Pieces of Instigation Add Fuel to Your Mind By Fernanda Loureiro and Robert Ziehe Smashwords Edition Copyright Fernanda

Loureiro & Robert Ziehe 2011 Smashwords Edition, License NotesThis ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If youre reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.FOREWORD

Over the last couple of decades the Internet has become an indispensable vehicle to access information of all kinds. However, it brings together so much information from so many different sources that makes it increasingly difficult to cover all available data and, moreover, identify conclusive and reliable information. So, with the aim of being a time saver for Internet users by searching and selecting the best online knowledge, THIS IS IT presents a series of e-books that brings to you a careful selection of information from the Web on a wide range of subjects. Whether you are interested in Psychology, Cooking or Mixed Martial Arts, THIS IS IT will quickly update you as it refers to relevant news on your preferred topic. Created by a multidisciplinary group of professional Internet researchers, these e-books offer consistent extracts of information,

providing the selected sources and also their respective link, in case you want to know the full text. The title we chose to inaugurate this series, PIECES OF INSTIGATION, add fuel to your mind, which brings together the insights and famous sayings of all time, illustrates our goal of concentrating information, knowledge and credibility in a single dose.

We hope you enjoy this quality work and find it useful. All your comments and suggestions are welcome. You may contact us through e-books@moviemento.com.brChapter one Conquering the Stairs Have you ever let fear conquer you? Well today, you're going to read about an amazing dog who helped me overcome mine. Caspian was a new addition to my household. He had shown up in the front yard of my 100 year old Virginia farmhouse one early morning. He was skin and bones, covered with ticks, fleas and sores, and had been shot - his skinny body riddled with buckshot. I took one look at this pathetic animal and told him he was home. It took weeks of vet treatments, baths and many bowls of food, but he finally began to look like a dog that was going to make it. His bones began to disappear, his coat took on a shine, and he became my constant shadow to show his appreciation for me saving his life. He was always with me - except when I went upstairs to my office. My home had a wide expanse of wooden stairs that led to the 2nd floor. Caspian was terrified of them. It didn't matter what I did to

build his confidence, or what wonderful tidbit of food I tempted him with, he refused to climb those stairs. He would just cower at the bottom stair and shake all over whenever I got him near them. Yet when I went up to my office, he was overcome with despair at being separated from me and laid at the bottom whimpering and whining. I had no idea what had created this fear, and I had even less of an idea of how to conquer it. After two weeks of daily attempts, I finally gave up. If he didn't want to climb the stairs - so be it. But my only defense from his pitiful whining was to turn the music up any time I needed to be in my office. When I would leave my office and come downstairs, Caspian would erupt with frantic joy to be reunited once again. About a month into this pattern, I was awakened one morning by a noise. I lay in bed trying to identify what it was. Click, click, click. Silence. Click, click, click. Silence. It kept on for close to fifteen minutes before my curiosity finally overwhelmed my desire to stay under the warm covers. I threw aside my quilt, grabbed a robe and went out to investigate. When I identifiedthe source of the noise, I just stood there with my mouth wide open. I watched as Caspian carefully climbed the stairs. Click, click, click. He got to the top, turned around, and then started back down. Click, click, click. When he got to the bottom, he turned and gazed at me as if to say, It's really no big deal. I can do this! And then he did it again, and again, and again. at least 25 more times after already having done it for 15 minutes before I finally came to investigate.

I watched his confidence grow with each ascent and descent of the "dreaded stairs." His tongue hung out in joy and at the end his tail was wagging is triumph over his fears. He knew he would never again have to be separated from me because of the stairs. I already loved him, but that day I gained an incredible respect for his courage and resilience. I was also challenged about what I was willing to do to overcome my fears. Was I willing to stare my fears in the face and then take the steps to overcome that fear? Was I willing to feel the fear, and then do it anyway? Was I willing to attack my fears, for as long as it took to overcome them? I made a lot of decisions that day that have given me a much richer life - and I have Caspian to thank for it! So now I pose the same questions to you: Are you willing to stare your fears in the face and then take the steps to overcome them? Are you willing to feel the fear, and then do it anyway? Are you willing to attack your fears for as long as it takes to overcome them? Every time you are faced with a fear, try to remember a courageous dog that was able to conquer his fears with love and determination - and then follow his lead. All of us are afraid of something in our lives. There is no shame in being afraid. The key to victory, however, is to face your fear head on and do whatever it takes to overcome it. You can let your fears stop you from achieving all you want in life, or. you can follow Caspian's lead and conquer the stairs! Ginny Dye Ginny Dye is the Founder and CEO of The Ultimate Life Company - created to empower you to live your ultimate life!Chapter two Treasures For Life "Even though you may want to move forward in your life, you may

have one foot on the brakes. In order to be free, we must learn how to let go. Release the hurt. Release the fear. Refuse to entertain your old pain. The energy it takes to hang onto the past is holding you back from a new life. What is it you would let go of today?" Mary Manin Morrissey Minister, Author and Speaker "If you don't like the road you're walking, start paving another one." Dolly Parton Singer/Songwriter "Do your little bit of good where you are; its those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world." Desmond Tutu Activist and Christian Cleric "I do the very best I know how - the very best I can; and mean to keep doing so until the end. If the end brings me out all right, what is said against me won't amount to anything." Abraham Lincoln 1809-1865, Sixteenth President of the United States "It is a great mistake for men to give up paying compliments, for when they give up saying what is charming, they give up thinking what is charming."Oscar Wilde 1854-1900, Writer and Poet "The best way to keep relationships happy, healthy, and supportive can be summed up in one word: appreciation. What you appreciate, appreciates. When we demonstrate our appreciation for the support we receive from others, it reinforces that behavior and deepens our connection to them." Marci Shimoff Author of Love For No Reason "No one ever attains very eminent success by simply doing what is required of him; it is the amount and excellence of what is over and

above the required that determines the greatness of ultimate distinction." Charles Kendall Adams 1835-1902, Professor of History and Author "Don't let the fear of the time it will take to accomplish something stand in the way of your doing it. The time will pass anyway; we might just as well put that passing time to the best possible use." Earl Nightingale 1921-1989, Author "Often we allow ourselves to be upset by small things we should despise and forget. We lose many irreplaceable hours brooding over grievances that, in a year's time, will be forgotten by us and by everybody. No, let us devote our life to worthwhile actions and feelings, to great thoughts, real affections and enduring undertakings." Andre Maurois 1885-1967, Writer"The individual who wants to reach the top in business must appreciate the might of the force of habit and must understand that practices are what create habits. He must be quick to break those habits that can break him and hasten to adopt those practices that will become the habits that help him achieve the success he desires." J. Paul Getty 1892-1976, American Oil Tycoon "If you make the unconditional commitment to reach your most important goals, if the strength of your decision is sufficient, you will find the way and the power to achieve your goals." Robert Conklin Teacher, Author and Speaker "Perhaps the most valuable result of all education is the ability to make yourself do the thing you have to do, when it ought to be

done, whether you like it or not; it is the first lesson that ought to be learned; and however early a man's training begins, it is probably the last lesson that he learns thoroughly." Thomas H. Huxley 1825-1895, Biologist "Creativity requires the courage to let go of certainties." Erich Fromm 1900-1980, Psychologist "The day you catch an idea you fall in love with, even a small one, is a beautiful day." David Lynch Filmmaker and Television Director"Because you're human, it is your nature to journey, to discover that what you've been looking for is all around you. Very often the grassy spot you seek is right under your feet. You just need to awaken to that knowledge that's hidden from your conscious mind. Yes, you're wearing ruby slippers and can go home anytime you like. For now, embrace this grand adventure." Colette Baron-Reid Author of The MAP: Finding The Magic and Meaning in the Story of Your LifeChapter three Is Happiness Around The Corner? For lots of people, happiness is just around the corner. They just need to get their degree, a particular job, a promotion, or a raise. Maybe they're waiting to get married or have a child. Perhaps they will be happy when they retire. Alfred D' Souza said, "For a long time it seemed to me that life was about to begin. But there was always some obstacle in the way, something to be gotten through first, some unfinished business, time still to be served, or a debt to be paid. Then life would begin. At last it dawned on me that these obstacles were my life." John Lennon put it another way, "Life is what happens while you are

making other plans." The point is our lives are happening now. If we are to get the satisfaction and fulfillment we want, we have to learn to draw pleasure and joy from everything that happens to us and around us because these experiences are the very essence of our life. The more conscious we are that life consists of the journey, not the destination, the more likely we are to get the most out of it. So, if there are things you want to do, begin to fit them in now or accept the fact that you can be happy whether or not you do them. Happiness isn't just around the corner. It's now or it's never.The good news is you have everything you need to be happy. Philosophers, poets, and scientists all agree it can't be attained through money, prestige, or power. Happiness is not a fact, it's a mindset. All you need is optimism and gratitude. Michael Josephson www.charactercounts.orgChapter four More Delight "My experience of the world is that things left to themselves don't get right"... T.H. Huxley 1825-1895, Biologist and Author "Seek not to change the world, but choose to change your mind about the world. What you see reflects your thinking. And your thinking but reflects your choice of what you want to see." From A Course In Miracles "Man often becomes what he believes himself to be. If I keep on saying to myself that I cannot do a certain thing, it is possible that I may end by really becoming incapable of doing it. On the contrary, if I shall have the belief that I can do it. I shall surely acquire the

capacity to do it, even if I may not have it at the beginning." Mahatma Gandhi 1869-1948, Indian Nationalist Leader "Patience and perseverance have a magical effect before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish." John Quincy Adams 1767-1848, Sixth President of the United States"To achieve great things, two things are needed; a plan, and not quite enough time." Leonard Bernstein Conductor and Composer "There are no such things as limits to growth, because there are no limits on the human capacity for intelligence, imagination, and wonder." Ronald Reagan 1911-2004, 40th President of the United States "Think BIG. There are unseen forces ready to support your dreams." Cheryl Richardson Author "I am determined to be cheerful and happy in whatever situation I may find myself. For I have learned that the greater part of our misery or unhappiness is determined not by our circumstance but by our disposition." Martha Washington 1732-1802, First American First Lady You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear. Do it! Develop an appreciation for the present moment. Seize every second of your life and savor it. Value your present moments. Using them up in any self-defeating ways means you've lost them forever." Wayne Dyer Author and Speaker"Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature nor do the children of man as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is

no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing." Helen Keller 1880-1968, Blind/Deaf Author and Lecturer "The secret of joy in work is contained in one word - excellence. To know how to do something well is to enjoy it." Pearl Buck1892-1973, Winner of both the Pulitzer and Nobel Prize for her writing. "The person who makes a success of living is the one who sees his goal steadily and aims for it unswervingly. That is dedication." Cecil B. DeMille 1881-1959, Film Director and Producer "You need to overcome the tug of people against you as you reach for high goals." George Patton 1885-1945, World War II Army General "Everybody is like a magnet. You attract to yourself reflections of that which you are. If you're friendly, then everybody else seems to be friendly too." Dr. David Hawkins Physician and Lecturer "The big secret in life is that there is no secret. Whatever your goal, you can get there if you are willing to work. It is called massive action. Action is the gas in the tank. Without you, the carwill not run." Marcy Blochowiak CEO Marketing Director with World Financial Group "Most people are so busy knocking themselves out trying to do everything they think they should, they never get around to do what they want to do." Kathleen Winsor 1919-2003, Author "We all have to start with ourselves. It is time to walk the talk. Take the journey of making very difficult decisions. Start removing things from your life that are not filling your cup and adding things that

bring joy in to your life." Lisa Hammond Author of Dream Big "Very little is needed to make a happy life; it is all within yourself, in your way of thinking." Marcus Aurelius 121-180, Roman Emperor and Philosopher "If you are lucky enough to find a way of life you love, you have to find the courage to live it." John Irving Academy Award Winning Screenwriter and NovelistChapter fife A Touch of Lemon When I met Mr. Jim Lemon, I was a sixteen-year-old freshman at Houston's Jackson Junior High and the chances of my finishing high school were slim. I was a troubled teenager with an attitude, living in a neighborhood that fostered troubled teenagers. Mr. Lemon taught American history and it was clear from the first day that his classroom was not going to be disrupted. It was apparent very quickly that Mr. Lemon was quite different from the other teachers I had known. Not only was he a disciplinarian, but also he was a great teacher. He would never settle for my usual standard of classroom work. Mr. Lemon pushed and prodded and never tolerated the mediocrity that had become my standard. On the occasion of our first semester report cards, Mr. Lemon called me aside and asked how it was possible that I was a B student in his class and a D and F student in the rest of my classes. I was ready for that question. I passionately told him about my divorced parents, the local gangs, the drugs, the fights, and the police - all the evils that I had been subjected to. Mr. Lemon

listened patiently and when I was through he responded, "There's a problem with your list Mr. Phillips, you are not on it." Then Mr. Lemon explained that the only person responsible for my situation was me. And the only person with the potential to change my situation was me, and that when I personally accepted that responsibility I could make a significant change in my life. He convinced me that I was failing not because I was a failure, but because I was not accepting the responsibility for my results in those other classes. Mr. Lemon was the first teacher I had who made me believe in myself. He inspired me to become a better student and he changed my life. Ten years later, I spoke to him again. I was preparing to graduate from Chaminade University in Honolulu. It had taken weeks of telephone calls to find him but I knew what I had to say. When I finally did get Mr. Lemon on the telephone, I explained what his brutal honesty had meant to me, how I finally graduated from high school, and how I was a proud staff sergeant in the Army. I explained how I had married the most beautiful and wonderful woman of my dreams and how we had a beautiful a daughter. Most of all I wanted him to know that I was about to graduate magna cum laude after going to school for four hours a night, four nights a week for three years. I wanted him to know that I could never have done any of these things if he had not been a part of my life. Finally, I told him that I had been saving money for two years so that I could invite he and his wife to come to Hawaii at my expense to be part of my graduation. I'll never forget his response. Mr.

Lemon said, "Who is this again?" I was just one of hundreds of students whose life he changed and he seemed genuinely surprised of his impact. Perhaps none of us realize the impact that we have on other people nor do other people have any idea how much of an impact they have on us. How much, then, should we be aware of our influence on others to make sure that it is for the best? And how much more should we tell those who have had a positive impact on our lives? Rick Phillips Rick Phillips is a motivational speaker and trainer.Chapter six Wisdom Speaking "We often take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude." Cynthia Ozick Writer "Humans think they are smarter than dolphins because we build cars and buildings and start wars etc., and all that dolphins do is swim in the water, eat fish and play around. Dolphins believe that they are smarter for exactly the same reasons." Douglas Adams 1952-2001, Writer and Dramatist "I am grateful for all of my problems. After each one was overcome, I became stronger and more able to meet those that were still to come. I grew in all my difficulties." James Cash Penney 1875-1971, Entrepreneur and Founder of J.C. Penney Department Stores "People with goals succeed because they know where they're going. It's that simple."

Earl Nightingale 1921-1989, Author of The Strangest Secret "Man is fond of counting his troubles, but he does not count his joys. If he counted them up as he ought to, he would see that every lot has enough happiness provided for it."Fyodor Dostoevsky 1821-1881, Writer "It's the little things that make the big things possible. Only close attention to the fine details of any operation makes the operation first class." John Willard Marriott 1900-1985, Entrepreneur and Founder of Marriott Corporation "You will never be the person you can be if pressure, tension and discipline are taken out of your life." James G. Bilkey Author "Just don't give up trying to do what you really want to do. Where there's love and inspiration, I don't think you can go wrong." Ella Fitzgerald 1917-1996, Jazz Singer "A mind, like a home, is furnished by its owner, so if one's life is cold and bare he can blame none but himself." Louis L'Amour 1908-1988, Novelist "You must see your goals clearly and specifically before you can set out for them. Hold them in your mind until they become second nature." Les BrownSpeaker"What is the difference between an obstacle and an opportunity? Our attitude toward it. Every opportunity has a difficulty, and every difficulty has an opportunity." J. Sidlow Baxter 1903-1999, Author and Theologian "Hanging onto resentment is letting someone you despise live rent-free in your head." Esther Lederer, a.k.a. Ann Landers 1918-2002, Syndicated Advice Columnist

"Happy are those who dream dreams and are ready to pay the price to make them come true." Leon Suenens 1904-1996, Clergyman "The choices I make today will determine the rest of my life!" Ginny Dye Founder of The Ultimate Life Company "When you get into a tight place and everything goes against you, till it seems as though you could not hold on a minute longer, never give up then, for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn." Harriet Beecher Stowe 1811-1896, Writer"The thing always happens that you really believe in; and the belief in a thing makes it happen." Frank Lloyd Wright 1867-1959, Architect, Writer and Educator "Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world." Harriet Tubman 1822-1913, Abolitionist "Set your sights high, the higher the better. Expect the most wonderful things to happen, not in the future but right now. Realize that nothing is too good. Allow absolutely nothing to hamper you or hold you up in any way." Eileen Caddy Author "If I accept you as you are, I will make you worse; however, if I treat you as though you are what you are capable of becoming, I help you become that." Johann Wolfgang von Goethe 1749-1832, Author and PhilosopherChapter seven The Art of Intuitive Action About 10 years ago my daughter was about 2500 kilometers from

Newcastle, and rang me one day sobbing because of an emotional trauma she was facing. She was about 20, and in a town known as Ayrlie Beach in Northern Queensland. I asked her what it was that she needed most in that moment, and she replied that she needed support, and my arms around her would be the best thing that she could hope for! Because I couldn't do that in that exact moment, I asked her to describe her surroundings to me (I have absolutely no idea 'why', at the time), and said that if she hadn't heard from me in about 30 minutes to ring me back. I asked her to stay exactly where she was. I had no idea how I was going to ring her back, by the way, as she was calling from a public phone booth (one of three), near a little park, surrounded by a few shops in the main street of Ayrlie Beach. OK then, after hanging up the phone, I just sat for a few seconds. After only a very short time a phone number 'jumped into my head', and even though I recognized it, it wasn't a commonly used number of mine. I rang the number and it was a woman who had bought a house from me about 18 months previously, when I was working in Real Estate. My exact words to her were these, "Oh, it's you Liz, I have no idea why I'm calling you in particular, but my daughter is stranded in Ayrlie Beach, and I just got the thought to ring you and tell you that. Have you any idea why?" "It could be because my Son lives there," says Liz. "Oh really, that's got to be it," I said. "Do you mind giving me his phone number Liz?" "Of course not, and I can only hope that he can be of some help!" Liz gave me his mobile number and I rang straight away (only

about 5 minutes have passed since telling my daughter that somehow I'd get her help). Fortunately, he answered immediately, and I told him the story of who I was, and why I'd rung. I gave him the description of my daughter; where she was standing; and that she needed emotional support if he could find it in his heart to help out so unexpectedly like this. "Oh yes, I can see her," he said..."she's right across the street from where I'm standing!" He walked across the street and told my daughter that her Dad had sent him! Imagine that...she almost fainted: only about 10 minutes had passed since she had rung me! I believe that she said something like this, "Wow, Dad's getting pretty good at this stuff!" She was taken to a safe house; nurtured and supported; given food and a bed for a couple nights; and also given money to get herself to where she needed to be. That's intuition at it's best! It may save a life or two if people can embrace the use of intuition, and learn to trust in it. Remember: "What others do or say is their stuff; how we react, or not, is our stuff!" Phil Evans Phil Evans is a Motivator, Business Coach, Life Coach and Inspirational Writer based in Australia.Chapter eight We Cannot Get Enough "My father instilled in me that if you don't see things happening the way you want them to, you get out there and make them happen." Susan Powter Author "People often say that this or that person has not yet found

himself. But the self is not something one finds, it is something one creates." Thomas Szasz Psychiatrist and Author "The future is open; we decide what's in it." Wolfgang Sonnenburg Founder of Winspiration Day "If you put off everything till you're sure of it, you'll never get anything done." Norman Vincent Peale 1898-1993, Minister and Author "I quit being afraid when my first venture failed and the sky didn't fall down." Allen H. Neuharth Founder of USA Today "The more I want to get something done, the less I call it work."Richard Bach Author "The first step toward success is taken when you refuse to be a captive of the environment in which you first find yourself." Mark Caine Author "Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless." Mother Teresa 1910-1997, Catholic Nun and Founder of Missionaries of Charity in Calcutta "Once you replace negative thoughts with positive ones, you'll start having positive results." Willie Nelson Singer-SongwriterChapter nine Today I Will Make A Difference Today I will make a difference. I will begin by controlling my thoughts. A person is the product of his thoughts. I want to be happy and hopeful. Therefore, I will have thoughts that are happy and hopeful. I refuse to be victimized by my circumstances. I will not let petty inconveniences such as stoplights, long lines, and

traffic jams be my masters. I will avoid negativism and gossip. Optimism will be my companion, and victory will be my hallmark. Today I will make a difference. I will be grateful for the twenty-four hours that are before me. Time is a precious commodity. I refuse to allow what little time I have to be contaminated by self-pity, anxiety, or boredom. I will face this day with the joy of a child and the courage of a giant. I will drink each minute as though it is my last. When tomorrow comes, today will be gone forever. While it is here, I will use it for loving and giving. Today I will make a difference. I will not let past failures haunt me. Even though my life is scarred with mistakes, I refuse to rummage through my trash heap of failures. I will admit them. I will correct them. I will press on. Victoriously. No failure is fatal. It's OK to stumble...I will get up. It's OK to fail...I will rise again. Today I will make a difference. I will spend time with those I love. My spouse, my children, my family. A man can own the world but be poor for the lack of love. A man can own nothing and yet be wealthy in relationships. Today I will spend at least five minutes with the significant people in my world. Five quality minutes of talking or hugging or thanking or listening. Five undiluted minutes with my mate, children, and friends. Today I will make a difference. Max LucadoFrom "On The Anvil"Copyright (Tyndale Publishing, 1985) Max Lucado, Used by PermissionChapter ten From Ancient to Present "Gratitude is a duty which ought to be paid, but which none have a

right to expect." Jean Jacques Rousseau 1712-1778, Philosopher and Writer "You can chain me, you can torture me, you can even destroy this body, but you will never imprison my mind." Mahatma Gandhi 1869-1948, Political and Spiritual Leader "If you love something and stick with it, you will get phenomenal results." Bob Proctor "Nurture your mind with great thoughts. To believe in the heroic makes heroes." Benjamin Disraeli 1804-1881, British Prime Minister "More than anything else, I believe it's our decisions, not the conditions of our lives, that determine our destiny." Anthony Robbins Author and Speaker "Real integrity is doing the right thing, knowing that nobody's going to know whether you did it or not." Oprah Winfrey Talk Show Host, Producer and Philanthropist "Forgiveness does not change the past, but it does enlarge the future." Paul Boese Botanist "When you affirm big, believe big and pray big, putting faith into action, big things happen." Dr. Norman Vincent Peale 1898-1993, Preacher and AuthorChapter eleven Priorities Before reading the next paragraph, please answer this three-part question: What is the single most significant thing you could begin doing regularly that would: (1) Make you more effective at your work? (2) Create a better atmosphere for your family? and (3)

Enrich your spiritual life? On the assumption now that you have named three specific things that would make your life better, let me pose one more question: Can you defend your choice to omit any of these three things from your schedule this week? All of us have urgent things that will have to be attended to before this day ends - phone calls, appointments, sales calls, deadlines, interruptions, etc. But some of us will also do our versions of the things you named earlier - like planning next week's big presentation or making three extra calls, telling someone "I love you" or helping children with homework, or taking time to read and pray for a few minutes. The difference in people who tend to life's really important things and those of us who simply react to whatever happens in a day and live the scripts others write for us is called discernment. Maybe you prefer to call it setting priorities or putting first things first. It is absurdly easy to fall into the activity trap. That's when you think that being busy is the same thing as being productive. We humans can equate having done huge amounts of unimportant things with having done something that is actually significant. They simply aren't the same. Moving quickly and efficiently is important only if your movement is in the direction of some worthy goal. Since you took the time at the start of this piece to name three specific steps toward noble ends, why not take some time now to figure out how to include them in today's schedule for yourself?

You may need to cut out some waste and cancel some unimportant things, but you will be better for it. You will have started to practice discernment between the things in life that really matter and all the second-rate distractions we let get in the way of doing them. You likely know the writings of Stephen Covey. His 7 Habits of Highly Effective People has sold widely and helped many people toward a clearer view of career, family, and personal life. "The key is not to prioritize what's on your schedule," insists Covey, "but to schedule your priorities." Rubel Shelly Rubel Shelly is a Preacher and Professor of Religion and Philosophy located in Rochester Hills, Michigan. In addition to church and academic responsibilities, he has worked actively with such community projects as Habitat for Humanity, American Red Cross, From Nashville With Love, Metro (Nashville) Public Schools, Faith Family Medical Clinic, and Operation Andrew Ministries.Chapter twelve Be Aware "Leadership is no longer about your position. It's now more about your passion for excellence and making a difference. You can lead without a title." Robin Sharma Check out Robin's incredible new book The Leader Who Had No Title: A Modern Fable On Real Success In Business and In Life "If you're open to altering your plans a bit, you might achieve even better results than you'd anticipated." Peggy McColl "You never will be the person you can be if pressure, tension and discipline are taken out of your life." James G. Bilkey Author

"It's the little things you do that can make a big difference. What are you attempting to accomplish? What little thing can you do today that will make you more effective? You are probably only one step away from greatness." Bob Proctor Author and Speaker "Prosperity consciousness is the awareness that all of us have something of value to offer, and we all deserve to get paid for what we provide to others." Peggy McColl Author of Viral Explosions: Proven Techniques to Expand, Explode, or Ignite Your Business Or Brand Online "Bless a thing and it will bless you. Curse it and it will curse you. If you bless a situation, it has no power to hurt you." Emmet Fox 1886-1951, Spiritual Leader "A dream is your creative vision for your life in the future. You must break out of your current comfort zone and become comfortable with the unfamiliar and the unknown." Denis Waitley Author and Speaker "People are like sticks of dynamite. The power is on the inside, but nothing happens until the fuse gets lit." Mac Anderson Author "When I get ready to talk to people, I spend two thirds of the time thinking what they want to hear and one third thinking about what I want to say." Abraham Lincoln 1809-1865, 16th President of the United States "Write down the thoughts of the moment. Those that come unsought for are commonly the most valuable." Francis Bacon 1561-1626, Philosopher, Statesman, Scientist and Author "Don't be afraid of the space between your dreams and reality. If

you can dream it, you can make it so." Belva Davis Award-Winning Journalist"When you give someone a book, you don't give him just paper, ink, and glue. You give him the possibility of a whole new life." Christopher Morley 1890-1957, Novelist, Journalist and Poet "Set your sights high, the higher the better. Expect the most wonderful things to happen, not in the future but right now. Realize that nothing is too good. Allow absolutely nothing to hamper you or hold you up in any way." Eileen Caddy Author "If things are not going well with you, begin your effort at correcting the situation by carefully examining the service you are rendering, and especially the spirit in which you are rendering it." Roger Babson 1875-1967, Statistician and Columnist "Set a goal to achieve something that is so big, so exhilarating that it excites you and scares you at the same time. It must be a goal that is so appealing, so much in line with your spiritual core that you can't get it out of your mind. If you do not get chills when you set a goal, you're not setting big enough goals." Bob Proctor Author and SpeakerChapter thirteen Acres of Diamonds One of the most interesting Americans who lived in the 19th century was a man by the name of Russell Herman Conwell. He was born in 1843 and lived until 1925. He was a lawyer for about fifteen years until he became a clergyman. One day, a young man went to him and told him he wanted a college education but couldn't swing it financially. Dr. Conwell decided, at that moment, what his aim in life was, besides being a

man of the cloth - that is. He decided to build a university for unfortunate, but deserving, students. He did have a challenge however. He would need a few million dollars to build the university. For Dr. Conwell, and anyone with real purpose in life, nothing could stand in the way of his goal. Several years before this incident, Dr. Conwell was tremendously intrigued by a true story - with its ageless moral. The story was about a farmer who lived in Africa and through a visitor became tremendously excited about looking for diamonds. Diamonds were already discovered in abundance on the African continent and this farmer got so excited about the idea of millions of dollars worth of diamonds that he sold his farm to head out to the diamond line. He wandered all over the continent, as the years slipped by, constantly searching for diamonds, wealth, which he never found. Eventually he went completely broke and threw himself into a river and drowned. Meanwhile, the new owner of his farm picked up an unusual looking rock about the size of a country egg and put it on his mantle as a sort of curiosity. A visitor stopped by and in viewing the rock practically went into terminal convulsions. He told the new owner of the farm that the funny looking rock on his mantle was about the biggest diamond that had ever been found. The new owner of the farm said, "Heck, the whole farm is covered with them" - and sure enough it was. The farm turned out to be the Kimberly Diamond Mine...the richest the world has ever known. The original farmer was literally standing on "Acres of Diamonds" until he sold his farm. Dr. Conwell learned from the story of the farmer and continued to

teach it's moral. Each of us is right in the middle of our own "Acre of Diamonds", if only we would realize it and develop the ground we are standing on before charging off in search of greener pastures. Dr. Conwell told this story many times and attracted enormous audiences. He told the story long enough to have raised the money to start the college for underprivileged deserving students. In fact, he raised nearly six million dollars and the university he founded, Temple University in Philadelphia, has at least ten degree-granting colleges and six other schools. When Doctor Russell H. Conwell talked about each of us being right on our own "Acre of Diamonds", he meant it. This story does not get old...it will be true forever.Chapter fourteen Lifes Opportunities Opportunity does not just come along - it is there all the time - we just have to see it. Earl Nightingale 1921-1989, From Our Changing World Radio TranscriptAuthor of The Strangest Secret The world is divided into people who do things, and people who get credit. Try, if you can, to belong to the first class, there is far less competition." Dwight Morrow 1873-1931, Businessman, Politician and Diplomat "Life has, indeed, many ills, but the mind that views every object in its most cheering aspect, and every doubtful dispensation as replete with latent good, bears within itself a powerful and perpetual antidote." Lydia H. Sigourney 1791-1865, Poet "Keep away from small people who try to belittle your ambitions.

Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great." Mark Twain 1835-1910, Humorist and Writer "Maturity begins when we're content to feel we're right about something, without feeling the necessity to prove someone else is wrong." Sydney J. Harris 1917-1986, Syndicated Columnist "When I thought I couldn't go on, I forced myself to keep going. My success is based on persistence, not luck." Estee Lauder Entrepreneur "Man often becomes what he believes himself to be. If I keep on saying to myself that I cannot do a certain thing, it is possible that I may end by really becoming incapable of doing it. On the contrary, if I shall have the belief that I can do it. I shall surely acquire the capacity to do it, even if I may not have it at the beginning." Mahatma Gandhi 1869-1948, Indian Nationalist Leader "Life is made up, not of great sacrifices or duties, but of little things, in which smiles and kindness and small obligations, given habitually, are what win and preserve the heart and secure comfort." Humphry Davy 1778-1829, Chemist "To believe in something not yet proved and to underwrite it with our lives: it is the only way we can leave the future open." Lillian Smith 1897-1966, Writer "The real winners in life are the people who look at every situation with an expectation that they can make it work or make it better."Barbara Pletcher Author "Whatever course you have chosen for yourself, it will not be a chore but an adventure if you bring to it a sense of the glory of

striving, if your sights are set far above the merely secure and mediocre." David Sarnoff 1891-1971, Entrepreneur "I love strange choices. I'm always interested in people who depart from what is expected of them and go into new territory." Cate Blanchett Actress "You can't base your life on other people's expectations." Stevie Wonder Grammy Award Winning Singer/Songwriter "Fear of failure and fear of the unknown are always defeated by faith. Having faith in yourself, in the process of change, and in the new direction that change sets will reveal your own inner core of steel." Georgette Mosbacher Business Executive "I believe in taking a positive attitude toward the world. My hope still is to leave the world a little bit better than when I got here." Jim Henson 1936-1990, Muppets Creator "Maybe you can't change the whole world, but if you have love in your heart you can make small differences every day, which really does change the world, one life at a time." Kristina Koncz Customer Experience Specialist "You can conquer almost any fear if you will make up your mind to do so. For remember, fear doesn't exist anywhere except in the mind." Dale Carnegie 1888-1955, Author and Speaker "You cannot change anything in your life with intention alone, which can become a watered-down, occasional hope that you'll get to tomorrow. Intention without action is useless." Caroline Myss Author of Entering The Castle

"All who have accomplished great things have had a great aim; have fixed their gaze on a goal which was high, one which sometimes seemed impossible." Orison Swett Marden 1850-1924, Writer, Physician, Hotel Owner and founder of Success Magazine "Make each day useful and cheerful and prove that you know the worth of time by employing it well. Then youth will be happy, old age without regret and life a beautiful success." Louisa May Alcott 1832-1888, Novelist "You know, it's not more knowledge, it's not more education, it's not more facts that we need. It's a better use of what we already have that we need to have. You have each and every one of you, within your potential power right now to do a wonderful job in yourchosen field - if you would only embrace it and use it." Napoleon Hill 1883-1970, Author of Think And Grow Rich "The important thing is not being afraid to take a chance. Remember, the greatest failure is to not try. Once you find something you love to do, be the best at doing it." Debbi Fields Founder of Mrs. Fields Cookies "When you maximize your talents, you're on path, on purpose, on target. When you don't, you're off path, off purpose, off target." Kevin Hall Author of Aspire "When you know that you're capable of dealing with whatever comes, you have the only security the world has to offer." Harry Browne 1933-2006, Writer and Politician "Whenever encountering a troublesome person, do not identify him as being cruel or stupid or rude or anything else like that. Instead, see him as a frightened person."

Vernon Howard 1918-1992, Author and Philosopher "Enthusiasm is one of the most powerful engines of success. When you do a thing, do it with all your mind. Put your whole soul to it. Stamp it with your own personality. Be active, be energetic, be enthusiastic and faithful, and you will accomplish your object. Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm."Ralph Waldo Emerson 1803-1882, Essayist, Philosopher and Poet "Successful people decide how they are going to live; they are not victims of circumstance. In good times or bad times, they know where they are going and they know that they are going to get there." Bob Proctor Author and Speaker "Don't be afraid if things seem difficult in the beginning. That's only the initial impression. The important thing is not to retreat; you have to master yourself." Olga Korbut Olympic Gold Medallist Gymnast "Don't concern yourself too much with how you are going to achieve your goal - leave that completely to a power greater than yourself. All you have to do is know where you're going. The answers will come to you of their own accord, and at the right time." Earl Nightingale 1921-1989, Syndicated Radio Announcer and Author "If you keep on saying things are going to be bad, you have a good chance of being a prophet." Isaac Bashevis Singer 1904-1991, Journalist and Writer "High achievers spot rich opportunities swiftly, make big decisions quickly, and move into action immediately. Follow these principles and you can make your dreams come true."Robert H. Schuller Televangelist, Pastor and Author

"You must constantly ask yourself these questions: Who am I around? What are they doing to me? What have they got me reading? What have they got me saying? Where do they have me going? What do they have me thinking? And most important, what do they have me becoming? Then ask yourself the big question: Is that okay? Your life does not get better by chance, it gets better by change." Jim Rohn 1930-2009, Author and Speaker "So let your deepest desires direct your aim. Set your sights far above the 'reasonable' target. The power of purpose is profound only if you have a desire that stirs the heart." Price Pritchett Author of You2 "Imagination grows by exercise, and contrary to common belief, is more powerful in the mature than in the young." Paul McCartney Singer/Songwriter "A person without a sense of humor is like a wagon without springs; jolted by every pebble in the road." Henry Ward Beecher 1813-1887, Preacher and Abolitionist "When you paint success pictures in your mind, you initiate an inner process whereby your attitudes, hopes, aspirations, and enthusiasm are elevated in response to an image of a morepromising future. Every person who aspires must first sell themselves hope, the promise of a better life." U.S. Andersen 1917-1986, Author of The Magic In Your Mind "It is good to have money and the things that money can buy, but it's good too, to check up once in a while and make sure you haven't lost the things money can't buy." George Lorimer 1867-1937, Editor of Saturday Evening Post

"Doubt, of whatever kind, can be ended by action alone." Thomas Carlyle 1795-1881, Philosopher and Author "Each indecision brings its own delays and days are lost lamenting over lost days. What you can do or think you can do, begin it. For boldness has magic, power, and genius in it." Johann Wolfgang von Goethe 1749-1832, Poet, Novelist, and ScientistChapter fifteen The Next Step The first step needs action to start it. The last requires patience to end. So we question, which one's most important, when we realize our dreams' our best friend. Well, the answer is neither, they're equal, but the one that will help you win through and connect what you start to the finish, is the next step that's waiting for you. Life's dreamers are great Goal Achievers! Their faith and persistence just blends into one awesome cocktail of knowledge, that whatever they want they can get. You see, they never visualize failure, it's success that they see shining through. It's essential to start and to finish, but the next step is what you must do. Alison WilsonChapter sixteen Appreciate It "Everyone wants to be appreciated, so if you appreciate someone, don't keep it a secret." Mary Kay Ash 1915-2001, Founder of Mary Kay Cosmetics "I live by this credo: Have a little laugh at life and look around you for happiness instead of sadness. Laughter has always brought me out of unhappy situations. Even in your darkest moment, you usually can find something to laugh about if you try hard enough."

Red Skelton 1913-1997, Comedian "Few things help an individual more than to place responsibility upon them and to let them know that you trust them." Booker T. Washington 1856-1915, Educator and Writer "You may have a fresh start any moment you choose, for this thing that we call 'failure' is not the falling down, but the staying down." Mary Pickford 1893-1979, Actress and Producer "Most great men and women are not perfectly rounded in their personalities, but are instead people whose one driving enthusiasm is so great it makes their faults seem insignificant." Charles A. Cerami Author"I am only one; but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something. I will not refuse to do the something I can do." Helen Keller 1880-1968, Author and Lecturer "You can conquer almost any fear if you will only make up your mind to do so. For remember, fear doesn't exist anywhere except in the mind." Dale Carnegie 1888-1955, Speaker and Author "One difference between successful people and all the rest is that successful people take action." Bob Proctor Speaker and Author "Focus more on your desire than on your doubt, and the dream will take care of itself. You may be surprised at how easily this happens. Your doubts are not as powerful as your desires, unless you make them so." Marcia Wieder Author and Speaker "There are no limitations to the mind except those we acknowledge - both poverty and riches are offspring of thought."

Napoleon Hill 1883-1970, Author of Think and Grow Rich "I realized early on that success was tied to not giving up. Most people in this business gave up and went on to other things. If you simply didn't give up, you would outlast the people who came in onthe bus with you." Harrison Ford Actor "Today, I would like to become the man my dog thinks I am." Jack Thomson Entrepreneur "It's really important that you feel good. Because this feeling good is what goes out as a signal into the universe and starts to attract more of itself to you. So the more you can feel good, the more you will attract the things that help you feel good and that will keep bringing you up higher and higher." Joe Vitale Author and Speaker "All who have accomplished great things have had a great aim; have fixed their gaze on a goal which was high, one which sometimes seemed impossible." Orison Swett Marden1850-1924, Writer "You need to overcome the tug of people against you as you reach for high goals." George S. Patton 1885-1945, American Army General "Live so that you wouldn't be ashamed to sell the family parrot to the town gossip." Will Rogers 1879-1935, Comedian and Actor"I don't know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody." Bill Cosby Comedian, Actor and Author "History has demonstrated that the most notable winners usually encountered heartbreaking obstacles before they triumphed. They

won because they refused to become discouraged by their defeats." Bertie Charles Forbes 1880-1954, Financial Journalist, Author and Founder of Forbes Magazine "The indispensable first step to getting the things you want out of life is this: decide what you want." Ben Stein Attorney, Author, Actor and Commentator "When you are clear, what you want will show up in your life, and only to the extent you are clear." Janet Attwood Author of The Passion Test "Successful people form the habit of doing what failures don't like to do. They like the results they get by doing what they don't necessarily enjoy." Earl Nightingale 1921-1989, Author and Syndicated Radio Personality"Achievement seems to be connected with action. Successful men and women keep moving. They make mistakes, but they don't quit." Conrad Hilton 1887-1979, Founder of Hilton Hotels "Never does a man portray his character more vividly than his proclaiming the character of another." Winston Churchill 1874-1965, Former British Prime Minister "Getting ahead in a difficult profession requires avid faith in yourself. You must be able to sustain yourself against staggering blows. There is no code of conduct to help beginners. That is why some people with mediocre talent, but with great inner drive, go much further than people with vastly superior talent." Sophia Loren Actress "People become really quite remarkable when they start thinking

that they can do things. When they believe in themselves they have the first secret of success." Norman Vincent Peale 1898-1993, Speaker and Author "Act well at the moment, and you have performed a good action for all eternity." Johann Kaspar Lavater 1741-1801, Poet and Physiognomist "Every achiever that I have ever met says, 'My life turned aroundwhen I began to believe in me.'" Dr. Robert H. Schuller Minister and Author "Most people never run far enough on their first wind to find out if they've got a second. Give your dreams all you've got and you'll be amazed at the energy that comes out of you." William James 1842-1910, Philosopher and Author "Even a mistake may turn out to be the one thing necessary to a worthwhile achievement." Henry Ford 1863-1947, Industrialist "I have learned this at least by my experiment: that if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life he has imagined, he will meet with success unexpected in common hours." Henry David Thoreau 1817-1862, Writer and Poet "Be careful what you spend your day touching because it will shape your mind, your body, and your heart." Sam Keen Speaker and Author "I have come to believe that a great teacher is a great artist and that there are as few as there are any other great artists. It might even be the greatest of the arts since the medium is the human mind and spirit."John Steinbeck 1902-1968, Writer and Winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature

"A good laugh overcomes more difficulties and dissipates more dark clouds than any other one thing." Laura Ingalls Wilder 1867-1957, Author "Devotion is commitment at a deep cellular level. When you are devoted, the universe will align itself to give you what you desire." Rich German Author of Monetize Your Passion "Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion into clarity. It turns problems into gifts, failures into success, the unexpected into perfect timing, and mistakes into important events. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow." Melodie Beattie Writer "When you decide what you want, it has to manifest...but only at the level of your belief." Rich German Author of Monetize Your Passion "If I had to select one quality, one personal characteristic that I regard as being most highly correlated with success, whatever the field, I would pick the trait of persistence." Richard DeVos Co-Founder of Amway"So it is, life is actually made up of our choices. We are the sum total of them, and if we hold to an attitude of love and thanksgiving for all the good things within our grasp we may have what all ambitious people long for - success." Delma Neeley "Setting an example is not the main means of influencing another, it is the only means." Albert Einstein 1879-1955, Physicist

"Feeling grateful or appreciative of someone or something in your life actually attracts more of the things that you appreciate and value into your life." Christiane Northrup Medical Doctor and Author "Our ultimate freedom is the right and power to decide how anybody or anything outside ourselves will affect us." Stephen R. Covey Author and Speaker "The minute you settle for less than you deserve, you get even less than you settled for." Maureen Dowd Newspaper Columnist "Continuous effort - not strength or intelligence - is the key to unlocking our potential."Sir Winston Churchill 1874-1965, Former British Prime Minister "Just as a small fire is extinguished by the storm whereas a large fire is enhanced by it - likewise a weak faith is weakened by predicament and catastrophes whereas a strong faith is strengthened by them." Viktor E. Frankl 1905-1997, Holocaust Survivor and Author of Man's Search for Meaning "People who soar, are those who refuse to sit back and wish things would change." Charles R. Swindoll Author and Pastor "There's plenty of intelligence in the world, but the courage to do things differently is in short supply." Marilyn vos Savant Columnist, Author and Lecturer "When you find yourself stressed, ask yourself one question: Will this matter five years from now? If yes, then do something about the situation. If no, then let it go." Catherine Pulsifer Writer

"Determination and perseverance move the world; thinking that others will do it for you is a sure way to fail." Marva Collins Educator"I don't know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody." Bill Cosby Actor and Comedian "We can't fear the past. Fear is a future thing. And since the future's all in our heads, fear must be a head thing." Tom Payne Career Development Expert "It's the repetition of affirmations that leads to belief. And once that belief becomes a deep conviction, things begin to happen." Claude M. Bristol 1891-1951, Author of The Magic of Believing "You wouldn't worry so much about what others think of you if you realized how seldom they do." Eleanor Roosevelt 1884-1962, American First Lady, Author, Speaker and Politician "Each problem has hidden in it an opportunity so powerful that it literally dwarfs the problem. The greatest success stories were created by people who recognized a problem and turned it into an opportunity." Joseph Sugarman Marketing Expert "One today is worth two tomorrows; never leave that till tomorrow which you can do today." Benjamin Franklin 1706-1790, US Statesman, Diplomat and Inventor"Acceptance of what has happened is the first step to overcoming the consequences of any misfortune." William James 1842-1910, Psychologist and Author "In the absence of clearly defined goals, we become strangely loyal to performing daily trivia until ultimately we become enslaved by it."

Robert Heinlein Novelist "Nothing will ever be attempted if all possible objections must first be overcome." Samuel Johnson 1709-1784, Essayist, Biographer and Poet "Never forget: the secret of creating riches for oneself is to create them for others." Sir John Templeton 1912-2008, Mutual Fund Pioneer and Philanthropist "We are built to conquer environment, solve problems, achieve goals, and we find no real satisfaction or happiness in life without obstacles to conquer and goals to achieve." Maxwell Maltz 1899-1975, Author of Psycho-Cybernetics "All the mistakes I ever made were when I wanted to say 'no' andsaid 'yes.'" Moss Hart 1904-1961, Playwright and Theatre Director "Close your eyes and form a realistic picture of what a post PC world might actually look like. Those who can envision a plausible future that's brighter than today will earn the opportunity to lead." Ray Ozzie Former Chief Software Architect at Microsoft "Believe it can be done. When you believe something can be done, really believe, your mind will find the ways to do it. Believing a solution paves the way to solution." Dr. David Schwartz Author of The Magic of Thinking Big "I never could have done what I have done without the habits of punctuality, order, and diligence, without the determination to concentrate myself on one subject at a time." Charles Dickens 1812-1870, Writer "If you want a kinder world, then behave with kindness; if you want a peaceful world, make peace within."

Dan Millman Writer and Speaker "To grow, you must be willing to let your present and future be totally unlike your past. Your history is not your destiny." Alan Cohen"If we are not responsible for the thoughts that pass our doors, we are at least responsible for those we admit and entertain." Charles Newcomb Screenwriter/Director "The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." Eleanor Roosevelt 1884-1962, Former First Lady, Author and Speaker "You will find as you look back upon your life that the moments when you have truly lived are the moments when you have done things in the spirit of love." Henry Drummond 1851-1897, Scientist and Author "Deliberately seek the company of people who influence you to think and act on building the life you desire." Napoleon Hill 1883-1970, Author "Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up." Thomas Edison 1847-1931, Inventor and Scientist "Here's the problem. Most people are thinking about what they don't want, and they're wondering why it shows up over and over again."John Assaraf Speaker and Author "Dwell not on the past. Use it to illustrate a point, then leave it behind. Nothing really matters except what you do now in this instant of time. From this moment onwards you can be an entirely different person, filled with love and understanding, ready with an outstretched hand, uplifted and positive in every thought and

deed." Eileen Caddy 1917-2006, Spiritual Teacher and Author "Constant kindness can accomplish much. As the sun makes ice melt, kindness causes misunderstanding, mistrust, and hostility to evaporate." Dr. Albert Schweitzer 1875-1965, Medical Missionary and Nobel Prize Winner "Every memorable act in the history of the world is a triumph of enthusiasm. Nothing great was ever achieved without it because it gives any challenge or any occupation, no matter how frightening or difficult, a new meaning. Without enthusiasm you are doomed to a life of mediocrity but with it you can accomplish miracles." Og Mandino 1923-1996, Author of A Better Way To Live "The most wonderful gift one human being can give to another, is in some way, to make that person's life a little bit better to live." John Assaraf Author and Speaker "I've always believed that a lot of the troubles in the world would disappear if we were talking to each other instead of about eachother." Ronald Reagan 1911-2004, 40th President of the United States "If you want to achieve excellence, you can get there today. As of this second, quit doing less than excellent work." Thomas Watson 1874-1956, Founder of IBM "Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings." William Arthur Ward 1921-1994, Writer "All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them."

Walt Disney 1901-1966, Cartoon Artist and Filmmaker "The critical ingredient is getting off your butt and doing something. It's as simple as that. A lot of people have ideas, but there are few who decide to do something about them now. Not tomorrow. Not next week. But today. The true entrepreneur is a doer." Nolan Bushnell Founder of Atari "Be of good cheer. Do not think of today's failures, but of the success that may come tomorrow. You have set yourself a difficult task, but you will succeed if you persevere; and you will find a joy in overcoming obstacles." Helen Keller 1880-1968, Blind and Deaf Educator"Asking is the beginning of receiving. Make sure you don't go to the ocean with a teaspoon. At least take a bucket so the kids won't laugh at you." Jim Rohn 1930-2009, Author and Speaker "Laugh at yourself and at life. Not in the spirit of derision or whining self-pity, but as a remedy, a miracle drug, that will ease your pain, cure your depression, and help you to put in perspective that seemingly terrible defeat and worry with laughter at your predicaments, thus freeing your mind to think clearly toward the solution that is certain to come. Never take yourself too seriously." Og Mandino 1923-1996, Author of The Choice "Be careful the environment you choose for it will shape you; be careful the friends you choose for you will become like them." W. Clement Stone 1902-2002, Businessman, Philanthropist and Author "Before you begin a thing remind yourself that difficulties and delays quite impossible to foresee are ahead. You can only see one thing clearly, and that is your goal. Form a mental vision of

that and cling to it through thick and thin." Kathleen Norris 1880-1966, Novelist "Let's choose today to quench our thirst for the 'good life' we think others lead by acknowledging the good that already exists in our lives. We can then offer the universe the gift of our grateful hearts." Sarah Ban Breathnach Author of Peace and Plenty "Hold yourself responsible for a higher standard than anybody else expects of you." Henry Ward Beecher 1813-1887, Clergyman, Social Reformer and Abolitionist "When it is obvious that the goals cannot be reached, don't adjust the goals, adjust the action steps." Confucius 551-479 BC, Philosopher "Every decision you make - every decision - is not a decision about what to do. It's a decision about Who You Are. When you see this, when you understand it, everything changes. You begin to see life in a new way. All events, occurrences, and situations turn into opportunities to do what you came here to do." Neale Donald Walsch Author of Conversations With God "It doesn't matter which side of the fence you get off on sometimes. What matters most is getting off. You cannot make progress without making decisions." Jim Rohn 1930-2009, Speaker and Author "Do not wait; the time will never be 'just right.' Start where you stand, and work with whatever tools you may have at your command, and better tools will be found as you go along." Napoleon Hill 1883-1970, Author of Think And Grow Rich "Learn to get in touch with the silence within yourself and know that everything in this life has a purpose."Elisabeth Kubler-Ross 1926-2004, Psychiatrist and Author

"Learn to get in touch with the silence within yourself and know that everything in this life has a purpose." Elisabeth Kubler-Ross 1926-2004, Psychiatrist and Author "Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time." Thomas Edison 1847-1931, Inventor and Entrepreneur "It is better to look ahead and prepare than to look back and regret." Jackie Joyner-Kersee Multiple Olympic Gold Medal Champion "The one important thing I have learned over the years is the difference between taking one's work seriously and taking one's self seriously. The first is imperative and the second is disastrous." Margot Fonteyn 1919-1991, Classical Ballet Dancer "One day at a time - this is enough. Do not look back and grieve over the past, for it is gone: and do not be troubled about the future, for it has not yet come. Live in the present, and make it so beautiful that it will be worth remembering." Ida Scott Taylor 1820-1915, Author"Even though you may want to move forward in your life, you may have one foot on the brakes. In order to be free, we must learn how to let go. Release the hurt. Release the fear. Refuse to entertain your old pain. The energy it takes to hang onto the past is holding you back from a new life. What is it you would let go of today?" Mary Manin Morrissey Minister, Author and Speaker "If you don't like the road you're walking, start paving another one." Dolly Parton Singer/Songwriter "Do your little bit of good where you are; its those little bits of good

put together that overwhelm the world." Desmond Tutu Activist and Christian Cleric "It is a great mistake for men to give up paying compliments, for when they give up saying what is charming, they give up thinking what is charming." Oscar Wilde 1854-1900, Writer and Poet "When we do the best that we can, we never know what miracle is wrought in our life, or in the life of another." Helen Keller 1880-1968, Author and Lecturer"Imagination will often carry us to worlds that never were. But without it we go nowhere." Carl Sagan 1934-1996, Astrophysicist and AuthorChapter seventeen Your Wish Is My Command! I am gong to take a little idea from The Secret - and expand upon it - and also introduce a principle to those of you who haven't yet seen The Secret. I recommend that you do see it as soon as possible! OK - here's the principle: That each and every thought you have is actually heard by your very own genie! Stick with me here - because I do understand just how challenging this suggestion might be to some of you. I'm asking you to look at this light-heartedly - as it doesn't have to shake your foundations completely - it can be absorbed in a light-hearted way - and used in the same manner. We've all been getting told for years to "be careful what you ask for - you just might get it"! Some of us have been told this in a light hearted way; some in the form of a joke; some in the form of reference to prayer in a

religious sense; and some in a very serious way. Whichever way we tend to view this - it is in itself part of the relationship we have with our genie... our thought processes. The Law of Attraction which is the main focus of The Secret, is about owning what we create within our lives - and taking responsibility for our thoughts and understanding just how powerful they can be. OK - the genie principle. I truly believe that if each of us can embrace the simple idea that we have a friendly genie paying attention to each and every thought we have - then we will learn to grasp in a light-hearted way that we do actually create our own results in life. If we can imagine that each thought (and our verbalizing of those thoughts) is being heard, and responded to like this; "OK - your wish is my command"! "I'll get right onto that for you"!Whether the thoughts and words we use are positive - or negative - the results will be in alignment with those thoughts and words. Too many sages down through the ages and into the present have been agreeing on this for too long for it not to be true! Remember - the votes have been unanimous for centuries! What we think - we will manifest!What we think - we will become! What we think - we will continue to think - unless we take action to change our habitual thinking. Thinking that has been put there by life; by our experiences in life; by other people who have had the same thought patterns put there by life; by their experiences in life; and by other people in their lives... and so it goes. Generations of thoughts which have created reality for millions of people - have been passed down to us.

Right now we all have a choice: To continue living under other people's opinions passed down to us about life; or to embrace change here and now and begin to create our own positive thoughts based upon a few pinnacle principles... Unconditional Love; Abundance; Forgiveness; Spiritual Awareness; Inner Peace (which will spread to your community, then to your state, then to your country, and eventually globally); Deserving; Kindness; and Mind/Body/Spirit balance. Of course there are other pinnacle principles on which to base new thoughts and ideas - but those just given above are some of the main ones necessary for each of us to manifest abundance, good health, a balanced lifestyle, peace and happiness in our lives. I am very aware that many of you reading this will already be relating to your own genie as being God, and of course I encourage and respect that thought process, and the feelings surrounding those beliefs. My reasoning in writing this is to encourage a light-hearted aspect to our relationship with our thought processor. A genie is something that most of us can actually visualize - so being capable of visualizing someone taking notes - then acting on those notes - is one slightly different way to view the importance of how our thoughts turn into reality!May you and your genie have a sensational week together. Remember: "What others do or say is their stuff; how we react, or not, is our stuff"! Phil Evans Phil Evans is a Motivator, Business Coach and Inspirational Writer based in Australia. Thank you for reading this book!

Robert F. Ziehe is also author of It Is Not About How, It Is About Now! http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/68190 Contact Robert at: Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1791028670 Twitter RobertZiehe Blog - http://robertziehe.blogspot.com/