For those of you who are just now joining us, I am evaluating Wallace D. Wattles’ “The Science of Getting Rich,” now owned by Rebecca Fine. So far, we have identified the first four steps to getting rich as:

1. Control Your Thoughts; Focus on Truth
2. Be Grateful
3. Find Your Purpose
4. Set Clear, Definite Goals

And now, without further ado, step number five:

“The answer to prayer is not according to your faith while you are talking, but according to your faith while you are working.”

I don’t think anyone could put it any clearer than that.  So the fifth step to getting rich is ACTION.  But not just any action, or just any work.  We receive our blessings through inspired actions.  Let me explain.

Have you ever had an inspired thought?  Something just hit you “out of the blue?”  Perhaps it was the best idea you ever had.  Did you act on it?  If so, then you are acting in what Wattles calls “The Certain Way,”  (Chapter 11 for those who are reading along.)  If you did not act on that thought, and if you make a habit of dismissing or discounting such thoughts, you are missing out on all the good stuff the universe is trying to send you.  When you focus on something you want and hold the faith that it is on its way to you, those little moments of inspiration are God’s way of sending it to you.  “Do this,” He says.  Your job, is to do it, and do it now.

See, some people, like Oprah Winfrey, Martha Steward, Bill Gates, and many other successful people have always, naturally followed those instincts.  Perhaps they had someone modeling that behavior to them when they were younger, or perhaps they had an adult who encouraged their creativity, or maybe they just figured it out on their own, but somehow, they learned to stay “in tune” with their “creative voice.”  They dreamed, just like the rest of us, and their wishes came true for them, because they acted on the “advice” they were given, they believed in those inspired thoughts.

Others of us, myself included, learned somewhere along the line that any thought is to be evaluated before acted on.  We learned that our actions should be logical, and that we need to “think our decisions through before making a big mistake.” 

Now, don’t get me wrong here.  I am not saying that you should never think things through or contemplate an idea.  Here’s what Wattles says.

“ . . .you must so arrange your own business affairs that you may be able to receive it when it comes to you.  Your thought makes all things, animate and inanimate, work to bring you what you want, but your personal activity must be such that you can rightly receive what you want when it reaches you.”

Okay, let’s bring this into the 21st century, shall we?  I would really like to have a new car.  I visualize it every day.  I’ve been tempted, after watching “The Secret,” to go to a dealership and test drive some BMW’s.  However, I have a brother-in-law who sells Toyota’s, and a new Avalon would be nice, not to mention the fact that I would probably get a better deal.  So, first of all, I am having trouble making up my mind what I want.  I’ve thought about getting the Avalon first, then stepping up to a BMW later.  But the Avalon doesn’t come with the options I want in the style I want.  Bummer!  In the meantime, there’s a part of me that refuses to go to the dealership of either maker because I know that I would qualify for financing either vehicle.  I don’t want to finance this car, I want to pay cash for it.  In that regard, I am not ready to receive it, “rightly”.  So I don’t have it.  In the meantime, I shake, rattle, and roll down the road in my 1999 Nissan Altima.  Don’t worry about me though – I’ll get a new car when I’m ready. 

I hope this example makes sense to you, because I want to point out something else.  I could sit here and make up all kinds of excuses as to why I don’t have my new car.  I could even blame other people for it.  I could say things like, “If my husband really loved me, he’d buy me a new car.”  “If it weren’t for this [unexpected expense] I’d have the money already.”  “If I could just catch a break, if only the universe were on my side.”  Or, lastly, “Why not just go in debt for this car – I’ll pay it off, eventually.  Life’s too short to not enjoy it.”

But none of those statements would be true.  If I really wanted and needed a new car, my husband would buy it for me, and I know that.  That’s why I haven’t asked him.  There’s no such thing as an unexpected expense, at least, not if you believe in the law of attraction.  My husband has had some medical bills recently, but you know what, they haven’t amounted to that much and it has not been the deterrent for acquiring my car – not at all.  The universe is on my side, always, just as God is always on our side, and my “break” will come when I’m ready for it.  After all, I receive blessings in other ways and in other areas of my life every single day.  I could go in debt for the car, but that’s not me.  I would not enjoy my life because going in debt for a car right now does not fit with my value system.  I am simply not a vibrational match for a new car right now.

So we’ve evaluated this pretty well, but here’s the tricky part; most of the time, we don’t know what’s holding us back from receiving what we’re asking for.  Yes, I heard all of you when you said, “That’s all well and good, Debra.  But what’s holding me back?  I don’t get it.  I am ready to receive a new car, new house, new job, new promotion, more money, and the list goes on and on.”  Okay, here’s what you do.

“Put your whole mind into present action. . . . Do, every day, ALL that can be done that day.  Every day is either a successful day or a day of failure, and it is the successful days which get you what you want.”

In other words, focus on action.  Focus on your work.  Wattles says that you should put your entire mind into your present work, even if you feel you are not in the right job.  No one is so misplaced that you cannot reap the rewards you desire until you can get into the right line of work.  So give everything you’ve got to your current employer.

Les Brown, one of my favorite motivational speakers, talks about how his turning point came when he was working for someone else.  He knew he had chosen the wrong career and was miserable.  As a result, he “held back” at work.  He did only what he had to do.  Once he realized that by holding back what he was truly capable of doing for his employer he was really holding back what he was capable of accomplishing for himself, his attitude turned around immediately, and so did his success. He didn’t stay with that employer, obviously, and now makes his living joyfully helping others find their passion.

When you make every day a success, doing everything you can in that day, success will come to you in other ways.  Try it and see for yourself.

The last point I want to draw out of Wattles’ philosophy on action and how we are to work is this:

“You are not to overwork, nor to rush blindly into your business in the effort to do the greatest possible number of things in the shortest possible time.  You are not to try to do tomorrow’s work today, nor to do a week’s work in a day.  It is really not the number of things you do, but the EFFICIENCY of each separate action that counts.”

When I first left my husband’s dental practice and started working on my own again, I expected to, for the most part, solve all of the world’s problems in one day.  At the very least, I expected to have my business up and running, and be a motivational success story, on day one.  I expected to speak to everyone, everywhere, have several websites up and running, and, well, you get the picture, all on day one.  I put myself under so much stress.  It finally occurred to me, while reflecting on why all of that hadn’t happened yet, that it was like my husband expecting to serve everyone in the 3-county area we live on his first day of business; filling all of their cavities, placing crowns and bridgework as necessary, etc.  I realized that if I were his mentor and he had come to me with all the expectations I had for myself, I would have explained to him that there was no way he could do all of that in one day, and that even if he did, what would he do on his second day in business!

I learned to slow down not only because I couldn’t do it all, but also because I did several things that I really didn’t need to do.  I wasn’t using my time efficiently because I didn’t stop to think about what I was doing.  I didn’t have a strategic plan. 

Later on, I learned how to listen to my inner voice and pay attention to inspired action.  That’s when things really started to cook for me.  I had some gaps in my strategic plan when I created it and I knew that.  So I had to learn to listen to my intuition and when it gave me something to do, I did it – immediately.  My website traffic increased, I started getting more speaking engagements, my blog articles even started to write themselves almost.  My Career Development Seminar, which I had been planning for about two years, suddenly had a sponsor, and an audience.  That came about due to waking up one morning and “being told” to go talk to one person.  She led me to another person, who led me to two more people, and my seminar was launched in just a few hours.  I had been trying for months, but on that day, I was a vibrational match with my desire.

Wattles would say that because I followed through on my inspired thought that day with power, in other words, I knew this was my purpose, so I followed it through until I achieved my goal, that this was efficient action.  So it’s not only important to work, but to know the ultimate reason for why you’re doing the work.  What is your purpose behind it?  What are you really trying to accomplish? 

I’m reminded of a story about a school bus driver who wanted to quit his job.  He felt he had served his purpose and that it was time for him to move on.  When he informed his supervisor that he would be quitting after the current school year, his supervisor begged him to stay on.

“Why do you want to leave?  You’re the best, most experienced driver I’ve got,” said his manager.

“All I do is pick kids up and drop them off every day,” said the driver.  “I just feel like there’s more to life than this.” 

“Is that what you think you’re doing?” asked the supervisor.  “Do you think that’s all there is to your job?”

“Well, no.  I also make sure that other vehicles stop when they’re supposed to and that the children get across the road safely.  If a situation seems dangerous, I keep the doors closed until I know it’s okay to open them,” replied the bus driver.

“Have you ever had a situation where you kept the doors closed until you knew it was safe to let the children off the bus?” asked the supervisor.

“Oh, sure,” replied the bus driver.  “It happens often enough.”

“What do think would happen if I had to hire a less experienced driver for your route?” asked the super.

“Well, I suppose the children would be at risk until the new driver learned how to handle those situations.  You know, I’ve never thought about it before, but I guess I could potentially be saving the lives of those children every day and just not realize it because I’m so cautious.”

“That’s right!” exclaimed the manager.  “Great bus drivers are hard to find because it takes a loving heart for children, a cautious eye for potential disaster, and an ability to remain calm under possibly dangerous situations to be really good at this job.  But you, sir, are one of the great ones.  Please reconsider staying on.”

The bus driver did keep his job – for another 15 years.  Instead of seeing his job as just picking up and dropping off kids, he saw his job as keeping children safe to and from school.  He found his purpose for doing the work.

Are you working efficiently?  Are you working with your purpose in mind?  Are you working?  Are you inspired?  The fifth step to getting rich is inspired action.

Posted under Education, Inspiration, Leadership, Motivation

My husband has an employee that I worked with for a while during my years as his office manager.  She’s a very sweet, well-intended, hard worker.  I’m going to refer to her as “Pam,” but that is not her real name.

We sent Pam to Lexington, Kentucky for some training early on in her employment, which is typical for us to do.  It was a half-day course and she called us around Noon to let us know she had passed the exam and was on her way back to the office.  Lexington is about an hour from us. 

Around 2:30 in the afternoon, I received a call from Pam.  While we had given her directions on how to get to the course, we failed to give her directions on how to get back home!  She said, in a rather excited, nervous, upset tone, “I’m at Renfro Valley!”  (Which is a good 40 minutes in the opposite direction!)

We often tease Pam about that incident and it is, needless to say, one of her most embarrassing moments, but I’m not sharing it with you just to further humiliate Pam on the World Wide Web, I want to ask you this: Have you ever ended up somewhere in life, unintentionally, not fully understanding how you got there?

Too often on our life’s path we don’t pay attention to where we’re going, then we ask “How did I end up here?”  Well, Pam, because you drove in that direction.  You didn’t take the right road to get to where you wanted to be. 

The good news is that you can start where you are right now, and create a new course for the rest of your life.  Pam didn’t have to go all the way back to Lexington, to the parking lot where she took her course, and start all over again.  We gave her directions on how to get from where she was at that moment, back home. 

Are you ready to take some directions?

Our directions today will come from Wallace D. Wattles’ book “The Science of Getting Rich,” which I’ve been evaluating now since last Monday. You can download the book free directly from my site, or from The Science of Getting Rich NETwork. There are links to my three previous posts to the right.  I am in Chapter 8, “Thinking in The Certain Way.”

I am putting Wattles thoughts into a step-by-step process, and this is step four: Set Clear, Definite Goals.

“You must first form a clear and definite mental picture of what you want.  You cannot transmit an idea unless you have it yourself. . . . You must know what you want and be specific and definite.”

Okay, but how?  It makes sense to me, and I believe what Wattles says, but I must admit, this is something I’ve always struggled with.  First, there’s the issue of making decisions.  We women are known for not being able to make up our minds.  Ladies, we’ve got to get past this!  When I concentrate on being a decision maker, I can do it, but I do have to practice it a lot.  Otherwise, I’ll take forever in deciding which pair of shoes to buy, only to have my husband come along and say, “Why don’t you just buy both – you know you’ll wear them.”  Duh!  Of course, part of that issue is learning to be good to myself – which is another blog post.

Back to the subject at hand, how can you get better at visualizing exactly what you want?

Vision Boards are a good way of keeping your eyes on the prize.  If you saw Oprah’s first show on The Secret, you might recall Lisa Nichols revealing her vision board on which she had pasted the words, “Lisa tells all on the Oprah Winfrey show.” 

I have several pictures of the house I will one day build, both inside and out, and the gardens surrounding it, on the bulletin board in my office.  I am very excited to be attending a retreat hosted by Christine Kane the second weekend in March where we are going to create vision boards.  Christine has a step-by-step process for doing this, so instead of recreating the wheel or pretending that I’m an expert at it, I’m simply going to link you to her post, How to Make a Vision Board.

If you are a private person, or do not have personal space available to display a vision board, you might prefer what Esther Hicks refers to in Ask and It Is Given as a “Magical Creation Box” where you place pictures of items or scenes into a special box and label it, “Whatever is contained in this box, IS.” 

“Spend as much of your leisure time as you can in contemplating your picture. . . . The methods set forth here are for people whose desire for riches is strong enough to overcome mental laziness and the love of ease, and to make them work.  ”

Have you ever noticed, really noticed, that when you read biographies of successful people, it is always mentioned how little time they spend watching television?  I remember reading somewhere that Bill Gates, in his earlier career years, spent his spare time reading Success and Money magazines.  In other words, he didn’t come home at 5, plop down on the couch and watch television until midnight.  He worked long hours by himself, with his business partner, and eventually with his development team, then spent time “sharpening the saw.”  Bill Gates is definitely “Thinking in The Certain Way.”  Interesting, isn’t it?

Wattles also tells us that it is imperative that we have unwavering faith that what we are asking for is on its way to us.  Ask once, there is no need to tell God about our desires every day.  You can clarify what you want as often as you like.  When you’re focusing and thinking about your clear, definite aims, further the process by describing each and every detail, until you get it just the way you want it, and then visualize your taking possession of whatever it is you desire.  “See the things you want as if they were actually around you all the time,”  says Wattles.

Most importantly, remember to be thankful – even for the things yet to come.  If you’re visualizing the way Wattles wants you to, you will feel as if these things are happening and in your possession now.  So be grateful for them.  Here’s how he explains it.

“The person who can sincerely thank God for the things which as yet he owns only in imagination has real faith.  He will get rich.”

Ask once, clarify often, and be grateful.

So then, to summarize step number 4 in the getting rich process:  Set clear, definite goals, and focus on them.  If you don’t pay attention to where you’re going, you could end up far from your desired path.

Posted under Education, Inspiration, Leadership, Motivation

If you have downloaded the book, “The Science of Getting Rich,” and have been following along with me, you know that I’ve covered to page 20 in my two previous posts.  Today, I’m jumping ahead to Chapter 13, page 39, “Getting Into the Right Business,” because in my experience, if you set goals prior to finding your purpose and defining your path, you could be chasing a goal that isn’t in sync with your values.  Does that make sense?  Good.  Besides, if I follow the book exactly, it wouldn’t be much more than just one big paraphrase, now would it?

As someone who writes and customizes training for a living, I find it very important to present information in a way that makes it usable to the observer, reader, and listener.  That’s why I like the step-by-step process method of teaching.  Like following the steps in a cookbook, if you do things in order, you’ll end up with a fantastic result.

So in keeping with that philosophy, let’s review the first two steps to getting rich, which are:
1. Control your thoughts; focus on truth.
2. Be grateful.

Now, the third step to getting rich is to find your purpose.

I’ve written a lot about this on this blog since my passion is to help others find their purpose.  But this post will highlight the writings of Wallace D. Wattles.  Let’s see what he has to say about “Getting Into the Right Business.”

Wattles starts out by saying that we should begin by developing our natural talents and abilities.  However, the most important factor in determining what you should choose as your vocation is a strong desire to want to succeed in it. 

“You will get rich most easily in terms of effort, if you do that for which you are best fitted, but you will get rich most satisfactorily if you do that which you WANT to do.” 

Let me give you a 21st century example.

My husband is an excellent pianist.  He took lessons beginning at age six from his grandmother who was well-known for her gift of music.  He definitely developed his natural talent.  My college piano professor, Jay Flippin, jokingly says that it is “just not fair” for BJ to be able to play that well and not be in the music business. He can give any professional a run for their money.  BJ uses his talent locally, but does not make any money from his music, and has no plans or desire to do so.

Despite this amazing talent, the only occupation my husband can ever remember wanting to pursue is dentistry.  He is an amazing dentist.  He eats, sleeps, and breathes dentistry.  How, I’ll never know or understand, but he does.  Does it come easy for him?  Well, after 25 years, there are many things I’m sure that he could do with his eyes closed, but he does constantly pursue new techniques and learning better methods of doing just about everything there is to do.  Twice however, once in high school and a second time in college, he fainted simply watching a video that showed a bloody procedure being performed.  That would have been enough to make me reconsider my plans for working inside people’s mouths where blood frequently appears, but not BJ.  He was determined, and he got through it.  To this day, he can’t stand to see a bloody procedure being mimicked on a television show like Grey’s Anatomy.  But performing surgical extractions in real life, in his own dental office, is no problem. (!)

I’m not sure that anyone has a natural talent for a field like dentistry.  I mean, it’s not like you can, as a child or teenager “practice” doing fillings or extractions.  I suppose if you found your child on more than one occasion cleaning the family pet’s teeth you could assume that he or she might become a dentist, but I don’t think my husband ever showed that kind of interest! 

Anyway, my point is that even though a natural talent was not visible for my husband becoming a dentist, his strong desire to do so is what made it possible for him and is what has made him so successful in it.  As Wattles says, “The desire to do it is proof that you have within you the power which can do it.”

I have a friend who by his own admission is not as naturally gifted as my husband at playing the piano, but he’d just as soon sit and play music as eat – he’s a professional musician.  He was in my “Gifted and Talented” class and has a very high IQ.  He would have his pick of many high-level careers, but chooses to play and perform music professionally.  He has a strong desire to be in the music business. 

Wattles goes on to point out that you can even have a weakness in a particular area that can be overcome by a strong will to succeed in spite of it.  Like the speaker who stutters except when in front of an audience.  Starting to get the picture?  Good.

So use your talents as a guide, but use your desires to make the final decision as to what business you pursue.

If you find yourself in a field that you truly hate or just know you are not right for, do not feel obligated to stay in that field long term.  You will certainly have to keep your current job if you have bills to pay, until you can get into the field you want, but Wattles reminds us that there is no hurry to do so.  There is plenty of opportunity.  When the opportunity presents itself, act on it.  But if you are in doubt in any way, wait.  This is where it comes in very hand if you have already set about the task of Determining Your Values.

“Do not wait for an opportunity to be all you want it to be.”  It may be a stepping stone to your greater opportunity.  But if you are logically trying to make an opportunity fit into your value system, it probably isn’t the right path for you at this time.  I could give you many examples from my life of where I’ve chosen the wrong way and the right way, but to spare us both some time, I’ll just say this:  Pay attention to how you feel.  If the offer feels right, it is.  If you’re trying to rationalize why you should take it, it isn’t.  It really is that simple.

How to Work

No matter what line of work you are in, or whether you are in business for yourself or work for someone else, it is important that you give more than you expect to receive in wages.

Successful entrepreneurs have known this for a long time – you must give more than you get.  Notice in that previous sentence I wrote, “Successful entrepreneurs.”  By always giving more than face value for each item or service you sell, you ensure repeat business, and repeat business is invaluable to any industry.

I love what Wattles says about how employees should conduct themselves at work. 

“Do all the work you can do, every day, and do each piece of work in a perfectly successful manner.  Put the power of success and the purpose to get rich into everything that you do.”

If someone is paying you to do a job for them, put everything you’ve got, body, mind, and soul, into that job.  Now, hopefully, it’s a job you find fulfilling and noble.  If not, you should seek employment elsewhere.  But in the meantime, you owe it to yourself, to be the best employee you can be for your current employer.  You are to bring in business for your employer, and your actions should be focused on making him or her rich.  What Wattles points out, is that by doing so, you are ultimately making yourself rich.  And if there is no opportunity right where you are to make more money or advance, by conducting yourself in this manner, someone will notice you and offer you a job where you can be fulfilled, advance, and get rich.  Get it?  If you decide to be a “slacker” because you hate your job, your boss, just don’t feel good today, or whatever, it shows – all the time, every time.  Others see it.  Customers are potential future employers.  If you don’t make a good impression, they will not consider you.  Do your best, every day, with every task, and it will pay off. 

Wattles goes on to explain that you shouldn’t do things just to make yourself look good in front of your boss – that will not get you what you want either.  You must be sincere in your actions of increasing the life of the business.  The attitude you presume when dealing with customers and co-workers will do more for getting you what you want, and you must be sincere.  Doing your best in the job you have now will get you the job you want.  You must trust and believe in this.

Be the type of person people feel good to be around.  My husband teases me because I love the Food Network show Giada’s Weekend Getaways.  He doesn’t see what I get out of sitting on the couch watching Giada eat.  The fact is, I love anything by Giada De Laurentiis because she is one of those people – the kind of person you just love to “be around,” or in this case, watch on TV.  I like her because she is always smiling and having a good time.  I value those qualities.  I feel better about myself after watching one of her shows.  I love her approach to life, and to food, and she seems sincere.  I would feel ultimately successful if I could cause others to feel that way when they are around me.

Add something of value to every person you meet.  You communicate this by knowing that you are a person of value.  Make your constant aim that of being and adding value.   

In summary them, there are three components to the third step of getting rich, which is to find your purpose. Those three components are:

1. Develop your talents
2. Become excellent in your chosen field
3. Add value to everything and everyone around you

If you  need more help on how to find your purpose, read How to Decide What to Do with the Rest of Your Life.

Posted under Education, Inspiration, Leadership, Motivation

“You want to get rich . . . in order that you may surround yourself with beautiful things, see distant lands, feed your mind, and develop your intellect; in order that you may love others and do kind things, and be able to play a good part in helping the world to find truth.”
–Wallace D. Wattles

Setting:  First Baptist Church in Morehead, Kentucky, immediately following the Sunday morning service, about three years ago.
Characters:  Betty (not her real name), Margaret (not her real name), and Debra (Me – my real name)

It’s cold outside, so Debra is putting on her coat when she is approached by Betty.

Betty:  Debra, do you have a couple of minutes for me to share with you a mission that I’ve taken on for one of our local college students?

Debra:  Sure, Betty.  What’s up?

Betty:  Well, there’s this young couple – they’ve been married a couple of years and they are expecting their first baby in a couple of months.  They are from [some country that has a King, I can’t remember where – please forgive me!] and the King has frozen all monetary transfers out of the country.  Their parents cannot send them any money, they are both working while going to school, but they need money for health insurance.  The way their current policy is set up, the mother is covered, but not the baby, so as soon as it is born, they will have astronomical medical expenses if they don’t take out a new policy.

Debra:  How much do they need?

Betty: They’ve raised most of the money on their own, but they are just a little under $300 short, so I’m trying to help them come up with $300.  Three other ladies here at the church have given me $20 each, so I have $60.  Could you help out with another $20?

Debra:  I’ll give you $100 . . .

Debra sees Margaret enter the vicinity and knows that Margaret could spare $100 and would probably have a soft heart for this young woman as well . . .

Debra:   . . . and I’ll bet Margaret could give you another $100.

Margaret:  What?

Debra:  Betty, tell Margaret what you just told me.

Betty explains the situation to Margaret as Debra takes out her checkbook.

Margaret:  Sure, I’ll give you $100.  But is that all you need?  If Debra and I each give you $100, do you have the other $100?

Betty:  Oh, I’ve already collected $60, and I can put the rest in myself!

Betty turns to Debra as Margaret gets out her checkbook.

Betty:  Oh, thank you, Debra.  You’ve made this so easy for me, I can hardly believe I have all the money already.  I thought I’d be spending all afternoon and next week on the phone.  They really are good people and such a nice couple.  I know their parents are going to be so relieved.  Would you like to meet the young lady sometime to see that they really are deserving?

Debra:  No, no, Betty.  That’s okay.  If you say that they’re good people and they need this money, that’s good enough for me.  I’m glad I am able to help.

Margaret: Me, too.  As she hands a check to Betty.

Betty:  Thank you, Margaret.  And thank you both, again, so much. 

Betty wipes tears from her eyes and looks at Debra and Margaret as if they are angels.

Margaret is immediately distracted by the approach of her granddaughter: “Grandma!”

Margaret:  Hi, Sweetie!  How was Sunday school?  The $100 check is immediately forgotten.

Debra smiles, feeling good that she had helped right a wrong, then turns to meet her husband and friends who are waiting by the door to go to lunch.  She never mentions the $100 to anyone expect her husband, who records the check.

End of Scene

God is in us.  By giving us all the resources He has, He is entrusting us to protect them, use them wisely, and share them with others when He tells us to do so.

Wattles says it like this:

God, the One Substance, is trying to live and do and enjoy things through humanity.  He is saying “I want hands to build wonderful structures, to play divine harmonies, to paint glorious pictures.  I want feet to run my errands, eyes to see my beauties, tongues to tell mighty truths and to sing marvelous songs,” and so on.

God expresses Himself through us, His children, and what father doesn’t want his children to have everything he is capable of giving them?  If you believe that everything belongs to God, the Universe, Source energy, etc., and that God has a right to do with His resources as He sees fit, then who are you to refuse His blessings?  Who are you to say, “No thanks, God.  I’d rather be poor, I know that’s what You really want.  You don’t want me to have all Your blessings because if You did, you would have made me smarter, prettier, healthier, You know, more deserving.  But You didn’t, so don’t try to make it up to me now, God, by giving me all these things.”

Sound familiar? 

Not to me – I wanna be RICH!  I am gorgeous, healthy, intelligent, and READY TO RECEIVE!!!  If you are as well, keep reading.

So how, then, do we get ourselves to a place where we are open to God’s blessings?

This is the second step to getting rich:  Be grateful for what you already have.

Yes, if you’re familiar with The Secret and/or you saw the first Oprah show on the Secret, then you’ve heard this before:  An Attitude of Gratitude.  Let’s explore why this is so important, and how we can maintain an attitude of gratitude.

Focusing on what you’re grateful for helps keep your mind off the mundane, off of your dissatisfaction with the way things are.  It’s one way of controlling your thoughts, which Wattles tells us is step one.  Post signs and symbols of gratitude throughout your house, and where you work.  Be constantly thanking God for everything He has trusted you with this far.

After reading this book, I changed my screen saver to read, “Right now, I am grateful for . . .”  Now, every time it comes on, or every time I walk back into my office, I’m reminded to thank God for something.  I have yet to come up with nothing, and that’s not a testament to me – that’s a testament to our Creator, giver of all things.

Wattles also reminds us, “And because all things have contributed to your advancement, you should include all things in your gratitude.”  On the Oprah show, the subject came up of, “What about when bad things happen to us – like really horrible things that someone did to us - are we supposed to be thankful for those?”  The answer is to say this, “I thank you for that experience.”  Every experience we have has taught us something and has played a role in making us who we are, and who we are becoming.  Remember back in high school or college when you had easy courses and difficult courses?  Some of life’s lessons are more difficult than others, but we must learn them in order to grow.    

With all that being said however, do not focus your mind on “tough lessons.”  Instead, focus your attention on the best, surround yourself with the best, and you will become the best.  Surround yourself with the qualities you desire, give thanks for each quality as you attain it, and you will attain all the qualities you desire and are grateful for.  Wattles says it like this:

The grateful mind is constantly fixed upon the best.  Therefore it tends to become the best.  It takes the form or character of the best, and will receive the best.

Be grateful.  This is the second step to getting rich.

Your Assignment

Start a Gratitude Journal.  I have a special notebook just for this purpose.  Write down everything that is currently in your life experience for which you are grateful.  Then, and this is really powerful, write down everything for which you would be grateful, if God decided to trust you with it.  Do not question whether you are worthy and do not try to figure out, on your own, how you would attain it.  Just write down your desires as if God is sending them to you right now.  Then, as your desires begin to materialize, be sure to thank God for them.

Posted under Education, Inspiration, Leadership, Motivation

It seems that nearly everyone is excited about, “The Secret.”  The authors have been interviewed and featured on Larry King Live, Ellen, and the Oprah Winfrey show.  Rhonda Byrne discovered, “the secret” of living a successful life after reading, “The Science of Getting Rich,” which you can download right now from this website, or from The Science of Getting Rich NETwork, both free of charge, and read for yourself.

Like Oprah, I’ve known “the secret” most of my life, I just didn’t know it was a secret.  I can’t say that I’ve lived it as well as Oprah, (!) or followed it as closely as I would have like to.  Obviously, living according to the laws and principles of “The Secret” has worked for many successful people throughout history and if everyone lived according to this philosophy, we would definitely have a better world in many aspects.

My first introduction to the law of attraction, which is “the secret” by the way, was from Napoleon Hill’s, Think and Grow Rich.  But after watching “The Secret,” I developed a curiosity for, “The Science of Getting Rich.”  So I found it, downloaded it, and now I’m going to evaluate if for you over the next seven posts.

One common frustration of trying to read a book that was first published in 1910 is that the language can be difficult to understand and follow.  (It’s sort of like reading the King James Version of the Bible.)  I do like the fact that there is absolutely no “fluff” in the book whatsoever – no beating around the bush, no setting you up for the fall, no covert marketing, not in the original text, anyway!  But I thought it might be helpful to boil it down for you, giving you the gold nuggets of information that you can and should apply immediately to your life.  Also, as is consistent with my writing style, I am going to give you a more step-by-step process.  I will list one step per post, summarizing all seven steps at the end so that you have something to print out and keep with you.

Ready?  Here we go, then:  Debra Moorhead’s summary and comments on “The Science of Getting Rich,” originally written by Wallace D. Wattles, now owned by Rebecca Fine.

Mr. Wattles spends the first three chapters of his book convincing us that we have a right to be rich.  This is important because many people think of getting rich as something evil and, therefore, to be avoided.  He points out that being poor is not noble and that being satisfied when you’re poor by saying that you’re “rich with friends” or some other contrite excuse doesn’t cut it either.  He does say that, “Success in life is becoming what you want to be,” but goes on to explain that it is very difficult, if not impossible, to become all you want to be without money.  Money, and plenty of it, is the key.

The first step toward getting rich, is “to acquire the ability to think the way you want to think.”  In other words, control your thoughts.  Wattles then gives a very thought-provoking statement, that caused me to stop reading for a moment because I had to wrap my brain around it.  Before I give it to you, I want to share a story that will illustrate his point perfectly.

I have a cousin named Terry.  A few years ago, Terry was featured in a local newspaper because he was named head of janitorial services at a day-care center.  One of the questions the reporter asked him during his interview was, “Mr. McKee, what made you believe that you could one day become the head of this department?”  My cousin Terry responded with, “What would make me think I couldn’t?”

Now, I know what you’re thinking.  “Gee, Debra.  How pathetic is the rest of your family if you’re proud of this cousin who’s just a janitor?”  Well, you see, one of the questions that a lot of people have about living a life of purpose is “what if everyone lived a life of purpose – who would pick up our garbage, who would dig ditches, who would do (basically) all the dirty work that most of us feel like we’re too good to do?”

My cousin is proud of his work.  When a child vomits, Terry runs, literally runs, to clean it up.  He understands the fact that vomit is full of germs that could easily be passed on to another child.  He understands that the longer he waits to do his job, the more people, mostly children, are at risk of acquiring an illness.  Terry takes his job very seriously because he knows the truth.  The truth is that Terry’s job is extremely important to the well-being of everyone who comes into contact, in any way, with that day care center.

Now, for Mr. Wattles’ thought-provoking statement, it is this:  “And to think what you want to think is to think TRUTH, regardless of appearances.”

You see, it would appear that my cousin is “just a janitor.”  It may even appear to you that he glorifies his job, and thinks more highly of himself than he should as a janitor.  The amazing thing to me is that Terry is able to focus on his job, because he knows the TRUTH – the fact that people would get sick if he didn’t do his job well.  What’s even more amazing to me is that Terry is able to understand and focus on the truth even though he has Down’s Syndrome.  When he was born, his parents were told he would only live to be about 16 years old.  He is now 39.  When he started school, he was told he could never learn anything of significance.  His mother home-schooled him.  When he first applied for a job, he was told he didn’t need to work because he could draw welfare.  Obviously, another appearance, not a truth.

We create everything in existence with our thoughts.  “I think, therefore I am,” said Descartes.  He did not say, “I appear, therefore I am,” yet many of us think that because we were born, because we “arrived on the scene,” that that alone explains our existence.  That we’re merely here to react to everyone else’s perceptions of us.  There was a time when nearly everyone believed the earth was flat.  It certainly appeared that way, didn’t it?  In fact, it still does when you look out over an ocean.  Doesn’t it make sense then, that there are many things that appear a certain way to us, but are actually waiting for us to discover the TRUTH?

I want to share one more story with you and then I’ll let you go think about your own truths.  If you’ve ever been in a sales training course you’ve probably heard this one before.  An innovative clothing company sent two salespeople to a remote island to sell shoes.  The first individual arrives and notices that none of the natives are wearing shoes.  He radios the boat to come back and pick him up saying that there are no sales to be made because none of the people wear shoes.  The second sales professional arrives and immediately calls his home office and says, “Send me every pair of shoes in the factory – we’re going to be rich!  No one here owns even the first pair of shoes!”

Appearances will deceive you; the truth, by its very nature, never will.  Focus your thinking on the truth, regardless of appearances.  This is the first step to getting rich.

Until next time,
Live Joyfully!

Posted under Education, Inspiration, Leadership, Motivation

Hello faithful readers!  As many of you might recall, my husband had heart surgery last week.  He was doing very well until Wednesday when a kidney stone decided to make its way down his right ureter.  He had surgery to remove the stone yesterday morning and we are home today, recuperating, again.

While we are not glad that he had to have three surgeries in two months’ time, we did learn a lot from these experiences and I’ll be sharing the lessons we learned with you in a future post.

For today, I am, needless to say, very tired - too tired to write a lengthy post.  So instead, I’m going to share with you a recipe I created a few weeks ago that’s healthy and mood lifting.  It’s simple, adaptable, and refreshing.

Because it’s too cold in Kentucky during January and February to grill outside, I find myself preparing a lot of chicken.  As you probably know, it’s challenging to make chicken taste delightful without heavy cream sauces.  One day, I was craving something light and “citrusy.”  I was able to find a lot of fish recipes, but I wasn’t in the mood for fish.  I wanted to have chicken, with a light, refreshing taste, and some vegetables to go with it.  I also wanted something simple.  Out of all these desires, “Debra’s Citrus Chicken” was born.

You can adjust the ingredients as necessary to accommodate the number of portions you need to prepare, and to suit your family’s tastes.  I’d love to hear of your modifications so after you try it, if you hit upon something that’s delicious, please come back and share it with the rest of us!

Debra’s Citrus Chicken

2 Tbsp. Orange juice
2 Tbsp. Lemon juice
¼ cup chicken broth
½ tsp. minced garlic
1 pinch dried oregano

2-3 chicken breasts, seasoned with a little olive oil, salt, and pepper

Potatoes, carrots, onions, other veggies as in season and that your family enjoys, tossed with oil, salt, and pepper

Place chicken and vegetables in glass baking dish.  Pour liquid mixture into bottom.  Bake at 400 degrees until done – about one hour.

Posted under Uncategorized

One of the main principles in the Law of Attraction is that you must set clear, definite goals.  When telling the universe, God, or infinite mind what you want, you must be as specific as possible.  You need to visualize your goal as if you have already achieved it and be as grateful for it as if it has already materialized in your reality.

I don’t know about you, but I sometimes struggle with details.  Partly because I’m grateful for almost anything that’s better than what I already own, but also because I’m not a good material visualizer.  I can visualize myself giving a fantastic speech, appearing in front of an audience and getting a standing ovation, being on Oprah and Martha, anything to do with feelings, but to visualize the details of a car, house, or some other material object, well, I struggle. However, I have come across a few things that help me a great deal and I’d like to share those with you now.

First, realize that this is a work in progress.  It is okay to think of something you want, ask for it, then clarify later on exactly how you want it.  While this might slow down the timing of your getting what you want, isn’t it better to get it exactly the way you want it than not at all?  With a goal as big as a house, I think it’s very difficult to come up with a complete visualization in one sitting.  That’s what I used to try to do, but not anymore.  We are constantly on the leading edge of thought and want, and just because I decide today that I want a new house doesn’t mean I know exactly what style, the setting, how many rooms, the flooring style, etc.  But until I decide on those things, I will not have the house.

Second, keep a goals book.  Writing down the details as they come to you will help a great deal.  For instance, when we have a problem with something in our current house, we thank God for the experience because it shows us what we need to do to prevent the problem in our new house.  I maintain a list of these items.  Likewise, when we visit a house with a feature we love, we write that down, too.  Eventually, we’ll have it all worked out and at that point, the house will be ours.  I just know it.

Third, while it’s a great idea to look through magazines and tear out photos of what your dream house will look like, once you settle on a style, don’t keep looking.  Every time you change your mind about what you want, the universe may have to start all over in bringing your desire to you. Don’t choose anything until you’re sure it’s the one, then go to work on the specifics.  If you want 5 bedrooms in your new house, choose the furniture, wall colors, and carpeting of all five.  Pick out the kitchen cabinets.  Will the living room have a view?  This process could take a while, but each time you change your mind through your visual, you delay the process of getting what you want.  Each time you clarify a detail, you bring it closer to you.

Fourth, clear your mind with One Hour of Solitude, then sit down and write out why you want this goal.  What is the overriding purpose?  So you want five bedrooms in your new house?  Why five?  What are they going to be used for?  What would make this house perfect for you?  Why would that make a difference?  Want a beautiful garden, write that down and start tearing out pictures of beautiful garden scenes that speak to your spirit.  What would having a beautiful garden do for you?  Why do you want it, specifically.

Fifth, set a date by which you would expect to achieve the goal.  This can be a very tricky thing for a big goal like acquiring a new house.  It can also become frustrating because each time you change some detail about your request, you technically need to push the date back as well.  However, this can be very encouraging if you’ve been working on a goal for a while and have passed the deadline several times.  When you think back to when you set your first target date, were you clear about what you wanted?  Probably not since you didn’t get it.  So give yourself plenty of time to achieve the goal, and then realize that each change in desire may create a time delay in actual acquisition.  I’m not saying don’t change your mind, I’m saying that you must realize that change, instead of a clarification, may cause delays.  Just allow for that so that you don’t become discouraged.

The sixth and final tip is to reread your goals at least once a day, with three times per day being even better.  Really, the more you can keep your mind on your goals, the sooner they will materialize.  The more exact you are about what you want, the closer your infinite mind can come to fulfilling your desires.  Vague goals create vague results.  Working on the details daily will get you closer to a final picture, therefore getting your goal closer to you than if you looked at it and worked on it monthly. If you review your goals daily, you will eventually settle on the details.  There will come a point when you say to yourself, “This is it.  This is definitely what I want, and the way I want it to look/feel.”  At that point, all you have to do is believe, and receive.

Here are a few thoughts to challenge you in your goal setting.  It’s easy to think of material things that we want like a new house, car, wardrobe, etc.  But what about the things that are not quite so tangible? 

For example:

• What would your ideal workday be like? 
• What would your ideal weekend be like? 
• How would you ideally feel about each member of your family? 
• What would you do on a regular basis to enhance your spiritual growth? 
• What would your ideal body look/feel like? 
• What are the thoughts that you would ideally focus on throughout the day? 

What effect would becoming clear and definite about these things have on your life?

Posted under Education, Inspiration, Leadership, Motivation

I’ve been tagged.  And I’m honored.  So here goes.

I first heard of blogging just last year, February 2006, at the National Speakers Association Workshop in Washington D.C.  The hotel was buzzing with, “Are you blogging?  You’ve got to blog, oh; you simply must get a blog.”  The idea was that blogging would replace media kits.  Put your sample videos, audios, articles, etc. on your blog and direct potential clients there.  The concept sounded very efficient to me so I came home, researched software, set up this website, and started my blog.

Since then, however, my blogging has taken on a much higher purpose to me.  In the beginning, I was blogging every day about Dental Practice Management, and I’m pretty sure my only daily reader was my father-in-law.  (God bless you, Dad.)  Since he isn’t a dentist, I know many of my earlier posts had to bore him almost to death, so his loyalty is very special to me.

When I wrote, The Power of a Smile, he e-mailed the link to a lot of his friends and they must have passed it on as well because my traffic went up for the following week.  I thought, “Hmmmmmmm.  Maybe I should write for a broader audience.”

Then one day while consulting with a dental office employee, the young woman and I started talking about women leaders.  She shared her story with me and her feelings of being trapped in a situation beyond her control.  I reminded her that she has more power than she realizes.  I reminded her of her incredible strength just in overcoming and dealing with everything she has already.  I encouraged her to summon her strength to do what she needed to do at that time to get her life back on the path she wanted.  When I arrived home after a two-hour drive, I had an e-mail waiting for me from her.  She thanked me for the consulting that I did for the practice, but mostly, the encouragement and for reminding her that she can create the life she wants. 

That was a defining moment for me.  I realized that I could certainly use my blog to promote my speaking business, but how much more meaningful and powerful it could be if I used it to fulfill my ultimate purpose in life, which is to motivate, educate, and inspire others to be their best.  From that point on, I strive to make sure every post has meaning.  Not necessarily deep and heavy every time, but always uplifting in some way.  Motivation, education, inspiration.  At least one, if not all three.

Since revamping my content, I’ve had the most amazing experiences.  I’ve received e-mails from people all over the world telling me that one of my posts changed their life.  And not just women – I have almost as many male readers as female.  I’ve thought about changing the “Women leaders” verbiage in the title, but I want to remain true to myself and that really is my passion.  It’s just icing on the cake that so many men are encouraged by my posts.  On some topics that I discuss, like leadership and time management, men and women really aren’t that different. 

Blogging has helped me to reach out far beyond my small, rural community and touch the lives of people I may never meet.  What an opportunity, and an honor!  To have an outlet for my writing and experiences that literally spans the globe is very humbling to me.  I have many times posted an article that I thought was good, but not my best work, only to have someone from, for example, India, e-mail me or post a comment saying, “Wow!  I had never thought about it like that before.  Thank you so much for writing this post.”  I can’t even put into words how that touches me.

Then there’s the blogosphere of PWB’s, or People Who Blog.  To be counted among one of these is as much an honor as being accepted into the National Speakers Association.  Sure, there are people who start blogging on a whim and quickly lose interest.  But for those of us who have been doing it systematically, for a while, for similar reasons that I described above, there is no greater compliment than to be linked to, mentioned, or quoted by another blogger.

Finally, not all of my motives are altruistic.  I’ll admit that one motive for blogging regularly is in an attempt to make money.  It would be very nice to get paid for the hours I spend creating  meaningful articles that add value to the world.  However, if I never make a dime, I don’t think I’d stop.  It’s kind of like being a physician.  The money that hopefully comes with the job is nice, but helping people and making a difference is the real reward.  I’m sure you’ve met doctors whom you knew had your best interest at heart.  Then you’ve met others who were only in it for what they perceived would be high-status and high-income.  It’s the same with PWB’s and you will be able to tell the difference.

My last selfish motive is simply to have an outlet for my writing.  Anytime I catch myself in a bad mood, it’s always on a day and time when I haven’t written yet.  There’s something about writing for others that puts me in touch with my higher, spiritual self.  I suppose it’s because this really is my true purpose in life and as long as I am fulfilling that, I’m happy.  When I don’t, I’m miserable.  Perhaps that’s the number one reason why I blog.  (Okay, I could have just started and ended with that.  But no, not a blogger.  We take a thousand words to say what “normal people” would say in 10!  Just kidding!  Not really.)

Now I’m tagging Kim Snider, and John Kinde.

And now I’m tagging you.  Why do you do what you do?  What is your reward?  Would you do it, even if you made no money whatsoever?  What value are you adding to the world?  Who surrounds you, as in, who is the company you keep?   Do they deserve you?  Are you honored to be among them?  Are you living in alignment with your higher self?  Are you fulfilling your mission?

Posted under Inspiration, Motivation

My husband is home today recovering from heart surgery.  We are thankful for a successful procedure.  As you might be able to imagine, I am busy taking care of him since his mobility is limited for a few days.  As I was driving home from the hospital, I thought, “What can I write about that would give my readers the quality of information they’ve come to expect, but not take me away from BJ for too long?”

I began thinking about how I’d love to share with you something I re-learned while preparing for this hospitalization. I was at the end of one project and ready to take on a new endeavor, but had several tasks I had been putting off.  It was just two days before BJ’s surgery. I knew that when BJ came home, I would want to spend most of my time with him.  I didn’t want to start a new project only to pick it back up a week later, and I didn’t need a lot of distractions.  So I decided to get caught up on all those little projects that had just not made it into my top 20.  Believe it or not, all of that “busy work” took two full days.  But my task list is empty now and I have to say, it feels great.  I was reminded of the fact that while most of us think of clutter as stuff piled up around us, clutter is also anything unfinished.

In that same vein, I have a few gems I’ve been wanting to share with you, but just have not gotten around to doing so.  I want this site to be informative, but I also want it to be fun and inspiring.  It’s difficult at times, to figure out how to fit “little” things in.  Therefore, I am taking this opportunity to share them with you now, and de-clutter my blog ideas category in Outlook.

The first is a recipe I found not too long ago on the Food Network website.  Chicken Tetrazzini, courtesy Giada De Laurentiis is the best new recipe I’ve tried in a long time.  Have you caught an episode of her new show, Giada’s Weekend Getaways?  I’m lovin’ it!

Second, I have partnered with our local community and technical college to offer my Career Development Workshop series for Women.  We’re calling it, “Developing Your Full Potential.”  We’ve had several businesses and organizations come forward with support via scholarships.  The only trouble we’re having is getting the scholarships filled!  It seems that many women who need this type of training and encouragement are too embarrassed to sign up for such a class.  If anyone out there can think of a way to help us reach our audience, I’m open to suggestions.

Third, we have a new Toastmasters club in Maysville, Kentucky.  If you live in this area and would like to develop your speaking and/or leadership skills, please join us.  Bridges Toastmasters meets on the second and fourth Mondays of each month.  If you have any questions, feel free to e-mail me directly. 

Last, one of my faithful readers, Shazlan Sufian, has an opportunity to share with you.  If you are familiar with the movie, The Secret, and would like to get involved in a unique opportunity to share The Secret with others, visit www.LoASGR.com.  Shazlan has been working on this site for several months and it’s a good opportunity for the right people.  If you believe in the Law of Attraction, or have read The Science of Getting Rich, you’ll want to check this out to see if it might be for you.  I did.

Okay, that’s it.  Wow, I feel so much better!  Uncluttered, free, to go make supper, clean the house, change the bed clothes, unpack the suitcases from the hospital, do the laundry, shovel the snow off the sidewalk, unload the dishwasher, bring in the trash cans, feed the cats, feed the birds . . .

Posted under Education, Inspiration, Leadership, Motivation

Great companies do it every year.  Top executives consider its maintenance among their top 20 activities.  Top-performing departments do it in addition to whatever the company comes up with overall.  Successful individuals do it almost without thinking about it.  What is it?  Strategic planning.

Corporations practice strategic planning to provide a greater return on equity.  They want to make sure all departments and employees are utilizing their time and activities in a way that will return the greatest amount of profit.

Personal strategic planning then is a method used to ensure that you are utilizing your time and activities in a way that will return the greatest amount of energy, or life experience.  After reading this article, you’ll know how to pick up from where you are right now, and create the life you want.  Ready?  Let’s get started.

Imagine for a moment that your life is a business.  Your goal should be to get the highest return possible on the investment of yourself in everything you do.  In other words, your time and your energy - mental, emotional, and physical energy - are investments.  Your time and energy are your personal equity.  A business wants to maximize how it invests its equity, because in business, everyone knows and understands that equity is limited.  We have only so much.  Isn’t the same true of our personal time and energy?  So it makes sense then, that we need to strategically plan how our investments are being made, so that we can maximize them to get what we want.  Does that make sense?  Great.  So how do we do that?  Let’s continue.

First, you must know and have defined your values.  What are your core beliefs?  What matters most to you?  If you have not settled on these yet, read Determining Your Values.

Second, you must have a personal mission statement.  You need to know your ultimate final destination.  For more direction on creating your personal mission statement, read How to Write Your Personal Mission Statement.

Third, you must have clearly defined goals.  For me, this is a constant work-in-progress.  Why?  Because I’m a woman and constantly changing my mind!  For example, I’ve been wanting a new car for a long time now – over a year.  My current car is adequate; it’s a ‘99 Altima.  I bought it new and have taken good care of it, so it’s in good condition.  But I’m ready for something more upscale.  My brother-in-law works for a Toyota dealership and could get me a good deal on a new Avalon, but there’s a part of me that would really like a new BMW 5-series; black, with white leather interior, and fully loaded.  The Avalon is more practical for me right now because I’m using our small, old, one-car garage as a gardening shed.  It just wouldn’t feel right to not park a BMW in a garage.  On the other hand, it would look really nice sitting in the place of my current car, but so would the Avalon.  AARRGGHH!  In the meantime, no new car.  If I had the cash right now to buy either one, I’d still be torn.  Therefore, no cash is materializing for this purpose.

I know what all of you are thinking right now.  My male readers are thinking, “Good grief, Debra.  Go for the BMW and move on already!”  My female readers are thinking, “Oh, I know what you mean, I do that all the time.  Gosh, which one should she go with, what a tough decision.”  However, the reason I took you through all of that is to say this:  Don’t try to strategically plan a goal that you’re not perfectly clear on.  It’s not ready.  You’re not ready.  Strategic planning is for all your goals that you know in your gut are what you want.  The other ones will happen in their own divine timing.  You’ll eventually make up your mind, and you can strategically plan it then.

Once you have defined your values, written your personal mission statement, and clearly defined your goals, you’re ready to begin strategic planning.  First, you must set the scene.

A lot of companies will take their executive team to a nice retreat center to do their annual strategic planning.  I suggest you take a clue from them and do that, as much as possible, for yourself.  If you can’t go away for the weekend, plan to do your personal strategic planning on a day where you can really pamper yourself.  This is not a day for massages and pedicures, but a few hours that you can set aside with maybe no one home, you can light some candles or open all the blinds to let in as much sunlight as possible, just create what to you is a positive environment that will allow you to relax and focus.  Play some nice music, maybe some nature sounds, or, if the weather is nice, go outside.  I have an Adirondack chair, ottoman, and side table in my back yard that has facilitated many strategic planning sessions. It sits under a very large, old, Elm tree and overlooks my garden.  All you really need is a pen and some paper, but I have taken my laptop out before and that works, too.

Companies that don’t take their executives off site will bring in food for the meeting.  They know they will be “in session” for a long time and want as few distractions as possible.  Do the same for yourself.  Have plenty of food and drinks on hand that don’t require much preparation.  I prepare a quart of tea and make sure I have plenty of snack cheeses and potato chips.

Begin by reviewing your values, mission statement, and goals.  Just read over them, and visualize in your mind that you’ve already obtained them. Do this for a couple of minutes, then ask, “Why?”  Why do you want this goal?  What benefit would it bring to you?  What good would it bring to others?  As you continue to visualize you’ve already achieved the life you want, what has changed for the better?  Who has been affected and in what ways?  It is okay to be selfish here, this is your life experience.  If you want a new car because it would make you feel important by impressing others, that’s okay, but you must admit that. The greatest gift you have to give is your happiness.  Make sure that every goal you are trying to achieve would truly make you happy.  Do not set a goal because someone else wants it for you.  Not only will the goal likely not materialize, but it also draws your focus and attention away from what you really want.

After you’ve spent a few minutes visualizing the outcome and the why, become as still as you can, and ask “How?”  How can I accomplish this?  What can I do to achieve this; how do I accomplish that?  You really don’t have to concentrate very hard on this part; you almost don’t even have to ask.  Thoughts will just come into your consciousness that you’ve never had before, or in a slightly different perspective, once you start to focus on what you want and why you want it.  Here’s the most important thing to remember to do:  Whatever pops into your head, write it down.  Whatever the thought is, write it down.  It doesn’t matter if it relates to what you’re thinking about or not, write it down.  If it’s a stray thought, you need to let it go, and the quickest way to do that is to write it down.

Be easy with this process and don’t try to come up with your own answers.  You’ve put your intention out into the universe and you are waiting for the universe to give you ideas.  The more you try to force the answers, the less success you’ll have.  If you’re feeling pushed or strained in any way, practice One Hour of Solitude.   You need to clear your brain and make sure you bring no preconceived notions of how you’re going to achieve your goals.  If you do have predetermined plans, write them down.  Again, mostly to get them out of your head so that your intuitive mind is freed to receive real instructions.  If an idea is truly inspired, it will work out.  You will learn more about this as you do it.  You’ll know when your plans are inspired, and when they are not.  Inspired plans work out while uninspired plans are a struggle.  You’ll eventually get it, and that’s part of the process.

Eventually, the ideas coming to you will slow down or stop.  At this point, go back and review everything you’ve written.  As you do, you will automatically start eliminating the uninspired thoughts.  With the inspired ideas, you’ll start to see a natural progression.  You’ll know that you need to do this before that and you can work on this project while working on another, etc.  Start putting things in order.  This will also be intuitive.  Sometimes, you’ll notice there’s a step missing, but you don’t know what it is.  That’s okay; just leave some space.  I actually put my plans in Excel so that I can add rows as needed.  Those extra steps might come to you one day while you’re in the shower or taking a walk, but they will come to you if you listen for them.

Start with one small goal, and work your way up from there.  You will, obviously, want to apply this strategic planning process to your #1 ultimate goal for your life, but when you’re just starting out, you need to see success, and you need to see it rather quickly.  So start with something that’s already broken down a bit, something that you know will lead to that ultimate goal, something you feel confident you can accomplish within a month, six months, or one year.

How much time will be required to do this?  That will vary from person to person, obviously, but successful people say they feel like they spend a lot of time strategically planning.  Personally, I’ve found that the more time I spend strategically planning, the more productive action I end up taking the rest of the day, week, or month.  Strategic planning in and of itself is motivating, plus you’re getting the best ideas so none of your actions are wasted efforts.  You stop wasting both time and money because you’ve taken the time to think things through, and get the creative process involved.  You do fewer things wrong and more things right, the first time.

When I decided to Wake Up, I spent what felt like several months strategically planning.  I’d come back from a seminar and take a couple of days to strategically plan based on the new information I’d received.  For a while, I spent every Monday on strategic planning, but now I spend just a few hours every Sunday, plus one full day per month.  I recommend that you review your strategic plan daily at first, then weekly once you become completely familiar with it.  Get quiet, relax, and let your intuitive mind speak to you.  When you get an inspired thought, act on it immediately.  You might be changing your strategic plan, or just adding another step to it.  Once you become comfortable with the process, you’ll know how frequently you need to do it.

The overall purpose, and how this will help you most, is to get you started on your true path for this life experience.  You won’t necessarily know all the steps you’re going to take.  When a Fortune 500 company executive team meets for strategic planning do they say, “Okay, folks.  We’re not leaving here today until we know exactly what we’re going to do starting tomorrow through the end of this company’s life.”  No, of course not.  They plan as if the company will go on forever, because it may very well outlive all of them – and that should be what they’re hoping for – to continue the company’s mission beyond their lifetime. They plan for the next year, five years, and maybe 20 years, and they come out of that session knowing what they’re going to do on a daily basis to make each day as productive as possible.

Personal strategic planning ensures that your days are full of purpose.  I believe that’s what James Dean was trying to communicate when he said, “Dream as if you’ll live forever.  Live as if you’ll die today.”  Strategically planning your dreams either makes them come true, or helps you enjoy the ride.

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