Think Yourself To Success

-- The One Pager Shortcut Series --

What are the sharpest tools in your toolkit? Is it your business website or brochure? How about your press kits or pitch letter? Often solo entrepreneurs first think of a technological tool since technology allows us to "do more with less cost". The truth is your sharpest tool is your mind which is where every action is first created. Consider the following ways to sharpen your best tool.

A Fish Tale

A favorite fish of many hobbyists is the Japanese carp, commonly known as the koi. The fascinating thing about the koi is that if you keep it in a small fish bowl, it will only grow to be 2 or 3 inches long. Put the koi in a larger tank and it will reach 6 to 10 inches. Put it in a large pond and it may get as long as a foot and a half. However, when placed in a huge lake where it can spread out, it has the potential to reach sizes up to 3 feet. The point is pretty clear. The size of this fish is directly proportional to the size of the pond. A comparable analogy can be made concerning people. Our growth is determined by the size of our world. Not the physical dimensions, but the mental, emotional, spiritual and physical opportunities we experience. Realizing that our growth comes from the inside, we better understand that that unless we expand who we are, we'll always have what we've got. Think of it this way, SUCCESS BEGINS WITHIN.

HEADLINE New York Times, 1991 "Optimism Emerges as Best Predictor to Success in Life"

Daniel Goleman, author of Emotional Intelligence, reported on this groundbreaking research conducted at the University of Kansas. What was discovered was this: People with high levels of hope share several attributes:

-- They turn to friends for advice on how to achieve their goals.

-- They tell themselves they can succeed at what they need to do.

-- They believe that things will get better as time goes on.

-- They are flexible enough to find different ways to get to their goals.

-- If hope for one goal fades, they aim for another. Those low in hope tend to become fixated on one goal and persist even when they find themselves blocked.

-- They show an ability to break a formidable task into specific, achievable chunks.

People who get a high score on the hope scale have had as many hard times as those with low scores, but have learned to think about it in a hopeful way, seeing a setback as a challenge, not a permanent failure.

This study proved what wise people knew all along - YOUR ATTITUDE AFFECTS YOUR ALTITUDE.

It's All About Attitude

You hear that all the time, but what does it really mean?

-- Expecting the best in everything--not the worst.

-- Remaining upbeat--even if you get beat up.

-- Seeing solutions in every problem--not problems in every solution.

-- Believing in yourself--even if others believe you have failed.

-- Holding on to hope--even if others say it is hopeless.

Here's the good news: Positive attitudes can be learned. One of the fastest ways to transform our attitudes is with our language. These are the words you want to eliminate from your vocabulary: I can't­. I don't have the time. I'm afraid of. I doubt it . These are the words you want use more of every day: I can..I will make the time..I am confident. ­I expect the best. YOUR WORDS SHAPE YOUR ATTITUDE.

SUCCESS BEGINS WITHIN. What are you willing to do differently as you create your next success? Close the gap between KNOWING and DOING by taking a single action each day. Challenge yourself to raise the bar and enjoy the possibilities! TAKE ACTION NOW!

Copyright 2004, Charlotte Farrior

____________________________________________

Charlotte Farrior of Coaching Connection (http://www.corporatecoaching101.com) and Founder/Team Member of Solo-E (http://www.Solo-E.com) is a corporate and professional coach. She works with professionals, entrepreneurs, directors, and executives to define and achieve the personal and business goals they set for themselves. She coaches in the areas of goal setting, skill development, priority management and career transitions.

____________________________________________

*********** Find more articles like this at http://www.Solo-E.com ? Keeping Solo Entrepreneurs Juiced in Business and in Life. Our team of Solo Entrepreneurs are comprised of small business experts who support others in finding business success with the flexibility and freedom to have a life, too. Network with other freelancers, self-employed and Solo Entrepreneurs in our forums, enjoy our articles and newsletter, and find other online training opportunities. ***********

---

Gratitude, Faith, and Clarity of Purpose -- The Most Powerful Statement

"Things might have been worse"This is the most powerful, dynamic,... Read More

Top 6 Business Success Strategies

"The principal purpose of business is to create a customer."... Read More

Dont View Your Failures As Being Final

Do not make the mistake of looking at your failures... Read More

One Step at a Time the Bowling Ball up the Ladder of Success!

I have often been asked the question, "What is true... Read More

Perseverance Lead To Walt Disneys Greatest Success!

When you are in business every person you hire gets... Read More

Small But Mighty!

When most of us are asked the most important possession... Read More

Promethean Hispanic Fire

In the Greek tale of creation, a Titan (Greek god)... Read More

Make The Second Half The Best Half

Something happens when you come to the intersection... Read More

Your Words Have Power

You teach others how to treat you by how you... Read More

Are You an Emerging Champion?

In terms of life success, there are four pretty obvious... Read More

Top 10 Secrets to Success

Much has been researched, written and taught about success. One... Read More

Sticktoitivity: Lessons Learned!

Walt Disney coined a special phrase for persistence and determination;... Read More

Success Unveiled

How do you define success?According to the Collins dictionary, success... Read More

Personal Power: Implementing Change from the Inside Out

Personal power is an INSIDE JOB. It doesn't mean getting... Read More

I am my Fathers Daughter-An Optimists Viewpoint

One of the greatest compliments I ever received in my... Read More

Success By Performing Without An Audience - Is Anyone Listening?

To achieve success it can be important to keep going... Read More

How My Friend Bob Went From Being A Failure To A Winner By Taking Intelligent Action

Let me tell you story about a friend of mine... Read More

The True BMI of Success - What is the True Definition of Success?

The TRUE BMI of SUCCESS (B)e a (M)illionaire (I)ndexWhy am... Read More

You Are What You Think You Are

Think out of the box, they say. But what's a... Read More

Achieve the Success You Want: 7 Reasons Why People Dont

Change is one of the biggest concepts facing today's society.... Read More

The Fastest Way to Success

Your mind is the only tool that can create success... Read More

Creating Meaningful Success

'No man is an island' the saying goes. The implication... Read More

Parable for a New Age

Daddy was a very, very odd little man-possibly a schizophrenic-for... Read More

How To Get As Lucky As J. Paul Getty

J. Paul Getty appeared to be incredibly lucky, but it... Read More

Success Is Everything

(Excerpted From the 2001 Jim Rohn Millennium Weekend Event -... Read More

Tracking Success With A Goal Tracking Chart

Creating a goal tracking chart is as simple as drawing... Read More

Great Century, by George

George Burns' career could have ended as early as 1958,... Read More

The One-Two Punch for Success: Authenticity and Alignment

Have you ever felt as if you are beating your... Read More

Success; So Close, Yet So Far Away!

Have you ever had this feeling? You're standing in front... Read More

Blessing The Money You Spend

A young girl opens a birthday card from her grand... Read More

Dealing with Difficult People--Go Ahead, Rain on My Parade

"And when it rains on your parade, look up rather... Read More

Reading For Success

We live in the information age, dominated by the development... Read More

Who Else Wants to Keep Failing?

Who wants to carry on being a failure?Failure. Not a... Read More