Looking for Clues?

Principle #9 - Success Leaves Clues

For virtually everything you want to do, there are books and courses on how to do it. Better yet, just a phone call away are people who've already successfully done what you want to do and who are available as teachers, facilitators, mentors, advisors, coaches, and consultants.

Life is simply a connect-the-dots game, and all the dots have already been identified and organized by somebody else. All you have to do is follow the blueprint, use the system, or work the program that they provide.

Here are 3 ways you can begin to seek out clues:

1. Get a teacher, coach or mentor.
2. Interview someone who has already done what you want to do on how you should best proceed.
3. Shadow someone for a day and watch them work.

But first, do understand that...

• Asking others for advice puts you in the risk of getting rejected.
• Connecting the dots in a new way would mean a change, and change is ALWAYS uncomfortable.
• Connecting the dots means hard work, and most people DON'T want to work hard.

It's simple, but not easy. It takes work and a leap of faith to listen, trust and follow.

An Expert’s Perspective

I have been taking health supplements since the age of 10, mainly because my mother has forced me to. I took it by faith for many years, until I have come into contact with a series of health scares involving myself and the people around me, and I started to be more mindful of reading up articles on health.

Last Sunday, I happened to have come across this interesting article in the Star's Fit4Life column, titled "An exper's perspective on vitamins". I managed to find the original full article at the following link:
http://oregonstate.edu/ua/ncs/archives/2010/aug/vitamin-and-supplement-intake-%E2%80%93-expert%E2%80%99s-perspective

Here are some key excerpts from the article:

Frei is the head of an internationally recognized research and educational institute that focuses on the use of vitamins and micronutrients in addressing disease issues and promoting optimal health. He is 51 years old, normal weight, eats a proper diet, exercises regularly and doesn’t smoke. He’s quick to point out that vitamins are supplements, not substitutes, for a healthful diet and lifestyle.

And part of what stands out about his personal vitamin use is that it’s not very exotic, complicated or expensive. But it also goes beyond the old mantra that “you get all the nutrients you need from a balanced diet” – a concept he doesn’t believe is generally true.

“Millions of people in the U.S. don’t get enough vitamin D, vitamin E or vitamin C,” Frei pointed out. “And I have pretty good health habits, but I can’t say that I get the recommended nine servings of fruits and vegetables every single day.

“Hardly anyone eats an absolutely perfect diet,” he added, “and many are a lot, lot less than perfect.”

So to start with, Frei takes a good quality multivitamin/mineral – a lifelong health practice he recommends for virtually everyone.

“A multivitamin on one level is good health insurance, a guarantee that you’re not missing out on some vitamin or trace mineral that’s important but not always covered in your diet,” Frei said. “I believe everyone should take a multivitamin, all of their life.”

“But it can also be more than that,” he said. “More than 90 percent of Americans, for instance, don’t get enough vitamin E, and if you have a low-fat diet it’s almost impossible to get the recommended dietary allowance of it, because it’s found mostly in fats and oils. We get more of it from fat and desserts than any other source.”

Frei also noted that all of the vitamins and supplements he takes are either essential nutrients, those found in healthful foods, or produced naturally by the body – which can’t be said for the much broader range of herbal supplements and other compounds. Most of these supplements/compounds available in health food stores have been less scientifically studied; some can even be toxic or harmful. And while some of these products may have value, none should be used by consumers without thoroughly researching them first, he said.

Most importantly, this article is published by a credible source - the Oregon State University; and not from someone less credible from the neighbourhood who goes by the "Listen, listen, listen, listen" mantra.

I hope this information can make a difference in your life.  :)

Getting Started

Principle #8 - Chunk It Down

"The secret of getting ahead is getting started. The secret of getting started is breaking your complex, overwhelming tasks into small manageable tasks, and then starting on the first one." ~ Mark Twain

Most of the times, after we have set our biggest life goals which seem so overwhelming, we would get so paralysed that we don't know where to start. Thus, it helps a lot if we could chunk it down into a series of small, achievable tasks, and accomplishing them one at a time until we reach the ultimate goal eventually.

In this chapter, Jack Canfield shared a powerful tool known as "Mind Mapping" - a simple but powerful process for creating a detailed to-do list  for achieving our goal.

1. Center circle:
• In the center circle, write down your stated goal.
2. Outside circles:
• Divide the goal into the major categories of tasks.
3. Spokes:
• For each spoke radiating outward from each mini-circle, write down every single step you'll need to take.

Once you've complete the mind map, convert all the to-do items into daily action items, and set a completion date for each one.

It helps to also plan your day the night before, because:

1. If you plan your day the night before, your subconscious mind will work on these tasks all night long. It will find creative ways to solve the problem, and send out waves of energy to attract the right people and resources to you.
2. By creating your to-do list the night before, you can immediately start your day running instead of wasting our time with planning.

Hope these tips work wonders for you.  :)

Goal Setting

At our workplace, it has been a common practice for most of us to set performance goals at the beginning of the year. We have also learned to set our performance goals in the form of S.M.A.R.T. goals, i.e. goals which are:

• Specific (what?)
• Measurable (how much?)
• Attainable (possible?)
• Realistic (makes sense?)
• Time-bound (by when?)

But, has it been a common practice for us to set goals for our PERSONAL life?

"If you want to be happy, set a goal that commands your thoughts, liberates your energy, and inspires your hopes." ~ Andrew Carnegie

"Experts on science of success know the brain is a goal-seeking organism. Whatever goal you give to your subconscious mind, it will work night and day to achieve." ~ Jack Canfield

In other words, if you want to get from where you are to where you want to be, you must apply Principle #7 - Unleash the Power of Goal-Setting.

First, you need to know the difference between a GOAL and a GOOD IDEA:

• Example of a good idea:
• I would like to own a nice home.
• Example of a goal:
• I will own a 4,000sf house by the beach at Port Dickson, by noon, May 31, 2014.

Once you have identified your goal, you need to write it out in detail, as if you're writing specifications for a work order. Be as specific, as detailed, and as vivid as you can. Once you've written down your goal, reread your goals 3 times a day, so that your subconscious mind will know what to work on.

"You want to set a goal that is big enough that in the process of achieving it you become someone worth becoming." ~ Jim Rohn

In goal setting, it is important to create breakthrough goals which:

• Stretch you and require you to grow in order to achieve them.
• Change your life and bring you new opportunities.

If you have set a stretch or breakthrough goal, it's also important to understand that 3 things are definitely going to emerge to put you to the test:

• Considerations
• These are thoughts of why you shouldn't attempt the goal, why it is impossible.
• Fears
• Feelings of rejection, failure and hurt.
• Roadblocks
• External circumstances which you need to deal with in order to move forward.

Most people somehow tend to see these 3 things - considerations, fears, and roadblocks - as a stop sign. Therefore, it is very crucial for you to accept and remind yourself that they are supposed to appear. If they don't, it means you haven't set a goal that's big enough to stretch you and grow you. And most of the time, these are the things which have been holding you back in life.

Here's a tip. I have learned from my mentor that it helps to add these 2 elements to your SMART goals to transform them into SMARTER goals:

• Exciting (motivates you)
• Rewarding (enhances your physical/mental wellbeing)

Example: I will weigh 68kg by 11pm, February 6, 2013, so that I will feel healthy and look fit physically.

Start writing your SMARTER goals now!

Every Cloud Has A Silver Lining

When things go bad, do you always feel that the whole world is out to get you?

Having this thought doesn't really help you to get out of a bad situation. Instead, it makes you feel worse and keeps you trapped in an endless loop of self pity.

Are you tired of feeling sick and tired for being sick and tired?

For a change, you may want to try what successful people normally do to get themselves out of the trap of self pity.

Principle #6 - Become an Inverse Paranoid

"My earliest mentor, W. Clement Stone, was once described as an inverse paranoid. Instead of believing the world was plotting to do him harm, he chose to believe the world was plotting to do him good. Instead of seeing every difficult or challenging event as negative, he saw it for what it could be - something that was meant to enrich him, empower him, or advance his causes." ~ Jack Canfield

After reading this chapter, I started to realise that every setback that I face is a reminder that I haven't learned enough of the lessons necessary to help me achieve my goals and dreams in life. It was because I had not mastered by own thinking and emotions that I was denied success. It was because I had not learned enough about humility that I was denied glory. Rather than blaming every setback on unfairness or bad luck, I have learned to outgrow these challenges to become a better person, and so deserve success.

"Every negative event contains within it the seed of an equal or greater benefit." ~ Napoleon Hill

"When life hands you a lemon, squeeze it and make lemonade." ~ W. Clement Stone

I believe the world is plotting to do me good today. I can't wait to see what it is.  :)

The Youngest (Unknown) Billionaire in Malaysia

This is the success story of the youngest (unknown) billionaire in Malaysia.

Kent was born into a middle income family. His father was an engineer, while his mother was a teacher. He had an elder brother and a younger sister. Life was comfortable.

In school, Kent was a lazy student. He studied only during classes, while the rest of the times he would be hanging out with his friends at the football field. Despite his lackasaidal attitude, somehow he managed to score straight A's in SPM. Because of that, he was offered a scholarship to study overseas.

In university, Kent was also a lazy student. He studied only during classes, while the rest of the times he would be hanging out with his friends at the rugby field. Despite his lackasaidal attitude, somehow he still managed to obtain first class honours for his engineering Bachelor's degree. After graduation, he decided to return to Malaysia to live an easy lifestyle.

During his first job interview, the company was so impressed with his first class honours that they hired him with a permanent job as an engineer, unlike other candidates who were mostly hired on contract basis. At work, Kent was also a lazy employee. He worked only half of the time in office, while spending the other half of his time clicking on his investments on Bursa and chatting with friends on Facebook.

Somehow, Kent was quite blessed with luck in investments. All the stocks which he traded on would bring him an average profit margin of 50% within 3-5 days. As such, within the 1 year, he had earned himself enough money to quit his job.

At home, he spent more time looking at his stocks trading in front of the TV, while teasing his friends on Facebook. And somehow, his luck in stocks trading got better, and his average profit margin increased to a stunning 80% within 2-3 days. As such, within 1 year, he had earned himself enough money to buy his first piece of land.

Again, luck shone on him. The land which he bought appreciated 20 folds in value within 1 year and was sold for an undisclosed staggering price to a major property developer in Malaysia. At the age of 28, together with the profits that he continues to enjoy from his stocks trading and other investments, it is estimated that his personal networth is at RM 1.4 billion!

When interviewed, Kent credited his success to an unbelievable streak of good luck, and thanked God for blessing him with good luck throughout his life. He encouraged people to believe in miracles and do not stop trying their luck in whatever they invest in.

We know that success stories are meant to inspire people, but do you find this story inspiring?
I can bet your answer is NO.

We know that success stories are meant to make people believe in possibilities, but do you believe in this story?
I can bet your answer is also NO.

So, what are the elements missing from this story which caused you to answer NO for both questions above?

• Challenges and fear
• Hope and inspiration
• Hard work and victory

These are the vital elements typically found in a captivating success story, don't you agree?

Therefore, imagine if you were to write your own success story, what sort of elements would you find in your story?

Whatever you do, stop fantasizing that success is going to be casual and easy. It's not going to be a smooth rosy path towards success.

The path towards success is always filled with pitfalls, tears and heartbreaks. It is because of these that we learn how to get ourselves back up, learn how to smile on with courage, and learn how to rebuild faith and inspiration. It is because of these that we grow to become a better person day by day.

So...back to the story. Is it real?

Of course it's not, I created the story on purpose. There is no such thing as easy success.  :)

Brotherhood and Loyalty

Jack and Clement were at the doorstep leaving a party, when the host, Nelson, was calling out, "Hey Clement, don't you want to stay back for the next exciting session?" Jack stood by the side, neglected.

The hostess Sally noticed Jack and waved for him to stay back. At that moment, memories flashed through Jack's mind.

Jack remembered the days in the past when Nelson used to hang out with him so often. After every party, Nelson would make sure that Jack stayed back for the "exciting next session". Jack was always part of Nelson's inner circle. Nelson had always spoken highly of Jack. They were both epitome of brotherhood and loyalty.

Then one day, something happened to Jack. He had some personal issues and was bogged down by emotions. Nelson found Jack to be annoying, as Jack slowly faded off his inner circle. For a while, there was no contact between the two of them.

Few months passed by. Jack was back on his feet, and started to throng the parties like he used to do. Whenever he bumped into Nelson at the parties, he would hope that they could make up for the lost times. But every time, Nelson would just casually greet him, with minimal eye contact. It was from then that Jack knew things had changed.

Many times, Jack wondered. Were those words, which Nelson had spoken highly of him during their good times, genuine? Or was it merely because he still belong to Nelson's inner circle back then? What happened to their epitome of brotherhood and loyalty?

Back to reality. Jack waved back at Sally, signalling that he won't be staying back. In his heart, Jack had wanted to stay back. But he was hurt. He understood that it wasn't appropriate for him to stay back. Most importantly, he didn't feel welcome. And so Jack bade Sally goodbye, as Nelson continues to focus on his new buddy Clement.

True brotherhood and loyalty thrive not only during good times, but bad times as well.

Choose your association wisely.