The general theory of

Success, as most would know it, goes a little like this...

Desire + Focused-Action = Success.

Focused-Action being a natural by-product of Desire. And Desire being a natural by-product of Belief.

The stronger the belief the more you desire it and will take action-steps towards it.

Belief = Desire = Action = Success.

And to this end techniques have been developed to help us increase our Belief. We can use affirmations. We can use detailed mental movies. We can add emotion to those mental movies to make them more real to the subconscious.

And yes, with all of this, it still seems like Mission Impossible to many, if not most, people.

What If there is another element. A hidden element that, unless discovered, continues to undermine all the affirmations and mental images and whatever other techniques you use to increase your belief.

And I'm not talking about your Motivation... you reason for wanting what you desire. And yet, in a sense I am.

What If, after all is said and done, all it really boils down to is your

PRIORITIES!

So you work a 9-5 job. Every morning at the crack of dawn, whether you're still tired and would rather stay in your nice warm bed or not, you drag yourself up and off to work.

Going to work has taken priority over staying in bed.

Why?

Because you've got bills to pay, food to buy, and so on. And you know the job will provide those things. You know the job will provide that "security".

But you want to start a business. That means Risk.

Risk is NOT Security.

Your basic priorities are NOT IN TUNE with what you want.

You say you want to take a risk and start a business yet you're exhibiting security priorities. And that's a clash.

Is it any wonder the thing you desire - your business - never gets going, or doesn't do well as well as you hope if it does get going.

When do school/university assignments get done? The night before they're due or the day they're due. When the deadline is right at hand and the assignment now takes priority over partying.

When do I look for a gas station? When I'm getting low. When the threat of running out of go-go-juice takes priority over continuing to drive.

You've heard stories of ships being burnt and scuttled to encourage the "troops" to put their heart and soul into the task. Living takes priority now because there's no other way out.

When the path of least resitance is gone there's only one path left and it takes priority.

Why do new migrants seem to do better than third or fourth generation descendants?

Is it simply because they have diferent priorities? Can't hardly speak the language, have little if any skills. Their back is against the wall and action Must be taken or death will be certain. Their priorities dictate everything.

Their priorities give strength to their desire. Their priorities give weight to their actions.

And what of belief?

You either believe it or you don't.

Use affirmations and "dreaming" all you like. Nothing will really and truly happen until you change your priorities.

You want to be the greatest face-to-face salesman (or woman, for those who don't realize the use of the masculine is generic and covers both sexes and who want to make a big deal about it, or person or consultant for those whose sensibilities might be upset for some silly reason) but find you aren't... even after taking all the workshops and seminars and courses and reading all the books and watching all the videos.

Where are your prioroties? Have a look at your actions to determine them.

So in a nutshell...

If you have a desire to be rich, and run a successful business, but your priority is a secure income for your family, you might have a problem taking the first step in business.

What do you think?

Michael Ross

If you have a family, kids, bills, you have a degree of responsibility that must surely be your main priority.

One can hardly say "My new priority is my new business idea" and then drop the responsibility of being a good parent/wife/husband.

It has to be a trade off or compromise.

You can’t forsake one for the other. Maybe it would work, but what would you lose?

My brother in law changed his priority from family and the responsibility that goes with it and focused on his desire to get rich.

Now he’s rich, divorced and has one of his kids in therapy and the other one hates his guts for seemingly abandoning them, because one day Dad decided that his family wasn’t a priority anymore, chasing wealth became the new priority.

Should he have done that? Could he have balanced it better? Maybe. He got what he wanted, but what was the price? He doesn't seem any happier now that he has money.

Sure if you haven’t got a wife and kids, the worse thing that can happen is you save up, chuck your job in and devote your life to your new priority.

Having bills is one thing, but having a family of your own is a completely different thing. It changes everything. You can have it all but there’s no such thing as something for nothing.

You can have anything you want in life, there are no restrictions as long as you’re prepared to pay the price.

And sometimes people realize too late that the price was way too high.

Max

PS A happy family home life and wealth through desire and action? Of course it can be done, but it isn’t easy, somewhere there has to be a balance, a compromise where the two can exist on the same level without endangering the other.

I suppose if it was easy, then everyone could do it.

Hi Michael,

> Success, as most would know it, goes a
> little like this...

> Desire + Focused-Action = Success.

> Focused-Action being a natural by-product of
> Desire. And Desire being a natural
> by-product of Belief.

> The stronger the belief the more you desire
> it and will take action-steps towards it.

> Belief = Desire = Action = Success.

I like this formula.... It's very clear and also very true!

> What If there is another element. A hidden
> element that, unless discovered, continues
> to undermine all the affirmations and mental
> images and whatever other techniques you use
> to increase your belief.

> And I'm not talking about your Motivation...
> you reason for wanting what you desire. And
> yet, in a sense I am.

> What If, after all is said and done, all it
> really boils down to is your

> PRIORITIES!

[...]

> But you want to start a business. That means
> Risk.

> Risk is NOT Security.

> Your basic priorities are NOT IN TUNE with
> what you want.

> You say you want to take a risk and start a
> business yet you're exhibiting security
> priorities. And that's a clash.

I believe this is true.... Many are afraid of the risk (with possibly good reason in some cases).

One interesting thing, which we've discussed here on Sowpub quite a while ago, is that many billionaires seem to be poker players.... Bill Gates, John Kluge, and Carl Icahn are all billionaires and have been active poker players in their past. Kirk Kerkorian, another billionaire, used to play blackjack and shoot craps. Warren Buffett is an expert bridge player.

Successfully playing poker and many other gambling-skill type games, when you think about it, is partly about managing your risk - it's all about probabilities.... As well as being aware of various clues from your fellow players, you have to assess the risks involved with making a higher bid, calling, or folding (or whatever the case may be), or when deciding which cards to replace in your hand....

The thing is, risk is something which can be managed.... Yet (strangely to me) this seems to almost never be covered in many of the popular business books.... The only place I can think of seeing it in many popular books is the concept of "testing" in mail order....

> You've heard stories of ships being burnt
> and scuttled to encourage the
> "troops" to put their heart and
> soul into the task. Living takes priority
> now because there's no other way out.

> When the path of least resitance is gone
> there's only one path left and it takes
> priority.

Yes, I agree with this.... It's not always practical for everyone to "burn their bridges behind them," but I do think that those who do, probably have a higher rate of success, because they've put themselves in a "do or die" type situation.... They cannot afford to fail, so they do all they can not to! There's no room for laziness or hesitation....

> Why do new migrants seem to do better than
> third or fourth generation descendants?

> Is it simply because they have diferent
> priorities? Can't hardly speak the language,
> have little if any skills. Their back is
> against the wall and action Must be taken or
> death will be certain. Their priorities
> dictate everything.

> Their priorities give strength to their
> desire. Their priorities give weight to
> their actions.

Wow, this is interesting!

I've wondered about migrants.... It seems to be a regular statistic, new migrants seem to have an above average tendency for success in their new found land.... Often this brings jealousy from the longer term residents of that land.... But why is it so?

I think you've probably hit the nail on the head, Michael! I think you're right, these migrants are in more of a "do or die" type situation than the average person.... They MUST "make it" because they have no other choice!

Again, this doesn't mean that this is what everyone should do, but it's an interesting thing to take note of....

> Where are your prioroties? Have a look at
> your actions to determine them.

> So in a nutshell...

> If you have a desire to be rich, and run a
> successful business, but your priority is a
> secure income for your family, you might
> have a problem taking the first step in
> business.

> What do you think?

Which course is better of course depends on a person's situation.... It is probably easier for a young person without a family dependent on him or her for their next meal to take chances....

I think for those who cannot afford to take the big risks, they should focus part of their efforts on risk management.... Making sure they do have fallback positions, and test (in an inexpensive way) where it's possible....

That was a very thought provoking post, Michael.... There were a lot of truths there, I really enjoyed it.... :)

- Dien

Hi Michael!

Success! One of my favorite topics.

Last night I saw a movie starring one of your countrymen, Heath Ledger. While many women probably enjoy looking at his face, I really enjoy listening to his voice and wonder what he sounds like without a fake British or American accent. *sigh*

Anyway, I digress. I was so fascinated by the message I received from "A Knight's Tale" that I wrote an article about it which I will post here as it runs along such similar lines as yours does...and if you have NOT seen the movie, I recommend it.

The last question in your post about priorities and taking a first step in your business: it is primarily because of my children that I take focused, laser like action to create my business in the manner that I have.

In doing work that springs from my soul, in engaging my mind as I provide valuable service to others translates into financial AND emotional success for me. It also translates into stability for my kids. As a person on an 8-5 treadmill, I did not have flexibility. Next week I am spending a day with my daughter's 3rd grade class.

Every day I spend most of my time with my baby AND I still have time to write, provide feedback for a couple carefully selected clients and work on product development. I go to sleep nightly content with my accomplishments....in other words, I am.....

Moving Stars
(c) 2001
Julie Jordan Scott

A young boy named William was told his goal in life would be more
difficult to reach than it would be to move the stars in the sky.

Young William then asks his Father the question, "Can a man move
the stars?"

Can an ordinary person do the extraordinary? The unexpected?
What seems impossible?

His father wisely answers: "If you believe that you can move the
stars, then you can."

What happens when a fearless, vision driven, character rich
individual creates an opportunity for himself or herself and fires
it with the strength of a firmly held belief?

Stars move.

Truism: we see what we anticipate seeing. We invite our experiences
to match our expectations.

Our subconscious creates accordingly. Our reality then falls in line
as if saying, "I told you I was right! Once again, the world proves
what I know to be true to be true."

Movie reviewers wrote the following about the Heath Ledger film,
"A Knight's Tale":

Summer fluff; action adventure "filler" when the blockbusters are
sold out; an epic with a comical twist; not much character development;
questionable interpretation of history; high school romance.

On a blistering hot Monday evening in Bakersfield, I was subconsciously
desiring to be inspired and uplifted.

The reviewers did not have the same expectations as I did.

I saw William asking his father if stars could be moved. I saw a boy
growing to adulthood to fulfill his "impossible" destiny.

I wondered what movie the reviewers were watching.

I saw the action and adventure. I saw the epic that was amusing. I
saw the romance.

I also saw what I subconsciously created.

How did they miss the main point of the movie: that anyone can
make the stars move if they believe that they can and have a plan
to reach their goal coupled with discipline and passion.

William, after becoming a man, would ride to his destiny, in spite
of incredibly bleak odds.

Translating this message to your life are a few important distinctions.

#1. Not everyone will share your vision or belief. In fact, many
people will use a lot of energy to block you from achieving your
goal.

The antidote: Don't buy into their "stuff". Allow people to carry
their own baggage, don't allow it to spill into your space.

The question to ask: What is your heart longing to create?

#2. Achieving anything great requires discipline, artistry, courage
and commitment. It is not an instant experience. It will require
you to stretch, do more than you may have imagined, cross
bridges you never thought you would cross and leap higher than
you knew you could leap. And each step reached is glorious be it
painful or effortless all because you are getting closer to your
goal.

The antidote: embrace discipline in your life. Instead of seeing it
as constricting, see it as joyful and abundant. When others try to
steer you off course, remain steadfast.

The question to ask: Which stars are you meant to be moving?

#3. Many people would rather be passive or inert than take the
passionate, laser like action necessary to change the course of
one's life. They would rather take their energy to make excuses
and pollute other people's possibilities.

The antidote: Take action, laserlike and passionate, anyway. You
will inspire like minded people and perhaps ignite the fire of
others along the journey.

The question to ask: What laser like action are you willing to take
to make it happen?

Finally, what do you expect to experience each day? Do you wake
up each day with an air of excitement over the possibilities or do
you awaken with a sense of dread due to a sense of hopelessness?

Maybe its somewhere in between for you.

What is your subconscious creating?

Shannon Miller, Olympic Gymnast and Gold Medalist said, "Other
people may not have had high expectations for me.....but I had
high expectations for myself." She had a vision which she pursued
diligently and purposefully with passionate action. She did not
listen to others. She did her best, which was at times the best of
all the competitors the world over.

Shannon Miller moved stars.

Which stars will you move?

****
thanks, Michael, for your thoughts tonight. They got me pondering once again.

With Purpose and Passion,

JULIE JORDAN SCOTT




Dare to Discover Your Passion, Decide to Live Your Destiny!

Dien -

> The thing is, risk is something which can be
> managed.... Yet (strangely to me) this seems
> to almost never be covered in many of the
> popular business books.... The only place I
> can think of seeing it in many popular books
> is the concept of "testing" in
> mail order....

I've found the discussion of risk and risk management to be handled in a somewhat interesting way in "Rich Dad's Guide to Investing." RK's "rich dad" said that investments weren't risky but that investor was risky, typically because of lack of financial literacy. I thought this was an interesting way to view it.

Rick Smith, "The Net Guerrilla"


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