The Legend of Bagger Vance and Finding Your Perfect Authentic Shot to Lead the Field

The Legend of Bagger Vance - Seeing the Field


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

Yesterday, I watched "The Legend of Bagger Vance" starring Will Smith, Matt Damon and Charlize Theron and directed by Robert Redford. I'd forgotten how much I liked this movie and what a great metaphor for life it is. After seeing this movie for the first time I immediately bought the book from which this movie is derived - "The Legend of Bagger Vance: A Novel of Golf and the Game of Life" by Stephen Pressfield.

In this movie Rannulph Junah plays a troubled war-hero who has lost his golf swing. Then a golf tournament like no other is set on Krewe Island golf course off Savannah attracts two golfing legends - Bobby Jones and Walter Hagan for an epic thirty-six hole showdown. Rannulph Junah who showed great promise as a golfer before going to war is representing the home-side.

However, it is the mysterious caddie, Bagger Vance, played by Will Smith, which is pivotal in this golf tournament. To play at his best, Junah has to overcome his inner demons and find not just his golf swing but his authentic golf swing.

Bagger Vance is more than a caddie. He becomes Junah's coach and mentor. He guides Junah and allows him to make and learn from his mistakes. However, he is also there to provide guidance when Junah is ready and willing to listen.

It's hard allowing those we care about to make what we clearly see as mistakes but what we often fail to see that it's not about the mistake. It's about the lesson embedded in the mistake and, sometimes, the only way to learn the lesson is to make the mistake.

To achieve great success in life you also need to have great vision - an unobstructed view of what is you want to accomplish. You have to be able to see the field. When you can achieve this, the obstacles that you thought existed disappear and remaining "obstacles" become relatively easy to deal with because you will find that these obstacles exist mainly in your mind.

There is a beautiful moment in the movie where Bagger Vance teaches Junah how to see the field. He tells Junah that:

"There's a perfect shot in each and every one of us and all we got to do is get ourselves out of its way and let it choose us."

In other words, we are the ones who put up the greatest resistance to achieving our greatness. We each have a path - call it our destiny. It's a path that has been carved out for us but we wander this way and that, and allow ourselves to be distracted and conflicted by our very thoughts.

Our inner voice, the voice of truth then gets lost in all the noise. On those rare occasions it does break through we may be distrustful of this inner voice which has been with us all along but yet has become unfamiliar because of the lack of attention we have been paying it.

"You have to trust your inner knowing. If you have a clear mind...you won't have to search for direction. Direction will come to you."
Phil Jackson

It's our inability to quieten the mind and listen to our authentic self who is trying to guide us that perhaps gives us the greatest challenge. When we are able to do this, when we get clear about our intention, when we believe in ourselves is when magic starts to happen in our lives. We start to consciously manifest the things we want as opposed to the things we don't want.

"The more tranquil a man becomes, the greater is his success, his influence, his power for good. Calmness of mind is one of the beautiful jewels of wisdom."
James Allen

So you have to quieten the mind, quell the useless chatter to allow yourself to see things as undistorted. When you receive an inspired thought you have to learn to trust it and take INSPIRED ACTION. You have to learn that life is a game and that you just need to play it to the best of your ability.

To do so often means getting out of your own way so that your perfect 'shot' or your perfect path will be revealed to you. Your 'shot' may seem uncharacteristic look at Michael Johnson and his upright running style but as he said if he ran like everyone else he would have been back there with the pack instead of leading the field.

It may not be a well-trodden path. You may have to establish a path so that others can follow but it will be authentic and, like Rannulph Junah, you too may overcome your self-imposed limitations, even come from behind and lead the field.




The Legend of Bagger Vance Will Smith Matt Damon metaphor for life game of life lead the field

"How Would Love Respond?" Book Campaign Update

Thanks to all who supported Kurek Ashley's recent book launch of "How Would Love Respond?" which did as follows:

No. 1 Amazon Mover & Shaker
No. 1 Mental & Spiritual Bestseller
No. 2 Success, Hot New Releases
No. 2 Transformation Bestseller
No. 2 Spirituality Bestseller
No. 3 Religion & Spiritual Bestseller
No. 4 Barnes and Noble, Self Improvement

This is just one of the many rave reviews that this book has received:

"It [How Would Love Respond?"] reads like an action-adventure novel, but Kurek's book is truth, not fiction. How Would Love Respond tells the complete truth about self-transformation: what it takes, exactly how to do it.

I've been studying human development and personal transformation since the 1970s - I've read it all! And I've never read a more thorough transformation manual or one that was as honest in revealing the author's staggering personal trials and his exact steps to overcome them.

Kurek's suggestions are so logically practical- and he is so appealingly insistent in presenting them - that they become irresistible. This is not just a book, it's a life-altering experience."
Andrea Conway, "Law of Attraction Business Coach"

"How Would Love Respond?" is a beautifully written and inspirational book. If you have not already done so purchase a couple of copies today - one for you and one for someone you care about. You will gain access to thousands of dollars worth of FREE bonus gifts including a gift from me.

Get full details about this book campaign by clicking the link below:

"How Would Love Respond?" Book Campaign

"Imagine If You Were Given a Gift So Powerful That You Knew You Had to Share It with the World."
Kurek Ashley

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

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

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. Expert Internet marketer and promoter, Matt Bacak, even bought a ticket to enable him to attend the Big Seminar for life and he is a man who takes his continued education very seriously indeed.

The line-up of speakers for this up-coming Big Seminar 11 includes:

~ Stephen Pierce a Business Optimization specialist,
~ Stu McLaren an Expert on Affiliate Management,
~ Jim Edwards a Multi-Media Expert,
~ Mike Edwards - the Internet Audio and Video Guy,
~ Matt Bacak - Internet Marketing Expert,
~ Ray Edwards a Copywriting Expert, and, of course
~ Frank Kern a Marketing Expert and one of the coolest dudes on the Internet!

However, this is not just an event for Internet marketers. It is an event for anyone wishing to improve and expand their business. The Big Seminar is a great place to do this for several reasons.

Excellent Content
Each speaker is personally handpicked by Armand Morin the founder of the Big Seminar to ensure that they are of the highest calibre. They have to be successful in their niche and earning six figures or more and they have to be excellent teachers and presenters.

Great Networking Opportunities
The networking opportunities are excellent. Russell Brunson said he met all his joint-venture (JV) partners at a Big Seminar event and he s not alone in saying this.

To encourage and facilitate networking lunch is provided each day and there is a special dinner on the Saturday night.

An Unforgettable Experience
Armand Morin likes to create an unforgettable experience. There are great giveaways and attendees such as Dave Lakhani and Jermaine Griggs have both won cars at past Big Seminar events. Laptops have been given away as well.

Who knows what surprises Armand has in store this time around because as well as ensuring that participants have access to the latest, cutting edge strategies and techniques to market your business on and offline Armand likes to create a fun environment?

I have a very special offer. There are still some places available but this event always sells out so it they won't be available for long. If you would like to attend this event for half price, saving you almost a $1,000 then send me an email at info@BigSeminarEvents.com.

There is a catch though. I only have one such ticket available as you will be attending as my Special Guest so you'll have to respond quickly.



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Use the Success Strategies of "The Human Camera" Stephen Wiltshire to Improve Personal and Business Success

Stephen Wiltshire - "The Human Camera"



Click HERE if you cannot view the video above.

The success strategies of Stephen Wiltshire, the autistic architectural artist, can be adopted by anyone looking to achieve greater personal or business success.

Stephen Wiltshire has been nicknamed "The Human Camera". He is truly a remarkable human being who has the ability to look at a building for 10 minutes and then draw it completely from memory.

"Stephen is remarkable because he represents a combination of outstanding abilities, including spatial awareness, memory and attention to detail. It may be that some people would have some of these skills, but not all of them. In Stephen, they've all come together and he must be one in a million."

It is a talent that has enabled him to travel the world doing what he what he loves - recreating the world's iconistic buildings and famous landmarks in art form. His work is admired by the general public, architects, engineers and fellow artists alike.

He receives prestigious commissions to create his artwork and his passion and unique talent have earned him his independence. However, life didn't always look so promising.

As a child Stephen was very uncommunicative. He would often exhibit what could best be described as temper tantrums where he would scream for apparently no reason. One can only suppose that it was his frustration of not being able to verbally express what he was thinking or feeling at the time.

Today, while you wouldn't describe Stephen as being loquacious, he is articulate. However, it is through his art that he best expresses himself and in a language that is universally understood.

As I watched a television documentary featuring Stephen I pinpointed several success strategies that anyone can adopt to achieve greater personal and business success. Here are three of those success strategies:

1. Repetition
It is said that individuals who are autistic tend to repeat things over and over again. They are creatures of habit and don't like change.

"People with autism like sameness. They like repetition. They like patterns in the environment."
Professor Simon Baron-Cohen

For instance, when Stephen is at his London gallery, he buys his lunch from the same sandwich shop each day precisely at 1.30pm.

Mortimer J Adler said,

"Habits are formed by the repetition of particular acts. They are strengthened by an increase in the number of repeated acts. Habits are also weakened or broken, and contrary habits are formed by the repetition of contrary acts."

So the trick is to identify the habits that you have cultivated through repetition that serve you and to eliminate the "bad habits" through the cultivation of new empowering habits.

That Stephen was born with a natural ability to draw is clear but he has honed his craft through repetition. It is through completing endless drawings that he now has the ability to do seemingly effortlessly what others would deem to be impossible.

It is through repetition that he has become comfortable enough with his craft to try out different techniques and styles so that his drawings are not just reproductions of buildings he has seen. They are truly creative works of art to the highest degree.

2. Attention to Detail
One of the amazing aspects of Stephen's work is his attention to detail. When Stephen drew a panorama of London on a 13 ft curving canvas he even included street names and said that he would have added more if there was time.

To commit the panoramic view of London to memory, Stephen took a short helicopter ride. However, when it came to doing his drawing, it was as if he himself were a small bird swooping down to get a closer view and then sweeping skywards to gain a larger perspective.

Both are important in business. You have to take care of the big picture while paying attention to the smaller details as well. The small details can also make or break a company.

"Success in any endeavour requires single-minded attention to detail and total concentration."
Willie Sutton

3. Follow Your Passion
Not many autistic individuals can lead the independent life that Stephen has carved out for himself. Also, not many people period travel the world and be paid to do so.

Stephen has combined his two passions his love of buildings and his love of drawing to create a lifestyle that many would be envious of. In Stephen's case had he not followed his passion, life as an autistic individual, would be very different indeed. No doubt, he would have probably faded to obscurity.

His courage and his passion have enabled him to develop not only as an artist but as a more rounded individual as well. His artistic skills have literally opened doors for him.

The thing is, for the majority of us who do not face the challenges of autism, is that we get sucked into a lifestyle where we end up doing things we do not particularly enjoy just so that we can make a living. Ironically, anyone who has achieved great success in life or in business will say it was because they had the courage to follow their passion and do what they loved.

"Nothing great in the world has ever been accomplished without passion."
Hebbel

So discover what it is you love to do and then find the courage to follow you passion and monetise it.


success strategies the human camera Stephen Wiltshire personal success business success passion attention to detail repetition

A Powerful Video Message that Unequivocally Demonstrates What it Takes to be a WINNER!

The key to successful goal achievement and what it takes to be a winner is powerfully displayed in a movie clip that I watched recently.

Someone who I consider to be a mentor, colleague and friend, Dr Noah St John, of The Success Clinic recently sent me the URL to the movie clip.

He said that one of the speakers at a business conference he was attending showed in during his presentation and that it brought tears to his eyes.

I thought to myself "softie" but I too was crying before the six minute clip was over.

So many lessons can be learnt from this clip.

1. The power of belief,
2. The importance of leadership, and
3. The importance of having a mentor or coach who believes in you.

It also re-defined the meaning to give of your best and brought home the fact that many of us simply do not give of our best even when we say we do. As another of my mentors, Dr Topher Morrison, says if you strive for excellence you will at least end up being good but if you aim to just be good then you'll only end up being average. What's more if you're content with just being average the chances are that in reality your results will be poor.

This movie clip made me realise just how much more we can achieve when we truly commit ourselves. All too often we start on an endeavour and give up when we encounter the first obstacle. Or worse we often don't even start because we don't have the self-belief that we can succeed.

Yet, as Dr Maxwell Maltz said,

"Within you right now is the power to do things you never dreamed possible. This power becomes available to you just as soon as you can change your beliefs."

So I hope that this movie clip inspires you to greatness and helps to:

1. Boost your faith regarding what you believe you can achieve in life, and
2. Demonstrates to you just what it takes to be a WINNER!



For a series of expert tips and advice on how to develop your Winner's Image simply send an email to Winner's Image.

The Key to Successful Goal Achievement - Perseverance

I just love watching the Olympics, witnessing the numerous feats of athleticism, skill, courage, endurance and passion. Athletes have to hone their bodies as well as their minds and, on the day, it is often the individual who has greatest control over their mind that wins. Major championships are always dramatic and what occurred during the Pairs Figure Skating Programme in the 2006 Winter Olympics at the Turino Palavela was certainly that.

The last couple to skate was Xhang and Xhang from China, one of three pairs of Chinese skaters in this particular contest. Totomania and Marinin from Russia had produced a sublime performance and were tipped for gold. For Xhang and Xhang to succeed in their quest for the major prize their skating would have to be impeccable as well as encapsulating the difficult technical elements such as the quad jump where the skater makes four revolutions mid-air. This is a situation where potential does not come into the equation - only what you do on the occasion can be marked and with the new scoring system this was never more the case.

It wasn't that long ago that the quad jump was executed for the first time in competition and now, just like what followed when Roger Bannister broke the 4min mile barrier in 1954, any skater of merit has a quad jump in their bag of tricks. When we see skaters gliding seemingly effortlessly over the ice we forget just how technical, acrobatic and even dangerous much of what they are doing is.

In pairs skating one of the required elements is a throw jump. Imagine being tossed into the air, whipping yourself around a few times with feet and body perfectly aligned and then touching down for a flawless landing.

For a chance at the gold medal, Xhang and Xhang had to go for broke. The opening moments of their routine included a throw jump involving a quad Salchow. Xhang performed the quad but couldn't control the landing. She ended in an awkward box split, twisting and banging her left knee in the process. If that sounds painful, imagine how it must have felt! With her legs splayed and still out of control she crashed into the barriers.

Apart from feeling empathy for the pain Xhang must have felt as she crash-landed one could not help but also feel sympathy for this skater so graceful one second and then sprawled on the ice, like a fledgling learning the rudiments of flight, the next. The audience gasped and the British commentator Barry Davies said resignedly:

"…Tough on them because they are going to end with nothing and she clearly is in considerable pain…What a shame!"

Xhang was in obviously discomfort. If she didn't continue the programme she and her partner would walk away with nothing yet if she did skate she risked permanent injury. There was a brief consultation with their coach but no medical treatment. It felt as though time stood still as Xhang continued to move gingerly around the ice watched anxiously by her concerned partner. Then to everyone's surprise the skaters moved into position to resume their performance. The usually eloquent Barry Davies was incredulous:

"Surely not! Surely not! They would have to pick up from where they left off. Have I got that right? I don't see how they can. I don't see how they can." His voice trailed off.

Fellow commentator Robin Cousins, obviously flummoxed, was slow to respond.

"I'm speechless actually because I can't believe that does not hurt to the point where she can't perform. This is a skater that has a career ahead of her that could risk further damage by performing on it [knee]."

But this was the Olympics and you don't walk away from an Olympic dream. The pair did literally pick up from where they left off and as their music restarted the audience erupted with applause for this plucky skater.

The rest of their programme went without any major hitches including the second of their compulsory throw jumps. Xhang continued to hide the pain she must have been experiencing. When the pair finished skating the audience were on their feet. While Xhang and Xhang awaited their scores she finally received initial first-aid treatment. The knee was strapped and more of that ice that had been her downfall minutes ago was applied. Fortunately, although she was limping around the Olympic village the following day, Xhang is expected to make a full recovery.

Xhang and Xhang took silver behind the Russian pair, Totomanina and Marinin, knocking team-mates Shen and Zhao into third place and knocking team-mates Pang and Tong out of the medals altogether.

Nothing worthwhile is easy. You've got to aim high. You will make mistakes but when you fall (as opposed to "fail") get up, brush yourself off and try again. The bounty is great for those with the courage and perseverance to see things through to the end.

Also, don't let your emotions get in the way. Despite her pain Xhang remained composed and focused. She kept her eye firmly on the prize and she and her partner were duly awarded the silver medal. And, what's more remarkable about this tale is that a few weeks ago the pair hadn't even been thinking of being at the Olympics.

Persevere; you are but a moment away from greatness.

How to Awaken Your Spirit to Live a Life Without Limits

"How to Awaken Your Spirit for Living a Life Without Limits"

On Wednesday 20 February, I'll be interviewing an award-winning author, motivational speaker and advocate who is both blind and disabled. Although, in her words she says she is "ultra-abled". Dr Joe Vitale often ends his emails with "author of way too many books to mention" and this young author is rapidly following suit.

My guest will be Shirley Cheng and this remarkable young woman, though still in her 20s, has authored or co-authored somewhere in the range of 17 books at present. But who's counting?

A crippling case of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis which struck when she was just 11 months old, resulted in her spending years in hospitals in America and China thus preventing her from going to school. She was also almost separated from her mother, whom she loves dearly, and sent into care. Added to this she lost her eyesight when she was 17. Yet, Shirley has an indomitable spirit and an incurable optimism.

"Although I'm blind, I can see far and wide; even though I'm disabled, I can climb high mountains. Let the ropes of hope haul you high!"

Shirley's latest edition to her "Wake Up…Live the Life You Love Series" is called "Embrace Ultra-Ability: Wisdom, Insight and Motivation from the Blind Who Sees Far and Wide". It has been receiving rave reviews, for instance M Wayne Cunningham of ForeWord Magazine CLARION Reviews says:

"If there is ever to be a poster person for people with ultra-abilities, it would have to be twenty-four-year-old Shirley Cheng. The author has turned her disabilities into an ultra-ability and written the awe-inspiring Embrace Ultra-Ability! Cheng's slim but power-packed motivational guide delivers what it promises with its wisdom, insights, and motivation. It is a volume to be read, re-read, and treasured for its originality, readability, and courageous approach to dealing with life's adversities, and from an individual who has had far more than her fair share of them."

You can listen to a brief excerpt (two minutes) from this book by clicking the link below which will open into an AudioPostcard. (You will also be able to forward this AudioPostcard to a friend.)

Excerpt from Embrace Ultra-Ability

Like her heroine, Helen Keller, Shirley has an insatiable appetite for learning and once the door to education was opened for Shirley new worlds revealed themselves that she was all too eager to explore.

"Have you ever been at sea in a dense fog, when it seemed as if a tangible white darkness shut you in and the great ship, tense and anxious, groped her way toward the shore with plummet and sounding-line, and you waited with beating heart for something to happen? I was like that ship before my education began, only I was without compass or sounding line, and no way of knowing how near the harbor was. "Light! Give me light!" was the wordless cry of my soul, and the light of love shone on me in that very hour."
Helen Keller

You see another remarkable fact about Shirley is that she didn't learn how to read until she was ten years old and spent six months in Special Education. At the end of this time her Special Education teacher told her mother,

"She's ready to go to a regular sixth grade class, and she'll do very well in it."

Shirley had made up for 5 years of regular education in 180 days.

Then towards the end of her sophomore year in high school Shirley was struck another blow. She lost her eyesight and had to resort to being tutored at home. This meant that she was unable to accumulate sufficient credits to gain her High School Diploma. But Shirley was both diligent and determined and took an exam which is eligible to those without High School Diplomas.

She took her GED (General Education Development) Test using cassette tapes and a tape recorder.

"I did everything in my head without seeing anything, including math calculations and graphs. I also recorded my essay on the tape recorder, and I scored over 3200."

And what of the future? Among other things, Shirley has plans to gain multiple doctorates from Harvard University.

I do hope you will join me on Wednesday for what promises to be an inspiring, empowering and motivational interview.

Click the link below for details of the upcoming teleseminar with Shirley Cheng:

"How to Awaken Your Spirit for Living a Life Without Limits"

From Hood to Good to Hollywood

In High School he was voted Class Favourite, Home-coming King and Most Likely to Be Remembered. Yet for a time, because of the path he trod, he could have been remembered for all the wrong reasons. He was a drug-dealer before the compassion of a mother to forgive the murderer of her son helped to convince Johnny Wimbrey to turn his back on a life that would have most certainly landed him in jail if he wasn't killed first.

Today, Johnny Wimbrey is on his way to Hollywood to launch his own television show - The Johnny Show®.

Many told him he couldn't do it, reminded him of the many that had tried to break into television and failed. Johnny simply smiled and looked to those who not only told him he could host his own TV show but also how he could achieve such a feat. This is not to say that Johnny surrounds himself with "yes" people. He is simply a man who knows his own mind and has overcome incredible odds to become a best selling author of "From the Hood to Doing Good" and a world-renowned keynote/motivational speaker.

He did not have an auspicious start to life. He was born in the projects. His family lived on welfare. His earliest childhood memory is being in a home for battered women. His father was alcoholic. You could say that he didn't have much in his favour and he zigzagged across a very fine line between, for want of a better term, good and evil.

As a teenager, he could be selling drugs on the street on Saturday night and singing hymns in church on Sunday morning. One thing was evident. If he continued to live life this way, the future did not bode well.

He survived a shooting incident that to this day baffles those who witnessed it. That night Johnny should have ended up laid out on a cold slab in a morgue but he was given a second chance which he embraced with all his might. He decided to turn his back on life in the hood and instead become a force for good. Dr Denis Waitley, leading keynote speaker and author of "Psychology of Winning" and "Seeds of Greatness" had this to say about Johnny:

"When Johnny speaks, I listen and learn. Already a superstar in our profession, he is inspirational, educational, and transformational. From a background of less than ordinary, his life story is nothing short of extraordinary. No one exemplifies freedom of choice better than Johnny Wimbrey."

So today, Johnny surrounds himself with people who celebrate his life and the fact that he will be hosting his own television show is something worth celebrating. He has mentored scores of individuals to achieve financial independence and has touched the lives of thousands of people across the globe, through his motivational speaking. Through the medium of television he will be able to positively influence the lives of millions.

When one takes a look at his life you get the feeling that, despite his accomplishments, he is just getting started. He epitomises what it means to be unstoppable and to such a man all that is left to say is:

"Go Johnny! Go!"

Win a FREE Trip to Hollywood!
For details on how you can win a FREE trip to Hollywood and the latest on Johnny Wimbrey's new television show visit The Johnny Show®.


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The Power of Books to Transform Your Life

I was listening to "America's Success Coach", Jack Canfield, recently and he told a story that reminded me of Bob Proctor's "333 Story" from his international bestseller "You Were Born Rich". In summary, the "333 Story" is a great example of what you can achieve when you make a firm decision and remain open to possibilities rather than focus on obstacles.

Jack Canfield recounted that while he was in Atlanta promoting his book, "Success Principles: How to get from where you are to where you want to be", that he was interviewed by a woman who said his publisher had sent her two copies of his book. She read one and gave the second copy to her brother who had been unemployed for three years. He was depressed and refused to venture out.

Well three weeks later her brother had finished the book. He shaved, put on a suit and attended three job interviews. Just three days later he was offered a job. Just writing about this gives me goose bumps. Books indeed have the power to transform your life.

It was novelist, journalist and poet, Christopher Morley who said:

"When you give someone a book, you don't give him just paper, ink, and glue. You give him the possibility of a whole new life."

This man had certainly been given a new lease on life when he was given the gift of "Success Principles".

It can be argued that one book has single-handedly transformed the world of personal development. Someone gave a little green book to Lloyd Conant who spent an entire weekend reading and rereading its contents. On Monday morning he decided that he would build a world-class corporation and that is exactly what he did. Nightingale-Conant is a giant in the field of personal development. The company is recognised around the world for the quality of its training programs and all the leaders in the field of personal and business development, marketing and sales training, spiritual growth and wealth building aspire to have their resources distributed by Nightingale-Conant.

One evening, Lloyd Conant told Bob Proctor and Harold Gash, two of his "top lieutenants", about the little green book. Proctor was just itching to discover the name of the book and more importantly what was written in the pages of this book that has had directed Lloyd Conant to his true purpose in life - to put the inspirational and educational recordings of Earl Nightingale in every home around the world. The book was "The Science of Getting Rich" and, though its text is outdated by our twenty-first century standards, it continues to fascinate and inspire a new army of transformational leaders.

Bob Proctor says of "The Science of Getting Rich" that:

"The contents of this book have served as the foundation for every personal development program I have written for the past quarter century."

In fact, Bob Proctor used this book as the basis of his "Science of Getting Rich" seminar - a powerful seminar that has helped thousands of people across the world better understand, and apply with outstanding results, the process of wealth creation.

The little green book inspired Rhonda Byrne to create and produce the movie "The Secret" - a movie which I recently heard described as a blockbuster. That made me smile for this movie does not feature the likes of Bruce Willis, Halle Berry, Samuel L Jackson, Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Matt Damon or George Clooney. There are no breath-taking action scenes, suspenseful car chases or even elaborate sets.

Instead, the movie features the likes of Bob Proctor, Loral Langemeier, Rev. Michael Beckwith, Jack Canfield, Lisa Nichols, Dr Joe Vitale and Bob Doyle among others. The film stars teachers, philosophers, finance experts, psychologists, physicists and authors. Bizarre, isn't it? But when you understand the spirit in which this film was made it really is no surprise that it has been as successful as it has been and, more importantly, the power of this movie to transform lives across the globe.

"As you learn The Secret you will come to know how you can have, be or do anything you want. You will come to know who you really are. You will come to know the true magnificence that awaits you in life."
Rhonda Byrne

I'm sure you can recall a book, perhaps even given to you by a friend or loved one, that made a significant impact on your life. I urge you therefore, to continuing reading inspirational books and to give someone you care about the gift of a great book.

FREE Book

Get your copy of a great book - You Were Born Rich - and read for yourself the "333 Story", other inspirational stories and instructions on how you too can transform your life by visiting the link below:

You Were Born Rich



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Turn Your Life Around - All it Takes is a Decision

Imagine being so filled with hopelessness, you find yourself running through a cemetery with tears streaming down your face. Your lungs burn from the exertion and your heart, labouring to keep pace, feels so heavy it threatens to drag you down into one of the many graves that surround you.

What could make someone plunge to such depths and, more importantly, how does a person go from feeling that wretched to absolutely rocking with self confidence? Well, the answer is quite simple really. You make a decision.

This story is not about me – I know you may have been wondering. It is about a remarkable young man called Mark Anastasi. Allow me to go back in time so you can understand how Mark came to be in this state. Also, let me assure you that, despite the sombre opening of my story, this is a tale of truth, joy and love.

In 1997, Mark full of hope and ambition, left Greece for the UK to study Business Management. He was just 17 and 7 years later he was fired from his job. For 5 months he earned nothing.

He was getting further and further into debt. He was kicked out of his apartment and had nowhere to live. He sold everything he owned until he was left with just a suitcase of clothes, a laptop he had been unable to sell and a pair of rollerblades. His control over his life was slipping out of his grasp and he was reaching breaking point.

So it came to be that Mark found himself running through Brompton Road cemetery, his tears indistinguishable from the rain drops that flowed down his face and pounded his body soaking him to the bone.

When he could run no more, he poured his soul out to those cold, grey tombstones. I’d like to think that night the cemetery was filled with souls full of compassion for this young man some of whom may have left this world without accomplishing that which they came here to achieve. Staring at the many tombstones, Mark wondered what his epitaph would be if his life were to end abruptly. There wasn’t much to say.

It was then he made a decision. He vowed he would “never, never, ever let money control his life again.” And, in that moment he felt completely at peace.

But how? Nothing had changed.

Outwardly yes but “you cannot travel within and stand still without”. Although there needed to be a ‘gestation period’ before his outer, visible world caught up with his new feelings of prosperity in his inner, invisible world.

The gestation period was short.

In 28 days Mark was financially free and, a mere 26 months later, Mark owns an online company worth £4 million and a seminar company worth at least £1 million.

This did not come about by accident. Mark had spent the early months of 2004 feeding his mind with material on wealth creation. He had a feeding frenzy, studying every book and audio program on wealth creation he could get his hands on and attending seminars on the same.

So, on that dark night in the cemetery he reached a moment of total realisation. All this material was no longer just theory. It helped him to comprehend his truth that, like all of us, he created his world, as detestable as it was, and he had the power to wipe the canvas clean and create a world that he truly desired.

Today, when Mark speaks, he speaks to hundreds of individuals at a time – and all with a pulse! I have personally witnessed teenagers and octogenarians alike hang onto his every word. Self-confidence oozes from every cell of his being. It is at these times he says he feels most joyful. He defines the mission of his companies as:

“Sharing with as many people as possible the personal development insights, tools, strategies, and education that have made such a MASSIVE impact in my life, and in the life of my loved ones.”

When Mark was broke he was powerless to help his family who were also going through great financial difficulties. He was powerless to help his girlfriend who was ill. He was powerless to help those he loved. To be incapable of expressing your love for those you care about can seem like the worst form of punishment. Now he need not ever be in that position again.

Anthony Robbins, in Notes from a Friend, says:

“The only way to change your life is to make a real decision. A real decision means that you cut off any other possibility than the one you’ve decided to make a reality.”

When Mark decided to turn his life around, when he decided that it was no longer acceptable to struggle with money – having cold sweats about being able to make monthly payments, agonising about getting a pay cheque, worrying about where to lay his head down at night and how to feed himself during the day – that decision was irrefutable.

Everyday we are given choices – the opportunity to make decisions. Yet so many people are ambivalent in this area and this leads to discontent. Please don’t think that Mark hasn’t made ‘wrong’ decisions since that night – of course he has – but his overriding decision was to become financially free and so every decision he has made since then, whether it turned out the way he wanted or not, brought him one step closer to his goal.

Neale Donald Walsch, author of Home with God sums up decision-making beautifully:

"Every decision you make - every decision - is not a decision about what to do. It's a decision about Who You Are. When you see this, when you understand it, everything changes. You begin to see life in a new way. All events, occurrences, and situations turn into opportunities to do what you came here to do."

Decide how you would live your life and then set about with complete certainty to create it. All it takes is a decision to turn your life around.