great. You become energized to do even more. Once you take action once it leads to more action. That’s just the way life is.

   Look at yourself. What have you delayed doing that is important? Think about this. Then take action on it immediately. Do it now. Don’t wait. Become a person who takes action and gets things done. It will change your life.

What will You Sacrifice?

  

This Charles DuBos quote had a massive impact on my life. It put into perspective what was required to experience total life change. Here is the quote:

“The important thing is this: To be willing at any moment to sacrifice what you are for what you would become.”

   The phrase sacrifice what you are really hit me between the eyes. I had never thought of it this way before. For the first time I realized that sacrifice was a major part of the life change process. Webster’s defines sacrifice as: Giving something up for the sake of something else; act of giving up. When you make the decision to sacrifice something that void has to be filled in another way. For something else.

   As I meditated on that quote for days I began thinking about what I needed to sacrifice. Sacrifice to me means giving up things you may enjoy that are not valuable for something that is. Are you willing to sacrifice happy hour each night and read life changing material instead? Will you sacrifice watching bad re-runs and watch an inspirational video? Will you sacrifice a donut to go for a walk around the block?

   What you sacrifice has to be important to you otherwise it isn’t a real sacrifice. Also, if you sacrifice one thing that isn’t valuable for another then you will get nowhere. You have to be willing to make real changes to become who you want to be. People think that their life will be over if they seriously cut back on watching television. As if their life would be over if they didn’t watch Seinfeld every night. That of course is nonsense.

   If you are really serious about life change then you should be more than willing to make real sacrifices otherwise you need to examine what you really want. I replaced television with reading and study, or writing. I thought it would bother me, but to be honest I don’t miss it at all. I find now that when the television is on I get irritated because I find it to be a tremendous waste of time. I’m not saying I never watch TV, but it has to be something that provides value to me.

   Take the time to write down everything you do on a regular basis. Whatever it is. Then on another piece of paper make two columns and label one side valuable and another one not valuable. You know the difference. The key with this exercise is to be honest with yourself. You know a reality show isn’t really valuable no matter how you spin it. Look at your original list and begin to fill the columns. Then decide what you will sacrifice and what you can do instead that will help you grow.

   If you find seven things you need to sacrifice don’t try to stop them all at once. This can be very difficult and discouraging. Try one a month at first. Make a point of not doing this one thing for a month and doing something else. Then write down how that worked for you. What you will soon see is that if you’re honest with yourself you won’t miss it at all. The reason is because you have gained so much from replacing it with something valuable.

   When you fill your life with things that help you make life changes and you see the results you will be more than willing to make more sacrifices. You need to take your life seriously and not do things just because they are fun. I have found as much enjoyment from personal growth then I ever did from watching TV or other things I have sacrificed over time. Invest in yourself. Be willing to do whatever it takes to have the life you dreamed of. What are you willing to do?

  

Experiencing Total Life Change

  

 

What does it mean to experience total life change? For me it started when my former wife was diagnosed with leukemia. I wanted to be a better person than I was and that I needed to change. What I found out early was that she needed as much encouragement and positivity that I could give her. I was very negative at the time, but I learned that the more I helped her the more I helped myself. The total life change for me when I started a website called Fight CLL to help people with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL).

   As I began writing articles to try to inspire people on Fight CLL I inspired myself. My life was changing by trying to change other people’s lives. I started practicing life changing principles and everything I had done before was changing. Then I read Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill. This book changed it all for me. I learned how to think about my life and what I could do to continue the changes I had already made. Napoleon Hill taught me that the way I viewed my life was flawed. It had to change.

   I have devoured the book several times. It moves me any time I study it. I found new gold nuggets whenever I read it. The book was truly life changing for me and began my obsession with personal development. I have a beautiful copy of it and it’s one of my most prized possessions. That was how life change began for me.

   How can life change begin for you? It starts with figuring out how you do things in your life. Eric Hoffer said, “To become different from what we are, we must have some awareness of what we are.” You have to figure out what you do wrong and start changing it. If you continue to do the same things you’ve always done you will continue to get the same results. It needs to change. If you want to know how the next five years of your life are going to go? Look at the last five unless you change. Don’t repeat the same mistakes you made during the previous five years. Make the next five different.

   I sat down and listed all the things I did wrong, and believe me it was a long list, and I was determined not to do them again. It isn’t easy and I still struggle in certain areas, but I am always working towards changing it. Life change doesn’t happen overnight. The epiphany to desire life change was instant for me, but the changes have taken years.

   You have to be committed to make the changes in your life to get the results you want. When you make real changes to your life the results are immediate. That’s what I have found. The more I commit to doing the right things then more often the right things happen. One of my favorite quotes is this gem by Charles DuBos, “The important thing is this: to be able at any moment to sacrifice what we are for what we would become.” I couldn’t have said it better.

   There are sacrifices that need to be made to affect life change. You have to be willing to give things up that are not valuable to your life. Surround yourself with things and people who bring value. There will be things that you don’t want to give up and it can be difficult. It was for me. However, having the discipline to do it will allow you to reap the rewards of the sacrifice. What you will find is that what may seem difficult to give up wasn’t difficult at all. Why is that? Because you will see the results. It’s easy to make changes when you see how making the changes improve your life.

   When you see your life changing you will want more. That’s what happened to me. As good things happen in your life then nothing will be able to stop you. This may surprise you, but achieving life change isn’t the ultimate goal because you will never achieve perfection. The key to life change is the person you become in the process. The changes you make will impact you and the others around you. When you become more from making life changes that’s when you have truly achieved.