"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 Brown
See It and Achieve It: The Power of Visualization
By Wendy Montes de Oca
Years ago, very early in my career, I attended a two-day training session on the power of visualization and goal setting. I believe it changed my life.
I was working for a financial division of General Electric in New York City. GE was very big on continuing education for their employees at every level of the organization.
Most everyone in the training session that day, including me, was in their early twenties and had administrative positions. A few of my co-workers were skeptical about the session. They thought it was hokey and would have no real, tangible benefit for them. They looked at it as two easy days out of the office.
The session started with a series of mental exercises. Then the facilitator asked us to close our eyes and see ourselves in 10-15 years.
We went around the room, listening to each person's visualization, one by one. Most of the participants weren't very enthusiastic. They had little to say and just a vague idea of where they saw themselves in the future.
Finally, it was my turn. I announced to the room that I saw myself in a professional office environment, wearing a red "power" suit. I was confident and respected. I seemed busy, but in control. I was knowledgeable and successful. I described a complete scenario, right down to the wood my desk was made of (mahogany).
Now I wasn't sure what my actual job was in that scenario. (At the time, I was an administrative assistant in the company's marketing department and was going to college, majoring in pre-law.) Yet, I could see myself as an accomplished, corporate professional.
Until then, I'd never envisioned with such clarity what I wanted to do with my life. However, after seeing in my mind's eye where I wanted to be, I was inspired to put in the time and education needed to get there.
As with any journey, having a map helps you get to your destination quicker than if you try to go it alone. And that's what visualization is: a mental blueprint or personal roadmap for success. The image I had of myself and my future made it easier for me to take the actions I had to take.
In two years, I advanced from an administrative to a directorial position. And because I was so eager to achieve my "vision," I continued to work full-time while going to school full-time to complete my Bachelor's degree. The fire within me continued to burn, and I went on to graduate school, completing my Master's degree several years ago.
So for those who say the power of visualization is baloney, I say "It works." And I'm not the only one.
Bob Cox, the "voice" of ETR's Total Success Achievement program, is a big believer in the power of visualization. "It helps you reconnect to the 'why' behind your goals," he says. "Why do you want additional income? If the reason is to buy a new car, visualize what your new car looks like and what features it has. If you want to take your family on vacation, visualize in detail where you're going and what you're doing. Visualizing in detail will keep your goals real and motivate you to take action."
Robert Ringer has been an advocate of visualization for many years. He uses "active visualization" to handle obstacles in the boardroom and on the baseball field. Michael Masterson has used visualization to help reduce the anxiety of facing a challenge. And Brian Tracy recommends using visualization to transform bad habits into good ones.
You can apply the technique of visualization to attract success, money, love, health, power, and more.
What do you want? Where do you want to be in five or 10 or 15 years? Get a mental snapshot of the "big picture," then let your mind fill in the specifics. You may even find a picture in a magazine - a beautiful house, a sports car, or a person with a super-fit body - that will be your motivation for success.
Once you have a concrete vision in your head, you'll be much more excited about doing what's necessary to turn it into reality.
See what the power of visualization can do for you... and put yourself in control of your own destiny. You won't be disappointed.
[Ed Note: Wendy Montes de Oca is ETR's Vice President of Marketing & Business Development.]
Getting Tough and Taking Names
By Michael Masterson
Matt Furey is changing his sign-off line from "Kick butt and take names" to "Get tough and take names." And I understand why he's doing it. It's important to be tough - mentally tough. And Matt's a master at it.
There is no question. To be successful at anything, you have to be prepared to endure criticism - some unjustified and some justified. (Does it surprise you to know that the justified criticism hurts more?) The more successful you are, the greater the criticism you will endure.
But if you last long enough, you become immune to criticism. Your emotional skin toughens. This takes a long time.
When someone tells you they don't care what other people say, it usually means they do. Too much. But if you push forward and don't allow your detractors to distract you, you will eventually get to a height they can't reach.
I'm not there yet, but I can see it just above the next ledge. At those aerie heights, legends live. Like Galileo, Einstein, Ezra Pound, and George Carlin. On the very-soon waiting list are Howard Stern and Jerry Springer.
Ascending that cliff takes many skills. One of them is honesty - admitting your mistakes and shortcomings. Another is openness - admitting them publicly. Another is shrewdness - admitting them before anyone else does. And, finally, there is forgiveness - forgiving your critics and forgiving yourself.
Which is to say that getting tough is sometimes a matter of getting tender.
By Craig Ballantyne
Can't live without caffeine, can you? Most adults around the world consume caffeine every day, in coffee, tea, cola, or chocolate. And we continue to hear about new studies - some warning us to stay away from caffeine and others glorifying its benefits.
So what is the truth?
A scientist from the UK reviewed 41 caffeine studies from the last 15 years. Most of the studies found that low to moderate caffeine intake - less than 400 mg per day (the equivalent of no more than eight cups of tea or four cups of ordinary coffee) - improved alertness and mental performance. Studies also found that up to 400 mg of caffeine per day did not cause dehydration, which is thought to be a common side effect of caffeine intake.
But beware of mega-coffee! Find out exactly how much caffeine is in your so-called "cup." For example, a "tall" Starbucks beverage can range from 75 mg of caffeine (Cappuccino) to 150 mg (Caffe Americano) to 260 mg (regular coffee).
It's Good to Know: About the Crash Tax
The aftermath of a car accident can be traumatic: serious injury, frantic calls to 911, dealing with your insurance company. And now we must add another hassle, and an expensive one at that. Municipalities across the country (18 so far) are starting to charge those involved in an accident for the emergency response.
In some areas, fees for the ambulances, police, and other emergency workers that arrive on the scene are billed directly to the victim. In others, insurance companies get the bill - which can range from $100 to $2,000, depending on how serious the accident is.
(Source: Wired)
"Ludic" (LOO-dik) - from the Latin - means "playful." The word is related to "ludicrous."
Example (as used by Pat Kane in The Guardian): "Um, there's only one problem: her mother. Who, being a substantial executive, has a somewhat different attitude to the worth of the professions than her wastrel, ludic husband."
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These articles appear courtesy of Early to Rise [Issue #2303, 03-14-08], the Internet's most popular health, wealth, and success e-zine. For a complimentary subscription, visit http://www.earlytorise.com/.
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