Expect Success!

Did you know that February is International Expect Success Month? What a great time to focus on the power of your expectations to create a successful outcome.

No matter what you’re attempting – whether running for President, playing in the Super Bowl, making a career change, dealing with a difficult co-worker or beginning an exercise program, your expectation at the outset has a significant impact on how you play the game - and on how you finish.

Expecting success not only makes you feel more energized, inspired and ready to take action, but also helps you attract the people, tools and resources you need to be successful.

Your thoughts and attitude shape the outcomes you produce. You attract what you think about most and then create more of it. The law of attraction is always at work drawing to you what you focus on and expect.

I recently started golf lessons. I expect that I will eventually become a fairly good golfer even though there is little outward evidence to substantiate my expectation at the moment. Interestingly, I have begun attracting people who want to support me by getting me on the course to practice, lending me equipment, and encouraging me to stay in the game. I expect that with a positive attitude, the help of my instructor and friends, along with focus, determination and practice, I will succeed.

According to Jack Canfield in his bestseller, "The Success Principles," when you begin to believe that what you want is possible, your brain will actually take over the job of accomplishing that possibility for you." If you want good things to happen, expect success and work like there is no other option. When you set out expecting success, you subconsciously strive even more to achieve your goals and dreams.

Why not expect to succeed and believe that you will achieve the desired result? Celebrate International Expect Success Month by expecting more success in your life, in your business and your relationships!

Here are my tips to help you succeed.

1. Think success from the start. Why would you set a goal or plan to do something thinking about the reasons you will not be successful? Focus your thoughts on all the reasons you will succeed and watch your doubts fade away.

2. Set yourself up for success. Surround yourself with the people, tools and resources that you need to be successful. If your environments do not support you in accomplishing your goals, change them now.

3. Get into action. If you feel stuck and unable to get moving, focus on your most important goal first. Write out three action steps to help you clarify what you need to do next. Decide that you will do at least one thing every day for your goal.

Success is a Decision

What do you really want? This was the question was posed to me by my first coach, Laura, several years ago. It seems like such a simple question, yet I remember wondering to myself, “why am I having such a hard time coming up with an answer?”

It wasn’t that I didn’t know what I wanted. Of course, I wanted to be happy, make lots of money, be my own boss and travel the world. Like many people, I thought I knew what I wanted. I was having some success and enjoying a good life. Yet I quickly learned from that simple question that I wasn’t truly clear about what success meant to me.

Laura helped me describe my dreams and goals in vivid detail. I discovered that being my own boss meant starting my own consulting business and training to become a coach. I got clear about how much money I wanted to make and ways I could create it. I defined my ideal lifestyle, relationships and home. As I worked with Laura, I began to clarify what I really wanted and things started to shift in amazing ways. My bank account grew, I started my own company, I was less stressed, more relaxed and having more fun.

One of the most important discoveries I made is that success is a decision. Once I understood that, I realized that I could make new decisions that would take me to my goals and dreams.

What do you want? Have you clarified what success means for you? Here are 3 tips to help:

1. Decide to take 100% responsibility for your success
There is only one person in the world responsible for the quality of life you live – you! Taking responsibility means letting go of excuse-making, victim stories and blaming outside circumstances. Empower yourself by deciding to be the architect of your life and taking full responsibility for your outcomes.

2. Decide what you want.

There is power in clarifying what you want. Most people get stuck at this first step because they simply can't see how it's possible to get what they want. Because they can’t see how, they end of up talking themselves out of their dream before they even start. Trust you will know how once you are clear about what you want.

3. Decide to take action.
Take the first step, and then take one more. Getting into action creates momentum that propels you toward your goal. Decide that you will do one thing every day for your dream.

Success is a decision. Make the decision today to live your best life now!

Make 2008 the year you go for it!

I'm happy to be a contributor to Community Newspapers Pinecrest Tribune. You'll find my article on the front page at http://www.communitynewspapers.com/pinecrest/2008/010708/index.asp.
Why not make 2008 the year you go for it!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year! I love the beginning of the new year. As I was out running this morning, I passed a couple shooting photos of the bay. The street I live on is undoubtedly one of the top spots in Miami for photos. Nearly everyday, I see visitors stopping as they drive through the area to snap a photo of the beautiful view we enjoy.

I hope I never lose the feeling of awe and appreciation for this paradise we call home. Having lived in a landlocked part of the country most of my life, I enjoy every day here in the warm, sunny (yes, often humid) tropical paradise. Many people save all year to vacation here for just a few days. I feel lucky to live here.

Wishing you a bright 2008! Happy New Year!