19. Keep Reminders Handy

Every team, project, or goal usually involves at

least one acronym-using banner or theme!

They're shortened, easy-to-remember slogans

that help keep us on track.

Here are some simple and valuable ideas

for some you might want to incorporate

in your self-help strategies!

COVER YOUR ASS

DO IT YOURSELF

(if you want it done right)

KEEP IT SIMPLE: SURVIVE!

No, definitely not 'Save Our Souls';

just the opposite!

STOP OWING SOMEONE!

Both financially with credit and loans,

and as much as possible in getting a hand up

from others. Unless you're in a position

to give back, being the constant recipient of a hand-out

is bad news.

This one's great because it has two

gems in one;

PAY YOURSELF FIRST

 is always a good axiom,

and so is

PUT YOURSELF FIRST!

Sometimes you just have to tell a hater how

it is, and I do it by telling them to

KISS MY ASS!

Here's another with double mileage on it;

KNOW YOUR WORTH

and

KEEP YOUR WORD.

Adopt any of these that apply

or invent your own today!

In a crisis, short and sweet are

easier to recall than a long-winded

mission statement or anything too involved.

The bottom line is to keep the

goal in mind; how you do it is

inconsequential!
(These go great on post-its and in

the car to keep you grounded

inbetween appointemnts

and on the phone!)

***

18. FIGHT!

STAND YOUR GROUND!

DON'T TAKE 'NO' FOR AN ANSWER!

SHOW 'EM WHO'S BOSS!

KEEP ON TRUCKING!

NO WORRIES FOR ANYONE ELSE BUT YOURSELF!

MAKE SOME NOISE!

FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT!

GET BACK UP....AND BRUSH YOURSELF OFF!

TAKE A LICKING AND KEEP ON TICKING!

This is your life and your dream.
If you don't fight for it fervently and tirelessly, who will?

******************************************

17. Taking Chances

We live in a world of tit-for-tat; nothing comes easy, nothing

is free, nothing comes without a price in direct balance to what

is gained.

Sometimes you know up front what a sacrifice will entail, other

times you take a chance and find out later. Getting what you

need is more important than worrying over a debt.

This world runs on compromise, sacrifice, and bartering.

No one gets everything they want, and they definitely have

to part with something else to get it (whether it be peace of

mind, politeness, family, love, security, treasures, innocence,

a false sense of security, etc.)

All relationships exist in a state of imbalance...

all treasures are acquired by being in relationship

to the world or others in the world. There must be

a partnership or a dependence on others who possess the

talents or insights that you do not. In order to achieve such

a mutually beneficial status, we may have to give away things

we don't wish to. Life is constant receiving and sending, 

gain and loss. 

You get what you get --what you want--only by virtue of

willingness to do without other desired treasures....

by virtue of who you're willing to get in bed with...

by virtue of how much chaos and change you are capable of

enduring.

Indebtedness, concealment, conciliation, are all part of the

ride and the price we pay (at one point or another) to the

piper. So whenever possible, breaking free and letting loose

the shackles is vital. Vital to reclaiming our lives, placing our

mark, and stretching our creative legs. And there's no sure-fire

guarantee with taking chances or going off the beaten path.

No more idealizing, no more imposed hegemony, no more naivete.

To know the true workings of this world is to open one's self

to the ravenously scurrilous and unpredictable nature of things;

there's no going back. To want something to be different from

what has always been... to seek to make your vision(s) manifest...

that is the ultimate chance.

Nothing is promised, all promises are lies, and handshakes

simply mean you know you've made a deal with the devil.

Step out into the nothingness and see what transpires.

***************************************

16. Adaptability

"In the struggle for survival, the fittest win out at the expense
of their rivals because they succeed in adapting themselves best
to their environment."

    - Charles Darwin

No matter all the planning or preparation in the world,
life will continuously evolve in ways unexpected and
undesired. It is our ability to adapt to such changes
and circumstances that will allow us to continue to
move forward.

Like any other area of life, if you are not ready with
an ability to release and redirect with the flow of things,
you will be run over or left behind.

Things change...it is the nature of the world we live
in. We might not like it, we might not be prepared,
and we might prefer other outcomes. But when push
comes to shove, we have to know when to hold 'em
and when to fold 'em.

There are fights you can win, and there are fights that
simply distract you from the greater and larger picture.
Growing, adapting, changing, and transforming the self
and our plans is an ever-needed quality.

If you don't possess it, you might want to look into
developing it!

Being fluid allows for relinquishing the rigidity that
keeps us stale and stuck. It puts us in the flow of life.
We end up where we need to be, as opposed to where
we thought we 'should' be. How could we possibly
know enough to predict what will happen in all the world?

Keep your options open; goals and plans are wonderful,
but there are always alternatives. You can maintain
principles while making adjustments to your strategy.

At the end of the day, it's not strength, expertise, nor
talent that wins it. It's insight, deciphering future trends,
changing what needs changing. Releasing expectations
instead of staying fixated and focused and attached to
your own vision at the expense of anything else.
Rolling with the punches.


Evolving isn't easy, but it's the only way to survive
and see what comes next.

**************************************

15. Networking

"We cannot live only for ourselves. A thousand fibers connect us with our
fellow men; and among those fibers, as sympathetic threads, our actions
run as causes, and they come back to us as effects."

-Herman Melville


Whether we like it or not, connectivity is the reality of our world.

We don't live in a vacuum, and we can't function as an island.
No matter our level of self-sufficiency, we still must depend
on others in various capacities to accomplish our goals.

We might need powerful references to attain a job, or
to get our foot in the door. We might need a computer tech
to make our dream realized. We might need contacts in
other arenas to provide information and ideas in our own field
or department. The more fingers and ears you have, the better
equipped you are to handle things.

No matter what the presentation of a successful man that he
is self-made, that is only a part of the tale. There are many
along the way who assisted and led and tutored him into success!

Henry Ford was famous for a scene in which he was being
criticized for being illiterate, and he pointed to his phone and
noted that 'all he had to do was push any button on that phone
and get an expert in 20 different fields. Including spelling!'

It doesn't matter how it gets done; only that it gets done.

We all have need of resources, relationships, connections,
and networks that will provide us with help along the way.
Even if you feel you have nothing to offer in return initially,
there are folks who can help. The time for you to scratch
their back may come later, or they may simply take an
interest in helping someone who's sincerely trying.

You can't know the answer unless you ask the question.

Put pride to the side and start taking steps to build up your
network of friends, connections, and tutors. You can never
have too many friends.

14. Consistency

It's important to note that the famous quote is often mis-spoken;
It is only the "foolish consistency which is the hobgoblin of little
minds." If you're focused on greatness, then consistency is the thing
which can carry you through.

Consistency, patience, persistence; they all go hand in hand.

Life is more about the tedium and the regularity than the drama
and the big events; wait long enough and everything under the sun
comes back around. If you're smart enough and staid enough to
notice this and restrain from impetuousness, you may get the prize.

One's commitment to personal goals and planning is key here, too.
If you are easily run off or scared...if you don't believe fully enough
in self and have a dedication to the long haul, success will likely evade
you. Dedication in heart, energy, time, and resources.

We live in a time of expectation of fast paybacks, and pitifully
short attention spans. (cough cough--computers--cough cough!)
If we don't have a consistency to work ethic, calling potential clients,
building relationships, glad-handing, passing out cards, posting links to
our business, turning in applications--just plain damned TRYING--we
can't complain when it doesn't happen.

It may take a hundred efforts and attempts for me to get just a one or
two day job. If that's what it takes...it's what it takes. The alternative is
unacceptable.

Following through means keeping vision strong and keeping spirit high.

We can't allow setbacks and difficulties to derail us; they are an inevitable
part of life. They aren't personal. They aren't the end. They aren't defeat.
We can't let 'lacking' outweigh 'trying.'

Keep going, keep going, keep going...until it happens.
Don't lose out on a dream--or even basic survival--because you gave up
too early. Stick-to-it-iveness is essential!

13. Esteem

In order to succeed and prosper you must first have an
appropriate level of self-esteem. A belief in self that is deep
and true, not merely a facade to impress or convince others.
It is not enough to have good ideas and be a good worker,
you must have the courage and belief in your own ways to
promote them at all costs.


Others will try and convince you that things like Ego, Selfishness,
Will Power, Determination, Self-centeredness, and other survival
modes are negatives, that they are destructive and even immoral.
But without the most basic sense of self-love, there is not even a
chance of  doing well in life.


We are our own best, greatest investor/cheerleader/supporter.
We have to be.


You may have to learn to sell yourself and the idea with more gusto,
or you may need to learn more people skills, business practice, etc
but unless you are willing to commit to 100% confidence and faith
in you--the bottom line--then all is for naught.


Own your own space.


Know that what you have is rock solid, and leave no room for doubt.
Because the world and your enemies and every friend you know has
not a single vested interest in anything concerning your success and
prosperity. You are utterly and incontrovertibly alone, and none will
mourn the failing of you or your dreams except you.


It's a hard fact, but it's sobering. You are the only person
you can ever truly count on.


So you'd better learn to like yourself. Love yourself. Be at one
with your ideas and your talent and your strengths. Because when the
time comes for the perseverance and dedication to get ugly, how you
feel on a gut level about your dreams and your abilities can not be faked.


This is the real game. No re-starts. No lifelines. No fairy godmothers
waving any magic wands.


If you can't fully stand behind what you want to do or who you are,
why on earth would anyone else want to?

12. WILL POWER & DEDICATION

Once you have an initial goal in mind, the key is to
attack it with fervor. Goodness knows the number of
jobs I have held where I worked my fingers to the bone,
long hours and little pay, no reward or consideration, and
still I kept at it. I at least owe it to myself to maintain that
same sense of drive for my own interests.

We all have a domesticated willingness to devalue self 
and a subservience, because that is what society teaches;
we must have the will to break free. Will power is
necessary to accomplish anything, and it's frowned upon
by many as 'bad' because it makes the difference between
making it (and being competition for the 'winners') or
failing (and playing right into the hands of the manipulative
'masters.')
Commitment to your goals, the drive to keep at it no matter
what, and the push to make your own ideas come to pass
are all crucial for being successful. All of these practical
applications require more than lip service; they require true
force of will. Mind over matter.

You have to decide in your mind to succeed and that
you are dedicated to it regardless of the risk or results
or recriminations. You have to mentally prepare and be
determined before it can happen. (Knowing you can do it
also ties directly into esteem, so see step 13 for more on that.)

Dedication is perseverance. Doing the work that needs
doing no matter the difficulty. Complaints are of no
significance. Circumstance are of no importance. "Ain't no
use in complainin'...when there's a job to do..." And it has to be
actual and gut level; faking it won't cut it. You aren't being
paranoid; people are out to get you. (In fact, look only to
self to find the one person who truly supports your dreams.)

You can move  a 4-bedroom house full of furniture with
only your own body and will power, if you decide to.

You can take a diagnosis of a  'terminal illness' the 'medical
community' said would take you in 6 months time, and survive
hale and hearty for 4 & 1/2 years...if you decide to.

You can build a house your own way...
you can make a living your own way...
you can put a message on a van...
If you can imagine it, it can become reality.

Eyes on the prize.
Bottom line it.
Stick to it.
"Whatever it takes, Babycakes."

11. Vision

Most success seems to stem from one main factor; individuality.

Whether it is finding something you are good at and marketing the hell
out of it, finding a new and innovative way of doing the oldest and simplest
thing imaginable, or coming up with innovations and brand new ideas
that rock the global marketplace, it's all about unique vision.

Stepping off of the beaten path can be a perilous ordeal. Not everyone
has the chops to face the slew of Nay-sayers and Doubting Thomases who
will fail to comprehend what it is you're doing.

Others are critical enough; if they are unable to see a solution or concept
in the way you do, or fail to understand the feasibility of bringing it about,
you may be all alone.

Keeping a sound, vivid image of what it is you're working for...keeping in
touch with that fire inside.... will be crucial to maintain enthusiasm when you hit
roadblock after roadblock.

They say that in order to create something, you first have to be able to envision
it coming into creation. That keeping a visible reminder--especially a physical
construct like a Vision Board of diagrams, artists' renderings, proposals-- will
help you better maintain the focus, allowing your vision to become reality.

10. Comprehension

Comprehensiveness is key to any plan.

What is it that you desire?

"Do you know where you're going to?"
(or are you merely along for the ride?)

What are your goals?

How do you intend to achieve them?

If you can't answer these questions,
then chances are that you won't make things
happen. We must have a road map and
a destination in order to get somewhere.
Otherwise, we can end up anywhere.

**************************************

"LIVING WITHOUT A DEFINITE MAJOR
PURPOSE PROMISES NOTHING BUT A
SCANT LIVING.

You may get by in life without a Definite Major
Purpose, but you will never get ahead. Definiteness
of purpose is the starting point of all achievement.
Financial goals in particular should be specific,
definite, and measurable. You should know what
you plan to earn, by when, and how you plan to
do so. The greatest advantage of financial security
is the peace of mind that comes from knowing that,
whatever challenges life brings, you are equipped to
deal with them. You will be better at whatever you
choose to do because you can focus on opportunities
instead of struggling to eke out a living"
- Napoleon Hill Foundation

**************************************
This isn't to say that a solid goal can't change
based on new information, a change in desire,
or some other positive response to life's ever
changing circumstances.

But you have to have a solid vision to start.

Lack of vision and clarity can keep us mired
down in the same old thing, day after day.

Looking beyond the immediate, and being able
to imagine something more--something better--is
key to being able to get there.

9. Close to the Vest

Business people and successful people can be
passionate about things, and utilize emotion in
their quest, but pick and choose what you share.

Keep personal matters and deep emotions, as
well as your history and interests, very close to
the vest. Most people will traffic in the commerce
of your personal business, even innocently.

And a friend or worker today may be an adversary
or competition tomorrow, so don't give all your info
away.

The old adage "Never let them see you sweat" is a
good one. People might expect that you are weak or
nervous, but unless they see the results or proof of
it, it is just speculation. It's always bad energy to let
people see your inner workings...to know that you
fear or have troubles.

Not everyone is looking for you to succeed...not even
the people supposedly in your camp. So the less you
let your Achilles' heels be exposed, the more poised
and ready for battle you are.

Never leave the house without a game plan. You
don't want anyone outside of yourself to see you
less than confidant, affable, and strong.

If you have to, fake it.

There are great affirmations, books, tapes, mantras
and more designed to help get you into a strong spirit
before you take on the world.

Do the leg work.