Greatest Saleman in the World - does it work?

I went to some leadership training a few months ago and the presenter talked about the importance of improving yourself.  He labeled personal growth and development as the primary condition for success in all that you do.  The reason I was there was because this person had several traits that I really crave.

He was genuine with everyone he met.  He had no stress even in stressful situations.  He makes the bucks.  And he always made people feel better than they really were.  How?!

It was interesting that he pointed out that the statistical information about business failures stemmed mostly around those unwilling to make improvements to themselves. How interesting that our attitudes, perceptions, and primarily our habits, are the things which most affect where we are socially, where we are comfortable, and how we react to every day experiences.

We are a hybrid personality and individually unique.  We are a conglomerate of belief systems and programming founded upon a myriad of variables; our parents, our upbringing, feelings we had during various life experiences, our environment, what we were exposed to in school, in church, with animals, with the opposite sex, etc.

From all the experiences and feelings we developed a place that we felt comfortable and that became our thermostat against which everything is checked.  We found what we were comfortable doing.  We discovered where we are comfortable living.  We identified those that when in their presence, we were comfy.

From this thermostatic living - our 72 degrees if you will - we formed habits that keep us within those zones.   Those are the belief systems that we have ensured could never be changed and upon which our lives are built.  They are what make use unique and keep us where we believe we should be - economically - socially - physically - spiritually - academically.

Enter the man or woman who has something we want.  We either go after it, wish for it, never going to have it, or shun it since it's not within our realm of possibility.  Our thermostat is set to that comfy 72 degrees and nothing is going to change that.  Even if we try - we cannot stray too far from the environment of belief systems that we have created and developed habits around - no matter what.  Well - almost.

Secret: Most of who we are revolves around a series of well formed habits.  Those habits are simply the things that we do minute to minute, day to day, week to week to keep our belief system is on track with our thermostat.  In order for us to change our thermostat to something we desire to be at - maybe more money, different living circumstances, better attitudes, treating our families better - whatever that may be - we have to become 5th graders and learn things all over again and develop new habits and supporting beliefs.

This is no easy undertaking.  This takes time, persistence, and application of right thinking.  Authors like Wallace Wattles, Napoleon Hill, and Og Mandino  - have been telling the world how to do this for decades.  But most people - read the books, listen to the tapes, get excited, and then fall back to their old thermostatic 72 degrees.

Few - do the time to make the changes in their core.  This in my experience, is never, never, an overnight or over-month happening.  To change your belief system requires application of technique, visualization, desire, and learning how to change old habits into new.

It's not that you're not capable, too fat, too ugly, too unlucky, too stupid, too undisciplined, or too broke.  It's that you don't know how long it really takes and what has to be done to make the changes.

Steps for Change.. wanna change - really?  No! Do you really want to change?  Because you won't if you don't really want to.

Tip 1:  Time.  Are you willing to make your change permanent?  If so - then there is no end date or date of realization when you'll stop making the change.  You must keep doing these things - never quitting - never giving up - never changing back.  

Tip 2: Tools.  You need tools and training.  Here are some tools you must use:

       -Visualization with Emotion - this is the key to changing your subconscious

      - Expectation of Results - this is your belief indicator - belief precedes the outcome

      - Habit Replacers - you can't break an old habit - you can only replace it with a new one

      - Opportunities to succeed - identify where you want to be incrementally over a period of 

         time and make that achievable for you.  Don't swallow a watermelon - eat it a slice at a

         time.

      - Coaching - either through books, in person, on CD - but you need this.  The answers

         to your dilemmas, questions, weaknesses - have all be found and help is out there.

Tip 3: Spirituality.  You are part body, part spirit.  Answer this question - point to where you are right now.  Point to that little I am inside you.  Is it up here in your head?  Is it in your hand?  How about your stomach?  Where is it?  You have to get in touch with your spirit and thinking side.  You are literally what you believe.  You are literally what you think.  Think yourself into the new you.  Meditation, scripture reading, prayer, service to others - these are all 'key' to you becoming who you want to become.  Leave this out - and you will never reach the potential that you can reach.

Tip 4: Self commitment & Self Integrity.  It's one thing to be outwardly committed and outwardly integral for the sake of others.  For your job, you have to be committed and trusted.  For your marriage - the same.  For the law - the same.  But when you're off in the dark of night, where no one is watching - are you committed to your own integrity and righteous desires or is that the time you slack off.  Do you think that doing things that you don't want others to know about will affect your outward integrity and commitments?  The answer - yes - absolutely!  Learning to have internal integrity and commitment to yourself - is another key!  You'll never go the distance outwardly if you can't go the distance inwardly.  

Tip 5: Love.  Love and like yourself then love - everyone unconditionally.  Most people - can't just turn this on.  This is another habit that has to be learned and practiced multiple times daily.  Don't discount this for sounding sappy.  Those who truly have love for themselves and others don't struggle over pettiness and imperfectness day to day.  Do you want to experience truly relaxed, confident living?  Then this principle alone will free you from the stresses that cause disease and strife for over 90% of the world population.  Learn this principle and watch your life change.

I'll post more on these areas later.  For now - think about them or act on them.  Making change doesn't have to be hard or monumental to have monumental life impact.  You've got the next x number of years to re-grow yourself.  Ready to start?