Is Your Business in a Spiritual Closet?

By Kathleen Gage

Over the last few years there has been a substantial increase in the number of entrepreneurs who have come out of the "spiritual closet". They bring their highest values and calling to the unfolding of their business.

Most believe their business is an expression of their spiritual beliefs. It allows them the freedom, creativity, connection and contribution they deeply desire to live on a daily basis.

In a perfect world, once someone becomes aware of how closely connected business and spirit can be there would never be any upsets or challenges. Thank goodness we don't live in a perfect world.

When something happens that literally turns life upside down, even those with incredibly solid spiritual foundations may waiver in their level of trust.

Does this make them phony, bad or wrong? Not at all. It's an important reminder that no matter how spiritual we are we are also human. Life upside down experiences allow for a deeper level of trust than previously experienced - if we are open to this.

As someone who has been on a conscious spiritual journey for over three decades resulting in a deep understanding of the connection between business and spirituality, I have had plenty of opportunities to experience my humanness. Many were business related. Did I handle all with grace? Nope! In some cases, not even close.

Yet, with each experience I was able to go deeper into my commitment to a more giving, loving, joyful, and trusting way of life.

Do I have it down pat? Not by a long shot. But I know the more I utilize the insights I have been taught, the tools I have been given and the awareness I enjoy, the simpler it all becomes.

The beauty of this journey of life is we are constantly allowed the opportunity to choose how we live our beliefs. Take business; each and every day we make choices that are either in line with who we claim to be or we make choices that move us out of alignment with our path.

Consider this, the highest level of spiritual expression is such that we enhance the lives of those we do business with. Whether it be our colleagues, clients, customers, vendors or employees we are in a position to create a connection that enhances everyone concerned.

Yet, with all the pressures we are daily confronted with what can we do to stay the course? First, make the decision. It's that simple.

Recently I had a conversation with someone who claimed he is "trying" to make some positive changes in many areas of his life. He gave all sorts of reasons as to why his trying isn't producing results.

"Maybe it's time you quit trying and just do what you know you need to do," I responded.

It's the same with how one runs their business. Although we may claim to desire a strong connection between our business and our spiritual beliefs if we only "try" to achieve this we will likely experience frustration, feelings of self betrayal and confusion about our true purpose.

In the 15 plus years I have been in business I have had the opportunity to meet some of the most amazing entrepreneurs. Men and women who utilize spiritual principles in their business maintaining an awareness of the impact even their smallest actions have on others.

More every day, entrepreneurs are willing to step into their truth. A truth that is shifting the way they are conducting business. A truth that supports honesty, contribution, gratitude, collaboration, and abundance.

Imagine what it would be like to run your business in such a way that you knew, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that everything you do, no matter how big or how small, would truly improve your customers lives. An improvement that creates a ripple effect that brings a higher level of awareness to untold numbers of people.

If you've been "trying" to achieve this type of business, but still struggle doing so wouldn't you agree it's time to stop trying and simply live it?

When we've been shown what is possible we not only have a responsibility to live our truth as fully as possible, we have the honor to do so.

For far too long far too many people have maintained the belief, "Let others take the risk. Let others lead the way."

We must stop this nonsense. It's time to quit "trying" and do whatever it takes to step up to the spiritual plate.

Know this… as we move to a higher level of awareness we will likely experience things that may not be in our conscious plan yet they are in our higher plan. So relax, trust the process and enjoy the journey to a higher purposed business.

About the Author

Kathleen Gage is an Internet marketing advisor who works with spiritually aware speakers, authors, coaches and consultants who are ready to turn their knowledge into money making products and services. Find out how you can learn from Kathleen on how to build a successful business using the Internet through her Street Smarts Marketing VIP Club

Tools to Reclaim Your Power - FREE Teleseminar with Caroline Myss

The Tools to Reclaim Your Power teleseminar series continues on Wednesday 10 March with Caroline Myss.

Caroline Myss is one of my favourite teachers. She has a special ability to explain issues relating to our health, our emotions, our energy system, and our relationships that would otherwise mystify.

I first heard of Caroline Myss via The Oprah Show. She is a medical intuitive who has been in the field of energy medicine and consciousness for 20 years. Since 1982 she has worked as a medical intuitive providing individuals with an insight of the health of their energetic anatomy system. And in so doing she helps individuals understand the emotional, psychological and physical reasons why their bodies have developed an illness.

"I never looked to become a medical intuitive I took this route because it came to me - it emerged. I followed what came natural to me and in the process I took what I love and blended it with what I am."
Caroline Myss

And if you've ever seen and or heard Caroline Myss you'd have no doubt that she is someone who is definitely in complete alignment with her life's purpose.

I love her no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is approach to teaching. However, combined with her down-to-earth approach is also a playfulness and a tenderness. She has a wonderful sense of humour, is a master at story-telling and, when she starts teaching on a subject, you sense she could go on forever.

She is also a best-selling author many times over. Her latest book is Defy Gravity: Healing Beyond the Bounds of Reason. Her books reflect the spiritual and mystical evolution of her own life as well as illuminating the many reasons why we don't heal and how we can heal and start to live more fulfilling lives.

One of the reasons why we become ill is because of energy drains or because we lose our power. Paradoxically, we lose power because of our love of power.

"We haemorrhage power because we love power. Power is the fundamental ingredient to the human experience. There are two things that are Universal about the human experience: one is power and our quest for it and the other is our quest for immortality."
Caroline Myss

And so I do hope that you'll tune in to the teleseminar with Caroline Myss. Remember, it's free to listen live and there's also a 48 hour replay. Click on the link below to register - I'm confident that your life will be enriched as a result of listening to this empowering teleseminar series:

Tools to Reclaim Your Power

Staying In Tune with Your Soul While Running Your Business

Video: Success Coach Allison Maslan on Sonoran Living - ABC Phoenix

Guest Post by Allison Maslan...

Have you ever impulsively jumped on a great new idea to make money only to find that your enthusiasm dwindled after the first week or two? Have you started a hobby that a friend got you fired up about, dropping a big investment to get started, but soon after you completely lost interest?

In order for an activity or goal to sustain itself long enough to be successful through life's ups and downs, there must be meaning or a passion behind it. This love of your work, relationship, hobby or practice is the glue that will keep you cherishing your wins and picking yourself up after your losses as you progress on your path toward success. When an activity or goal has meaning to you, you are more likely to give your heart and soul to this cause, making sure that you stay focused, labor over every detail, and absorb yourself in every moment. When you spend time on efforts that really matter to you, it's much more probable that you'll make the commitment that’s necessary to build a lasting entity.

Millions of people desire to leave the confines of the corporate world to start their own business. Even though they fantasize about the idea of freedom, they become paralyzed with fear at the thought of leaving a safe, secure job. I talk to people all day who tell me they are feeling empty as if something is missing in their daily lives. They spend three quarters of their lives at a job void of soul and passion. Their creativity and drive are buried so deep within them they feel numb and shut down. The status quo, title and a paycheck are not enough anymore. They have upped the ante. They now want to be inspired and fulfilled with purpose in their home and work life.

Then there are those who have taken the haphazard plunge into a business that they are not passionate about, and find themselves feeling like they have fallen into the drudge of yet another boring job. What was once their mission becomes their biggest nightmare. After a few years of being disillusioned they opt to throw in the towel. This does not need to happen!

When the purpose of your business matters to you on a deeper level, your efforts will endure. And when you reach your meaningful goals, success will feel like a shining glory. When you have built something you can be proud of, something you are completely passionate about, the satisfaction is not only in the outcome, it's in the day-to-day process. If you're only working toward the destination and not reveling in the journey, you miss out on the abundance of life. When you are only focused on the goal , you may find yourself thinking, "Is that all there is?" while feeling empty, sad and bored, and once again, unfulfilled.

What's the difference between those entrepreneurs who are optimistic and moving forward and those who are just getting by? I believe that much of it has to do with how you view the glass – half full or half empty. George Sheehan (author, track star, cardiologist), once said,

"Success means having the courage, the determination, and the will to become the person you believe you were meant to be."

People with a positive outlook and a life plan don't get off the track when things change – they just change tracks.

As a life and business strategist, I spend a great deal of time helping clients tap into their passions, and then guiding them to create a business that reflects their inner purpose and dreams. Particularly in this economy, if you are a business owner that is having some slower weeks or months, it is crucial that you stay connected to your mission and why you started the business in the first place. If the business is only about making money, there is not much heart or soul to draw from to get you through.

Here are a few tips to feeding the soul in yourself and your business.

~ Surround yourself with inspiring and motivating people. You may find that your usual crew begins to lean toward the negative side of life when times get tougher. Seek out those people who are supportive of your goals. Join groups or seek counseling to keep you motivated and accountable.

~ Be Easy on yourself. Change and transformation can bring up all sorts of good, bad and ugly stuff. When you feel yourself struggling, take a break. When you have small successes, give yourself kudos for all your hard work and continue to move on toward your bigger visions and dreams.

~ Start now. You don't want to look back in ten years and realize that you're still at the same place in your life then as now. Even if you love your life now, growth is a necessary part of your evolvement on this planet. Every single day of your life is precious. Embrace it, and those you love, to the fullest.

Once you finally connect with something that has meaning to you, and your internal passion regarding this is accessed and utilized, your once deadened perception and reality will be pumped with new and energized life blood. I call this your Secret Spark, a perfect mix of meaning and passion that enlivens your life purpose and gives you the drive and stick-to-it-ness to make things happen. When you discover the soul in your business, your work will become stimulating and fun, and you'll be immersed in your satisfying activity and lose track of time.

Dreams are gifts of the soul.
We need to make every effort
to cherish them, to live them.
Otherwise they only surface in our sleep.
A soulful life is an awakening
and actualizing of our
deepest dreams within.
~Allison Maslan

Allison's book, Blast Off! The Surefire Success Plan To Launch Your Dreams Into Reality, will cut to the core of what is holding you back and give you the solutions and a step-by-step plan to reclaim and re-invent your life and career.

Allison Maslan, HHP, CCH has been an entrepreneur for the past 25 years and has a vibrant array of nine successful businesses to her credit. She is an author, life and business strategist, homeopathic physician and international speaker. Allison is the president of The Blast Off Life and Business Coaching. Through her years of working with thousands of clients on a one-on-one basis, she has come to understand how and why human beings create their own personal limits in every aspect of their lives. Her Blast Off One-on-One Coaching Program, and Blastation Interactive Life Coaching Software, help people tap into their passions, learn to release their self-limiting roadblocks, and guides them through a step-by-step flight plan for success and fulfillment in all areas of life.

Allison's book, Blast Off! The Surefire Success Plan To Launch Your Dreams Into Reality, will cut to the core of what is holding you back and give you the solutions and a step-by-step plan to reclaim and re-invent your life and career.

What is Your Perfect Day?

The question Oprah asked this week on ownTV was:

"What is your perfect day?"

And she posed this question to Celine Dion whose response was in essence:

"Home sweet home with the people I love most."

It's a response that many people would echo and yet for a host of reasons we don't get to enjoy that "perfect day" as often as we'd like to.

The trouble is though that when we aim for perfectionism we immediately place unrealistic expectations on ourselves and those around us and this can lead to unnecessary tension and stress. One way to overcome this is simply to aim to make each and every day as good as you can make it - squeeze as much juice as you can out of it.

1. Live in the present.

"Life is available only in the present. That is why we should walk in such a way that every step can bring us to the here and the now."
Thich Nhat Hanh

So often we dwell on the past and what went wrong and we dream about the future and what could be. However, we have no power to change the past and our future is created by what we do in the present moment.

The present is the only place where we have any power and all too often we relinquish that power. To make the most of each and every day you have to live and act in the present. When you're able to do this effectively you will be able to create the future you desire. So reclaim your power and practice living in the present.

2. Take time out to appreciate the beauty that surrounds you.

"Everything has its beauty, but not everyone sees it."
Confucius

I was behind the reception desk, filling in a form, at one of the centres where I teach and there was this little girl was leaning on the counter. She was surrounded by her mother and other siblings. Her eyes met mine and she gave me the most beautiful smile that truly lifted my heart. I felt a moment of such deep connection.

I returned the smile and when I was finished I walked around, bent down so I could speak to her. "Thank you," I said.

She beamed at me again and then I walked away. Before I turned to walk away I glimpsed the puzzlement on the faces of her family members. One of them asked, "What did you do?" And my smile grew even broader.

3. Be kind to people around you.

"Kindness, like a boomerang, always returns."
Anon

The wonderful thing about being kind to people is that you get an instant reward provided, of course, that you perform your act of kindness in the right frame of mind. Some people are kind because they expect some kind of reward in return and so if the person they've expressed kindness to is ungrateful or perhaps even rude it's very upsetting to them.

On the other hand, if you're just kind because you can without expecting anything in return you immediately feel good. And sometimes, unexpected things can follow on from that act of kindness although not necessarily immediately. It's as though your act of kindness was gaining interest.

4. Give those you engage with the gift of your presence.

"Presence is more than just being there."
Malcolm S. Forbes

Sometimes when I teach Pilates there are one or two individuals who are not fully present. Their bodies are in the room but their minds are elsewhere. I'm sure you've experienced similar situations. And I understand that these individuals may have a lot on their mind but I also know that if they're able to give their full attention to the class that afterwards they will feel refreshed both mentally and physically and that they will be in a better frame of mind to deal with whatever was occupying their thoughts.

Similarly, I'm rather intolerant when it comes to interruptions when I'm teaching or coaching. Interruptions take my attention away from those with whom I'm seeking to engage and who have engaged me and my services for that time.

5. Learn to see the good in everything.

"Every day may not be good, but there's something good in every day."
Anon

You may be going through tough times or you may just be having one of those days. But have you ever noticed that when you're having one of those days and you keep focusing on what's going wrong that even more things go wrong?

However, when you pause, calm and centre yourself that things start to shift and start to get better.

So no matter how bad things are at the moment always look for what is good because you get what you're looking for. And, if all else fails, remember this:

"If you don't think every day is a good day, just try missing one."
Cavett Robert

Have a great day!

Life Lessons from the Earthquakes in Chile and Haiti

We're just two months into the New Year but we've already had several natural disasters including earthquakes in Haiti and now Chile. People will read all sorts of things into this state of affairs but I chose to accept these occurrences, despite how devastating they may seem to be, for what they are - natural disasters. And, I expect that, over the coming months, there will be many more and not because I'm a pessimist but because that's life.

There will be more lives lost, property destroyed and infrastructures disabled. I know it's heartbreaking to lose someone especially when it happens suddenly. And while it may initially feel devastating to lose your home and other material possessions these, at least, are things that can eventually be replaced.

The fact is that the earth's population is growing and so more and more people are living in areas which are prone to earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, hurricanes and the like. Nature isn't being vengeful in any way. It just is. The occurrence of these events means that more people will be adversely affected. However, the extent to which we are affected by these events, to a large extent, is up to us.

And upon contemplation of recent events I saw several life lessons - lesson that we can apply to our personal lives to improve the quality of our lives.

The earthquakes occurring in Haiti and Chile make an interesting study. The magnitude of the Chilean Earthquake was 8.8 compared to 7.0 for the Earthquake in Haiti. The former was over 500 times more powerful than the latter. There were differences in the depth of the earthquake - the earthquake that affected Chile occurred at a depth of 21.7 miles whereas the one in Haiti was much closer to the surface at just 8.1 miles. And there were other differences as well such as geology and population density.

Still, the key factor that influenced the extent of the devastation in the respective countries was the quality of the buildings. This is something that many researchers have recognised including Colin Stark, Geomorphologist and Researcher at Columbia University's Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory who said:

"The thing ultimately that decides how much damage there will be and how many people die is the quality of the buildings."

In Chile it is estimated that about 300 people have died. In Haiti more than 230,000 people have died and it is estimated that the death toll could reach 300,000, in other words 1,000 times that of Chile.

Chile is a wealthier country than Haiti. The nation's average annual income is $11,000 compared to $1,900 in Haiti but the state of affairs here is not just a matter of relative wealth. Chile has learnt from it experience of other earthquakes and has been rigorous in enforcing strict building codes. New buildings have to incorporate earthquake proofing so that they are strong and yet flexible and so sway and bend during temblors instead of breaking.

In contrast, the construction of buildings in Haiti is often a slap-dash affair. They are often built on a poor foundation with little reinforcements and the construction is such that the buildings are not even designed to withstand the test of time far less the force of an earthquake. And, unfortunately, corruption is such that building inspectors are bribed.

This speaks volumes not just about how we should build and how we should develop a country's infrastructure; it also provides a clear warning regarding how we should construct our lives and some important life lessons.

The extent to which we are affected by natural disasters or other crises depends upon several factors including:

~ Understanding and Paying Attention to Warning Signs
In life there are early warning signs when things are not going well and you have to know what the warning signs are. But it's not enough to know what the warning signs are and to be able to interpret them you have to take action - the right action.

Chile and Haiti both sit on top of large, volatile fault lines and so have been experienced several earthquakes. Chile decided to implement building codes that would make its buildings more earthquake proof. Haiti decided to play Russian roulette and paid the price.

~ How Well You React Under Pressure
President Michelle Bachelet demonstrated her leadership skills. She was quick to quick to address and reassure Chileans and visit devastated areas. She has been quick to help reassure her people about the Government's ability to respond to the destruction caused by the earthquake.

"The system is functioning. People should remain calm. We're doing everything we can with all the forces we have."
President Michelle Bachelet

Similarly, if you experience a crisis it's important to remain calm. You cannot think clearly when you are panicky. And when taking action, your effectiveness is diminished as well if you panic.

~ Knowing What to Do in Times of Crisis
One way to act calmly when experiencing a crisis is to know what to do and so you need a plan of action. While you don't want to live a life where you are always expecting the worst to happen it's important to know what to do in case of an emergency. Having an action plan can actually help you to remain calm because you don't have to think as much. You can immediately swing into action.

When it comes to responding to events such as earthquakes timing is critical when it comes to saving lives. And lives may be at stake when it comes to some of the situations you may have to deal with so learn what to do when it comes to dealing with certain crisis so that you can act in a timely and appropriate manner.

~ Having Flexible Plans in Place
In the event of a crisis it's often not enough to have just one action plan. Like earthquake-proof buildings you need to be flexible because things often don't unfold as you envisage them.

And one way to be flexible is to expand your skills set and or the resources that you can tap into in times of need. So examine the skills and resources that would be helpful should a crisis occur and see how best you can acquire those skills.

~ Having a Strong Foundation
One of the reasons why so many of the buildings in Haiti were completely flattened was because they didn't have a strong foundation. Therefore, it's important to examine your foundation and notice where there are weaknesses.

In some instances, you may simply need to fortify, whereas in other instances you may have to figuratively tear down structures and start rebuild. It might take a while and it might not be very exciting at first but what you will be able to construct as a result of having a strong foundation will be far superior and longer lasting to anything you construct without that foundation.

But, in taking all of this into account there's an important thing to bear in mind here. You don't want to focus on disaster preparedness or saving for that rainy day. As I've said before, bad things will happen but you don't want to live your life always expecting the worst to happen.

Think instead, that you're preparing yourself to live your best life, regardless of the circumstances that might befall you. And think instead of preparing yourself to take advantage of opportunities that might arise as a result of what might otherwise be seen as negative situations.

When you take this approach you'll find that you'll live more expansively. You'll also be more ready to fully embrace life and appreciate the miracle of not just life itself but of being alive because natural disasters have a way of reminding you just how fragile life can be and as Thich Nhat Hanh said in an interview with Oprah:

"Many people are alive but don't touch the miracle of being alive."

And then should disaster befall you, instead of crumpling in heap, you'll simply find a different way to stand.

References:
Poverty Predicts Quake Damage Better Than Richter Scale
Chile Quake One of Strongest on Record
Chile and Haiti: A Tale of Two Earthquakes

The Power of Intention in Achieving Your Goals, Part 2

So here's the conclusion to Peggy McColl's story about how she was able to buy her dream home even although she didn't have a lot of money. If you missed the first part of this article then simply click the link below:

The Power of Your Intention in Achieving Your Goals

I left the story where Peggy was awaiting the outcome of the draw for the dream home that she had bought a ticket for. Peggy had even wrote on her goal cards that she was living at the address of this fabulous home that so aptly matched her criteria for her dream home - talk about tapping into the power of intention.

The draw was on 07 December and Dr John Goodman won the home. Yes, you read that correctly, Peggy didn't win. And I know a lot of questions must be rushing through your mind right now but please be patient. All will be made clear.

There's a powerful lesson to be learnt here. Sometime when we set a goal we try set how the goal will be manifest and this does not always work. Just as there are different ways to achieve a particular goal, there can be different outcomes to a particular goal quest.

Was Peggy disappointed? Of course, she was - who wouldn't be? Did she feel defeated? No. She re-wrote her goal cards and re-affirmed her intention to purchase her dream home.

Here's the challenge. You have to really want to achieve your goal, have an emotional investment in wanting to achieve your goal and yet be detached from the outcome. You also have to be open to disguised opportunities that can help progress you towards your goal.

For instance, in the movie The Matrix, when Neo was told to follow the white rabbit I'm sure he didn't expect it to come in the form of a tattoo.

So several months went by and then one night Peggy was suddenly awakened from a deep sleep with the thought that she should buy a certain house. When she drove by the house the next day she discovered that it was for sale and so she called the agent and arranged a viewing.

Now bear in mind that, at this time Peggy still doesn't have the funds to go shopping for houses. However, she viewed the house and was delighted to find that this house also ticked all her boxes. The only problem was that she didn't have the money to buy the house but then an idea popped into her head.

She offered the agent a down payment of $3,000 as an occupancy fee with an agreement to settle the balance in 6 months time. Note too that Peggy wasn't in the habit of creating real estate deals - this idea came to her intuitively and she acted on it - another important lesson. When your intuition speaks not only listen to it but take action.

Peggy didn't even have $3,000 cash at the time but she had a credit card which she knew she could get an advance for that sum and that how she was able to come up with the occupancy fee. She told a close friend what she had done and this friend then helped her come up with an idea to raise $3,000. Now she just had to find the balance of the funding for the house – no sweat.

But Peggy did sweat. The months started to creep by and she didn't know how she would raise the balance. However, she kept telling herself that she would find a way and she continued with her visualization and other practices to help keep her focus on the outcome she desired. And when Peggy felt panicky she reminded herself that she didn't need to know how this situation would be resolved but she asked herself how would she feel when it was resolved.

The former was in the hands of the Universe whereas she was in control of the latter and so she practiced experiencing the feeling of having the money to honour her agreement and purchase her dream home. She also detached herself from the outcome by recognizing that the worst that could happen was that she would lose the house but that didn't equate to becoming homeless.

But she needed to raise the money by 01 December.

Now it so happened that the company she was working for had decided to go public. She'd managed to save some money and decided to invest in the company.

The date for the initial public offering was 26 October but it was postponed to 26 November.

She learnt that it if she sold her stock it would take four days for the transaction to be completed.

This was cutting it very fine.

However, she kept her faith. She was so confident that things would work out this time around that she planned a party for 01 December and had bought champagne for the celebrations. (This reminds me of the story of the 2006 Olympic champion, Antoine Dénériaz, who won the skiing downhill race in the Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy. He was so confident that he would win that he also bought champagne beforehand to celebrate. You can read my post Positive Thinking - Does it Work? for that story.)

When Peggy's company went public the price of the shares soared. She sold and made a handsome profit and was able to buy her dream home.

Don't ever give up on your dreams. And don't let people tell you that you're being unreasonable and unrealistic when it comes to setting your goals because no one knows what is reasonable or realistic until you invoke the power of intention and take action to achieve your goals.

Peggy McColl is just one of many incredible teachers and personal development experts who is featured in the teleseminar series:

Tools to Reclaim Your Power

At the time of writing this post the free recording of the John Assaraf teleseminar is still available - another great teleseminar. And so if you'd like to hear great content that can help you identify where you're losing power in your life and how you can generate even more power to help you achieve your goals and dreams then do tune in to this teleseminar series.

All of the guests are also offering extraordinary discounts on a selection of their products - 75% and more in some cases. However, these generous discounts are only avail through this teleseminar series and for a limited time only. So there you have it - lots of great reasons to click the link below and sign up for the Tools to Reclaim Your Power teleseminar series:

www.ToolsToReclaimYourPower.com

The Power of Your Intention in Achieving Your Goals

I listened to the Tools to Reclaim Your Power teleseminar last night where Lisa Garr interviewed the New York Times bestselling author Peggy McColl. In this teleseminar, one of the things that Peggy talked about was how she was able to buy her dream home at a time when she had very little money.

I strongly believe that the greater your emotional investment in the goals you set the more likely it is that you will achieve them. And I believe that's it's imperative to stay focused on what you want because whatever you focus on you'll manifest. Yet, I was also struck by the differences and similarities in Peggy McColl's story about getting her dream home and that of John Assaraf, one of my favourite business coaches and the best-selling author of "Having It All: Achieving Your Life's Goals and Dreams".

I've shared John Assaraf's story in a previous post:

The Power of Visualization to Achieve Your Goals and Manifest Your Dreams

John Assaraf created a vision board on which he placed a picture he's cut out from a magazine of a home he very much admired. He moved house and packed away his vision boards. He bought a new home and spent time renovating it to his style and taste and so it was a while before he fully unpacked.

One day, his son came into his office and asked him what was in one of the storage boxes he was about to tell his son about the vision boards but realised that it would be easier if he simply showed him the vision boards.

However, when opened the box he was stunned because he realised that the picture of the house on his vision board was actually the home he was now living in.

John Assaraf clearly set his intention about the type of home he desired and by placing an image of a home that represented that desire on his vision board he effectively communicated this intention to his sub-conscious mind. However, it would seem that, to some degree at least, he then let go and simply focused daily on the action steps that would move him forward personally and in his business. Further, it would appear that the power of intention was so strong that he was able to manifest his goals and dreams.

Peggy McColl's story is somewhat different. She had very little money but she didn't allow that to deter her from clearly identifying the type of home she wanted. As well as the basics such as its general layout and the number of respective rooms she wanted her home to have she also identified that she wanted the home to be located near trails where she and her then young son could go walking and riding.

She then wrote her goals regarding her dream home on several goal cards. A goal card is simply a card about the size of a 3x5 index card that you write your goals on - in the present tense as though you've already achieved it and with emotionally charged language.

Peggy McColl visited show homes and open houses and her then by-now ex-husband was totally bemused and thought she was wasting her time but she persisted. Then she heard about a competition to win a dream home and this home ticked all the right boxes. It exactly matched her description of her ideal home. In addition, it was fully furnished, came with a car, free groceries for a year, legal expenses were paid.

So Peggy McColl bought a $100 ticket to enter the competition - for as they say, you have to be in it to win it. And then she went into overdrive. She visited the home which was an open show home for the duration of the competition not just once but several times. She visualised living in this house.

She tried out the furniture and even got into the bath tub - fully clothed, of course. She imagined what it would be like living in that home. She eagerly anticipated the draw which was for 07 December...

Rather than write an overly long post I'll complete this story in my next post. If you don't want to wait that long then simply register for the tools to reclaim your power teleseminar series at:

http://www.toolstoreclaimyourpower.com/

And you'll receive details regarding the replay of this teleseminar. If the replay period has already passed you have the option of purchasing the MP3s, CDs and transcripts so you can listen to the teleseminars or read what was said at your convenience.

Today, it's the turn of John Assaraf who is one of my favourite business coaches to be interviewed. And you can tune in for free simply by registering at the link below:

Tools to Reclaim Your Power