The Importance of Persistence and Durability to Your Success and "What is Your Number?"

In today's DTAlpha Talkback, Stephen Pierce asked the question:

"What is your number?"

His message is perhaps not what you might think it is. It is one about the value of persistence where your number is the number of times you will attempt something until you make it a success.

The trouble is that many people do not know their number because, when face with initial failure they simply give up.

"The majority of men meet with failure because of their lack of persistence in creating new plans to take the place of those which fail."
Napoleon Hill

One of the case studies Stephen presents is that of the product WD-40 where "WD" stands for Water Displacement.

The number 40 represents the number of attempts it took its inventors to get the product right.

It's a great example of the value of persistence in achieving your goals. However, throughout history there are numerous other famous examples of how individuals have persisted against enormous odds until they have achieved success.

I highlight a few examples in my article "Fail Your Way to Success" which you can refer to be clicking the link below:

"Fail Your Way to Success"

In Stephen's TalkBack he also mentions Levi's 501 jeans. In this case the 501 does not represent the number of times that the inventors tried to create this iconistic product. Yet, this number still relates to persistence as I shall explain.

The number 501 actually refers to the brand of denim that the jeans was made from. It was called 501 - hence, Levi 501 jeans.

However, what is significant here is that this material was known for its durability. The definition of durability as given by BrainyQuote.com is as follows:

"The state or quality of being durable; the power of uninterrupted or long continuance in any condition; the power of resisting agents or influences which tend to cause changes, decay, or dissolution; lastingness."

Synonyms include lastingness, enduringness and strength.

These are the qualities you need when pursuing your goals and dreams.

And there is more...

There comes a point in all ours lives when we want to create something that is enduring like the Levi 501 jeans - something that stands the test of time. There comes a point in our lives when we have a burning desire to create our legacy.

For some it may be children, for others it may be buildings, companies, art, music, literature. One is not necessarily more important than the other. We all have our unique purpose in life whch means we have the opportunity to create our own unique legacy.

At Atlanta International Airport there is a permanent exhibition of sculpture from Zimbabwe - rather appropriate as in the local Shona language "Zimbabwe" means "stone houses". I decided to walk to my departure gate rather than take the train otherwise I would have missed the wonderful collection on display in the Transportation Mall.

The sculptures are large and intricately carved. I paused by one of the pieces where a fellow passenger was making copious notes. We expressed our mutual admiration for the artwork. He remarked that exhibition in some ways reflected the high death rate that currently afflicts parts of Africa.

He pointed out that some of the artists had died young. There was a sculpture behind us that was created by an artist who died a few years ago. He was in his thirties. I reflected on this and then remarked that his spirit lived on through his work.

So the question is what will be your legacy?

What will you leave behind?

How will you be remembered?

And remember, that to create a great legacy will require great persistence on your part and what you create will also need to have the ability to persist.

And remember too that persistence is a numbers game and, in the end, it's not the number of times that you fail in your quest thatis important. It is that one time you succeed.



A Humorous Look at the "Durability" of Levi 501 Jeans

Click the link below if you cannot see the YouTube video above.

The "Durability" of Levi 501 Jeans

You can read and listen to Stephen's DTAlpha TalkBack titled "Unlocking the Mysterious Math of Success" by clicking the link below:

"Unlocking the Mysterious Math of Success"


persistence success failure goal dream DTAlpha+Talkback+Levi+501+jeans

Identity Theft and Loss of Identity

I've just completed a short visit to Atlanta, GA where I attended a seminar. From the start, my trip was eventful. On my way to the airport I had to turn back and take a totally different route to get to Gatwick because the traffic jams were so bad. I've never had to do that before.

However, it was on arriving at Atlanta Airport that things took a turn for the worse.

Just after I collected my suitcase a fellow passenger fell and struck her head on the hard floor surrounding the baggage reclaim belt. She landed heavily and there was a loud thud as the back of her head hit the floor.

She was a middle-aged woman and pretty shaken up. Plus, because of the nature of her fall, we felt it was prudent for her to be seen to by the local medics. So, although the incident had nothing to do with me, I went off in search of ground staff who could provide further assistance.

I then decided to wait with her until the paramedics arrived. While there wasn't a lot I could do except reassure her, I didn't want to just leave her even though the passenger whose bag she had tripped over was there as well. The woman who had the accident was travelling with her elderly and wheelchair-bound parents.

The mother, in particular, was very anxious. Yet, at the same time, the daughter, while concerned about her own welfare, was naturally worried about her parents. My heart went out to them.

In some ways it was a loss of identity as the carer could no longer fulfil her role and the mother was equally powerless to fully express her maternal instincts.

I left once the paramedics arrived and then after going through a security checkpoint my travel wallet containing passport and other important documents was lost. What followed was a five hour ordeal trying, in vain, to find the lost wallet.

The circumstances under which it was lost are somewhat suspect - was I a victim of identity theft?

To my credit, throughout my extended stay at the airport, I remained remarkably calm though, of course, upset. I was also aware that while I was trying to sort out the immediate situation, at the back of my mind I was trying to work out solutions.

There was just one point, when it appeared as though my suitcase was missing too, that tears spilled from my eye and, although I had been told to report to the BA desk, there was no one there. I was really frustrated.

All I had was the clothes on my pack and my rucksack primarily containing my laptop. Fortunately, my suitcase was recovered and my next stop was the police station to report my missing passport.

It was while I was at the Police Station that I observed the second incident of loss of identity.

A woman waked in with her teenage daughter, two much younger girls and a man who was probably in his 20s. The woman told the police officer that the reason the family was there was because she had just discovered that her ex-husband had been sexually abusing her teenage daughter. To make matters worse, the abuse had been going on for years.

I listened in shock horror. I smiled at the young girl and then felt irrationally guilty. As I looked at the young girl she seemed unperturbed by and somewhat indifferent to the proceedings. For the second time since landing in Atlanta I felt tugs at my heart-strings.

I was able to see behind the young girl's mask. I recognised that for this young girl to handle what had happened to her she probably assumed an alternative identity - a safe world into which she could retreat. The innocence of childhood had been denied this young girl.

It all helped to put my loss into perspective. I had arrived safely in Atlanta, I was healthy and fortunately I had enough money in my purse to take care of the essentials such as travel. I was confident that, one way or another, I was going to be able to resolve my situation.

So please don't take my tale as one of gloom and doom although you can perhaps see that with trying to sort out this matter and attending my course, why I haven't been posting any articles. View this as a tale of caution and reflection.

I feel very philosophical about the whole experience. In my case, everything that was lost/taken can be replaced.

The rest of my experience in Atlanta was very pleasant. I found the people to be so warm and friendly. Also, at the hotel I was just about to go online so that I could file a report that my passport lost, etc. when there was a knock on the door. It was one of the receptionists:

"Ms Lovemore," she said. "Get your things we're giving you an upgrade."

So I was moved to an even larger and nicer room free of charge!

If you are concerned about Identity Theft then visit this site for details on how you can protect yourself online:

Stop Identity Theft

Learning the Secrets of Goal Achievement from Ronaldo's Goal Scoring

To celebrate a decade of super goal scoring Nike and Damiani Editore recently published an illustrated autobiography of Ronaldo doing what he loves most about football – goal scoring.

The book is titled "Ronaldo: Ten Years of Goals" and only 500 copies were printed.

Sport magazine recently interviewed Ronaldo about their ten favourite goals out of the 300+ goals that Ronaldo has scored throughout his career. I'm not a football fan but as I read Ronaldo's commentary about the goals selected I could see that there was a definite correlation between Ronaldo's goal scoring and the secrets to goal achievement.

Allow me to illustrate with a few examples:

Goal 057
Brazil 1-0 Turkey
World Cup, June 2002

"A toe-poke, like in a five-a-side kick-about. Who says they're rubbish? Sometimes that is the way you have to score them."

Are you a perfectionist? Are you the type of person who doesn't like to start project until conditions are absolutely perfect? Or perhaps you can't sign-off a project because it's not perfect.

Mike Litman, bestselling author of "Conversations with Millionaires" advises,

"You don't have to get it right, you just have to get it going."

When he published his first book it was full of errors but he got his message out there. Later on he went back and amended it.

Matt Bacak, also admits that his first book was riddled with grammatical and spelling errors. He said he was inundated with emails from people pointing out all the mistakes.

Was he mortified? Hardly – he simply forwarded the emails to the person responsible for editing the revised edition.

Am I saying that you shouldn't strive to give of your best at all times. No, I'm saying that while a "toe poke" may not do justice to your refined skills, if that's all you can manage at the time and it gets the job done then give it toe poke.

Goal 081
Man Utd 4-3 Real Madrid
Champions League, April 2003

"The best of the three I scored that night. A hat-trick at Old Trafford, the whole ground on its feet – an atmosphere like that cannot fail to inspire you."

When you are going after a goal you need a team of supporters - people who will cheer you and motivate you to give of your very best. Just before Joe Calzaghe fought Bernard Hopkins in La Vegas he expressed that he hoped that enough of his fans would travel to Las Vegas to help make him feel at home.

In reality thousands of Welsh supporters flocked to Las Vegas to give Joe their encouragement. It was a tough fight, won by a split decision but it was Joe Calzaghe who walked away victorious and with 45 straight wins to his name.

WARNING! There are those will pour scorn on your dreams, goals and ambitions. Give them a wide berth.

Some of these individuals may even be friends and family members. In many cases, it will be because they have their own fears to contend with.

Whatever the reason you have to decide how much you really want to achieve your goal and then do whatever is necessary to preserve your dream as you strive towards it. You may not have to totally exclude these naysayers from your life but you will need to determine the level of contact you have with these individuals who, left unchecked, can leave your dream in tatters.

Goal 102
Real Madrid 3-0 Athletic Bilbao
La Liga, November 2003

"I felt like I had a magnet in my boots. For a while, they stood by clueless, but then by the time they had made their minds up to move, I'd already let fly."

When you clearly define what you want and maintain your focus on your goal then what you desire will be drawn towards you like a magnet and you towards your goal.

This is the Law of Attraction at work.

In addition, those who are excellent goal achievers are also excellent decision makers. They are able to rapidly read the field, assimilate the data and instinctively make decisions and act upon them while others are still busy reading the field.

"Intuitive decision-making and mastering this profession are one in the same."

So how do you sharpen your decision-making skills so that you can accelerate towards your goals? In a single word - PRACTICE.

You have to learn to trust your gut and intuition and have the confidence to take ACTION. Even if you don't get the desired result you will at least get feedback which will help to inform your next decision.

Remember, as Anthony Robbins said:

"It's in your moments of decision that your destiny is shaped."

Ronaldo says that for him -

"A goal is a moment of excitement - it gives you goosebumps, helps you to forget…at least for a few moments. A goal is happiness: mine sure, but mostly my team's and the fans'.

"A goal is also fun. When I realize I no longer enjoy scoring, or admit to myself that I can't cut it any more, that's when I know it's time to give up the game.

"That moment hasn't arrived yet. I think of all the goals I still want to score: different types of goals, important ones if I can - all the better if they are good goals too."

I hope that you too feel the same about scoring your goals.

Proceeds from the sales from Ronaldo's book will go towards the United Nations Development Programme (UNNP) in Brazil and Guinea Bissau.

For more information about this book and to view the sketches that feature in this book please visit www.nikemercurial98.com.



secret goal achieving Ronaldo Joe Calzaghe decision making

Bill Bartmann: The Power of a Promise and Achieving Your Goals

Bill Bartmann - The Power of A Promise

Click HERE if you cannot see YouTube video.

This weekend I shared with you a story about Bill Bartmann – the man whose life and fortunes have been like a roller coaster. He recently uploaded the video displayed above where he talks very movingly and very candidly about the true meaning of a promise and how he used that promise overcome tremendous odds and achieve a particular goal that undoubtedly changed his life.

However, this video is more than just promises. It's about perseverance, commitment and making an irrevocable decision.

You may never have to face challenges as severe that Bill Bartmann has faced in his life or you may face or even currently be facing challenges that are more severe. Yet, one thing is certain. You will face challenges in life and how you face up to those challenges will determine the quality of your life and what you achieve during your life.

Some people think that setting and achieving goals is all about the acquisition of the thing you are going after. They're wrong. Goal achievement is all about the person you become as you strive to achieve your goals.

Many people set goals and then give up on them with barely a fight. They lack persistence. Bob Proctor says that in such cases the goal was too "puny".

"Make no little plans; they have no magic to stir men's blood and probably themselves will not be realized."
Daniel H Burnham

If your goals are puny then you surely will quit when you are faced with the first obstacle.

"A goal that is casually set and lightly taken is freely abandoned at the first obstacle."
Zig Ziglar

In Bill Bartmann's case, he could either believe what the doctor had told him and remain a paraplegic for the rest of his life or he could defy what the doctor had said and create his own prognosis.

What was incredible in Bill Bartmann's case was that even although there was evidence that contradicted the doctor's original diagnosis, the doctor brutally tried to stamp out any hope of recovery in Bill's mind.

There are people in your life who will try to do the same when you tell them about your goals. They will ridicule you and belittle your dreams - if you let them.

Matt Bacak said that he decided that he would make a million dollars within six months he made one of the toughest decisions of his life. He temporarily decided to cut off all forms of communication with his mother. It was a drastic decision but he did what he had to do.

His mother was always the one who was saying that things were not possible. She was the naysayer. He knew that he had to believe in himself 100% if he was to achieve his goal within the time limit he set himself. There was no room for doubt. It was hard on both parent and child but he gave his mother one of her best Christmas presents ever when he announced that h had achieved his goal.

Do you have the strength, courage and conviction to eliminate toxic relationships from your life? Or will you let those individuals drag you down, keeping you within their comfort zone?

What kind of goals have you set yourself? Are you truly committed to them? Are you prepared to do whatever it takes to achieve them? Teamwork and support are important when achieving your goals but do have the fortitude it takes to soldier on alone if needed? Bill had to wait until late at night to do his exercises to remain undetected.

Bill made a decision that he was going to walk out of his hospital at a time when he could move a muscle in his lower body. The word decision is derived from a Latin word meaning "to cut away". When Bill made his decision there was no turning back. It was more than a decision. He made a promise that he was going to walk out of that hospital.

And, it was through exercising his will power, that he was able to achieve his goal. Through his will he was able to command his body. Now there are scientific explanations to support what Bill Bartmann accomplished but the fact remains that:

~ He used his mind to think about what he wanted rather than what he didn't want,

~ His thoughts became fervent beliefs,

~ He used his thought to direct his will power, and

~ His used his will power to achieve the thing he dreamt about.

He fulfilled his promise and achieved his goal.

The question is what promise will you make for yourself? What goals are you ready to commit to?








goal achieving Bill Bartmann promise goal achievement will power

Identity Theft and Money Scams - Keep Your Identity Safe

Identify theft and money scams are on the increase.

This weekend I received a letter from the "International Lotto Commission" telling me that I had won 850,831 Euros.

The "Payment Release Form" asked for the following details:

~ Name
~ Sex
~ Date of Birth
~ Address
~ Nationality
~ Email address
~ Phone numbers
~ Bank details

Although, if I wanted a "certified bank cheque", then I didn't have to give my bank account details. How considerate. Even if I only provided the above information, in the wrong hands, my identity would be in serious jeopardy. They even asked for my next of kin.

I immediately knew it was a scam. The letter was covered with a mishmash of photocopied logos and other images that were supposed to add authenticity to the letter. There were typos and the very detailed letter just didn't make sense.

I was just about to put it throw the shredder when I thought to myself that I ought to write an article about it to help expose such fraudsters. If this article helps to prevent at least one person from being ripped-off then the effort would have been worth it.

Receiving such letters doesn't upset me. What does upset me though is that people fall for these scams and send fraudsters money or their credit card or bank details. Armed with this information fraudsters can have a field day.

They can either make a single hefty withdrawal or they can withdraw small amounts of money over a longer period of time which may go unnoticed by someone who does not regularly and rigorously check their statements. And small amounts of money from multiple sources can result in rich pickings indeed for these criminals.

The trouble is that those who do fall prey to these rip-offs are often those who can least afford it.

The other thing that upsets me is it must take a fair amount of effort to put these scams together and execute them. If only these individuals would direct their attention to legitimate direct response marketing activities instead. I'm sure they would do very well out of it.

I'm confident that if you are reading this that you are one of those individuals who are vigilant. Yet, you can't be too careful when it comes to these matters.

Research has shown that:

~ 20 million of UK householders are increasing their risk of being exposed to fraudsters by failing to take precautions against identity theft
~ 10 million Americans are victims of identity fraud each year
~ 18 million UK households regularly throw away (without shredding) sensitive financial documents
~ The average UK adult is exposed to online identity theft to the tune of £10,000
~ 90% of all users never check their credit card or bank account statements
~ Identity theft is costing the British economy in excess of £1.7 billion annually
~ In 2007 there were 77,500 recorded cases of identity theft

So if you are concerned about identity theft and want to take measures to protect yourself online and offline and prevent becoming yet another identity theft statistic then click the link below for a low-cost yet effective solution:

Stop Identity Theft

Alarming Facts

~ Identity theft is the fastest growing crime in the US and the UK
~ Internet users are 50 times more likely to experience identity theft than non-Internet users.

Don't let them get away with it!

Take preventative action NOW.

Stop Identity Theft



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The Bill Bartmann Story - The Secret to Achieving Billionaire Status

Bill Bartmann Interview with Donny Deutsch

Click HERE if you cannot see the YouTube video.

Achieving billionaire status especially when you have been bankrupt requires a particular mindset - something that Bill Bartmann has definitely acquired.

He may have recently lost his billionaire status but achieving such status especially when you've been bankrupt demands a particular mindset - something that Bill Bartmann who has been called "The Billionaire Nobody Knows" has.



While his fortunes may have taken a dip one senses that he will bounce back for he has been down this road before. You see He has been a pauper, three times a millionaire, twice bankrupt as well as being a billionaire.

However, he would not have been able to build any of his fortunes in the first place if it had not been for one thing. This is the secret to his success and it is something that anyone striving for success needs.

To put things into perspective though, we need to go back in time to his upbringing. Bill Bartmann was one of eight children. His parents were uneducated and so could not command well-paying jobs. He describes having to move frequently and even, on occasion, being turned out of dwellings because they were deemed not fit for human habitation.

He has been homeless and was once part of a travelling carnival. He dropped out of high school, was a teenage alcoholic and a member of a teenage gang called known as the "Manor Boys".

He was also the smallest member weighing in at just 98lbs. This didn't stop him from picking fights with the 'big' boys. In some ways it's a trait that has stuck with him - not so much picking fights - but there's audaciousness to many of his business ventures.

He truly understands the concept of risk and reward. A big risk can result in a huge pay-off, but if it backfires it can leave a large dent in your pocket and bank balance. Clearly, Bill Bartmann has experienced both extremes.

It just shows that it's not your circumstances that make an individual wealthy. It's your mindset. He could lose everything today and tomorrow he would simply start to rebuild his wealth.

In an interview for Virtual Seminar Week, Alex Mandossian asked Bill Bartmann what was, in his view, the key to success. Bartmann replied that he could sum up the key to success to just one thing, something which he had identified at a young age.

"All the successful people I knew in life had high self-esteem and all the losers had low self-esteem."

There you have it. It sounds very simple and you may have even been disappointed at the response but it is also very profound.

You see, our self-image drives everything that we do and our self-image is inexorably linked to our self-esteem and self-confidence. Improve your self-esteem and improvements in your life will naturally follow.

Having high self-esteem is indeed the key to success.

When Bill Bartmann was growing up his self-esteem was low. He gives credit to his childhood sweetheart, Kathy, for opening his eyes to this fact. It is as Barbara D'Angelis says,

"Until you're aware of what you're doing you have no choice but to continue doing it."

Kathy once threatened to leave him. She had had enough but of what? You see, at the time Bartmann had no clue as to why she was so upset with him. So she spelled it out for him.

"I love you but I can't stand being around you when you keep putting yourself down."

It was a defining moment in his life. He said he would change. It wasn't easy but he persevered.

He took the GED (General Educational Development) exam and put himself through college and law school.

Kathy eventually became his wife and they've been married now for over 30 years.

Sure, Bill Bartmann has had his self-doubts, even bouts of depression - he wouldn't be human otherwise. However, when your self esteem is strong and when you are clear about your core values - the things you stand for and what you are unwilling to compromise on - then you bounce back from these lows.

And each time, you bounce back just a little bit higher.







billionaire Bill Bartmann secret to success millionaire self esteem self confidence self image key to success

Attracting Wealth and Millionaire Secrets

The video above is an extract from Donny Deustch's show titled "Million Secrets". Click HERE if you cannot see the video.

It shows Dr Joe Vitale explaining the process of attracting wealth.

In this video it is easy to see how perhaps Dr Joe Vitale got his nickname "Mr Fire" for he is certainly fired up about this topic.

So that you can really digest his message here is a summary of Dr Joe Vitale's five-step process for attracting wealth.

1. Know What You Don't Want

This is perhaps the easiest step of all them all. Just ask anyone what they want and they'll usually start telling you what they don't want. People are very good at complaining about what they don't want but the problem with this is that you are putting energy into what you don't want and so you keep getting more of the same.

"If you don't like something change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude. Don't complain."
Maya Angelou

It's like having a restaurant that you visit on a regular basis. You hate certain dishes and you repeatedly bitch about those particular dishes yet when it's time to order you go right ahead and order those dishes because you haven't taken the time to figure out what you do like on the menu.

So identify what you don't want so that you can be clear on what you do want and focus your attention on these things.

2. Check Your Intentions

When you state your intentions you re-align your body and your mind to go in the direction of a new target.

Think of a radio. Turn it own and start turning the frequency dial. As you do this you will hear static, you may sometimes hear overlapping stations, and you will also hear voices and or music as clear as a bell.

This happens when we tune into the right frequency. The same thing happens with your thoughts. You can direct your thoughts so that they tune into the thoughts and ideas that will move you forwards in the direction of your goal.

With a radio, if I told you the frequency you could find a particular station then it would be a relatively easy thing for you to find that particular station by aligning the dial on your radio with that particular frequency.

Goal achievement operates in a similar manner. State your intentions but ensure that you are in complete harmony with your intentions or else you will not succeed.

"You cannot change anything in your life with intention alone, which can become a watered-down, occasional hope that you'll get to tomorrow. Intention without action is useless."
Caroline Myss, Author of "Entering The Castle"

3. Get Clear

Janet Attwood, author of "The Passion Test - The Effortless Path to Discovering Your Destiny" said that,

"When you are clear, what you want will show up in your life, and only to the extent you are clear."

The problem is as Dr Joe Vitale points out is that many people have counter beliefs and, to compound matters further, they don't even know that have them.

The result is that, until the "get clear" they will continue to unwittingly sabotage their efforts.

Most people don't know they have counter beliefs within themselves.

"Because you counter the majority of your thoughts with opposing thoughts, you believe that you are not powerful.

When you no longer split your flow of energy with contradictory thoughts, you will know your power."
Abraham-Hicks

4. "Nevelize" Your Goal

These steps are getting progressively more challenging but it so important to follow them through. Are you beginning to see how if just one of these steps was not properly completed that it is unlikely for you to achieve your goals.

So for step four you need to use your imagination and feel what it would be like to already have what you want.

Now, I said that this is challenging but it also pleasurable. Just think of what you want, what you really want and then imagine you have it.

For instance, when I think of my dream home I visualise myself walking through my home and I take in the sights of what would be before me as I moved through the house. I can see the trees overhanging the back garden as I look out the kitchen window. I can feel the water flowing over my hands as I prepare some vegetables for a meal.

As I open the door leading to the patio and front garden I can hear the pool making little gurgling sounds and I can see the reflection of the sunlight sparkling on the water. I can feel the warmth of the sun on my face as I turn my face skywards.

As I go back inside and up the stairs into my bedroom I notice how light and airy the room is. I open the door leading to the balcony and I can clearly hear the waves beating against the shore. As I walk out onto the balcony I can detect a slight tanginess in the air.

I could go and on but I'm sure you get the picture. You've got to get emotionally involved with what you desire. This will accelerate what you want towards you.

5. Let Go While Taking Inspired Action

Then, despite saying you've got to get emotionally involved with what you want, you've also got to let go of your attachment to the end result. If you are over-attached to the end result you are really expressing fear rather than your passion or desire for what you want.

Fear moves you away from your goals.

Fear can also paralyse you at a time when you critically need to take action to achieve your goals. Passion is like fuel so keep your passion alive. Feed your passion. It will keep you internally motivated or inspired to move in the direction of your goal.

When you erase fear a sense of calm takes over you and in that calmness you will receive directions telling you how to proceed step-by-step. Sometimes those steps may seem counterintuitive but it is your very voice of intuition that is reaching out to you and guiding you.

The thing is you have to learn how to trust that voice of intuition.

There is another reason why we need to have a certain detachment regarding the outcome of what we are striving towards. As Sandra Ann Taylor, author of "Quantum Success" explains:

"Sometimes the Universe doesn't give us exactly what we want when we want it, because there's actually something better down the road."

Dr Joe Vitale his friend and colleague Mark Ryan hosted a powerful teleseminar recently on the subject of Attracting Wealth. You can listen to the interview by clicking the link below.

Attract Wealth

Feel free to share this interview.

attracting wealth millionaire secrets Joe Vitale intention passion intuition goal

Oprah's Big Give Star Calls the Shots When it Comes to Business Success

Oprah's Big Give Star, Cameron Johnson, know what he wants in life and this is a key factor to the level of success he has achieved in his life.

He is just 23 years old and already he has:

~ Founded and sold more than a dozen profitable businesses,
~ Been featured in more than 250 media outlets worldwide including CNN, Newsweek, Business Week and New York Time, and
~ Served as a consultant to several Fortune 500 companies.

In January 2007 his first book - "You Call the Shots: Succeed your Way - And Live the Life You Want - With the 19 Essential Secrets of Entrepreneurship" was released by Simon & Schuster and is available in stores worldwide.

A second factor in his success story is that he definitely goes after what he wants. He takes ACTION.

At age seven his parents took him to New York. They had arranged for the family to stay at the Trump Plaza which had been featured in Home Alone 2: Lost in New York starring Macaulay Culkin. Donald Trump also had a cameo in the movie.

Cameron simply addressed the letter to Donald Trump, The Plaza Hotel, New York. He didn't receive a response.

However, when the Johnson family checked into the Plaza the receptionist leaned over the counter to peer down at the young boy standing besides his parents and much to their surprise said:

"You must be Cameron."

You see Cameron hadn't told his parents that he had written to Donald Trump. And, yes, Donald Trump had received his letter.

The result was that the Johnson's got to actually stay in the suite that was used for the Home Alone 2 movie and Donald Trump also arranged several gifts and special privileges for Cameron and his parents.

Can you imagine the excitement that seven year old Cameron must have felt that weekend, the memories of which Cameron has shared with hundreds of people throughout the world through his speeches, presentations, TV appearances and his book?

Donald Trump actually called in person to welcome the Johnson's to the Plaza and to ensure that all was well. And with the gift basket that accompanied the suite was one of Donald Trump's business cards, signed by the man himself.

He also arranged for Cameron to have a tour of the FAO Schwartz toy store before it officially opened. The toys tore had a department that allowed young people to have their "business cards" printed. So naturally, Cameron had a set of business cards printed and used one to write a thank you note to Donald Trump to which he added:

"Look out! I intend on being the next Donald Trump."

Fast forward to the present day. Do you not think that Donald Trump, despite all his personal accomplishments, can't help but feel extremely proud of Cameron, what he has accomplished and the small role he has played in Cameron's life to date?

"Cameron Johnson wrote me a letter when he was eight years old. I didn't write back to him, but I responded with a surprise for him when he visited New York City. Thirteen years later, he's given me a surprise - he's written a terrific book! No matter what your age, you will enjoy and learn from Cameron's book about his accomplishments thus far. I'm sure there will be more to come."
Donald J. Trump

Donald Trump demonstrates the value and importance of going the extra mile for your clients.

Cameron will be speaking at Mark Victor Hansen's upcoming Mega Business event, 16-17 May in Irvine, CA. It is an event that, sadly, I won't be attending as there is a limit to the number of seminars that I can travel to but I was fortunate to hear Cameron speak during his first visit to London.

He was speaking at Christopher Howard's Ultimate Business Success event. I found him to be very charming and personable with an appeal that spans all ages. His presentation was highly entertaining and very educational and so it would be worth attending this event just to hear Cameron alone speak. However, Mark Victor Hansen also has other heavyweight speakers lined up.

The impressive line-up of speakers includes:

~ Bill Bartmann - the leading authority on entrepreneurship in America and is a Billionaire Business Coach.
~ Christine Comaford Lynch - a former Microsoft employee who now heads Mighty Ventures. She is also author of the bestselling "Rules for Renegades: How to Make More Money, Rock Your Career, and Revel in Your Individuality".
~ Clinton Swaine - the Founder of Frontier Trainings, an organization that uses powerful games to deliver interactive, highly impactful business training.
~ Marshall Sylver - an expert in sub-conscious reprogramming and an expert in interpersonal communication.
~ Dave Lakhani - a "Business Acceleration Strategist" and author of "Persuasion - the Art of Getting What You Want".
~ Steve Linder - a Maser Practitioner and Trainer of NLP and a Performance Trainer with the Anthony Robbins companies.

Mark Victor Hansen, the co-author of the Chicken Soup for the Soul™ will be the host for the event and sharing his views on what it takes to build a successful social enterprise.

Also, because of Mark's desire to encourage entrepreneurship in young people he has a special offer for teenagers. Effectively, teenagers will just have to pay for their accommodation and meals.

Click HERE for an AudioPostcard to listen to Mark interview Cameron.

Cameron Johnson Interview

Alternatively, click the audioplayer below:

And click the link below for more details about the Mega Business event and to sign up for the free preview calls:

Mega Business

"If you're not passionate about what you're doing now you'll never be a success at it. So you might as well start following your passion."
Cameron Johnson

FREE Download

You can download a FREE chapter of Cameron's latest book from the link below:

You Call the Shots

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Public Speaking - Discover a Great New Way to Master Your Public Speaking Skills and Speak with Confidence

Public Speaking is a something that is feared by thousands if not millions of people around the world.

However, mastering your public speaking skills can help you to advance both socially and professionally. Plus wouldn't it be great to know that, if called upon, you can deliver a presentation or give a speech in public with confidence and style?

Well, now a new website can help you to improve your public speaking skills. It is a great concept.

The website is SureSpeak and it allows you to video record your presentation for friends and colleagues to critique. Now, I know that even this may give you cold feet but wouldn't you rather have the chance to practice your presentation and get expert advice on how to improve it before having to make your live presentation.

Still baulking? Then you can just upload your videos and score them yourself against the given criteria until your confidence improves.

SureSpeak has many uses and can be used by virtually anyone to improve their speaking skills. They have included courses on the website so that you can practice your diction and improve your language skills. There are also instructional videos to help you do things such as:

~ Prepare for an interview,
~ Deliver your elevator pitch,
~ Deliver a wedding toast,
~ Improve your presentation skills,
~ Hone your sales pitch, and more.

The site is easy-to-use and what you use your improved communication skills to accomplish is limited solely by your imagination.

For the remainder of this month, April, you can take advantage of a free trial so I urge you to register now and use this excellent resource. Why am I only now telling you about it? I only discovered the site yesterday and I wanted to check it out before recommending it.

I have to add that I did initially have some trouble actually registering. So I emailed their help desk and matter was resolved within the hour which says a lot for SureSpeak's customer service.

So whether you're:

~ Aiming for a promotion at work
~ Seeking a new job or career
~ Wanting to increase your clients
~ Aiming to improve your sales
~ Wanting to reduce your accent
~ Wanting to improve your speech or that of a client

This is a website that could be of great benefit to you. So do check it out. I'm not an affiliate so I don't benefit from you signing up. I just recognise a great service when I see one.

Still need convincing as to why you should improve your public speaking skills then click HERE for a an AudioPostcard with a special interview with John Childers as he explains why public speaking is the best paid profession in the world.

Many of the top speakers in the world have trained with John Childers. Individuals such as Mark Victor Hansen, Bob Proctor, Alex Mandossian, Armand Morin and Mike Filsaime to name just a few and they all earn millions of dollars each year through speaking.

John Childers Interview


Special FREE Gift

However, I do have a special gift for you that compliments this service. It's a copy of my report - "Brian Tracy's 7Ps of Public Speaking". This report gives some great tips on how the seven key things you need to consider as a public or professional speaker and it's FREE.

You can download this report simply by sending an email to:

masteringpublicspeaking@getresponse.com.

So get your FREE report now and start applying the tips contained within to give your business and or career a boost.

7Ps of Successful Public Speaking



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Conquer Your Enemy to Achieve Success in Life

Click the audio player below to listen to this article:



Alternatively, please click HERE for an AudioPostcard.

You want to achieve success in life, don't you? Yet do you sometimes feel as though, despite your best efforts, that you are not reaping the level of success you desire?

If yes, then it's time to identify and conquer your enemy, which is sabotaging your success. You may even be asking yourself.

"Why am I not achieving success?"

This is the wrong question to ask because it actually turns your focus away from what you want to achieve - success. However, if you asked instead,

"How can I achieve success?"

One answer would be,

"Conquer your enemy."

And, if you're puzzled as to what or who is your enemy the answer is simple. Your enemy is really your 'Inner Me'. Your inner self is the key to your success. It is the rudder which directs you in life and pre-determines your level of success.

If you are not getting the results you desire then work on your 'Inner Me' until you consistently start to achieve the goals which you set yourself. And the work doesn't stop there, for once you start to achieve success your vision will expand and the new goals you set will be even more challenging and more demanding. You will therefore have to keep working on your 'Inner Me' to ensure that it is in harmony with your expanded vision.

Your 'Inner Me' is really your mind and it is your mind and your thoughts that are creating your results. The reality of life is that your inner world is creating your outer world.

"Mind is the Master power that moulds and makes, And Man is Mind, and evermore he takes The Tool of Thought, and shaping what he wills, Brings forth a thousand joys, a thousand ills; he thinks in secret and it comes to pass: Environment is but his looking-glass."
James Allen, "As a Man Thinketh"

So, if you don't like your current reality start to work on the enemy within if you want to create lasting change.

The trouble is people are often reluctant to do what it takes to make positive change. I often hear that working on your inner self or working on your mind is hard. Well, it really is no harder than remaining in your current position.

This may sound harsh but you can either choose results or excuses. You can't have both. Doing the work on your 'Inner Me' will pay huge dividends. When you do the work on you, your actions will, as a consequence, change and the intent and power behind your actions will also change. This will ultimately lead to changes in your results. I say "ultimately" because the changes may not be immediately apparent.

You will have to be patient, remain focused and persistent in your efforts. Often it will be when you are pushed to your limits that success will come knocking at your door.

"When you get into a tight place and everything goes against you, never give up then, for that is just the time that the tide will turn."
Harriet Beecher Stowe

However, conquering your 'Inner Me' is like fighting an opponent you cannot see. I am reminded of one of Jean Claude Van Damme's films, "Kickboxer", where he was temporarily rendered blind during a fight.

At first, he lashes out wildly and in panic but then he calms himself and he starts to use his inner resources. He starts to draw upon his other senses. He overcomes his panic, his fear, his opponent and his enemy. Or, should I say, his 'Inner Me'

Similarly, you have deep within, vast treasure troves of resources. They may be a little stiff from disuse at the moment but with practice you can make them flexible again. For instance, your intellectual facilities which are your:

~ Memory,
~ Perception,
~ Imagination,
~ Will Power,
~ Intuition, and
~ Ability to Reason.

These will serve you well, as long as you put them to use on a regular basis.

Memory

Your memory will help you to quickly recall detailed information you need to make timely decisions.

"The existence of forgetting has never been proved. We only know that some things don't come to mind when we want them."
Friedrich Nietzsche

Perception

Your perception will allow you to see a situation from multiple perspectives thereby giving you a distinct advantage in being able to find solutions to the challenges you face.

"The reality of life is that your perceptions - right or wrong - influence everything else you do. When you get a proper perspective of your perceptions, you may be surprised how many other things fall into place."
Roger Birkman

Imagination

Your imagination will allow you to see things as you wish them to be and not necessarily as they are. This is the first step in re-creating your world.

"Imagination is everything. It is the preview of life's coming attractions."
Albert Einstein

Will Power

Your will power will give you the strength to be persistent and to hold onto to your vision.

"You may fetter my leg, but Zeus himself cannot get the better of my free will."
Epictetus

Intuition

Your intuition will draw upon information that you are not consciously aware of and instinctively guide you through the darkest corridors.

"Intuition is the clear conception of the whole at once."
Johann Kaspar Lavater

Ability to Reason

Your ability to reason will demonstrate to you how and why you must be successful.

"There is only one reason for an individual to side-step to the useless side: the fear of a defeat on the useful side."
Alfred Adler

Develop these intellectual faculties and you will strengthen your 'Inner Me', conquer your enemy and achieve great success in life.

An excellent program that will help you to develop your intellectual faculties and achieve your goals is the LifeSuccess Goal Achiever program.



I currently have a special offer on the Goal Achiever program which you can read all about from my previous article - "The Secret to Successful Marketing and Goal Achievement".

Read the article in its entirety if you wish for it is an interesting case study about a key ingredient to achieving success or scroll down to the heading "Easter Special".

Alternatively, click HERE and I'll tell you about this special offer in person.



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The Secret to Successful Marketing and Goal Achievement

Jay Conrad Levinson is known as the father of Guerrilla Marketing. The essence of Guerilla Marketing is making a big impact using unconventional marketing using minimal resources. Guerilla Marketing is perhaps invaluable during this contracted economy and is a useful strategy for small businesses and sole traders to adopt.

However, the secret I'm about to share about successful marketing and goal achievement does not come from a guerrilla marketing strategy. In its first year this marketing campaign cost $18 million - a lot of money.

This campaign came resulted in what has been described as the best marketed brand in history. It is a brand that you probably know of even if you don't use the product. It is also a place you may have heard of even if you've never visited.

The brand is Marlboro and the place is Marlboro country. So whether you're a smoker or, like me, a non-smoker who abhors smoking, stick with me because this is an interesting case study from which much can be learnt and applied to beneficial campaigns and projects.

In 1954 Marlboro cigarettes were the thirty-first largest selling cigarette. Marlboro was perceived as a feminine brand even although men smoked more cigarettes.

Jay Conrad Levinson was part of Leo Burnett's team which was commissioned to change the perception of Marlboro being feminine and, of course, boost sales. After some brainstorming it was agreed that the cowboy was perceived as very masculine and macho. So a team was dispatched to a Texas ranch to get some natural rather than posed photographs of what real cowboys do.

The resulting photographs were brilliant. They truly captured the beauty and ruggedness of the outdoors as well as the rugged handsomeness and masculinity of the cowboy. Marlboro Country - "where the flavour is" - was born. The adverts were everywhere - on billboards, in magazines, newspapers, on the radio, etc.

People loved the Marlboro concept and by the end of the year Marlboro was the thirty-first selling brand of cigarette in the country.

That's right. They had not moved even one place over the year the campaign was introduced, compared to the sales of other cigarette brands. Jay Conrad Levinson admits to being "red faced" but Joseph F Cullman III, then the CEO of Philip Morris, the parent company of Marlboro, was more philosophical.

He said he hadn't expected instant results. He knew that these things sometimes take time. He was patient and remained committed to the Marlboro campaign. I guess it did help that while their market share had not increased the sales of Marlboro cigarettes increased significantly following the advertising campaign to re-position Marlboro as a more masculine brand.

In 1971, Marlboro became the number one selling brand of cigarettes worldwide. Other macho images were experimented with but, in essence, the advertising for Marlboro remained the same.

In a recent interview, Jay Conrad Levinson said,

"Too many people in marketing are expecting instant gratification and for a lot of them, instant gratification isn't quite fast enough which is why so much marketing fails but the Marlboro campaign didn't fail because of his [Joseph Cullman's] knowledge of the necessity for patience. And that brand is no smoking mirrors. It's just straightforward patience and commitment."

The same can be said regarding goal achievement. Too many people start a goal but give up if the desired results do not come almost instantly.

The term overnight success is generally a fallacy. Some people may hit the big times quickly but this success is generally preceded by the application of diligent and consistent effort that can sometimes take years.

Some may get promising results from using tactics but tactics are short-lived. In the long-run, you want to use methods that stand the test of time. You want to be strategic and hang in there when times are tough and progress seems slow.

"Patience is waiting. Not passively waiting. That is laziness. But to keep going when the going is hard and slow - that is patience."

Easter Special for Goal Achievers



Discover a complete, tried and tested program for setting and achieving your goals - The Goal Achiever Program created By Bob Proctor and LifeSuccess Productions.

Sometimes just setting your goals can be a challenge far less achieving them. The Goal Achiever program gives you an easy-to-follow, step-by-step system that thousands of people around the world have successfully followed to achieve their goals.

"I applied the Goal Achiever principles in climbing Mount Kilimanjaro 19,340 feet…The dream, the defined purpose, setting and achieving of the goal, the focus, the attitude, the stretching out of my comfort zone both physically and mentally, all helped me to attain new levels of awareness in my life."
Paul Hugill

You can use the Goal Achiever program to achieve any goal you choose.

Get the Goal Achiever program to help you to:

~ Bridge the gap between where you currently are and where you want to be
~ Understand and apply the Laws of the Universe so that you can achieve your goals easily and naturally
~ Alter old conditioning and limiting beliefs that stand in the way of you achieving your goals
~ Effectively select and prioritise your goals so that your goals both challenge and excite you
~ Develop an easy-to-follow goal achievement plan, which, if you commit to, will guarantee that you achieve your goal

What You Will Receive

The Goal Achiever Program consists of:

~ 8 Professional recorded CDs
~ A Goal Achiever workbook
~ A Goal Achiever goal card

As a special for Easter you can now have your Goal Achiever program shipped to you FREE of charge for just $147 – a saving of $50 while stocks last.

YES! Send me the Goal Achiever Program!


Bonus 1
With your purchase you also get four (4) FREE one-to-one coaching sessions to:

~ Ensure you get the most out of your Goal Achiever program, and
~ Hold you accountable so that you remain committed to achieving the goals you set.

Bonus 2
With your purchase you also get a FREE customised subliminal MP3 valued at $19.97 with your personal positive affirmations so that you can:

~ Put your positive affirmations on autopilot, and
~ Effortlessly work on overcoming your limiting beliefs.

So get your Goal Achiever program now at this fabulously low price. Remember though that my supply is limited, I just have a few of these programs left so act now to avoid disappointment.

Click HERE to make a secure payment using PAYPAL. Credit card payments accepted.

Remember:

"Doing at once what needs to be done, will increase the possibility of success."
Leland Val Van de Wall



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Improve Your Memory to have More Time for Profit and Fun

"Memory is the library of the mind"
Francis Fauvel-Gourand

It's amazing just how much one program can inspire and stimulate you. While I was watching the Stephen Wiltshire documentary I was reminded of just how often I hear people say that they have a poor memory.

The thing is when you continually say to yourself that you have a poor memory it simply makes matters worse.

The truth is that while Stephen has a condition which enables him to use his memory to a degree and in a manner that would be unlikely for the average person to replicate we can all improve our memory. And we can do so through the practice of certain proven techniques.

Having a good memory can be quite advantageous. It can enable you to shine at meetings and presentations because you will not be reliant on your notes all the time.

Remembering people's names can really help to build rapport. And if you can take this a step further and remember details about a friend's or colleague's family or remember their birthday or anniversary, etc. this can help to strengthen your relationship.

It can help you to find things quickly and effortlessly. It can help to ensure that you remember to pack all the important things that you need for a trip or presentation.

It can help you to find places easily so that you don't waste time getting lost.

In fact, if you add up the time that the average person spends trying to find things that have been lost you would find that it is quite significant and could be better spent.

So, why not spend a little of that time improving your memory so that you can find time doing things for profit or fun rather than waste it looking for things.

You can download an excellent ebook from Brainobrain™ called "Awaken Your Memory with NLP" to help you to improve your memory by clicking the link below

Free Memory Book

This is an easy-to-read book with lots of useful tips and exercises to help you improve your memory. It also provides an understanding of how your memory works.

Now, I know there are fancy gadgets that can help you find items such as lost keys and remote controls but they really don't resolve the underlying problem - a weak memory.

Remember, your memory is like a muscle. Use it or lose it!

So, in case you've forgotten, here's that link again:

Free Memory Book

"The true art of memory is the art of attention."
Samuel Johnson


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Improve Personal and Business Success with More Success Strategies Inspired by Stephen Wiltshire - "The Human Camera" PLUS a Special Offer!

Click HERE if you cannot see video above.

Several success strategies were evident from watching the recent documentary about Stephen Wiltshire know as the human camera. I covered three of them in my last article:

1. Repetition
2. Attention to detail
3. Passion

Here are four more success strategies.

1. Be Prepared
Whenever Stephen is out and about he always has a sketch pad and pencils handy. There was a moment during the recent Channel 5 documentary where he was visiting the offices of an architect who was showing him scale models of various parts of London.

Stephen couldn't disguise his pleasure at being in such an environment. Suddenly, with his eyes still transfixed on one of the scale models, he reached into his bag, pull out his sketch pad, a pencil and eraser and started sketching. He was almost oblivious to anyone or anything else around him including the architect who had known Stephen since they were boys.

You never know when an opportunity will arise or when you will receive inspiration for a great idea. Depending on what business you're in you will know the "tools" that you should have on your person or within easy reach. However, no matter what you do you should always have a business card handy and a note book to jot down those ideas.

2. Be Willing to Start Over
There was a point when Stephen was busy drawing a portion of the scale model at the architect's office that he stopped, erased everything and started over again. He wasn't satisfied with how the drawing was shaping up.

Sometimes it can be hard to pull down what you've created but if, fundamentally, it's not right then starting over again can be the best thing in life as well as in business.

Internet marketer, Frank Kern, in a recent interview said that early on in his career he built up a mailing list of 300,000 members. Then, because of a mistake he unwittingly made and which he in no shape or fashion wanted to repeat, he scrubbed the list and started over. Yes, he literally erased his 300,000 list.

The thing is that while the list was valuable it was not important. The most important thing was his know-how. Just like Stephen is confident in his skills to start a piece of art over again, Frank was confident in his skills to re-build his Internet business.

You may find yourself in a position where everything tangible is taken from you but no-one can take away your skills and know-how. And, with the right skills and know-how you can start over again.

3. Change Your Perception
I remember watching the high speed boat chase along the River Thames for the James Bond movie "The World is Not Enough". It was thrilling not just because of the action on the screen but because it gave a view of the River Thames and London that I hadn't seen before. It gave me a new perspective on London.

Stephen's art does the same thing. Because of his unique ability, in his art he is able to show building off from angles that one wouldn't ordinarily see. Why is this important?

When you see things from a different perspective it enables you to think differently about them. It expands the mind and it a very useful technique to use in problem solving.

So if you are facing a particular challenge in your life or business then try looking at it from a different perspective to find a solution.

4. Confidence
While growing up, Stephen's autism resulted in him having poor communication skills and this affected his self-confidence. Now he is self-assured. To satisfy his passion for buildings and drawings he has had to learn how to travel independently. This is something that not many autistic people would be capable of doing.

He is proud of his art and it shows. As he has honed his artistic skills over the years his confidence has increased as well and he sets himself increasing more difficult goals to achieve.

Drawing a 13 ft panorama of London from a view along the River Thames entirely from memory was not an easy feat. Yet you could see he was excited rather than daunted by the challenge.

And he is not one-dimensional. He is also learning the piano and, again this has helped him to improve his communication skills and grow his confidence.

Being successful at something gives you confidence and enhances your self-esteem. So find out what you are good at or even try something completely new and get good at it and see how your confidence improves as a result.

This process is self-sustaining because as your confidence increases so too will your ability to handle more challenging personal or professional issues.

Improve your confidence. It is an essential ingredient to success.

Special Offer

I mentioned Frank Kern in this post. It just so happens that he is just one several experts that will be speaking at the Big Seminar in Atlanta from 24-27 April 2008.

This will be the eleventh time that this seminar has been held and many of the attendees are repeat customers. They have been attending the event for years because it is renowned for the quality of the content and the excellent networking opportunities. Exper