Focus: You Can Succeed
Welcome to the Tenth Edition of MotivateUs.com's Newsletter
Dear Friend,
There are many good people in this world and YOU are one of them.
As we travel on this journey together, each of us can encourage one another and keep the bright light of optimism shining for all to see.
Today is your day, a new day with unlimited possibilities. Look forward to it and embrace all of the opportunities presented to you, today.
Thank you for the opportunity to serve you and may I offer my best thoughts and wishes for you as you chart your course, make a plan and take action!
As always, if you have an idea or need to discuss a challenge, just send an email :https://motivateus.com/contact-us/
Here's to you and your continuing growth and success!
Something I Was Feeling and Thinking:
Does Attitude Really Make A Difference?
Years ago I read an article in the "Costco Connection" magazine that really struck me. Wally Amos, the originator of "The Famous Amos Chocolate Chip Cookie" and owner of Uncle Wally's Muffin Company wrote about his positive attitude."Many people throughout the years have commented to me that being famous makes it easy for me to have a positive attitude. I explain that I am famous because of my positive attitude."
WOW! I was blown away. Here was a man who built a massive cookie empire, lost it and pulled himself up and started again. His article reinforced in me how powerful a positive attitude can be.
Here's the question: What's your attitude like today? Is it helping you or hurting you as you go after what you want in life? Is it positive or negative?
I'm sure someone out there is saying, "It's hard to be positive in such a negative world!"
Sure it can be, without a doubt. Negativity seems to sell. Just read the news or listen to some of your friends, colleagues and family.Is it necessarily true... for you? Are you buying what they're selling? Are you buying into the negative attitude?
YOU HAVE THE POWER OF CHOICE:
Here's a course of action:
- Start by reading quotes on the web site, each day, in all of categories, because the message you need may be on a page you don't normally look at.
- Digest the wisdom. Which quote spoke to you today? How can you incorporate it's meaning into your life?
- Decide to be more positive today and go out into your world and show it!
- Be part of the solution, not part of the problem.
- Look for the opportunities, not the obstacles.
- Be someone with a positive attitude not someone who is thinking about having a positive attitude.
- If you falter, forgive yourself and start again.
CHOOSE YOUR ATTITUDE. WE BELIEVE IN YOU!!
Love,
Marlene
Something I'd Like To Share:
What Is Your True North?
The central orientation of your lifeSeafaring men as well as other explorers, in years previous to Satellite Navigation, used the North Star as a constant guide for direction to reach their desired destination.
Reference information: From Wikipedia
The North Star is the prominent pole star that lies closest in the sky to the north celestial pole and which appears (approximately) directly overhead to an observer at the Earth's North Pole; currently, this is Polaris. The North Star lies about two-thirds of a degree from the pole at the end of the "bob" of the Little Dipper asterism in the constellation Ursa Minor. Polaris has a visual magnitude of 1.97 (second magnitude).
The North Star has historically been used for navigation, (Navigation is the process of reading, and controlling the movement of a craft or vehicle from one place to another.[1] It is also the term of art used for the specialized knowledge used by navigators to perform navigation tasks. The word navigate is derived from the Latin "navigare", meaning "to sail".[1] All navigational techniques involve locating the navigator's position compared to known locations or patterns. Both to find the direction of north and to determine latitude. It has been used by lost campers to find their way back home. It always appears due north in the sky, and the angle it makes with respect to the horizon is equal to the latitude of the observer. The North Star is visible only in northern hemisphere skies and so cannot be used for navigation south of the equator.
OK, I know you are wondering if I have a point here I am trying to make here. Well the simple answer is; "Yes I do."
What if we used these literal facts, stated above, as an analogy to depict our progress in life toward the things we love to do and coined the phase "What is your true North" as a defining parameter of our search for who we are and where we are going?
What is your True North? Find it and stay on the trail.
"If you are hunting elephants you should not turn off the trail for a rabbit."
But many times, without a clear vision of what we want to accomplish, we swerve for things that not only delay us but may even prevent us from negotiating successful results.
A simple tip from Brian Tracy in his article: How to Squeeze The Most out Of Your Time
The Pareto Principle
Vilfredo Pareto, a 19th-century engineer, argued that 20% of what you do accounts for 80% of the value. When considering the importance of a task, ask yourself whether it's among the 20% that creates the most value.
Focusing on things that create the most value is a great key to accomplishment; it is truly working smarter with great effectiveness. We do not want to spend 80% of our time on items that only provide 20% of value or on things that merely keep us busy and provide no results but bragging rights on how busy we are.
It is not often that items relating to what we really love to do, ever find themselves on a list of items we want or even need to accomplish.
Why?Generally "to do lists" only depict items that will help keep our heads above the water and not set our hearts on fire to pursue our dreams with vitality.
What if we begin to look at what is important in our lives differently and include some of those items on our "to do list" that will get us closer to our life long ambitions?
The action I challenge us all to take is:
Develop a personal mission statement or creed.
What do you want to be (Character) and do (contributions and achievements) and what will be the value or principles upon which being and doing will be based.
In closing, this quote from Ferdinand Magellan is inspiring.
Ferdinand Magellan (Explorer c. 1520c)
What is your True North?
The central orientation of your life:
"Does it help you meet the shadowy future without fear and conquer the unknown?"
Copyright © 2009 Henry Lloyd --- Washington
Henry is a multi-talented, kind hearted and soulful man who celebrates living in the present moment. We are proud to have him as a friend to all of MotivateUs. In addition to his writing talents and inspiring spirit, Mr. Lloyd is a very talented artist.
Something To Encourage You:
You Too, Can Succeed!
We are now living in the information age. All the information we need to improve our lives, to restore our magnificence, is now available on the Internet, in the library and in the bookstore. There are no reasons why we cannot help ourselves to rise above the ashes!If you are really sincere about success, reaching your dreams and becoming the ideal person you intend to become, this is the right time to think about change, take proper action and seize the opportunity to improve your life.
Never wait for tomorrow or the next day to do what you can do today. For tomorrow my friend, is but a dream and today is the salutation to the dawn!
In my readings, I learned and discovered that all great men, in the pages of history, were men of action. They had a firm resolve and an iron will to make their dreams a reality. They believed in their powers. They create their own opportunities rather than looking for them in other places. They never made excuses for their mistakes and failures. Instead, they learned, laughed about them and went on to become successful!
Kitto, the poor, deaf pauper, who made shoes in the alms house, and who became one of the greatest Biblical scholars, wrote in his journal, on the threshold of manhood:
"I am not myself a believer in impossibilities. I think that all the fine stories about natural ability, etc., are mere rigmarole, and that every man may according to his opportunities and industry, render himself almost anything he wishes to become."
So, if you're seriously thinking about success in life and intend to become the person you really want to become, beginning today, make a firm resolution to work hard on it. Remember the world always stands aside for the determined individual. The world will make a way, even through seeming impossibilities. That is why Goethe declares:
"He who is firm and resolute will mould the world to himself."
Below are just simple guidelines that can guide and help you to succeed in life.
- Think always about the ideal person you intend to become. Hold it in your mind and work hard on it until you become as what you think!
- Always believe in your powers. Avoid belittling yourself. Focus always on your strengths rather than on your weaknesses.
- Avoid socializing with people who have a pessimistic attitude and character. Individuals who only have fun talking, bragging about themselves and are always finding faults about others are the people who will only ruin your visions and dreams in life as well as try to corrupt your good character.
- Nurture your character. Character is your only valuable asset that can help to protect your reputation from the sharp tongue of the backbiting, wicked individual.
- Read good books. Books are wise, patient mentors and excellent professors that can assess and teach you to become the master and leader among men, yourself!
Good luck to your journey in life!
Copyright © 2008 Moises P. Reconalla --- Philippines
I wrote this article to inspire and remind our readers that dreams belong to the few who dare to make their dreams come true!
A Story To Ponder:
Winning Means Giving It Your All
As I approached the final mile of the race I realized there were only three opponents left. Obstacles standing between my goal and me... the finish line.As I reached the first opponent, I closed my eyes and heard this message: "You only fail if you fail to try." I peddled with all my might and took his place. One down, two to go.
As I neared number two I once again closed my eyes. Knowing this one would be harder, I searched for strength. Not only was I more tired than before, but this opponent was the second strongest.
Suddenly I heard the voice from within: "You only see the obstacle when you take your mind off the goal." I visualized the finish line and continued to push my body to it's limit and took position number two.
My last opponent, my last obstacle was in first place for a reason. He symbolized every goal that I hoped to achieve. Knowing this would be the toughest moment of the race, I again closed my eyes. This time I waited for the message. But it didn't come.
As the fear rose from inside I realized it was up to me, not this voice, to win the race. With that in mind, I opened my eyes and it hit me.
On the back of my opponent's shirt was the message. It read, "If you can read this... I'm winning!" Then with every ounce of energy in my body and soul, I peddled and fought the toughest battle of my life.
As I crossed the finish line, I realized that first place means nothing if you haven't given 150%. There is always someone out there who is a little faster or a little stronger, but the real champion is the one who reaches the finish line with nothing more to give.
Copyright © 1999 Jay K. Duplessie
Three Quotes To Motivate You:
"This country was not built by men who relied on somebody else to take care of them. It was built by men who relied on themselves, who dared to shape their own lives, who had enough courage to blaze new trails- enough confidence in themselves to take necessary risks."--- J. Ollie Edmunds
--- Submitted by Curt --- Indiana
"Be yourself; no base imitator of another, but your best self. There is something which you can do better than another. Listen to the inward voice and bravely obey that. Do the things at which you are great, not what you were never made for."
--- Ralph Waldo Emerson
--- Submitted by Lauren C. --- New Jersey
"Action is a great restorer and builder of confidence. Inaction is not only the result, but the cause of fear. Perhaps the action you take will be successful; perhaps different action or adjustments will have to follow. But any action is better than no action at all."
--- Norman Vincent Peale
Until Next Time, Remember:
Stay Focused
"Obstacles are the things we see when we take our eyes off our goals."--- Zig Ziglar
Stay focused. Be more determine then ever; Surround yourself around positive, goal orientated people or people who share the same likeness of reaching the point of success.
Do not dare doubt your inner abilities but rather believe in what you can do and do it. Listen to the information of elders and those who have reached success before you, there's a lesson to be learned and information to be heard.
Stop looking left and right for the right way's pointing toward success. Success requires you to keep looking forward toward your destination/goal.
If things seem a little tough lately it is only because your point of change or breakthrough is at hand. Stay focused, do not waiver. Your storm is passing. Be grateful and know that what you have gone through was not in vain.
Written in 2009 by Antonio Talbert
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Marlene Blaszczyk,
Creator, Editor & Publisher
MotivateUs.com