If You Are Struggling

As a business coach, nothing frustrates me more than hearing from a reader who is procrastinating on taking action. Most of this procrastination stems from fear of criticism of others.

Today, you'll meet a good, honest young man who is hated by millions – but loved by even more. He doesn't let the criticism of others stand in the way of doing what he believes is right.

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Taking Care of Your Money

Coming from a background of little money has its advantages. My parents taught me how to save and invest my money and to avoid debt.

Today, guest author Mark Ford shows you what to do if you have debt, and how you can turn your finances around.

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Eco Friendly Business Infographic

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Great News

When I think of networking, I picture a side room at a seminar filled with people who have just one mindset.

Need-Need-Need.

The great news is you can stop "networking" and start using MaryEllen Tribby's proven connection strategies to achieve greater success with less wasted time.

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My 10,000 Hours

In my young career, I've written over 4000 emails to readers on my fitness and Internet business-building newsletter lists. I am, as Malcolm Gladwell made popular, approaching the 10,000 hour 'Outlier' status.

With each email I send, I learn something, apply this to future emails, and get better over time. Taking action is a magical habit, as Robert Ringer explains in today's guest essay.

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No One is Perfect

When you discover a success story, whether a virtual mentor like Mark Ford, a sports hero like Peyton Manning, or a celebrity like Oprah, you tend to only see the achievements. You ignore the facts that they too went through dips and dark days. Mark Ford was once in debt, Peyton missed a year because of neck surgery that could have ended his career, and Oprah has gone through so much there is no room to list it all. No one is perfect, not them, not you. Yet none of them – nor none of us – will ever fail. We will only learn and come back stronger. I like to think that’s what happened to me. My near-failure story below, and what it means to you. Enjoy.
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Unearthing the Secrets

From the Bible to the teachings of Epictetus, the secrets on how to live a good and virtuous life have been known for centuries. There isn't much new under the sun. Likewise, the same can be said about the secrets for success. Today's guest author explains why you should look to the old masters to learn something new.

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The 12 Rules I Live By

The one thing I admire about people who have strong nutrition beliefs is their dogmatic behavior.
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Selfish Therapy

I recently started something selfish, a therapy of sorts. It's an odd little habit but it makes me feel better. It involves giving something every day. Find out what I do - and why I do it - in today's essay. Then take up this ritual to make your life - and everyone else around you - better.

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"The best way to get started is to get started. Life rewards action...not reaction. Wait for nothing. Attack life. Don't plan to death or ask for permission...but act now...and apologize later." - Kekich Credo #81
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You Are Blessed with Good Luck

Success is all luck, you know. Whether you see yourself as having good luck or bad luck simply depends on how you look at it. Frankly, I think you're blessed with nothing but good luck. I'll prove it to you today.
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Breaking the Mental Barrier

Dr. Maxwell Maltz first shared scientific evidence of the power of human imagination. His studies showed that individuals who imagine a cold room in precise detail could create the physical effect of goosebumps. This link from the psychological and imagination stretches beyond the simple link. Today, Noah St. John explains the link he has found with success and the mental barriers many people place on themselves.
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The List You Need In Your Life

In the spring of 1999, when I was halfway through my Master's degree, I started sending out my resume in an attempt to land my dream job. At that time in my life, it meant writing to the General Manager of every single team in the National Hockey League (NHL) because my number one career goal was to become an NHL Strength and Conditioning Coach.
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"It's easy to look back and say, 'I wish I had done this,' or, 'I wish I hadn't done that.' Do that too much and it becomes habit, and when that happens, when you're constantly dwelling on the past, reaching your future is like the blind man in a dark room looking for a black cat...that isn't there.

Look forward. Refer to the past only for the purpose of learning, but always look forward!" - Tim Hunt, Finisher Freak

From the Ground Up

You don't need a Harvard degree to succeed. You don't need to come from a background of money. And quite frankly, you don't even need a perfect past to have a better future. Today you'll get some wisdom from a man who was all but written off by his teachers until he became a rock star in his own world. It's something that you can do too.
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Even Better than the One Word Solution

I've often said that the deadline is the one word solution to getting things done. But today, guest author Ryan Murdock shows us that it's actually a two-step equation. Because without this other factor, the deadline is not enough. 

Craig Ballantyne 

"A goal is a dream with a deadline." – Napoleon Hill

Two Things You Need to Get on Track 

By Ryan Murdock

One of the most common questions I get about goal setting is: "Okay, I've mapped my goal but how do I make progress? I do well for a couple days but then I fall off track." 

It's actually pretty simple if you implement these two practices:

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What It Takes

In order to succeed, we need to take action. In order to take action, we need motivation. And sometimes it takes a lot of self-discipline to motivate ourselves into action. 

But what if you just aren't the "self-discipline"–type? 

Well, good news, Susan Fujii, the KungFu Finance girl, is here to show you how you can still turn terrible self-discipline into success. 

Craig Ballantyne 

"One can choose to go back toward safety or forward toward growth. Growth must be chosen again and again; fear must be overcome again and again." – Abraham Maslow

How to Have Poor Self-Discipline and Still Succeed 

By Susan Fujii

Today I want to talk to you about discipline – specifically, why it is so important to your financial success and how I am absolutely terrible at it but still manage to "win" financially (and how you can, too, if you choose!).

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Short, But Sweet

Each night before dinner I read through a few financial newsletters. Earlier this week [written Friday, November 25, 2011] I stumbled across this short essay from an editor named Dan Ferris who wrote about what he had learned in the past 50 years. 

Dan explains how through persistence he was able to come to work on what he loves. It embodies much of what we believe here at Early to Rise. Hard work, persistence, and a passion for what you do will help you be successful in life on your own terms. 

Craig Ballantyne 

"It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop." – Confucius

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How to Do What You Love 

By Dan Ferris

I turned 50 last Friday. I had a great time Saturday night with friends and family. We drank some great wine (Lindstrom and Del Dotto cabernets) and had a fantastic meal, prepared by a guy I believe is the best chef for hundreds of miles around these parts. I'd never heard of Moroccan anchovies or hen-of-the-woods mushrooms, but they're both delicious. Over the weekend, I sat around and did little but play the guitar. It was a great 50th birthday celebration. I'm a really lucky guy. 

It's hard to nail down the most important thing I've learned in 50 years of living, but one thing I learned in my first year of college comes to mind before all the others. Longtime subscribers will remember that I've told this story before, but I think it bears repeating...

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Get What You've Never Had

Each morning I post a new inspirational quote to my various Facebook pages and Twitter account for thousands of readers.

One of the quotes that has received the greatest amount of feedback is this:

"To get what you've never had you have to do things you've never done."

Readers love this quote because it is simple, and true. We know we need to change our habits if we want to improve. Today, Ryan Murdock shows you how.

Craig Ballantyne

"Loyalty to a petrified opinion never yet broke a chain or freed a human soul." – Mark Twain

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Role Modeling For Success

By Ryan Murdock

Do you struggle with Goal Setting?

I'm not surprised.

"Goal setting" has either been beaten into unbearable dullness by the anal retentive authors of certain business books, or it's been co-opted by unicorn-riding New Age "thinkers" who tell you all you've gotta do is imagine really hard and that Lotus Esprit will show up in your driveway. So you're either doomed to drooling boredom or confined to strait jackets and padded rooms.

It doesn't have to be that way. Goal setting is simple, and it forms a key pillar of the Shapeshifter Lifestyle strategies I share with my fitness clients.

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How to Use an Ancient Chinese Secret for a Better Life

When things go wrong, it's common for people to blame others or circumstances. It's less common, but more useful, to focus on what can be done to spring back stronger than ever.

The American Dream is characterized by overcoming adversity, and today our guest article explains how an ancient Chinese secret best describes how the underdog can succeed.

Craig Ballantyne

"With but few exceptions, it is always the underdog who wins through sheer willpower." – Johnny Weissmuller

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What is Your Plan?

By Susan Fujii

Kung fu is not simply a combative martial art. The authentic Chinese translation describes it as a tremendous sense of total achievement or mastery of one's craft, whatever your particular craft may be. Kung fu also refers to much more than just physical prowess–it is intended to affect your entire way of thinking and behaving.
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"The foolish man seeks happiness in the distance; the wise grows it under his feet."

James Oppenheim

Happiness in Life: You Deserve It!
By Brian Tracy

The degree of happiness you feel is the best measure of how well you are living your life and enjoying your relationships. If you don't feel very happy now, you can learn how to be happier... and more fulfilled in everything you do.

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