I am talking about the setbacks and disappointments that have stopped you dead in your tracks. Perhaps the promotion you expected didn’t materialize… or your main marketing campaign for the year fizzled.

All of us have endured rejection or defeat along our respective journeys to success.

So let me ask you:

Have you ever made a decision that didn’t work as planned?

Has anyone ever let you down?

Has recent economic news put a damper on your perspective?

It may be painful to bring those things to mind, but I’m asking you to do it for a good reason.

Because life brings us misfortune as well as fortune. Some of it is beyond our control. But it’s not what happens that matters. It’s all about how you react when the world throws you a curveball.

What do you do? Do you step UP to your setbacks — or do you back DOWN?

If you think about it, you have only two choices when faced with any obstacle: Rise above it (step up) or let it beat you (back down).

The following story is one I’d rather forget. But it’s a perfect illustration of this concept in action.

I had been looking forward to a meeting with the new CEO of a multi-state retail chain (with 450 stores). I had worked with the previous CEO for six years as the chain’s insurance agent, and we had become good friends. Sadly, he passed away.

The purpose of this meeting was to bring the new CEO “up to speed” on the status of their insurance program and have him sign the renewal contract for the coming year.

Their account was complex, but by managing their program efficiently, my company had saved them millions of dollars. And I felt confident I could assist the new CEO in achieving similar savings.

I decided to bring Doug, the newest member of our team, with me to the meeting. After all, it would be a great way for him to see how a major account, where everything was going well, really worked.

Imagine my consternation (and embarrassment) when the new CEO declined to come downstairs to the conference room to meet with us. Instead, he sent his assistant with a message that a decision had been made to go in a new direction with their insurance program.

That was it! No warning. No thanks for all our past accomplishments and cost savings. I was devastated. Still, my response was professional. I simply said, “Call us if we may help you during the transition.”

We were there for all of 10 minutes. Needless to say, it was a long and somber drive back home to Orlando.

But during the drive, I took the first step toward moving past that failure.

Step 1: DO make a decision to bounce back!

This sounds so simple. But it can be the most difficult step in the process. The truth is, deciding to step up is where it all starts. Everything you do next can be traced back to that fateful decision not to sit there and take it, to do something about it. Remember, not making a decision IS a decision — a decision to do nothing.

On the drive back to Orlando, I decided not to try to win back the account we had just lost. But I did resolve to find another client just as big.

Step 2: DO take action on your decision.

Move on. Get over it. I’m not trying to be harsh here, just giving it to you straight. This is an important step in getting past negative outcomes. My dear grandmother used to say, “Where a door closes… a window opens.” I was blessed to be raised by my grandparents. They were people of integrity and rock-solid beliefs. From them I learned how to see windows opening. The first step is to acknowledge that the door has closed, no matter how difficult that may be.

When I arrived at the Orlando office, I immediately called my staff together. I told them we had lost one of our biggest accounts — but that we would be coming up with a plan to find one just as big within the next six months.

Step 3: DO close the past to open your future.

Bring the good parts of the bad experience with you (the learning, the rewards), and let the rest stay in the past. Today is tomorrow’s yesterday just as tomorrow is today’s future. ALL yesterdays become the past, which is done and gone.

Although, to this day, I feel a bit disappointed about losing that big account, I am able to think back and remember the good work I did with the company. I remained friendly with them, and actually did help with their transition to a new insurance provider. But I never tried to “win back” their business.

Step 4: DO believe to achieve.

Settle into a mindset that all experiences, good and bad, are relevant. Believing that you can learn something from a failure, overcome it, and move on is essential to your well being.

A few months after losing the account, I did land another big client. That’s one way I moved on. More important, I learned that nothing is a sure thing. I had taken it for granted that the new CEO would renew our contract. I no longer make such assumptions.

Step 5: DO NOT dwell.

It is okay to acknowledge that something went wrong. It is NOT okay to hold onto it. Dwelling on the setback and overanalyzing it will amplify its negative effects. Just let it go.

Soon after my initial shock at losing that account, I realized that going with another insurance provider had been a business decision by the CEO. It wasn’t personal, and didn’t reflect on the good work I had done with the company. I didn’t hold a grudge.

Step 6: DO NOT quit.

Don’t let one disappointment discourage you from moving forward. Even if it was your “fault,” that does not brand you as a failure.

Backing down or quitting is a losing proposition. Yesterday is gone, and you can’t change what has already occurred. But you can change how you deal with your yesterdays. And you can build on what you learn from every experience, good and bad.

That’s my seven-step “how-to” guide for stepping up and moving past a failure, rejection, or setback. I’ll admit that most, if not all, of these steps can be tough. But I want you to try to follow each and every one of them as best you can. Like any success technique, you might not get it right away. But practice makes perfect.

P.S. Are you ready to learn even more ways to deal with disappointment and bad situations? How about proven goal setting strategies that will help you become the high achiever you know you are? Go here to find out more about my book, Flip the Success Switch.

———————————————-Highly Recommended —————————————————

Your Website Is the Crossroads of the World - Imagine if you could open up a store in the “Times Square of the Internet.” But instead of the 26 million people a year who pass through Times Square every year, you got 91 million “passersby” — every day! It’s very easy (and cheap) to do. And with Bob Bly’s help you could see income in just a few weeks. Read more…

—————————————————————————————————————————

Here’s an example of what I mean …

For years, I traveled through the entire state of Florida by car for business. As you can imagine, driving to appointments became less than fun. So when one of my clients asked me to attend a meeting that would require a three-hour drive (one way), I almost said no. After all, I am very selective in the way I choose to spend my time and energies.

However, I have an alternate mode of transportation — my single-engine airplane. “Wow!” I thought, “By flying there, maybe I can make attending this meeting both productive and fun!”

Think about it. There is nothing worse than going into a meeting tired and crotchety. I would rather not go at all. But instead of stressing myself out over having to drive for six hours or say no to the opportunity, I took a “mental step” back and reassessed my options.

Since that first time, I’ve flown my airplane to many business appointments. And I’ve been able to take on clients in Lake City, Gainesville, New Port Richey — each one a long drive from my home in Orlando.

I save hours of boring driving. I arrive at my destination rested and eager to become involved in the work. I know I will have plenty of time to visit with the client and go to lunch in a nice restaurant to further our relationship.

Flying to appointments also advances my personal goal of increasing the number of hours in my log book. Best of all, I enjoy it!

— Highly Recommended —

Become an “Ethical Copycat” - There is no need to reinvent the wheel with your ads. As Charlie Byrne explains, there is a quick — and totally legal — way to “steal” your competitors’ most profitable marketing messages. You can then use them for your own business. Read more …

—

The first time I realized I could fly to a faraway meeting, I found a way to save time, reduce stress, achieve a business goal — and have a great time doing it.

Contrast that with the way beavers work. They’re always busy, gnawing down small trees and digging canals to transport the material they’ve gathered. Building their homes of sticks and mud (with ramps, no less). Building dams to maintain the water level of a stream or deepen a pond.

Like the beaver, I’m productive by nature. And, like the beaver, I used to be relentless in the pursuit of my goals. I would go in earlier and stay later — whatever it took to get the mission accomplished. If it meant driving 10 hours to meet a new client, I would do it.

Not anymore!

It’s great to be an achiever. And I still believe in a “whatever it takes” approach. However, ONLY on rare occasions and ONLY in a limited timeframe.

If, for example, your annual business conference starts next week, then, sure, you’ve got to embrace your “inner beaver” and focus solely on gathering the troops and making it happen. An all-hands-on-deck mentality is necessary. But if opening day is three months away, there is no need to be in hyper-mode. With proper planning (and a dash of faith), all should come together on time and on target.

Under ordinary circumstances, I find that it’s much better to embrace my “inner otter” as I go along my goal journey. Otters know how to have fun and seek out adventure! They “play” more than almost any other wild animal.

When I complete one of my weekly Power Surge messages for the Total Success Achievement program, I often reward myself with a glass of wine on the porch. My wife Karin, who assists me with the messages, joins me.

You can do something similar. Next time you sit down to write an article for your online business website, why not take your laptop outside? It will clear your head and allow you to enjoy your surroundings while you work. Or when your team at work is staying late to complete a project, why not take a half-hour break to play a quick game of touch football in the parking lot? Exercise is a great stress reliever.

What I’m getting at is this: Play more and you can bring renewed vitality and enthusiasm to the achievement of your goals.

In other words, take yourself lightly — even while taking your work seriously. Don’t be so completely focused on your work that you eliminate other activities that can add value to your life.

Here’s how to do it …

• Make a list of your scheduled activities for next week.
• For each one, ask yourself, “How can I make this fun?”
• Write down your answer. And write the word FUN next to it to imprint your new perspective on your brain.

Start TODAY to incorporate this success practice into your weekly routine.

Make your new motto “Let the adventure begin!”

[Ed. Note: Improving your life starts from the inside out. Yes, you need to take action in order to move yourself forward to success. But sometimes you need a little push to get yourself going ... and some simple techniques to help you accomplish your dreams. Discover 189 ways to get everything you want out of life.]

— Highly Recommended—

“Every Marketer – and I Mean Every Marketer – Does This One Thing Wrong.”

Rich Schefren has pinpointed the “missing link”… And leveraged it into a multi-million dollar business. 

How powerful is this secret? One of his clients recently saw sales leap from $10,000 a month… to $12 MILLION a year!

By turning his father’s floundering clothing business into a $6.5 million dollar goldmine… starting a variety of successful businesses… and becoming one of the country’s top experts in Internet marketing… Rich has proven he can make money. He owes it mostly to this one secret. 

Can Rich’s secret work for you?

That’s the question one small-time client (making $10,000 a month in revenues) had when he came to Rich for help. Two weeks after he implemented Rich’s advice, he was raking in $330,000 a month! 

Rich’s clients pay thousands to learn this business-changing secret. But tomorrow,
Thursday, September 10, Rich will discuss this powerful “missing link” with ETR Publisher MaryEllen Tribby. You have the chance to listen in on their conversation. And it will cost you nothing!

Reserve your spot – for free – right here.

—

More from Masterson…

Where People Go to Spend and Die

Over at The Daily Reckoning, Bill Bonner shares sad news about Florida, my home state for the past three decades.

Florida’s population has dropped for the first time in 60 years. Unemployment is soaring. And the state’s foreclosure rate is second only to California’s.

The fault, Bill says, is Florida’s role as a retirement destination. Its major industry was housing, which is depressed right now. People are leaving.

I’m not leaving. I’m buying. Prices are cheap. And the sun and sea are still as plentiful as ever. You can make 10 percent or more, cash on cash, by buying small houses and renting them out. Even if real estate inflates very slowly, that’s still a very good return on my money.

Throw This Out of Your Medicine Cabinet — Now

I’ve never heeded the advice to take a baby aspirin every day to prevent heart attack. It didn’t make sense to me. Aspirin thins your blood. Why would my blood need thinning if I’m healthy? It seemed like an ass-backward approach to good heart health.

A new study published in England confirms my suspicions. The only thing aspirin does for a healthy person is increase the chance of internal bleeding. The British researchers recommend taking aspirin only if “you are at a high risk of heart disease due to obesity, stress, lifestyle, or family history.”

Total Health Breakthroughs, Melanie Segala says one of the best things you can do to lower your risk of a heart attack — and other coronary diseases — is to eat more foods containing healthy omega-3 fats. 

Aim for 1 gram per day from sources like wild salmon and grass-fed beef. You can also take a high-quality fish oil supplement.

— Highly Recommended—

Receive a $75,000 “Jackpot” From the Government - Recently found “glitch” allows U.S. citizens to “get paid” for home upgrades. Or get money for a new one! Read more …

I felt confident I could do it. But, whenever possible, I ask for the runway that makes landing my plane as safe and easy as possible.

I called the controller and made the request, but it was denied. So I went ahead and landed on the other runway.

Before I did, though, I called the controller again and asked for a “time check.” That told him I was not happy and would be speaking with a supervisor. Among other things, the “time check” provides the supervisor with a way to review on-air exchanges between a particular controller and pilot. (Those exchanges are recorded, and I know to be careful to say only what can be used for me and not against me.)

My gut feeling was that the controller didn’t want to do the work involved in switching runways for me. It was late afternoon, right around time for a shift change. But since I couldn’t be sure of his reason for denying my request, I decided to hold off judgment until I had spoken with his supervisor. The supervisor called me the next morning. Long story short, I got an apology from the controller on duty for not having given me the okay. More important, I established a relationship with the supervisor — an articulate, intelligent, savvy guy. He recognized the unique qualities of my plane, and understood why I preferred to land with its nose into the wind. He also agreed with me that a pilot coming in to his home airport should get special consideration.

Had I let my emotions get in the way, I would not have achieved this larger goal.

I didn’t radio the control tower and yell, “You lazy sons of guns, get off your duffs and make it happen!” Alienating controllers, even if I am in the right, diminishes my stature as being reasonable and in control. (A must for pilots.)

By using my philosophy of “If you don’t know, don’t say,” I set myself up for success!

***

How to Keep the Cash Flowing INTO Your Bank Account

Instead of spending money 4, 5, even 10 times a day… imagine if you could start collecting cash that often.

If you could receive $300,000+ to help further your dreams…

Or pick up a $75,000 “bonus” to buy a home or make home improvements…

Or even snag $1,200 a month to get a higher paying job (This is not a loan!)…

Can you say, “Ka-Ching!”???

Now, Early to Rise presents hundreds of ways you could stockpile valuable resources… one “Jumbo Ka-Ching Reward” at a time!

Get all the cash-generating details right here.

***

It works the same in business and your personal life. Don’t fly off the handle and “push their buttons.” Wait for the appropriate time and opportunity to take control.

Escalating emotions are goal-killers. It pays in both the short and long run never to allow it to happen. You will only drain your energy and go off your goal track.

Here are a few techniques that will help you stay calm in any tense situation:

• When the other person is upset with you, ask questions. Ask, “Can you tell me why you are upset?” or “What can I do to fix this?” This sets up a bridge to resolution.
• When something is bothering you, let your emotions speak. Don’t expect others to read your mind. Give your distress a voice instead of holding it in and allowing it to fester and intensify. Say, “I am very apprehensive about this” or “I am becoming annoyed and angry.”
• Make resolving the problem a team effort. Instead of putting yourself and the other person on opposite sides, say, “We can work this out.”

These tactics become easier the more you use them.

We like to think of ourselves as mature adults, yet maturity goes out the window — along with self-control — when a person or problem “pushes our buttons.”

Hold on to your goal power by staying levelheaded and centered. Ask questions. Give voice to your emotions. And promote a “We are in this together” atmosphere. Your goals will not only stay on track … they will advance much faster.

P.S. Keeping my emotions in check and waiting for the right opportunity to take control of a situation is one of the success skills I learned while working with some of the richest and most successful men in the world. These men weren’t born wealthy. Yet, they learned the formula for achieving all they wanted out of life. I reveal dozens more of their unexpected, effective, and easy-to-implement success “secrets” in my program, The Billionaire in You.

***

The Perfect Business Literally in Your Pocket Flick through a step-by-step set of simple 1-2-3 instructions. Follow them (should take about 20 minutes). The next conversation you have, simply say the “Magic Words” per the instructions. The next thing you know, your bank account could start filling up. Read more…

More from Masterson…

How Ordinary Guarantees Can Be Extraordinarily Effective

I saw an advert in a NYC cab for a six-week “combat training” course. The program was run by a woman. She wore fatigues. So did her students. Maybe not entirely unique. Still, it distinguished her from the crowd.

What was more interesting was that she offered a 100 percent money-back guarantee.

A money-back guarantee is standard for most products and services. But it occurred to me that I hadn’t seen any guarantees for fitness or martial arts programs. They may offer a few free introductory lessons. But once you sign up, there are no refunds.

I suggested to several of my fitness and martial arts instructor friends that they try it. About half pointed out that they have fixed overheads and have to struggle to make a profit. They said they were afraid people would take advantage of them.

I don’t think they would. It’s tough to ask for a refund face-to-face if you know you’ve been getting good service. If I had to guess, I’d say the bad debt would be less than five percent.

That’s a small price to pay for a considerably higher rate of response to your ads.

***

Making Money Online Is Not Complicated Most Internet marketing programs sound exciting at first. But soon you are totally confused and/or overwhelmed with complex terms and strategies. But the best way to make money online is actually the simplest. People predominantly use the Internet to check their email. And you can leverage that fact to make as much as $250 per day. Read more…

***

Energy and Healing

Eastern medicine is old, very old. Some ancient Indian therapies date back almost 6,000 years.

Some people I know seem to feel that any system that has survived for that long must be right. Others believe that only the latest scientific breakthroughs are worthwhile.

My own position is in between. I don’t believe in any cure that has the word mystical attached to it. But I do believe human beings are clustered energy systems. Therefore, the old therapies that sought to unlock or redirect energy might have some validity.

I tried acupuncture once. I experienced a noticeable physical reaction from it. I regularly get deep tissue massage. I can feel the energy effect in that. I also practice yoga, perhaps the oldest energy-based exercise in the world.

As I said, I don’t believe these therapies are mystical. But I do think they stimulate blood and oxygen flow throughout the body. In blood and oxygen there is energy.

One 2,000-year-old energy therapy – something called Chakra exercises – was recommended to me by our own Paul Lawrence. He has been experimenting with it for about a month. He’s excited about the results. To read about Paul’s experience, click here.

***

Stop Playing Standard Stock Market Games Spend just 30 minutes a day in front of your computer – using “tactical surgical strikes” to hit the market where it hurts. You could be making $5,000, $10,000, or more per week – whether the market falls, soars, or goes sideways. Read more…

Then why does it work? Because elephants grow up believing it will. Maybe they tried pulling away when they were young with no success. Maybe they were injured by their action. After enough failures, they stop trying. They no longer test the restraint, and confine themselves when tethered to the rope.

During the course of my life and career I have run into many people (and no doubt will run into many more) who are holding themselves captive with their own “elephant tether.”

Cheryl, for example, one of my co-workers years ago, was limiting herself and her goals by always seeking approval from her mother before taking action. Cheryl was a grown woman with a husband, two children, and a nice career. However, she felt the need to filter every decision through her mother. She was still trying to play by her mother’s rules – instead of making her own.

I don’t think Cheryl realized her mother was the peg and rope preventing her from pursuing her own idea of a happy, fulfilling life. I mean, so what if Mom doesn’t approve of your kids eating hot dogs or staying up past 8:00 p.m. on a school night?

But following guidelines set by your parents isn’t the only “elephant tether” that could be keeping you from achieving what you want out of life. Maybe it’s one of these:

1. The Reactive Tether

The hustle and bustle of “normal” life often sets up the reactive tether. Your in-laws announce an unexpected visit, so you immediately change your plans to accommodate them. Your co-worker calls in sick on the day of an important client presentation, so you call the client and cancel. Whenever you notice that your car is down to a quarter tank of gas, you can’t concentrate on anything else until you get it filled.

These are just a few examples of situations that can make you fall victim to the reactive tether.

By panicking instead of taking control, you are sabotaging yourself. Is this a good time for the in-laws to visit? If it is not, simply tell them – and offer alternate dates. If your co-worker called in sick, decide whether you’d rather reschedule the presentation or handle it yourself. And if you’re always worried about running out of gas, all you have to do is implement a new routine of never letting the gas gauge go below half a tank.

2. The Full Disclosure Tether

It amazes me how often people feel they need to explain, in great detail, why they can’t do something or be somewhere. In both business and social environments, the person requesting an answer to an “Are you available?” question is really only looking for a Yes or No. If you give them more than that, what you’re really doing is making excuses to yourself.

The best response is either “Yes, count me in” or “No, I have a conflict.” And then go silent. If you can’t make it, the other person will likely suggest an alternate date and time … and everyone moves on.

3. The Shyness Tether

Business seems to be the one place where shy people can just as easily shake or shine. Many shy people (and we all have our shy moments) thrive in the business world because it gives them a “role” to play. As long as they are acting “on behalf of” or in the best interests of the company, they find the strength to do great things.

If the shyness tether is inhibiting your success, you can learn to push that discomfort aside. One way is to give yourself a mental cue – such as “It’s showtime!” – to legitimize the bold action you know you should be taking.

Test this self-imposed barrier. You might surprise yourself. Don’t retreat from any opportunity to discuss team projects or hold yourself back from networking at company events.

The power of “elephant tethers” to restrain you is only in your imagination. YOU have the power to free yourself from them to enjoy life and achieve your goals.

Of course, there will always be boundaries and rules that have to be followed. Judicial laws aside … most of the others are just guidelines. I mean, think about it. Is there a rule against singing too loud in church? Not really. Your spouse may nudge you to tone it down, but it is unlikely that you will be asked to leave.

Don’t get me wrong. I am actually a big follow-the-rules guy. Why? Because I like structure in my life, and most rules are those I would choose to follow anyway. Yet I don’t accept the notion that I have to follow all rules all the time.

Examine your life for self-imposed “rules” you are following that are holding you back. Test them. Think how to break free of them. Create better rules to live by and see your progress grow.

P.S. You control your own efforts at self-improvement. But there is no shame at all in getting a little help along the way. I want to share my personal success strategies with you, including a systematic way to adopt a “mindset” that will allow you to set and achieve all the goals that are most important to you.

These are the same strategies that allowed me to retire comfortably at 36 (although I couldn’t stay away from office, so now I’m “semi-retired”), indulge in my lifelong dream to be a pilot (I hold two world airspeed records), and dedicate my life to helping others follow my path.

Let me inspire you to find your own freedom to move forward.

Oil Is Getting Harder and More Expensive to Find

By Michael Masterson

Oil production is declining at double the rate previously estimated, the International Energy Agency just reported.

Oil fields have been drying up for years. And it’s good to see that we are getting more realistic numbers. But it doesn’t matter whether the rate is 3.7 or 6.7 percent right now. What matters is that nobody is doing anything about it.

Faced with low demand and low prices, oil companies have cut exploration. And development of alternative energy sources has been set aside.

Meanwhile demand for oil in India and China continues. Gradually Western demand will increase too. One of these days we will wake up to discover that we are “suddenly” short. Demand will soar. Prices will skyrocket. And recovery will sputter to a halt.

Much of the world may be shortsighted when it comes to oil. But you can take advantage of the coming crisis with help from Investor’s Daily Edge.

A New Weapon Against a Silent Killer

By Michael Masterson

The amino acid homocysteine is a natural part of your body’s system. But if you have too much of it, it can be damaging. Studies have linked to heart disease, stroke, Alzheimer’s, cancer, and even macular degeneration.

To keep homocysteine levels at a healthy level, Dr. Sears and the Total Health Breakthroughs team have been recommending B vitamins —especially folic acid. Now there is a new active form of folic acid called 5-MTHF. One study showed that it can raise folate levels in the blood an amazing 700 percent! That’s better, Melanie Segala says, than synthetic forms. In fact, she says it can be “a life saver.”

One in two Americans has a gene variant that makes it difficult to process synthetic folic acid. Using 5-MTHF might be a breakthrough for them. For updates keep your eye on Total Health Breakthroughs.

My previous bag was leather, with custom embroidered initials. It held all my gear and looked cool. But it was a bit bulky. Worse, it kept knocking around my backup NavCom, causing it to stop working. (Not a good thing when you’re 10,000 feet up in the air, as you can imagine.)

My resistance to buying a new flight bag – even when I knew it was the right thing to do – got me to thinking about the nature of change… and the anxiety that often comes with it.

Do you resist change even when you know it will make a positive difference in your life? If so, do what I did: Put it in writing.

Think about a change that could make your life a little easier or better – a small change that you’ve been avoiding because you figure the status quo is “good enough.” It could, for example, have something to do with your behavior, with time-tasking, or with learning a new skill.

Take a sheet of paper and list all the reasons you can think of for making the change. Then list all the reasons you can think of for not making it. Once you see it in black and white, the benefits of taking action will be obvious.

My new flight gear bag may not seem like a big deal, but making that simple change has made every flying experience more enjoyable.

Making a seemingly small change today will produce an equally good result for you tomorrow.

[Ed. Note: Once you've listed your reasons for making a change that will make your life better, healthier, or happier, you'll know what you have to do to make it happen. But if you still feel stuck, success mentor Bob Cox can help. He's helped four Ordinary Joes climb the ranks to become billionaires... and he's willing to share the same secrets of their success with you. Get all the details here.]

Now… how do you keep yourself from slacking off and erasing everything you’ve achieved so far? Here are three ways to maintain your success:

1. Work hard even when no one is watching.

Commit yourself to excellence without the need for someone else’s approval. Yes, it is wonderful to receive a “pat on the back” from friends, family, or coworkers. But it’s much better to develop your own personal sense of pride and accomplishment.

2. Never arrive.

This may sound counter-intuitive. But one of the best ways to sustain success is to think of your goal as a construction project that’s always in progress and yet to be completed.

Never see yourself as having finished your goal journey. Condition yourself to actively keep learning. Learn more about your field when your goal is to advance in your profession… learn more about technique when your goal is to advance in a physical skill… and learn more about what everyone else in your industry is doing when your goal is to advance your business.

3. Be persistent.

If you keep going the extra mile – or even taking one more step after everyone else has given up – you will keep getting results. Over time, this will become a way of life… and you will be unstoppable.

[Ed. Note: If you have dreams you want to achieve and goals you want to accomplish, you CAN do it on your own. But you could reach success so much faster with step-by-step guidance from success mentor Bob Cox. Bob - who has worked one-on-one with four billionaires and monitored the techniques they used to succeed - can help you determine exactly what you want out of life and the exact steps you need to take to get there. Find out how to become one of Bob's proteges right here.]

Let’s say you and your spouse are planning for the arrival of your first child – and you’ve made it your number one goal to make sure everything goes smoothly. Well, that’s going to take a lot of time. Regular visits to the ob-gyn… setting up the nursery… reading up on child care. Doing all that requires you to make adjustments to what had been your schedule.

By deciding in advance what you can take out in order to make room for what you are going to put in, you will be ahead of the game.

Try this little exercise to see what I mean…

My goal is to ______________________________.

I can take out _________________________ and ____________________ to make room.

For example:

• My goal is to exercise regularly.I can take out staying up late and I can get up earlier to make room.

• My goal is to spend more time with my spouse.I can take out playing golf every Sunday and nights out with friends to make room.

• My goal is to increase sales.I can take out unimportant meetings and long lunch hours to make room.

Can you see how this works? Now it is your turn!

Take out a blank sheet of paper or open up a Word document, create the template shown above, and start filling in the blanks.

I promise this will help you keep your goals on track, put them back on track, or get yourself started in the right direction.

MaryEllen’s Secret to Enjoying a Balanced Life

MaryEllen Tribby, Publisher and CEO of Early to Rise, is brimming with energy and a passion for excellence in business. She is also married and has three beautiful children.

MaryEllen has a lot on her plate in all areas of her life. She is often asked how she can possibly balance running a multimillion-dollar company AND managing her home life. In an article she wrote for ETR - The Balancing Act That’s Up to You – this mega-successful working woman, wife, and mother gave much of the credit to taking three simple steps:

• Step #1. Having the Right Attitude
• Step #2. Making the Right Choices
• Step #3. Developing the Right Relationships

In the article, MaryEllen shared a story to illustrate Step #2. As it happens, that same story can be applied to my message today.

She had an opportunity to attend a major networking party in Texas. Everyone who is anyone in the information publishing industry was going to be there. She immediately RSVP’d, and began thinking about all the deals she could make that would benefit ETR.

But while reviewing her travel plans with her husband, he pointed out that she would be away on the first day of the new school year. With three young kids in school, this is a huge event in MaryEllen’s world. She wanted to be there!

So even though her husband encouraged her to go, assuring her that he could handle the excitement of the first day of school without her… no way was MaryEllen going to miss it. After thinking through the consequences of missing the networking party or missing the first day of school, she made the decision to send someone else to Texas.

If she had used our little “take out” exercise, she would have come to the same conclusion. She probably would have done it this way:

My goal is to be present at my children’s first day of school.

I can take out the networking event and find time later to talk to or meet with everyone I would have seen that day to make room.

Your Personal Balancing Act

MaryEllen is the first to admit that she is not Superwoman. The truth is, she sincerely believes everyone can have a balanced life.

“You just need to want it… and act to achieve it,” she says.

That works for me, and I am betting it will work for you. You can find your own personal balance by using my “take out” exercise to help manage your priorities. It’s all about taking ownership of what you want – and making room for the good choices you need to make to get your goals done.

[Ed. Note: It is entirely possible to turn every dream you have into reality. Allow success guru and "Mentor to Billionaires" Bob Cox to help you every step of the way. Get all the details here.]

How about you? What inspires you to be a better person?

I consider myself to be still “under construction.” As such, I use goal setting as a way to design my life to match my hopes and ambitions.

When I turned age 50 nearly 10 years ago, I honestly evaluated who I was and who I wanted to be. One of the things I recognized was that whenever I used a “my way or the highway” approach, I inevitably limited my success and slowed down the achievement of my goals.

I consciously began to do what Michael does at the beginning of every year. I set an annual goal of taking action to be a better person. And I invite you to make this one of your goals, too… starting today!

Finding your own faults requires a certain amount of objectivity and candor… and it can be a bit painful emotionally. The second step – figuring out how to overcome those faults – can be tough. And the most difficult part of the process is to take action – to make these changes day after day, week after week, month after month, year after year… until you become the person you envisioned.

Easy? No. But as I can tell you from my personal experience, it is well worth the effort.

[Ed. Note: Bob Cox teaches goal setting 365 days a year with ETR's Total Success Achievement Program. link ETRgoalsetting
Bob also teaches dozens of success skills that he discovered while working with four businessmen who went on to become billionaires.

Find out how to get your hands on his "billionaire secrets" right here.]

Comment on this article

So what can you do? How can you get friends, family, and colleagues to endorse and sign off on your goal?

1. Inform them.

Be open and candid with them about what you want to do.

2. Acknowledge them.

Encourage their support by acknowledging that you need them – that their cooperation will be helpful… even vital.

3. Explain what’s in it for them.

Tell them how they’ll be rewarded when you achieve your goal. If, for example, your goal is to get a side business started, explain to your spouse and kids how that second stream of income will give you the ability to update the family car or provide them with more options for the next family vacation.

4. Appreciate them.

Be respectful of what is going on in their lives. Offer assurances that their routines are important to you, and that your intention is to minimize any interference in the achievement of their goals.

[Ed. Note: In the next 11 minutes, you could be well on your way to making an extra $100K, $500K, or even $1 million by this time next year. Get specific advice from Bob "Mentor to Billionaires" Cox about how to change your life and increase your wealth. Find out more here.]

Comment on this article

I’ll give you an example.

About 15 years ago, I was working with a successful hotel magnate who was opening a convention center. One of the things that had to be installed was an industrial dishwasher – and, at the time, industrial dishwashers retailed for around $40,000.

Millions of dollars were being spent, so you’d think he would have just given his team a quick okay to go ahead and make the purchase.

But no. Experience had taught him that rebuilt equipment was just as good as new. So he had his team do some research to see what it would cost for a rebuilt dishwasher (same make and model).

They found one that was selling for $7,500, and they snapped it right up – for a savings of $32,500 that could be allocated elsewhere.

You should do the same, whether you’re dealing with your business, family, or personal budget. You should always be looking for ways to spend less (or not buy at all). Because every dollar adds up, especially when your goal is to be wealthy.

[Ed. Note: In the next 11 minutes, you could be well on your way to making an extra $100K, $500K, or even $1 million by this time next year. Get specific advice from Bob "Mentor to Billionaires" Cox about how to change your life and increase your wealth. Find out more here. ]

Comment on this article