There are more than enough books, websites and seminars telling you how to be successful. Don’t worry, I’m not saying they don’t work, but some of them won’t work as well for you as others. Why? Because the very definition of success often varies. The first thing about success I’d like to share is…

Success is not the same as money.

Money may be a component of success; a marker of it. But money is not the sole definition of success.

What is success? This may sound a bit wishy-washy, but I’ll explain. Success is the same for everybody, and, at the same time, different for everybody.

It’s the same in the sense that it’s about living a better life than you are now. No matter where you are in life, it can always be better. Pessimists let that thought get them down. Optimists let it inspire them to keep growing - to keep moving.

On the other hand, success is different for everyone, because we’re different. Someone who is $50,000 in debt would probably have a different way of measuring success than someone who is ready to bestow a large cash gift to their alma mater. But, notice I said “probably”. That’s because both of them may have similar family issues that they are using to gauge their success.

While success is self-defined, there are common attributes for it. If you lie, cheat or steal to get ahead, then that is never being successful - even if you are deluding yourself otherwise. It’s about positive growth and moving toward a goal (whether you realize it’s a goal or not).

Now, back to all of those websites, books and seminars. The big question, or debate if you prefer, is do they work? Based on the above, you can probably guess the answer, and that is yes AND no. Some will work for you, some will not. The catch is that it’s not possible to know until you start getting into it. That’s okay.

I’ll let you in on a . . . little secret. Virtually every success product can help. I like to call it the smörgåsbord, or buffet, method. When you go to a buffet you are presented with all kinds of food choices. What do you normally do? You take the foods you like, and perhaps try a serving of a few foods that look good. Do the same thing with success stuff. Take what you like, try something new that looks good, and leave the rest.

Remember though, that tastes change. Perhaps a few years later you will be willing to try something to which you previously turned up your nose. In fact, trying new success techniques is a sign of growth. It shows that you are looking at things differently than you used to.

No matter how good, or bad, the information is…only you can define what success means to you. And that is a good thing.

Keep this in mind as you go about your ways – doing nothing will change nothing.  So get out there and try something!

So, the next time you are in on a conversation about how bad the 401k’s are sucking, the big bonus your boss just got (when you got NONE), how they are cutting down your benefits, etc. – well, if you are not actively pursuing a better you, a better situation for yourself and for your family, then you really don’t have the right to pitch in and complain now, do you?

Feel free to hit the SHARE button below and pass this around. And enjoy the day!

Have you ever said something that you later regretted? Who hasn’t? Those kinds of things drive us nuts, but there are also regrettable things we say without even knowing it.

There is one phrase that will snuff out your chances at being successful (actually there are several, but for the sake of argument, we’ll focus on this one):

“If only…”

It doesn’t matter how you finish that sentence, because it is working against you every time. It’s a lazy phrase, an easy-to-use cop out disguised as an impossibility. The subtly of it means it often goes by unnoticed, but catching yourself is the first step.

Once you catch your self uttering a sentence that starts with ‘of only’ you must take action. There are a few things you can do to counteract its effects.

Say something else - Replacing the words ‘if only’ with any of the following: “When I…”, “How can…”, “I’m not sure, but…”, or “I will”.

Do something - Words are incredibly powerful, but as the old (and accurate) saying goes, “actions speak louder than words”. Changing ‘if only’ into a solution can produce amazing results in your life, and in the lives of others. For example, it’s a safe bet that Thomas Edison didn’t say, “If only people could have better lighting at night”. No, he took action, and that has had an impact on society at large. There’s a good reason the slogan for Nike brand shoes is not “If only you’d do it!”

Of course, those are only two little words. Get in the habit of catching yourself saying them, but don’t stop there. Look into all the words you say during a typical day. The little words and phrases that are holding you back, without you even being aware of it.

Words matter. I’d go so far as to say that by carefully choosing the words you use (or don’t use), you can become successful. You can take charge, don’t let the little words slip by. Instead, get rid of them all together, replace them, or take action.

One final question, after reading this are you going to say, “If only I could follow these tips, I’d be successful”, or are you going to start taking responsibility for the impact words have on your life?

Much love and success,

Keith

P.S.  Feel free to hit the “share” button below to shoot this post to anyone you think needs to hear this message.

The Law of Attraction has been at work for me today…

A little background – my Expedition needs a new set of tires and I have been running a little low on the cash…

I start looking around for a set of tires for my ride.  I am finding that a good set of tires for my vehicle (that sits on 20” wheels) is going to run me around $800.  Yikes!

But a coworker recommends that I take a look on craigslist.com for the tires.  I checked out a few ads and contacted them.

One guy already sold his and the other was still looking to sell.  He had the tires that I needed and we settled on a price, depending on my inspection of them when I arrived to finish the transaction.

He told me that I am getting a really good deal.  He bought the tires and mounted them on his truck, but didn’t like the way they looked mounted on his truck and wheels.

They were only on his vehicle for a few days he said.  I thought that I would double check this when I went to pick them up.

So, it is Saturday and I am picking up these tires on Tuesday – a few more days down the road.

I checked my mail expecting to get the usual junk mail and bills, but I noticed a different envelope!  Wooohooo!

I was excited that I got something in the mail that wasn’t a bill and it was likely not junk mail either.

When I got into the house, I opened it up.  It was a check for $313 that I didn’t know I was going to receive.

Now, the tires were going to be $300 and the check I got was for $313 (unexpected money)!

You can call it what you want, but I call it being the Law of Attraction at work in my life!

Thank you God for all your blessings,

Keith Akin

P.S.  Feel free to share this by clicking on the “share” button below.

A successful relationship will make your heart warmer and smile bigger while a negative relationship will add more tension and stress to your life. Successful relationships are good for you and you need them. Whether it’s marriage, a business partnership, friendship, or another type of relationship, you want your relationships to be successful.

Negative relationships can be toxic and you need to either work on improving them or cutting them loose entirely. Surround yourself with positive things and it rubs off on you, and the same holds true for negativity. Surround yourself with negative things and you’ll become more negative whether you realize it or not.

Success is more than just coincidence or luck. If you are surrounded by positive, caring, success minded people you can feel it and it feels good to be around them. On the other hand, if you’re surrounded by negative, angry, mean spirited people, you can feel that and it sucks the energy from you and wears you down.

Look at the relationships around you and see if they are successful or not. If any relationship isn’t, don’t worry. You can work on turning it around into a successful, positive relationship.

So what makes a relationship successful? There are several things to make a successful relationship, but the 2 key factors are honesty and respect.

In your relationship, do you feel you can be honest and do you expect them to be honest with you?

What about respect? Do you respect them and do they respect you?

Another important factor is how do you make them feel and how do they make you feel? Are they positive and caring, giving you encouragement when you need it or do they put you down, brush you off, or always have something negative to say that makes you feel worse?

It’s a 2 way street, so how do you make them feel? Do you give them encouragement when they need it and make them feel good or are you always critical and make them feel worse?

If there’s mutual honest and respect, you’re heading in the right direction. If not, it’s time to work on the relationship and make some decisions on the future of your relationship.

Your relationships (positive or negative) will have a huge impact on your life whether you know it or not. They can affect your attitude, physical health, happiness, wealth and so much more, so it’s important to have successful relationships in your life and work on those that aren’t.

Here is a source that I recommend for improving your relationships . . . “The Five Love Languages” by Gary Chapman.

God Bless,

Keith Akin

P.S.  Feel free to share this post by hitting the “share” button below!

DREAM BIG

If there were ever a time to dare,

To make a difference,

To embark on something worth doing,

It is now.

Not for any grand cause, necessarily,

But for something that tugs at your heart,

Something that’s your aspiration,

Something that’s your dream.

You owe it to yourself, to make your days here count.

Have fun.

Dig deep.

Stretch.

DREAM BIG

Know, though, things worth doing seldom come easy.

There will be good days,

And there will be times when you want to turn around,

Pick it up,

And call it quits.

These times tell you that you are pushing yourself,

That you are not afraid to learn by trying.

PERSIST

Because with an idea,

Determination,

And the right tools,

You can do great things.

Let your instincts,

Your intellect,

And your heart guide you.

TRUST

Believe in the incredible power of the human mind.

Of doing something that makes a difference.

Of working hard,

Of laughing and hoping,

Of lazy afternoons,

Of lasting friends,

Of all the things that will cross your path this year.

The start of something new,

Brings the hope of something great.

Anything is possible.

There is only one you,

And you will pass this way only once.

Do it right.

DREAM BIG

- anonymous

I just had to share this story . . .

So, it’s getting close to bedtime and my daughter really likes sleeping in my bed because I have a tv in the room that I let her watch for 30 minutes as she falls asleep.

This is probably  not the best parenting in the world, but I do let her do this a couple times here and there.  It is NOT a normal thing around my house.

So . . . she comes up to me and says, “daddy, I want to sleep in your bed and you can sleep on the couch”.

Great deal for me right?

Then she follows up with, “daddy, I will give you this book that I made for you today” – which was 3 pages long – her name on the front page and two drawings taking up one page each.

I said, “is that all I get?”

She said, “well daddy, as she scanned the room, you can have this pack of notebook paper that is special because you can write important notes on it and stuff”.

I then said, “hmmm – let me think about it”.

She spits back, “daddy, you better hurry up and make your decision, because I will make it for you and I will choose to sleep in your bed.  And if you don’t hurry up, you will get nothing”.

I said, “ok Addy, it’s a deal”.

Then we take off to my room to set her up for the night.  I tell her to brush her teeth.  She enters the bathroom, starts brushing, then rinses with mouthwash, and is done.

She comes up to me and says, “daddy look! I’m getting better at cleaning my teeth!  What do you think?”

I took a quick look and said, “well, I don’t know, maybe”.

She then looked me in the eye and said, “daddy, maybe won’t do – I need a yes or a no”.

“Yes, Addy . . . you are getting better at it”.

The lessons to be learned here are this:

In the first offer (her to take over my bedroom/me on the couch) she offered me something, then added value to it (the notebook paper), then added a scarcity tactic (better hurry up or else you lose out).

I’ve not ever taught her about any of this marketing stuff!

KIDS ARE BORN SALESMEN!!!  It’s who they are.  They have no cash to work with, and they have to sell their parents on everything they get in life.

Now, with the teeth cleaning thing: she simply said “I need a yes or a no – maybe will not do”.

This is forcing the decision – something a lot of adults become scared to do.

All in all, my little 6 year old daughter apparently knows as much about marketing and selling as I do, and I’m the one who has invested the time and cash into learning this stuff.

Apparently, I’m just relearning a skill that I too once possessed as a child.

I will definitely be paying more attention to my own kids and the kids of everyone around me – perhaps I will pick up some new marketing and selling techniques.

Much love and success,

Keith

P.S.  Hit the share button below to spread this little piece of childhood knowledge to your buds.  They just might appreciate it!

Recently, I made the decision to try the Mass Control Monthly welcome kit from none other than the marketing guru genius: Frank Kern.

This guy is amazing in his own way.  He cusses like a sailor, gives presentations in blue jeans and t-shirts, and does things his way . . . period.

I highly recommend getting your hands on anything you can from Frank Kern.  This guy really knows what he’s doing when it comes to drinking and internet marketing.

I did find that the Mass Control Monthly package seems to be for people who already have a list and are currently already making money online.

I actually cancelled my subscription (of $297 per month) because I don’t have a list yet to put these excellent ideas to use!

I will be back . . . soon.

If you can tolerate the filthy language and you want to learn from a master at what he does, which is make millions selling stuff online, then Frank Kern is your man.

Google: Mass Control   You will find plenty of info about Frank K. and his programs.

www.MassControlSite.com/blog I think is their blog.  Very cool videos here!!!  Definitely worth checking into . . .

God Bless,

Keith

P.S.  Feel free to hit the share button below to send this post to anyone you’d like.  I appreciate it.

What you want is success, so surround yourself with things that will inspire and motivate you for the success that is to be yours.

First, get rid of anything negative. That will just hold you back and try to stop you from getting success. This can include negative people in your life who only put you down, display negative thoughts and attitudes, and do anything else that’s negative. If you are surrounded by people who constantly put you down, criticize you, and make you feel bad, it will rub off on you. Don’t listen to negative talk.

There are many books out there that will inspire you for success.

Zig Ziglar is a great author to read if inspiration is what you want. He has written many books that will help you get the right attitude for success. Some of his titles are:

Top Performance: How to Develop Excellence in Yourself and Others

Staying Up, Up, Up in a Down, Down World

What I Learned on the Way to the Top

See You at the Top

Something Else to Smile About: More Encouragement and Inspiration for Life’s Ups and Downs

While these are books mainly for inspiration, encouragement, and motivation, Zig Ziglar also has many books on sales. If you are in sales or aspire to be a successful salesperson, read Ziglar’s sales books.

Also look at Chappale Burton’s How to Choose Happiness Most of the Time. 30 Ways in 30 Days.

Positive affirmations are also a good tool in your quest for success. Instead of telling yourself, you can’t do something, tell yourself you can. Instead of saying it’s impossible, say it’s possible and I can do it.

Another great inspiration for success is to write down your goals. It’s okay to dream. Just make a list of your heart’s desires and what will make you successful in your mind and look at your list from time to time for motivation.

Success is more of a choice than it is luck or coincidence. With the right attitude and mind set, you’d be surprised at what you can accomplish.

It’s true some people have better circumstances than others. Life has setbacks and all kind of hurdles can pop up at any time and make you feel like you are destined to fail. But it’s all in your attitude. Are you going to let some life obstacles keep you down and out, or are you going to get up, dust yourself off, and keep going? 

Some people have not had success and it’s because of their negative mind set and attitude. Or could be just plain apathy and not taking any action.  

Does failing at something mean you won’t succeed? No! Often times failure is just part of the learning process. 

If things don’t go smoothly, does that mean you won’t succeed? No! Seldom is the road always smooth and straight.

Sometimes to get to true success it takes falling down and stumbling in the process, time, and hard work. By this time, many people have just give up.  

Your life is more than just circumstances, obstacles, and things beyond your control. You have within you the power to change your life, meet your goals, and be successful.  

If you really want success, make up your mind to not give up and grab success.

A great resource to help you build a great mindset and attitude toward your success is here: YourSuccessStore

P.S.  Use the share button below to send this post to anyone you think will benefit from this information or from this blog.

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Chappale Burton is a motivational speaker and life coach. His job is to motivate, inspire, and encourage people. He offers workshops, coaching, seminars and training to businesses and anyone who has a desire to change their life and be happy.  

He is also an author who wrote the book How to Choose Happiness: 30 Ways in 30 Days and has a DVD titled Creative Ways to Choose Happiness.  

Chappale Burton’s website is www.MondaySmiles.com. Monday Smiles is a self development company that Chappale co-founded. On his website, you can learn about services he offers and contact him.  

Chappale, who has a psychology degree, believes that happiness and success is a personal choice and teaches people how they can be happy even if it takes creativity.

He has an incredible life story that everyone can hear and learn from for themself.

I would recommend you taking at look at one of his videos here:  Chappale Burton video.

Choose Happiness : )