Welcome to Your Achievement Ezine
Issue 297 - February 7, 2007

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Wouldn't it be wonderful to be motivated to achievement by such a lofty goal as benevolence? I must confess, however, that in the early years of my struggle to succeed, my motivation was a lot more down-to-earth. My reason for succeeding was more basic. In fact, it fell into the category of what I like to call "nitty-gritty reasons." A nitty-gritty reason is the kind that any one of us can have -- at any time, on any day -- and it can cause our lives to change. Let me tell you what happened to me...

Shortly before I met Mr. Shoaff, I was lounging at home one day when I heard a knock at the door. It was a timid, hesitant knock. When I opened the door I looked down to see a pair of big brown eyes staring up at me. There stood a frail little girl of about ten. She told me, with all the courage and determination her little heart could muster, that she was selling Girl Scout cookies. It was a masterful presentation -- several flavors, a special deal, and only two dollars per box. How could anyone refuse? Finally, with a big smile and ever-so politely, she asked me to buy. And I wanted to. Oh, how I wanted to!

Except for one thing. I didn't have two dollars! Boy, was I embarrassed! Here I was -- a father, had been to college, was gainfully employed -- and yet I didn't have two dollars to my name.

Naturally I couldn't tell this to the little girl with the big brown eyes. So I did the next best thing. I lied to her. I said, "Thanks, but I've already bought Girl Scout cookies this year. And I've still got plenty stacked in the house."

Now that simply wasn't true. But it was the only thing I could think of to get me off the hook. And it did. The little girl said, "That's okay, sir. Thank you very much." And with that she turned around and went on her way.

I stared after her for what seemed like a very long time. Finally, I closed the door behind me and, leaning my back to it, cried out, "I don't want to live like this anymore. I've had it with being broke, and I've had it with lying. I'll never be embarrassed again by not having any money in my pocket." That day I promised myself to earn enough to always have several hundred dollars in my pocket at all times.

This is what I mean by a nitty-gritty reason. It may not win me any prize for greatness, but it was enough to have a permanent effect on the rest of my life.

My Girl-Scout-cookie story does have a happy ending. Several years later, as I was walking out of my bank where I had just made a hefty deposit and was crossing the street to get into my car, I saw two little girls who were selling candy for some girls' organization. One of them approached me, saying, "Mister, would you like to buy some candy?"

"I probably would," I said playfully. "What kind of candy do you have?"

"It's almond roca."

"Almond roca. That's my favorite. How much is it?"

"It's only two dollars."

Two dollars. It couldn't be! I was excited. "How many boxes of candy have you got?"

"I've got five."

Looking at her friend, I said, "And how many boxes do you have left?"

"I've got four."

"That's nine. Okay, I'll take them all."

At this, both girls' mouths fell open as they exclaimed in unison, "Really?"

"Sure," I said. "I've got some friends that I'll pass some around to."

Excitedly, they scurried to stack all the boxes together. I reached into my pocket and gave them eighteen dollars. As I was about to leave, the boxes tucked under my arm, one of the girls looked up and said, "Mister, you're really something!" How about that! Can you imagine spending only eighteen dollars and having someone look you in the face and say, "You're really something!"

Now you know why I always carry a few hundred dollars on me. I'm not about to miss chances like that ever again.

And to think it all resulted from my own embarrassment, that when properly channeled, acted as a powerful motivator to help me achieve.

How about you? What nitty-gritty reasons do you have waiting to challenging and provoke you into change for the better? Look for them, they are there. Sometimes it can be as simple as a brown-eyed girl selling Girl Scout cookies.

To Your Success,
Jim Rohn


This story by Jim Rohn is featured in the New Release, Chicken Soup for the Entrepreneur's Soul. Chicken Soup for the Entrepreneur's Soul is a compilation of short stories from entrepreneurs, both large and small, who share their experiences of success, failure and courage, with a little helpful advice mixed in. To learn more or to order this new release, scroll down to #4 below or go to http://yoursuccessstore.com/Entrepreneur or call 877-929-0439.

 

"All results no matter how magnificent are infinitesimal when compared to future possibility." James Ray

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"The potential of the average person is like a huge ocean unsailed, a new continent unexplored, a world of possibilities waiting to be released and channeled toward some great good."  Brian Tracy

3. Your Achievement Tips -

Succeeding in Tough Times by Kyle Wilson (Excerpted from Week Twenty-One of the Jim Rohn One-Year Success Plan)

I've been noticing (and I'm sure you have to), while many companies and individuals might be struggling right now, that there is also a group of companies and individuals flourishing. I've also noticed there are some common characteristics found in these companies and individuals who seem to be doing well during some of these uncertain times. Here are five characteristics that stand out:

1) These companies and individuals operate from a win/win philosophy and inherently value their business relationships (customers, employees and vendors). When you understand and appreciate this principle it allows you to create and receive value both on a short and long-term basis, as well as recognize and be in line for new opportunities that begin to present themselves.

2) These companies and individuals have an entrepreneurial mindset. Although, it's true that when a boom is going on the entrepreneur is often leading the way, I've also noticed that when the water is high (things are going good), everything tends to even out (everyone seems to be doing well). But when it all starts to go south, it is then that entrepreneurs can rise more quickly and distinguish themselves. Their ability to take risks, be decisive, recognize and seize opportunity and to basically "create", allows them to find a way to make things happen.

3) These companies and individuals have an excellent work ethic and focus. In sports, if you were to ask, who in their respective sport has been a dominant figure, three immediately come to my mind - Tiger Woods, Michael Jordan and Wayne Gretsky. Beyond their remarkable ability and talent, there is also something about these three that help propel them into greatness - their fierce competitiveness and their incredible work ethic. How do you beat the most talented person in the world when they will also out work you and have a "will to win" that is not to be exceeded? Well, the same is true in business. The top performers do not get complacent. They do not rest on their laurels. And they don't decide that because they are doing well or are on top that that is good enough. Their work ethic and drive to be their personal best has allowed previous victories and momentum to carry over into more success (even in difficult times).

4) These companies and individuals have made a commitment to succeed. Making a decision is the prerequisite to all successes. As Jim says, all good things are upstream, but the natural tendency is downstream. Commitment creates the mindset that allows us to face challenges, shut out negative circumstances and discomfort and then move upstream towards our goals.

5) These companies and individuals operate out of faith. Without faith it is impossible to take risk. Without faith it is impossible to make investments of time and effort in the present hoping for a future reward. And without faith it is impossible to make short-term sacrifices on a consistent basis. Faith allows you to be free to give and be your best, knowing that the reward will manifest itself sometime in the future. Faith also allows you to find the opportunity that often comes disguised in the form of a problem or challenge. While others are "missing it" or spending their time and energy complaining, the person/company of faith is identifying and seizing new opportunities.

Question - how do you rate yourself in these five areas above? I would estimate much of where you find yourself today could be directly related to how well you have fared the past few years in regards to the five points above. The good news is today is a new day, a new opportunity.

Life is full of opportunities. Go For It!

Carpe diem,
Kyle Wilson


Kyle Wilson, co-author of the New Release, Chicken Soup for the Entrepreneur's Soul is also co-founder and President of Jim Rohn International. Chicken Soup for the Entrepreneur's Soul is a compilation of short stories from entrepreneurs, both large and small, who share their experiences of success, failure and courage, with a little helpful advice mixed in. To learn more or to order this new release, scroll down to #4 below or go to http://yoursuccessstore.com/Entrepreneur or call 877-929-0439.



 

"Some men see things as they are and say'‘Why?' I dream things that never were; and say 'Why not?'" Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.

4. Chicken Soup for the Entrepreneur's Soul

Chicken Soup for the Entrepreneur's Soul Chicken Soup for the Entrepreneur's Soul is a compilation of short stories from entrepreneurs, both large and small, who share their experiences of success, failure and courage, with a little helpful advice mixed in. Many of these stories, told for the first time here, will enlighten you to new methods of entrepreneurship or simply help you believe in the possibilities of getting started. People such as Doris Christopher, a stay-at-home mother, introduced her love of cooking to others, thus founding The Pampered Chef; sticking to his instincts and putting value at the core of his business, Tom Chappell, founder of Tom's of Maine, explains how success can go way beyond the balance sheet; and Carol Gardner intimately shares a desperate time of debt and divorce, until along came a bulldog named Zelda, followed by a greeting card line. Chicken Soup for the Entrepreneur's Soul is for entrepreneurs and for anyone on the verge of taking that leap into the exciting unknown. To order go to http://yoursuccessstore.com/Entrepreneur or call 877-929-0439. "Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen are the #1 New York Times and USA Today best-selling authors of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series. I was blessed to be asked to be a co-author of this terrific book. It's the culmination of many years of work." Kyle Wilson, President of Jim Rohn International "As an Entrepreneur myself, this book is like a bible to me. To read about very successful people who didn't take no for an answer or realized what their passion is and stuck with it inspires me to not quit when business gets tough. I recommend this book to anyone looking for the daily pick-me-ups that anyone in business for themselves needs. Well done!" Kathy Partak "A great book written by a combination of Entrepreneurs themselves, and authors to whom they told their stories. The stories are short - allowing the inclusion of many - of all kinds, sizes, phases of development, and types of "lessons learned", as well as place for you to write your own notes and reminders. You will want to go back to many (their websites are provided with brief comments at the end of each chapter)- so do not borrow your copy to friends! The excitement, the challenges, and the "I-can-not-possibly-want-to-do-anything-else" of Entrepreneurship comes through strongly. Learn, Enjoy, and get inspired!" A. S. Heigers

 

"It is exhilarating to feel in control while operating at the higher limits of your potential. Preparation and reinforcement day by day will be your internal pilot light to keep the spark ignited."  Denis Waitley

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