Put your Vision and Dreams on Steroids!

Posted on January 1, 2012 by bizcoachleslie Leave a comment

All Goal setting starts with Vision and Dreaming. Here’s a simple, easy method to put your Dreams and Vision on steroids!

Some of you know that I’ve recommend the Mind Movies software.  It does put your written goals on steroids.  It’s a simple concept of putting your goals into a movie with music.  Imagine, if you had a 2-3 minute movie of your goals that you could watch in the morning and in the evening.  If you had this movie, creating your vision is easier and you almost certainly would achieve your goals faster.

The challenge is you have to buy software and you need to know how to make a movie on your computer.  Do you know how to do that?  If you do know how to make a movie then, take action on the idea.  If you don’t know how to make a movie, here’s a great alternative.

You probably have PowerPoint or Keynote on your computer.  Here is the secret alternative.  Put your Vision, Dreams and Goals into PowerPoint.  You can find pictures of these by doing an image search on Google.  For example, if you want a new car you can go to Google and do an image search for the car you want.  Cut and paste the picture into the PowerPoint.

Once you have created the PowerPoint slides you can set up a slideshow.  PowerPoint allow you to set a timer on each slide.  For example you can have the slides automatically rotate to the next slide every 4 seconds.

Once you have your slides created and a time set to rotate to each slide, you can then add music.  One way to add music is to have Itunes on your computer.  Pick an upbeat song and have it playing in the background, while the PowerPoint slides are playing.

The end result is you have your own custom movie with your Vision, Dreams and Goals playing while listening to one of your favorite songs.

Watch your movie one or more times per day and you should achieve your 2012 goals faster.  If you like this idea, pay it forward by sharing the idea with others.  Also, this is a great and fun idea to share with your kids and get them in the practice of visioning.

Affirmations, Next Level Growth, Visualization , , , , , ,

5 Steps to Mental Toughness

Posted on August 1, 2011 by bizcoachleslie Leave a comment

Mental Toughness is a key skill that can be learned. Many of us, with the economy in the current state, are looking for the secret to finding our own path to mental toughness. To help you on that path, I’m sharing an great article from one of my greatly respected mentors:

5 Steps to Mental Toughness That Conquers Fear
By David Byrd

There is a truth that you must face in order to realize Next Level Achievement: your natural instinct of fear will keep you from achieving every time…if you allow it. We all have a basic fear of risks and the unknown. This response is natural, yet absolutely counterproductive to achievement.

Most of the people who fail to achieve did not fail at all. They simply allowed fear to control their thinking and quit. The fear of risk and the unknown were stronger than their desire to achieve. So how can we learn to conquer our fear? We must develop the mental toughness needed to face the challenge of your natural instinct of fear … and to win!

5 steps to mental toughness

Step #1 — Maintain positive expectancy

You must keep the vision of your desired, future achievement in the forefront of your mental focus. If you build a vision of your future that is stronger than your fears, and fill your thinking patterns with positive expectancy, you will attract to yourself that which you set out for yourself.

Step #2 — Manage your daily choices according to your goals, not your feelings

Managing consistent, positive expectancy is difficult because you never feel the same, physically or emotionally, every single day of the week. Your dreams for the future must be strong enough to keep you following through with those plans on a daily basis, no matter how you feel.

Step #3 — Aggressively manage your positive relationships

Your associations with others will either promote your growth or deter it. You must, therefore, foster relationships with people who inspire and influence your growth. In the same way, aggressively avoid those who impose their negative beliefs or attitudes on you.

Step #4 — Live in the moment!

Life comes to each of us one day at a time. Many people never succeed in their life plans because they are always saying, “I’ll start tomorrow.” Learn to live right now! Change your thinking about waiting and develop the attitude of urgency in applying effective actions daily.

Step #5 — Believe

Regardless of your religious or non-religious position, belief is vital in your growth and achievement, and you cannot understand belief without an understanding of faith. Do not downplay this truth – faith and belief in your potential to achieve is absolutely vital.

There will be times in your achievement journey when quitting or giving up will seem like the only alternatives. At these times, it will take the strength of your faith to prevail. You must believe that you can achieve, for it is the spark that sustains you.

The truth is, fear will never completely go away. But through vigilant practice of the steps above, you can start building up the mental toughness you need to finally put fear in its place. Don’t ever give up – you can conquer your fear…and you can achieve!

Inspiring genuine growth and achievement in leaders, David Byrd has 30 years of experience working with top business executives and their organizations. He is a master of effective leadership and works closely with leaders worldwide to maximize their leadership potential. For more information about The Next-Level Achievement System or David’s book, Achievement – A Proven System For Next Level Growth, leave a comment.

Business Achievement, Next Level Growth, Slight Edge , , , , ,

Four Secrets to Staying Young, Being Happy and Achieving Success

Posted on May 8, 2011 by bizcoachleslie 1 Comment

Four Secrets to Staying Young

Most cultures value the wisdom of elders and their secrets to staying young, being happy, and achieving success in life and business. I’m publishing this on mother’s day, as I thought it appropriate to share powerful wisdom from Rose.       Enjoy, learn and pass on!

Hi, Handsome! My name is Rose…

The first day of school our professor introduced himself and challenged us to get to know someone we didn’t already know. I stood up to look around when a gentle hand touched my shoulder.  I turned around to find a wrinkled, little old lady beaming up at me with a smile that lit up her entire being.

She said, Hi handsome. My name is Rose. I’m eighty-seven years old. Can I give you a hug?

I laughed and enthusiastically responded, Of course you may! and she gave me a giant squeeze.

Why are you in college at such a young, innocent age? I asked.

She jokingly replied, I’m here to meet a rich husband, get married, and have a couple of kids…

No seriously, I asked.  I was curious what may have motivated her to be taking on this challenge at her age.

I always dreamed of having a college education and now I’m getting one! she told me.

After class we walked to the student union building and shared a chocolate milkshake.  We became instant friends.  Every day for the next three months we would leave class together and talk java-script.  I was always mesmerized listening to this ‘time machine’ as she shared her wisdom and experience with me.

Over the course of the year, Rose became a campus icon and she easily made friends wherever she went.  She loved to dress up and she reveled in the attention bestowed upon her from the other students.  She was living it up.

At the end of the semester we invited Rose to speak at our football banquet I’ll never forget what she taught us.

She was introduced and stepped up to the podium. As she began to deliver her prepared speech, she dropped her three by five cards on the floor.

Frustrated and a little embarrassed she leaned into the microphone and simply said, I’m sorry I’m so jittery. I gave up beer for Lent and this whiskey is killing me! I’ll never get my speech back in order so let me just tell you what I know.

As we laughed, she cleared her throat and began,

We do not stop playing because we are old; we grow old because we stop playing.

There are only four secrets to staying young, being happy, and achieving success.

You have to laugh and find humor every day.

You’ve got to have a dream.

When you lose your dreams, you die.

We have so many people walking around who are dead and don’t even know it!

There is a huge difference between growing older and growing up.

If you are nineteen years old and lie in bed for one full year and don’t do one productive thing, you will turn twenty years old.  If I am eighty-seven years old and stay in bed for a year and never do anything I will turn eighty-eight.

Anybody! Can grow older. That doesn’t take any talent or ability. The idea is to grow up by always finding opportunity in change.  Have no regrets.

The elderly usually don’t have regrets for what we did, but rather for things we did not do. The only people who fear death are those with regrets…”

She concluded her speech by courageously singing, “The Rose.”

And then challenged each of us to study the lyrics and live them out in our daily lives.

At year’s end, Rose finished the college degree she had begun all those months ago. One week after graduation she died peacefully in her sleep. Over two thousand college students attended her funeral in tribute to the wonderful woman who taught by example that it’s never too late to be all you can possibly be.

Author: unknown.

When you finish reading this, please send these wise, peaceful and empowering words of advice to your friends and family, they’ll really enjoy it!

Have an amazing slight edge day!

Business Achievement, Inspirational, Law of Attraction, Next Level Growth, Slight Edge , , , , , ,

Steps on a Slight Edge Path

Posted on April 25, 2011 by bizcoachleslie Leave a comment

Did you use the Slight Edge to start your year? When the New Year began you probably, like most people, gave thought to what changes you could make in the coming year to transform your life into something better. Whether you resolved to spend more time with family, start eating healthy, hit the gym, or grow your business, success begins with four key steps to achievement: using Slight Edge daily choices and actions, actually writing down your vision, setting annual goals based on that vision and monthly tracking and planning.

So, we are nearing the half year mark! I’m reviewing my progress, are you? It’s time! And in our review, why is it that, for so many, resolutions have already fallen by the wayside, especially when our desire to better ourselves is probably still there? Why is it, then, that resolutions alone are not enough to generate real change? It’s because good intentions must be supported by effective Slight Edge choices, and that is where most of us go astray.

Achievement is the journey not the destination. It is a process and happens moment by moment, one day at a time! Many people have difficulty translating their good intentions/resolutions, into goal-directed, daily choices and actions. If your daily choices and actions are not currently reflecting your overall goals, then perhaps it is time to revisit your ‘why’, or your ‘aha’ moment/reason for achieving. And then get yourself back on the right Slight Edge path.

It Starts With Vision

If you didn’t take the time at the end of 2010 to update or even create your vision statement, a description of your life 5 to 10 years in the future which includes your mission and purpose, then set aside some time to do so ASAP! Your vision is the heart and soul of your ‘why,’ so it is worthwhile to review it and make adjustments as you see fit to reflect where you are right now. If it has lost some of its luster, refine it. Your vision statement should grow as you grow.

Remember that your Vision Statement should be no more than one page long and should evoke strong positive feelings and emotions when you read it. Also remember that a Vision Statement is NOT the same as goals; it is your Vision and Dreams! Suspend reality and build your Vision Statement into a description of what you dream a wonderful and normal day in your life will look like five years from today. Write one page that brings your vision to life with all the sights, sounds, and feelings of reality in five years. When finished, post your vision somewhere you will see it everyday as a reminder of what you are working toward. Ideally, put it in the middle of your vision board to be seen daily.

Putting It All Together

Once you have rediscovered the ‘why’ in your achievement process through revising your vision statement, then you can review your annual goals to make sure that they are in line with your Vision Statement and you will have a renewed sense of purpose. Nothing strengthens your resolve like focusing on where you would like to be. And never underestimate the power of a good attitude – the fastest way to promote achievement is to believe it to be possible.

I have learned, through personal experience and working with hundreds of clients, that achievement leading to success is possible simply by doing the “right things” consistently over a sustained period of time. Support the good intentions you have now with effective Slight Edge daily choices backed by your vision, and make 2011 the year that you commit to doing the right things consistently everyday.

You can achieve all your dreams!

Business Achievement, Next Level Growth, Slight Edge, Visualization , , , , ,

A ‘Trick’ to Unleash Your Power

Posted on March 28, 2011 by bizcoachleslie Leave a comment

Unleash Your Power

You can unleash the power of your subconscious mind with a simple trick that is so powerful most people completely ignore or underestimate the powerful affect that it has on your subconscious mind and achievement.

As long as you have certain desires about how it ought to be you can’t see how it is. Ram Dass

In my life I have come across two types of people and, if you think about it, you will recognize these two types……

The first type always asks : “Why is it that ……(things are a certain way)….?” In some cases, I have run into the same people who after 10 or more years are still asking the same questions. It’s as if their minds are trapped in a loop, like a stuck computer that needs to be rebooted!

The second type asks: “How can I …..(do that great thing, be this way, have that nice thing, achieve that result)…..? Years later, when I run into this type of person, they have attained that for which they were striving. And now are asking “how” for even greater and better things.

Perhaps you never thought about how you ask your questions? Or if it can have a major impact on your life?

Personal Experience

Personally I learned about the power of questions, when I worked with Anthony Robbins and have experienced their power in my own life and seen it unfold in the lives of those I coach.

The wrong question can get people stuck, while the right one will pull them up to higher and higher levels of achievement and success.

Asking “why” is fine, IF you would like to be a philosopher. If to be a philosopher is your goal, then you are asking the right question. If not, then….

If you want to accomplish great things, if you want to get results, to make things happen in your life, then you need a different question.

Do you want to make changes in your life or achieve great things? To manifest your desire(s) the right question or right way to ask is “How”. Do Not ask, “why are things the way they are….?”; But, “How can I change things for the better….?

You can start your focus small; “How can I change …(that little thing in my life)…?” Then, as you get the hang of the power of ‘How’, go for bigger things.

Here’s the truth, in real life there is a little bit of both types of people in every one of us. It happens when we are tired or frustrated, when we think we have done all that we can do and given up, that’s when we start asking the “why” questions. Have you noticed that when someone gets frustrated with someone else, the question that inevitably comes up is “Why are you/they like this?” or “Why are you/they acting like this?”

However, there is always something that you can do and asking the “how” questions helps to focus your conscious and subconscious mind on what you can do. The “how can I” question is what we ask when we are ready to make changes happen.

“How” questions throw a monkey wrench into mind loops and immediately makes your mind choose a new path, a path to solutions.

I recently experienced the “why” question with the loss of a loved family member, however after a reasonable grieving period I was able to apply the “how” question and trick my subconscious mind back to a focus on what I can do.

Some of you may doubt that this works, but the power is in it’s simplicity. So, throughout the day, when you have a “why” thought about anything, try changing any thought into a “how” question.

Track your results and you just might be surprised!

Business Achievement, Law of Attraction, Slight Edge , , , , , , , ,

What do Weight Loss and Achievement have in common?

Posted on February 21, 2011 by bizcoachleslie Leave a comment

Weight Loss and Business Achievement have a lot in common.

It wasn’t until my late 40′s that I even thought about the need to find a ‘system’ to keep my weight in check. Like most Americans, who reach ‘a certain age’, all of a ‘sudden’ my clothes no longer fit well and I realized, to my chagrin, that the ‘Slight Edge’ decisions I made in business had not been applied to maintain a healthy weight for my body. Ouch!!

I knew the secret to achieve first my weight loss and then my weight maintenance goals was the Achievement System, which encompasses Vision, Specific Annual Goals, Monthly Targets, and your Daily Choices and Actions , that I use daily to coach business owners and individuals.

So, here are a few tips for effective weight loss and maintenance.

1) Achievement happens moment by moment, one day at a time! Achievement is about daily Slight Edge decisions.  Ask yourself, Is this choice moving me closer to or further from my goal?

2) Many people have difficulty translating their good intentions into goal-directed, daily choices and actions. If your daily choices and actions are not currently reflecting your overall goals, then revisit your “whys” for achieving your goals and get yourself back on the right track.

3) Having a long-term Vision is critical. Nothing strengthens your resolve like focusing on where you want to be.

4) I have learned, working with hundreds of clients, that achievement is simply the result of doing the “right things” consistently over a sustained period of time.  Achievement and success in business and weight loss in not an overnight occurrence.

I can happily report that using the Achievement System to attain my weight goal worked and I’ve successfully maintained my target goal now for over 5 years.

Business Achievement, Next Level Growth, Slight Edge , , , , , , ,

Good Intentions Pave The Road to…

Posted on February 2, 2011 by bizcoachleslie 2 Comments

When the New Year began, you probably, like most people, gave thought to what changes you could make in the coming year to transform your life into something better. Whether you resolved to spend more time with family, start eating healthy, hit the gym, or grow your business it all starts with a daily choices and actions, vision, annual goals and monthly planning.

So, it’s February, one whole month already gone! And why is it that, for so many, resolutions fall by the wayside by March, our desire to better ourselves is probably still there. Why is it, then, that resolutions alone are not enough to generate real change? It is because good intentions must be supported by effective choices, and that is where most people go astray.

Achievement happens moment by moment, one day at a time! Many people have difficulty translating their good intentions into goal-directed, daily choices and actions. If your daily choices and actions are not currently reflecting your overall goals, then perhaps it is time to revisit your “whys” for achieving and get yourself back on the right track.

It Starts With Vision

If you didn’t take the time at the end of 2010 to update or even create your vision statement, a description of your life 5 to 10 years in the future which includes your mission and purpose, then set aside some time to do so ASAP! Your vision is the heart and soul of your “why,” so it is worthwhile to review it and make adjustments as you see fit to reflect where you are right now. If it has lost some of its luster, refine it. Your vision statement should grow as you grow.

Remember that your Vision Statement should be no more than one page long and should evoke strong feelings and emotions when you read it. Also remember that a Vision Statement is NOT the same as goals; it is your Vision and Dreams! Suspend reality and build your Vision Statement into a description of what you dream a normal day in your life will look like five years from today. Write one page that brings your vision to life with all the sights, sounds, and feelings of reality in five years. When finished, post your vision somewhere you will see it everyday as a reminder of what you are working toward.

Putting It All Together

Once you have rediscovered the “why” in your achievement process through revising your vision statement then you can set your annual goals from your Vision Statement and you will have a renewed sense of purpose. Nothing strengthens your resolve like focusing on where you would like to be. And never underestimate the power of a good attitude – the fastest way to promote achievement is to believe it to be possible.

I have learned, working with hundreds of clients, that achievement is simply the result of doing the “right things” consistently over a sustained period of time. Support the good intentions you have now with effective daily choices backed by your vision, and make 2011 the year that you commit to doing the right things consistently everyday. You can achieve!

If you want to take you Achievement one step further, you need a tool that is external to your natural human instincts. This is the tool that I use!

Next Level Growth, Visualization , , ,

The Power of Your Thoughts

Posted on December 8, 2010 by bizcoachleslie Leave a comment

“Imagination is everything. It is the preview of life’s coming attractions.”–Albert Einstein

This Einstein quote is one of my favorites! I especially loved seeing it recently, on my mother’s refrigerator. It was a reminder of the great foundation she gave me growing up.

Today’s post on The Power of Your Thoughts is from guest columnist John Assaraf and is a great beginning for my next posts on Vision & setting up your year.

The Power of Your Thoughts

Thoughts create everything. But here’s the problem. Most people spend their time thinking about what they don’t want, and they’re wondering why it shows up over and over again. In The Secret, we referred to this as the “don’t want” epidemic. When people think, speak, act and focus on what they don’t want, they keep it alive.

You can free yourself of this epidemic by thinking and speaking about what you do want. Your thoughts not only matter, they create matter. Thought is where everything comes

from. And your thoughts are where your business comes from. Consciousness is what the universe is made of; matter and energy are just two of the forms that consciousness takes.

So, what am I saying here, that everything is made of thought? That thought creates the physical world? Yes, that is exactly what I am saying. In a nutshell, here is the conclusion so far of humanity’s epic quest to understand the world:

1. Everything in the physical world is made out of atoms.
2. Atoms are made out of energy.
3. Energy is made out of consciousness.

If all of this seems difficult to grasp or accept, imagine what it must have seemed like to the people of Galileo’s time when they were asked to consider the proposition that the earth travels through space around the sun. Or the idea of a spherical earth to pre-Socratic philosophers. The truth is, we don’t see what is there. We see what we are prepared to see, what we are conditioned to see.

Once we know that everything is energy–that there is no absolute distinction between matter and energy–then the boundaries between the physical world and the world of our thoughts start to disappear as well.

You’ve heard the old expression, “I’ll believe it when I see it.” But that’s not really how it is. The truth is more like this: “You’ll see it when you believe it.”

When novelist Victor Hugo said, “There is nothing more powerful than an idea whose time has come,” we now know that this was more than a metaphor. He may not have fully realized it at the time, but he was giving us a literal description of how reality works. Our thoughts are the controlling factor in what we manifest and create in our lives.

The idea precedes the thing.

In a very real, concrete sense, your beliefs don’t simply reflect your reality, they create your reality. This concept applies to the reality of massive success in business.

Listen to your thoughts. What are the dominant thoughts that run through your mind?

Review your thought list. Is it a list of “don’t wants” or wants? What thoughts do you need to change?

Replace your “don’t wants” with wants. When you find yourself thinking of things you don’t want to manifest in your life, interrupt those thoughts and replace them with thoughts about what you do want.

Start with a picture, an idea in your mind, and before you know it, you will be living it. This is at the heart of how my dream house showed up, as well as every business I have built. The same thing happens to every business person who has a vision and knows their thoughts have a direct, causal impact on reality.

Your thoughts and beliefs are the most powerful force in the universe. Make sure you are cognizant of yours.

John Assaraf
New York Times Bestselling Author, The Answer and Having It All.
Featured in The blockbuster movie and book The Secret.

Law of Attraction , ,

Recruiting and Keeping Winners

Posted on October 4, 2010 by bizcoachleslie 1 Comment

Today, people are looking for something to believe in. Really, this has been true since the dawn of mankind. Many studies, over the last few years, have shown that people want to ‘make a difference’. They want to be involved in something that has meaning, that has value. No one simply wants a job and to punch a time clock.

As a leader, it’s important for you to be aware of this need to make a difference that is present in most everyone. When you demonstrate interest in people’s personal and professional growth and are willing to help them grow, then you become the person that team members believe in and trust. The only effective way to do this is to be a role model and a living example. You have to “walk the walk” and “talk the talk”.

Being a true leader means encouraging team members that they have what it takes to be successful with your company. I call it ‘catching people doing the right things’ and I focus and encourage that activity. Show people how you will support and train them. Get to know them. Get to know their family. Get to know what they like to do for recreation. Get to know their dreams and goals.

Doing this will help you build people and recruit winning team members who will help you reach your own business goals.

Effective Leadership, Next Level Growth , , ,

Focus and Achievement is possible!!

Posted on August 16, 2010 by bizcoachleslie Leave a comment

Neil Armstrong was the first man to walk on the moon. Long before he became an astronaut, he had to work many different types of jobs — yet he made history. Neil Armstrong did not have a privileged childhood, he was not the son of a king or corporate CEO. He was a regular man that focused on his dreams and had the determination to carry them out.

He is an example that we can all do great things — no matter how humble our backgrounds may be. Achievement is possible simply with focused determination.

Armstrong always had an interest in planes and flying. In fact, he built a wind tunnel in the basement of his home. Not only did he dream, he made his dreams come true by believing in himself and moving towards his dream. What are you doing right now to accomplish your dreams?

Belief and faith in yourself and your abilities is very key. Never allow yourself to be a victim of circumstance and never allow your circumstances to overshadow your focus on your dream. Great men and great women are no different than you or me. They are just like you and me. We all put our pants on one leg at a time!

The only difference between those whom have achieved great things and everyone else is that they kept going, step by step, goal by goal until they reached their dreams. Is there any reason why we cannot be one of them?

If you are interested in ACHIEVEMENT, I highly recommend you get Mr. David Byrd’s books The Tripping Point in Leadership & Achievement, The Key to Next Level Growth.

Inspirational, Next Level Growth , , , , ,