Success Tool

Many years ago I attended a seminar designed to help people achieve their fullest potential. The room we sat in was filled to the rafters with eager individuals looking to discover their true purpose in life.

I don’t remember much of what was talked about that day; nor do I recall anything I learned on how to bring out the best in me. The only thing that stuck with me was a story the speaker shared with us.

I didn’t grasp the meaning of that story. Yet, somehow that tale stayed with me. Hidden in the recesses of my mind that story lurked; eagerly waiting for the right time to surface again to teach me the most valuable lesson of life I would ever learn.

Five years ago it did. Sitting at the kitchen table trying to juggle all the bills we had I suddenly remembered that story. And at that very moment I understood its meaning. It had taken me 15 years to finally figure out what the speaker was really saying the day he told us the story.

The moment I understood the “punch line”, my life changed in every way imaginable. Career, prosperity, health and happiness suddenly unfolded in my life like never before. Slowly at first, then like an avalanche, in pure abundance, like a beautiful flower waking up on a summer morning, its pedals filled with morning dew.

Now, from every angle and every direction success flows into my life. Here’s the story as I remember it. Get the punch line and watch success come into your life like never before.

A wealthy businessman attending a meeting in Boston decided to tour this history rich city before the gathering. Walking through a rustic old part of Boston, up ahead he noticed a shadowy figure coming his way. As the image came closer to him he could see it was a man dressed in raggedy clothes, wobbling side to side.

Getting closer the businessman could hear the man mumble. He couldn’t really make out exactly what he was saying. Just at that moment the businessman thought to himself: “I bet it’s a beggar who’s going to walk right up to me and ask me for money.”

Sure enough, exactly as the businessman thought, the beggar approached him and in a crackling voice he said: “Hey mister can you spare a quarter?”

“A Quarter? You want a quarter?” the businessman responded.
“Yes, yes, a quarter is all I want.” the homeless guy answered.

Digging in his pocket, the businessman pulled out a $100 bill. Looking at the beggar eagerly staring at the bill, he placed it in his other hand.

“A quarter huh? Is that really all you want?” the businessman asked the beggar once again.
“Yes, yes, just give me a quarter, that’s all I want.” the beggar replied.

Again the businessman dug into his pocket. Pulling out several $20 bills he paused for a moment, looked at the beggar whose eyes were now twice as large, and placed the bills in his other hand, together with the $100.

“You’re sure all you want is a quarter?” the businessman asked once more.
“Yes, a quarter that’s all I want, nothing more.” spoke the beggar in eager anticipation.

One more time the businessman dug in his pocket. This time he pulled out a few $1 bills. And just like he had done before, the businessman paused just long enough to watch the beggar’s face light up before placing the bills with the other money he held in his other hand.

And yet again the businessman asked the beggar: “You are absolutely certain that a quarter is all you want?”

And just like before the beggar answered with his crackling voice: “Yes mister, a quarter, just give me a quarter and I am on my way!”

And so once more the businessman dug into his pocket. This time he pulled out a quarter. He looked at it for a few seconds, than stared at the beggar.

As he stuck out his hand to give the beggar the quarter, the businessman said: “Life gives you exactly what you ask of it!”

Slowly, the beggar reached out his shaky hand. For a moment he stopped and stared at the quarter. Than staring at all the money the businessman held in his other hand, the beggar took the quarter with his crumbling fingers and said: “Mister you’re crazy.”

Clenching the quarter in his fist he mumbled and continued on his way, wobbling back and forth.

For 15 years I struggled and had more debt than I knew how to handle. For 15 years I had misery because of the stress, anger and grief caused by the enormous debt. For 15 years I had nothing but dark days because through my own wining and nagging I brought upon me the very same things I complained about.

My vocabulary was filled with negative and demeaning expressions about myself, money, happiness, health, relationships and life. Day in and day out I repeated over and over to myself and to anyone who wanted to hear it that I was no good; that I had no luck; that it didn’t matter what I did or tried, it wouldn’t work anyway.

On and on I went complaining about how life had dealt me a bad hand. And just like in poker, when you got a bad hand, you can’t win.

For 15 years, I didn’t realize that my negative attitude, my destructive actions and my pessimistic words brought about the life I had because that’s exactly what I asked for.

On that faithful day, when I was sorting bills, figuring out what to pay, if anything, and the heck with the rest, that story resurfaced. On that faithful day I got the “punch line”. And on that faithful day I changed my attitude, my actions and my words.

I no longer speak negatively about anything. I am no longer depressed and I no longer let any setbacks get the better of me.

Instead I use a little tool I created to keep reminding me that life is good and abundant and that life does give you exactly what you ask of it. I now know for certain that my life will always be overflowing with prosperity, love, happiness and good health every day of my life for as long as I live.

I know this to be so because I live it every day. With your permission I’d like to share with you my tool that I use every day to remind me of how successful I already am and how successful I continue to be with every new day still to come.

The Tool: How To Use It!





Look at the picture above. Imagine yourself standing at the railing gazing over the ocean. Hear the soothing waves gently rush to shore, continuously. Feel the cool breeze of the wind caress your hair and stroke your face. Grasping the rail you breathe in deeply the cool summer salty air and you know; you absolutely know that you are successful in every area of your life.

As you feel that positive energy zoom through your entire body, reaching every limb, you know, you absolutely know that you will continue to be successful in every area of your life for as long as you live.

You know you have the magic touch. You know that every day, starting today and for the rest of your live, you will succeed at anything and everything you set your mind to.

Standing in that picture, seeing yourself holding the rail, overlooking the ocean, watching the waves rushing towards you, feeling the breeze and breathing the air, you know; you absolutely know that this is your ocean of abundance. These are your waves of plenty washing into your life, bringing you success in every area of your life, continuously every second of every day, from here on forward for as long as you live.

Print this picture and hang it in your bathroom, your kitchen, your office. Turn it into the wallpaper on your computer. Have a copy in your car and your wallet. Place it anywhere you sit, stand or spend time on a regular basis.

Then whenever you feel like success is escaping you. Whenever you feel like things aren’t going exactly as you’d like, look at that picture and see yourself standing there looking over your ocean of plenty.

Repeat the sentence written on that photograph every day as often as you can. While you say these words, visualize abundance coming into your life from every angle and every direction flowing towards you and touching you continuously and know, absolutely know, that you are and always will be, successful!

Practice this concept every day in the morning, midday and at night. Before you know it you will see success unfolding in your life. First success will come in gentle little streams, than gushing like a raging waterfall, unstoppable, never ending.

I have been using and continue to use this tool daily. I repeat the sentence every day as many times as I can. When I speak the words I close my eyes and see success falling on me from every angle.

I have been doing this for only 5 years now. During that time my life has gone from rags to riches, literally.

You can do the same. Apply yourself, use this tool and watch your world unfold. I am willing to bet that before long you’ll have success in every area of your life unlike anything you ever imagined before.

Don’t limit yourself any longer. You have what it takes and you can do it. Now go and do it!


Best Wishes


Lode

Success Step VI - You Must Believe!

As I am writing this success step I am actually on a flight to Europe. Can’t sleep, so what better use of my time than to create the article for the final Success Step.

“Success Step VI – You Must Believe!”

Before I explain this step in detail it’s imperative I emphasize that the “believe” I am talking about has nothing to do with a higher power. The “believe” I am referring to comes from within you. It’s your strength, your power, your source. It’s what gives you that constant drive to succeed no matter what.

If you have even the slightest doubt that you are not going to be successful, guess what, you won’t be. Bottom line is you must believe with every ounce of your being that you will be successful for you to be successful.

The bible clearly states: “Have the faith of a mustard seed and tell that mountain to move and it will move!” You MUST have the same faith and believe when it comes to your success. Anything less simply will not do.

Mohammed Ali, probably the greatest boxer of all time, was once asked to what he contributed his greatness. The reporter wanted to know whether it was his natural talent, his intense training regimen, his commitment to the sport or something else.

In typical Mohammed Ali fashion he answered: “Now you know, that’s a dumb question. Don’t you know? I fly like a butterfly and I sting like a bee. Ain’t no boxer gonna stop me. I am the greatest!”

No doubt in his mind that he was the best. And by many standards to this day, he’s still considered amongst the greatest.

Does it mean that when you truly believe that you will be successful that you won’t have any setbacks? Of course not. That would make it just a bit too easy. Setbacks are sure to happen.

Believe however that you will be successful and these setbacks will only fuel you to try harder, to do more, to take that extra step. Truly believing in yourself and that you have what it takes to be successful and you will be, count on it.

For 15 years I struggled. I had many doors shut in my face. I was told by many people, especially those closest to me that I should go work for someone else, that I should just forget it.

At times I fell down, depressed, angry, deprived but quitting….. never, not a solution. Despite what anyone told me somewhere deep inside my gut I had that constant churning, that constant lingering and I just knew and I believed that one day I would be successful.

So despite what anyone told me, I kept on trying, I kept on going, I kept on holding on. Yes, I had to redesign my plan several times and yes I had to take different roads. But like Mohammed Ali I believed and still do, that I have what it takes to be successful and stay successful. Yes it did take 15 years but I did it, mainly because I truly believed I could and would.

You must do the same. All the previous 5 steps will go to waste if you do not have a solid believe that you will be successful in your life.

This is the final step of the Success Steps series. Put them into practice and stay focused and you will discover a potential within you that you never thought you had. It will take you places you never even dreamed of and you will be successful.

My next article I am going to give you a tool that I use every day to help me stay focused. I developed it myself and I find it to be extremely effective in speeding up the process of becoming successful. I want you to have it – free.

There is one condition, well, actually two: 1. you need to promise me you will use that tool the way it is intended to be used and 2. you will send me an email when you see that tool creating abundance in your life. I truly want to know about your success.


Best Wishes;


Lode


Next Article: Free Success Tool – Stay tuned.

Success Step V - You Must Adapt!

You’ve come this far. You’ve stuck it out. You’ve given it your all and you’ve done what you said you would do. Yet things aren’t going the way you were expecting them to. Maybe things aren’t going at all.

That brings us to:

“Success Step V – You Must Adapt!”

Sometimes life doesn’t go the way you want it to. In fact, it’s almost a guarantee it won’t. The best you can do at that moment is to accept it and move on.

If you gave it your all; if you really tried; if you did your absolute best and yet you don’t see the result you were expecting, simply accept it and try again.

Now I know, that’s a lot harder to do than it sounds. After all, based on your decision, your commitment, your plan and your acceptance you should have seen the results you were expecting. But you didn’t. It’s just the way it goes sometimes.

And rather than complaining about it, you must grab yourself by your bootstraps and start again.

Before you do, just review what you did, and most likely you’ll find the reason why you didn’t get what you were expecting; then, make the changes and start over.

As a young boy I remember two tall trees way back at the end of our yard. One tree was a giant oak, sky high, big, mighty and strong with enormous branches. It stood like a fortress, unwavering.
The other was a Canadese, similar to a palm tree but with leaves, very lengthy and thin. The crest of leaves was barely visible from the ground as it swayed in the wind.

One day a severe storm blew violent winds throughout the night. The next day, the devastation caused by the storm was clearly visible: shacks were blown away, roofs were gone and to my utter dismay the beautiful, indestructible oak lay uprooted on the ground.
Yet the Canadese with its slender trunk still stood gently rocking back and forth.

I asked my grandpa how it could be that a powerful giant oak tree was not able to withstand the winds while a puny, skimpy Canadese had no problems surviving. My grandpa answered: “The Canadese accepts the winds and moves with it, no matter what direction it’s coming from or going to. It adapts to the situation. The might oak in its sturdiness does not bent; rather it tries to withstand the fierce storm by staying firm. Eventually the strong winds overpower the oak and it must give way. Unlike the Canadese, the Oak is not flexible. It does not adapt to the situation.”

And so it is in life. Life will throw you a curveball. Anticipate it so that when it happens you are ready for it. Then, just change your course or your plan a bit and continue.
The Chinese have a saying: “A river never flows straight. No matter it keeps flowing until it reaches the ocean!” You need to approach your quest for success with the same philosophy.

A chameleon is able to camouflage itself by changing colors that blend into the environment it’s in. It does this to protect itself. You must do the same. You must adapt to whatever unwanted situation that comes your way. Learn to become like a chameleon and you’ll find your road to success a lot easier to travel.

Over the years I learned to take the twists and turns as miniature lessons. Small, tiny lessons I needed to learn in addition to the big lessons. Once I did I discovered that setbacks are a normal part of life. All I had to do was change my course a bit, alter my strategy a little and before long I’d found myself back on track, stronger and better than before.

On your road to success you must learn to “sway like a Canadese” and “flow like a river”. When you do, you’ll discover rather quickly that no matter what life throws at you, you are ready for it and you can adjust to it.

When you do, an amazing thing happens: You’ll find that life is actually going the way you want it to and you are actually getting what you are asking of it.


Best Wishes;

Lode


Next Issue: Final Success Step VI – Stay tuned.